Slow Cookers

Basic slow cookers

Slow cookers were once considered relics of the 1970s, but harried cooks have recently rediscovered them, and their sales have climbed. Despite this surge in popularity, basic models haven’t changed much since Rival introduced its first Crock-Pot in 1971. There are two main components to modern slow cookers: the base and the removable insert, which may be ceramic or stainless steel. Electric coils in the base transmit heat to the insert. Slow cookers are designed to emit very little steam, so food braises in its own juices, as well as any cooking liquid.

Experts deem a few slow-cooker features to be real assets, such as a clear, snug-fitting lid, which is a boon to impatient cooks who want to check on their dinner without releasing steam and thus slowing progress. Large, sturdy handles on the crock insert make it easier (and safer) to transfer dinner from kitchen to table. An 'on' light lets you know the slow cooker is working and can prevent you from accidentally leaving it on overnight. Programmable timers are a must if you’re planning to leave the slow cooker unattended all day. Slow cookers with timers automatically shift to keep-warm mode as soon as timed cooking ends.

Among basic slow cookers, reviews say the Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Slow Cooker (*est. $40) is a good choice. This 6-quart oval model has a removable, dishwasher-safe stoneware liner, as well as high, low and keep-warm settings. It uses wraparound heating, which experts say is more even than bottom-only heating. This slow cooker was selected as a top "Kitchen Helper" in Parenting magazine and is one of Redbook’s most highly rated models. However, editors at Cook’s Illustrated bemoan its lack of a timer and call its travel clips and recipe tag "gimmicky." Owners posting to Amazon.com, on the other hand, give the Hamilton Beach slow cooker perfect scores in 18 reviews. They like its large handles and clip-on spoon.

Experts recommend that you fill a large slow cooker at least halfway -- otherwise, food may boil over or burn. If you want to make smaller amounts of food, it's better to get a lower-capacity slow cooker rather than trying to cook a small amount in a larger model. Alternatively, you can purchase a large slow cooker for a small household, preparing food in quantity and freezing any leftovers.

The Smaller Cuisinart CSC-400 4-Quart Slow Cooker (*est. $80) has a stainless steel exterior, ceramic crock and glass lid. It has low, high, and warm settings, but it also auto-shifts to "warm" when timed cooking ends. Its crock and lid are both dishwasher-safe, and it has an unusually long warranty (3 years). This slow cooker receives near-perfect scores in about a dozen reviews posted to Amazon.com. Owners like the retractable cord, sleek design and ease-to-use controls.

The 4-quart Hamilton Beach 33141 (*est. $25) has heat settings identical to those of the Cuisinart CSC-400, but it lacks a programmable timer, so it can’t switch to warm when the cooking cycle ends. It also lacks an "on" indicator light. The Hamilton Beach 22141 receives good overall scores from owners posting to Amazon.com, but we read a number of troubling reports about breaking temperature knobs.

If you work long hours, you may want to seek out a crock pot with a timer that allows you to program cooking for 10 hours or more. The Corningware 6-quart (*est. $40) slow cooker, which has a 10-hour timer, earns 4 stars in about 40 reviews posted to Amazon.com. Owners like its domed lid, insulated carrier bag and silicon storage lid. A few, however, complain that the programming is not as flexible as they’d like. Many would like the ability to cook a dish on high for a few hours, then switch to low for the remainder of the cooking time, which isn’t possible with this slow cooker. If you set the cooker to run for fewer than 6 hours, "high" is the only option; more than 6 hours, and you’re stuck with "low."

Although the Hamilton Beach Programmable 33966 (*est. $60) has a temperature probe, experts say you don’t really need one, because slow cooking just isn’t that precise. Experts say its performance rivals that of fancier cookers, and its lid fits snugly into the crock, locking in steam. This Hamilton Beach slow cooker performs very well in tests at Cook’s Illustrated, and owners posting to Amazon.com and Cooking.com give it high marks. It boasts a flat-panel readout, glass lid, digital timer and "keep warm" mode. The few complaints we read center on the insert, which lacks handles.

Advanced slow cookers

Although slow-cooker mechanics have changed little since the 1970s, design and features have evolved. Fancier crock pots can cost as much as $250 and include such features as temperature sensors, computerized recipe databases and even griddle surfaces. Harvest gold and avocado have given way to sleek stainless steel and even red.

