This is our official list of the best slow cookers on the market today. Scroll further down for full details on each product.
5 Highest Reviewed Slow Cookers to Consider
Cooking a full 3-course meal every day after work might leave you a little less than exhausted. With more trouble cooking, steaming, and preparing a luxurious dinner for the family, let me introduce you to an alternative that is a little less time consuming, the slow cooker. Not to mention, one of the best tools to use to let soups, broths, and meat to simmer, it allows you to prepare food ahead of time and briefly warm it before eating at dinner to save you the nightly time and hassle.
Ranging from $40 to $250, slow cookers are a great tool to have in every kitchen. However, it’s important to know what kind of features and types of cookers you should be looking at. After all, not everyone needs a $200 slow cooker if they’re just making a nightly stew for the family. Slow cookers break down into 2 general categories, programmable and mechanical. Programmable slow cookers include a digital timer and electrical controls and are among the more expensive cookers.
Although it may sport a hefty price tag, it is incredibly useful for cooking or preparing larger meals for big social gatherings. With an electronic timer on the front of the machine, it easily shows the remaining cooking time which is helpful for multitasking cooks. The other less expensive cooker is the mechanical slow cooker. These tend to be on the budget-friendly side of the market and offer a very simple design. With a small dial on the front for different heat settings, it is best used for smaller meals such as soups or broths needed to be simmered.
Features that are included with your slow cooker are instrumental to how it perform and cook your food. Here are the most common features that you should look out for when buying your own:
- Temperature probe
- Shape and construction
- Capacity range
- Glass or plastic lids
- Dishwasher safe
- Removable pots for serving
As hard as it may be to look for a slow cooker with features, sizes, and types to keep in mind we bought 5 different slow cookers and broke them down into a small description about the product as well as pros and cons to look out for. Hopefully, our guide can better narrow down your shopping list for your next cooker for your kitchen.
1.) Cuisinart MSC-600 Slow Cooker
A top seller among nutrition bars, Quest Nutrition’s Chocolate Cookie Dough Protein Bar is loaded with 21 grams of protein along with a decent dose of calcium and phosphorus. Quest bars boast a remarkably low sugar content – less than 1 gram – as well as a delicious, indulgent taste.
The highly rated bars contain only 4 grams of net carbs and include natural ingredients such as almonds, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, and sea salt. As a bonus, the bars contain 17 grams of fiber to ward off hunger and satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.
PROS
- Low Carb / Paleo friendly
- Gluten and soy free
- No artificial sweeteners
- All natural
CONS
- Slightly higher cost than other nutrition bars
2.) Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker
With 20 grams of protein, Optimum Nutrition’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Opti-Bar is another tasty option for fueling muscle recovery and to stave off hunger. Created by the world’s number one maker of whey, Optimum Nutrition’s bars are a good source of fiber, protein, and calcium.
They make a filling option before or after a workout, for breakfast, or as a snack. With the delicious cookie dough flavor, they also serve as a satisfying option for calming a sweet tooth.
PROS
- Good source of fiber – 9 grams per bar
- Only 4 grams of sugar per bar
- Contains 15% of the daily value of calcium
- Perfect way to satisfy a sweet tooth in a healthy manner
CONS
- Sweetened with sugar
3.) Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S Slow Cooker
Although lower in protein than typical nutrition bars, KIND Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt bars still feature 6 grams of protein and a variety of other healthy, wholesome ingredients. KIND bars are nutrient dense, made with high quality, natural ingredients and only have 5 grams of sugar per bar. The bars also offer an excellent source of a variety of vitamins and minerals including Calcium, Iron, Vitamin E, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Manganese, and Copper.
The bars feature a delicious sweet and salty combo of walnuts, peanuts, almonds with a drizzle of chocolate and sea salt. All of the ingredients are easy to pronounce and the bars themselves are one of the more affordable options in the range of nutrition bars.
PROS
- Gluten free
- Non GMO
- Void of sugar alchohols
- Low glycemic index
- Free from artificial ingredients
CONS
- Contains less than half the protein found in many other nutrition bars
4.) All-Clad SD700450
Designed by registered dietitians, Zing Bars offer a powerful dose of nutrition along with sustained energy. Made with real dried blueberries, vanilla, and gourmet almond butter, the Almond Blueberry flavor is delicious and satisfying but also healthy.
With 11 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, the bars are filling and provide an excellent source of nutrition for the body. Each bar also contains 5 grams of healthy monounsaturated fats to contribute to brain and heart health. Monounsatured fats have also been linked to a lower risk of heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer as well as a proven reduction in cholesterol levels and belly fat.
PROS
- Gluten, wheat, and soy free
- 5 grams of filling fiber
- Formulated by registered dietitians and highly educated, licensed health professionals
- Free from artificial flavors or colors
CONS
- Slightly pricier than other nutrition bars featured on this list
5.) Crock-Pot SCVT650-PS
In terms of the best nutrition bars available, another one of the most popular choices is the Zone Perfect Nutrition Bar. Along with a delicious cinnamon roll flavor, the bars also feature 15 grams of protein.
Zone bars boast the largest variety of vitamins and minerals of any of the bars on this list. With 19 vitamins and minerals, including Vitamin B6, Vitamin B 12, Biotin, Chromium, Selenium, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and several more, Zone bars are a highly valuable source of nutrition.
PROS
- One of the most affordable choices in terms of nutrition bars
- Contains excellent daily values of 19 different vitamins and minerals
- Free from artificial sweeteners or sugar alchohols
- No artificial flavors
CONS
- Contains less than 1 gram of fiber
Wrapping Up
Slow cookers are a great tool with a fitting purpose in any kitchen. Not only purposed for large holiday dinners but prove their effectiveness on a daily basis. Hopefully, our guide could give you a better understanding of what to look for in a slow cooker and the top 5 you should consider buying. Happy cooking!