9 Best Slow Cookers of 2026

The Hamilton Beach 33765 ranks first because it pairs a full 24 hour programmable timer with a defrost mode for $67.99, a price below most programmable rivals here. Hamilton Beach says you can add frozen meat, press defrost, then pick high or low and a cooking time, and the cooker thaws and cooks to USDA food safety guidelines before switching to warm. For regular cooking, the countdown timer runs from 30 minutes to 24 hours on high, low or warm, and a manual mode skips the timer. The 6 quart stoneware crock holds a 6 lb. chicken or a 4 lb. roast and serves 7 or more people. The crock and glass lid go in the dishwasher, and spare crocks cost $20.99 on the same store. The trade-offs are a ceramic crock that cannot sear and no clip-down lid for travel. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The Hamilton Beach 33604 is the value pick for anyone who wants to sear before slow cooking. Hamilton Beach lists 9 cooking options in one base: sear, brown, sauté, roast, steam, keep warm, slow cook on high or low, plus white rice and whole grain programs. The 6 quart rectangular pot is ceramic nonstick and PFAS-free, and it holds a 6 lb. chicken or a 4 lb. roast. A countdown timer lets you set your own time and temperature for most programs, and delay start runs from 1 to 15 hours for rice, grains and steaming. The pot, roasting rack and glass lid are dishwasher safe, and spare vessels cost $27.99. At $126.99 it costs less than half the GreenPan Elite or All-Clad 7-in-1, though it lacks their steel housings and extra presets. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The GreenPan Elite 14-in-1 has the longest feature list here. GreenPan lists 14 presets, from high, medium and low slow cooking to stir-fry, steam, white and brown rice, bake, soup and sear/sauté, plus a delay timer. Browning happens in the removable 6 quart hard anodized pot, which is coated with GreenPan's PFAS-free Thermolon Volt ceramic nonstick, and a stainless steel steamer comes in the box. The pot is dishwasher safe and the tempered glass lid lets you check the food without lifting it. The downside is cost: $299.99 is a limited time special against a $329.99 suggested price, which puts it in All-Clad territory and far above the Hamilton Beach models. Buy it if you will use the rice, bake and steam modes often enough to replace other appliances. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The GreenLife Healthy 3.5-Quart is the cheapest verified pick at $59.99, a limited time special against an $85.99 suggested price on GreenPan's US store. Its main trick is the pot: GreenPan says the removable 3.5 quart pot is stovetop and oven safe up to 400°F, so you can sear on a burner and return it to the base to cook low and slow. The ceramic nonstick coating is PFAS-free, and the lid and pot go in the dishwasher. Controls are three settings, low, high and warm, with no timer. The 3.5 quart size suits two people or a small batch of soup, not a 6 lb. chicken. It comes in five colors. If you cook for four or more, the Hamilton Beach 33765 costs $8 more and holds 6 quarts. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The Hamilton Beach 33195G is the slow cooker for crowds. Its 10 quart oval stoneware crock fits a 10 lb. turkey or a 12 lb. roast, according to Hamilton Beach, which makes it the largest model on this list. The clip-tight sealed lid and full-grip handles are built for carrying chili to a tailgate or a holiday potluck without spills. Controls are simple: low, high and a warm setting for buffets or late dinners. The stoneware and glass lid are dishwasher safe, and a spare 10 quart crock costs $24.99. At $79.99 with free shipping it costs about $12 more than the 6 quart defrost model. The limits are a manual dial with no timer and a shipping restriction: Hamilton Beach says it cannot currently ship this model to Colorado, Maine or Minnesota. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The Crock-Pot 7-Quart Cook & Carry (model CPSCVO70LLW-MS, shown in Mushroom) is the travel pick from the brand most people name when they say slow cooker. Crock-Pot says its locking lid seals tightly to prevent leaks and spills, and sturdy handles help with carrying. One-Touch Control offers 4 pre-programmed settings, and Auto-Warm holds food at serving temperature. The 7 quart removable stoneware feeds 9 or more people, is oven safe, and goes in the dishwasher with the glass lid. A 16 oz. Little Dipper warmer for dips is included. Crock-Pot backs it with a 1 Year Limited Warranty. We could not verify a price because crock-pot.com shows no price for this model, so its value score is conservative. Check a retailer before you buy. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The All-Clad Gourmet Plus 7-in-1 (model SD800D51) is the stainless steel option for buyers who want the cooker to match their cookware. All-Clad lists five cooking modes, slow cook, rice, steam, sear and simmer, plus reheat and a buffet/keep warm setting for entertaining. The 7 quart insert is cast aluminum with a ceramic nonstick coating, so you can sear in the pot, and it goes in the dishwasher. An LCD screen, large push buttons and three temperature settings run a programmable timer of up to 10 hours. The price is $299.99 on All-Clad's store against a $399.99 MSRP. Next to the GreenPan Elite at the same price, it gives up 7 presets and a steamer but adds a quart of capacity and a polished stainless housing. The 10 hour timer limit matters if you work long days. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The Crock-Pot Manual 7-Quart (model SCV700-S-BR) is the plain version of the appliance that gave slow cookers their common name. It cooks on HIGH or LOW and has a WARM setting to hold food, with no timer or digital display. The 7 quart oval stoneware is removable and serves 8 or more people, and both stoneware and glass lid are dishwasher safe. The housing is stainless steel with black accents and plastic handles, and it weighs 13.85 lb. Crock-Pot covers it with a 1 Year Limited Warranty. Because there is no timer, you need to switch it to warm yourself, which the Hamilton Beach 33765 does automatically. Crock-Pot's site shows no price for this model and sends buyers to retailers, so we could not verify one and scored value conservatively. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.

The Instant Pot Superior Cooker (SKU 140-4040-01) is a slow cooker, not a pressure cooker, from the brand best known for the Duo. Instant Pot describes it as a 4-in-1 that sears, slow cooks, steams and warms in one nonstick pot, with customizable temperatures, so you can brown meat and reduce sauces without a second pan. Its 7.5 quart capacity is the largest among the multi-function picks, and Instant Pot says it is light enough to move. The lid is dishwasher safe and the bundle includes bonus accessories. It carries a 1 Year Limited Warranty. Instant Pot's US product page sends shoppers to retailers instead of listing a price, so we could not verify one. Reviews on the same page are mixed, with some owners saying the pot is hard to clean. We compared documented features and published prices and did not run cooking tests.