Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (2024)

☰ Table of Content

3-in-1 Cooker: Cuisinart 4-Quart Multi-Cooker

Budget Option: Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker

Easy To Clean: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

Best For Beef: Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

Best For Seniors: NESCO Slow Cooker

Are you looking for a slow cooker for a small family of 4 people?

If so, the ideal size is 4 quarts. However, this information isn’t enough to help you choose a suitable model. You need to consider other aspects to purchase the best 4-quart slow cooker.

Here are the best 4 quart slow cookers you can buy in 2024:

  • Lightweight & Compact: Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker
  • 3-in-1 Cooker: Cuisinart 4-Quart Multi-Cooker
  • Budget Option: Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker
  • Easy To Clean: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
  • Best For Beef: Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
  • Best For Seniors: NESCO Slow Cooker
6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers

Lightweight & Compact

Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker

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    3-in-1 Cooker

    Cuisinart 4-Quart Multi-Cooker

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      Budget Option

      Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker

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        Easy To Clean

        Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

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          Best For Beef

          Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

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            Best For Seniors

            NESCO Slow Cooker

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              Lightweight & Compact: Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker

              Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (1)

              Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker

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              Pros

              • Strong and sturdy
              • Straightforward to use and clean

              Cons

              • Heavy for handicapped people to use

              If you usually move your slow cooker around and your kitchen is a limited space, you will appreciate a lightweight and compact slow cooker like the Hamilton Beach model. In case you need detailed information to make a comparison, here is it:

              Its weight is 1 kg and the dimensions are 12.2 x 9.4 x 12.4 inches.

              Despite a compact size, this slow cooker is large enough to hold a 4 lb chicken (4 lb) or two roasts (2 lb).

              Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker Specifications

              Dimensions

              12.2 x 9.4 x 12.4 inches

              Shape

              Oval

              Materials

              Stoneware

              No of Settings

              4

              Highlight Features

              Dishwasher safe stoneware & lid

              Stain Proof and removable stoneware

              Verdict

              The Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Slow Cooker is lightweight and compact, but it is not too small for feeding 4 people.

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              3-in-1 Cooker: Cuisinart 4-Quart Multi-Cooker

              Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (2)

              Cuisinart 4-Quart Multi-Cooker

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              Pros

              • Effortless to clean and use
              • Simple instruction
              • Versatible
              • Lightweight
              • Attractive

              Cons

              • Short cord

              Whether you want to save more money or space in your kitchen, the Cuisinart 4-quart multi-cooker can help you deal with these problems. It is a 3-in-1 cooker that can function in 3 different ways, so you don’t have to purchase 3 kitchen appliances separately.

              Apart from working as a slow cooker, this device can brown or saute and steam your food. It’s straightforward to use these functions by pressing buttons on the model.

              Cuisinart 4-Quart Multi-Cooker Specifications

              Dimensions

              10.5 x 16.5 x 8.7 inches

              Shape

              Oval

              Materials

              Stainless Steel

              No of Settings

              3

              Highlight Features

              Extra-large blue backlit LCD display

              Glass lid with cool-touch handle

              Steaming rack

              Verdict

              The Cuisinart 4-Quart Multi-Cooker is a multifunctional model that helps you complete many tasks.

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              Budget Option: Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker

              Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (3)

              Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker

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              Pros

              • Lightweight
              • Easy to clean and care

              Cons

              • Old fashioned

              Do you have a tight budget? If so, can you buy a high-quality unit with high-end features? Unfortunately, it’s very difficult. The Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker is a budget option, but it comes with basic features to meet your daily uses.

              Like other models, this slow cooker capacity is 4 quarts which are enough to serve a small family of 4 people. You can control the heat from LOW to HIGH, and it can keep your food warm while serving. Its cool-touch lid and handles allow you to use this slow cooker safer.

              Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker Specifications

              Dimensions

              10.87 x 10.75 x 9.72 inches

              Shape

              Round

              Materials

              Glass

              No of Settings

              3

              Highlight Features

              Variable heat control

              Removable pot

              Clear, tempered glass lid

              Cool-touch handles

              Verdict

              In spite of a cheap price, the Nostalgia Taco Tuesday 4-Quart Fiesta Slow Cooker is functional enough to meet your daily use.

