Is it too tall to fit under your cabinets? Will it hog an entire shelf if you store it out of sight? These are all things to keep in mind before you buy. ✔️ Footprint: Consider how much space this appliance will take up on your countertop. Slow cooker pots can range from as small as 1½ quarts to as large as 10 quarts, so you can find the size that suits your household. ![]() ✔️Capacity: The main thing to consider is the size of the pot and how large a batch you generally cook. Pressure cooker models that have slow cook features did well also, but with slightly lower scores. What we found out impressed us: Traditional slow cookers performed well and were consistent. We also assess the “keep warm” function, meat tenderness and flavor development of dishes. We do this by coating the pot with shortening and a thin layer of flour and then heating the slow cooker until the flour browns the level of browning is then evaluated against a standardized chart.įurthermore, we evaluate each slow cooker’s design, safety features and ease of use without the help of an instruction manual. ![]() Not only that, but we tested each cooker's heat-distribution ability to see if there were hot spots (when parts of food cook faster than others). We also put probe thermometers in the cooking liquid as well. We inserted thermocouples (sensors that measure temperature) into the breasts and thighs of whole chickens, which then transmit data to temperature-tracking software on a laptop. We checked for good temperature control and consistency during cooking by measuring the temperature of the food and liquid throughout the cooking process. We made more than 100 servings of stew and cooked up 30 whole chickens. And the classic look makes it easy to bring to the table for serving.ĭuring our side-by-side analysis, our culinary experts tested slow cookers by making beef stew and chicken soup. While we tested the Dutch oven only in the base, Instant does say that you can also use it on the stovetop and in the oven. That additional flavor helped the overall stew, because while the meat was tender, we did note that the liquid didn't reduce (and therefore concentrate in flavor) very much. Not needing to use a separate pan for searing is a time-saver and helps you capture more flavor right in the slow cooker. We were very impressed with the browning capabilities when making beef stew in our tests. The company states that, when paired with the electric base, the pot delivers five functions: braise, slow cook, sear/sauté, manual and food warmer. The Instant Electric Precision Dutch Oven uses an enamel cast iron Dutch oven as the cooking vessel. Instant Brands - maker of the Instant Pot, our best overall pressure cooker - has really rethought the slow cooker. If the machine included an app or probe, we assessed that as well. We assessed the cookers’ ability to maintain temperatures on both high and low settings, checked the doneness and flavor of the recipes, considered how reduced liquids were over time and factored in whether or not you can brown foods right in the slow cooker’s pot. To choose these top-tested slow cookers, the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab cooked chicken soup and beef stew. A good slow cooker produces such flavorful meals that our test kitchen loves using one to create recipes for lunch, dinner and everything in between, whether that’s slow cooker chicken recipes or a pot roast or BBQ jackfruit. This freestanding cooking appliance allows food to be cooked at a low and steady temperature, similar to braising in a Dutch oven, and its set-it-and-forget-it style leaves you free to do other things - and use your stovetop or oven for other things. ![]() The tried-and-true slow cooker is a huge help in the kitchen. ![]() We also added information on what to consider before purchasing a slow cooker as well as new picks from Instant Brands and GreenPan. We updated this story in October 2022 to ensure all products were available and that pricing was accurate.
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