Choosing the best slow cooker

A slow cooker is not on our list of basic essentials for a Finite Foodie kitchen, but it’s a great piece to add when you can. Many of our soups, stews, and chilis can be prepared in one, as well as beans, rice, and even oatmeal!

If you’re thinking about purchasing a slow cooker, our personal favorite is the original Crock Pot. Bobbi has had the same one for somewhere close to 20 years. Granted, like everything else they’re probably not made as well as they used to be, but the Crock Pot brand is interested in preserving their reputation so it’s still our choice. Here’s the type that Bobbi uses, which is a low-tech, low-cost manual (not programmable) 4.5-quart slow cooker.

Photo credit: www.crock-pot.com

This Crock Pot is the perfect size for one to four people, and all of our recipes that have a slow cooker option will fit into it. There’s also a programmable version and some that include special lids and grips for easy transport to parties and family gatherings. For larger families, there are 6-quart and 8-quart versions. Rebecca has an 8-quart Crock Pot, but it takes up quite a bit of space, so consider where you will store one before you go ahead with a purchase. These are available directly from Crock Pot, or Amazon.com.