If you want one slow cooker that can also brown, sauté, simmer, steam, and cook rice, the All-Clad Gourmet Plus 7-Quart Slow Cooker is Food Network’s best overall choice. For a simpler and less expensive appliance, choose the Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker. The right pick depends on how you cook: from frozen, for a crowd, at a potluck, or as part of a broader multicooker setup.
The recommendations are based on Food Network’s August 12, 2026 buying guide, which reports more than 150 hours of cooking and testing across 13 slow cookers. ResearchCore did not independently test these products.
If you want one slow cooker that can also brown, sauté, simmer, steam, and cook rice, the All-Clad Gourmet Plus 7-Quart Slow Cooker is Food Network’s best overall choice. For a simpler and less expensive appliance, choose the Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker. The right pick depends less on the number of preset buttons than on how you cook: from frozen, for a crowd, at a potluck, or as part of a broader multicooker setup.
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The recommendations below are based on Food Network’s August 12, 2026 buying guide, which reports more than 150 hours of cooking and testing across 13 slow cookers. Food Network evaluated stew cooking, interior and exterior temperatures, heat reduction on the Warm setting, cleanup, controls, and interface usability. ResearchCore did not independently test these products, so the performance observations in this guide are attributed to Food Network.
Best slow cookers of 2026 at a glance
| Pick | Best for | Capacity | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-Clad Gourmet Plus | Best overall and multifunction cooking | 7 quarts | Expensive and bulky |
| Crock-Pot Oval Manual | Best budget option | 7 quarts | No automatic shutoff |
| Hamilton Beach Defrost | Cooking from frozen using a designated workflow | 6 quarts | Requires careful adherence to manufacturer instructions |
| Crockpot Programmable | Large batches and groups | 8 quarts | Needs substantial storage and counter space |
| Crock-Pot Cook & Carry | Transporting food | 6 quarts | Portability matters only if you regularly carry the cooker |
| Crock-Pot MultiMeal Multicooker | Dual-sided and broader cooking functions | Not specified in the supplied test summary | More appliance than a basic slow-cooking buyer may need |
1. All-Clad Gourmet Plus 7-Quart Slow Cooker: Best overall
The All-Clad Gourmet Plus 7-Quart Slow Cooker is the strongest choice for cooks who want a premium appliance rather than a basic low-and-slow pot. Food Network describes it as a multifunction cooker that can sauté, brown, simmer, steam, cook rice, and slow-cook.
#1 Best Overall
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- UNIQUE FOLDING HANDLES: The handles on the blue slow cooker are easy to grasp for carrying and transport and fold down for storage or when you need to make more space on the countertop while cooking.
- FEED A CROWD: Make enough for friends and family with a large 6 quart stoneware crock that will hold a 6 lb. chicken, a 4 lb. roast or enough barbecue to make up to 25 sliders. Serves 7+ people.
- DIAL IN THE HEAT: With 3 heat settings on this large slow cooker, you can cook your meal on Low or High, and then switch to Keep Warm when cooking is complete for food that's warm and ready at mealtime.
- ALMOST CLEANS ITSELF: The removable stoneware crock and durable glass lid of this 6 quart slow cooker are both dishwasher safe.
In Food Network’s testing, it maintained a steady temperature, reached a simmer quickly, kept its exterior from becoming excessively hot, and produced especially tender meat. Those qualities make it more useful for recipes that normally require browning meat in a separate skillet before starting the slow-cooking phase.
The trade-off is cost and size. It occupies more counter and storage space than a conventional slow cooker, and its premium price is difficult to justify if you only make occasional soups, stews, or braises. Its value improves when you will regularly use the browning, sauté, steaming, rice, or simmer functions.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsChoose it if: you want one premium appliance that can handle several stages of a recipe.
Skip it if: you want the least expensive way to cook standard slow-cooker meals.
2. Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker: Best budget
The Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker keeps the controls deliberately simple: a dial for High, Low, and Warm. Food Network reports that it produced tender beef paprikash during testing.
