Best Crock Pot Reviews 2018

They say that ‘patience pays’ and that’s exactly what a slow cooked meal does – it’s worth the lengthy wait for the delicious payoff. Crock pots cook your food for extended periods of time resulting in tender and tasty meals. Now, you may be confused about the difference between a crock pot and a slow cooker and, honestly, there really isn't a difference. Crock-pot is a brand that dominated the slow cooker industry so much that it became synonymous with slow cookers. You might be interested to know that we also have a separate review for slow cookers which has some more awesome products worth checking out. For now, let's delve into five of the best crock-pot brands and see what options there are!

Overview

PROS

CONS

SPECS

Type

Size

Shape

Material

Capacity

Our Top Choice

Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker

Hamilton Beach has been around for 100 years and prides itself on offering you practical and useful solutions for your various needs in the home.

Programmable; Wide range of temperature settings; Lid latch that prevents spills; Automatic timer that switches to warm after cooking

Outer walls can get pretty warm to touch

Programmable

11.7 x 17.6 x 9.9 in/12.3 pounds

Oval shaped

Stoneware

7 Quart

Best Value

Crock-Pot Manual Slow Cooker

For over 40 years, Crock-Pot as a brand has made memorable, delicious meals for families around the world.

Large capacity; Serves over 8 people; Stainless steel cookware; 3 cooking settings of high, warm or low.

Lacks power indicator light to know when on/off

Manual

14.8 x 9.8 x 14 in/12.6 pounds

Oval shaped

Stainless Steel

7 Quart

BLACK+DECKER Digital Slow Cooker

BLACK+DECKER has been around for over a century to provide functional appliances to make life much easier at home.

Programmable controls; Chalkboard surface to label pot; Insulated handles for easy movement; Glass lid with lock wire

Screws on the handles may loosen with time

Programmable

14.1 x 17.3 x 9.7 in/15.7 pounds

Oval shaped

Stoneware

7 Quart

BELLA Triple Slow Cooker & Server

BELLA is well-known for coming up with edgy, innovative products that transform cooking into a magical experience.

3 in 1 appliance; removable pot servers; individual temperature controls for each crock; lid rests to hold lids upright

Large size which requires a lot of space for use and storage

Manual

30.8 x 8.2 x 15.4 in/25.9 pounds

3 oval shaped pots

Stainless steel

3 x 1.5 Quart

Proctor Silex 1.5 Quart Slow Cooker

Proctor Silex is a brand associated with Hamilton Beach brand, which is loved for its selection of functional and affordable kitchen products.

Durable removable pot; stylish glass lid with insulated knob; keep warm feature; dishwasher friendly components

Small capacity not ideal for large meals

Manual

10 x 10 x 10 in/5.5 pounds

Round shaped

Stoneware

1.5 Quart

(Updated December 2, 2017)

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Watch Our Crock Pot Review

How Do I Choose the Best Crock Pot?

Don’t you love how slow cooked meat falls off the bones and melts in your mouth? But how many of us have the time to sit around all day and wait for the meat to tenderize? Not many, with our busy schedules and never ending household chores. That’s the idea behind using slow cookers and crock pots: to cook food for extended periods of time. But did you think that the two appliances are the same thing?

A slow cooker is a more traditional appliance whose single heating element only conducts heat at the base. A crock pot heats up on the sides as well and allows you several cooking settings. Crock pots have become popular because all you need to do is put in your ingredients, set the time and leave it without having to watch the food so it doesn’t burn. No more alarm clocks to remind you that there’s food on the stove! Amazing, right?

By the way, in case you didn't Crock-Pot the name of the brand that paved the way for this style of cooking appliance, so much so that people now use the term to apply to all slow cookers, no matter what kind they are, or who makes them! If you want to know more about the difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot (all crockpots are a type of slow cooker, but not all slow cookers are crock pots), take a look at the buying guide on our slow cooker review – which also features other great product options.

Crock pots come in all shapes and capacities, and it all depends on the amount of food you want to prepare. The best crock pot should have safe grip handles and a transparent lid to allow you a quick glance at your food as it cooks. One important aspect of a crock pot is its temperature settings, which should be versatile for best results. Some crock pots allow you to serve food them too, meaning you can leave the hot pot away. Always ensure that you use a glove when touching the surface of the crock because most of them can get pretty warm!

