There are a lot of cooking appliances you could use in your kitchen and as convenient as this is, it is just as confusing. It can be confusing for example when you want to get the right cooker for slow cook with temperature control.
Considering there are a lot of these you could choose from in the market, you’ll find it tricky to pick out one that’s perfect for you, especially since most of these are identical in every respect.
Whereas every slow cooker out there most likely has a low and high setting, things are not this simple when it comes to temperature control, you’ll want one that’s accurate and consistent. This way, for recipes that require slow cooking, you can have the peace of mind that your meals will not be overcooked.
Before looking on to the detailed reviews, how about we first look at the side by side comparison of the top picks in the market? Image Name Our Rating's Price Ninja OP301 Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker with Recipe Book Cuisinart MSC-800 Cook Central 4-in-1 Multi-Cooker, 7 quart Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker (Digital Programmable Slow Cooker)
The 5 best slow cookers with temperature control Reviews of 2021
Upon testing and reviewing different slow cookers from some of the top brands in the market, we came up with these 5 amazing selections.
1. Ninja OP301 Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure, Slow Cooker with Recipe Book
One of the features that make it stand out most is the TenderCrisp tech. This allows your ingredients to cook quickly and with the inclusion of the crisping lid, your meals will have a crispy and golden finish.
To get the best versatility, the pressure cooker will cook up to 70% faster as compared to what we are used to traditionally. To add icing on the cake, it can air fry up to 75% less fat plus it works just as well with slow-cooking, braised, or low-simmer recipes.
For the utmost convenience and the best results, the Ceramic non-stick coating will get you the best cooked meals free of harmful PFOA and PTFE.
2. Cuisinart MSC-800 Cook Central 4-in-1 Multi-Cooker, 7 Quarts
What makes this one of the best programmable slow cookers in the market is the one-touch switch mode which will be useful if your recipe requires a combination of cooking.
As far as programmability is concerned, you can have it slow cook on high, low, simmer or warm for as long as 24 hours. You can also have it at the roast setting from 250-480 degrees for as long as 6 hours.
3. Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker (Digital Programmable Slow Cooker)
From a usability perspective it is designed to cook the recipe to the desired cooking time or temperature after which it automatically switches to warm (when the cooking is done).
Its versatility is another feature to note. You can easily take the slow cooker to a party, potluck, or tailgate; thanks to the clip-tight gasket lid. Its dishwasher safe design makes clean up simple as well.
4. Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S-A 6-Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker
To avoid any messes while on the go, the lid is easy to lock since you get an extra seal that keeps messes at a minimal.
As an additional stand out feature this cooker comes with digital countdown control. With this, you should be able to control the cook times anywhere from 30 minutes to 20 hours. In addition to this, it automatically shifts to the warm setting once cooking is done.
5. Elite Gourmet MST-250XS Electric Slow Cooker, Adjustable Temp
One of the features that stands out most on this cooker is the convenient low, high and keep warm settings which will be useful for such a compact electric slow cooker.
As for using it, the handles are cool to the touch as well as the knobs. Considering the cooker is powered at 120 watts, it could get pretty hot and these heat resistant handles will surely provide the security and comfort of use.
What is the working mechanism of a slow cooker?
As mentioned at the beginning of this post, slow cookers do have a low and high setting. Traditionally, this was what the slow cookers were all about. Conventionally, the high temperature was around 215 degrees F whereas the low temperatures were slightly above 200 degrees F.
Nowadays, the slow cookers may also come with a warm setting which is quite resourceful as it maintains the temperature at about 165 degrees F which is enough to cook the food perfectly.
On most modern designs, not only do they give you the convenience of setting the temperature, but they are also just as good when it comes to pressure cooking or air frying.
Since some foods such as large meat cuts cook well when the muscle fibers are broken down over time, pressure cookers stand out to be the best option when you need the meat nice and tender.
What to look for in the best slow cooker
To complement the reviews above, here are some of the features you should watch out for when shopping for a slow cooker.
The size of the pot
The first feature you need to pay attention to is how big the pot is. To determine this, you need to consider the number of people you’ll be cooking for at a time. Normally 6-7 Quarts should be big enough to prepare a meal for a family of 4.
Though you may need to go big if the audience is large, you need to bear in mind that bigger pots are going to take up more space as compared to smaller ones. On the other hand, picking too small a pot mean that you most likely will not be able to cook enough for your family
Versatility
If you want to get a bang for your buck, it’s a good idea that you get a slow cooker that has more to offer and won’t restrict you to slow cooking recipes alone. it’s best to go for a slow cooker that has added functionality such as searing, simmering, cooking rice, steaming, making yoghurt or air frying. At the same time, it’s important to ensure that the main purpose (slow cooking) is not compromised.
In a nutshell, it’s always a good idea to settle for a cooker that’s going to offer you the biggest bang for your buck.
Programmable slow cookers
If you are willing to spend a little more cash on the conventional manual cooker with the high and low setting, you could get an amazing one with a programmable timer. These normally work by switching to the warming setting when the cooking is done.
Some cookers also feature the delay start feature with which you can start cooking without pressing any button. As convenient as it is, I’d advise against using this feature for over two hours since when food sits still this long at room temperature, bacteria start to collect which is the last thing you want, right?
Ability to maintain a consistent temperature
This is best done with the inclusion of probe thermometers. As much as you can use a separate thermometer, it’s always better if the cooker comes with one on it already. The reason for this is that lifting the lid off the cooker lets out heat which could compromise the cooking results.
Alarms and warm functions
Whereas some cookers switch to the warm setting automatically when the cooking is done, staying at the warm setting for too long may result in the food being too dry. Because of this, getting a cooker with an alarm that goes off when cook time has elapsed will be resourceful.
On the other hand, as much as being in the warm setting for too long leaves the food dry, this setting should work in such a way that the heat drops quickly to a low temperature without compromising on food safety.
Care and maintenance
One common misconception about slow cookers is their likelihood to explode when in use. This is unlikely to happen with most slow cookers since the lid sits lightly and there’s a steam release hole. As much as this holds for most slow cookers, it’s important to read the directions of use. Different models may have different working mechanisms.
Since the directions of use and care for slow cookers may vary depending on the manufacturer, here are a few tips that should be kept in mind:
- Since most of them have ceramic, when washing it’s best to let it cool down rather than adding cold water in it since ceramic easily cracks in sudden temperature changes.
- Unless they are made of stoneware, avoid cleaning your cooker in a dishwasher. Instead, stick to handwashing with hot soapy water using a soft sponge rather than corrosive pads. If the stains are stubborn, soak the cooker in a sink of hot soapy water before cleaning.
- Don’t lock the lids when cooking since this can cause the glass to break.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Which is better between the high temperature and low temperature slow cook?
This depends on the recipe since the only difference between the two temperature settings is the time taken for the simmer point to be reached.
What is the temperature of a slow cooker on low?
The low setting is about 200 degrees F on average but this depends on how the cooker is designed
What temperature is low on a Hamilton Beach slow cooker?
The low setting is between 180 degrees F and 200 degrees F on average
Which is the best slow cooker to buy?
An easy way to get the best is to go for a trusted brand such as Hamilton beach but in general, settle for a long-lasting and versatile cooker to get the biggest bang for your buck.
Final Verdict
This has been a good review and I’m pretty sure it will help make it easier for choosing, using, and maintaining your slow cooker. To get the best slow cooker with temperature control experience, it’s a good idea that you pick a slow cooker that is big enough to meet your needs.
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