The Biggest Benefits of Owning a Slow Cooker

Have you tried it for chocolate lava cake yet?!

If you’ve ever watched an infomercial or scrolled through social media, you’ve likely come across a wide array of kitchen tools that make slick promises. But a few select kitchen gadgets actually stand the test of time. The slow cooker is a perfect example of this concept.

Originally patented in 1940, the slow cooker is now a staple in 90% of American homes, according to some food industry estimates. That’s because the slow cooker—like a waffle maker and blender, for example—actually delivers on its guarantees, is versatile enough to deserve a precious piece of kitchen real estate, offers good value for the dollar, and makes life easier in several ways.

If you’re among the one in 10 Americans living sans slow cooker, or if you’ve allowed your appliance to collect dust, consider this a reminder of why this timeless tool rocks.

8 of the Biggest Benefits of Owning a Slow Cooker

Before we go any further, it’s worth noting that some call this same product a “Crock-Pot,” even though that’s actually a specific brand of slow cooker. We stick to the generic term.

No matter what you call it, what brand you buy, or what size you invest in, here are eight reasons why you might want to plug in your slow cooker today.

Related: 8 Cooking Tools Every Home Chef Must Have (and 4 You Can Toss)

You Can Prep Ahead

Remember the old infomercial motto “set and forget”? That assurance rings true with slow cookers, confirms Meggan Hill, executive chef and CEO of Culinary Hill.

“Slow cookers are a brilliant way to enjoy home-cooked meals in a hands-off way. After a little bit of preparation up front, you turn on the slow cooker and let it simmer away all day while you're at work or doing anything else,” Hill says. At the end of the day, you’ll be able to “return home to heavenly smells and a delicious meal just waiting for you.”

By getting a head-start in the morning, “when you get home, you have more time to enjoy your evening without the worry of ‘what's for dinner?’,” says Lynn Blanchard, Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen director.

Slow cookers are safer than an oven or stove to leave on all day while you’re away, and they use far less energy, too, Hill adds.

While you’re at it, you might as well double-up if you have room in the appliance: “You can also make an extra meal for the freezer or to share with someone else.” (Just be sure not to fill the pot more than two-thirds full.)

Related: 18 Dump Dinner Recipes for Easy Slow Cooker Meals

They’re a Potluck Host’s or Guest’s Dream

From roasts and soups to hot drinks and dips, slow cookers are the ultimate party-starter, according to Lauren Grant-Vose, founder of Zestful Kitchen.

“I also use my slow cooker for entertaining as a way to keep food warm on a buffet, even if it wasn't actually cooked in the slow cooker,” Hill says.

If you’re the one attending rather than the inviting, Chris Meyer, Dotdash Meredith Test Kitchen administrative assistant reminds us that “slow cookers travel well, so you can take your food [already prepared and ready to stay warm] to a party or holiday gathering.”

Slow Cookers Aren’t Just For Cold Weather Fare

Slow cookers certainly slay at transforming leftover chicken, turkey, seafood, beef, and vegetable parts into stock or broth, Hill says, and are stellar at soups and stews, of course, they’re also excellent at lighter meals.

Our favorite summer slow cooker recipes range from whole grain and vegetable salads to fajita pinwheels to chicken lettuce wraps; proving that the slow cooker certainly has year-round appeal.

They Have Some Secret Powers

By now it’s clear that slow cookers rock at making savory recipes easy to execute any week of the year. Whether you’re in the mood for a healthy dinner, a barbecue-style dish, or a Thanksgiving side, you’ve met your match.

The appliance is also an asset if you’re in the mood for something sweeter. Blanchard swears by her slow cooker to transform fresh fall fruit into apple butter. Hill admits that her family and friends swoon over her Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake “that’s basically a self-saucing pudding made right in the bottom of a slow cooker. It gets rave reviews every time!”

Our Test Kitchen pros have also perfected slow cooker soufflés, fudge, shortcakes, fondue, and much more; exemplifying the range of delish slow cooker desserts you have to choose from.