Price

Just because you love slow cooking doesn’t mean you have to spend a fortune to buy a crock pot, since most of them are fairly inexpensive. The prices range between $ 15 and $ 100, where you will find a quality crock that heats evenly and has controls that allow varying temperatures. If you are not strapped for cash and love high end products, then there are crocks above this range that even come with a surface to label your food on and are Wi-Fi enabled for smart cooking. It will be worth the extra bucks!

We came across some cheap crock pots that are not so good since they not only burn the food if left heating for too long, they’re also made of flimsy material that won’t serve you for long. The cheap price tag on them will eventually cost you more in the long run.

Features

So, what do you need to look at before you add that crock to your cart? Well, here are some crucial features:

Type - A crock pot can either be programmable or manual, where the digital ones allow you to enter the cooking settings on a pad while the manual ones use the traditional dial to set the cooking time.
Size - When shopping for a crock, ensure that you have adequate space to place the pot since there are those that come in a large size that may require quite a bit of space.
Capacity - Crocks have varying capacities with some as large as 7 quarts which allows you to prepare a large meal.
Material - The most common material used to make crock pots is stoneware due to its heat retention properties. You may also find that are made of stainless steel and aluminum.
Cooking settings - Most crocks allow you to set a high or low temperature depending on the meal you are cooking.

Construction and Design

The design of crock pots is similar to that of slow cookers, and most people can’t tell the two apart. Crocks usually have three heating elements, and heat up on the sides to ensure an evenly cooked meal. The pots are often made of stoneware, but you can also purchase crock pots made of stainless steel or aluminum. The inside of the pot is often glazed while the exterior varies from brand to brand. Some pots may have a shiny exterior while some more edgy products have a versatile surface that you can even jot your recipes on.

A common feature in most crock pots is a glass lid with a stay cool knob for lifting it. The lid can be made with tempered glass while others are transparent to allow you a quick glance at the food as it cooks. Since crocks are ideal for transporting food when travelling, some brands have incorporated a lock strap to hold the lid securely so that the contents may not spill. Others may have a wire on the sides to hold the lid down as you carry the pot.

Crocks can have anything from receded handles to folding handles, all meant to give you a comfortable grip. Some handles may be oversized and even be insulated to keep your hands safe and enable easy transportation of the pot.

Performance and Ease of Use

The performance of a crock pot depends on the temperature settings which will vary depending on the meal being prepared. For programmable pots, you set the cooking settings on a touch pad while for a manual pot, a dial is used to set the cooking time. Both pots may have a mix of high and low temperatures perfect for slow cooking. The great thing about using a crock pot is once you put in your ingredients and input your settings, you relax while the appliance does the rest. Food doesn’t need to be watched or even stirred to prevent burning.

Most crock pots come with removable components that are dishwasher friendly. Stoneware cleans easily and doesn’t stain. Crock pots are easy to operate and more often than not, manufacturers attach an instruction manual to assist you use the pot. You will be glad you invested in such a time-saving and cost-effectives cooking appliance.

What is the Best Crock Pot?

There are various factors to consider when purchasing a crock pot such as the cooking controls and the capacity of the pot. Here are more features that will assist you in choosing an ideal crock pot for your slow cooking needs.

Our Top Choice

The Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker is a smart appliance that allows you to set a wide range of cooking temperatures and doesn’t require you to constantly watch your food for charring. Do you prefer a crock pot with a smaller capacity and a thermometer probe to cook your meat? The Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker might be a perfect choice!

Hamilton Beach Programmable Crockpot Style Slow Cooker – Available in 3 Sizes

Hamilton Beach Crockpot 33474 – 7 Quart

Features

For over a century, Hamilton Beach has provided innovative products that make life easier in the kitchen. Be it a reliable coffee maker to cater for your breakfast beverage or a sandwich maker to take care of your lunch, Hamilton Beach has you covered. Their groundbreaking appliances go above and beyond the user’s expectation, which has made Hamilton Beach one of the most sought after manufacturers of kitchen gadgets. Since the team at Hamilton Beach empathizes with the consumer, they’ve come up with functional appliances that make kitchen work easier.

The Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker fits right into their slogan of ‘Good Thinking,’ with its smart time control feature to automatically switch to warm mode once cooking time is finished. You don’t have to constantly watch or stir food to prevent burning. All you have to do is input the cook time using the easy to clean touch pad, sit back, and wait for a delicious meal.

What does this smart appliance offer? Here are some more features:

A trademark strap(Lid Latch) that allows you to carry the pot when travelling without spills
3 temperature settings namely: high, warm or low.
The temperatures can be mixed and matched
Up to 10 hours of hustle free cooking time
Removable components for easy cleaning in your dishwasher
Large oval shape with 7-Quart capacity

Do you feel that this crock pot is too large for you? This smart appliance also comes in smaller capacities of either 5 quarts or 6 quarts.

Get the Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker today and enjoy hassle free slow cooking!

Best Value

The Crock-Pot Manual Slow Cooker allows you to cook nutritious meals all day with a large 7 quart capacity that can serve eight or more people. Are you busy and need to cook even from the office? The Crock-Pot Wemo Smart Wifi-Enabled Slow Cooker would be a perfect fit!

Crock-Pot Brand Manual 7-Quart Stainless Steel Oval Slow Cooker – Other Sizes Available

Crock-Pot SCV700-SS

Features

Over a period of 4 decades, Crock-Pot has provided busy households with simple, time saving kitchen appliances. Crock-Pot prides itself on being the ‘original brand’ for slow cookers, inspired by a bean cooker meant to save busy moms time in the kitchen. Whether you prefer manual slow cooking or want a smart appliance cooks while you’re away, Crock-Pot has the ideal gadget for you. With special products to help you entertain guests easily, this brand is bent on ensuring that your needs are smartly and thoroughly addressed.

The Crock-Pot Manual Slow Cooker is designed to let you cook for extended hours of time without too much hassle. Whether you want food cooked in high temperatures or low heat, this cost efficient stoneware allows you to do that. Do you have guests coming over and want the food to stay put until the party is done? Then the stay warm feature in this manual slow cooker is perfect.

Wait! Here’s more in store for you once you get this amazing crock pot:

Large capacity of 7 quarts that serves over 8 people
Comes with a glass lid that is easy to clean
The stoneware is removable for easy serving and cleaning
Elegant exterior made of stainless steel
Black plastic handles with good grip
Cost efficient and makes nutritious meals
Includes recipes to make tasty slow cooked meals

If you are looking for a smaller manual slow cooker, Crock-Pot also makes this crock with a 4-Quart capacity. Not digging the silver design? How about black or red colors to spice up your kitchen?

Check out Crock-Pot today for crock pots that allow you to make memorable slow cooked meals!

The BLACK+DECKER Digital Slow Cooker is programmable and comes with a chalkboard design you can write on to label your food. Are you looking for a cool crock with a smaller capacity? How about the BLACK&DECKER 4 Quart Dial Control Slow Cooker with Built in Lid Holder that comes in a cool purple pulse color?

BLACK+DECKER 7 Quart Programmable Digital Slow Cooker – Crockpot Style, Available in 4 Colors

BLACK+DECKER Crock Pot SCD4007 – Chalkboard Surface

Features

BLACK+DECKER is a common household name that’s been around for more than a century. With quality appliances meant to simplify everyday life, BLACK+DECKER is reliable and professional. Loved for its modern and affordable products, this brand has a faithful following of consumers who can’t get enough of their toaster ovens, blenders, cooking gadgets, and their garment care appliances. By purchasing any of their products, you are guaranteed great performance and durability.

Do you ever cook and wish you could label the food to let people know what’s inside? BLACK+DECKER have got you covered with their Digital Slow Cooker that comes wrapped in a chalkboard surface that allows you to write the contents of the crock or even jot down recipes. Included in this product are two specially designed chalks to label this innovative crock pot. How amazing is that?

