No time to prepare food? Slow cookers are the answer to your problem! Slow cooker, you say? Yes, the one your lola uses to cook caldereta on Christmas. But now, with the variety of slow cooker recipes available online, a slow cooker can be used to prepare tasty food every day, and not just on special occasions.
A slow cooker uses low heat to cook food for hours without drying it out. You just toss the ingredients in, set the timer, then leave it until it's done! Imagine all the time you'll have for other things! Tempted to get one? Read our guide, fact-checked by Chef Terence Fereday Jr., to help you find the best slow cooker.
Quick List - Top Slow Cookers
Hamilton Beach
Let Your Cooker Do the Work for You
Kyowa
One Pot That Fits Large Capacities of Food For Big Gatherings
Russell Hobbs
Has a Built-In Lid Holder to Keep Your Kitchen Counters Clean
Chef Terrence has 30 years of experience working in the professional kitchen. He graduated from the Professional Culinary Institute in California, USA, and he was a former Culinary Instructor, Corporate Chef, and Executive Chef. He also won several awards in culinary competitions and is the founder and owner of Zilla Pizza.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
A slow cooker is a handy tool to have in the kitchen if you're too busy to prepare food. You can just leave it on your countertop, and it will do the work for you. This way, you have extra time on your hands to handle other tasks that need to be done. Think of it as a rice cooker for your ulam, that's slowly cooking your food to perfection.
Slow cookers are used for soups and stews since its slow cook time is ideal for tenderizing tough meat and bringing out its flavors. There are many other recipes that could be done with it like slow cooker pulled pork tenderloin or slow cooker adobo. You can also cook pasta sauce in a slow cooker and even bake a cake in it, so the possibilities are endless!
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
The first thing you want to consider before buying a slow cooker is its size, keeping in mind that it works best when half-full and not filled to the brim. Slow cookers typically come in three sizes, small, medium, and large, and with the capacity measured in quarts or liters.
Take note that usually, recipes are designed for 6-quart or 6.5-liter cookers, and this size is ideal if you want to work with large pieces of meat like, for instance, a whole chicken. There are also cookers that have sizes that go up to 10 quarts or 11 liters.
For a slow cooker, start with a cooking capacity of 4 to 5 quarts. This will be ideal for a family of 4. If you live alone, this works as well, as you can batch-cook your meals for the week.
Slow cookers come in two basic shapes, oval and round. There isn't any significant advantage of one shape over the other, but selecting one would depend on your usage. Round-shaped cookers are smaller and less expensive. They're perfect for soups, stews, and curries. They can even be used to serve sauces during parties.
On the other hand, oval-shaped cookers are larger, so they can fit more food, such as large cuts of pork and beef, a whole chicken, and a rack of ribs. Because of their wider surface area, they also cook food much faster. This makes them perfect for large families and gatherings.
Go for the oval-shaped cooker for versatility. It works for soups, stews, and even on large cuts of meat like a braise. The larger cooking surface and roomier interior of this design allow you to cook faster and have an adequate amount of sauce for your guests.
Another thing to consider when buying a slow cooker is choosing between its available settings. Slow cookers come in two settings, manual and programmable. A manual slow cooker is inexpensive and can provide basic functions, while a programmable slow cooker is more expensive but lets you have more control over your cooking.
Manual cookers are fairly straightforward. They usually have a button or knob with low, medium, and high settings. Some manual models do not have a timer setting, so you would have to monitor the cooking process to keep the food from drying out or becoming overcooked.
Newer models, however, have a "keep warm" setting, although it would have to be adjusted manually. It keeps meals warm but doesn't overcook them. It is inexpensive and ideal if you are just a beginner at using a slow cooker.
You cant rely 100% on the cooker. Monitor the food item you're cooking for doneness. Start out by making notes on the cooking times and settings for each type of protein you do, so you will have a guide next time you cook.
Programmable cookers have advanced settings and features that allow you to “set and forget,” meaning you could pre-set the cooking time, leave for work, and return to a cooked meal without worrying about burning or overcooking it. Some cookers even have additional functions, such as a sear function, so you don’t have to brown meat on the stove.
Once the timer is done, it automatically switches to keep warm mode, which stops the cooking process and keeps your food warm for hours. This type of slow cooker is more expensive, but it gives you more control since you can customize the cooking process. This is ideal if you are already experienced in using slow cookers.
Take note that the warm mode does not stop the cooking process completely, residual heat in the food continues to cook the food.
