The secret to a great one: It keeps food simmering without overcooking. We tested 12 on High and Low to find the ones that perform best. All our winners are programmable and switch to Keep Warm after cooking time has elapsed; however, food will continue to cook, so factor that in when meal planning.
By The Good Housekeeping Research Institute
BEST OVERALL
All-Clad 6.5-Qt. 1500632304, $180
TOP TRAITS: Our top performer, the All-Clad, maintained the most even simmer on both high and low heat, turning out a perfectly cooked beef stew and a tender (not stringy) pot roast. A well-lit digital control panel allows you to program cooking times up to 26 hours.
PLUSES: It has the sleekest look of all tested. The insert and lid are designed to be used only in the cooker (not in the oven); both are dishwasher-safe.
VERSATILE
West Bend 6-Qt. 84966, $80
TOP TRAITS This compact West Bend may be a godsend to anyone with a small kitchen. As a slow cooker, it simmers nicely on low heat, producing a moist roast. The dishwasher-safe nonstick pot can be used on the stove or in the oven, and the base doubles as a griddle and a warming tray.
PLUSES It's very lightweight (about seven pounds), making for easy storage, and has simple-to-use electronic controls and an up-to-12-hour cooking timer.
SMALL SIZE
Cuisinart 3.5-Qt. PSC-350, $110
TOP TRAITS For smaller meals, dips, or fondues, consider this petite 3.5-quart Cuisinart. It made a great beef stew, and our roast emerged juicy (not dry) when cooked on low heat. In addition to High, Low, and Warm, it also has a Simmer setting, which is useful for long cooking.
PLUSES The insert is both dishwasher- and oven-safe. Its digital controls are simple to set for up to 24 hours. It's lighter than most at 10 pounds.
BUDGET BUY
Hamilton Beach 6-Qt. 33967, $60
TOP TRAITS A large-size model at a great price, this Hamilton Beach slow-cooks well, particularly on Low. Like the others, it has timed cooking (up to 12 hours), and its included probe lets you cook a roast to a specific internal temp. Handy cord storage keeps the cord tucked away when not in use.
PLUSES A latching lid makes it less likely to spill if you often take food to potlucks. The insert is safe to use in the oven, microwave, and dishwasher.
SPLURGE
Cuisinart 7-Qt. Multicooker MSC-800, $200
TOP TRAITS Although pricey, this Cuisinart is a major multitasker — a slow cooker, roaster, skillet, and steamer in one. Slow-cooked stew was excellent, and a roast cooked on Low came out just right. Simple electronic controls are easy to set for up to 24 hours on High, Low, Simmer, and Warm.
PLUSES The insert isn't oven-safe, but it doesn't need to be: Additional settings include Roast, Sauté/Brown, and Steam, all of which are done right in the unit
Credit: The above information including photos and content is owned by goodhousekeeping.com
Here is my pick since I am on a budget but love my crockpot meals. The biggest saleing point to me is the removeable inner pot for easy cleaning. $34.99 (Credit: from www.target.com )
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