Why You Need a Slow Cooker or Crockpot in Your Kitchen
If you're tired of stressing over getting a home-cooked dinner on the table during busy weeknights, you might be wondering: Why buy a slow cooker or crockpot? This appliance is the ultimate kitchen tool for meal prep, saving you precious time, money, and stress. It allows you to truly “set it and forget it,” ensuring a delicious, satisfying meal is waiting for you when you walk back through the door.
We're sharing the top slow cooker benefits and explaining exactly why this is one of the best kitchen investments you can make this year. Using Crockpot and slow cooker recipes frees up your entire day, letting you work, take care of the family, or simply relax while the amazing smells start coming from your kitchen.
Beyond the reasons why you should buy one, we’re sharing essential tips for selecting or replacing a Crockpot, ensuring you choose the right size and features to fit your family's needs perfectly.
Slow Cooker Benefits: Reasons to Own a Crockpot
This appliance is the ultimate workhorse for the kitchen. When you invest in a slow cooker or Crockpot, you are investing in convenience, time-saving meals, and incredibly flavorful results.
Convenience
If planned right, you can do so many other things while your meal is cooking. With the right crockpots or slow cookers, it will automatically switch to “keep warm” when done cooking. Say hello to a warm, fully cooked meal when you get home. Why did I say planned right? Because most meals take between 2–4 hours, some up to 6–8 hours if on slow. It's important to meal plan and prep your slow cooker to get dinner done and ready to eat at the time you like!
Versatility
You can use them for cooking stews, soups, and meats such as chicken, beef, pork, or fish. Think about making lasagna, pasta, or chili! Besides dinners, consider fall drinks like hot chocolate and apple cider, desserts, and how about using one for potpourri to make your house smell like fall!
Easy to Clean
You can purchase some with non-stick pots, and others just require you to spray them with non-stick spray before cooking. This means less scrubbing for you later!
Flavorful Meals
Since the food is cooked slowly, it gives meats, stews, and other dishes a really flavorful taste when done. Flavors meld and meats get very tender—it's impossible to achieve this depth in a few minutes on the stovetop.
Frees Up Cooking Areas
This is especially helpful for large holiday meal cooking (like Thanksgiving), allowing other items to be cooked on the stove or in the oven. You can make and keep mashed potatoes hot without using up a burner!
Don't Heat Your Kitchen
Cooking with a Slow Cooker or Crockpot will save you from extra heat and work in the summer hot weather season.
Things to Consider When Buying Your Slow Cooker
Now, if you've decided to purchase a Crock Pot or Slow Cooker, you'll need to keep these tips in mind when selecting one to suit you, fit in the home, and look good in the kitchen! But most importantly, that will meet your needs.
Key Features to Look For
- Pick the right size range for your needs: Crockpots and slow cookers usually range in sizes from 4-quart, 6-quart, and 7-quart. But, there are some bigger and even smaller ones like the minis.
- Pick from different shapes: round, oval, and rectangle. This is handy if you have an odd-shaped or limited counter space.
- Know what functions you need or want, including ones that have automatic stirring. Others have a braising or steaming function. You can choose between programmable or manual dial settings.
- Settings: Make sure to get one with a warmer setting. When it's done cooking, it will automatically go to warm until ready to serve. This is great for cooking while you're gone.
- Portability: Some come with lids that lock, making them more portable. This is helpful when heading to friends' or families' for potluck dinners or church gatherings.
- Ease of Cleaning: Some inserts are dishwasher safe; others are not.
You might think you don't have room in your kitchen. But, I say, find room, they are worth owning. I store mine in the cabinet and pull it out when needed. My counter space is limited. Although I have an average-sized kitchen, it lacks counter space. When I lived in a cottage-style house, my kitchen was so small. I stored mine in the garage and brought it in to use.
My Guide To Replacing or Selecting a Slow Cooker
I've been a huge fan for years—I had my previous slow cooker for at least five years, and I don't even think they make that style anymore! I was finally ready for an upgrade after researching what some of the newer models can do (I even bought a new slow cooker recently!). For the holidays, having a big family, I'd like to have two units. Why? You can prep and cook so many holiday foods in them, helping you juggle fewer things that need baking or cooking on the stovetop.
