On High, every model except the Frigidaire reached boiling, with the Ninja in the lead. The Frigidaire slow cooker never exceeded 191 degrees. This is where we began to notice a pattern that would remain consistent throughout testing.
The Ninja and Breville slow cookers had a tendency to reach a higher temperature faster than the others. The Frigidaire generally undercooked food when on High, yet overcooked when set on Low. The Hamilton Beach and Crock-Pot models are very similar and generally maintained a middle ground between the extremes of the Breville, Ninja, and Frigidaire slow cookers. Throw in uncooked rice & water, hit a button & it’s perfection in no time, without any effort. Plus, rice cookers keep cooked rice warm & delicious for hours, so if your kids are running late, no problem.
The $59.99 Hamilton Beach Set ‘n Forget 6-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is a very straightforward slow cooker. It isn’t full of innovative tech, and it doesn’t appeal to modern design sensibilities, but this is one of those rare times when I don’t think that’s a terribly bad thing. It offers the basics and a handful of hamilton beach slow cooker special features, like a thermometer probe for cooking to temperature and lid clips for safe and easy transport. I strongly recommend this slow cooker to anyone looking for a uncomplicated, traditional approach to cooking slowly. These small slow cookers will slowly tenderize meat and blend complex layers of flavor.
One feature common to both the Hamilton Beach and Crock-Pot units is that they come with clips that you can use to secure the lid for safe transport. That means that you can stick this slow cooker in your car and take it to a get-together without worrying about chili spilling all over your seats. But Hamilton Beach also added a thermometer probe to its list of features. Select probe mode, plug the probe into the provided jack and stick it through the lid vent, and the unit will automatically switch to warm mode when your food reaches the desired temperature. Host the best event ever by letting a roaster, slow cooker or crock pot do the heavy lifting. Toss in your ingredients & spend the next few hours enjoying your guests.
On certain models, the addition of a convenient thermometer probe lets you cook food to a specific temperature. No matter what your cooking needs are, there’s a Hamilton Beach® Programmable Slow Cooker that’s ready for any cooking need or party invitation that comes your way. Hamilton Beach® Slow Cookers take the convenience of slow-cooked dishes a giant step further. Several models of slow cookers, such as the Stay or Go® Slow Cooker, address one of your greatest concerns—getting your finished dish to a potluck or party without messy spills. A closer look at slow cooking I have few complaints about this slow cooker’s performance. It consistently produced good food within the expected time frame.
Don’t worry, Hamilton Beach® Programmable Slow Cookers can easily adapt. You simply add ingredients in the morning and let the slow cooker finish the cooking automatically. Once the cooking time is up, they automatically switch to warm. Next, we wondered how well the other four slow cookers would retain heat compared to the Breville’s 147 degrees. While the Breville did have a nearly 7 degree swing between the two tests, it was still above the “safe for consumption” temperature of 135 degrees. The Ninja was the only slow cooker that fell short here.