The 5 Best Slow Cookers of 2020

Best Overall: Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker



This slow cooker checks all the boxes on your wish list. It’s programmable or you can operate it manually. There’s a temperature probe to check the temperature of your food as you cook it. And at six quarts, it’s the perfect size for most uses.
When the cooking time or temperature is reached, the cooker switches to a warming setting that will keep the food at a safe temperature.
For anyone needing to travel with their slow cooker, this model has sturdy handles, and the lid has a gasket to eliminate spills. The lid also clips on tight so you can take it to a potluck or family dinner. For serving, there’s a spoon that clips on to the unit to keep it from getting lost in transit.
There are three settings: program (which allows you to set a cooking time) probe (which uses the temperature probe to determine doneness), and manual (which lets you set high, low, or warm temperatures without setting a cooking time).
If you live in an area with frequent power glitches, you’ll appreciate that this model will stay on during brief outages and keep cooking, or keep your food warm and safe, until you get home.













A high-end slow cooker that’s built to last, this oval model holds 6 1/2 quarts and has a black ceramic insert, a glass lid, a digital display, and sturdy stainless steel handles.
The timer is programmable for up to 26 hours, and there are settings for warm, low, or high temperatures. It automatically switches to a keep-warm setting when cooking time is up.
The polished stainless steel exterior looks elegant enough to sit on your buffet (after you wipe off the smudges and fingerprints), or you can remove the ceramic insert and use that as a serving dish at your dinner table.






This slow cooker is designed for perfect cooking and easy serving, with a glass lid that can be opened on hinges on either side of the handle – perfect for buffet serving while keeping foods warm and covered.
The 6-quart cooking insert is oval shaped, to fit foods like whole chickens or roasts, and it’s removable for serving and for easy cleanup. Unlike cookers that only have high and low temperatures, this has settings for high, medium, and low cooking as well as a keep-warm setting. It can be programmed for up to 24 hours of cooking, in 30 minute increments, for unattended cooking. If you’re not available when cooking time is up, it automatically switches to keep-warm for four hours. The easy-to-read digital display shows how much cooking time is left, as well as the temperature setting.
For storage, the cord stores on the bottom of the cooker. If you don’t need to use your slow cooker on a buffet, there is a similar model with a solid glass lid.









While most slow cookers can be used on a buffet, this cooker — and the other cookers in this style — are designed for buffet serving, whether it’s for a family taco night or for a holiday event. This unit holds two 1-quart crocks that are great for dips, sauces, and small servings, so you can keep your cheese dip or mushroom gravy warm for hours or keep the soup bubbling. Set them for low, medium or high, for cooking or for serving.

There are two other sizes available in this style, with units that hold a single 2- or 3 1/2-quart crock. The units connect, and up to six units can share a single power outlet so it will be easier to find space for all the hot dishes on the buffet.


These come in a variety of metallic colors to add some sparkle to the table. For storage, the cords store inside the base and the units stack neatly on top of each other. The connecting outlet used to join the cookers is included.








Wouldn’t it be great to check the slow cooker without having to stop another task? With this wifi enabled slow cooker, you can monitor and control the cooker from a distance. You can use the app to see how much cooking time is left, or you can adjust the cooking time or temperature, switch to warm, or turn the cooker off. No need to leave couch to speed up or slow down a recipe when you’re involved in a great novel. Then, when you’re in the kitchen, you can ignore the app and adjust the cooker in person.
This has a 6-quart capacity and an oval shape to fit roasts and longer cuts of meat. The glass lid holds in heat and moisture while letting you peek at the food without lifting the lid. The stoneware insert and lid are both dishwasher safe.


















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