Today life moves at the speed of the internet and you move with it. Even if cooking is your passion, scheduling the time to stop and exist in your kitchen for an hour before dinner sometimes proves to be an impossible feat. Having the versatility to assemble your meal when it fits with your schedule and let it cook on its own time is a life saver for those who don’t opt to visit the drive through or the diner every time their stomachs growl.
Quality kitchenware is a must for any savvy chef, and the busy home cook is no different. A good slow cooker will save you hours of mental anguish in the long run. Cooking isn’t meant to be stressful anyway. So relax, breathe deep, and make your crazy day meals in one of these remarkable appliances.
Black + Decker 7-Quart Slow Cooker
For a festive flare at holiday meals, the Black + Decker slow cooker is an easy choice. In addition to adding a bright and cheerful splash to your kitchen, the seven quart dish has three heat settings, one for all day cooking, one for half day cooking, and a warm setting to keep food hot while dinner’s being served. Ideal for parties or large family meals, the Black + Decker 7-quart serves up to eight people easily.
For those new to the cooking technique, or anyone with a yen to try new things, the pot comes with a series of included recipes to help you develop your style and familiarize yourself with the device. After you’ve tried them, clean up is a breeze with a dishwasher safe stoneware pot and glass lid. Purchase: $33
Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget Programmable 6-Quart Slow Cooker
If you love meat, the Set and Forget is the choice for you. Three easy settings give you endless cooking options: there’s the regular setting for traditional slow cooking– loading up the pot and setting the heat, then adjusting manually. Then the timed setting cooks your meal and then switches to warming mode so dinner is done and still hot when you come home hungry. Lastly, the programmable probe setting allows you to cook chicken, pot roast, or anything else your heart desires to the recommended internal temperature, and then keep them warm until you are ready to eat.
Power interrupt protection guarantees that even in short blackouts, brownouts, or power outages, cooking will continue as normal, ensuring that your meal is perfect no matter what obstacles may arise. Even potlucks and parties are a cinch when you employ the Set and Forget tightly sealing clip lock lid and full grip handles to prevent spills and accidents during transport. Purchase: $50
Crock-Pot 3.5-Quart Casserole Programmable Slow Cooker
All the convenience of a slow cooker in the traditional casserole dish shape, the Crock-Pot Casserole Programmable is ideal for switching between the slow cooker base and your regular oven. The tried and true casserole dish shape allows for diversity in food preparation, from different cuts of meat to crisper top layers. Whether you plan to let your meal cook all throughout a busy day and then pop it under the broiler to quickly brown the top, or you have the leisure to make dinner the old fashioned way, this dish is versatile and beautiful. Save your storage space for your collection of fancy liqueurs by ditching your old bake ware and using the Crock-Pot Programmable for every occasion. Purchase: $60
NFL-Themed Crock Pots With Your Favorite Team’s Logo
For game day parties, what better way to prove ultimate dedication to your team of choice than by serving your Swedish meatballs out of an NFL themed Crock-Pot? Two hinged locking tabs secure the tempered glass lid in place, while the sealing gasket eliminates any risk of splatters and spills. Low, high, and medium heat settings give you cooking versatility and ensure that you never serve a hot dish cold. The space efficient oval pot easily carries six quarts, guaranteeing that your snacks carry you through to the finish line.
Though the Crock-Pot is the high quality anyone familiar with the brand has come to expect, this particular design is priced more for style than for features. It’s a straightforward build, without the extra frills found on other models. Available in the style of twelve different fan favorite football teams, wherever your loyalties lie you can proclaim your support at the top of your tailgate. Purchase: $80
Wi-Fi-Enabled WeMo 6-Quart Slow Cooker
The ultimate in modern food preparation, a WiFi enabled WeMo Crock-Pot allows you to cook dinner from the office, the waiting room, or running errands. Now you can start cooking, adjust the temperature, change time settings, or even shut the whole thing down from your smartphone. The WeMo Crock-Pot frees you up to cook on the go, making your hectic life just a little more manageable. And if that wreck interrupts your cooking, the WeMo automatically switches to warm setting as soon as your food is finished cooking, meaning that you never come home to a scorched mess.
Cool touch handles make for safe and easy carrying, and dishwasher compatibility means clean up is almost as easy as cooking. For effortless distance preparation, this is the slow cooker to use. Purchase: $130
Cuisinart MSC-600 Multi Cooker
Any slow cooker can heat your food, but the Cuisinart MSC-600 takes culinary art to the next level. Browning and sauteing up to 400 degrees, an entire world of caramelized onions and stir fried chicken strips becomes a possibility, while an included rack and 90 minute steamer setting open up the range even further. The possibilities are endless with the MSC-600. For one dish cooking, this is the pot of choice, no more must your slow cooker vie for space in the dish washer with your frying pans and steaming tools. Anyone who loves to cook but hates the dishes afterward will adore the versatility of having just one slow cooker that does it all. Purchase: $160
