The 4 best slow cookers for 2026, tested and reviewed
A little morning meal prep goes a long way with these appliances, which let you program dinner to be ready when you are.
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Years ago, someone sent me a slow cooker as a gift, but as a culinary school grad, I never thought I needed it. Now that I'm a mom who regularly cooks for four or more, I truly value the set-it-and-forget-it nature of the best slow cookers.
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After browsing through dozens of slow cookers, I narrowed down the testing pool to eight popular picks, including some of the best Crock-Pots (of course!). I ruled out manual models in favor of user-friendly displays with programmable timers that allow for at least four to eight hours of slow cooking, then automatically switch to a "warm" setting (at a food-safe temperature ). Because the quintessential slow cooker meal is beef stew, that's the dish I used for testing. I looked for even heating, ease of use and a variety of functions. The best slow cookers are real kitchen helpers that allow you to whip up a comforting meal, even while multitasking.
Best slow cookers of 2026
Capacity:6 quarts | Settings:Slow cook on high or low, keep warm | Weight:11.9 lbs. | Dimensions:17"D x 11.8"W x 9.8"H
When you're called upon to bring a dish to family gatherings, the Crock-Pot Cook & Carry will be your go-to solution. A locking lid with a rubber gasket ensures that food and sauce stay inside and don't spill onto the backseat of your car. And it's easy to carry thanks to the generous handles.
This stainless steel slow cooker from an iconic brand offers slow cooking at low and high temperatures for cook times up to 20 hours, plus a keep-warm setting that turns on automatically when a programmed cook time ends or can be used on its own. The stoneware crock is microwave-safe and oven-safe up to 400°F.
Why we love it:I found the control panel easy to read and foolproof to navigate. Just choose high or low for the temperature and then use the up and down arrows to set the cooking time, which counts down on a digital display. I checked a batch of beef stew periodically and found the temperature was consistently at 194°F. When I returned to the stew after eight hours on low heat, it was rich and velvety.
I can already tell that this is the kind of dependable appliance that will last for years. Maintenance is simple — wipe the outside clean with a damp cloth and wash the inner crock and lid by hand. It's the best Crock-Pot I've tested.
Minor criticisms:It doesn't have a ton of bells and whistles, but that's part of its charm. You can set it and forget it and trust that it will do what it's supposed to.
- Easy to program
- Portable with locking lid
- Automatically switches to keep-warm setting when cooking time ends
- Generous handles
- The outside of the cooker gets very hot
Capacity:6 quarts | Settings:High, low, keep-warm | Weight:12.79 lbs | Dimensions:11.25"D x 17.5"W x 11.75"H
If you are entering the slow cooker category and are not sure how often you will use one, there's no need to spend three digits. Even our best overall pick is under $100, which should tell you something about where to put your money. As for this Hamilton Beach 6-quart slow cooker, not only did it perform well, but it's one of the few that has a temperature probe.
Why it's great:This cooker has an intuitive control panel that makes things easy. You can choose from high, low and keep-warm settings, plus there are precise temperature controls. The machine automatically switches to warm after your food is done cooking, and the lid clips tightly to the base, which is helpful if you want to unplug your slow cooker and bring it to a party.
On Amazon, this slow cooker gets more than 10,000 glowing five-star reviews, so you don't have to take it from just me. Most shoppers rave about the temperature control and the probe, which eliminates the need for an instant-read thermometer .
Minor criticisms:While the probe is a unique feature, you can't use it on the low setting. The exterior can also become very hot. If you have curious kids at home, make sure to keep it well out of their reach.
- Straightforward interface with simple control buttons
- Automatic keep-warm setting
- Included temperature probe
- Exterior can get hot
Capacity:6 quarts | Settings:Slow cook, steam, brown/sauté, keep warm | Weight:17.4 lbs. | Dimensions:18"D x 11"W x 10.5"H
This Cuisinart is chock-full of features: Want to steam fish or chicken and veggies? Like to brown and braise cuts of meat or chicken? This is the slow cooker for you.