Its uncomplicated design is an advantage for anyone who does not want to learn a programmable interface or manage multiple cooking modes. The 7-quart oval shape is also large enough for family-size meals and many larger cuts of meat.
The crucial drawback is that it has no automatic shutoff. When the cooking period ends, it does not automatically switch off or necessarily move to Warm for you. That means you need to plan around the cooker, use an external reminder, and be available to turn it off or adjust it. It is not the best choice for someone who routinely leaves home before the meal finishes and cannot monitor the schedule.
Choose it if: low price, a large capacity, and a physical High/Low/Warm dial matter most.
Skip it if: you need timed cooking with automatic shutoff or automatic holding.
Rank #2
- Generous Capacity: 7-quart slow cooker that comfortably serves 9+ people or fits a 7-pound roast
- Cooking Flexibility: High or low slow cooking settings, with convenient warm function for ideal serving temperature
- Convenient: Set it and forget it feature enables you to cook while at work or performing daily tasks
- Minimal Clean-Up: One-pot cooking reduces dishes; lid and removable stoneware are dishwasher safe
- Versatile: Removable stoneware insert can be used in the microwave or an oven up to 400°F
3. Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Defrost Slow Cooker: Best for cooking from frozen
The Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Defrost Slow Cooker is the specialized choice for a particular problem: preparing a planned meal that begins with frozen protein. Food Network says its designated defrost setting is intended to move frozen protein through a food-safe defrosting process before slow cooking. It also includes a temperature probe, High, Low, and Warm settings, plus manual time and temperature controls.
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This is not a general permission to put frozen meat into any slow cooker. Food Network specifically warns that ordinary slow cookers should not be assumed safe for cooking from frozen. Use the Hamilton Beach model only according to its manufacturer instructions, including the directions for the defrost process, food type, timing, and probe use.
The feature is worthwhile when frozen-to-meal preparation is central to your routine. If you normally thaw meat in the refrigerator first, a conventional programmable slow cooker may be a better and simpler purchase.
Choose it if: you deliberately need a designated frozen-protein workflow and will follow the instructions closely.
Skip it if: you are looking for a normal slow cooker and do not regularly start meals with frozen protein.
4. Crockpot 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker: Best for large batches
The Crockpot 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is the capacity pick for meal prep, parties, tailgates, large families, and groups of more than 10 people. The extra volume is useful when a 6- or 7-quart cooker would leave too little room for ingredients or make it difficult to prepare enough servings.
Its main disadvantage is physical rather than culinary: an 8-quart cooker takes up considerable counter and cabinet space. Before buying, measure the shelf or cupboard where you intend to store it, including the height needed for the lid. Also consider whether your usual recipes are large enough to benefit from the capacity. A very large cooker can be inconvenient for a small household that usually prepares modest portions.
Do not choose this model solely because “more quarts” sounds better. Oversizing can be wasteful if you frequently cook small amounts, while underfilling or adapting recipes may affect cooking performance. Match the capacity to your normal batch size and storage space.
Choose it if: you routinely cook for a crowd or make large batches for leftovers and meal preparation.
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- UNIQUE FOLDING HANDLES: The full-grip handles lift up for carrying and down when storing the slow cooker or when you need to make more space on the countertop. The handles are easy to grasp when carrying food to the table or to gatherings.
- PERFECT FOR FAMILY MEALS AND ENTERTAINING: The large slow cooker has a 6 quart stoneware crock that holds enough to serve 7+ people. It will fit a whole 6 lb. chicken, a 4 lb. roast or enough barbecue to make up to 25 sliders
- MAINTAIN THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE WITH 3 HEAT SETTINGS: Just turn the dial to choose from 3 heat settings. Cook your meal on Low or High, and then switch to Keep Warm when cooking is complete for food that's warm and ready when it's time to eat.
- FAST AND EASY CLEANUP: The removable stoneware crock and durable glass lid are both dishwasher safe.
- TAKES THE STRESS OUT OF FAMILY MEALS: The 6 quart slow cooker does the cooking for you, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time with the ones you love.
