Gone are the days when slow cookers were only for busy people. The versatility of a slow cooker makes it hard not to add to your army of cooking appliances. As time went by, the slow cooker industry has seen a lot of improvements with state-of-the-art devices. However, when you search for the best small slow cooker, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.
So, I’ve looked around for a couple of days and gathered a few small slow cookers that deserve your attention. And instead of reviewing them one by one, I’ll be focusing on the factors that define how great of a slow cooker it is.
Anyhow, that’s a lot of chitchats. Let’s start with a quick comparison chart first-
5 Best Small Cookers
Build Quality and Design
The build quality is the first factor you should look out for in a slow cooker. Although I’m only referring to the outer body material. The pot or container material is a different segment that deserves a little extra attention.
Other than that, I’ll focus on the design part. Now, it’s not what you think it is. I agree everyone appreciates a good-looking product especially when it’s going to stay on your countertop. But whether the design makes sense or not is more important.
Elite Gourmet Lid & Ceramic Slow Cooker:
This sleek-designed slow cooker comes with brushed stainless steel that blends in with any kitchen setting. Even though the handles don’t come with any holes, they’re big enough to get a good grip.
You can’t really expect any better for the price you’re paying. So, I’d say it’s good enough.
Proctor Silex 33111Y Portable Oval Slow Cooker:
The Proctor Silex 33111Y with its bright red color might come off as cute but it’s built to last. A durable steel body with a stoneware pot makes it reliable and sturdy. It’s got a nice set of handles providing you a firm grip.
Crock-Pot 1 to 1/2 Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker:
This Crock-Pot slow cooker follows a minimalist design with no extra handle. The lid itself works as a handle so that’s a win-win situation if you think of compactness.
The slow cooker is made with durable materials but I would’ve liked it better if it had bigger handles.
Elite Cuisine MST-250XW Mini Slow Cookies:
The Elite Cuisine MST-250XW comes with the promising build quality the manufacturer is known for. The material and build are quite similar to the first product on the list. Although this one’s a bit taller with a white outlook.
Kitchen Selectives Slow Cooker:
Finally, let’s talk about the most colorful slow cooker on this list. While it might not look any different from other slow cookers, there’s something on the inside(I’ll talk about that in the next segment). Well-built components with a fun and modern outlook, this slow cooker is perfect for anyone.
The Winner:
The Proctor Silex 33111Y takes away the winning trophy in this segment with its durable build quality and properly placed components. But there’s no denying other slow cookers perform relatively well too.
Pot Material And Shape
The material and shape of the insert or pot play a huge role in determining its efficiency. The rule is to get a removable pot to make sure you don’t have to do anything extra to clean it.
The next rule is figuring out whether you want metal or ceramic as the insert material. While ceramic takes longer to heat, it can hold the heat much better too. This means the cooker won’t reheat as frequently.
On the other hand, lightweight metal heats a lot faster but it loses the heat faster too. But as they’re lightweight and relatively cheap, the price gets slashed down.
Elite Gourmet Lid & Ceramic Slow Cooker:
This slow cooker from Elite Gourmet is the perfect example of a finely built appliance. A lid made out of tempered glass and a round ceramic pot, all while keeping the price low makes it a hard bargain.
Proctor Silex 33111Y Portable Oval Slow Cooker:
Similar to the previous slow cooker, the Proctor Silex 33111Y sports a tempered glass lid along with an oval ceramic pot. While the oval shape might not be optimal for soups, it’s the right choice if you’re planning on making a roast.
Crock-Pot 1 to 1/2 Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker:
As you’ve already seen, Crock-pot likes to keep things simple. Keeping that promise, this slow cooker features a round pot made out of stoneware or ceramic.
Elite Cuisine MST-250XW Mini Slow Cookies:
Remember the first product from Elite? Well, this one comes with the same specification when it’s about the pot material and shape.
Kitchen Selectives Slow Cooker:
The slow cooker from Kitchen Selectives might cost you some extra bucks, the premium quality of the round-shaped ceramic pot makes it worth it.
The Winner:
The pot material and shape aren’t something that’ll bother most people. In terms of value for money, I’d have to announce the Elite Gourmet Lid & Ceramic Slow Cooker as the winner.
Power Efficiency
We’re talking about slow cookers, more specifically, small slow cookers. So, it’s a given that people are going to expect them to be power efficient. While most small slow cookers don’t eat up much power, it’s better to figure out beforehand which ones are the most efficient.
Elite Gourmet Lid & Ceramic Slow Cooker:
The Elite Gourmet might look small and affordable, but it eats up about 120-watts of energy.
