What Size Slow Cooker Should I Get? (ALL Your Questions Answered!)
Ever wonder what size slow cooker you should get?
You don’t have to worry about finding a new cooking tool if you choose the right one upfront. This article will help make your decision easier so that even someone who is inexperienced can pick out just the right size cooker for their needs.
There are many things to consider when choosing between crock pots, and this guide will cover them all in detail, including: sizes based on the number of people you’re cooking for, features of different models, pros and cons of each, and how to cook with them.
Hurry up and get your slow cooker today!
What size slow cooker is best for a single person?
When it comes to slow cookers, size definitely matters. And if you’re a single person living alone, the best size for you is a 1.5-quart slow cooker. This size can cook enough food to feed you and maybe even a second person, making it the perfect option for those who like to cook often and eat small meals. Since it is so small, left-overs can be left in your pot and easily stored in the refrigerator for later.
This size is perfect for single people living in small spaces, as it doesn’t take up too much counter space. It can easily be stored on a shelf or inside a cabinet and out of the way. Plus, the tiny size of the slow cooker makes it easier to maneuver than larger cookers.
What size slow cooker is best for cooking for two?
If you are a family of two and you’re looking for a slow cooker that’s just enough for the two of you, then the best size would probably range between 1.5 and 3.5 quarts. These small-sized slow cookers are a great option because they are still almost as small as the one-person slow cooker and are still very portable and easy to store.
They are also very light and portable, so you can take them along with you on long trips as well. Another good thing is that it’s still small enough to store your left-overs inside and be placed in the refrigerator with ease.
What size slow cooker is best for three people?
A 3.5-quart slow cooker should be just right for three people.
It can cook an entire meal without taking up too much counter space, and it has a removable pot and lid for easy cleanup. With a slightly larger 3.5-quart pot, it’s ideal for cooking larger cuts of meat or multiple dishes at once.
At this point of size, you might have to leave a little extra room in your refrigerator if you plan to use it to store your left-overs. You can also just scoop out any food and place it into a smaller bowl for the fridge. Portability is still a good option with this size since it’s still relatively small enough to travel with.
What size slow cooker is best for a family of four?
For a family of four, the best size would be around 4 to 5-litres. This will ensure that there is plenty of food cooked evenly without taking up too much counter space. Plus, with a capacity like this, you’ll have enough leftovers for the next day!
At the end of the day, it’s important to consider what type of cooking you’ll be doing most often in your slow cooker before making a purchase decision.
Finding adequate space for storage is going to be a little more difficult because a 5-quart slow cooker is quite large and heavy. For that reason, this isn’t really a recommended size to be traveling with, and it can take a significant amount of space compared to the previous sizes we’ve discussed.
What size slow cooker is best for a family of five?
If you’re looking for a slow cooker that will feed a family of five, you may want to consider looking for one that’s got a capacity of 5 to 6-quarts. In fact, this size is perfect for larger families. These sizes will allow you to cook large cuts of meat and lots of stew to fill up every hungry person’s appetite.
This is actually considered the standard size for family households.
However, these slow cookers are very heavy and not recommended for travel. They may even be difficult to clean since the pot itself can weigh as much as 8 to 10 pounds thanks to its thick, ceramic body. Luckily, these pots are often dishwasher safe, but make sure the pot has the “dishwasher-safe” label on it before attempting to put it into the dishwasher to be safe.
What size slow cooker is best for a family of six or more?
These types of families are what we’ll call “super families.” Super families will require huge slow cookers ranging from the 6-quart to 6.5-quart models, allowing for batch cooking. Slow cookers at this size can accommodate up to 8 people.
You can slow cook a whole medium-sized chicken inside one of these +6-quart slow cookers with ease. They are great for parties with large groups of people, as long as your slow cooker food isn’t the only thing available to eat.
It goes without saying that these slow cookers might require you to knock off half a shelf for storage and won’t fit in your standard refrigerator. Also, just don’t travel with it. It’s insanely heavy and may weigh up to 15 pounds with the pot alone. Imagine how difficult it would be to hand wash this giant.
The other problem you might run into is that you won’t be able to just cook for 2 or 3 people. This slow cooker will be so large that cooking for such a small number of people might not be worth the effort of cleaning it.
What size slow cooker is best for preparing large parties?
I didn’t want to go here, but the largest slow cookers I’ve ever heard of are the 8- and 10-quart slow cookers. This size slow cooker can feed 9 or more people.
A monster slow cooker, like an 8-quart capacity, is perfect for even the largest of meals. This is the kind of slow cooker that’s only suitable to whip out when you’re throwing a large party. It’s what I call a holiday party slow cooker.
These slow cookers can potentially slow cook an entire 10-pound turkey or 12-pound roast.
The crock pot can weigh as much as 17 to 20 pounds and can basically be the center of attention on a large dining table.
Table: Slow cooker size comparison guide
| Quart Capacity | People It Feeds |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | 1 to 2 |
| 1.5 to 3.5 | 2 to 3 |
| 4 to 5 | 4 to 5 |
| 5 to 6 | 5 to 6 |
| 6 to 6.5 | 7 to 8 |
| 8 | 9 to 12 |
| 10 | 13 to 16 |
Table: How much meat can you put in a slow cooker?
| Quart Capacity | Weight Of Meat in Pounds |
|---|---|
| 1.5 | 1.5 to 3 |
| 1.5 to 3.5 | 2.5 to 4 |
| 4 to 5 | 3.5 to 5 |
| 5 to 6 | 4.5 to 6 |
| 6 to 6.5 | 5 to 7 |
| 8 | 7 to 10 |
| 10 | 10 to 14 |
Questions you should ask yourself when deciding on the slow cooker size
- What size is right for me?
