When you’re an empty-nester like me who delights in those rare times when the kids finally come home, you like to make those moments an Event with a capital “E.” My son is a mama’s boy, so we have a dinner party every time he comes home. This trip was his first since his wedding (to a lovely girl, I’ll share wedding photos with anyone who’s interested), so we were expecting a larger crowd than usual. 

My dinner parties would be nothing without my trusty slow cooker (because you know I’m the one cooking! I don’t trust anyone else in the kitchen for these big events). I’ve had my slow cooker for 35 years, and it’s never done me wrong. So imagine my surprise when I trotted it out a couple of weeks ago and it simply wouldn’t heat up! No matter how much I jiggled it or unplugged it and plugged it back in again, my formerly steadfast companion appeared to have bitten the dust…

I had to quickly reassess. Unfortunately, they don’t make that kind of slow cooker anymore. But fortunately, after a little research, I came across the GreenPan Elite 6-Quart Slow Cooker. At 6 quarts, it was the right size, and like my old reliable, it was a sturdy and attractive stainless steel color. So I decided to give it a try, and went ahead and clicked “order.”

And I’ll tell you right now, this gadget was a true hero — and it’s now a staple in my kitchen! 

Get the Elite Slow Cooker for yourself -- for a limited time only, it’s $199.99!

The Stats

What really sold me on this particular slow cooker? It was definitely higher-tech than what I was used to, but it also seemed pretty intuitive. Here are some of the main features to note:

• Cooks up to a whopping 24 hours
• Reaches a maximum temperature of 400 degree
• In-pan browning capabilities- no need to brown meat in a pan and then transfer!
• Silicone side handles for moving the pot with ease
• 4 simple settings: Slow Cook, Roast, Brown/Sauté, and Steam
• Comes with a steamer for cooking up dumplings or even some crawfish
• Tempered glass lid so you can keep an eye on what you’re cooking

It’s Better Than The Rest

While the GreenPan Elite Slow Cooker is the priciest option, it’s also the most versatile, boasting 5 (count ‘em, 5!) cooking settings and a conveniently removable inner pot for easy serving. It’s heavy duty too, as the weightiest of our three competitors, speaking to the quality materials used to fabricate it. This thing is a tank, which to me says durability, which to me also says a slow cooker that’s going to last you years. 

Easy To Use And Clean

Because it’s nonstick, cleanup is easier than I ever could have imagined. Not only does food not stick to the bottom, making it simple to wipe out the pot and then rinse, but the pot is also dishwasher safe, meaning all I need to do is get the food bits out and then toss it in the dishwasher. 

My son was on dish duty, and he definitely appreciated having that option!

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So Many Different Ways To Cook

My formerly favorite slow cooker had two settings: high, and low. The Elite Slow Cooker has Slow Cook, Brown/Sauté, Steam, and then a temperature setting that you can set to roast dishes as high as 400 degrees. 

I’ve used all the settings, and they all work beautifully. I’ve slow cooked to make my favorite buffalo cauliflower chili, sautéed veggies before they go in a soup, and steamed pork dumplings. (Putting the dumplings together was actually the hardest part – crimping together dumpling wrappers isn’t easy!) 

I can make just about anything with my Elite Slow Cooker; it’s an absolute workhorse.

The Look

And it looks good, too! Unlike the awkward circular shape of your standard slow cooker, the GreenPan Elite is an attractive oblong rectangle that looks right at home on my countertop. 

The stainless steel is also remarkably reflective and looks gorgeous in my kitchen. 

It does come in several lovely colors (I’m just a die hard for sage) – Black, Oxford Blue, and the sophisticated Cloud Cream.

The Reviews

Don’t believe me that this elite slow cooker is worthy of your special events? Take a look at some of these stunning reviews…