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              Easy To Clean: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

              Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (4)

              Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

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              Pros

              • Straightforward to use and clean
              • Well-made and sturdy

              Cons

              • Takes long to heat up

              Are you too busy? Do you want to shorten the washing process of dishes? If so, you might appreciate dishwasher safe kitchen appliances. And the Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is one of them, especially since you can remove parts to clean them easier. Specifically, you can put the lid and stoneware in the dishwasher or wash them with hot and soapy water.

              Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker Specifications

              Dimensions

              9.8 x 13.8 x 9.4 inches

              Shape

              Oval, Round

              Materials

              Stainless Steel

              No of Settings

              3

              Highlight Features

              Dishwasher safe

              Removable parts

              Verdict

              The Crock-Pot 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker takes less time and effort on your part for cleaning.

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              Best For Beef: Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

              Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (5)

              Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

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              Pros

              • Super versatile
              • Reliable settings
              • Auto-warm switch

              Cons

              • Heavy so it’s hard to handle, move, and wash

              If you are looking for something to cook beef, you are in the right place. A slow cooker is a wonderful unit to handle this kind of meat because slow cooking can melt collagen - the connective tissue protein in meat, turning it into gelatin - a rich liquid.

              To reach a tender and silky texture of beef, cook it at a low temperature for a long period. Although any slow cooker can perform this thing, it requires you to take a lot of your time. So, can you cook a tasty dish of beef with your limited time?

              Yes. The good news is that this model is a programmable slow cooker that allows you to set up temperature and time as desired without monitoring it continually. Even after cooking, this unit can automatically shift to warm and keep your beef from spoiling.

              Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker Specifications

              Dimensions

              9.84 x 9.06 x 15.16 inches

              Shape

              Oval

              Materials

              Stainless Steel

              No of Settings

              3

              Highlight Features

              Flexible programming options

              Verdict

              The Hamilton Beach 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker is ideal to cook food for long without requiring you to monitor regularly.

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              Best For Seniors: NESCO Slow Cooker

              Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (6)

              NESCO Slow Cooker

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              Pros

              • Easy to clean up
              • Versatible
              • Good size
              • Functional
              • Great look

              Cons

              • Long to heat

              If you want to buy a slow cooker to give seniors, your grandparents, for example, as a present, the NESCO slow cooker is the right support for the cooking process of seniors.

              The lid and the crock are removable, so you can easily clean them in your dishwasher to save your effort as much as possible.

              It’s very easy to adjust the settings for cooking and reheating by using the control knob. Any senior loves simplicity, right?

              The handles and knob on the lid are stay-cool which is extremely safe for seniors.

              The lid is made from clear tempered-glass that allows seniors to see the content inside easily without opening the lid.

              The indicator light shows you the condition of the content if it is well cooked or undercooked.

              NESCO Slow Cooker Specifications

              Dimensions

              13.78 x 9.84 x 9.84 inches

              Shape

              Oval

              Materials

              Stainless Steel

              No of Settings

              3

              Highlight Features

              Removable

              Dishwasher safe

              Stay cool handles and knob

              Indicator light

              Clear tempered-glass lid

              Verdict

              The NESCO Slow Cooker is effortless to use for seniors, first-timer users, and beginners.

              Check Price →

              How To Choose The Best 4 Quart Slow Cooker?

              Should You Choose The Style And Design Of A Slow Cooker Based On Your Preference?

              You can choose your favorite style, but the answer is no for the type. You should choose a type of slow cooker based on your needs.

              There are 2 types: standard cookers with a traditional look and portable or travel-friendly cookers with locking lids to minimize spills. Choose the latter if you need to move or transport your cooker somewhere.

              Who Is The 4 Quart Slow Cooker Size For?

              Slow cookers have a variety of sizes, ranging from 1 to 7 quarts. So, to choose a suitable size, apply this rule: one quart per pound of meat. For example, a 5-quart cooker can cook 5-pound meat. Below are the detailed information:

              A 4-5-quart slow cooker is enough for a small family of 4 people for a meal. However, if you just buy a slow cooker for yourself or you and your partner, you can consider a smaller model (1-3 quarts). For a larger family of 6 people, a cooker up to 6-7 quarts can feed enough in a single meal. In case you choose this size for a small family, it might leave a lot of leftovers.

