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What You Need to Know
The best slow cookers are easy to use, offering you reliable, set-and-forget home cooking at the touch of a few buttons. We chose three slow cookers, all highly recommended, as co-winners. Each produced delicious meals, with different features that made these models stand out. The Hamilton Beach 33866 Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Digital Programmable Slow Cooker is our favorite traditional slow cooker. It has simple controls and cooked all foods exceptionally well; it also has some useful extra features, including a temperature probe and lockable lid for transport. If you’d like a lighter-weight slow cooker that lets you sear directly in the crock, we like the Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central. It cooks faster and hotter than traditional ceramic slow cookers such as the other two co-winners, so you must check your food’s doneness on the early side of recipe ranges.
A slow cooker promises to be a little fantasy grandmother who sits in the kitchen all day cooking for you, but use the wrong cooker and that dream could fizzle. A cooker might run hotter than expected, drying out the food or turning it mushy, or slower than you want, so dinner isn’t ready when you are. Then there can be issues with hot spots, which make food cook unevenly. And what if operating your machine is so confusing that you have to pore over the manual each time you use it?
A well-designed slow cooker excels in covered, moist-heat cooking, also known as braising. This technique is beneficial for meat—usually tough, cheap cuts that tenderize through long, gentle cooking. When connective tissue, which is made mostly of collagen, is cooked beyond 140 degrees, it begins to break down into gelatin, the protein that makes for tender meat. Collagen breaks down most efficiently in a moist environment at temperatures around 200 degrees. This lower-than-boiling temperature range is also good for developing deep, complex flavors in soups, stews, and sauces.
Most slow cookers come with two settings: low and high. The two settings give cooks flexibility: You can either cook for a shorter span on high or about twice as long on low. Generally the choice is about convenience, not flavor or texture, though delicate foods often require the low setting. Frequently we have found that slow cookers reach the same final temperature on either setting but take longer to do so on the low setting than they do on the high setting.
We wanted a slow cooker that would deliver a properly cooked meal and be simple and intuitive to use. Previous testing taught us that glass lids were a must so that you can see progress without opening the lid, which lets heat escape and slows down cooking. We also prefer oval- and rectangular-shaped crocks, which can accommodate large roasts; provide abundant surface area to successfully slow-cook rice, grains, and beans; and generally offer more versatility than round crocks. A generous 6- to 7-quart stated capacity was a must—the same capacity as the Dutch oven we’d otherwise use for similar tasks. Few slow cookers actually hold as much as their stated capacity, but we’ve found them to be adequate for all tasks regardless.
With Gregory Thiel, a postdoctoral associate in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, we dissected the slow cookers to better understand the different types and how they work.
What Are the Different Types of Slow Cookers?
There are two main styles of slow cookers, as we found out when we dismantled a duplicate set of cookers with the help of Gregory Thiel, a postdoctoral associate in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Traditional slow cookers have thick, heat-retaining ceramic vessels that absorb and transmit heat gradually. They’re warmed by a thin heating element strip made of nickel and chromium (or “nicrome”) that wraps around the vessel like a belt. When the cooker is on, this wire heats up more or less powerfully depending on the wattage and the setting. Other models feature a thin, nonstick-coated metal crock (usually aluminum) that sits on an electric heating element in the base that acts like an enclosed burner.
There are pros and cons to each style. Metal crocks are lightweight and more durable, unlike ceramic crocks, which can crack if dropped or sharply struck. The metal crocks also let you sauté and brown food right in the crock, no separate skillet needed. You can’t brown or sauté in ceramic crocks; you must brown food in a skillet on the stove and transfer food to the slow cooker.
While it’s convenient to sauté food right in the cooker, it’s important to note that metal models typically slow-cook much faster than ceramic models: first, because they are often starting hot after sautéing, and second, because thin metal heats up faster and more efficiently than thick ceramic, especially when the entire metal crock bottom rests on a large heating element. As a consequence, with a metal crock, if you don’t pay close attention, you can easily overcook food. It’s important to check for doneness much earlier than indicated in most recipes, which are usually developed in ceramic slow cookers.
You shouldn’t need to refer to the manual each time you set up your slow cooker, so we had testers evaluate how intuitive the features were on each of the models we tested.
What to Look For
Digital, Programmable Controls: We much preferred digital programmable cookers, which let us choose our desired cooking time and high or low setting to cook our meal, showed us a countdown to doneness, and also automatically switched to “warm” when the preset cooking time was up.
