The 5 Best Slow-Cookers For A Zero-Effort Meal

This stainless steel 6.5-quart champ from All-Clad delivered a delicious fork-tender beef stew in our tests, with none of the dryness or stringiness that comes from overcooking. After the program is done, it auto switches to keep warm for up to six hours. It's large enough to feed a crowd, and super easy to clean—the ceramic insert is removable, and dishwasher safe!

Thanks to a locking lid and large side handles, the Black + Decker Digital slow cooker is easy to take with you on the go. Our favorite part, though, is that the exterior doubles as a chalkboard, so you can label it with your dish at your next potluck dinner. A built-in lid holder allows you to so stir and serve without holding the lid, or dirtying up your countertops. 

The Calphalon Digital Sauté turned out some of the most tender beef in our lab's test; stew broth was rich and vegetables held their shape (a rarity for a slow cooker). Our lab was equally impressed with the performance of the nonstick cooking insert, which doubles as a sauté pan ― when we used it to brown meat on the stove it earned top ratings for even heating. The dial features settings for low, high, and warm. 

This Hamilton Beach slow cooker stands out because it also functions as a sous vide machine. It's able to hold a water bath at a precise controlled temperature to cook food perfectly from edge to edge. It's also an amazing slow-cooker, fondue machine, and yogurt maker, too, so you really can't go wrong with this model.

Zojirushi's Multicooker is one of the most versatile slow cookers out there. It can also be used to sauté, simmer, steam, cook rice or quinoa, or make yogurt. And even on the slow cook setting, you can select from four temperature options from 140°F to 200°F. It will take a bit of experimentation to figure out which setting is right for your recipe, but once you find the correct temperature, you'll be using this stainless steel cooker for every meal.