Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The 8 Best Slow Cookers for 2022, Reviewed

Slow cookers are an essential kitchen appliance for the experienced cook, the large family, and of course the bachelor. There are an almost limitless number of slow cooker recipes that involve minimal prep and require zero attention. Just toss everything in the ceramic pot, and four to eight hours later, you have a delicious meal that is ready to eat.

If you’re thinking that you can achieve the same result with a Dutch oven and your oven set on low, you’d be correct. However, are you comfortable leaving your oven on and unattended for eight hours? If you are, that’s fine, but we’re going to go the slow cooker route. Slow cookers are programmed with safeguards that make the unit shut down if something goes wrong. We can’t say the same for our ovens.

If you’re already used to the slow-and-low lifestyle because you’re a pro with your smoker, bring it inside with one of these great slow cookers. Note that we only are suggesting products that are a slow cooker first and everything else second. There are tons of products out there like pressure and rice cookers with a slow cook function.

Related Guides

Best Overall Slow Cooker: Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Like Kleenex or Q-Tips, Crock-Pot is a name that has become synonymous with slow cookers. So if you thought that all slow cookers were Crock-Pots, and vice-versa, don’t be embarrassed. Crock-Pot was the originator of the electric slow cooker back in 1940. Having invented the device, it makes sense that the brand would put out some of the best slow cookers on the market. This Cook-and-Carry Crock-Pot earns the best overall for being affordable and easy to use while also having a sizable 6-quart capacity. The locking lid feature is also a nice touch for when you have to transport hot chili (fans of The Office will get it).

Most Versatile Slow Cooker: Black and Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you need the latest tech in everything you buy, this digital slow cooker from Black and Decker is for you. It offers precision temperature controls and a temperature probe feature that will switch the machine to warm once the ingredients reach your desired temp. A unique feature of this appliance that others of its kind aren’t offering is the sous vide setting. This slow cooker comes with a rack insert that will hold up to eight vacuum-sealed bags. The cooker will keep your water at your desired heat. The confined space and surrounding heat source of the cooker make it possible to achieve the same effects as a circulator.

Best Splurge Slow Cooker: Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you have the money to spend and want a slow cooker that will wow your guests with its beautiful design, this one from Calphalon is a great choice. It’s a fairly simple device packaged in a way that’s pleasing to the eye. But it’s not just pretty; it performs well, too.

Best Precision Slow Cooker: Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Slow Cooker

best slow cooker on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

This Hamilton Beach Set and Forget slow cooker is a more affordable version of the previous Black and Decker model. The digital controls are straightforward, and its main feature is the food probe. It’s got enough room to cook a whole chicken or large roast. This slow cooker is highly rated on Amazon and is also one of its top picks.

Best Small Capacity Slow Cooker: Elite Gourmet 1.5 Quart Slow Cooker

best slow cooker on amazon
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Are you tired of sharing your leftovers with your deadbeat roommate? An easy solution is to eliminate the leftovers. This almost pocket-sized, 1.5-quart slow cooker from Elite Gourmet is great for portion control and gives you the set-it-and-forget-it ease only slow cookers can provide. Pro-tip: have one of these bad boys on your desk at the office and just bring in your prepped food in a container and add to the cooker, on high, first thing in the morning. You’ll have a delicious, hot meal by lunchtime.

Best Large Capacity Slow Cooker: Crock-Pot 8-Quart Manual Slow Cooker

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Crock-Pot is coming through with another top model with this 8-quart manual slow cooker. This is the mammoth version of the brand’s 3-quart cooker. Need to slow-roast a small turkey? Cook enough chili for a whole soccer team? This is your best option for an affordable price.

Best Slow Cooker for Tailgating: Presto Nomad 8-quart Traveling Slow Cooker

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This convenient and super-transportable slow cooker from Presto will make you a star at your next tailgating event. You can cook it at home and bring it with you or hook up to a power source the day of a game and have a delicious meal ready to go to celebrate your team’s victory. Just make sure to label what’s inside on the small dry-erase board on the front. You don’t want anyone mistaking those baked beans for beers.

Best Slow Cooker System: Crock-Pot Hook-Up Round Connectable Entertaining System

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Suppose you’re watching the big game at home but still want the ultimate tailgate experience. In that case, these Hook-Up Round Connectable Slow Cookers from Crock-Pot can’t be beaten. These slow cookers range from 1 quart to 5 quarts and can be hooked up in a variety of ways to make the perfect serving line at your party. A nice feature is a retractable cord that will allow you to space them out if need be. They also come in a variety of colors to match your style.

Editors' Recommendations

Steven Johnson
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Steven Johnson is a chef-turned-content strategist. He now helps companies attract and retain more customers through content…
What foods are high in iron? These staples will help you live a healthier life
Add these high-iron foods to your shopping list today
Ribeye caps topped with garlic and herbs cooked in a cast iron pan over charcoal.

What foods are high in iron? We all know that iron is important for a healthy, balanced diet, but did you know you can find two different kinds of iron in food: heme and non-heme. Your body can absorb iron from heme (animal-based) food better than from non-heme (plant-based) food sources. Where can you find heme food sources? Read on to find out about foods high in iron.

If you eat a plant-based diet, you’ll get a lot of non-heme types of iron. As a result, your body might need a bit of help to absorb it properly. Sometimes vitamin C can aid with the absorption of plant-based kinds of iron. Regularly consume both plant and animal-based sources of iron to get the best of both for your body. 
What is iron?

Read more
The Macallan, Bentley serve up a single malt Scotch whisky worth more than a car
The Macallan and Bentley mean luxury
The Macallan

When it comes to luxury, The Macallan and Bentley are two of the biggest names in the world. While one is a single malt Scotch whisky brand and one is a car company, they both carry a certain, fancy weight. It only makes sense that the two brands would collaborate for a special bottle of Scotch whisky. This is likely because a whisky-powered car is more science fiction than reality.
What does the new whisky look like?

It's called The Macallan Horizon, and its bottle was created in collaboration with British automobile brand Bentley Motors. It was designed to meld the worlds of single malt scotch whisky and the sleek, elegant car brand. The result is a horizontal (hence the name) bottle crafted with a breathtaking 180-degree twist.

Read more
Forget wine — Beer and cheese is an unbeatable combination
Put the corkscrew away and crack open a cold one
Beer and cheese

When one hears the term cheese pairings, wine is the beverage that most often comes to mind, we'd wager. Because, of course, it is. The pairing of wine and cheese is as classic a coupling as peanut butter and jelly, bacon and eggs, or chocolate and strawberries. They're meant to be together. But that certainly doesn't mean that wine is the only adult beverage that can dance an alluring tango alongside everyone's favorite dairy product. Beer, as humble as its reputation can be, is also a beautiful balance to cheese's immense offering of flavors. While some may think of beer as not being as multi-dimensional and varied in its palate-pleasing capabilities as wine, this is not the case - especially now that we live in a world with so many exquisite craft beers, stouts, and lagers.
Of course, another classic accompaniment to cheese is bread or crackers. Why might that be, one might ask. Is it because we're simply in need of a starchy vessel to usher the cheese into our mouths? The answer is actually a bit deeper than that. Starches like bread and crackers are made from the same yeasty ingredients as beer, so their pairing makes perfect culinary sense.
This isn't to say, though, that one can simply pick up a hunk of cheddar and crack open a Budweiser and expect culinary artistry. The science is a bit more nuanced than that, so we're here to help you find the best pairings for your favorite beers and cheeses.

How to pair beer and cheese

Read more