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Slow cookers have evolved since their heyday in the 70s. They are no longer reserved for cooking tough cuts of meat and stew.
Today, slow cookers are utilized for cooking everything from breakfast to desserts.
Even more interesting is that modern slow cookers are programmable and WiFi enabled. In the past, slow cookers came with few options, including High, Low, and Warm.
Now, a typical WiFi enabled slow cooker can steam meat and vegetables, sauté, make rice, and even stir your food.
Some models can cook dishes from frozen. So, with all the options out there, you might hesitate picking the one.
But don’t worry. This review is supposed to help you choose the right WiFi enabled slow cooker for your kitchen.
Apart from recommending the top five, we will help you in the process of choosing the right slow cooker. So, without further ado, let’s dive in.
The Best WiFi Enabled Slow Cookers
1. Belkin Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo
The Belkin Crock-Pot Slow Cooker is one of the most outstanding cookers suitable for tech-savvy users.
You will most likely love it because you can control it via your mobile device. Apart from this, it is sharp-looking and can keep your food warm for a long time.
However, its lofty price tag might dissuade someone from going for this model in favor of cheaper alternatives.
Also, there is room for improvement when it comes to the ability to change temperatures automatically and IFTTT support.
Pros
- Simple design
- Excellent cooking performance
- Allows you to control cooking temperature and time from your smartphone.
Cons
- No support for IFTTT
- It lacks multi-stage cooking options.
Price: $269.99
2. Hamilton Beach Defrost and Go Programmable Slow Cooker
The Defrost and Go Programmable Slow Cooker is your ideal appliance if you are looking for a budget option.
It may have minimal features, but it comes with locking features on the lid, making it ideal for tailgating.
This 6-quart slow cooker fits the bill if you prefer simple cooking for a small group. It can be your ideal cooking appliance during your picnics or small home parties.
We also believe that it is among the best WiFi enabled slow cookers because of nice features like an integrated probe and safe defrost.
Pros
- Clip-tight lid for mess-free travels
- Comes with unique defrost, which is meant to cook from frozen.
- Good value for money
Cons
- Limited cooking options as it doesn’t sauté or steam.
Price: $70
3. Crock-Pot Programmable Slow (Alexa)
If you already have lots of smart devices that are connected to Alexa, then you will find value in this slow cooker.
Not only will it enable you to create delicious meals hands-free, using just your voice. We also believe it is the best WiFi enabled slow cooker because of its impressive cooking options.
Pros
- Hands-free operation
- Seamless integration with Alexa-enabled devices
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Limited by its capacity (6-quart capacity)
Price: $159.87
4. Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker (WeMo)
Jarden Consumer Solutions and Belkin’s WeMo teamed up to produce one of the best WiFi enabled slow cookers.
The best thing about this slow cooker is that you can monitor and adjust the time and heating setting directly from the WeMo app.
So, it gives you more control over how you manage your slow-cooked meals.
Pros
- Allows you to start and adjust cooking settings remotely.
- Handy for busy schedules
- Very simple to use
Cons
- It requires a separate WeMO app to access all the cool features.
- Sometimes, it doesn’t tell the difference between a power outage and a WiFi outage.
Price: $130
5. Black + Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker
Black and Decker’s 7-quart slow cooker is another affordable choice that comes with high-end functionality.
We were surprised that the set comes with a sous vide setting and a temperature probe to help you prevent overcooking.
During our test, it cooked stew and beef nicely on low and high temperature settings. Although the beef stew was a bit drier when compared with that produced by other models, it yielded a rich, uniform broth.
Pros
- Comes with a temperature probe.
- Affordable
- Sous vide setting
Cons
- Not as good as other models when it comes to cooking stew.
Price: $60
Choosing the Best Slow Cooker
Besides budget, here are some of the factors to consider as you shop for a new WiFi enabled slow cooker:
Check the Capacity
Typically, a WiFi enabled slow cooker will work optimally when filled between a half and three-quarters full.
So, you have to know how much you want to cook to be able to understand the capacity of your slow cooker.
If you don’t know yet, let’s put this into perspective. The standard six-quart slow cooker can accommodate a large roast, a whole chicken, and big batches of soup and stews.
In other words, it can cook food for at least six people.
