At any time of year, a slow cooker can make life a little more convenient because by planning ahead, you save time later.

For a backup slow cooker or a gift for a new cook, the Crockpot Manual Slow Cooker is reliable, easy to use and priced right. It doesn’t have any of the bells and whistles like our other top picks, ...

Here's why you should never lock your slow cooker lid while cooking.