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The set-and-forget convenience of a large cooker in smaller space-saving options.
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In This Article
Southern Living
A slow cooker is a staple in every Southern household.
The set-it-and-forget-it term is true and there are thousands of recipes that you could make.
We enjoy the process and it works with our schedule.
Credit: Southern Living
The Courant heated our sauce to ooey-gooey perfection in about 40 minutes without scorching the cheese.
The unit is also available in silver and matte black.
If you plan to travel with the Courant, you will want to place it inside a box.
The Courant 1.6-Quart Slow Cooker heated our cheese dip to perfection in about 40 minutes without scorching the cheese.Credit: Southern Living
The Delay Timer is an excellent option when you must be away before the cooking begins.
The handles on the GreenPan were a real win for us, especially in transport.
The large size and ergonomic design created confidence when moving the cooker around with hot contents.
The lid, though not locking, was inset enough with a solid seal to stay put.
We recommendusing an oven mittor towels if moving the unit soon after cooking.
True to the promise of ceramic nonstick, cleaning the cooker was a dream.
We loved that each basin had simple controls allowing different foods to be heated separately.
The lids are well-designed with locking closures for secure transport and the ability to stand open during service.
The stay-cool handles were well placed and offered us an easy carry without feeling the cookers heat.
Our meatballs were nicely cooked and saucy without any detectable hot or cold spots.
However, the crock and lid are both dishwasher safe, which could make clean-up easier.
We found cleaning this cooker easy as all the sauce from the meatballs came off with a simple rinse.
The crock and lid are also dishwasher safe.
Design elements, such as shape, opening and special features like stovetop and oven compatibility were also noted.
In contrast, multiple dishes for holiday gatherings or chili parties may require a cooker with multiple pots.
Material
Slow cookers come in a host of materials on the inside and out.
Choosing among them comes down to your personal preference.
Ceramic, stainless, and aluminum are the most popular materials for cooking pots.
Ceramic stoneware crocks, common in traditional slow cookers, heat up evenly and hold heat well.
They are heavy and can be challenging to clean, but can be used with metal utensils.
Nonstick surfaces, whether ceramic or another formulation, require more care and cannot tolerate metal utensils.
Design features can also enhance the user experience with a slow cooker.
Wide, stay-cool handles allow you to transport the cooker easily and with confidence.
Ovenability is nice for crisping the tops of meals, whether skin-on proteins or crumbles and casseroles.
The removable parts were all dishwasher safe, and the entire cooker was easy to clean.
We liked having a light to indicate operation, but the other features were average.
If youwant to make chili, you simply make less, the same with soups and roasts.
Cutting meat into cubes or using chicken pieces can easily bring your larger dishes to life in smaller vessels.
Do mini slow cookers have the same features as regular slow cookers?
Why Trust Southern Living?
Credit: Southern Living
Tiffany Vickers Davisis a chef and writer based in Birmingham.
She is a seasoned product tester and writer, evaluating products over multiple categories.
The Bella Electric Slow Cooker is a great value, heating our cheese dip evenly without scorching.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
The GreenPan is just the right size for standard soups, stews, casseroles, and side dishes.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
The Amazon Basics Triple Slow Cooker comes with three individual cookers housed in a rectangular base, making it easy to offer multiple hot items at once.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
The Crock-Pot Manual Design Series Slow Cooker cooked our meatballs without any detectable hot or cold spots.Credit: Southern Living
Credit: Southern Living
The Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Round Slow Cooker has an ample opening for adding ingredients. The round shape with a tall crock allows it to use less counterspace for the size.Credit: Southern Living
The GreenPan Bistro Noir 4-Quart Slow Cooker offers expanded cook settings like a delay timer, programmable timed cooking, simmer and reheat functions.Credit:Southern Living
The Toastmaster Stainless Steel Slow Cooker has a large opening and dishwasher-safe parts. However, the lid was loose, and our cheese sauce scorched a bit in this cooker.Credit:Southern Living / Henry Wortock
