The Best Low Wattage Slow Cookers To Buy
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AT A GLANCE
Due to their ease of use, slow cookers have been a favorite appliance in many American households for decades. It’s as simple as throwing your ingredients into the crock pot and letting it do all the work for you!
Slow-cooking is an especially great option if you want to enjoy a home-cooked meal but don’t have time to stand around preparing it, or you simply don’t feel like cooking.
Slow cookers also happen to be one of the most affordable kitchen appliances out there, with many models coming in at under $25. So whether you need to save money or like the idea of hands-off cooking, this might be the perfect appliance for your needs!
If all of that wasn’t tempting enough, slow cookers also have the added benefit of being extremely energy efficient, some models more than others.
Slow cooker wattage: do slow cookers use a lot of electricity?
Like any appliance that needs to stay on for long periods of time, slow cookers little electricity, in order that they won’t cost a lot to run.
Most popular slow cookers on the market are around 200 – 300 watts on their maximum heat setting, so not much electricity being used in operating them.
How much does it cost to run a slow cooker?
Now, bear in mind that the wattage numbers stated above must be multiplied by however many hours you’ll leave your slow cooker on. 8 hours seems to be a common length of time to cook meat, so in a 250W slow cooker, energy consumption will be 2kWh.
Let’s say that your electricity costs $0.20 per kilowatt hour (kWh), you’ll pay just $0.40 if you use your slow cooker for 8 hours non-stop.
Clearly, this won’t break the bank, even if you intend to use the device every day of the year. But it’s still a good idea to consider a lower wattage model, especially if you have a small household. Not only will this save you money, but it will help the planet.
Below you’ll find a list of 5 low watt slow cookers that give the big guys a run for their money. They’re all below 200 watts yet still pack a punch!
5 Best Energy-efficient Slow Cookers
WATTAGE: 190W
CAPACITY: 1.5 quarts
WEIGHT: 4.68 lbs
SIZE: 9 x 9 x 7 inches
See your favorite meals come to life in this easy-to-use Chefman Slow Cooker!
The stoneware and lid are made from dishwasher safe materials, making it easy to clean up once all the cooking is done.
The black matte finish on this slow cooker is sleek and cool to the touch, as is the temperature knob. The clear glass lid lets you monitor your dish as it cooks.
With a generous 1.5 quart capacity, the Chefman Slow Cooker has enough room for making and serving 2 portions - perfect for 2 people.
The removable stoneware pot, with its convenient side handles, can easily be carried to the table for serving.
With 3 heat settings – low, warm and high – the possibilities are endless. You can make a variety of dishes, including soups, dips and sauces.
Pro: Perfect for small portions, and the pot is very easy to clean.
Con: Not big enough for more than 2 people, and doesn't get hot enough to cook uncooked red meat.
WATTAGE: 115W
CAPACITY: 1.5 quarts
WEIGHT: 5 lbs
SIZE: 9 x 9 x 6.8 inches
The Brentwood Slow Cooker is the perfect way to feed your family delicious, home cooked meals in an affordable manner!
With 3 different heat settings for low, high and auto – easily accessed with a twist of the dial - this slow cooker gives you plenty of options when it comes to preparing your food.
Its tempered glass lid allows you to monitor cooking progress without lifting or affecting heat levels inside.
The removable ceramic pot with its cool touch handles offers easy access for serving right at the table, and also makes cleaning it after use a breeze.
For your convenience, as well as safety, this slow cooker has been fitted with a power indicator light, so you can see at a glance when it's turned on.
The Brentwood Slow Cooker will comfortably serve 2–3 people, and features dishwasher safe parts for easy cleaning.
Pro: Accurate temperatures. The “keep warm” setting will keep food at serving temperature for hours.
Con: Takes a long time to heat up, even on the high setting.
Elite Gourmet MST-250XS Electric Slow Cooker
WATTAGE: 120W
CAPACITY: 1.5 quarts
WEIGHT: 4.54 lbs
SIZE: 8.8 x 8.8 x 6 inches
The Elite Gourmet MST-250XS Electric Slow Cooker is a beautiful stainless steel appliance that will stand out on your counter top. With 3 heat settings – low, high and keep warm – you can easily cook anything from soups to stews.
This slow cooker features a removable interior dishwasher safe stoneware pot that is easy to clean by hand if desired. With the useful handles on the sides of the pot, transporting this to the table in order to serve the contents is simple.
The tempered clear glass lid allows you to monitor your cooking progress, while the cool touch handles and knobs provide comfort and safety around the unit.
Finally, the Elite Gourmet Slow Cooker has a convenient power indicator light that will let you know when the unit is on.
