10 Best Slow Cookers, According to Expert Testing

In our tests, this 7-quart slow cooker made a rich and tender beef stew and cooked chicken soup and pot roast to safe internal temperatures. We like that you can use this model's removable aluminum pot for browning on the stovetop. However, we did find that, unlike other models in our test, it boiled the broth for chicken soup, which made the meat and vegetables a little overcooked.

The digital controls offer settings for slow cooking on low, high/low and high, plus a programmable 20-hour timer. The six-hour automatic “keep warm” setting will hold your dish at a safe serving temperature when cooking is complete. Both the insert and unit have riveted handles that make it easy to carry them together or separately. The insert is removable for easier cleaning and is dishwasher safe.

In our tests, the Black + Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker nicely slow-cooked a beef roast on low and high, as well as a chicken soup on low. Beef stew had a rich, uniform broth, but the meat was a bit drier compared with other slow cookers.

This updated model offers the same standout features as previous versions — an easy-to-program control panel, large side handles and a locking lid for toting (not for cooking) — plus a sous vide function and an included temperature probe to help prevent overcooking. If you’re new to slow cooking or sous vide, the price point makes it a nice way to give it a try.

The Calphalon Digital Sauté turned out some of the most tender beef in our Lab tests; the stew broth was rich and the vegetables held their shape. Though you cannot brown foods in the cooker itself, you can remove the nonstick insert and use it directly on the stovetop or in the oven. When we used it to brown meat on the stove, it earned top ratings for even heating.

The dial features settings for low, high and warm. And the digital display for the timer is large and easy to read, making it simple to program your cook time.

Cuisinart's multicooker earned high marks for its slow cooking function on our list of best pressure cookers: It made a more tender beef stew than the other multicookers in our Lab test. It offers 12 preprogrammed settings, but we found the large and well-lit LCD screen kept the menus easy to navigate. We like that you can remove the sealing gasket for deeper cleaning to help remove lingering odors; it's dishwasher safe as well.

We also liked that — if you are using the pressure cooking function — progress bars show you the stages of coming to full pressure; after cooking, the bars will reverse so you can track when it's time to release pressure. The lid has a unique twisting design that gives a visual indicator of whether the lid is properly aligned for sealing. But it is attached via a hinge, so you'll need sufficient clearance above the machine to use it.

Instant Brands — maker of the Instant Pot, our best overall pressure cooker — has rethought the slow cooker. The Instant Electric Precision Dutch Oven uses an enamel cast iron Dutch oven as the cooking vessel. The company states that, when paired with the electric base, the pot delivers five functions: braise, slow cook, sear/sauté, manual and food warmer.

We were very impressed with the browning capabilities when making beef stew in our tests. Searing right in the pot is a time-saver, and it helps you capture more flavor for the resulting dish. That additional flavor helped the overall stew, because while the meat was tender, we did note that the liquid didn't reduce (and therefore concentrate in flavor) very much. Though we tested the Dutch oven only in the base, Instant does say that you can also use it on the stovetop and in the oven. And the classic look makes it easy to bring to the table for serving.

With six easy-to-use modes including slow cook, sous vide and sauté/sear, the Wolf Gourmet 7-Quart Multi-Function Cooker can help you with a wide variety of recipes. The removable stainless steel cookware insert can be used on your gas, electric or induction cooktop, making this cooker a winner in terms of versatility. You can keep track of the internal temperature of foods with the convenient temperature probe.

This model produced the most tender roast in our test. And cleanup is easy because the insert and lid are both dishwasher safe.

GreenPan is among our top picks for best ceramic nonstick pan, so we were excited to test the brand's slow cooker. The pot has the same nonstick coating as the company's cookware; we felt it was very easy to hand wash — and it's also dishwasher safe (though we recommend handwashing nonstick cookware to prolong its life). We also like that in addition to the base's handles, the pot itself has handles with silicone covers to help keep things cool when transporting.

The simple interface offers settings for slow cook, brown/sauté and steam, which is a less-common setting (and the cooker comes with a steaming rack). The browning function was not the strongest in our tests, but we did note that — as with nonstick cookware — only a little oil was required.

Give your buffet table a boost with this Proctor Silex model, which earned a 2023 GH Kitchen Gear Award. It lets you cook one dish in the 6-quart ceramic crock or two dishes in the dual 2.5-quart nonstick inserts. We were pleased with the beef stew in our tests, and we loved that we were able to keep black beans and queso warm in the small inserts for four hours without any scorching.

The crock, inserts and lid are all dishwasher safe, which helps with cleanup. While the simple interface is easy to use — turn the dial to select high, low or keep warm — take note that there's no built-in timer for tracking cook times.

This Hamilton Beach slow cooker is the largest slow cooker on our list with an 8-quart capacity. It's especially great for big families or hosting since it can fit an 8-pound whole chicken or a 6-pound roast. If you're looking to feed an even bigger crowd, Hamilton Beach also offers a 10-quart model (though we have not yet tested that version).

It’s affordable, straightforward to use and easy to clean up. We especially love the “keep warm” feature to ensure that your food remains at your desired temperature until you’re ready to eat. The insert and lid are dishwasher safe. Take note that you cannot use the insert for browning.

Crock-Pot’s 3-Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker is our top pick for a small slow cooker. It's perfect for bringing warm queso to a tailgate or making a small beef stew for two. This slow cooker requires minimal clean-up as the insert is dishwasher-safe. Handles on its slow cooker's exterior also allow easy transport.

If you are looking for a larger version with more functions, we were impressed with the Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Sous Vide. We cooked a roast beef via the sous vide setting, and it turned out perfectly tender. It earned a 2023 Kitchen Gear Award thanks to praise from home testers as well.