07-05-2025
Set it and forget it with the best slow cookers for 2025, tested and reviewed
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This classic slow cooker from Crock-Pot does exactly what it's supposed to do, plus it's portable! (Amazon)
If the idea of dumping a few ingredients into a pot and sitting down hours later to a fully cooked, delicious meal sounds appealing (how could it not?!), keep reading. Years ago, I received a slow cooker as a gift, but despite attending culinary school, I never knew what to use it for. Eventually, I gave it away, but now that I'm a mom who regularly cooks for four or more — and values the set-it-and-forget-it functionality — I was intrigued to test the best slow cookers for 2025. There are so many recipes for slow cooker meals I've wanted to try, but couldn't ... until now. The quintessential slow cooker meal might very well be beef stew, so that's the dish I used to put the slow cookers through their paces.
I discovered that there are nuances to slow cookers — many have stoneware inner pots (or crocks), some have nonstick-coated metal inner pots, some have brown/sauté settings so you can get a crust on proteins before setting them to braise, some come with steaming racks and some with temperature probes. And did you know that Crock-Pot is a brand name? Like Popsicle is to ice pop, Crock-Pot is to slow cooker.
After browsing through dozens of slow cookers, I narrowed down the testing pool to eight popular picks, including, yes, some of the best Crock-Pots. I ruled out manual models in favor of user-friendly displays with programmable timers that allow for at least four to eight hours of slow cooking and automatically switch to a "warm" setting (at a food-safe temperature) once cooking is finished. I looked for even heating, ease of use, a variety of functions and value. My picks for the best slow cookers are real kitchen helpers that allow you to whip up a comforting meal, even if you have to leave for the office or take care of other tasks at home.
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Best slow cookers of 2025
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo Best slow cooker overall Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker
Capacity: 6 quarts | Settings: Slow cook on high or low, keep warm | Weight: 11.9 lbs. | Dimensions: 17"D x 11.8"W x 9.8"H
When you're called upon to bring a dish to family gatherings, the Crock-Pot Cook & Carry will be your go-to solution. A locking lid with a rubber gasket ensures that food and sauce stay inside and don't spill onto the backseat of your car. And it's easy to carry thanks to the generous handles.
This stainless steel slow cooker from an iconic brand offers slow cooking at low and high temperatures for cook times up to 20 hours, plus a keep-warm setting that turns on automatically when a programmed cook time ends or can be used on its own. The stoneware crock is microwave-safe and oven-safe up to 400°F.
I found the control panel easy to read and foolproof to navigate. Just choose high or low for the temperature and then use the up and down arrows to set the cooking time, which counts down on a digital display. I checked a batch of beef stew periodically and found the temperature was consistently at 194°F. When I returned to the stew after eight hours on low heat, it was rich and velvety.
I can already tell that this is the kind of dependable appliance that will last for years. It may not have tons of bells and whistles, but that's its charm. You can set it and forget it and trust that it will do what it's supposed to. Maintenance is simple — wipe the outside clean with a damp cloth and wash the inner crock and lid by hand. It's the best Crock-Pot I've tested.
Pros Easy to program
Portable with locking lid
Automatically switches to keep-warm setting when cooking time ends
Generous handles
Cons The outside of the cooker gets very hot $70 at Amazon
Explore More Buying Options $80 at Lowe's
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo Best upgraded slow cooker Cuisinart MSC-600 Cook Central 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Capacity: 6 quarts | Settings: Slow cook, steam, brown/sauté, keep warm | Weight: 17.4 lbs. | Dimensions: 18"D x 11"W x 10.5"H
This Cuisinart brings you all the bells and whistles: Want to steam fish or chicken and veggies? Like to brown and braise cuts of meat or chicken? This is the slow cooker for you.
Though the large rectangular shape of this slow cooker eats up countertop real estate, it makes up for it with its quick-heating inner pot and excellent control panel with buttons for all of its functions. The backlit display shows the timer on one side and the temperature on the other.
I loved that you could set the brown/sauté function to 400⁰F. This means you don't have to use a separate skillet on the stove to sear meats (which adds depth of flavor) before braising them for eight hours. The unit comes with a steamer insert that's perfect for delicate proteins and vegetables and doubles as a roasting rack for a whole chicken or roast.
The inner crock is made from nonstick-coated aluminum. It washes clean easily with warm water and a soapy sponge, but you can also put it and the lid in the dishwasher.
Pros Lots of functions
Large control panel that's easy to use
Time and temperature alerts
Pot and lid are dishwasher-safe
Cons Expensive
Large footprint $134 at Wayfair
Explore More Buying Options $134 at Amazon$160 at PERIGOLD
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo Best nontoxic slow cooker GreenPan Elite 8-in-1 Programmable Slow Cooker
Capacity: 6 quarts | Settings: slow cook on low and high, brown/sauté, steam, keep warm | Weight: 21 lbs. | Dimensions: 11.81"D x 22.13"W x 16.1"H
When you want all the features and value nontoxic cookware and great design, the GreenPan Elite 8-in-1 Slow Cooker is the answer. This 6-quart model is so versatile! It offers eight functions: slow cook, sauté, steam, simmer/buffet, proof, bake, reheat, high temperature, low temperature and warm. The inner crock is made with a PFAS- and PFOA-free ceramic coating that's also certified by the NSF, meaning it meets strict standards for public health and safety.