I also helped my older daughter find a new one that would suit her family and do the things she needed it to. I researched prices, styles, and types, finding some great selections. I thought this detailed research might help you if you need to update yours or are looking for a new one.
Below is a list of slow cookers and crockpots, plus tips if you're considering purchasing a new crockpot or slow cooker. They come in many sizes, with varying features and options.
If there is ever a kitchen item you should invest in, I really recommend trying a crockpot or slow cooker if you haven't cooked in one. Usually, the recipes are so easy to cook and the results for dinner are delicious. Find our slow cooker recipes here.
If you have followed along for a while, you know how much I love cooking in my slow cooker. Some of our favorite meals have been made in them. During the holidays, we've used them to make and keep mashed potatoes hot for big family meals (like Thanksgiving), and you can even make hot beverages or desserts in the slow cooker. This is the current slow cooker I own, and I stand by its versatility!
Favorite Slow Cookers
This Crock-Pot features automatic stirring and a locking lid. We also got a Slow Cooker travel-carrying bag. So she can take it to functions. The Crock-Pot comes in two sizes: 6-quart and 6.5-quart.
Why We Picked This Model: Auto-Stirring and Locking Lid
The CrockPot Krissy decided on was the best fit for cooking for her busy family. This design has a special feature: automatic stirring and a locking lid.
With four small children under the age of nine (and three of them less than two years apart!), Krissy doesn't have time to get into the kitchen for long periods of time or to keep checking or stirring her slow-cooking meal. The auto-stir feature is a lifesaver.
She also wanted one that had a locking lid. Her family has a lot of church functions, potlucks, and other activities where they need to take their pre-made meals. The locking lid ensures safe, spill-free transport every time.
The Model I Chose: Cuisinart 3-in-1 with Braise Feature
When I decided on an upgrade for my own kitchen, I knew I wanted features that maximized convenience. I often make recipes such as chicken dishes and roasts that I prefer to braise first. I actually found the Cuisinart 3-in-1 Slow Cooker which offers a braising function in one of its settings!
This feature instantly sold me. No getting an extra pot dirty anymore! That's another huge time-saver. The unit also includes racks for steaming fish or vegetables, which makes it even more versatile. You can see it in action with a video of a recipe being cooked in this one by following the link below (selection at Amazon).
The Cuisinart 3-1 does all this and is available in 4, 6, and 7-quart sizes:
- One-touch switches modes when the recipe calls for combination cooking
- Extra-large blue backlit LCD with easy-to-read time and temperature settings
- Removable 6-quart nonstick aluminum cooking pot with Teflon coating
- Glass lid with cool-touch handle for clear view and comfortable handling
- Dishwasher-safe removable parts for effortless cleanup, Steaming rack included, Limited 3-year warranty
- Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
Crock pots and slow cookers come in many sizes, including round 3-quart Crock-Pot, rice cooker/slow cooker combo, and minis like the Little Dipper. I have a mini just for melting chocolate for candy making.
Final Thoughts and Resources
You've read our favorite reasons to own a slow cooker and seen the specific models we love! To help you start cooking, we've gathered a few of our favorite recipes for them below.
Are you just getting started cooking with your new crock pot or slow cooker? Besides our recipes, you'll find I've dedicated a whole Pinterest board (find the link to our profile page below) to Crock-Pots and Slow Cooker recipes. I'm constantly working my way through them or adapting some of those recipes!
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- Shop our favorites on Amazon
Don't forget to sign up for our recipes and check out the links to our Amazon shop for our favorite slow cooker accessories! This season, we especially love these beautiful fall favorite hot pads.
Do you already have a Crockpot or Slow Cooker? What's your favorite recipe to make in it? Let us know in the comments!
Favorite slow cooker recipes
- Crockpot Chicken Cacciatore
- Crockpot Chicken Tacos. We also use this recipe for chicken burritos and enchiladas. The chicken is so tender and easily makes any of the recipes.
- Mango Habanero Slow Cooker Tacos
- Knock Your Socks Off Crockpot Barbecue Chicken
- You can see them all in our recipe index.
- And we are adding to our Easy Crockpot Recipes list: The new hub for our Slow Cooker Recipes is here.
Shop For Slow Cookers
- A few other things we are loving for fall in the kitchen. All our selections are on Amazon
