Top-Rated Slow Cookers for Canning & Preserving: An Actionable Guide

Canning and preserving are essential techniques for enjoying seasonal fruits, vegetables, and even meats throughout the year. With the right equipment, you can extend the shelf life of your favorite foods and preserve the natural flavors and nutrients. While canning traditionally requires large pots and time-intensive procedures, using a slow cooker can make the process easier, more efficient, and more hands-off.

This guide explores how slow cookers can assist in canning and preserving, key features to consider when choosing a slow cooker for this purpose, and reviews some of the best slow cookers that excel in canning and preserving.

Why Use a Slow Cooker for Canning & Preserving?

While a slow cooker is not typically used for the actual canning process (which involves heating jars to a certain temperature to kill bacteria and create a vacuum seal), it can be incredibly helpful in the preparation and cooking stages of canning and preserving. Here's why:

1. Gentle, Even Cooking

Slow cookers provide a steady, low heat, which is ideal for preserving fruits, jams, and sauces without burning or overcooking. The gentle heat ensures that your preserves retain their natural flavors, color, and texture.

2. Convenience and Hands-Off Cooking

Canning can be time-consuming, and standing over a stove for hours can be tiring. With a slow cooker, you can set it up, leave it to work its magic, and come back to perfectly prepared ingredients. This is especially helpful when preparing large batches of sauces, jams, or soups for canning.

3. Large Batch Cooking

Many slow cookers come in large capacities, allowing you to prepare sizable batches of food to be preserved. Whether you're making salsa, tomato sauce, or fruit compote, the large capacity of slow cookers makes them ideal for batch cooking.

4. Better Flavor Infusion

For recipes like fruit jams, chutneys, and pickles, slow cooking allows the ingredients to blend and absorb each other's flavors over time. This creates a more robust and complex flavor profile, which is perfect for preserves that rely on rich and deep flavors.

5. Time-Saving

By using a slow cooker for the initial cooking stages, you can avoid the long simmering times that are typically required when making preserves on the stovetop. This allows you to save time while still getting the same delicious results.

Key Features to Look for in a Slow Cooker for Canning & Preserving

When selecting a slow cooker for canning and preserving, there are several important features to consider. These features will ensure that your slow cooker is not only effective but also durable enough to handle the demands of preserving.

1. Capacity

Canning and preserving often require making large batches of food. Therefore, you should look for a slow cooker with a substantial capacity. A 6- to 8-quart slow cooker is ideal for making big batches of sauces, jams, and soups. If you're working with smaller quantities, a 4-quart model could suffice.

2. Temperature Control

A slow cooker should have multiple heat settings, including low, high, and sometimes a "keep warm" setting. For many canning and preserving recipes, a low heat setting is essential to cook the ingredients slowly without compromising their texture or flavor. Additionally, a slow cooker with an adjustable temperature can provide more control over how quickly or slowly ingredients cook.

3. Searing/Sauté Function

Some slow cookers have a sear or sauté feature, which allows you to brown ingredients before slow cooking. This can be a helpful feature for making tomato sauces, chutneys, or salsas, as browning the ingredients before slow cooking enhances the depth of flavor.

4. Programmable Timer

A programmable slow cooker can help you manage the timing of your canning prep. Set the cooking time, and the slow cooker will automatically switch to the "keep warm" setting once the time is up. This feature is especially useful when you're dealing with recipes that require specific cooking times for optimal flavor and consistency.

5. Removable, Dishwasher-Safe Insert

Preserving can get messy, and you'll want a slow cooker that is easy to clean. A removable, dishwasher-safe insert is key to ensuring that your slow cooker remains in great condition, even after making sticky jams or sauces.

6. Durable and Non-Reactive Insert

For canning and preserving, you'll often be working with acidic foods like tomatoes or citrus. A ceramic or stoneware insert is a great choice because it is non-reactive and ensures even heating without affecting the flavors of your food.

Top-Rated Slow Cookers for Canning & Preserving

Now that we've covered the key features to look for in a slow cooker for canning and preserving, let's dive into some of the top-rated models available. These slow cookers will help streamline your canning and preserving efforts and ensure that your homemade preserves come out perfect every time.

1. Crock-Pot 7-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker (Cook & Carry)

• Capacity: 7-quart
• Features: This programmable model includes multiple heat settings (low, high, and keep warm), a locking lid for easy transportation, and a digital timer. It also has a large capacity, making it ideal for batch cooking.
• Why It's Great for Canning & Preserving: The large 7-quart capacity allows you to prepare enough ingredients for multiple jars of preserves. The programmable timer is a great feature for making jams, sauces, and chutneys.
• Price : Mid-range, great value for a programmable and reliable slow cooker.

2. Ninja 6-Quart Digital Slow Cooker (MC701)

• Capacity: 6-quart
• Features : The Ninja slow cooker has a digital display, multiple cooking functions (including sear/sauté), and a removable non-stick insert. It also has a wide temperature range, which allows for precise cooking.
• Why It's Great for Canning & Preserving: The sear function is excellent for browning ingredients before slow cooking, which is a key step in many preserving recipes. It's also a versatile option for soups, sauces, and other preserved foods.
• Price: Mid to high-range, ideal for cooks who want flexibility and convenience.

3. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker & Slow Cooker

• Capacity: 6-quart
• Features : This 7-in-1 appliance functions as a slow cooker, pressure cooker, sauté pan, and more. It includes a programmable timer and a keep-warm setting.
• Why It's Great for Canning & Preserving : While it's not designed for actual canning, the Instant Pot Duo is excellent for preparing ingredients quickly and efficiently. The sauté function is perfect for prepping vegetables or fruits before slow cooking, and the pressure cook feature can speed up the cooking process for large batches.
• Price: High-end, excellent for those seeking multi-functional equipment.

4. Hamilton Beach 6-Quart Slow Cooker (33182A)

• Capacity: 6-quart
• Features: Simple design, with low, high, and keep-warm settings. The removable stoneware insert is dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
• Why It's Great for Canning & Preserving : The Hamilton Beach slow cooker is reliable for cooking large batches of preserves like jams and sauces. It's an affordable, no-frills option for those who need a straightforward slow cooker.
• Price: Budget-friendly, ideal for those looking for simplicity.

5. Crock-Pot 4-Quart Manual Slow Cooker (Classic)

• Capacity: 4-quart
• Features: Manual dial with low and high heat settings. Compact and easy to use.
• Why It's Great for Canning & Preserving: If you're working with smaller batches or want to make preserves for just a few people, the 4-quart capacity is perfect. It's ideal for jams, sauces, and pickles without overwhelming your kitchen.
• Price: Affordable and compact, great for smaller households or small-batch canning.

Conclusion

Slow cookers can make the process of canning and preserving both easier and more efficient. While they aren't typically used for the final canning process itself, they are invaluable in the preparation stages, whether you're making sauces, jams, or chutneys. By choosing the right slow cooker with the appropriate features, you can ensure that your homemade preserves are full of flavor, properly cooked, and ready to be enjoyed year-round. Whether you need a basic model or something more advanced, there's a slow cooker to fit your preserving needs.