For making warm dips or smaller servings, consider buying smaller or mini slow cookers. Likewise, if you normally cook for a big group, then eight-quart options might be ideal.
Storage Space
Besides knowing how many people you cook for, it is equally important to note how much space you have for cooking and storage.
For instance, if you are short of space and still need a larger capacity cooker, choose a multifunctional cooker. This cooker will help you free up space in your kitchen since it functions as several appliances.
Shape
Choose the right shape of slow cooker. Most WiFi enabled slow cookers are oval or round in shape. But some are rectangular in shape that serve specific functions.
Usually oval slow cookers can handle large cuts of meat because most roasts and birds are often longer and wider.
With this in mind, round cookers tend to be smaller and are ideal for stews, side dishes, and baking.
Features It Has
Modern slow cookers come with multiple features and can handle several functions. So, you need to be keen on those features that are important to you.
These features range from sous vide capability to specific settings for oats and rice to searing in the base.
Besides this, there are several add-ons that can improve the functionality of your cooker.
Important features like programmability, temperature-controlled cooking, and delayed cooking make cooking more confident.
But you have to keep in mind that slow cookers with several smart features are not cheap. So, you have to balance the function with the price.
How We Tested Slow Cookers
In order to come up with the list of the five best WiFi enabled slow cookers, we tested several models. One of the most important components of a slow cooker is temperature.
For optimal cooking, you need to heat high enough for the food to cook safely but not too high to overcook or scorch over a long period of time.
With the above in mind, we reviewed our cooker by cooking stew while checking both the exterior and interior temperatures of the food at an interval of one hour throughout the cooking time.
After that, we checked to ascertain how quickly the slow cooker dropped the heat once switched to Warm.
Another aspect we considered is how much easier it is to clean the set. More importantly, we assessed how user-friendly their controls and interfaces are.
For this reason, we had to eliminate some models based on poor programming and control. We eliminated some due to poor cooking results, presence of chemical smells, and poor sealing lids.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Are slow cookers toxic?
Toxicity and non-stick finishes are some of the hot topics in the realm of cooking. Sadly, most of the information out there is confusing.
For instance, questionable materials like PFOS and PFOA are no longer used when constructing non-stick surfaces like Teflon.
This does not mean nonstick is out of the market. Instead, it is still premium. Experts have developed new nonstick coatings using improved forms of PFAS that are FDA-safe.
With that said, you have to observe safety measures to protect your family from unintended chemical exposure.
Always follow the recommended cleaning procedures. Avoid any harsh cleaning chemicals.
Are smart slow cookers dishwasher safe?
A majority of top-quality slow cookers are dishwasher-safe.
Most of these models have removable crock lids and inserts.
Be that as it may, you need to observe measures to ensure proper cleaning.
Just like any other cookware, your slow cooker must cool completely before hitting the water.
This way, your cooker will not crack or warp from drastic shifts in temperature.
What should you cook and not cook in a slow cooker?
A majority of WiFi enabled slow cookers are versatile in use.
This could be attributed to the fact that slow cooking works with most vegetables and proteins. Slow cooking fattier cuts of meat takes time.
Soups, stews, and chilis, too, can benefit from slow cooking as it marries and concentrates the flavors.
Having said that, there are some foods that cook well in other methods than slow cooking.
For instance, lean meat typically requires fat to cook in a slow cooker but does better in other methods.
Similarly, if you are cooking dishes that include pasta, you might need to cook noodles separately to avoid overcooking.
What is the difference between instant pots and slow cookers?
Most instant pots are branded as multi-cookers, but they can work as pressure cookers.
So, they can build up pressure inside the pot to cook foods like beans and meat faster and beautifully.
Comparably, slow cookers utilize temperature and time to create a steady heat over an expected period, thus bringing food to the right texture.
Final Thoughts
Slow cookers use low heat to cook food gently over an extended period of time.
So, all you need is to dump everything in the pot in the morning and leave it to cook.
By the time you arrive home, you will be welcomed by a healthy dinner.
Alternatively, you can set it to cook food overnight.
The good thing is that a majority of WiFi enabled slow cookers will allow you to control things remotely via your mobile devices. So, they are quite convenient.
Hopefully, you have found the right fit from the above-recommended slow cookers.
Some of these cookers, like the Belkin Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker, come with an extensive list of special features that make your cooking easier and enjoyable.
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