Other than the chalkboard, what else is there? Well, there’s more:

Programming controls that allow you to set cooking time
Convenient locking system to prevent spills when transporting the crock
A dishwasher-friendly glass lid with built in holder
Large capacity of 7 quarts ideal for extended cooking
Automatic switch to warm mode when cooking time is up
Stoneware pot with impressive heat retention
Rubber gasket handles that are insulated for safe grip
Three heat allowances for a perfect slow cooked meal

Not digging this chalkboard interior? Well, how about some cool teal wave crock? Or even better a choice between Geometric cream or Purple& Silver leaf design.

Make tasty and nutritious meals using the BLACK+DECKER Chalkboard Digital Slow Cooker. Get one today!

The BELLA Slow Cooker & Server is a 3-in-1 appliance that allows you to cook a variety of dishes at once with removable pots for quick and presentable serving. Not feeling this 3-in-1 cooking giant and prefer an individual appliance? Then you will love the BELLA 6.5 Quart Programmable Searing Slow Cooker that comes with a locking lid and a cool chrome color.

BELLA Triple Action 3 x 1 ½ Quart Stainless Steel Crockpots for Buffet Serving

BELLA Crock Pot 13576

Features

Are you creative, edgy, bold, savvy and fun? Well, BELLA allows you to bring out this personality when cooking since they have incorporated all these traits into their products. This brand has a great following of customers who relate to their products. Not just appliances, their products are designed to be a lifestyle. Due to their reasonable prices, BELLA has managed to positively impact people’s lives. Their aim is to bring the kitchen to life with their fun and bold products.

It’s said that ‘Three is a crowd’ but not when it comes to the BELLA Triple Slow Cooker & Server. This 3-in-1 appliance allows you to cook various dishes at once, which saves you time and energy. Each pot has a capacity of 1.5 quarts, so you are guaranteed quality and delicious food. This crock also turns into a server once you are done cooking with each removable pot serving up to 6 plates.

Here are more features of this convenient crock:

Independent cooking for each dish
Individual cooking controls for each pot
3 lid and spoons rests to hold the lids upright during serving
Stoneware pots that can be washed in the dish washer
Stylish and functional construction design
Safe to use and more energy efficient
Comes with a 2 year warranty
Powered by electricity and comes with a cord
Receded handles for a comfortable and safe grip

Choose BELLA today for edgy and innovative crock pots!

The Proctor Silex 1.5 Quart Slow Cooker is a durable removable crock with a stylish glass lid and an insulated knob to trap steam allowing food to cook for extended periods. Is this crock pot too small for you? We believe that the Proctor-Silex 4-Quart Slow Cooker will be ideal for you to prepare large meals.

Proctor Silex Removable 1.5 Quart Crock Pot Style Slow Cooker – Available in 2 Packaging Styles

Procter Silex Crock Pot 33015YA - E-Commerce Ready Packaging

Features

Proctor Silex is part of the Hamilton Beach brand and seeks to provide functional, affordable kitchen gadgets. Customers love their products because they guarantee efficiency and efficiency. With a wide range of appliances, Proctor Silex has extensive experience in the industry, and you can’t go wrong with their products.

The Proctor Silex 1.5 Quart Slow Cooker is the ideal slow cooker for homemade, slow cooked meals. This round slow cooker has a removable pot that you can use to serve and can be cleaned in the dishwasher after cooking. It also has a temperature dial that with 3 different cooking settings. What about when cooking is finished and you’re not ready to serve? Don’t worry; just switch to the warm mode provided and the food will stay warm.

Its handles offer you a safe grip and allow you to easily transport the slow cooker when going to picnics and other outdoor events. The stylish glass lid covers your food and traps steam to cook your meal. The lid also has a stay cool knob for safe opening and closing. The lid is also transparent so that you can quickly glance at your food without having to open the pot. You may opt for the standard packaging if you are not digging this crock’s E-commerce packaging.

Prepare delicious slow cooked meals without any hustle by purchasing the Proctor Silex 1.5 Quart Crock Pot!

Get the Best Crock Pot of 2018!

Thank you for reading through this review. We hope that you’ll be able to select the best crock pot for your lifestyle. If not, don’t give up yet. These brands have various other options that will definitely tickle your taste buds.

Our Top Choice

Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker

Best Value

Crock-Pot Manual Slow Cooker

BLACK+DECKER Digital Slow Cooker

BELLA Triple Slow Cooker & Server

Proctor Silex 1.5 Quart Slow Cooker