This slow cooker is perfect for singles or couples.
Pro: Doesn't create a lot of heat in the kitchen. Cooks meat well on the high setting.
Con: The cord is short, and the bottom gets so hot that it might make your counter hot. Plus, the lid might slide around because it doesn't fit firmly.
WATTAGE: 120W
CAPACITY: 1.5 quarts
WEIGHT: 4.88 lbs
SIZE: 8.66 x 7.68 x 8.66 inches
The Courant Oval Slow Cooker is a versatile kitchen appliance that's great for single people or small families. It cooks a variety of meals, from soups and stews to chili and risotto.
This slow cooker is easy to use; simply place ingredients into the pot, cover it, and set the temperature you want using the clearly-marked dial knob. Choose from 3 settings – low, high and keep warm – to suit a particular recipe.
The non-stick, removable stoneware pot can be taken out of the cooker, making it easy to serve at the table. What's more, the pot along with the tempered glass lid are dishwasher-safe, helping to make cleanup quick and simple.
The Courant Oval Slow Cooker also features a brushed stainless steel housing that'll hold up well over time, as well as non-skid feet for steadier positioning on your counter tops.
Since the appliance has cool-to-touch handles and knobs, you can safely move it after it's been plugged in; simply unplug the cord and away you go!
You'll never forget when your slow cooker is on, not with the convenient power indicator light.
Pro: Heat settings stay consistent, and the pot is easy to clean. Perfect for one.
Con: The lid might not fit snugly.
WATTAGE: 150W
CAPACITY: 1.5 quarts
WEIGHT: 4.88 lbs
SIZE: 7.75 x 10.5 x 7.12 inches
Nesco's multi-use slow cooker is an easy, hands-off way to prepare delicious meals.
The slow cooker's removable ceramic pot is oven, refrigerator and dishwasher safe, making it super convenient for rewarming and conserving food, as well as cleaning your pot after you're done with it.
This device features 3 heat settings – low, warm, and high – giving you the power to select the cooking level that best suits your recipes.
The Nesco Slow Cooker has a chic metallic body that looks great in any kitchen, as well as stay cool handles knob for safe transportation and operation.
The clear tempered glass lid is dishwasher-friendly and lets you monitor your food as it cooks. There's also a vent hole on top for steam release.
The built-in power light lets you know when your slow cooker is on, so you never forget that your food is cooking.
If you're a single person or couple looking for an affordable, reliable slow cooker, or if you're a student living in a dorm, the Nesco Slow Cooker is an easy way to prepare tasty, home-cooked meals for yourself.
Pro: Great for making oatmeal and dips. Easy to clean, and fits snugly on your counter without taking up a lot of space.
Con: Short cord. You might also have trouble getting a moderate heat level – gets really hot or really warm, but there seems to be no middle ground.
Is it cheaper to use a slow cooker or oven?
In general, slow cookers are considerably cheaper to use than ovens, although an argument can be made that ovens will cook food considerably faster than slow cookers.
An hour in the oven is roughly equivalent to 8 hours in a slow cooker; with most ovens running at around 3000 watts per hour, you’ll still save money using your slow cooker.
Pressure cooker vs slow cooker energy consumption
Generally speaking, a slow cooker uses less electricity than a pressure cooker.
When you use a slow cooker, you are cooking with low temperatures for an extended period of time.
The pressure cooker is used to cook food very quickly through pressurizing the steam which leads to higher surface temperatures, thus leading to faster cooking times.
While pressure cookers can cut down on your cooking time by as much as 70%, this will usually mean you have to use more energy.
What is the most energy efficient slow cooker?
At only 115W, the 1.5 quartz Brentwood Slow Cooker is the lowest wattage slow cooker on our list and currently available on the market.
Can you cook vegetables and potatoes in a slow cooker?
Yes, absolutely. Slow cookers are great for cooking up stews and soups with vegetables, potatoes and other root veggies. The slow cooking process can actually make these foods taste even better.
Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on overnight?
Yes, it is safe to leave your slow cooker on overnight. Most modern slow cookers have an automatic warming function that will keep the food inside at a safe temperature.
Are slow cookers worth it?
Slow cookers are extremely convenient and easy to use appliances, perfect for the time-strapped modern family. All you have to do is throw your ingredients in and wait for the slow cooker to work its magic!
You get to go away and do other things – work, shopping, sleeping, you name it – while your food cooks. You don’t have to keep checking on it or worrying that your food is burning. And in the end, you’re often left with more succulent, flavorful dishes.
So, are they worth it? Yes – a resounding yes!
