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How to Buy the Right Slow Cooker

By Pillsbury Kitchens
Created December 8, 2016
Slow-Cooker Barbecued Pulled Pork Fajitas
Find out which slow cooker is best for your family.

Rest easy: You don’t have to be overwhelmed with the zillion slow cooker choices out there. Before you head for the store, check out these tips for figuring out what's best for you:

Size matters: 

  • 3- to 4-quart: Perfect for a household of two adults 
  • 5- to 6-quart: For families of four or more, or those who like to prepare large cuts of meat 
  • 1- to 1.5-quart: Great for keeping hot appetizer dips warm during parties
Round vs. oval: If you can, go with the oval option. The design is more flexible.

Heat options: Make sure the slow cooker has a heating element around the side and on the bottom. Plus, there should be options for low and high heating.

Get a rim: Look for a wide rim (about 1 inch) on the top of the slow cooker. Sometimes contents in the slow cooker will bubble, and the wide rim will prevent moisture from running down the side.

Cleanup hint: Buy a slow cooker with a removable insert. It will make cleanup quick and painless.

Go with glass: Glass lids tend to sit more securely on the rim and be more durable than plastic or metal lids.

See?  Wasn't that easy?

Find lots of slow cooker models at the Pillsbury Store.  And while you're there, pick up a copy of Pillsbury's Fast Slow Cooker Cookbook, packed with easy recipes and quick prep times.