The Best Slow Cookers for 2026: Hamilton Beach Set & Forget and Temp Tracker
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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A slow cooker is one of the simplest appliances you can own and one of the most forgiving. You load it in the morning, set a timer and come home to tender braised meat, beans or chili. A good one holds a gentle simmer below boiling all day, which is exactly what breaks down tough cuts and fibrous vegetables without turning them to mush.
Our picks are based on Wirecutter’s slow cooker guide, updated in March 2025. Its team has examined more than 70 models since 2013, tested finalists by cooking cannellini beans for eight hours on low while logging the temperature every hour, and made 3-pound chuck roasts on high. They consulted cookbook authors including Hugh Acheson and Phyllis Pellman Good, and a USDA food safety specialist. We haven’t tested these cookers ourselves, and prices change often.
Quick answer: the Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is the one to buy. It has been Wirecutter’s pick since 2013. Choose the Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6 Quart if you want a 24-hour timer and precise temperature control.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Capacity | Timer | Probe range | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Beach Set & Forget | 6 quarts | 12 hours, then warm (off at 14 hours) | 140 to 180 °F in 5-degree steps | 1 year |
| Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker | 6 quarts | 24 hours in 10-minute steps | 100 to 200 °F in 1-degree steps | 1 year |
The best slow cookers
1. Hamilton Beach Set & Forget 6 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker: best overall
Best for: families who want a reliable, portable cooker with a built-in thermometer.
The Set & Forget was the only cooker in Wirecutter’s test that simmered beans on low for eight hours without boiling them or undercooking them. Other models either never got hot enough or boiled through the cycle early. It also made the most tender pot roast.
Its features are well judged. A push-button display shows the setting and time remaining, and the cooker beeps when a cycle starts and ends. In probe mode, you set a target internal temperature between 140 and 180 °F and the cooker switches to warm when your roast gets there, so you don’t have to keep lifting the lid. In testing, its probe read within 9 degrees of a separate thermometer.
A locking lid with a silicone gasket keeps food from spilling on the way to a potluck. Wirecutter’s experts recommended this feature, though you should never lock the lid while cooking. It uses a ceramic crock, which spreads heat evenly. It’s also one of the cheapest cookers Wirecutter tested.
Pros
- Gentle, even heat
- Probe thermometer mode
- Locking, gasketed lid for travel
- Affordable
Cons
- Probe is short for small cuts
- Small crock handles make pouring awkward
- Lid locks are lighter-duty than Crock-Pot’s
2. Hamilton Beach Temp Tracker 6 Quart Slow Cooker: best for long cooks and precise control
Best for: Sabbath cooking, all-day holds and cooks who like fine control.
The Temp Tracker has a 24-hour timer, low, medium, high and warm settings, and a probe you can set anywhere from 100 to 200 °F in 1-degree steps. The lid has three probe holes so you can check different parts of a large roast, and at the end you can choose to switch to warm or hold a set temperature.
It ran hotter than the Set & Forget, finishing beans in five hours on an eight-hour low program, but its pot roast was still good. Its probe came within 1 degree of Wirecutter’s reference thermometer in the bean test. It shares the locking, gasketed lid and ceramic crock.
Pros
- 24-hour timer
- Precise probe control
- Three probe slots
- Medium setting
Cons
- Runs hot on low
- Extras most people won’t need
What to look for in a slow cooker
- Six to seven quarts: big enough to feed a family of four with leftovers. Smaller cookers suit one or two people; bigger ones hog space.
- Programmable timer: for little extra money, the cooker switches to warm when it’s done. Cookbook author Phyllis Pellman Good told Wirecutter most recipes run eight to 10 hours, so a 12- to 15-hour timer is enough.
- Ceramic crock: holds and distributes heat better than metal inserts, which often have nonstick coatings that don’t like high heat.
- Probe thermometer: lets you cook meat to a target temperature without lifting the lid and losing heat.
- Locking lid: worth having for transport. Only Hamilton Beach and Crock-Pot offered them among the models tested.
- Warranty: owners report shattered lids and failed parts across brands. Warranties run from one to three years.
Slow cooker or pressure cooker?
If you only have room for one appliance, Wirecutter suggests an electric pressure cooker, because it can slow cook as well as pressure cook, sauté, steam and make rice. A dedicated slow cooker is cheaper, simpler and better at long, gentle cooking while you’re out. See our guide to the best electric pressure cookers if you’re deciding between them.
Wirecutter found you can get a great slow cooker for about $50 to $80. Spending more mostly buys a sleeker design and a brand name rather than better cooking.
Safety and care
A USDA specialist told Wirecutter that slow cookers heat food above 140 °F quickly enough to be food-safe. Still, don’t leave food on warm for hours on end; cookbook authors advise against letting food sit on warm all day for both safety and taste.
Sear meat and sauté aromatics in a separate pan first if you want browned flavor, since slow cookers can’t sear. Ceramic can crack with sudden temperature changes, so never fill a hot crock with cold water. Stoneware crocks and lids from both picks are dishwasher-safe; otherwise use hot soapy water and a soft sponge, and soak stuck-on food. A rubbery smell during the first few uses is normal and comes from a protective coating on the heating element.
FAQ
Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on while I’m at work?
Yes. Slow cookers are designed to run unattended, and a programmable model that switches to warm keeps food out of the danger zone. Follow the manual and keep the cooker clear of anything flammable.
Why does my slow cooker turn food to mush?
Many cookers run too hot on low and boil food. Wirecutter found most tested models finished early or boiled; the Set & Forget was the exception.
Do I need a probe thermometer?
Not strictly, but it’s handy for roasts. You can also use a separate meat thermometer.
Can I lock the lid while cooking?
No. Lock it only for transport; locking while cooking can cause the glass to break.
The bottom line
The Hamilton Beach Set & Forget is the slow cooker we’d buy: it cooks gently and evenly, has a useful probe and a locking lid, and costs less than many rivals. Choose the Temp Tracker if you want a 24-hour timer and finer temperature control.