Skip it if: you have limited storage or usually cook for only one or two people.
5. Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker, Programmable: Best portable model
The Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker is Food Network’s portable pick. It is aimed at people who prepare food at home and then transport the filled cooker to a potluck, party, tailgate, or other gathering.
Portability should be evaluated separately from cooking performance. A transport-oriented lid and locking system can help reduce spills, but it does not make a heavy, hot, filled cooker effortless to carry. Plan a stable route, keep the cooker level, and allow enough room in the vehicle for it to sit securely.
Hamilton Beach’s official store confirms that transport-focused slow cookers with lid-latch features remain an active category, but that information should not be treated as evidence about the construction or performance of this specific Crock-Pot model.
Choose it if: you regularly carry prepared food outside your kitchen.
Skip it if: the cooker will stay on your countertop; a portable design may add features you will never use.
6. Crock-Pot MultiMeal Multicooker: Best dual-sided or multifunction option
Food Network identifies the Crock-Pot MultiMeal Multicooker as its dual-sided slow-cooker pick and lists a bake function. It is therefore better understood as a broader multicooker format than as a conventional single-vessel slow cooker.
That distinction matters. The additional cooking format can be useful if you want to prepare different foods or use baking and slow-cooking functions in the same appliance. But more versatility also means a larger learning curve, more parts or settings to manage, and potentially more unused features.
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For soups, stews, braises, and similar one-pot meals, a straightforward slow cooker may be more practical. Buy this model because the dual-sided or bake capability solves a real cooking need—not simply because its feature list is longer.
Rank #4
- Spacious 7-quart manual slow cooker serves 8+ people or fits a 6-lb. roast
- Set cooking time to high and get a hot meal in no time or set it on low and tonight’s dinner can cook while you’re at work
- Keep food at an ideal serving temperature for as long as you need to with the convenient warm setting
- One-pot cooking means there are less dishes to clean, plus the lid and removable stoneware are dishwasher safe
Choose it if: you want slow cooking alongside a wider multicooker setup.
Skip it if: you want a simple appliance dedicated primarily to traditional slow-cooker recipes.
How Food Network tested the slow cookers
Food Network reports more than 150 hours of cooking and testing across 13 slow cookers. The reported process included cooking stew, checking interior temperatures hourly, measuring exterior temperatures with an infrared thermometer, observing how quickly the cooker’s heat fell after switching to Warm, evaluating cleanup, and assessing the controls and interface.
These measurements address issues that capacity and preset counts cannot reveal. A cooker needs to maintain an appropriate temperature for tender food, avoid an excessively hot exterior, and manage holding without continuing to overcook food too aggressively. Cleanup and control usability also affect whether a feature-rich cooker is pleasant to use repeatedly.
Good Food’s 2026 category guide provides independent context by describing hands-on testing with beef stew and venison madras and by evaluating capacity, ease of use, functions, and material quality. HGTV separately reports testing six slow cookers, with models from BLACK+DECKER, Hamilton Beach, and Instant among its comparison points. Those guides support the idea that capacity, portability, controls, and cooking format create meaningful differences, but they do not independently validate every Food Network ranking.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to choose the right size and type
Capacity
Use your normal recipe size, not an occasional holiday meal, as the starting point. A 6- or 7-quart cooker is a flexible family-size range. An 8-quart model makes more sense for groups, batch cooking, and substantial leftovers, but it needs more storage space.
Manual versus programmable controls
A manual dial is inexpensive and easy to understand, but it requires you to manage the cooking schedule. Programmable controls are more useful when you need a defined cooking duration or want the cooker to transition to a holding setting. They do not eliminate the need to follow the recipe, monitor food safety, or account for the cooker’s capacity and ingredients.
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Choose a multifunction model when it replaces a step or appliance you will genuinely use. Browning in the same vessel can reduce cleanup; a temperature probe can help with meat-centered recipes; baking or dual-sided cooking may broaden the meals you prepare. If your recipes rarely go beyond soups and stews, extra modes may not justify a higher price or larger footprint.