Simple, Intuitive Controls: A few models were a pleasure to use, with controls that were unambiguous and buttons that clicked satisfyingly and lit up when pressed and indicated that cooking had started.
By tracking each model as it heated water, we found that slow cookers without a temperature sensor continue to climb in temperature to the boiling point, even if they’re set to low.
Internal Temperature Sensor and Control: Our temperature tests revealed that better slow cookers had internal temperature sensors and controls. That meant that they cooked more gently and successfully than slow cookers without temperature controls (which simply keep heat fully on until food boils at 212 F, with predictably rubbery, overcooked results). Cookers with sensors kept food at a braising temperature, just below boiling, so the foods cooked gently and became tender while retaining their juiciness. Note: You can’t see this feature when you’re shopping, but our testing results (using a temperature probe suspended in water in the slow cooker over hours of cooking on low and high settings) clearly indicated which models had internal controls and heated gradually to cook more gently and successfully.
Large, Stay-Cool Handles: Crocks with handles that were easy to grasp securely and stayed cool were easier to use.
For Traditional Models—Good Insulation: Traditional slow cookers can sometimes heat unevenly, with hot spots around the belt-shaped heating element that surrounds the ceramic crock. When we dismantled all the crock pots, we found that the traditional slow cookers that performed best had thick, heat-resistant padding and foil heat shields packed inside. The other traditional models were empty except for the heating element. The insulation buffered the crocks from contact with the heating elements, preventing hot spots and promoting even cooking. It also explained why some of those models, including one of our favorites, tended to run a bit slower.
To test how well the slow cookers perform at their basic task of low, slow cooking, we turned to our classic recipe for pot roast.
Nice to Have
Attached Temperature Probe: One model had an attached probe that accurately measured the temperature of food cooking inside the slow cooker. While it’s possible to slow-cook successfully without this feature, we appreciated that the probe let us monitor food safety and cooking progress without opening the lid. This is important because slow cookers typically cook very gently, and every time you open the lid to stir or check food, you lose considerable heat, which lengthens the cooking time. The model that came with this temperature probe had three ports in the lid with tight silicone gaskets that kept heat in but allowed us to insert the probe in different locations as needed. The probe stored neatly in the handle when not in use, so we didn’t risk losing it.
Latching Lids and Silicone Gaskets: Since we often take a slow cooker to a potluck or other occasion, we liked models that had latching lids and silicone gaskets around those lids, which helped prevent leaks in transit.
“Hold Temperature” Feature: One model can hold food at your desired temperature for up to 24 hours. This feature lets you use the slow cooker to reheat leftovers, as a fondue pot, or as a yogurt maker. While the manufacturer claims this also allows you to use it as a sous vide cooker, it lacks a propeller to circulate water around the food, which you’d find with dedicated sous vide immersion circulators.
What to Avoid
Analog Controls: Unless you really want a very simple, inexpensive slow cooker and you plan to be around while it’s cooking, avoid models with analog controls (that is, simple knobs that switch the cooker to on, off, high, low, or warm). These may seem less confusing than digital controls, but they don’t indicate progress (showing remaining cooking time), and they won’t switch over to keep warm when cooking is done, so you run the risk of overcooking your food.
Overcomplicated Displays: You really shouldn’t need the manual after the first time you use a slow cooker. We wanted intuitive controls, but several models had so many buttons with such confusing layouts that our testers couldn’t tell if they’d set them correctly or even whether they were on.
Test browning function, if included in cooker, by sautéing diced onions
Check that 6-inch springform pan atop coil of aluminum foil fits inside crock (a setup used in some dessert recipes)
Heat 4 quarts water for 12 hours on low and 6 hours on high, tracking water temperature to map heating patterns and maximum cooking temperatures
How We Rated
Cooking: We evaluated the taste and texture of food cooked in each slow cooker.
Ease of Use: We assessed how easy it was to use, set, and handle the slow cookers.
Cleanup: We noted whether cookers were easy to keep clean and in good condition.
FAQs
The Instant Precision Dutch Oven performed well as a slow cooker and its enameled cast-iron vessel also can be removed to work as a standalone Dutch oven. If you are in the market for both a slow cooker and a Dutch oven, it’s a good choice. For more information, see our review.
