The best Crock-Pot tedious cookers

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the best crock pot overall

Crock-Pot
  • Busy cooks have been turning out delicious, easy, user-friendly meals in their Crock-Pots since the early 1970s.
  • We researched the dozens of available Crock-Pot slow cookers on today'south marketplace to find the best ones you can buy, and the half-dozen-Quart Programmable Melt-and-Deport is our elevation choice.

I'm a huge Crock-Pot fan. Afterwards all, what other kitchen appliance allows you lot to toss in your dinner in the morn, so bulldoze off to work while information technology cooks? What else turns out tasty meals without heating up your kitchen, or miraculously converts cheap-but-tough cuts of meat into tender, fall-off-the-bone deliciousness? I've had several of these handy appliances over the past three decades, and I use my electric current slow cooker at least one time a week. Every kitchen – whether it'due south in a dorm room, studio flat, or mansion – deserves a Crock-Pot.

Introduced by the Rival Company in 1971, and owned today by Sunbeam, the original Crock-Pot was intended for cooking beans. Today, you can melt just about anything in this handy kitchen appliance, including obvious dishes like soups, stews, and casseroles, but also desserts including cheesecake, breakfasts, side dishes, corn on the cob, risotto, French toast, then much more — the list is nigh endless. Best of all, Crock-Pot dull cookers are affordable.

If you're getting fix to buy your first Crock-Pot — or you want to add ane with unique features to your collection — then read on. Using inquiry and my experience in testing and using them, I've whittled down the many models of Crock-Pot on the marketplace to the 5 that are most highly rated, and that I notice to be the well-nigh useful.

Note: This guide focuses specifically on the Crock-Pot brand of boring cookers, but there are other makers. Check out our guide on the all-time slow cookers y'all can purchase.

Hither are the best Crock-Pot slow cookers:

  • Best overall: Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Cook-and-Carry
  • Best minor cooker: iii-Quart Circular Manual Crock-Pot
  • Best for entertaining: Crock-Pot Claw Upwards Connectable Entertaining System
  • Best for casseroles: 3.5-Quart Casserole Crock-Pot
  • Best for dejeuner: Crock-Pot Dejeuner Crock

Prices and links are current as of 4/23/20.

The best overall

Crock-Pot

The 6-Quart Programmable Melt-and-Carry Crock-Pot is large enough for a crowd with a lockable lid for easy transport and information technology has programmable cooking times.

The Crock-Pot Programmable Cook-and-Carry solves one slow cooker concern: What do y'all do if you lot'll exist gone for ten hours, but the meal yous're preparing only needs to cook for viii? No need to worry if you have this convenient wearisome cooker. Just set up the timer for your desired cooking fourth dimension earlier you caput out.

Yous tin can gear up cooking times from thirty minutes to 20 hours and get out your worries behind. The Crock-Pot will cook your dinner to perfection, and then automatically switch itself over to the "Warm" setting once the time is upwards.

With a 6-quart chapters, this is the perfect Crock-Pot for larger families. You can fit a six-pound roast within, several pieces of meat forth with vegetables, or go alee and roast a whole chicken in it — yous'll still have room for carrots and potatoes.

Expert reviewers take praised the long timer, modern appearance, handles, and locking lid — no more spills when traveling with the cooker to a picnic, potluck, or tailgate party.

This Crock-Pot does have the tendency to get also hot on the "Depression" setting, however. Note that both the "Low" and "High" settings of a Crock-Pot reach the same maximum temperature of roughly 210 degrees. It just takes longer to reach the maximum temperature on depression.

Pros: Locking lid with gasket, programmable timer, large capacity, stainless steel finish, and mod appearance

Cons: Might melt too hot on low setting

The best small cooker

Crock-Pot/Business organization Insider

If you lot're only cooking for two or three people, the 3-Quart Round Manual Crock-Pot is the perfect size.

This is the Crock-Pot I've been using for the by six years or so. In fact, even as I write this, information technology's working its magic in my kitchen cooking a craven enchilada casserole. That means my kitchen isn't hot, I'll only have one crock to wash afterwards dinner instead of multiple pans, and I'm not having to waste whatever time in the kitchen stirring, adjusting temperatures, or paying whatsoever attention at all. Perfect.

As the "Manual" role of the product'due south name suggests, this Crock-Pot is very bones: no digital controls, no timer, and no programming capabilities. Merely a simple knob with settings for "Off," "Warm," "Low," and "Hot." That's fine with me, however. I don't require any bells and whistles, and the super-low toll made it even more appealing.

The 3-quart size is perfect for my family of 3. I've used it to cook small roasts with vegetables, stews and soups with extensive ingredient lists, and ii-to-3 pounds of craven without any overflow or extended melt time.

One result with this Crock-Pot is that there is no gasket betwixt the glass lid and the crock, and so wet "spits" out along the edges, causing the chapeau to rattle a bit during the late stages of the cooking time. I find that it'south not a big bargain, though, and does not affect the cooking process.

Pros: Keen price, perfect size for two or iii people, piece of cake-to-clean ceramic crock, stainless-steel attractive end.

Cons: Some spitting of moisture during cooking, no power to program in advance

The best for entertaining

Crock-Pot

The ingenious design of the Crock-Pot Hook Upwardly Connectable Entertaining System makes buffet-fashion entertaining a breeze.

One of the toughest aspects of hosting a buffet – or even a sit-down dinner, for that affair – is keeping everything warm while your guests enjoy their repast. Crock-Pot has solved the problem with the interlocking Hook Up system.

The crocks are mix-and-friction match and at that place are several metallic colors to choose from, as well as multiple sizes. Each has the basic manual settings: "Off," "Warm," "Low," and "High." But what sets the Hook Up autonomously from other Crock-Pot slow cookers is that you tin connect upward to six units together with only one plug going into an electric outlet.