The pot of the slow cooker, where the food is placed and cooked, is called a crock pot insert. It is usually made of materials such as ceramic, stoneware, aluminum, or stainless steel, and is also removable making it easy to clean and maintain.
Ceramic and stoneware crock pot inserts are heavy and sturdy; therefore they are ideal for home use. These pots are usually non-stick, making cooking and cleaning easier. They are also safe to use on the stovetop and even in the oven. Most of all, when exposed to high temperatures, they do not emit toxic fumes or toxins.
This type of cookware surface requires minimal oil because of its nonstick surface. The fact that it's oven and stovetop-proof is a bonus.
If you want a crock pot insert that can brown meat without having to sear it on the stove, then one made of aluminum and stainless steel is best for you. It is lightweight and ideal for browning, searing, or caramelizing different ingredients inside the cooker. Some variants of this pot also have a non-stick coating and can be placed in a microwave or oven for reheating.
For a much better sear on your cooker, make sure to dry the surface of the item and use a minimal amount of oil, and preheat the cooker properly.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget® 4.5 Liter Programmable Slow Cooker |33956-PH | ![]() | Let Your Cooker Do the Work for You | |
2 | Imarflex Digital Slow Cooker|ISC-600DS | ![]() | Has a Tempered Glass Cover That Helps Seal in Flavor | |
3 | Kyowa 8 Liter Oval Slow Cooker Stainless Steel Body |KW-2858 | ![]() | One Pot That Fits Large Capacities of Food For Big Gatherings | |
4 | Russell Hobbs 7 Liter Slow Cooker|Matte Black | ![]() | Has a Built-In Lid Holder to Keep Your Kitchen Counters Clean | |
5 | Kyowa 6.5 Liter Oval Slow Cooker Stainless Steel Body|KW-2856 | ![]() | Large Capacity at an Excellent Price Point | |
6 | Baumann Slow Cooker 4.5 Liter | ![]() | A Compact Slow Cooker Fit for a Small Family | |
7 | Russell Hobbs Chalkboard Slow Cooker|24180 | ![]() | Leave Messages for Family Members on This Cooker | |
8 | 3D Slow Cooker 3.5 Liters|SC-35SF | ![]() | The Ultimate Caldereta Slow Cooker | |
9 | Daewoo Electric Slow Cooker|DEC-DS200 | ![]() | Cook Food and Make Bread in This Versatile Cooker | |
10 | Imarflex Slow Cooker 2 Quarts Stainless Steel Body|ISC-200S | ![]() | Make Juicy Meals for Yourself |
Perfect for more experienced users, this Hamilton Beach slow cooker comes with three settings for hassle-free and precise cooking results. The probe setting allows you to set the temperature, while the program setting allows you to set the cooking time. With the manual setting, you can select between high, low, or warm modes for more control.
But, its unique feature is its thermometer probe which measures and displays the temperature of your food. It also automatically shifts to keep warm once the set temperature or time is reached. Best of all, it has a power interruption protection feature that keeps it on amidst a power outage. Indeed, this slow cooker does the work for you!
With this Imarflex slow cooker, you get to customize the cooking process using its three settings - low, high, and warm. It comes with a digital LED display and timer, which allows you to set your desired cooking time and counts down the time left before your dish is done.
It has a pilot light indicator that lets you know which setting is being used, plus anti-slip rubber footings, which will keep your kitchen counters scratch-free. Plus, its tempered glass cover seals the juice and nutrients of your food, so you get perfectly moist and flavorful meals with every use.
Having the biggest capacity available in the market today, this Kyowa slow cooker has an oval-shaped ceramic pot that fits up to 8 liters. It is ideal for slow cooker ribs and other large cuts of meats and big servings of stews and soups. This slow cooker is the perfect appliance to use for parties and big family gatherings.
This cooker has three heat selector modes you can choose from, low, high, or automatic, to cook your food. Its stainless-steel body gives it a modern and sleek design, and its full-grip handles remain cool to the touch making it easy to pick up and serve from countertop to the table.
This Russell Hobbs slow cooker can fit up to 7 liters or approximately 8 servings of food. It has three heat settings, low, high, and keep warm, and its removable ceramic bowl and tempered glass cover are both dishwasher-safe, making clean up a breeze.
A distinct feature of this cooker is its built-in lid holder, which frees up space on your kitchen counter and keeps it clean. A perfect visual addition to any kitchen, the premium matte black exterior of this cooker is another plus factor for getting this versatile gadget.