An Instant Pot is a multicooker, an appliance known for having lots of features, typically including slow cooking, pressure cooking, rice cooking, steaming, searing, fermenting, and more. In our testing, we’ve rarely found multicookers that can actually slow-cook food well; they’re better at pressure cooking. So if you want an appliance that will slowly cook your food over the course of a day, you’re better off with a slow cooker. To learn more, see this comparison.
Every dish we made in this slow cooker emerged deeply flavorful and perfectly cooked. Its simple controls made it very easy to set temperature and time and to monitor progress; an attached temperature probe let us know exactly when our food was done. Its temperature climbed very slowly and gradually, cooking foods more gently than other models in our testing. Aside from executing basic slow cooking recipes perfectly, it had some nice extras: The lid offers three silicone-gasketed ports that let us insert the temperature probe at different locations without worrying about losing heat. The probe stores neatly on the handle between uses. Latches and a silicone gasket around the lid create an especially tight seal on the cooker for safe transport. While its actual capacity seems comparatively small, in practice, it easily fit a large pot roast with potatoes and carrots without crowding. Lastly, this cooker offers a bonus: Its “hold temp” feature lets you set a desired temperature and cooking time to use the cooker as a fondue pot, to reheat leftovers, or to make yogurt. Despite its advertising, we don’t recommend this feature for sous vide cooking, since it can’t circulate water to cook food evenly; it also takes three times as long to heat water to your desired temperature as our favorite immersion circulator. One quibble: This cooker was very easy to clean, but we discovered that painted labels partly wore off two control buttons; this did not affect performance.
Model Number: 33866Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Low, medium, high, warm, hold-temp settings; temperature probe; will keep warm for 24 hours after cookingCrock weight: 7 lbCrock material: CeramicActual Capacity: 3.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 201.7°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 212°FPrice at Time of Testing: $89.99
Every dish we made in this slow cooker emerged deeply flavorful and perfectly cooked. Its simple controls made it very easy to set temperature and time and to monitor progress; an attached temperature probe let us know exactly when our food was done. Its temperature climbed very slowly and gradually, cooking foods more gently than other models in our testing. Aside from executing basic slow cooking recipes perfectly, it had some nice extras: The lid offers three silicone-gasketed ports that let us insert the temperature probe at different locations without worrying about losing heat. The probe stores neatly on the handle between uses. Latches and a silicone gasket around the lid create an especially tight seal on the cooker for safe transport. While its actual capacity seems comparatively small, in practice, it easily fit a large pot roast with potatoes and carrots without crowding. Lastly, this cooker offers a bonus: Its “hold temp” feature lets you set a desired temperature and cooking time to use the cooker as a fondue pot, to reheat leftovers, or to make yogurt. Despite its advertising, we don’t recommend this feature for sous vide cooking, since it can’t circulate water to cook food evenly; it also takes three times as long to heat water to your desired temperature as our favorite immersion circulator. One quibble: This cooker was very easy to clean, but we discovered that painted labels partly wore off two control buttons; this did not affect performance.
Model Number: 33866Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Low, medium, high, warm, hold-temp settings; temperature probe; will keep warm for 24 hours after cookingCrock weight: 7 lbCrock material: CeramicActual Capacity: 3.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 201.7°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 212°FPrice at Time of Testing: $89.99
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Winner, Slow Cooker with Searing CapabilitiesCuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central
We loved the lightweight, nonstick metal crock and stay-cool plastic handles that made this model so easy to maneuver and clean. The long, rectangular crock sits directly over a built-in hotplate, so this model tends to run a little hotter and cooks foods faster than traditional ceramic slow cookers. We suggest checking recipes early for doneness. It cooked evenly in every test and has built-in temperature sensors that prevent the contents from boiling. Its brown/sauté function eliminates the need for a separate skillet, and you can even steam in it using a metal rack accessory. A few testers found setting this cooker a little confusing due to its slightly busy control panel. That said, it’s a solid performer that yielded excellent cooking results and is a great choice if you hate to lift heavy crocks or worry about breakage.
Model Number: MSC-600Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Low, high, simmer, and warm settings; brown/sauté and steam functions; metal rack for steaming; will keep warm for 24 hours after cookingCrock weight: 3.45 lbCrock material: Aluminum with nonstick coatingActual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qt Crock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 199.8°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 206.7°F Price at Time of Testing: $156.95
We loved the lightweight, nonstick metal crock and stay-cool plastic handles that made this model so easy to maneuver and clean. The long, rectangular crock sits directly over a built-in hotplate, so this model tends to run a little hotter and cooks foods faster than traditional ceramic slow cookers. We suggest checking recipes early for doneness. It cooked evenly in every test and has built-in temperature sensors that prevent the contents from boiling. Its brown/sauté function eliminates the need for a separate skillet, and you can even steam in it using a metal rack accessory. A few testers found setting this cooker a little confusing due to its slightly busy control panel. That said, it’s a solid performer that yielded excellent cooking results and is a great choice if you hate to lift heavy crocks or worry about breakage.