              Can You Have A Set Of Many Sizes?

              To meet this requirement, consider a model with differently sized cooking bowls.

              Which Features Do You Need?

              Different units come with distinct features and functions. To pick up the most appropriate model, refer to all significant features of a slow cooker:

              Programmable Settings

              Some slow cookers have a programmable digital control panel that allows you to set a certain time to start automatically, so it’s ideal for people who use their slow cooker unattended.

              Different Temperatures

              If your slow cooker is a non-programmable unit, you will choose WARM, LOW or HIGH temperature setting.

              Auto Warming Function

              This is a safety feature that will automatically work after the countdown is done to save your meal from spoiling. This is suitable for those who are too busy to check the content in their slow cooker regularly.

              Temperature Probes

              This accessory can monitor the temperature of the meat that is from raw to cooked piece to help you determine if your meat is overcooked or undercooked.

              Which Brands Make The Best 4 Quart Slow Cooker?

              Hamilton Beach

              For more than a century, Hamilton Beach has become a popular brand in the household appliance category all over the world because of the top product quality and reliable price. Besides, this brand provides their customers with great customer service. Below are some of the Hamilton Beach product lines:

              • Ovens
              • Ice cream maker
              • Food chopper
              • Air purifiers
              • Rice cookers
              • Pizza maker
              • Popcorn maker
              • Toasters
              • Waffle irons
              • Coffee machines
              • Can openers
              • Electric kettles
              • Electric knives
              • Bread machines
              • Deep fryers
              • Coffee makers
              • Blenders

              FAQs

              Is a 4 qt slow cooker big enough?

              A 4 qt slow cooker is big enough to cook a meal for a small family of 2-4 people.

              What can you not cook in a slow cooker?

              Cooking dairy products such as yogurt, sour cream, cheese, cream, and milk in a slow cooker can curdle them.

              Couscous looks like rice. Cooking it in a slow cooker just makes this food mushy and unappetizing.

              Rice isn’t well cooked in a slow cooker. While rice around the edges is brittle, grains in the center are undercooked.

              Though there are many slow-cooker lasagna recipes on Pinterest, this device just brings a soppy plate of pasta.

              The slow cooking process makes lean meats like boneless chicken breast become super tough and dry out.

              Soft vegetables such as zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, spinach, peas, and asparagus can’t be cooked long in a slow cooker.

              Cooking seafood such as salmon, shrimp, and scallops long in a slow cooker can get rubbery.

              Don’t add any type of wine to your slow-cooker dish because it can’t escape in a covered slow cooker. If not, your dish will have an unpleasant flavor.

              Should food be covered with liquid in a slow cooker?

              Yes. Any slow cooker requires water or liquid to produce steam, creating effective heat transfer throughout the content.

              Why are my carrots still hard in the slow cooker?

              Carrots are a hard item, so it’s more difficult to cook well. If your dish has carrots, add more water and liquid and put carrot pieces at the bottom of the cooker to keep them closer to the heat source.

              Does meat get more tender the longer it cooks in a slow cooker?

              Yes.

              Conclusion

              Although all 4 quart slow cookers provide you with enough space to cook for a 4-people family, not all of them can meet specific requirements of each family. Thus, you must consider your budget, the age of users, your purpose, and your content to put in the cooker before making a purchase of the best 4-quart slow cooker.

              Top 6 Best 4 Quart Slow Cookers [Apr 2024] Reviews & Guide (2024)

              FAQs

              Which type of slow cooker is best? ›

              Our favorite slow cooker is the GreenPan Elite 8-in-1 Electric Slow Cooker. It maintained a steady, low temperature during testing, was easy to clean up, and the exterior stayed cool to the touch. Slow cookers: The countertop appliance you know and (maybe?) already love.

              What size slow cooker is best for a family of 4? ›

              As a general guide, a 1.5 to 2.3-litre capacity is great for two people, a larger 4 to 4.5 litres will feed four, and 5.5 to 7 litres is ideal for four to six people.