This slow cooker from Kyowa is simple and easy to operate, making it ideal for those who are new to using slow cookers. It has low, high, and automatic heat selector settings, and its ceramic pot is big enough for meals like slow cooker beef stew or slow cooker pot roast for a family of five.
Users are amazed that the size of this cooker is bigger than they expected, making its substantial capacity such a steal for its price. Its other features, like its glass lid, allows you to easily see the progress of what you're cooking, and its stainless-steel body is both sturdy and pleasing to the eye.
The Baumann Slow Cooker, which can accommodate up to 4.5 liters, is the perfect cooking appliance to prepare a small batch of nilagang bulalo or sinigang na baboy for a family of 4. It has a triple-setting function that lets you cook from low to high heat and maintains the warmth of the food once cooked.
With this cooker, the removable ceramic pot can be used to cook food on the countertop, as a serving dish on the dining table, and as a storage container of the leftover food inside the refrigerator. You can even use the very same ceramic pot to reheat food.
This slow cooker can fit up to four portions in its round-shaped pot, making it ideal for a small family. It comes with three simple settingsーlow, high, and warm. It doesn't automatically switch to keep warm, though, so you would have to turn the knob manually once it's cooked.
Need a reminder of what time it'll be done? Simply write when the food would be cooked on its chalkboard body! You can also write the name of the dish for your family members to see, as it even comes with its own chalk! Make cooking more fun with this slow cooker from Russell Hobbs.
This slow cooker from 3D can do everything, from searing, browning, sauteing, to slow cooking, all in its removable stoneware pot. It has a capacity of 3.5 liters, that's ideal for rich stews and thick soups. It comes with only three temperature settings, low, high, and warm, making it uncomplicated to use.
This makes it easy to cook sarsa dishes. So, next time you prepare your lola's caldereta recipe or perhaps your mom's kare-kare recipe, you'll find that using this all-in-one slow cooker will make the cooking process so much easier and hassle-free.
Daewoo’s slow cooker is versatile. It has a searing function, so you won’t have to worry about browning your meat separately. Its manual temperature control allows you to adjust it as needed. And, it comes with three settingsーlow, high, and warm. Its body has a cool-touch feature too, which means you can touch it without burning yourself.
The inner pot is made of non-stick aluminum, which is more lightweight and portable than ceramic, and is dishwasher safe too. A bonus for this slow cooker is that it has bread-making capabilities, making it perfect for budding bakers.
At first glance, this slow cooker may look like your typical rice cooker or steamer, but don't be fooled by its small size. This cooker is powerful and functions the same way as its bigger counterparts. Having a capacity of up to 2 quarts, it is ideal for small meals and for those who live alone.
Its round pot is ideal for making soups like bone broth for those days when you're craving homemade ramen. It is very simple to use and has only three settings, low, high, and warm. Its removable pot is made of ceramic, while the lid is made of glass, making them both washable and easy to clean.
Below are some of the most asked questions on the web answered by professional chef Terence Fereday.
Frozen chicken breast may take 6 to 8 hours to cook in a slow cooker. To shorten the cooking time, it would be better to thaw the frozen chicken breast in the refrigerator for a minimum of 6 hours, or in a microwave oven for 15 to 30 minutes, before cooking. Once the chicken breast has been thawed, pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture before placing it in the slow cooker.
On the high setting, pork usually cooks for 40 minutes to 1 hour, depending on the toughness of the meat.
You can cook soups, stews, and braises—usually moist cooking methods wherein you have a sauce at the end of cooking.
For multi-cooking functionality and convenience, I would recommend a slow cooker. A pressure cooker is used for a singular purpose, which is to tenderize tough cuts of meat.
Having new appliances can encourage you to get creative with cooking instead of seeing it as a chore. Check out these other picks to get inspiration for your next meal.
Author: J. Cuizon
Re-editor: Carmina Milan
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
No. 1: Hamilton Beach| Set 'n Forget® 4.5 Liter Programmable Slow Cooker |33956-PH
No. 2: Imarflex|Digital Slow Cooker|ISC-600DS
No. 3: Kyowa|8 Liter Oval Slow Cooker Stainless Steel Body |KW-2858
No. 4: Russell Hobbs|7 Liter Slow Cooker|Matte Black
No. 5: Kyowa|6.5 Liter Oval Slow Cooker Stainless Steel Body|KW-2856
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Beauty
Health
Household goods
PCs and laptops
Home appliances and electronics
Cameras
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Mom and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, and DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Home improvement and tools
Smartphones and tablets
Banking and finance
Insurance
Audio
Smartphone applications
Others