Model Number: MSC-600Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Low, high, simmer, and warm settings; brown/sauté and steam functions; metal rack for steaming; will keep warm for 24 hours after cookingCrock weight: 3.45 lbCrock material: Aluminum with nonstick coatingActual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qt Crock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 199.8°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 206.7°F Price at Time of Testing: $156.95
We loved the clean look of this slow cooker, its stay-cool exterior, and its lightweight, ceramic–nonstick coated metal crock. We liked being able to sauté in the cooker without using a separate skillet, but its slow-cooking results were uneven. Our first pot roast emerged shriveled, with a rubbery rather than fork-tender texture; the sauce was greasy and broken and the meat was dry. Additional cooking didn’t help the meat tenderize. Chicken Tikka Masala was acceptable, though compared to the same dish made in a higher-rated cooker, its flavors seemed less fresh and bright, and the chicken was a bit overcooked. Our temperature testing showed that this model heated rapidly and climbed steeply on both low and high settings and then leveled off below boiling. Since sautéing in the cooker meant that it started out warm, this could have accelerated its cooking times. So we made another complete pot roast with vegetables, which cooks on high for 6 to 7 hours, checking the meat for tenderness one hour early (after 5 hours and again at 6 hours) and got more acceptable results, though the meat remained a bit chewier than ideal.
Model Number: CC005108-001 Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Low, high, simmer, and warm settings; brown/sauté and steam functions; metal rack for steaming; will keep warm for 8 hours after cookingCrock weight: 3.63 lbCrock material: Metal with ceramic nonstick coatingActual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 199.9°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 206.8°FPrice at Time of Testing: $249.00
We loved the clean look of this slow cooker, its stay-cool exterior, and its lightweight, ceramic–nonstick coated metal crock. We liked being able to sauté in the cooker without using a separate skillet, but its slow-cooking results were uneven. Our first pot roast emerged shriveled, with a rubbery rather than fork-tender texture; the sauce was greasy and broken and the meat was dry. Additional cooking didn’t help the meat tenderize. Chicken Tikka Masala was acceptable, though compared to the same dish made in a higher-rated cooker, its flavors seemed less fresh and bright, and the chicken was a bit overcooked. Our temperature testing showed that this model heated rapidly and climbed steeply on both low and high settings and then leveled off below boiling. Since sautéing in the cooker meant that it started out warm, this could have accelerated its cooking times. So we made another complete pot roast with vegetables, which cooks on high for 6 to 7 hours, checking the meat for tenderness one hour early (after 5 hours and again at 6 hours) and got more acceptable results, though the meat remained a bit chewier than ideal.
Model Number: CC005108-001 Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Low, high, simmer, and warm settings; brown/sauté and steam functions; metal rack for steaming; will keep warm for 8 hours after cookingCrock weight: 3.63 lbCrock material: Metal with ceramic nonstick coatingActual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 199.9°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 206.8°FPrice at Time of Testing: $249.00
Not Recommended
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Black + Decker 7-Quart Slow Cooker—Teal
Large and inexpensive with a big, heavy pot, this uninsulated manual cooker cooked unevenly, which was especially noticeable with chicken breasts but also with pot roast and turkey. While it’s easy to set, it’s not that convenient to use: It has no countdown display, so you can’t monitor progress unless you set a separate timer, and it can’t automatically switch to warming mode after cooking is done—you have to return to turn it down or switch it off.
Model Number: SC2007DStyle: ManualFeatures: Hanger inside lid to hook lid to side of crock; warm, low, high settingsCrock weight: 8.0 lbCrock material: Ceramic stonewareActual Capacity: 5 qtAdvertised Size: 7 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 196.2°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 205.4°FPrice at Time of Testing: $39.99
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Large and inexpensive with a big, heavy pot, this uninsulated manual cooker cooked unevenly, which was especially noticeable with chicken breasts but also with pot roast and turkey. While it’s easy to set, it’s not that convenient to use: It has no countdown display, so you can’t monitor progress unless you set a separate timer, and it can’t automatically switch to warming mode after cooking is done—you have to return to turn it down or switch it off.
