The Best Slow Cooker Under $50 For Stewing And Soup Dishes

To save you the hassle of having to visit every product page on Amazon, I made a quick review for each item:

1. Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker (SCV700-S-BR)

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Pros:

• Spacious seven-quart capacity
• High energy efficiency
• It comes with a recipe book
• Dishwasher-safe
• Customer’s Top Pick

Cons:

•  The lid doesn't have a rubber seal

2. Elite Gourmet MST-250XW Electric Slow Cooker

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Pros:

• Smooth and easy to clean ceramic inner pot
• Best Price
• Dishwasher-safe inner pot
• Tempered glass lids
• Good non-stick property

Cons:

• Ceramic material is brittle and prone to chipping

 3. Hamilton Beach Portable Digital Slow Cooker with Lid Lock

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Pros:

• Digital display for tracking temperature
• The vessel and lid are dishwasher-safe
• Power interrupt safety mechanism
• Integrated temperature probe
• Versatile cooking options

Cons:

• Blue display is difficult to read during daytime

4. Crock-Pot SCCPCCM350-BL Manual Slow Cooker

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Pros:

• Oven-safe stoneware
• Heat resistant handles
• Very durable
• Smooth and sleek exterior
• Great for casseroles and baked beans

Cons:

• Heavyweight, not suitable for people with a weak wrist

5. Hamilton Beach 7 Qt. Slow Cooker, Brushed Silver (33176)

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Pros:

• Perfect size for family meals
• Simple operation
• A lid latch strap to reduce spills
• Highly durable stoneware crock
• The perfect size for family meals

Cons:

• The legs are very slippery

6. Crockpot 7-Quart Slow Cooker with Programmable Controls and Digital Timer

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Pros:

• Eye-catching and modern-looking design
• Convenient cooking settings
• Soft grip handle with Chrome plate
• Helper handle for ease of handling
• Uniform heat distribution

Cons:

• The exterior gets very hot while cooking

7. Elite Gourmet MST-275XR Electric Oval Slow Cooker

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Pros:

• Removable stoneware slide
• Vibrant and eye-catching red color
• Highly portable
• Dishwasher-safe glass lid and inner pot
• Affordable price

Cons:

• Limited capacity

Here are some must-know pieces of information that you might need before buying a slow cooker:

Capacity

A slow cooker’s capacity can range from 2 Quarts (1,8 liter) to 8.5 Quarts (8 liters). This number is their theoretical maximum capacity, but in reality, they can hold less than that for safety reasons. 

Almost all manual instruction manuals say to fill the pot half full or seventy-five percent full to avoid over-cooking and to prevent spillovers. The popular size for slow cookers is 6 Quarts (5,6 liters) or 7 Quarts (6,2 liters) models.

Even when comparing slow cookers with similar capacities,  they can vary in size depending on their outer frame and material.

Timer style

Depending on the origin and model of the slow cooker, you can encounter two styles of timer: manual switch timer and digital timer.

The manual timer is the fancy name for a simple switch or knob. You can see this design on products of Asian origins. They are very straightforward to operate and require no user manual.

The digital timer is the modern variant of its traditional counterpart. Your slow cooker will automatically switch off precisely according to the time you have set on the digital screen.

Both of these timer styles are good on their own, I must say that the modern timer isn’t necessarily better than the older model.

Lid’s quality

A good slow cooker must always have clear, snug-fitting lids capable of trapping heat and retaining moisture. The cover can be either hardened glass or plastic material. 

Hardened glass is the better option of the two as clear lids are necessary for you to be able to check on the cooking progress without having to remove the cover.

Loose lids can release steam, wasting precious heat and energy. A poorly-made lid will slow down the cooking process and allow spills to splash all over your countertop.

A good example of a high-quality lid is the Hamilton Beach 7 Qt. Slow Cooker, Brushed Silver (33176). This slow cooker has a built-in lid latch, capable of securing the lid while cooking and allowing faster pressure build-up.

The container (or the insert)

The insert is where you put your ingredients for slow cooking. On the current market, there are two types of slow cooker insert for you to choose from:

Crock (ceramic or stoneware): Due to the nature of the material, these inserts are perfect for heat retention once the cooker has reached its cooking temperature.  While they are heavier than their metal counterparts, they cook more evenly and give a better taste to your dishes.

Metal insert: They are lighter and are not brittle like crock inserts, making them more durable, impact-resistant, and long-lasting. Some variants even have a protective non-stick layer as their coating.

Power Output

When you compare slow cookers to other kitchen appliances, you will see that they are significantly more energy efficient. Slow cookers consume between 75 Watts and 150 Watts of electricity on low settings and between 150 and 210 watts on high settings.

You can leave a slow cooker on for half a day, but it will only use the same amount of electricity a traditional pot would in two to three hours.

Are ceramic inner pots better than metal ones?

Slow cookers that use ceramic materials for their inner pots have these advantages:

• Much easier to clean
• Naturally non-stick
• Stain-resistant and corrosion-resistant
• You don’t have to worry about rust 

On the other hand, they are not as flexible and highly impact-resistant as metal inner pots. The ceramic material is brittle and vulnerable to chipping or cracking.

In conclusion, a ceramic inner pot is not necessarily better than a metal one. You just have to choose the type that suits your cooking style best.

What are the perks of using a slow cooker?

• Set and forget: All you need to do is toss the ingredients in, pour some water, and set the desired cooking setting and timer. The slow cooker will do the rest for you.

And while it is cooking, you can spend time doing other activities you desire or preparing other dishes.

• Highly energy efficient: Appliances can cook all day but they will use the same amount of energy as your standard light bulb.
• Flavorful and juicy dishes: Thanks to the long cooking time, your food will soften slowly. This process will allow spices to penetrate deeply into the food, giving it the best flavor possible.
• Consistent temperature: When the slow cooker has reached the desired temperature, it will automatically keep the temperature at a certain range.

Are they easy to clean?

The cleaning process of a slow cooker should be effortless thanks to the non-stick coating on the interior of the insert.

The tricky part is the nooks and crannies of the exterior. But, there is nothing a soft rag and bottle of cleaning agent can’t handle.

What accessories should I prepare?

Although you don’t need anything other than some cooking utensils, some accessories are always nice to have as they make your cooking experience much more enjoyable.

I recommend that you buy the following things:

• A recipe book.
• One wooden spatula.
• A pair of meat claws.
• A set of slow cooker liners.
• A ladle holder.

Can I replace my inner pot if it breaks?

Yes, you can. Some stores and supermarkets sell inner pots as separate products. 

In case the inner pot of your slow cooker is no longer useable, you can visit these places or go online shopping for a replacement.

I recommend that you contact your supplier for the most compatible inner pot for the slow cooker you are using.

You reached the end of my post, I hope you learned valuable information from reading it. With this newfound knowledge, you will have an easier time deciding which is the best slow cooker under $50 that fits your requirements.

Please share your thoughts in the comment section if you have time to spare. Your opinion can be helpful to other readers and people will greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for reading!