Slow Cooker Sizes: What Size Do You Need?
Slow cookers are sized in quarts; Hamilton Beach rates its 4-quart model for 4 or more people, 6-quart for 7 or more and 8-quart for 10 or more.
By Amanda RoseContributing writer.
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The short answer
A slow cooker's size is the volume of its crock in quarts. Choose by two things: how many people you feed, and the largest cut of meat you want to fit. For most households the choice comes down to 4, 6 or 8 quarts.
What size slow cooker do I need
Hamilton Beach publishes a serving estimate and a "what fits" note for many of its models:
| Size | Serves | What fits |
|---|---|---|
| 4 quart | 4 or more people | A 4 lb chicken, two 2 lb roasts or 16 cups of macaroni and cheese |
| 6 quart | 7 or more people | A 6 lb chicken or a 4 lb roast |
| 8 quart | 10 or more people | An 8 lb chicken or a 6 lb roast |
The Hamilton Beach range also runs smaller and larger: its current slow cooker page lists a 3-quart model at one end and 10-quart models at the other. Smaller crocks suit couples and side dishes; the largest suit parties and big batches.
Serving counts are estimates. A stew with plenty of vegetables feeds more people than a roast that fills the crock, so use the "what fits" column for the meals you cook most.
6 quart vs 8 quart slow cooker
The 6-quart size is the most common in the Hamilton Beach range: its slow cooker page lists more 6-quart models than any other size. It holds a whole 6 lb chicken, and Hamilton Beach says one 6-quart model makes enough barbecue for up to 25 sliders.
An 8-quart crock adds room for a 6 lb roast or an 8 lb chicken and, by Hamilton Beach's count, three or more extra servings. The trade-off is space: the 8-quart model 33182 measures 11.6 by 17.7 by 11.6 inches, against 8.9 by 14.7 by 11.5 inches for the 6-quart model 33664. Choose 8 quarts if you cook for a large family, batch cook for the week or regularly bring food to gatherings. Otherwise a 6-quart model covers more meals and fits in more cupboards.
Shape and settings
- Oval vs round: an oval crock fits a whole chicken or a long roast more easily; a round crock suits soups, stews and dips.
- Manual vs programmable: a basic model has low, high and warm. A programmable one cooks for a set time, then switches to warm on its own. The Hamilton Beach Sear and Cook 6-quart model, for example, pairs high, low or warm with 2 to 10 hours of cooking time.
- Searing pot: some crocks can go on the stovetop to brown meat before slow cooking, so you wash one pot instead of two.
How many watts does a slow cooker use
The exact figure differs by model and by heat setting. Many product pages, including the Hamilton Beach pages above, do not list wattage; the rating label on the base and the use and care guide give it. To estimate energy use, multiply the watts by the hours of cooking and divide by 1,000 to get kilowatt hours, the unit on your power bill.
Shopping on Wiki Shopping
Slow cookers sit in the appliances department. Check the quart size and the crock shape on the store listing before you buy.