Buying a slow cooker? This handy kitchen appliance makes dinnertime a breeze. Simply chop your ingredients, throw them in the pot, and set a timer. Within a few hours, you'll be serving up a hearty dish with little washing up. You can also use a slow cooker to steam rice, sauté veg, make dessert, and much more. A slow cooker is a multi-use appliance that everyone should own.
The best slow cooker will be dependant on your family size and needs. Some slow cookers offer a range of programs and settings, while others are basic with low, high, and warm settings. A good slow cooker should be dishwasher-safe, it should offer a range of safety features – cool-touch handle, safety lock – and ideally, a slow cooker should have a keep-warm function. A timer is not a necessity, but can also be helpful. Our best slow cooker – the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker – is great for a number of reasons. This slow cooker has 14 one-touch programs and it's 7-in-1 so it can cook rice, vegetables, meat, and more. See more of our top picks below.
Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
A 7-in-1 slow cooker that can cook rice, sauté vegetables and make yogurt
With 14 one-touch programs, this Instant Pot slow cooker is incredible.
Pros:
- 7-in-1
- 8-quart capacity
- 14 programs
- 70% faster than other models
- Dishwasher safe
- Overheat protection
- Safety lock
Cons:
- Only comes in one color
The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker ticks all our boxes. It's America's most loved multi-cooker, and for good reason. This model is seven in one – it's a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, satué pan, yogurt maker, and warmer. It also cooks up to 70 percent faster than other models. For ease of use, it features 14 one-touch smart programs for everything from soup to porridge, chilis, rice, poultry, and stews.
The Instant Pot Duo 7 has an 8-quart capacity - enough to cook for a small crowd. It's made from fingerprint-resistant stainless steel and all components and accessories are dishwasher safe when it comes to cleaning. Packed with safety functions, this slow cooker benefits from overheat protection, a safety lock, and much more.
Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Slow Cooker
A top-notch pick that can air fry food, too
This great slow cooker is safe, easy to use, and can hold a 4-pound chicken.
Pros:
- 9-in-1
- Keep Warm function
- Non-stick
- Dishwasher
- 14 safety functions
Cons:
- Slightly small capacity
- Expensive
Buy the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Slow Cooker if you're looking for a luxury option. This slow cooker lets you choose the temperature, time, and function. It can be used to pressure cook, air fry/air crisp, steam, bake/roast, slow cook, yogurt, and sear/sauté. Its Keep Warm function can be used to delay dinnertime a while. It cooks 70 percent faster than other methods, and it air fries using up to 75 percent less fat.
This slow cooker has a 6.5-quart ceramic coated pot and a three-quart crisp basket, both of which are non-stick and dishwasher safe. It has 14 safety features for your peace of mind.
Crockpot Round Slow Cooker
A stylish option that serves 4-5 people
Boasting a funky hexagonal pattern, this Crockpot slow cooker would look great displayed on your kitchen worktop.
Pros:
- 3 settings
- 4.5-quart
- Dishwasher safe
- Looks good
- Budget-friendly
Cons:
- No programs
Stylish and functional, the Crockpot Round Slow Cooker is a great-looking pick. Its trendy hexagon design makes the appliance blend seamlessly into any modern kitchen. This slow cooker has three settings from low to high and warm. It's basic yet gets the job done.
Boasting a 4.5-quart capacity, this slow cooker can serve four to five people comfortably. It features a removable, dishwasher-safe stoneware insert and it has a dishwasher-safe glass lid. Clean up is easy. While it doesn't boast any safety features, it is very budget-friendly.
Crock-Pot Cook and Carry Portable Manual Slow Cooker
This slow cooker comes in 4 different colors
With carry handles for taking to your friend's house, this slow cooker has a keep warm function.
Pros:
- 3 settings
- 6-quart capacity
- Dishwasher safe
- Lockable lid
- Four color options
Cons:
- No pre-set programs
The Crock-Pot Cook and Carry Portable Manual Slow Cooker is a great portable slow cooker. It's equipped with handles making it easy to carry and transport. It has three settings from high to low and warm.
Featuring a 6-quart capacity to serve seven people at once, this slow cooker has a removable, dishwasher-safe stoneware insert. It also has a dishwasher-safe glass lid that locks, too. Looks-wise, it comes in four colors.
COMFEE' 5.2Qt Asian Style Programmable All-in-1 Multi Cooker
Designed for families, this slow cooker has 17 programs
This slow cooker has a 24-hour timer and an LED screen.
Pros:
- 5.2-quart
- 17 programs
- BPA-free
- Keep warm for 12 hours
- 24-hour timer
- LED screen
- Dishwasher safe
- Comes with a measuring cup
Cons:
- Not from a well-known brand
- Not the best looking
- Quite large
The COMFEE' 5.2Qt Asian Style Programmable All-in-1 Multi Cooker is a great pick. This model is a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, a stewpot, and it can sauté. It has 17 cooking programs from pasta to soup and steamed veggies.
Boasting a 5.2-quart capacity, this slow cooker boasts cool-touch handles and it has an LED screen making it easy to use. It has an anti-stick inner pot that is BPA-free and dishwasher safe. It also features a 24-hour timer and it can keep your food warm for up to 12 hours.
Our verdict
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The best slow cooker you can buy is the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker. A great luxury option is the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Slow Cooker. The best-looking slow cooker is definitely the Crockpot Round Slow Cooker, while a great portable option is the Crock-Pot Cook and Carry Portable Manual Slow Cooker. The Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker is a budget-friendly model and the COMFEE' 5.2Qt Asian Style Programmable All-in-1 Multi Cooker is designed for families with its 24-hour timer function and 12-hour keep warm setting.