We’ve read some complaints that slow cook settings on pressure cookers like Instant Pots can get dicey, but we didn’t notice any red flags in our tests. A slow cooker is still more affordable and easier to use, but if you have room for only one appliance, an electric pressure cooker is the way to go. We eliminated six models based on their poor cooking performance and lack of features. For the final three models, we cooked a classic pot roast with a 3-pound chuck roast and vegetables on the high setting for five hours. Again, we checked the meat’s internal temperature every hour. We sliced and tasted the roasts to see how tender they were (we had to, for science).
It’s one of the few cookers we tested with a locking lid that seals tightly for easy transport, as well as a probe thermometer so you can cook to a target temperature. One Wirecutter staff member commented that after using this slow cooker for a few years, he upgraded to an electric pressure cooker for added cooking options—but missed the simplicity of the Set & Forget. Another staff member noted that the pot can be a little big if you’re only cooking for a small number of people.
No matter what your cooking needs are, there’s a Hamilton Beach® Programmable Slow Cooker that’s ready for any cooking need or party invitation that comes your way. hamilton beach slow cooker Hamilton Beach® 6 Quart Slow Cookers make dinnertime almost effortless. You can cook hot, mouth-watering meals as you go about your day, with no stirring needed.
Anna Perling is a former staff writer covering kitchen gear at Wirecutter. During her time at Wirecutter, she reported on various topics including sports bras, board games, and light bulbs. Previously she wrote food and lifestyle pieces for Saveur and Kinfolk magazines. Anna is a mentor at Girls Write Now and a member of the Online News Association. Anna Perling, writer of the most recent update, covered kitchen equipment for Wirecutter for several years and cooks for herself most nights of the week. This guide also builds on research and testing by Wirecutter senior staff writer Lesley Stockton and deputy editor Christine Cyr Clisset, as well as writer Camille Chatterjee.
Hamilton Beach® Slow Cookers take the convenience of slow-cooked dishes a giant step further. Several models of slow cookers, such as the Stay or Go® Slow Cooker, address one of your greatest concerns—getting your finished dish to a potluck or party without messy spills. The Highland 3.5 Quart (3.3L) Slow Cooker in stainless steel is an affordable and ideal way to cook food that requires long and slow simmering. Simply put in all the ingredients, select the right setting, and the cooker will do the work for you!
Compared with other cookers we tested, the Set & Forget has some of the best extra features. Although the locks seem narrow next to the larger mechanisms on Crock-Pot’s machines, they still feel sturdy and are easy to open and close. Hamilton Beach and Crock-Pot are the only brands we tested that offer cookers with locking lids, and we don’t recommend getting a cooker without this feature. Some people may prefer the simple, no-frills program options on a slow cooker over those on a more complicated electric pressure cooker. Before you invest in a slow cooker, know that for not much more money, you can get other small appliances that can do more. Electric pressure cookers all come with a slow cooker setting but can also make rice or steam delicate fish and vegetables.
They’re equipped to protect food en route to parties and potlucks anytime you want. Once you’re back home, the stoneware insert removes for easy cleanup in the dishwasher. Hamilton Beach® Large Slow Cookers make it easy to cook a big, tasty meal. Just prepare your fresh ingredients, place them in the crock, and go on your way.
We like the Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook & Carry Slow Cooker just fine—it’s a basic cooker with a locking lid and a ceramic insert. But for just a bit more money, you can get a temperature probe with our pick from Hamilton Beach. All of the Crock-Pot models we tested also cooked hot on the low settings, finishing foods before their programmed end time. Aside from our top pick, all the slow cookers performed poorly in our bean-making test, and the Temp Tracker overcooked our beans.
If you need to cook it, we’ll give you the versatility to make it! The West Bend Versatility Cooker is your “go-to” tool for easy breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. With one appliance you get a slow cooker, oven-ready roaster, stovetop pot, and electric griddle. Plus, the lid and cooking pot are dishwasher-safe so cleanup is a breeze. With Tender Crisp Technology, you can achieve all the quick cooking and tenderizing wonders that you love about pressure cookers.