Slow Cookers Buying Guide

Slow cookers  (also known by the brand name Crock Pot ) cook at atmospheric pressure and low heat over a long period of time. Slow cooking retains much of the flavor that would be lost by other cooking methods and works great for dishes like pot roast  and soup . Slow cookers are typically made out of porcelain  or ceramic  and contain a metal compartment which controls heat and allows large quantities of liquid and food to cook over a period of hours.

Tips

• Cheaper cuts of meat  with connective tissue will take better to slow cookers, as this process will soften the muscle without toughening it.
• While it is typically impossible to overcook food in a slow cooker, it can be done. Make sure you have a recipe  on hand so your food does not become tasteless from sitting in the cooker for too long.
• Don't worry about stirring your food while it's slow cooking, in fact, avoid it. Lifting the lid off during cooking will dissipate the heat and prolong cooking times.
• Be sure to clean your slow cooker insert between uses so that you don't have built up stains later on.
• After your food has been cooked, you may see some condensation on the lid. Lift the lid gently and straight up to avoid dripping it on the insert.
• Browning your meat before placing it in the slow cooker can improve the flavor.

Features

• Capacity: Even for one or two people, consider a larger cooker that can prepare a wide variety of foods. You can always freeze the leftovers. Consider how much space you have to store your model; they typically range from 4 to 7 quarts and more.
• Temperature Settings: Newer models often have settings beyond low, high, and off. Some models have food warmer settings or timers to make sure your food is cooking appropriately.
• Cleaning: A removable crock makes cleaning a lot easier.  Also, most models are dishwasher -safe.
• Lid:The lid needs to seal well to steam the food properly, so avoid lids that don't sit flush against the cooker.
• Shape: Many slow cookers are now oval rather than round to fit larger cuts of meat.
• Price:The majority of models cost from $30 to $60.

Stylish Slow Cookers

These fabulous slow cookers are loaded with features and are plenty convenient to boot.

Black & Decker 1.5qt Slow Cooker  This is a small capacity slow cooker that won't take up alot of space in your kitchen but will still give your food that great, slow cooked taste.	Mr. Coffee 5.5 Qt. Oval Smart Pot Red  The stylish color is just one of the many features this crock pot has to offer. It can cook up to 20 hours and will automatically switch to a warmer setting once food is ready.	Mirro 92122 22 Quart Aluminum Pressure Cooker  This large-scale slow cooker is perfect when cooking for guests or large families. It's dishwasher-safe, has a locking handle and even a pressuring monitoring device.	T-Fal Wearever 6 Qt Pressure Cooker  This is a speedy cooker that cuts cooking time by about 70%. It can fit up to 6 quarts of liquid and comes with a recipe booklet for some great slow cooker ideas.	Rival 5qt Round Crock Pot White  This crock pot is the perfect size for a small group of people. It has 4 time settings and sets the temperature automatically during cooking.

Related Guides

Fermenting Crock Pots What's the difference between these and slow cookers? These crock pots are good for preparing foods that must be fermented, such as sauerkraut .	Pressure Cookers These cookers use faster speeds and intense pressure to cook your dishes. As they also utilize higher temperatures, this model will prepare foods more quickly than a slow cooker.	Rice Cookers Some rice cookers can make dishes containing rice or rice by itself. It will help to ensure that you get the kind of rice you want - not hard and crunchy but light and fluffy.	Egg Cookers If you often eat hard boiled eggs , this is an easy and fast way to cook them.  An egg cooker requires little to no work as it just needs to be set and left alone to cook the eggs to perfection.	Pots and Pans An essential for any kitchen! Everything else would be useless without a good cooking pot  or pan. Make sure you stock these in lots of sizes for variation.