- How many people will I be cooking for?
- What features do I need?
- What do I plan to cook with a slow cooker?
- What are the different types of slow cookers?
- What are the pros and cons of each size of slow cooker?
- What accessories are available for this model?
What size slow cooker is best for large cuts of meat?
A slow cooker is a great option for those who want to cook large cuts of meat. However, it can be difficult to do so in a 2 to 4 quart crockpot. A 4- to 6-quart crockpot is best for this purpose, as it allows for more space and better circulation.
If you are looking to buy a new crockpot, it’s recommended to size it up so that you can prepare your favorite recipes without any trouble.
What size slow cooker is best for making soups and stews?
If you’re looking to make soups and stews in your slow cooker, the most popular size to look out for is the 5- or 6-quart models. This is a moderate-sized type that actually accommodates the general types of recipes you’ll find in almost any literature. You can basically cook anything using a 5 to 6 quart slow cooker. like soups, stews, chili, and even casseroles.
What size slow cooker is best for entertaining?
When it comes to slow cookers, there are a few different sizes to choose from. If you’re looking for something that’s perfect for entertaining, then you’ll want to go with a model that has a larger capacity. This will allow you to cook multiple dishes at once, making it easier to feed a large crowd.
When deciding what type of slow cooker to use for a large group of people, you’re going to have to ask yourself a few questions.
- How many people are coming?
- Is the slow cooker going to be the main course?
- Or are you just making sides in the slow cooker?
The general consensus would be to get yourself a slow cooker with a capacity of at least 6 quarts for a large group of people. A slow cooker with 6 quarts can fully feed up to 6 or 7 people, and that’s if you plan on making the slow cooker meal the main course.
If it’s going to be a side dish, then there might not be as many people picking at it unless it’s something really popular like mashed potatoes or your amazing casserole.
Keep in mind that slow cookers can go up to 10 quarts in capacity, and anywhere in that class can feed more than 10 people.
What size slow cooker is best for cooking multiple dishes?
If you’re looking to use a slow cooker to cook multiple dishes, then I would recommend buying more than one slow cooker to meet this goal. You can buy two 4-quart slow cookers, and this can do a wonderful job of cooking two different things.
There are even slow cookers that have multiple pots and can cook them individually. These crock pots are sometimes known as double or triple slow cooker crock pots. However, they usually have smaller capacities for each pot in the range of between 3 to 5 quarts.
What size slow cooker is best for reheating leftovers?
Slow cookers come in a variety of sizes, and the size you choose will depend on how much food you plan to reheat. If you only have a small amount of leftovers, a 4-or 6-quart slow cooker is probably best. If you have a lot of leftovers, consider using a 6-quart slow cooker instead.
Most slow cookers have three temperature settings: warm, low, and high, with the exception of higher-end, newer models. Check your manual to see which setting is best for reheating leftovers. For example, some models may recommend using the low setting for leftover pasta dishes and the high setting for leftover meat dishes. Also, reheating food in a slow cooker can take anywhere from 3 to 4 hours on high settings. It’ll take as much as 6 hours if you decide to use the low settings.
What size slow cooker is best for traveling?
Looking for a small and portable slow cooker is the best fit for traveling. I recommend looking for a slow cooker with a capacity of 3 to 4 quarts, making it perfect for feeding up to 5 people max. These small models can also fit inside a carrying case, which makes them easy to transport, and they’re not too heavy either.
Carrying along anything bigger than 4 quarts may be more of a hassle than not. Keep in mind that 4-quart slow cookers can weigh as much as 5 to 7 pounds. Carrying that everywhere with you is heavy enough. Carrying anything heavier might require you to reevaluate your decision.
Can you use a large slow cooker to cook a small meal?
If you own a large slow cooker and you only want to make a meal that is enough for a small number of people, or even just yourself, you can actually replace the big crock pot with an oven-safe ceramic bowl. All you have to do is put that bowl right in the center of your slow cooker base where the heating element resides. The heating element will then warm up your bowl and slowly cook it as if it were cooking in the larger crock pot.
The new, smaller bowl must be about 3/4 full for the food to cook properly. Be careful not to overfill the small bowl because a spill can lead to damage to your slow cooker base since it will be exposed from the unfilled gaps due to it being smaller. Use a lid and don’t open the crock pot frequently while cooking.
How do you cook more with a smaller slow cooker?
There’s not really any way to cook more food than you have slow cooker capacity. Overfilling your pot may cause spills and also prevent your slow cooker from cooking evenly. I recommend that if you need to cook a lot of food often, then invest in a larger sized slow cooker or maybe even buy a second medium or smaller sized slow cooker to supplement your slow cooking meals.
How to tell what size your slow cooker is
There are a few different ways to determine the size of your slow cooker. The most accurate way is to check the manual that came with your slow cooker. If you have lost or thrown away the manual, you can also fill up a quart jar with water and count how many jars it holds. This will give you an estimate of how many quarts your slow cooker holds.
A rule of thumb to keep in mind is that a single gallon of water is equal to 4 quarts. You can use an empty gallon jug, fully fill it up with water, and pour it into your empty pot. Then you can eyeball whether or not how much is left in your gallon or not.
Another way to tell what size your slow cooker is is by measuring its diameter and height. If you know these dimensions, you can find a similar-sized slow cooker at most stores. However, this is a more tedious way of doing things.
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