The 10 Best Slow Cookers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

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Our top pick is the Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Slow Cooker

<p>People / Alli Waataja</p>

People / Alli Waataja

From beef roast to chili to soup and stew, nothing is better on a cold evening than curling up with a warm bowl of something delicious. Because slow cookers are, just as they sound, designed to cook foods at low temperatures for long periods of time, they allow flavors to truly meld together while also locking in moisture. This makes them ideal for cooking tough cuts of meat and dense root vegetables, like carrots and potatoes. If you don’t already have one, it’s certainly a game changer and will elevate your kitchen’s arsenal. If you do have one, perhaps it's time to upgrade yours or invest in a new, smaller slow cooker specifically made for dips and game-day appetizers.

The PEOPLE Tested team put 16 slow cookers (with a wide range of settings and capabilities) to the test. Prices ranged from $55 to $700, with the average price around $175. A few things stood out during testing: Clear lids are a must-have, a six-quart capacity is the sweet spot for most recipes, and heat-resistant handles and lockable lids are worth the extra money. Also, while some slow cookers are dishwasher safe, you’ll likely end up hand-washing them anyway.

We’ve compiled our favorite slow cookers into this roundup, all evaluated based on things like design, performance, and ease of cleaning, so you can find the perfect one to add to your cookware collection — just in time for your annual shift into soup mode.

Best Overall: Hamilton Beach Portable 6 Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker with Lid Lock

$68 at Amazon.com

$86 at Target.com

Pros

  • This slow cooker is compact enough that it can be easily stored in a cupboard.

  • It comes with a probe you can insert through the lid to track food temperature as it cooks.

  • Ample-sized handles and lid latches make this easy to take on the go.

Cons

  • There are lots of pieces to hand wash which may not be ideal if you want something quick and easy.

  • Because it’s fairly compact, it struggled to hold larger amounts of food — during some parts of testing we noticed the lid wanted to pop off as a result.

Our favorite part of this Hamilton Beach slow cooker — and really why it won our vote for best overall — is the included temperature probe. It goes directly through the lid and into your food so that you can track its temperature and prevent over- or under-cooking, which is essential with things like beef and poultry. Aside from this and regular temperature settings, it also includes a “hold temperature” feature that allows you to sous vide, poach, simmer, and braise. We also really appreciated its design — this slow cooker feels durable without being too bulky, and could easily be stored in a cupboard or pantry without taking up too much space. The handles make it easy to get a good grip so you can move it around your kitchen if need be — this, coupled with the latches on the lid and its overall lightweight feel, makes it an ideal slow cooker to take on the go, whether you’re taking a dip to a Sunday football party with friends or bringing pork roast to a potluck.

If you dread post-cooking clean-up, all the bells and whistles may be frustrating to deal with — from the temperature probe to the lid to the actual slow cooker pot, there are a lot of pieces you’ll have to wash by hand. Additionally, because it is very compact, it struggled to hold large amounts of food — during some parts of testing we noticed the lid was fighting to pop off (we found that the biggest cut of meat it could hold was a seven-pound pork roast, for reference). In spite of all this, it still holds rank as best overall because of all of its amazing features, durable package, and $75 price point.

Material: Stoneware | Dimensions: 12 x 17 x 11.87 inches |  Color: Black stainless

<p>People / Ashley Jacobs</p>

People / Ashley Jacobs

Best Overall, Runner-Up: Cuisinart 3-In-1 Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker

$160 at Amazon.com

$186 at Walmart.com

Pros

  • The oblong shape makes it ideal for slow-cooking larger pieces of meat that need to lay flat.

  • The control panel is very intuitive, and includes lots of settings, like brown, sauté, and steam.

  • You can add or subtract time while cooking for a more customizable experience.

Cons

  • Its larger size takes up more space on the counter and in the cupboard, so if you have a smaller kitchen, this could be an issue.

  • It doesn’t have a locking mechanism, which would make it tricky to transport.

The first thing we noticed about this slow cooker was the numerous helpful settings. Not only does it have the regular slow cooker features, but it also has brown, sauté, and steam settings. This minimizes the amount of pots and pans you have to use and inevitably saves clean-up time. It also comes in handy for recipes that require you to brown or sauté the food before it’s placed in the slow cooker. You’ll definitely work smarter and not harder with this three-in-one.