Stovetop-safe inserts are the latest slow-cooker innovation. You brown meat in a removable insert, then transfer it to the base for further cooking. Both the 6-quart Rival SC7600 VersaWare slow cooker (*est. $55) and the West Bend Versatility (*est. $60) have this feature, which experts say works better in theory than in practice. The problem is temperature. Inserts are only stovetop-safe to medium heat, buy you need high heat to sear meat or caramelize onions. The Versatility slow cooker was also downgraded for lacking an ‘on’ light and having a lid that doesn’t fit snugly into the pot. The Rival VersaWare, which also lacks an ‘on’ light and timer, has an opaque lid, but it fares slightly better than the Versatility slow cooker in tests. If you want to brown meat, most cooking experts say you’re better off cooking it in a skillet before adding it to the crock pot.

The All-Clad Deluxe (*est. $250) , like the VersaWare and West Bend Versatility slow cookers, has a stove-safe insert. With stainless steel construction, however, it’s capable of searing meat and browning onions over high stovetop heat, but it doesn’t have as much surface area as a large skillet, forcing you to cook in batches. Testers at Cook’s Illustrated say that pouring the excess fat from the insert is a hassle. Although this slow cooker is packed with features, reviews say that some cheaper models do just as a good a job.

All Clad also manufactures a 6.5-quart slow cooker with a ceramic insert (*est. $150) that has the features testers look for: an insert with handles, a clear lid and a digital timer. In addition, the All Clad slow cooker can be programmed to cook for a whopping 26 hours. Although testers at Cook’s Illustrated give it their highest rating for its "slow, steady" heat, two out of three owner-written reviews at Amazon.com say that it runs hot. One owner also complains that her cooker quit working after a month. All Clad does cover this cooker with a lifetime warranty. However, given the troubling reliability reports, and taking into account the similarities in features among top-rated slow cookers, the KitchenAid slow cooker (*est. $130) seems like a better value. It earns nearly as much praise from testers and costs less.

The KitchenAid Slow Cooker has a larger capacity (7 quarts) than the All-Clad and a greater number of features. It cooks on high for the first two hours, then automatically shifts to low for the remainder of the cooking time. Testers at Cook’s Illustrated found that the KitchenAid slow cooker ran a bit hot, but food quality was not adversely affected. They praise the design of the insert, which is squared off for easier pouring. The KitchenAid slow cooker receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from owners posting to Amazon.com and Cooking.com. Owners like the sleek design, choice of colors and capacity markings on the inside of the insert. Although we read a few reports of warped crocks and lids, the vast majority of owners say they’d buy this slow cooker again.

Although the 6.5-quart Cuisinart slow cooker (*est. $100) aced tests at Cook’s Illustrated, it receives just an average of 3 stars in almost 50 owner-written reviews at Amazon.com. Owners complain that its exterior heats excessively during cooking -- a possible safety hazard for those with small children. The Cuisinart slow cooker has a "keep warm" mode, a programmable timer and a cooking rack, along with "cook" and "warm" indicator lights. But many owners say that the Cuisinart slow cooker boils food, even when set to "low." Although it costs more, the KitchenAid slow cooker is a more consistent performer, according to the reviews and testing we analyzed.

Important Features: Slow cookers

Here's what reviews say about buying a slow cooker:

• Families of four or more should look for a slow cooker that holds at least 6 quarts. Slow cookers need to be at least half full, or food will cook too quickly and may burn. Small families can prepare a larger quantity of food in a large slow cooker and freeze leftovers.

• An oval-shaped cooker suits oblong meats like roasts or whole chickens. Some reviews say oval cookers tend to run hotter because of increased surface area.

• A stainless-steel insert makes it easier to serve and store slow-cooked food. Most slow cookers have a removable stoneware insert, which can be heavy. A few models, such as the West Bend Versatility models, have an aluminum or stainless steel insert. Most stovetop-safe inserts can’t handle the high heat required to brown meat.

• Avoid extended heat-up and cool-down periods. According to the FDA, bacteria thrive at temperatures between 40˚ and 140˚F. You can avoid these bacteria "danger zones" by setting your slow cooker on high for at least the first hour. Some slow cookers, such as the All-Clad Stainless Steel slow cooker, cook on high for the first two hours before switching to low.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

# of Picks	Model (with retailer links)	Details from Amazon.com
5	Rival Smart Pot (*est. $40)	details
2	Hamilton Beach Stay or Go (*est. $40)	details
2	West Bend Versatility (*est. $60)	details
2	Rival VersaWare (*est. $55)	details
2	All-Clad Stainless Steel (*est. $150)	details
2	Cuisinart Slow Cooker (*est. $100)	details
1 each	Hamilton Beach Meal Maker , Farberware Millennium FSC600, Proctor Silex 33627, KitchenAid Stainless Steel Slow Cooker

Although several Rival crock pots are recommended in reviews, we found just as many complaints about overheating and breakage. Several owners complain that the Rival VersaWare’s handles are apt to break.

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