Portability
If food travels, look for a model specifically designed for transport. A portable cooker addresses spill prevention and handling; it does not automatically indicate better temperature control or cooking results. If you never transport meals, prioritize capacity, controls, cleanup, and storage instead.
Best Value
- Programmable Digital Timer: Control cooking times from 30 minutes up to 20 hours
- Serve a Crowd: 6 quart Cook & Carry Slow Cooker serves 7 plus people
- Locking Lid: Lid gasket provides extra seal for less mess during transport
- Interactive Cooking: Safe for use in oven up to 400 degree F, and microwave
- Worry-free Travel: Secure locking lid and rubber gasket prevent spills
Important safety notes
- Do not assume every slow cooker can cook frozen meat safely. The researched Hamilton Beach model has a designated defrost process, but that feature should not be generalized to other cookers.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Pay particular attention to defrosting, probe placement, fill levels, cooking times, and the use of Warm.
- Account for residual heat. Food Network’s testing observed temperature behavior after switching to Warm because food can continue cooking while being held.
- Handle portable cookers carefully. A filled slow cooker is heavy and hot; use its intended transport features and keep it level during movement.
- Check parts before using accessories. replacement crocks, lids, probes, and travel accessories are not automatically universal. Confirm the exact model number and capacity.
What about the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget?
Food Network’s current page includes the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker as “Another Favorite.” Its built-in probe can switch the cooker to Warm when the selected meat temperature is reached. The clip-top lid is useful for transport, although Food Network notes that inserting the probe accurately can be difficult.
Hamilton Beach’s official store lists a 6-quart Set & Forget model with programmable controls, a defrost function, adjustable countdown timing, and a dishwasher-safe stoneware crock. Product details, price, stock, and included accessories should be rechecked before publication or purchase.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThis article presents six primary category winners because the canonical guide title calls for six products. The underlying Food Network page currently displays a seventh position—the Set & Forget—as an additional favorite rather than one of the six primary slots. It is a credible alternative for readers who place temperature monitoring above the other category priorities.
Prices, availability, and model details
Slow-cooker prices and stock can change after a buying guide is published. Retail listings may also show regional variations, bundled accessories, revised model numbers, or different finishes under similar product names. Before ordering, verify the exact capacity, controls, probe, lid design, included parts, return policy, and current availability.
For accessories, the most defensible additions are a meat thermometer for temperature-controlled cooking, a transport carrier or compatible lid-lock solution for moving food, and replacement crocks or lids for owners of a specific model. Confirm compatibility by model number rather than assuming that every 6-quart or oval part will fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cook frozen meat in a slow cooker?
The Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Defrost Slow Cooker is the specialized choice in this guide. Food Network says its designated defrost setting is intended to bring frozen protein through a food-safe defrost process before slow cooking. Do not assume other slow cookers can safely cook frozen meat, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions precisely.
What slow-cooker capacity should I buy?
A 6- or 7-quart cooker is generally the more flexible choice for ordinary family meals, while an 8-quart model is better for large groups, batch cooking, and substantial leftovers. Choose based on your usual recipe size and available storage space.
Which slow cooker is best on a budget?
The Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker is the budget pick, but it has no automatic shutoff. It suits buyers who want a simple High/Low/Warm dial and can manage the cooking schedule themselves.
Which slow cooker is best for potlucks?
The Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook & Carry is the portable pick because it is designed for transporting prepared food. A portable model is worthwhile when you regularly attend potlucks, parties, or tailgates; otherwise, prioritize cooking and storage features.
The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Buy the All-Clad Gourmet Plus if you want premium multifunction cooking and can accept the price and footprint. Choose the Crock-Pot Manual for inexpensive, uncomplicated slow cooking; the Hamilton Beach Defrost only for its specific frozen-protein workflow; the Crockpot 8-Quart for large batches; the Cook & Carry for regular transport; and the MultiMeal when you truly want a broader multicooker rather than a basic slow cooker.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
