Choosing the best slow cooker

Whether you are replacing your old slow cooker or buying your first, there are several things to consider. When choosing the best slow cooker, you need to decide on size, features and how important brand recognition is to you. Start by doing your research. You'll also want to find the best bargain for the brand you choose.

Research

Assuming that you don't need your slow cooker for tonight's supper, doing some research will help you to make a good choice. Naturally, if yours just died and you have a meal planned, you may want to rush out to the nearest store and get a replacement.
 
If you have the time, hit the Internet and look at some product reviews. You want a machine that will perform well and last a reasonable amount of time.

Consumer Reports is a great site for finding the best unbiased reviews; it does however require that you register for a fee. There are also a number of free review sites to choose from, including Thoroughly Reviewed which lists the best slow cookers of 2015.

Size

Slow cookers come in different sizes and are typically either round or oval. The size of your family and the amount food you want to prepare will determine the size that will work best for you. The size of your kitchen and storage will also be determining factors. If you plan to use your slow cooker a lot, you probably need to have space on your counter top for it to stay. In a small kitchen this can be an issue.

After you do your research and decide on the brand that you prefer, it's time to make sure that they have one in the size and shape and even color that you want.

Features

A slow cooker is often the workhorse of the kitchen. While it can make great stews, soups and casseroles, if it has the right features, it can do a variety of other tasks for you as well.

If you're looking for just a simple slow cooker, it will be much less expensive and feature two, three or four settings for temperature. It won't do anything more, but it will make great slow-cooked dishes.

For a little more money you can get one that is programmable with an automatic start, and that will switch over to warm mode when it is done cooking. More advanced models have actual temperature settings allow you to cook at a specific temperature instead of low, high or warm.

One feature that is very handy is a liner that is removable so that you can clean it easily. If your slow cooker is easy to clean, you are much more likely to use it. Another feature that makes traveling with your slow cooker easier is a locking lid.

From breakfast to dessert, your slow cooker can help you easily produce the meals and snacks that your family loves even if you won't be at home all day. Your slow cooker can make all the difference between coming home to a great meal and having leftover pizza. Getting one that meets your needs and fits your space only takes a little research, and before long you'll be preparing healthy, hearty meals for your family even while you're away doing other things.