This high-end slow cooker shepherded a batch of beef stew from browning right in the pot at 400°F to braising on low for eight hours, resulting in tender meat and vegetables with a luxurious slurry. The LCD display was easy to read and made programming a cinch. The unit features a handy set of prongs in the back that allow you to rest the lid without taking up counter space. It also comes with a steamer insert, which, along with the pot and lid, is dishwasher-safe.
Now on to its good looks. This sleek model comes in a variety of tasteful colors, including glossy white, navy, sage green and charcoal — you will surely find one that integrates into your kitchen decor. Just don't forget to consider the space it takes up on the counter or in a cabinet.
Pros Lots of functions
Excellent browning
Generous handles
Attractive enough to leave on the counter
Cons Expensive
Large footprint $200 at Wayfair
Explore More Buying Options $200 at Amazon$252 at Macy's
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Factors to consider when choosing a slow cooker
My time spent testing slow cookers yielded these considerations to keep in mind when you're shopping.
Features: I value the ability to brown/sear meats directly in the unit rather than using a pan on the stovetop and then adding the meat to the slow cooker. Some people like the option of steaming fish and veggies in their slow cooker. But if you tend to use recipes that don't benefit from these features, and all you want is a timer and either a low- or high-temperature setting, you'll have many options to choose from at various price points.
Dimensions: Limited storage space means some models may not work for you. You should consider whether or not you'll use a slow cooker often enough to keep it on the countertop or store it in a cabinet — always check the height of the model before you commit.
Capacity: If you cook large-batch soups and stews and whole roasts or chickens, a 6-quart model should satisfy most of your needs. If you cook for two to three people, you can get away with a 4-quart model. And if you want to keep lots of food warm for a tailgate or a family gathering, some 8-quart models work nicely.
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I checked this stew periodically during the eight hours it cooked to ensure the food was in a safe temperature zone. (Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)
How we tested slow cookers
After opening each package, I noted if there was any setup required and how easy these appliances were to program. I gave each inner crock and lid a quick wash with soap and water before cooking a classic beef stew in each one. To rank on our list, the gadgets had to excel in the following tests:
Temperature test: A safe cooking temperature generally falls between 170°F and 280°F, according to the USDA, but in practice should hover somewhere below boiling, or 212°F, or you will overcook most proteins. Did the slow cooker meet these requirements?
Sauté/brown test: Is there a sear/sauté function? If there is, does the pot get hot enough to properly brown meat?
Stuck-on food test: After food cools, it can get pretty sticky and adhere to the inside of a pot. I waited for a while to wash the inner crocks to see how much work was involved in getting them clean.
Each slow cooker has a slightly different control panel — and some were easier to navigate than others. (Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)
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Other slow cookers we tested
Crock-Pot MultiMeal Programmable Slow Cooker ($210): I love this Crock-Pot's promise of being able to make two dishes at the same time, which might require different settings and cook times. However, this appliance does not offer a slow cook setting that goes for the traditional eight hours, only one that cooks for four hours, which was not long enough for the stew, nor for the convenience of letting a dish cook all day.
Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Slow Cooker with Temperature Probe ($76): This and one other slow cooker from Hamilton Beach feature a temperature probe, which none of the other brands I tried have. At first, this seemed like a must for checking the cooking temperature, but you're better off buying an instant-read thermometer that you can use for many other cooking tasks. Outside of that added feature, this model has the popular high, low and keep-warm settings.
Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Slow Cooker with Temperature Probe & Defrost ($77) Much like the model above, this Hamilton Beach slow cooker covers basic slow cooking tasks, has a temperature probe and can cook food from frozen, which is a feature none of the others have. If you know you'll forget to defrost the chicken breasts in the middle of a hectic week, this model might be the answer.
I understand the appeal of dumping a bunch of ingredients into the pot in the morning, turning it on and coming home to a hot meal. (Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)
Instant Pot Superior Cooker 7.5 Quart Slow Cooker ($80): I had high hopes for this large-capacity slow cooker from the popular multicooker brand because it has a sear/sauté feature. The downfall here is the metal inner pot — it's too thin and doesn't get hot enough to sear meat properly. It almost feels flimsy.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 4-Quart Slow Cooker ($35): This was the smallest slow cooker I tested, as the 6-quart version was unavailable. The most exciting feature on this appliance is the lid holder — it's removable, but I loved how I didn't have to clear space on the counter to set down the lid. Unfortunately, this unit cooked food at too high a temperature and therefore resulted in an overcooked, dry stew. There is also no clock to let you know how much time is left in your cooking cycle.
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What is the difference between a crock pot and a slow cooker?
Crock-Pot is a brand name many people use to refer to the generic term for a slow cooker. It's not unlike using the word Kleenex (also a brand name) when referring to facial tissues.
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We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