Aside from that, this Cuisinart slow cooker’s oblong shape makes it ideal for cutting thicker cuts of meat. Slow cookers with a more rounded shape make fitting food inside a game of Tetris. During testing, we appreciated that each cut of meat we cooked laid nice and flat at the bottom and that any vegetables we placed overtop fit nicely without feeling overfilled.

You’ll love this slow cooker if you have a big family to cook for every week, or if you plan on using it regularly. On the flip side of this, its larger size does mean it takes up more space on the counter and in the cupboard, so if you have a smaller kitchen or want something that you can take on the go, this may not be the right purchase for you. It doesn’t have a locking mechanism either, which also makes this less than ideal for transport. However, if you’re just preparing meals for at-home use, you’ll love this one for its versatility and spaciousness.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 11 x 18 x 10.5 inches |  Color: Silver

<p>People / Toni Sutton</p>

People / Toni Sutton

Best Budget: GreenLife Cook Duo 6-Quart Nonstick Slow Cooker

$60 at Amazon.com

$78 at Walmart.com

Pros

  • This slow cooker is designed to be used in the oven and on the stove, so you can sear, sauté, and transfer if needed.

  • A simple and functional control panel with three settings and a bright red LED readout tells you the stage and temperature of the food you’re cooking.

  • The outside doesn’t get too hot to the touch, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally burning yourself while it’s on.

Cons

  • The lid doesn’t have a locking mechanism and it doesn’t feel secure, so we don’t recommend for transport.

  • It's a bit bulky and hard to store, so it's not ideal for small spaces.

Our absolute favorite feature of this slow cooker by GreenLife is the fact that you can use the interior pot on the stove and in the oven — if you’re cooking a pot roast, for example, you can sear it directly on the stove before putting it in the slow cooker. We also loved how lightweight the ceramic is — it was easy to handle and move around the kitchen throughout our testing. It also did an excellent job of containing heat to the inside — the exterior doesn’t get too hot while in use so you won’t run the risk of burning yourself while moving about the kitchen.

The settings were nothing special, but still straightforward and functional. It has three timing and temperature options (high, low, medium), and a timer button that tells you the exact stage and temperature of whatever you’re cooking. This won our vote for best budget because of its quality — the sturdy ceramic and sleek look are both impressive considering the $60 price point. But its bulky size makes it a tad bit impractical for people who are working with smaller spaces. On another note, the lid doesn’t lock, so we don’t recommend this one if you need to take it on the go. With all of this being said, it’s a great option for people who want something functional and affordable and have the space to store it.

Material: Ceramic | Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 10 inches |  Colors: Turquoise, black, pink, white

<p>People / Sona Charaipotra</p>

People / Sona Charaipotra

Best Crock-Pot: Crockpot 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker w/ MyTime Technology

$65 at Amazon.com

$65 at Wayfair.com

Pros

  • Its spacious oval shape allows you to cook large quantities of food evenly and efficiently.

  • Customized controls allow you to adjust cooking time and temperature based on the food you’re making.

  • It easily keeps an even temperature so you can set it in the morning and not worry about checking up on it throughout the day.

Cons

  • The casing had a bit of a flimsy feeling, and the insert felt like it may crack in half if it were dropped or faced too much wear and tear.

  • It takes up a lot of space on the counter, which isn’t great for smaller kitchens.

Crock-Pot is to the term “slow cooker" as Kleenex is to “tissue.” We of course had to test out at least a couple of the O.G. slow cookers from Crock-Pot, and this programmable one won our vote as best from the brand. In classic Crock-Pot fashion, its oval shape makes it ideal for cooking large quantities of food that will feed a big family. It has the three standard settings — low, medium, and high — but it also comes with pre-set settings that allow you to get the perfect cook time and temperature depending on what you’re making, whether it’s poultry, meat, or soup. "Only Crock-Pot My Time technology allows you to schedule your meal to be ready at a specific time — no cook time math or recipe required," says Julien McCluney, VP of Brand Marketing at Newell Brands, the parent company of Crock-Pot, adding that you can select a meal time (say, five o'clock), input your food type and amount of ingredients, and your meal will be ready to go at your desired time.