The Size Options Make Slow Cookers Even More Versatile

If you’re in need of food for a crowd or plan to use it often for roasting large cuts of meat, a sizable slow cooker from 6- to 10-quarts will be your perfect match. Smaller slow cookers (which are usually available from 1-quart to 5 quarts) are your solution if you want to use it for dips, sauces, or non-food uses.

“This is an argument for those smaller slow-cookers: Line the cooker with a plastic roasting bag and use it to melt paraffin wax for hands and feet. Just make sure you monitor the temp so you don’t burn yourself,” Grant-Vose says. “You can also use it to melt wax for candle-making.”

Unsure of which size is right? The mini models are often small enough that you could easily fit both a large and small unit in one cabinet.

Related: The 10 Best Slow Cookers For One-Pot Meals, Soups, and Casseroles

In Seconds, You Can Jazz Up Slow Cooker Recipes to Gourmet Territory

Not all slow cooker meals need to stop at dump, simmer, and serve.

“If you know some basic cooking techniques and carve out a little extra time, you can really elevate the meals that come out of your slow cooker,” Hill says.

Here are her favorite ways to infuse even more flavor:

• Sear meats in a skillet on the stove before adding them to the slow cooker pot

• Layer in aromatic herbs, vegetables, spices, and/or wine

• Finish the dish with a garnish that offers texture, such as a handful of canned French-fried onions atop green bean casserole or a crown of crushed crackers or chopped nuts over soup or stew

Kids Can Help

Unlike a scorching cast-iron skillet on a burner or a fiery casserole pan in the oven, the slow cooker itself isn’t hot during prep time.

“My kids love to cook in a slow cooker,” Hill says. “They can do all the fun parts like adding ingredients and stirring, and then it heats up when they aren't around. At the end, they get to see—and taste—their results!”

Slow Cookers Are Easy to Clean and Maintain

The outside and base of the slow cooker just require a swipe with a clean towel, and the pot and lid can be cleaned with warm water, soap, and a dish towel or sponge.

For an even more hands-off solution, simply drop a dishwasher tablet in the pot, add some clean water, set to “low” for 1 hour, then dump and rinse clean.

Related: How to Clean a Slow Cooker, Including Tough Stuck-On Stains

The Drawbacks of Slow Cookers

We could go on and on about the benefits of slow cookers, but readily admit that there are a few downsides to this kitchen gadget. The experts we spoke to dish:

• Only certain types of meals work well in a slow cooker, and foods that benefit from browning don't work as well—unless you’re willing to put in the initial time and effort to start the meal in a different pan.

• Slow cooking is basically a slow, steamy cook. This means that you won’t be able to crisp, like you can with an air fryer. Plus, the mixture doesn’t reduce (aka concentrate flavor) or build up a “fond” of ultra-concentrated flavor on the side or bottom of the pan, as you might with a Dutch oven or skillet.

• Other tools can slow cook and more. Case in point: The Instant Pot.

• Slow cookers aren’t usually as attractive and display-worthy as, say, a ceramic Dutch oven or a copper pot.

• Slow cookers can be heavy and bulky, making them a potential nuisance to move around if you have limited wrist mobility or upper body strength.

The Bottom Line

True, other appliances might be able to multitask a bit more, and some advance prep might be required. But overall, “slow-cookers offer a unique value in the countertop appliance space,” Grant-Vose says.

If you anticipate cooking large batches of soups and stews or large pieces of meat, are a hot dip devotee, are okay with exchanging speed for simplicity, or have a family or host often, a slow cooker is an especially savvy investment. Slow cookers are easy to clean, kid-friendly, and the appliance travels well so you can click the dial to “keep warm” and snack all day.

Plus, “compared to other countertop appliances like an Instant Pot, toaster oven or large air fryers, slow cookers aren’t outrageously priced,” Grant-Vose adds. Our best budget slow cooker, for instance, starts at just $41.

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