Model Number: SC2007DStyle: ManualFeatures: Hanger inside lid to hook lid to side of crock; warm, low, high settingsCrock weight: 8.0 lbCrock material: Ceramic stonewareActual Capacity: 5 qtAdvertised Size: 7 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 196.2°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 205.4°FPrice at Time of Testing: $39.99
Discontinued
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KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker With Solid Glass Lid
Our longtime winner has held up to years of use in the test kitchen, and we recently circled back with more testing to confirm that it’s still up to par. We still recommend it for its well-designed, straightforward control panel with a countdown timer that starts immediately, which made it simple and unambiguous to set and allowed us to monitor progress at a glance. Throughout our testing, the roomy, heavy stoneware crock cooked gently and evenly and never boiled, so food emerged tender and juicy. We loved that its broad, protruding handles with grippy textured undersides usually stayed cool enough that we could pick up the crock without potholders. Thick internal insulation kept heat directed toward the crock, and a built-in internal temperature sensor gave this slow cooker extra “brains” to keep the temperature below boiling, which helped guarantee better results.
Model Number: KSC6223SSStyle: Digital programmableFeatures: 24-hour cooking time display; warm, low, medium, high settings; will keep warm for 4 hours after cookingCrock weight: 8.95 lbCrock material: Ceramic stonewareActual Capacity: 5.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 193.5°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 203.8°F Price at Time of Testing: $129.99
Our longtime winner has held up to years of use in the test kitchen, and we recently circled back with more testing to confirm that it’s still up to par. We still recommend it for its well-designed, straightforward control panel with a countdown timer that starts immediately, which made it simple and unambiguous to set and allowed us to monitor progress at a glance. Throughout our testing, the roomy, heavy stoneware crock cooked gently and evenly and never boiled, so food emerged tender and juicy. We loved that its broad, protruding handles with grippy textured undersides usually stayed cool enough that we could pick up the crock without potholders. Thick internal insulation kept heat directed toward the crock, and a built-in internal temperature sensor gave this slow cooker extra “brains” to keep the temperature below boiling, which helped guarantee better results.
Model Number: KSC6223SSStyle: Digital programmableFeatures: 24-hour cooking time display; warm, low, medium, high settings; will keep warm for 4 hours after cookingCrock weight: 8.95 lbCrock material: Ceramic stonewareActual Capacity: 5.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 193.5°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 203.8°F Price at Time of Testing: $129.99
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Ninja 3-in-1 Cooking System
Like the Cuisinart, this model has a thin, long, rectangular metal crock and cooks fast but evenly. It has both a built-in hot plate and a belt-like heating element for different cooking functions. While the cooker was easy to set, its controls are a little complicated because of its multiple functions (steam, roast, slow-cook, etc.). We disliked that its slick, bare metal handles get very hot, and while its brown/sauté function works, it’s noticeably slower at browning food than the Cuisinart, probably due to its lower wattage. (Note: We did not test the “steam-baking” or “steam-infused roasting” functions.)
Model Number: MC750Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Steam, brown, and sauté functions; steam-infused roasting with bottom and side heat; low, high, buffet (warm) settings; will keep warm for 12 hours after cooking; metal rack for steaming Crock weight: 2.9 lbCrock material: Aluminum with nonstick coatingActual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 206.4°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 211.9°FPrice at Time of Testing: $99.99
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Like the Cuisinart, this model has a thin, long, rectangular metal crock and cooks fast but evenly. It has both a built-in hot plate and a belt-like heating element for different cooking functions. While the cooker was easy to set, its controls are a little complicated because of its multiple functions (steam, roast, slow-cook, etc.). We disliked that its slick, bare metal handles get very hot, and while its brown/sauté function works, it’s noticeably slower at browning food than the Cuisinart, probably due to its lower wattage. (Note: We did not test the “steam-baking” or “steam-infused roasting” functions.)