The reason it won our vote for best Crock-Pot is because of how evenly it cooks a wide variety of foods. You can set it in the morning and not worry about over- or under-cooking anything if you need to leave it for an extended period of time. But if you do want to check up on whatever you’re making, it has a glass lid that you can peek into. It is truly the epitome of “set it and forget it.

One thing we didn’t love about this one was that the casing had a bit of a flimsy feeling. Although washing it was a breeze, we did get the feeling that if it slipped out of our hands and fell to the ground, it may break. Another downside, and a direct result of it being so spacious on the inside, is that it takes up quite a bit of space. It’ll easily take up a full corner on your kitchen counter, and if you are working with a small space, this isn’t exactly practical. However, it’s a great choice if you want something that can cook large quantities of food evenly and efficiently.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 14.6 x 9.7 x 14.3 inches |  Color: Stainless steel

<p>People / Julie Couser</p>

People / Julie Couser

Best for Entertaining: Crock-Pot 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

$89 at Amazon.com

$75 at Walmart.com

Pros

  • This Crock-Pot’s remarkably spacious interior is perfect for cooking large batches.

  • It has three simple and easy to follow settings.

  • While the interior vessel is pretty hefty, it’s balanced out by a lightweight steel exterior that doesn’t get too hot while in use.

Cons

  • The lid doesn’t fit very well so by the end of use, steam and bubbles were leaking out.

  • Because the interior vessel is so heavy, it’s a bit hard to clean.

Do you plan on having friends and family over? If so, you’ll love this eight-quart slow cooker from Crock-Pot. It’s one of the largest ones we tested and makes cooking large batches of food a breeze. They’ve kept the control panel nice and simple here, with three settings — medium, high, and warm. It did a great job of keeping food warm without causing it to get too cold or burn, and while it was cooking it didn’t get too hot on the outside, so you won’t have to worry about burning yourself while handling it. The steel exterior is also fairly lightweight, which balances out how heavy the interior vessel is.

Because it is so large, it is kind of hard to clean since you have to wash it by hand. Aside from that, the lid didn’t fit quite right, and we noticed that in some parts of testing, it popped off so that steam and bubbles leaked out of it. If you have a smaller family, smaller space, or don’t plan on hosting large groups, this eight-quart slow cooker would probably be impractical for you. But this would come in very handy for people who regularly entertain and have ample storage space in their kitchen.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 9.5 x 15.4 x 15.3 inches | Color: Black

<p>People / Meredith Butcher</p>

People / Meredith Butcher

Best for Beginners: Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

$50 at Walmart.com

Pros

  • Straightforward control panel has presets that make getting started a breeze.

  • The lightweight exterior and comfortable rectangular handles make this ideal for transporting.

  • The lid and interior pot are dishwasher safe, which makes for no-fuss cleanup.

Cons

  • It runs a bit hot so you’ll have to pay close attention to make sure it doesn’t burn anything.

If you’re inexperienced in the kitchen and are trying to build up a starter collection of cookware, this one from Beautiful by Drew Barrymore is a great choice. At just $50, it’s one of the cheaper slow cookers we tested, but that doesn’t mean it’s low quality. It comes with various presets for different foods like chicken, beef, pork, soup, and chili, so you don’t have to worry about temperatures or times and can keep things simple. It’s also lightweight and has rectangular handles that are easy to hold, which makes it ideal to transport if you’re headed to a dinner party or gathering. If you hate handwashing dishes, the lid and interior pot are dishwasher safe which will make clean-up much easier. However, after testing, we do recommend soaking the pot with soap and water before sticking it in the dishwasher for a more efficient clean.

One thing you should note about this one is that it does run pretty hot — we were able to fully cook chicken thighs after two hours on high, but after cooking beans for eight hours on low, they were overcooked. You’ll have to pay close attention to make sure you don’t burn whatever you’re cooking — at least in the beginning until you get comfortable using it. All in all, this slow cooker is efficient, simple, affordable, and it comes in a variety of colors that’ll look great displayed on your counter.

Material: Ceramic, stainless steel | Dimensions: 11.22 x 11.92 x 17.16 inches |  Color: Black sesame, cornflower blue, oyster gray, sage green, white icing

Best Medium Capacity: Calphalon Digital Sauté Slow Cooker

$170 at Amazon.com

$186 at Walmart.com

Pros

  • Its compact size makes it easy to store in a cabinet or place on a counter without taking up too much space.