              Is a 4 quart slow cooker big enough? ›

              If you'd like a little more room for leftovers or the ability to cook for a few guests now and then, a 3 1/2 to 4 1/2-quart pot is big enough for most medium-sized dishes. For a family of three to five or a leftover-obsessed couple, a 5 to 6-quart slow cooker is the perfect size.

              What is the most popular size slow cooker? ›

              The 6- or 7-quart models are among the most popular, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best choice for everyone. (By the way, here's our favorite slow cooker brand.) Find yourself among the descriptions below to learn which slow cooker we'd recommend for you.

              What is the difference between a crockpot and a slow cooker? ›

              A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

              Which is better round or oval slow cooker? ›

              Oval is often a better choice than round.

              If you cook chicken pieces stacked together in a tall, round 4-quart slow cooker, rather than in a single layer in an oval 6-quart slow cooker, it will take longer.

              How much can you cook in a 4 quart slow cooker? ›

              Recommended Slow Cooker Sizes
              Number of PortionsRecommended Slow Cooker Size
              Two PortionsUse a 3-4.5 quart slow cooker. 4 quarts is the optimal size.
              Three PortionsUse a 4-6 quart slow cooker. 5 quarts is the optimal size.
              Four PortionsUse a 5-7 quart slow cooker. 6 quarts is the optimal size.
              2 more rows

              How many people will a 4.5 qt crockpot feed? ›

              The 4.5-quart capacity feeds 5+ people, making it perfect for family meals, soups, chilis, stews, and more. When you're finished cooking and serving, the removable stoneware pot and lid are both dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. For moments, memories, and meals worth sharing, make it with The Crock-Pot® Brand!

              Is a 3.5 L slow cooker big enough for a family of 4? ›

              Cookworks 3.5l slow cooker

              This Cookworks slow cooker is perfect for couples or small families, as it has a 3.5l capacity, which makes around four generous portions.

              Does size matter in a slow cooker? ›

              The size of your crockpot can affect the outcome of your meal. If your crockpot is smaller than what we recommend, you may need to cook your meal a little longer. If it's larger than what we recommend you may need to shorten the cooking time.

              What is the difference between manual and digital crock pots? ›

              Digital (Programmable) vs.

              And you can even have the cooker switch to “warm” after a set amount of time. The digital controls offer flexibility and control. The manual dial control is simple to use, less expensive, and offers less opportunity for something to malfunction.

              Is 4 hours in slow cooker enough? ›

              If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

              What's the best size slow cooker to get? ›

              • If You're Cooking for One or Two People: Buy a 3-Quart Slow Cooker.
              • If You Have a Larger Family or Love Leftovers: Buy a 5-Quart Slow Cooker.
              • If You Frequently Cook for a Crowd: Buy a 6-Quart Slow Cooker (or Something Even Larger)
              Nov 24, 2020

              What is considered high on slow cooker? ›

              Most cookers have two or more settings generally operate between 170° and 280° F. If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe.

              Can I use a crockpot instead of a slow cooker? ›

              Crock-Pots and slow cookers use moist heat to cook food over a long period of time. Both are used to cook the same types of foods, and both produce the same delicious results. These wonderful, small kitchen appliances even contain the same three components: a pot, glass lid, and heating element.

              What is the difference between high and low on a crockpot slow cooker? ›

              What is the difference between High and Low Setting in Crock-Pot Slow Cookers? What is the difference between High and Low Settings? Both low and high stabilizes at 209°F. The difference is the time it takes to reach that temperature.

              What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

              10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
              1. Raw Meat.
              2. Seafood.
              3. Pasta.
              4. Rice.
              5. Delicate Vegetables.
              6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
              7. Dairy.
              8. Wine and Other Liquor.
              Jan 19, 2024

              Is low better than high slow cooker? ›

              Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting.

              Is it worth buying a slow cooker? ›

              So, in conclusion, slow cookers are great. They're a convenient, cost-effective, and versatile kitchen appliance that can be used to make a wide range of delicious meals with minimal effort. Whether you're cooking for your partner or entertaining guests, a slow cooker is nice to have in any kitchen.

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