Model Number: MC750Style: Digital programmableFeatures: Steam, brown, and sauté functions; steam-infused roasting with bottom and side heat; low, high, buffet (warm) settings; will keep warm for 12 hours after cooking; metal rack for steaming Crock weight: 2.9 lbCrock material: Aluminum with nonstick coatingActual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 206.4°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 211.9°FPrice at Time of Testing: $99.99
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Crock-Pot 6-Quart Slow Cooker with Stovetop-Safe Cooking Pot
The metal crock on this cooker gets very hot, so cooking runs slightly fast, though it cooked evenly. The crock can be used on the stovetop for browning and searing before placing it in the cooker to slow-cook. However, we had quibbles with the design: Its metal handles became quite hot; the slick ceramic coating still felt greasy after repeated hand washing, but the dishwasher is not recommended; and the thin lip of the crock meant that its lid sometimes slipped into the pot when jostled. Some testers found the controls confusing.
Model Number: SCCPVI600-SStyle: Digital programmableFeatures: Warm, low, high settings; 20-hour countdown timerCrock weight: 3.7 lbCrock material: Cast aluminum with ceramic nonstick coating (PTFE- and PFOA-free)Actual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: Yes, but hand washing is recommended to prolong life of ceramic coating Highest temp reached on low setting: 210.1°F Highest temp reached on high setting: 202.7°F Price at Time of Testing: $56.80
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The metal crock on this cooker gets very hot, so cooking runs slightly fast, though it cooked evenly. The crock can be used on the stovetop for browning and searing before placing it in the cooker to slow-cook. However, we had quibbles with the design: Its metal handles became quite hot; the slick ceramic coating still felt greasy after repeated hand washing, but the dishwasher is not recommended; and the thin lip of the crock meant that its lid sometimes slipped into the pot when jostled. Some testers found the controls confusing.
Model Number: SCCPVI600-SStyle: Digital programmableFeatures: Warm, low, high settings; 20-hour countdown timerCrock weight: 3.7 lbCrock material: Cast aluminum with ceramic nonstick coating (PTFE- and PFOA-free)Actual Capacity: 4.5 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: Yes, but hand washing is recommended to prolong life of ceramic coating Highest temp reached on low setting: 210.1°F Highest temp reached on high setting: 202.7°F Price at Time of Testing: $56.80
This cooker is very slow. Its wattage is comparatively weak (250 watts), and its housing contains insulation, which is an advantage for helping prevent hot spots but made this slow cooker downright poky. Food was generally good, with the exception of pot roast—it didn’t become fully tender within the recipe time frame. The wifi-enabled functioning was more annoying than awesome. We had to fire up an app to do anything beyond simply turning on the cooker and selecting a temperature setting. With no countdown display, we couldn’t check progress at a glance. The app itself was jumpy and often left us guessing whether we’d inadvertently turned the pot off from afar. We’d strongly prefer to have full controls on the cooker and not just via the app.
Model Number: SCCPWM600-V1Style: Digital programmable, using free smartphone appFeatures: Warm, low, high settings; can adjust settings using WeMo appCrock weight: 7.25 lbCrock material: Ceramic stonewareActual Capacity: 4 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 177.2°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 196.8°FPrice at Time of Testing: $127.49
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This cooker is very slow. Its wattage is comparatively weak (250 watts), and its housing contains insulation, which is an advantage for helping prevent hot spots but made this slow cooker downright poky. Food was generally good, with the exception of pot roast—it didn’t become fully tender within the recipe time frame. The wifi-enabled functioning was more annoying than awesome. We had to fire up an app to do anything beyond simply turning on the cooker and selecting a temperature setting. With no countdown display, we couldn’t check progress at a glance. The app itself was jumpy and often left us guessing whether we’d inadvertently turned the pot off from afar. We’d strongly prefer to have full controls on the cooker and not just via the app.
Model Number: SCCPWM600-V1Style: Digital programmable, using free smartphone appFeatures: Warm, low, high settings; can adjust settings using WeMo appCrock weight: 7.25 lbCrock material: Ceramic stonewareActual Capacity: 4 qtAdvertised Size: 6 qtCrock and lid dishwasher-safe?: YesHighest temp reached on low setting: 177.2°FHighest temp reached on high setting: 196.8°FPrice at Time of Testing: $127.49
*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.
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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!
Lisa is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, and gadget expert on TV's America's Test Kitchen.
Lisa McManus is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, host of Cook's Illustrated's Equipment Review videos, and a cast member—the gadget expert—on TV's America's Test Kitchen. A passionate home cook, sometime waitress, and longtime journalist, she graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and worked at magazines and newspapers in New York and California before returning like a homing pigeon to New England. In 2006 she got her dream job at ATK reviewing kitchen equipment and ingredients and has been pretty thrilled about it ever since. Her favorite thing is to go somewhere new and find something good to eat.