  • A simple control panel with straightforward settings makes it beginner-friendly.

  • Lightweight and easy to move around, it also includes a rubber lip on the bottom of the lid to keep it on snuggly while cooking.

Cons

  • The basin is pretty small and larger pieces of meat won’t lay flat, so if your recipe requires you to brown meat, you’ll have to do that in a separate pan beforehand.

Aside from its sleek and luxurious outer appearance that will be a show stopper on your counter, we love how lightweight and compact this Calphalon slow cooker is, which is why it won our vote for best medium capacity. We were able to lift it with one hand when it was empty and transport it around the kitchen with ease. It also tucks away nicely in a cabinet or countertop — if you’re cooking a big meal and have multiple things going at once, you’ll be able to use this and still have some counter space to work with. The handles are comfortable to hold and feel sturdy, although they do get hot to the touch and require protective pads when being handled. Even still, we found this slow cooker ideal for carting to a potluck or dinner party.

It also has a simple and straightforward control panel, with the typical features of any run-of-the-mill slow cooker. We weren’t exactly impressed by this, but it got the job done. The main drawback to this one, which could be a pro depending on what you’re looking for, is that the basin itself is pretty small. Larger pieces of meat will struggle to lay flat. This is mainly an issue if your recipe requires you to brown meat beforehand — you’ll definitely have to do that in a separate pan and then transfer to the slow cooker. But if you want something simple, straightforward, and space-saving, this is a perfect choice for you.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 14.37 x 17.78  x 23.19 inches |  Color: Dark stainless steel

<p>People / Megan Wood</p>

People / Megan Wood

Easiest to Clean: KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker (KSC6223SS)

$100 at Amazon.com

$130 at Target.com

Pros

  • This KitchenAid slow cooker manages to be compact and take up minimal space on a counter while also maintaining a spacious interior that you can cook in without it overflowing.

  • It has a straightforward and easy-to-use control panel with four settings (warm, low, medium, high).

  • It is very lightweight and easy to handle when washing.

Cons

  • The lid seemed like it didn’t quite fit, and in the middle of cooking it popped off and let out steam.

  • The handles are small and hard to hold onto.

Finding something that makes cleanup as easy as possible is a game changer, and if that’s your main priority on the hunt for your next slow cooker, you’ll love this one by KitchenAid. The oval-shaped ceramic insert is so easy to clean and caked-on foods slipped right off during testing. It’s also very lightweight, which makes it easy to handle when you’re washing it by hand.

Aside from being lightweight, it’s also incredibly compact and takes up minimal space on a counter. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t cook large amounts of food with it — the insert’s oval shape means you can cook things like large cuts of meat and big batches of soup without it overfilling. When you’re cooking, you’ll also appreciate the straightforward control panel which is equipped with four settings — warm, low, medium, and high. It isn’t exactly impressive but it gets the job done with minimal fuss.

There were a few things design-wise that we could foresee as a problem. For one thing, the handles are small, especially in comparison to its size, which makes it a bit hard to pick up. We also noticed the lid didn’t fit well, and in the middle of cooking, it popped off and let out steam. Both of these things make it less than ideal for transporting on the go — but for its straightforward settings, lightweight feel, and nonstick interior, it’s a winner.

Material: Stainless steel | Dimensions: 10.5 x 17.5 x 10.8 inches |  Color: Steel

<p>People / Elizabeth Theriot</p>

People / Elizabeth Theriot

Best for the Serious Chef: Ninja MC1001 8.5-Quart Foodi PossibleCooker Pro MC1001

$130 at Amazon.com

$130 at Target.com

Pros

  • This Ninja slow cooker is quipped with a removable, oven-friendly vessel and a spoon rest on top.

  • It comes with eight cooking functions that include sauté, steam, sous vide, and braise, aside from its regular slow cook feature.

  • State of the art heat technology allows you to cook food even faster.

Cons

  • It cooks in fifty-degree increments, so if your recipe calls for something other than that, you’ll need to keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

We were blown away by all the bells and whistles this slow cooker comes with, which is why it won our vote for serious chefs who cook more advanced recipes. It looks and feels sturdy, and has three “layers:” the base, the removable vessel, and the lid and spoon rest on top. The vessel is very versatile and also serves as a Dutch oven when removed from the crock pot exterior. It also has eight cooking functions — slow cook, sauté, steam, keep warm, sous vide, braise, bake, and proof. This is the most versatile slow cooker we tested and would be a game changer for cooking multiple courses by minimizing clean-up. It even comes with its own non-stick spoon!

