Top 10 Slow cooker brands-start cooking great recipes

A slow cooker is a kitchen appliance that has been around for more than 3 decades, making it an established tool of kitchens worldwide. Despite the decrease in sales and new users trying it, recently it has returned as a top choice among Americans for their homes. This is mainly the result of the investment brands have putted in better designed and conceived cookers that cost less, are more energy efficient, and are very safe to specially unattended.

Slow cookers have closed lids and work at low temperatures when compared to ordinary ovens making them way less dangerous for the user and even for children who accidentally touch them out of curiosity.

Note: Children should never be left alone with a slow cooker or other kitchen appliance of any kind.

If you are sceptical about slow cookers because of the experience with old crock pots forget about it: the new generation of cookers keeps food warm without overcooking it, which was the major flaw of the old ones.

Why you should consider a slow cooker:

-food can be left slow cooking in the morning and be ready to serve by the end of day: very convenient and time-efficient during work-days

-energy efficient: will consume less electricity when compared to traditional electric ovens

--much easier to make stews: meat gets tender without losing taste

-easy to wash: most slow cookers are have a glazed pot which is very fast to clean

- Only one pot needed to cook: keeps the kitchen tidy and avoids unnecessary mess

-many slow cooker recipes available online to try new dishes that will surprise your family and guests

At Amazon you have a great selection of slow cookers to choose from, fro established brands and new manufacturers, and the choices made bellow reflect the very best choices based on price and customer ratings.

These are  appropriated to single persons or couples

The Cuisinart slow cooker is very well conceived making it an exceptionally valuable tool to have in your kitchen. It has a programmer accessed through an LCD screen that can be set up to 24hours so food gets cooked plenty of time ahead of your arrival and is kept warm so you can enjoy it just as if it was made 2 minutes before. From soup, pasta sauce, chicken, pork, red beans and rice, this slow cooker makes sure the result with any kind of meal/food will always be the best. A very useful set of recipes are included with the instruction manual to make sure you won’t run out of ideas soon. Preparing meals for one or two persons is great there will be just the right amount of leftovers to keep in the refrigerator for a couple of extra meals.

One great advantage over the competition is the built-in glass lid that enables you you to easily monitor the cooking process.

Main features

-Oval shaped with ceramic pot

-practical 24hour countdown timer

- Nonslip rubber feet

-handles stay cool to prevent burns

- 14.2 x 16.5 x 11.8 inches, weights around 16 pounds

-has a built-in glass lid so you can easily monitor the cooking process

-for sale with a 3 year warranty

West Bend`s four quarts is a safe option for preparing larger dishes for groups.Despite being large enough for a good roast, it is not cumbersome like 7 or 8 quart models, making it a wise option for preparing meals from 2 to 8 people.

The inside container is of a high quality and of great use as it can be separated from the outer part, therefore easily washed and perfect to store the leftovers in the fridge.

This slow cooker is guaranteed to be a solid product where you put in your food, turn it on and come back some hours later to collect dinner: is as simple as it could be.

At this range we find the best cookers for the common 3- persons household

The Hamilton Beach programmable slow cooker is a top pick amongst shoppers and after taking a closer look to all it has it becomes no surprise at all. It is very welt built specially the lid with a rubber edge that can be tightened down with clips: you get an airtight seal that prevents evaporation and avoids spills when transporting food in the car for example. Despite being large the ceramic insert feels like feather which is great for cleaning.

As for programming it is surprisingly easy to set cook for a specified amount of time, keeping food warm after the job is done so you will have no overcook or cold food surprises.

Another great feature is the probe option that basically saves you from all the guesswork of knowing when the meal is prepared: after getting into the sweet spot of cooking temperature the Hamilton Beach will keep it there so everyone can enjoy your tasteful meal.

Main features

-6-quart programmable

-LED digital control panel

-3 cooking options--program, manual, or probe

-Internal mechanism that protects against power failure

-comes with very easy to understand user manual that includes some great recipes

-has a one year warranty

- Measures 16 x 10.4 x 16.1 inches and weights around 15 pounds

For medium sized families ( 3-6 people) to friend’s gatherings, this cooker is ready to cook virtually anything up to 10 hours and keeps the result warm for another two. It has a big cooking pot that is totally dishwasher safe leaving you time to enjoy the company of your guests and family. An underestimated feature is its squared shape that fits nicely in the corner of the counter: always an advantage for efficient space management.

What is great about this model is the food doesn't stick to the crockery insert which translates into super-easy clean saving you precious time.