The different sizes brand it so easy to cook and serve diverse dishes: Utilize the ane-quart double crock for dips and savories; a ii-quart crock for meatballs, hot wings, and similar finger foods; and a three.5-quart crock for meats, stews, soups, or chili dishes. Or, of grade, you can apply just 1 crock to gear up a pocket-sized meal or side dish for your family.

When not in employ, the Hook Upwardly units stack for storage.

Pros: Multiple sizes and colors, makes it easy to host a cafe

Cons: Accept up quite a scrap of storage and counter space, expensive, pieces sold separately

The best for casseroles

Crock-Pot

The Crock-Pot three.5-Quart Casserole Crock is especially versatile for making casseroles then much more than.

Prep your meal in the Crock-Pot 3.5-Quart Ceramic Casserole Crock the night before – French toast casserole, chicken and biscuits, sausage and egg casserole, barbecue chicken and veggies, just about annihilation else you lot fancy — store the crock in the fridge overnight, slip it into the Crock-Pot base of operations when information technology's time to get cooking, become near your concern for the next several hours, and so come up home to a delicious, hot meal. Of course, you don't accept to gear up your dish the night earlier, but it sure is user-friendly to accept that selection.

The 3.5-Quart Casserole Crock is, as the proper name suggests, shaped like a casserole dish instead of the traditional upright ho-hum cooker pattern. That ways it's ideal for casseroles and lasagnas, but don't limit yourself. Yous can cook chicken, meat, and veggies in this slow cooker as well, and in fact, larger pieces of meat or chicken tend to cook more evenly and quickly. The removable stoneware crock is also oven-condom, so yous can warm or finish dishes in the oven if desired.

And of course, as casseroles are classic potluck fare, this model comes with a Melt & Acquit locking lid system, and then no worries about your meal spilling out en-route to the event. As a bonus, the attractive lattice design looks dandy on the buffet table, so no need to transfer your nutrient into another serving dish. It's also available in solid charcoal, plum, and navy.

Buyers really like this slow cooker; many say they also own a traditionally shaped Crock-Pot just reach for this one when preparing a meal that isn't big plenty to fill their other crock to the recommended half-to-three-quarters-total marking. They apply it for all sorts of things beyond casseroles, besides, including ribs, chicken and rice, mac and cheese, corned beef, pork chops, and cake.

On the downside, some said the handles didn't feel potent enough to carry the total crock. Others commented about the rut of the appliance'due south exterior while it'south cooking, simply this is an issue with every slow cooker, non just this i. Touch a Crock-Pot after it's been on a while, and you're likely to burn down your finger.

This is a transmission Crock-Pot, with a knob for setting it to "Off," "Warm," "Low," or "High."

Pros: Versatile size and shape, locking lid, attractive appearance, reasonable price

Cons: Handles might feel unstable when carrying the total crock

The best for lunches on the go

Crock-Pot

Forget about the office microwave or cold sandwiches; with the Crock-Pot Tiffin Crock, you tin can estrus upwardly a succulent meal right at your desk.

Sure, at lunchtime you lot can dark-brown-purse information technology, nuke a frozen dinner in the dirty office microwave, or pick up a greasy burger from the nutrient truck. Or, yous can enjoy a healthy repast that you prepared at home in the 20-ounce Crock-Pot Lunch Crock, brought into your office, dropped into the warming base of operations, and then plugged in for a few hours of warming.

Notation that the Lunch Crock is not for cooking food, merely for warming food that's already been cooked. Then information technology's perfect for leftovers of all types — hot cereal, soup, chili, and stews.

Buyers dearest non having to await for the office microwave or stand in line in the cafeteria. Many commented that they purchased additional food containers and then they can set up several meals in advance, so just take hold of-and-go along work mornings. Most buyers stated that the device took just a couple of hours to heat their meal.

Every bit with all things, there are complaints, most having to do with the lid. Several customers said their Luncheon Crock's lid warped, leaked, or did not fit properly, and so it's probably best to hand-wash it rather than throwing information technology in the dishwasher. All the same, overall, customers really like this ingenious mini-appliance.

The handy device has a carrying handle for piece of cake send, along with a dishwasher safe lid and food container. The electrical cord wraps effectually the warming base when not in use. Unlike other Crock-Pots, at that place are no controls on the Lunch Crock. Merely plug it in to turn it on and unplug it to plow it off.

Pros: A bully alternative to brown bags, plastic storage containers, or buying lunch each day

Cons: Some complaints of issues with the hat

How to utilize your Crock-Pot

Crock-Pot/Facebook

Regardless of which Crock-Pot you lot choose, you'll reach the best results by following these tips:

  • Don't preheat your tiresome cooker before calculation ingredients.
  • Place chopped vegetables at the bottom of your Crock-Pot, then add together meat, and then finish with liquid or soft ingredients. Concord off on anything dairy until the last one-half-hour or then of cooking.
  • Don't accept off the lid in the middle of the cooking process. Removing the chapeau lets out heat, and information technology can have xxx minutes for the slow cooker to regain its total temperature.
  • Your Crock-Pot should be half- to 3-quarters-full when you beginning cooking. Less, and your food is likely to overcook or dry out; more, and the Crock-Pot might overflow equally the food expands with heat.
  • Use skinless craven in your slow cooker. Melted fatty from skin-on will add an unpleasant taste and texture to your finished dish.
  • Add fresh herbs and seasonings at the end of the cooking cycle. Otherwise, you'll lose delicate flavors.
  • Unless the recipe calls for it, don't put frozen nutrient in your Crock-Pot.
  • As a rule of pollex, one hour on the loftier setting of a Crock-Pot is equal to two hours on the low setting, so figure your cooking time accordingly.

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