Crock Pot Time Select
Best slow cooker for automatic functions
Star rating: 4.5/5
- Pros: lots of useful functions, bowl and lid dishwasher and oven-safe, capacity markings on bowl
- Cons: no recipes in the manual
Here we have another option from the ubiquitous Crock Pot brand. While the Sizzle and Stew above yielded great results, the Time Select is far more high-tech. Various types of meat and poultry, in addition to soup and vegetables, may be cooked automatically with this model. Once you’ve chosen your primary ingredient, entered its weight and the time you’d like to have the dish ready by, the Time Select will automatically adapt the cooking time and temperature for you. There’s also a manual mode for when you want to stick to your tried and true recipes.
Tower 3.5L Cavaletto Slow Cooker
Best no-nonsense slow cooker
Star rating: 4/5
- Pros: available in a range of designs, simple to use, dishwasher-safe pot
- Cons: a little plasticky
Tower’s little slow cooker is a convenient, space-saving choice. It’s a basic choice with only low, high, and maintain warm temperatures, but it does the job. Even though it has a minimalist appearance, this slow cooker comes in a variety of colors, including black, grey, pink, and navy blue.
The model is simple to set up and worked wonderfully with our beef stew recipe, producing delicate meat and crisp vegetables. The sauce still had a touch too much liquid, which was our only complaint.
Russell Hobbs Slow Cooker and Sous Vide 25630
Best slow cooker for experimental cooks
Star rating: 4.5/5
- Pros: temperature probe included, lid locks into place, clear control panel, digital display
- Cons: control panel isn’t intuitive, power cord quite short, no sous vide bags provided
If you’re a home cook who enjoys experimenting with new methods and toys, this slow cooker is a great choice. This device is more than just a slow cooker because it comes with a sous vide function and a temperature probe. Our beef stew was pleasantly reduced, but the meat was ever-so-slightly dry, and the lid stayed securely in place thanks to the locks.
The only interface is a set of symbols, thus reading the documentation is recommended before usage. However, we think this Russell Hobbs model is a terrific choice because to its adaptability and the high quality of its output.
How to use a slow cooker
- Since a slow cooker doesn’t let any liquid out, you should cut the amount of liquid in a dish that wasn’t made for a slow cooker by a third when converting it.
- Keep the cover on the pot and try not to open it too often.
- Before you begin cooking, make sure the inner pot is at room temperature. You must let a slow cooker meal get to room temperature before using it if you have stored it in the refrigerator.
- There is a wide range of slow cookers on the market, so it’s important to consult the handbook for your specific model for advice on cooking temperatures and timings.
- Most rice and pasta recipes benefit from being cooked on high heat for as little time as possible. Use only easy-cook rice, and rinse it thoroughly before cooking; the more starch you remove, the better the dish will turn out.
- Brown the meat well before serving. Given that slow cookers have a tendency to leach meat of its color, it’s vital to brown them thoroughly before cooking. Since the volume of the liquid will not decrease, you should add as much flavoring as possible.
