The best cookers that allow you to cook unattended would be the slow cookers. This kitchen appliance is specifically designed to cook for long hours at low heat. In fact, you can find models that have a long cooking time of up to 20 hours. Obviously, you can’t be sitting around in the kitchen or even at home the whole day while you wait for your food to be ready . Hence, this type of cookers can be safely turned on and left to cook on its own while you are out of the house.
Slow cookers with basic features are generally very affordable for the convenience offered. You can dump all the ingredients into the cooker and turn it on before leaving for work in the morning and your dinner will be ready when you return home in the evening. If you are willing to spend a bit more, you can get a slow cooker with more functionalities that is typically known as multi-cookers.
However, it is better to exercise greater care with a multi-cooker due to the various cooking functions available. Compared to a slow cooker, it can generate much more heat much faster for certain functions. The safety hazard is greater as a result. Hence, you have to make sure that the slow cooker function works as intended before leaving your cooking unsupervised.
NB: This post contains affiliate links which will enable us to earn some commission if you click and buy.
Best Slow Cookers For Unattended Cooking
The slow cooker models below are some of the better rated ones in the market at the time of writing.
Most Economical Slow Cooker
Let’s start with the Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker. It is definitely not the cheapest but at the very least, it is from an established brand. When you are going to leave an appliance unattended while it is switched on, a more reliable brand name may be a better option for that peace of mind.
Moreover, you need a programmable model if you are not going to be home in time to switch the cooker off. You can get a manual slow cooker at a cheaper price but it won’t have a timer and an auto warm feature for that extra convenience.
For the 7-Quart Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker, you can choose from 5 preset times that range from 2 to 10 hours of cooking time. For the heat setting, you have the option of high, low, and warm. Once the cooking is done, the cooker will automatically switch to warm mode.
The downside to this is that the cooking times are preset at a 2-hour increment. So, if you want it to cook for 5 hours or any odd number, this is not going to be possible. There is also no start delay that allows you to set the time for the cooker to begin cooking. Neither can it switch from high to low heat midway.
Therefore, the Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker is affordable for those who need a cooker that can be left unattended but it does have its limitations. Certain extras that can increase the user’s convenience and more precise cooking are missing in this model.
Slow Cooker With Digital Timer
The Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker is more expensive than the Hamilton Beach one above, but it has the extra features that are missing from the latter. It has a more flexible cooking time which you can set which ranges from 30 minutes to 20 hours. This is double the cooking time which the Hamilton Beach model offers.
This Crock-Pot also has a countdown timer. This means you will know how long more before the cooking is done. After all, it is easy to lose track when you are cooking something for hours. It is also designed for portability with a locking lid with rubber gasket for a secure seal. So, you can easily carry it to gathering, picnics, and other events without making a mess.
What the Crock-Pot Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker lacks is the ability to sear and brown the ingredients. Some recipes will require you to do prior cooking before switching to slow cooking or simmering. Thus, it can be a hassle to heat up another pan and then transferring it to a slow cooker. You will end up with more to clean up as a result. This is where the convenience of the multi-cooker comes in.
Multi-Cooker With Slow Cooking Function
The Cuisinart 3-In-1 Cook Central 6 Quart Multi-Cooker is one of the many multi-cookers available on the market nowadays. Just like a toaster oven, the more functions there are, the higher the price that you have to pay. That is why it may be better to just stick to the ones that you really need.
This Cuisinart model offers exactly that with just 3 cooking functions – slow cook, brown/saute, and steam. Basically, you can do combination cooking with a multi-cooker and skip the stovetop completely. It has a programmable 24-hour cook timer but it doesn’t have a time delay function. The other drawback is it uses a nonstick cooking pot which may not be ideal for those who are wary of such coatings.
The other advantage of a multi-cooker is that it helps to maximize countertop space as one appliance is all you need for different cooking styles. Some models also have a nice appearance which is perfect for those who want their kitchen counters to be fashionable and functional.
Slow Cooker With Dutch Oven
The All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel and Cast Iron Slow Cooker is expensive and the high price is partly due to the enameled cast iron Dutch oven as its insert. In other words, you can use the Dutch oven that comes with the cooker on the stovetop and in the oven as well as serve on the table. The cast iron construction also means it can retain heat longer.
This All-Clad slow cooker model allows you to slow cook on high or low, saute, simmer, and braise. One practical feature is the manual option. This means you have the flexibility to set your own temperature unlike other multi-cookers which have only preset options. This flexibility will enable you to cook a lot more recipes compared to other models.
The downside is, of course, the price. If you are willing to spend a lot more to get the best cooker that allows you to cook unattended, then you can consider this model. Not everyone will find this worthwhile though and you can always look for one with a cheaper insert instead of a Dutch oven if you want a cheaper multi-cooker with many cooking functions.
Leave a Reply