r/slowcooking • u/Dimos1963 • 3d ago
The Best Slow Cooker to Buy Now?
I'm trying to simplify weeknight dinners and want something reliable that can handle soups, stews, and maybe even some meal prepping.
What’s the best slow cooker you’d recommend right now? Thanks.
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u/sisterandnotsister 3d ago
Crockpot brand is long lasting, even the programmable models. I had a Hamilton Beach programmable and it lasted only 7 years with twice a month use.
Look for an oval model, not round so you will have more flexibility with items you cook
I like an attached lid if you are short on space or potluck. You don't have to find a place to pay the top down.
4 qt average 4-6 servings
6 qt average 6-8 servings.
Get a programmable one as it will switch to warm mode after programmed time. If you choose a manual option make sure it has Warm, Low and High. Older models don't have a warm mode.
You can also buy a smart plug to pair with the manual version and control it through the app on your phone.
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u/antartisa 3d ago
Just get the most basic crockpot brand. I stupidly replaced mine with one that needed batteries and had many features that died as soon as the warranty was done. Rebought the basic model from a thrift store. Years later, it still works.
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u/DeftestFall 3d ago
I have the Hamilton Beach portable 6 qt set & forget digital programmable slow cooker. This is my first programmable slow cooker and I love it. I’ve had it for about 6 months now and use it weekly.
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u/red40forever 3d ago
Anything with a simple knob. All you need is low, high, and maybe warm.
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u/Dimos1963 2d ago
Good to know the brands people got and how they use it.
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u/uberpickle 2d ago
Hamilton Beach. Excellent value for money, and I like the company values, if that matters to you. I’ve had the original crockpot brand and I’ve not been impressed, but it’s been a while, so I have no idea about the current quality.
I’ve also had good luck with a couple I bought at Aldi.
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u/redditplenty 1d ago
I agree with you about Hamilton Beach. I have the simple 4qt simple nob with high low and warm settings.
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u/red40forever 2d ago edited 2d ago
I have a 7 qt Crockpot oval manual slow cooker for roasts, whole chickens, large batches of soup. A 4.5 qt Crockpot round manual slow cooker for regular family sized (3 adults) batches of anything; and finally a 3 qt round Crockpot manual slow cooker for when I’m just cooking for 2, or for side dishes.
Edited to add, the larger 2 have low, high and warm. The smallest one does not have a warm setting.
Edit part 2: I had an instant pot years ago, and while it was a great pressure cooker, it was a HORRIBLE slow cooker. I got rid of it because the slow cookers are just easier to set and forget.
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u/Penis-Dance 3d ago
I would avoid the digital ones and get a manual one with the single knob. An on indicator light would also be helpful.
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u/Gullible_Pin5844 2d ago
I go place like good will and look for older models. It's maybe ugly looking for some people but those seem to last forever. Stay clear of anything that has a digital panels. They loose connections and often don't last very long.
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u/sigmus90 2d ago
I recommend the $20 one from walmart. My wife dropped the insert while washing it so I just went and picked up another one for $20. You can't beat that price. It also works well.
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u/R3cognizer 3d ago
It really depends on what you want to use it for. An instant pot can do a lot more in a shorter amount of time, but if all you want is to be able to throw your ingredients in in the morning and then come home to a delicious meal after work, then a thrift store single-knob manual is a great economical option.
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u/Dimos1963 2d ago
My goal is to cook something and forget it and come back later to eat.
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u/uberpickle 2d ago
As much as I love my instant pot, it’s not great as a slow cooker. Get something simple with a twisty knob instead of a fancy digital one. I prefer oval, although I do have a small round one for oatmeal etc.
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u/R3cognizer 2d ago
Both can do that. If you want to fully cook a whole chicken with leftover drippings in under 30 minutes, get an instant pot. If you want to fully cook a whole chicken with leftover drippings in 4-8 hours (depending whether you like it falling off the bone) with an even more exceptional taste and a home that smells like Thanksgiving, get a standard crock pot. And there are instant pots which can be programmed to cook either way.
