What Size Crockpot Should I Buy?

What size Crockpot do I need?? Is it just me, or does this question often arise when discussing Crock-Pot use with new or experienced users? And what accessories are best to use with my slow cooker?

Sure, cooking can be therapeutic, but not when you have hangry kids in tow – that’s when you seek quick and easy solutions. This is exactly what crockpots do. These godsend cookers are ideal for busy parents who want to prepare healthy meals without spending hours in the kitchen. You put meat, veggies, and spices in the Crockpot, punch in the cooking time, and return to a piping hot, healthy meal.

How Big A Crock Pot Do I Need

Now that we know why choosing a practical crockpot is essential, here’s a quick sizing chart to help with the decision. I have one or two of each size, as I do a lot of batch cooking.

What Are 1-2 Quarts Crockpot Meant For

This is the smallest crockpot size you’ll come across during your research. If you live alone or have different dietary needs than other family members, a 1–2-quart slow cooker will make your mealtimes easier. You can cook 1-2 delicious food servings in one go. This is also good size to keep warm dips warm at potlucks. 

What Are 3-4.5 Quarts Crockpot Meant For?

3–4.5-quart slow cookers are for smaller families who prefer home-cooked, healthy meals. When you don’t have time to cook for the kids or yourself, set up your medium-size Crockpot, attend to other chores, and come back to a fresh meal after the designated time. They also double as the perfect size to cook crockpot appetizers in.

 What Are 5-6 Quarts Crockpot Meant For? 

Whether you cook on weekends or alternate days, a 5-6-quart crockpot will be perfect for dinners or low-volume meal prep. This size also doubles as the ideal size for cook crockpot appetizers in.

7 and Above Quarts Crockpot  Good For?

Let’s talk big ones now! If you’re responsible for feeding five or more people daily or often host dinners or lunches at your place, investing in a large crockpot is in your best interest. A 7-quart or larger slow cooker offers ample cooking space and built-in features to simplify your tasks. My 8-quart Crockpot is my personal favorite, and the leftovers are amazing.

What is the Best and Most Common Size of Crockpots?

If your cooking needs keep changing and you want to fully enjoy the comfort a crockpot brings along, find a middle ground.

Besides being the most popular, a 4-6 quart is equally suitable for most cooking types. You can make a variety of dishes, including vegetable lasagnas, meat stews, soups, desserts, and casseroles, in this Crock-Pot. If you lead a busy life, this slow cooker will ease your meal prep day and provide you with enough food to store for later.

Is a 10-Quart Crockpot Too Big for You?

I have a 10-quart crockpot, and I love it for feast dinners and lunches. When I have to cook a whole chicken, turkey, ham, or stew for the fam, I put the raw ingredients in my 10-quart slow cooker. Within 4-6 hours, my food is ready, and there’s very little chance of its texture or aroma getting bad. 

So, if you often host big dinners or do biweekly meal prep, a 10-quart crockpot is not a big deal. Yes, you cannot use such a hefty cooker for everyday cooking, but it’s a lifesaver for feast meals. If you already have an everyday-use slow cooker and want to ease family meals that take hours to prepare, investing in a large crockpot is totally worth it. 

 Best Accessories For A Crockpot? 

Now, we know why picking a suitable slow cooker is important and which sizes should you look into. But is getting the Crockpot your only task towards hassle-free cooking? Certainly not! You also need some add-ons to use with the Crockpot that make cooking tasks easier, keep you safe, and help you store surplus food. Some of these add-ons are optional, while others are often mandatory; you’re free to choose according to your budget and cooking preferences. 

If you’re starting out with slow cooking, here are some accessories I’d recommend investing in (oh, by the way, I use these and don’t plan on ditching them anytime soon): 

Crockpot Liners – These are easy to line the slow cooker’s ceramic pot. Then just toss the disposable liner with all food reside. You’ll only have to wipe the crockpot one time, and you’ll be good. 

Meat Claws – If you love tender meat, your Crock-Pot is the ideal cooking appliance to savor that divine taste. However, when you put larger chunks of meat in the Crockpot, you need a tool for shredding it to ensure even cooking.

Food Thermometer – Although all good-quality crockpots have pre-built digital displays where you enter the temperature and timing, I don’t trust them always to be accurateurate for the final food temperature.. Be sure to cook meat to a safe temperature.

Air-Tight Containers or Meal Prep Containers– These are handy for cooking in bulk and storing food for leftovers.

Looking for amazing crockpot recipes??

Crockpot Recipes To Check Out

Crockpots are versatile and perfect for making meals without much work or effort. I use mine constantly! Below are some of my favorite collections of recipes I’ve made in my kitchen. Slow Cooker recipes are an easy way to get dinner on the table.

• Chicken Crockpot Recipes
• Crockpot Soup Recipes
• Weeknight Dinner Recipes
• Ground Beef Crockpot Dinners
• Crockpot Cinnamon Rolls
• Crockpot Appetizers