Aside from all of its extra external features, it features state-of-the-art heating technology, and the manufacturer boasts that it can cook 30 percent faster than an oven. Based on our testing, this claim is absolutely true. This does come in handy, but it’s something you may need to get used to. During testing, we were making a brisket, and the recipe called for cooking it 275, but the closest we could get was either 250 or 300. We ended up cooking it at 300, and because of how fast it cooks, we did burn the brisket. All was not lost and it was still delicious, but you could easily screw up whatever you’re making if you’re not ready for just how fast this thing heats up. If you’re a novice chef this could be frustrating, but if you have a bit more experience, you’ll find this slow cooker to be an absolute dream for its versatility and advanced features.

Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 18 x 12.64 x 10.59 inches | Color: Sea salt gray

<p>People / Ivy Ford</p>

People / Ivy Ford

Best Design: Greenpan Elite 6-Quart Slow Cooker

$250 at Amazon.com

$239 at Target.com

Pros

  • From silicone handles to a roomy rectangular shape, the design of this slow cooker makes it easy to use and perfect for cooking large batches of food.

  • Although it’s roomy on the inside, it manages to not take up too much space so you’ll be able to store it in a cabinet.

  • It has a minimalistic control panel that’s intuitive and easy to use.

Cons

  • This is not entirely a “set it and forget it” appliance, especially on the low setting, which requires some toggling to cook things evenly.

  • It’s on the pricier side of slow cookers we’ve tested, and we found it to be a bit overpriced considering the extra care it required on the lower setting.

This slow cooker certainly looks high quality at first glance, which is why it won our vote for best design. It comes in a variety of chic colors that will be a nice decorative touch to your kitchen, and all of its features feel intentional, which came through during testing. We really appreciated the silicone handles that keep you from burning your hands while transporting, and its rectangular shape makes it easy to store. Its shape also makes it easy to cook large amounts of food without it overfilling. We also loved the design of the control panel. It has a minimalistic look, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t have lots of customizable settings — you can use it to brown, sauté, and steam, and you can follow along with the internal temperature and cooking time with a sleek lit-up display screen. Initially, we did have to thumb around a bit with the settings to get our bearings, but it was intuitive enough that we got the hang of it fairly quickly without looking at the manual.

One thing that we did notice with this one is that it isn’t exactly possible to “set it and forget it,” particularly on the low setting. When we used it to cook braised beef, we had it on low for four hours, and it didn’t cook as thoroughly as we’d hoped. We had to experiment a bit, stirring periodically and setting it to a high setting until it was cooked through. With this in mind, we found the $250 price point a bit high, especially considering how many cheaper options there are on the market. But if you have more expendable income (or catch this one on sale) and want a slow cooker that looks nice on your counter, you’ll love this one.

Material: Ceramic nonstick, stainless steel | Dimensions: 12 x 12 x 12 inches |  Colors: Cream white, black, fig purple, ponderosa pine

<p>People / Henry Yung</p>

People / Henry Yung

Other Slow Cookers We Tried

  • Wolf Gourmet 7-Quart Multi-Function Cooker: This slow cooker by Wolf Gourmet worked great, and overall we didn’t have any complaints about its performance. Holding up to seven quarts of food, it’s very spacious and there isn’t much you couldn’t make in it. The pot is also removable and usable on the stovetop for easy browning or searing, and the handles are large and roomy for easy transport. The main reason it didn’t make our main list is because of its steep price point.

  • Instant Pot 6-Quart Electric 5-in-1 Precision Dutch Oven: This Instant Pot slow cooker is beautiful and will be a great addition to any countertop. Due to its round shape, it worked great for the brisket and pork butt we cooked during testing, and it’s ideal for storage since it isn’t as wide as most other slow cookers. One major downside we noted during testing was that cook time and temperature are dependent on the mode you’re using. For example, the slow cook setting only allows you to cook on a low setting (203 degrees) for between 3 and 12 hours. This doesn’t allow for a very customizable experience, which is frustrating if you like to work with a wide variety of recipes. This is the main reason why this one didn’t quite make the cut for us — it isn’t a slow cooker per se, but more a Dutch oven that happens to have a slow cooker setting.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Slow Cooker

Design

If you’ve put off buying a slow cooker because you’re worried about how much space it will take up or where you’ll store it, know that there are variables in design that can make this easier. While most slow cookers are generally the same height, it is possible to buy one that isn’t as wide (like the GreenLife Slow Cooker), and therefore won’t take up as much shelf space.