Why we love it:I appreciated that you could set the brown/sauté function to 400°F. This means you don't have to use a separate skillet on the stove to sear meats (which adds depth of flavor) before braising them for eight hours. The unit comes with a steamer insert that's perfect for delicate proteins and vegetables, and doubles as a roasting rack for a whole chicken or roast.
The backlit display shows the timer on one side and the temperature on the other. The inner crock is made from nonstick-coated aluminum. It washes clean easily with warm water and a soapy sponge, but you can also put it and the lid in the dishwasher.
Minor criticisms:The larger rectangular shape of this slow cooker eats up countertop real estate, but it makes up for it with its quick-heating inner pot and excellent control panel with buttons for all of its functions. Its souped-up programmability also means this slow cooker will cost you a pretty penny, which is why I recommend it for individuals or families who want to upgrade their current appliance.
- Lots of functions
- Large control panel that's easy to use
- Time and temperature alerts
- Pot and lid are dishwasher-safe
- Expensive
- Large footprint
Capacity:6 quarts | Settings:slow cook on low, medium, high, sear/sauté, steam, keep warm | Weight:14.77 lbs. | Dimensions:19"D x 12.14"W x 10.9"H
When you want the features of nontoxic cookware plus great design, the GreenPan Elite 14-in-1 Slow Cooker is the answer. It offers 14 functions: slow cook, sauté, steam, simmer/buffet, proof, bake, reheat and more. Like GreenPan's exceptional ceramic cookware , the inner crock is made with a PFAS- and PFOA-free ceramic coating that's also certified by the NSF, meaning it meets strict standards for public health and safety.
Why we love it:I tested the previous version of this high-end slow cooker and adored its versatility. It shepherded a batch of beef stew from browning right in the pot at 400°F to braising on low for eight hours, resulting in tender meat and vegetables with a luxurious slurry. The LCD display was easy to read and made programming a cinch. The unit comes with a steamer rack, and I appreciate that the pot and lid are dishwasher-safe.
Now on to its good looks. This sleek model comes in a variety of tasteful colors, including cream, Oxford blue, sage green, graphite, black, and clay — you will surely find one that integrates seamlessly into your kitchen decor. Just don't forget to consider the space it takes up on the counter or in a cabinet.
Minor criticisms:Its top-tier performance and sleek design will cost you over $400 (excluding sales), making it one of the most expensive slow cookers on our list. I have spotted it on sale for closer to $300, so if you want to splurge, snag it while a discount applies.
- Lots of functions
- Generous handles
- Attractive enough to leave on the counter
- Expensive
Factors to consider when choosing a slow cooker
There are nuances to these countertop appliances — many have stoneware inner pots (or crocks), some have nonstick metal inner pots, others have brown/sauté settings so you can get a crust on proteins before setting them to braise, and some models come with steaming racks or temperature probes. And did you know that Crock-Pot is a brand name? Like Popsicle is to ice pop, Crock-Pot is to slow cooker.
✓ Features:I value the ability to brown/sear meats directly in the unit rather than using a pan on the stovetop and then adding the meat to the slow cooker. Some people like the option of steaming fish and veggies in their slow cooker. But if you tend to use recipes that don't benefit from these features, and all you want is a timer and either a low- or high-temperature setting, you'll have many options to choose from at various price points.
✓ Dimensions:Limited storage space means some models may not work for you. You should consider whether or not you'll use a slow cooker often enough to keep it on the countertop or store it in a cabinet — always check the height of the model before you commit.
✓ Capacity:If you cook large-batch soups and stews and whole roasts or chickens, a 6-quart model should satisfy most of your needs. If you cook for two to three people, you can get away with a 4-quart model. And if you want to keep lots of food warm for a tailgate or a family gathering, some 8-quart models work nicely.
✓ Price:Slow cookers range in price from around $50 to over $200. A more expensive model doesn't necessarily mean it will produce better results, though. It's best to consider which features are worth having and keep an eye on sales.
I checked this stew periodically during the eight hours it cooked to ensure the food was in a safe temperature zone.
(Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)How we tested slow cookers
After opening each package, I noted if any setup was required and how easy these appliances were to program. I gave each inner crock and lid a quick wash with soap and water before cooking a classic beef stew in each one. To rank on our list, the gadgets had to excel in the following tests:
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Temperature test:A safe cooking temperature generally falls between 170°F and 280°F, according to the USDA , but in practice should hover somewhere below boiling, or 212°F, or you will overcook most proteins. Did the slow cooker meet these requirements?
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Sauté/brown test:Is there a sear/sauté function? If there is, does the pot get hot enough to properly brown meat?
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Stuck-on food test:After food cools, it can get pretty sticky and adhere to the inside of a pot. I waited for a while to wash the inner crocks to see how much work was involved in getting them clean.
Each slow cooker has a slightly different control panel — and some were easier to navigate than others.
(Lisa Scwhetizer/Yahoo)Other slow cookers we tested
Crock-Pot MultiMeal Programmable Slow Cooker :I love this Crock-Pot's promise of being able to make two dishes at the same time, which might require different settings and cook times. However, this appliance does not offer a slow cook setting that goes for the traditional eight hours, only one that cooks for four hours, which was not long enough for the stew, nor for the convenience of letting a dish cook all day.
Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Set & Forget Slow Cooker with Temperature Probe & Defrost :Much like the model above, this Hamilton Beach slow cooker covers basic slow cooking tasks, has a temperature probe and will cost you less than $100. But it can also cook food from frozen, which is a feature none of the others have. If you know you'll forget to defrost the chicken breasts in the middle of a hectic week, this model might be the answer.
I understand the appeal of dumping a bunch of ingredients into the pot in the morning, turning it on and coming home to a hot meal.
(Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo)Instant Pot Superior Cooker 7.5 Quart Slow Cooker :I had high hopes for this large-capacity slow cooker from the popular multicooker brand because it has a sear/sauté feature. The downfall here is the metal inner pot — it's too thin and doesn't get hot enough to sear meat properly. It almost feels flimsy.
Beautiful by Drew Barrymore 4-Quart Slow Cooker :This was the smallest slow cooker I tested, as the 6-quart version was unavailable. The most exciting feature on this appliance is the lid holder — it's removable, but I loved how I didn't have to clear space on the counter to set down the lid. Unfortunately, this unit cooked food at too high a temperature and therefore resulted in an overcooked, dry stew. There is also no clock to let you know how much time is left in your cooking cycle. However, it's a budget-friendly option at under $40.
Other slow cookers we plan to test
Ninja MultiPot 11-in-1 MultiZone Cooker:I have my eyes set on this versatile model from Ninja, a brand that is almost always leveling up countertop appliances from ice cream makers to iced coffee machines . The MultiPot lets you cook two meals at once, and is designed to do so faster, so you can have double the amount of dishes in half the time. It comes with two 3.5-quart cooking pots and features DualZone technology that allows the separate pots to sync up.
What is the difference between a crock pot and a slow cooker?
Crock-Pot is a brand name many people use as a generic term for a slow cooker. It's like using the word "Kleenex" (also a brand name) to refer to tissues.
Slow cooker FAQs
How does a slow cooker work?
A slow cooker is an electric kitchen appliance that is designed to take the hassle out of meal prep. Instead of having to hover over your stovetop to continuously check on your stew or pot roast, a slow cooker lets you set it and forget it. It cooks food slowly at a low and consistent temperature — typically between 170°F and 280°F — over the course of multiple hours. Steam, direct heat from the pot and a long cooking time cook your food safely .
What are the best foods to cook in a slow cooker?
You can cook a wide variety of sweet and savory meals in a slow cooker, from steel-cut oats for breakfast to your favorite stew, soup or chili recipe for lunch and dinner. Slow cookers also make tough cuts of meat tender and are a popular go-to appliance for pot roasts and braising.
Update, June 26, 2026: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick remains unchanged, but we added a best budget recommendation from Hamilton Beach and a new model from Ninja, which we hope to test soon.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
