10 Best Lightweight Slow Cookers 2025 in the United States

The Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker is a substantial kitchen appliance ideal for large families or those who love to entertain. With a generous 7-quart capacity, it can comfortably serve over nine people or accommodate a 7-pound roast, making it perfect for big meals. Its oval shape is practical for fitting various types of meats and other ingredients.

The stainless steel exterior gives it a stylish look, and the plastic handles add a touch of practicality for easy handling. This model features manual controls with three settings: high, low, and a convenient warm function to keep the food at the ideal serving temperature. It's designed for set-and-forget cooking, allowing you to leave it unattended while you go about your day.

The removable stoneware insert is versatile, safe for use in the microwave or oven up to 400°F, and both the insert and the lid are dishwasher safe, making clean-up a breeze. However, the 12.55-pound weight might be a bit cumbersome for some users when moving it or storing it. Additionally, the manual control may lack the precision and programmability that some advanced digital models offer. Despite these small drawbacks, the Crock-Pot 7 Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker is an economical and healthy way to prepare home-cooked meals, making it a valuable addition to any busy household or anyone who enjoys hosting gatherings.

The Instant Pot Pro (8 QT) 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker is a multifunctional kitchen appliance that goes beyond a simple slow cooker. It offers a variety of cooking options, including pressure cooking, sautéing, steaming, and even yogurt making. This makes it an excellent choice for those who prefer having one versatile tool instead of multiple gadgets.

With an 8-quart capacity, it is ideal for larger families or for those who like to meal prep in bulk. The material quality is also a highlight, featuring a cookware-grade stainless steel inner pot with a thick aluminum layer for efficient heating. The silicone handles on the inner pot make it easy to transfer from the cooker to the stove or table.

The Instant Pot Pro scores high on convenience, with 5 programmable settings and 28 pre-set programs, making it user-friendly even for those who may not be adept in the kitchen. Safety features like overheat protection and a safe locking lid offer peace of mind. It also includes an app with over 800 recipes, which can be quite handy for meal planning. It weighs 15.83 pounds, which may be cumbersome for some users to handle or store. The touch control method is straightforward, but might take a bit of getting used to for those who prefer traditional knob settings. While it's dishwasher-safe, the numerous features and settings could be overwhelming for those who prefer a simpler slow cooker. The Instant Pot Pro is a versatile, high-capacity appliance best suited for users looking for more than just slow cooking capabilities.

The Crock-Pot Large 8-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is a solid choice for those who need a big, reliable slow cooker, especially if you often cook for large groups or holiday gatherings. Its 8-quart capacity means it can easily prepare meals for 10 or more people, which is great if you want to cook in bulk or host family dinners. The slow cooker is made with stainless steel, giving it a sleek black finish that’s both stylish and easy to clean. It weighs about 14.3 pounds, so it’s not the lightest option if you plan to move it around often, but it’s manageable for home use. The shape is oval, providing more space for long cuts of meat or larger dishes compared to round slow cookers. It has a removable stoneware pot and lid that are dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup much simpler. The lid type is standard with a removable design, helping to keep heat and moisture in during cooking.

This model features a programmable digital timer that lets you set cooking times up to 20 hours, plus an automatic warm setting that switches on once cooking ends to keep your food at the right temperature until serving. The controls use a touch interface but are straightforward, and it remembers your last settings after a power outage, which is handy. However, the slow cooker has only three main cooking settings, which might feel a bit limited if you want more precise temperature control. At 1500 watts, it’s powerful enough for steady slow cooking but isn’t designed for quick heating.

This slow cooker is well suited for people who want a dependable, large-capacity cooker featuring easy cleanup and simple programming, though it may be heavier than some alternatives and offers fewer control options compared to smaller or more advanced models.