If you want something better equipped for a small kitchen, opt for a more rounded shape as it’ll be easier to tuck in a corner. Aside from storage, portability is another important thing to think about — if you want to take your slow cooker on the go for gatherings, finding one that has a lockable lid and roomy handles will be a game changer for you.

Performance

The whole point of a slow cooker is having deliciously seasoned and juicy food without a lot of effort. You don’t want one that will cause whatever you’re making to burn or cook unevenly. If you want a slow cooker that will cook a wide variety of food well, you should look for one that has lots of settings and customizable time and temperature controls, like the Crock-Pot MyTime Technology 6-Quart Slow Cooker. Pro tip: "Layer foods that take longer to cook on the bottom, so potatoes go in first with carrots on top," says McCluney.

Another feature that always comes in handy is a removable pot insert that’s oven and stove friendly (like the Ninja 8.5-Quart Slow Cooker). Many slow cooker recipes, especially for meat, call for searing it before placing it in the slow cooker. Keeping everything in one appliance makes for better texture and flavor.

Ease of Cleaning

While some slow cookers are dishwasher safe, they take up a lot of space and may need to be hand washed anyway, especially because some foods can be caked onto the interior and need to be scrubbed off. Picking a slow cooker that’s more lightweight will make it easier to handle when cleaning. Also, when you’re shopping for your next slow cooker, it’s a good idea to look at product details on the manufacturer’s website to see if it’s nonstick. All of these things will make for a more pleasant clean-up process. 

<p>People / Julie Couser</p>

People / Julie Couser

How We Tested

Our editors selected 16 best-selling slow cookers on the market, and testers with a wide range of cooking experience brought them into their homes and used them on a variety of foods. Testers used each slow cooker on both high and low settings, and they made at least one meat during the testing period — like beef roast, pork butt, and chicken — from a trusted recipe.

When evaluating each slow cooker, testers also paid attention to things like maneuverability, ease of cleaning, and design, all of which went into the designated superlative of each slow cooker that made our list. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular size slow cooker?

A slow cooker with a five- to seven-quart capacity is ideal for cooking both large and small quantities. If you live alone or frequently cook small batches, there are mini slow cookers on the market (like this Crock-Pot Mini 1.5-Quart) that may make more sense for you. If you do a lot of entertaining, something bigger (like the Crock-Pot 8-Quart) would make cooking large batches a breeze.

What's the difference between a pressure cooker and a slow cooker?

Although they are designed for similar results, pressure cookers and slow cookers operate in opposite ways. A pressure cooker uses steam to cook food quickly, while a slow cooker is designed to cook low and slow, as the name suggests.

Which is better: a pressure cooker or slow cooker?

This really comes down to what you’re making. Pressure cookers are ideal for cooking when you’re in a time crunch; however, if you’re working with root vegetables or thicker cuts of meat, a slow cooker is preferable, as the low temperatures over longer periods of time allow you to properly cook them all the way through without compromising moisture. A pressure cooker could easily burn or zap the moisture out of denser foods.

<p>People / Sona Charaipotra</p>

People / Sona Charaipotra

Why Trust PEOPLE?

This roundup was written by Olivia Avitt, a freelance writer for PEOPLE who specializes in thorough, honest product reviews. When writing this roundup, she compiled the products included in this list and analyzed their testing results thoroughly to find the need-to-know bits of information for shoppers. Buying a large appliance for your kitchen is a major investment and the market is saturated with options, so we know that making a decision can be overwhelming. That’s why she took an unbiased and thoughtful editorial approach to providing you with a straight-to-the-point review so that you can be empowered with your purchase. We also interviewed Julien McCluney for tips, tricks, and the latest slow cooker technology innovations.



Meet Our Expert

Julien McCluney is the vice president of brand marketing at Newell Brands, a parent company of Crock-Pot.



What Is PEOPLE Tested?

We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.

But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.

In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.

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