Main features

- Display with a 10-hour countdown timer

-Touchpad control panel

-Tempered glass lid; nonslip feet; stay-cool handles for safety

-Measures 13 x 11.8 x 9.6 inches and weighs 14.8 pounds

-one year warranty

- Not that big: easy to store in a cupboard

The oblong-shaped slow cooker from West Bend is a very valuable option in the mid size range. Even if it doesn’t have more advanced features like a led screen with timer control, it has good extras like the pot that can be used in the oven, range top, or even in the freezer to keep the leftovers for another day. Another great extra is the usage customers usually give to the cooker using its base as a griddle for pancakes or grilled cheese sandwiches, enabling to leave a free burner on the stove. Under the 40$ tag you won’t find anything to be as good as this one.

Main features

-Oblong-shaped slow cooker with adjustable temperature control

- Glass lid included

- Dishwasher-safe parts

-one year warranty

- 13.8 x 9 x 8.3 inches, weights 5.8 pounds

This slow cooker is the state-of-the art appliance for your kitchen. With a touchscreen, it has a programmable timer accessed through an LCD . For the rice fan the Sanyo cooker is wonderful thanks to the separate inner pots and inner lids that keep slow cooked meals separate from rice , keeping its natural taste. Also the micro computer that is included have automatic controllers easily accessed through a multi-menu single touch, enabling to choose programs for any kind of rice: mixed, brown, sushi, white, you name it. Even if you are a disaster preparing rice the Sanyo automatic system is 100% idiot-proof so you will surprise everyone with the most fluffy and moist rice they’ll have ever had.

Main features

- Convenient Retractable power cord

-Steaming option with adjustable timer

- Comes with valuable accessories including a tofu container,the steaming tray, a measuring cup, a spatula, and a compilation of recipes

- Measures 13 x 10 x 8 inches , weights 13 pounds

These are big families and groups oriented: cooking for more than 6 people

If you have a big family or constant visits from friends that demand a larger cooking pot, the Maxi-Matic on sale at Amazon is the best purchase. That huge rib roast or cooking for a dozen is no longer a headache, this cooker holds it well without compromising the final result.

Beyond all benefits and features of a modern slow cooker, this one has a big rounded shape making it possible to put inside odd shaped pieces of meat without the need to additional chop. As for quality and ease of use it could not be easier to work with: pork roast, chicken, pasta, veggies, soup, stews, you name it and the pot will cook it. The most remarkable is the possibility to cook frozen meat at a higher temperature until it is thawed to automatically drop temperature to low as if the meat was putted there unfrozen.

Main features

- removable stoneware oval-shaped pot

- Defrost heat setting

-Thanks to clear tempered-glass lid the moisture is trapped in

- brushed-stainless-steel housing

- Measures 13 x 10.6 x 17 inches , weights 17 pounds

The Kitchen aid is one of the biggest slow cookers, ideal for family get-togethers or large social functions where the balance between quantity and quality is crucial. It is a big unit and a little bit heavy ( 24 pounds), however its quality is superb creating meals up to 12 people while maintaining a great flavour.

An Innovative ceramic insert helps capture condensation at the same time providing a solid grip area that is rock proof quality made , a distinctive mark of KitchenAid products.

Another great feature is all parts are dishwasher safe so you can put the tight fitting lid or the removable insert into the dishwasher which makes cleaning a snap .

Main Features

- programmable timer running up to 10 hours

-Ob-round shaped cooking pot with flared rim

-Large stay-cool handles

-Measures 15 x 19 x 10 inches , weights 24 pounds

-One year replacement warranty

This oval-shaped slow cooker has great capacity being the perfect choice for big families up to 8 people. It has a helpful touch screen control panel to set cooking times and the timer countdown so you have total control over every meal preparation also thanks to light flashes that inform where the process is in the cooking cycle.

Its handles feature cool wraps thanks to a unique silicone cover enabling easy safe handling. Like its rival slow cookers the crock-pot automatically changes to warm mode as soon as the meal is ready.

Another great advantage is how handsome it will look on your countertop as it s beautifully crafted from Stainless steel, matching well with other appliances.

Main Features

-Oval-shaped slow cooker with 6-1/2-quart removable stoneware crock

-Metal side handles that stay cool

Measures 16.5 x 12.2 x 8.7 inches and weights 16 pounds

- one year warranty

-includes a cookbook containing a wide range of delicious recipes

Despite being placed onn “heavy weight” territory this 6 1\2 quart slow cooker can also be used to cook for 2 or 3 persons . It has many interesting details that deserve a closer look such as the rubberised edge around the cooker insert that keeps the seal strong, or a light weight outer shell that greatly reduces the overall weight of the All-Clad.

Main Features

-integrated control panel to constant monitoring of cooking

-Timer can be programmed up to 26 hours

- riveted stainless-steel handles

-Parts are dishwasher-safe

- Very useful recipe booklet included

-Measures 20.5 x 14.8 x 12.2 inches , weights 22 pounds

-Warranty is valid for one year