Slow cookers are great for cooking side dishes, entrees, stews and soups. They are versatile enough, especially in preparing specialty foods, cakes and other desserts. It can simplify preparation of everyday meals.

Slow cookers have built-in heating elements, along with an insulated shell and an inner cooking chamber. It is usually made of glass or stoneware which operates through heat transfer. A crock pot is not only convenient. It also has the ability to prepare affordable dishes, saving you valuable time.

One of the things to consider when purchasing a slow cooker is the number of people you need to feed. Crock pots come in many different sizes from 1 pint to 7 quart capacities. Small sizes can feed 1 to 2 persons only, measured only in ounces. A large 4 to 6 quart slow cooker is much better for a crowd or big families.

Slow cookers come in oval or round shapes. A 4-quart cooker requires 12 inches wide by 9 inches high size. Large ones occupy from 14 to 19 inches. The smallest unit is best when making hot dips. The large sizes can prepare a batch of family sized beef stews. The crock pot size should fit in your needs to avoid inefficient cooking.

New product innovations have included multiple interchangeable liners. These replicate a slow barbeque roaster that can cook two different foods at the same time.

Crock pots have traditional and programmable settings. These include plug-ins, low and high warming selections, and to programmable features. High-tech settings include start and end timers, keep-warm, automatic shut-off and temperature controls. Programmable crock pots can lessen instances of overcooking or undercooking food.

Units with digital display screens let you see the elapsed cooking time with a touch of a button. There are certain models that enable changing temperature settings of the unit about half-way through the cooking process. Digital displays cost much higher as compared to ordinary models.

Slow cookers with temperature gauges are used for checking cooking progress. It is more useful in cooking larger meat cuts. It uses an internal temperature or probe inserted to the meat. The unit switches to warm when the meat reaches the ideal temperature.

Some of the non-digital units come in keep-warm settings to retain the ideal serving temperature of the food.

Most slow cookers come in a particular design, from the simple floral trim to the classy theme designs on the base. The traditional white and green style is the most popular. It adds a visual appeal to the appliance.

Slow cookers have thick metal exteriors, a glass lid and a stoneware liner. A stainless steel model costs more. Crock pots should have a heating element on its sides, not only at the bottom. Most manufacturers add up an insulator or a plastic layer in order to minimize heat and scalding.