Proctor Silex 33111Y Portable Oval Slow Cooker:
Based on looks, the Proctor Silex 33111Y is a big boy. However, with an energy consumption rate of 100-watts, it’s more efficient.
Crock-Pot 1 to 1/2 Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker:
Size-wise the Crock-Pot falls behind. But in terms of efficiency, it takes the lead with an 80-watt energy consumption rate.
Elite Cuisine MST-250XW Mini Slow Cookies:
Like the first Elite Gourmet, the MST-250XW heats up using 120-watts of energy.
Kitchen Selectives Slow Cooker:
The Kitchen Selectives Slow Cookers eat up to 110-watts of energy. Although it gets lower when you select the low-temp setting.
The Winner:
If I were to put everything in a sheet of paper, the Crock-Pot would take all the glory. But what matters is how efficient it is.
Based on that, the Kitchen Selectives Slow Cooker is the winner as it can lower the energy consumption depending on the setting. Moreover, the maximum wattage consumption is also lower than other models.
Footprint
The footprint isn’t that big of a factor when you’re looking for a slow cooker. But small slow cookers need to be small. So, let’s look at the dimensions of these 5 slow cookers-
The Winner:
It’s clear that the Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker and the Crock-Pot Slow Cook is the winner. If you plan on carrying the slow cookers, these two will be a perfect choice.
Control Buttons
Most small slow cookers have simple control buttons. When the size is small, the price is lower too. As a result, you can’t expect to get modern features like ‘delay start’ and a digital display. On top of that, some slow cookers completely cut down on the buttons, handling everything themselves.
Elite Gourmet Lid & Ceramic Slow Cooker:
The Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker comes with standard control buttons with a low, high, and warm setting. On the plus side, it’s got an indicator that lets you know when the device is running.
Proctor Silex 33111Y Portable Oval Slow Cooker:
The Proctor Silex 33111Y has got the same control buttons as the Elite Gourmet. However, it doesn’t have an indicator light.
Crock-Pot 1 to 1/2 Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker:
The Crock-Pot Slow Cooker has NO buttons at all. When the cooker reaches enough heat, it automatically shuts down and reheats when necessary.
Elite Cuisine MST-250XW Mini Slow Cookies:
There’s practically no difference between the Elite Cuisine MST-250XW and the Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker.
Kitchen Selectives Slow Cooker:
For the price, I’d expected the Kitchen Selectives Slow Cooker to have more functionality. But it lacks both an indicator and a warm setting.
The Winner:
The Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker with its useful functionality makes it the undisputed winner. Even with a lower price, it boasts everything you need in a slow cooker.
Related Post:5 Best Cookware Made In The USA.
5 Best Small Cookers Pros & Cons
Elite Gourmet Lid & Ceramic Slow Cooker
Pros
- Provides the same value as higher-priced slow cookers
- Useful control buttons along with an indicator light
- Well-built durable slow cooker with stainless steel and ceramic construction
Cons
- Sometimes the lid doesn’t lock properly
Proctor Silex 33111Y Portable Oval Slow Cooker
Pros
- Perfect slow cooker if you’re willing to pay the price
- Built with premium materials that’ll last
- Provides a tight seal with the Lid Latch Strap
Cons
- The color might not be everyone’s cup of tea
Crock-Pot 1 to 1/2 Quart Round Manual Slow Cooker
Pros
- Minimalist design that matches with any decor
- Small-sized slow cooker perfect for traveling
Cons
- Doesn’t have a separate handle
- Comes with no heat adjustability
Elite Cuisine MST-250XW Mini Slow Cookies
Pros
- Practical slow cooker with necessary functions
- The handles provide optimum grip
- Comes with a durable lid made out of tempered glass
Cons
- Might get stains due to the white color
Kitchen Selectives Slow Cooker
Pros
- Best build quality in the price range
- Durable stoneware holds heat for a long time
- The buttons are made with robust material
Cons
- Doesn’t have a warm setting
How to use a small slow cooker? Watch This-
Final Verdict
Well, that’s a wrap, folks. Did you find the best small slow cooker that fits your needs? While there are factors that make products like the Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker or Proctor Silex 33111Y the winner, you should focus on practicality. If you don’t care about the functionality of buttons, you’re free to choose Crockpot. At the end of the day, the decision is up to you.
Read Next: Elite Vs Crockpot slow cooker.
As a home cook, I am working in the kitchen niche since 2001.
Writing a blog is one of my hobbies. Cooking is my passion and I love to experiment with spices. I hope you will get benefitted after reading my article.