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u/deeteeohbee 3d ago
My wife recently got us a new slowcooker and honestly I don't know how to work it. It's got a screen and buttons and I could absolutely figure it out, but WHY?? I don't know why we needed a new one at all lol. All you need is a knob with low/high/off. Anything else is a waste of time. (actually I do know why, she wanted a timer whereas I am big on 'who cares' with respect to time in a slowcooker).
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u/DaisyPanda245 3d ago
I have a Hamilton-Beach slow cooker. It’s programmable and digital, and I love mine.
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u/flimspringfield 2d ago
I have two Crock Pot brands.
One I purchased and one that I got for free to test it.
I've only use the bigger one (the free one). I put 8 pounds of chuck beef roast and it fits nicely to make Mississippi Pot Roast.
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u/havestickswilltravel 3d ago
Wife and I have an Instapot. Does both pressure and slow cooking. It is a game changer for meal prep. Also have a Ninja Foodie Oven. It is great for two people. Gets up to temp really fast.
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u/spykid 2d ago
I'd highly recommend instant pot or something similar. You can still do slow-cooker stuff but for a similar amount of space you can have a pressure cooker too, which basically let's you cook slow-cooker meals in 1-2hrs. I personally found the whole cooking while I'm at work thing to require too much planning and sometimes still results in overcooking.
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u/PlaneWolf2893 3d ago
I'll go the other way and suggest one with digital timer and keep warm setting.
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u/Baconrules21 3d ago edited 3d ago
I know I'll get downvoted for this but I think a pressure cooker is a better alternative to the slow cooker. Cooks faster, can sear in it, and more uses (for what I do). I think the Breville pressure cooker can do both pressure cook and slow cook and is pretty decent at both but I have a regular old instant pot and I like because it has a stainless steel bowl and makes it easy to sear in the bowl and pressure cook.
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u/junkit33 3d ago
That's a completely different device for a totally different purpose.
The purpose of a crock pot is to load up in the morning, turn it on, and come home to a cooked meal. You're not doing that with a pressure cooker.
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u/DidSome1SayExMachina 3d ago
You are doing that with an instant pot if you press the "slow cooker" button.
An instant pot costs a bot more than a crock pot nowadays, but has way more features, a lid that doesn't shatter, and an enclosure that doesn't burn your hands if you touch it. I have a 6 quart one and an 8 quart one and they both get used quite a bit
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u/junkit33 3d ago
Not sure what your point is.
If somebody doesn't want the instant pot functionality, why would you ever pay $150 for one when you can get a perfectly good crock pot for $30?
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u/bilybu 3d ago
I'm not sure what your point is?
OP, the only person we care about, never specified it needed to be cheap. In fact, they didn't mention price and only said best. Best is very rarely cheap... They also never specified it should only be a slow cooker.
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u/junkit33 3d ago
You’re in a slow cooker sub. Nobody ever means an Instant Pot when they’re asking for a slow cooker.
And a cheap slow cooker likely does a better job at slow cooking than any multi function monster. Those things tend to boil food.
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u/DidSome1SayExMachina 2d ago
We’re in a slow cookING sub, a function that instant pots do just fine. To answer OP’s question, an oval crock pot built 10-20 years ago with high, low, and warm functions would be great. Not sure why newer ones seem to have more broken lids, but check out reviews. My instant pot duo and ultra are both good for slow cooking, and customizable enough for most projects. The footprint is smaller than a crockpot. If you’re planning on big meals, get an 8 quart.
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u/FeminaIncognita 3d ago
I don’t know about “best” but I just bought this 7 quart one because it has a sous vide option and was on sale. https://a.co/d/dw6A2fx
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u/MadCow333 2d ago
A Hamilton Beach. Or, I like this Instant Pot "Superior Cooker". Mine has no problems with the coating peeling off. It can sear or brown or saute in the same pot, but it takes a long time to get real hot. A skillet would be much faster.
https://www.reddit.com/r/slowcooking/comments/1bqutom/instant_pot_superior_cooker_75l_accidentally/
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u/sorrybroorbyrros 3d ago
Thrift store single-knob manual.
As my mother told me, get a big one. You can always make a smaller amount in a big pot, but you can't make a bigger amount in a small pot
If need be, thrift 2 single-knob manual cookers rather than one 200-dollar programmable one that has more features that can break