The 7 Best Programmable Slow Cookers with Delay Start

The 7 Best Programmable Slow Cookers with Delay Start

If you are looking to make life a little bit easier for yourself in the kitchen and you haven’t already invested in a slow cooker, you should pay extra close attention to today’s article. Programmable slow cookers are a must for home cooks with busy lives

They are fully automated, easy to use and they take the place of many kitchen appliances. The delay start slow cooking feature is especially helpful because you can cook on your time. Read on to find the best programmable slow cooker with delay start. These are also great for large stews.

Best

Instant Pot Ultra Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Ultra Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker

 Editors’ Choice: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars 

Whether you want to make rice, braise meat, saute, sear or steam, this device does it all. With 16 cooking presets including meat/stew, cake, egg, rice, yogurt and soup/broth, you can use this slow cooker for pretty much anything.

You get 3 quarts of internal cooking space and the outer material is made of durable, easy to clean stainless steel. It’s a slow cooker with timer and keep warm function so you can program cook times and keep food warm after its done. 

Pros
  • Automatic altitude adjustment
  • Emits no steam
  • Easy click knob settings
Cons
  • Takes some time to learn to use
2

Instant Pot Ultra Programmable Slow Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

 Editors’ Choice: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars 

This is a more compact pressure cooker with a capacity of 3 quarts but its still loaded with useful features like 14 cooking presets and a keep warm mode. It also cooks food very quickly whether you are steaming, broiling or pressure cooking. 

The safe, sturdy lid locks in place and forms an airtight seal so none of the heat from the cook is lost and no hot, dangerous steam is let out. The device is controlled via buttons and an easy to read LCD screen. 

Pros
  • Affordable
  • Compact
  • 14 cooking modes
Cons
  • No air fryer function
3

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

Crock-Pot 7 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

 Editors’ Choice: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars 

Now this is a great slow cooker to have around during the holidays. It allows for 7 quarts of cooking space so it’s great for large stews, soups or roasts. It’s fully timer programmable so you can slow cook while you decorate the house or get ready for guests. 

And once the party is done, you can place the inner stonewear liner into the dishwasher. It comes with a transparent glass lid so you can keep an eye on your food while it cooks. And lastly, this slow cooker automatically switched to “keep warm” mode once the timer is up. 

Pros
  • Large cooking capacity
  • Trusted brand
  • LCD screen
Cons
  • Limited cook modes
4

Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Slow Cooker

Hamilton Beach Digital Programmable Slow Cooker

 Editors’ Choice: 4.7 out of 5.0 stars 

This Hamilton Beach slow cooker takes the guess work out of making delicious meals for your family and friends. It has a built-in temperature probe so you can see exactly when your meats have reached the correct internal temperature.

You can also program this slow cooker to stop cooking when the programmed time has been reached or when the meat hits a specified temperature. The lid of this Hamilton Beach programmable slow cooker locks in place tightly and the clear LCD display shows the current cooking temperature.

Pros
  • 6 quart cooking capacity
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Reliable manufacturer
Cons
  • Short power cord
5

Cuisinart PSC Programmable Slow Cooker

Cuisinart PSC Programmable Slow Cooker

 Editors’ Choice: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars 

This Cuisinart programmable slow cooker offer 4 different cook modes; high, low, simmer and of course keep warm. It’s controlled via a touch pad and LED display. Plus, it comes with a variety of slow cooker recipes. 

The internal cooking liner can be cleaned in the dishwasher and so can the clear glass lid. The timer is easy to operate and the buttons are made of rubber so they are easy to clean and won’t be hot to the touch. 

Pros
  • Carrying handles
  • Enters warm mode when cook ends
  • Non-slip rubber feet
Cons
  • Lid doesn’t lock
6

BLACK+DECKER  7 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer

BLACK+DECKER  7 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer

 Editors’ Choice: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars 

One of the coolest things about this slow cooker is that the locking wires form a tight seal between the lid and cooking vessel. This is very handy when you want to transport your food safely and without the need for tuppperwear.

Aside from transport convenience, you get 7 quarts of cooking space, 3 heat settings, a slow cooking setting and it automatically puts itself in keep warm mode when the cook time is up. The whole thing is controlled by an easy to read LED, push button display.

Pros
  • Very portable
  • Large capacity
  • Affordable
Cons
  • Outside gets hot
7

COSORI Multicooker Programmable Slow With Delay Timer

COSORI Multicooker Programmable Slow With Delay Timer

 Editors’ Choice: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars 

Completing our list is a slow cooker that lets you brown, simmer, saute, roast, bake, boil, steam and make rice and yogurt. The COSORI Multicooker has all of these modes on presets. All you have to do is turn the dial to the preset you want, enter the time or temperature and it does the rest. 

The whole thing is clad in attractive stainless steel and there are separate handles for the cooker itself and the interior cooking liner for easy serving or transportation. You can even delay cooking for up to 24 hours!

Pros
  • 6 quart capacity
  • Easy to clean
  • Internal measurement marks
Cons
  • A bit pricey

Programmable Slow Cooker Buyer’s Guide

To make sure you get the best programmable slow cooker with delay start, you are going to want to insist on a few key features. These features include:

Automatic Keep Warm Mode

The whole point of buying a programmable slow cooker is so that you can “set it and forget it.” But you can’t do that if you have to worry about keeping your food warm after its cooked. That’s why a cooker that automatically switches itself into keep warm mode after the cook is done is essential. 

Stonewear Interior

Stonewear coking liners will last a long time and they are easier to clean than other materials. Usually they can be cleaned in the dishwasher even though they tend to be a bit heavy.

Multiple Cook Settings

You may not end up using all 16 cook modes that your slow cooker comes with but you should at least be given the option to choose from 3 cook modes minimum. This will give you the option to slow cook, simmer, steam and boil at the very least. 


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can you program a slow cooker to start at a certain time?

A: Yes, many of the models on our list have that feature.

Q: Who makes the best slow cooker?

A: Crock Pot and Instant Pot are often hailed as the top manufacturers of slow cookers.

Q: Does meat need to be submerged in a slow cooker?

A: In most cases, you should submerge the meat for even cooking.


Some Final Advice

The great thing about many of the products on our list is that they can take the place of multiple kitchen appliances and devices. This will not only save you time, but also storage room in your kitchen cabinets. 

But if you are looking for the very best programmable slow cooker with delay start, keep your cooking needs and tendencies firmly in mind and don’t be afraid to peruse our list a few times for your perfect slow cooker. 

OrbReviews Editorial Team

The OrbReviews Editorial Team (OET) is made out of experts in the product research and engaging content creation space. In addition, OET is passionate about researching kitchen related products and sharing the learning with our readers.