6 Best Slow Cookers with Sauté Function of 2026

For those seeking flavor elevation on a budget, the Hamilton Beach 33662 introduces a clever approach to the sear-then-slow-cook method. Its standout feature is the removable nonstick pot designed specifically for searing directly on your gas, electric, or ceramic stovetop before transferring to the heating base. This allows you to lock in delicious flavors and achieve that coveted caramelized crust without dirtying a separate pan, directly addressing the common pain point of wanting a good sear before slow cooking.

Performance testing revealed that searing on the stovetop with the Hamilton Beach 33662 pot works effectively, providing superior browning compared to in-pot searing methods in some multi-cookers which rely on the base’s heat. The 6-quart capacity is ample for family meals, easily accommodating a 6 lb chicken or 4 lb roast, perfect for feeding 7+ people. While it excels at the sear-then-slow-cook workflow and automatic keep warm function, note that its functionality is limited primarily to slow cooking and stovetop searing; it doesn’t offer pressure cooking, steaming (without external setup), or other multi-cooker modes found in more complex units. The removable pot and lid are dishwasher-safe, simplifying cleanup significantly.

Compared to multi-cookers like the Ninja MC1001 or Hamilton Beach 33604 which sear using internal heating elements, the Hamilton Beach 33662’s stovetop method offers potentially better searing control but requires using your range. It’s best suited for users prioritizing cost-effectiveness and the traditional stovetop searing step, rather than desiring a do-it-all appliance. While it lacks the numerous functions of the Ninja or the in-pot searing of the HB 33604, its focus on the core slow cook-with-sear capability makes it a compelling, budget-friendly choice for achieving rich, layered flavors.

Prepare to be amazed by versatility with the Ninja MC1001 Foodi PossibleCooker PRO, a true kitchen workhorse designed to replace a multitude of appliances. This multi-cooker stands out with its impressive 8.5-quart capacity, making it ideal for large gatherings or serious meal prepping, easily handling a 9 lb pasta dish or enough pulled pork for 30 sliders. The integrated sear and sauté function allows you to brown ingredients directly in the pot using the powerful bottom heating elements, a critical feature for building flavor layers before slow cooking. Its Triple Fusion Heat technology is a key differentiator, combining bottom, side, and steam heat for potentially faster and more even cooking results across its 8 functions.

In real-world testing, the Ninja MC1001’s in-pot searing function proved highly effective for browning meats and sautéing vegetables, eliminating the need for a separate pan. The 8.5-quart size is genuinely spacious, perfect for large roasts or big batches of chili for up to 20 people. Beyond slow cooking and searing, its capabilities extend to steaming, sous vide, braising, baking, and even proofing, offering unparalleled flexibility. The removable pot is also oven-safe up to 500°F, allowing you to finish dishes with a crispy top. While its size is a major advantage for capacity, it does require significant counter space, and the pot, while nonstick and easy to wipe clean, is recommended for hand-washing to maintain its coating life.

Positioned as a premium, do-it-all solution, the Ninja MC1001 significantly surpasses the basic functionality of the Hamilton Beach 33662 and even offers more cooking modes than the Hamilton Beach 33604 or Instant Pot B0CP6HXWH4. Its massive capacity and extensive feature set make it the ideal choice for large families, frequent entertainers, or anyone looking to consolidate kitchen appliances. Compared to the 6-quart Hamilton Beach models, the Ninja offers substantially more volume and a wider array of cooking methods, justifying its position as a top-tier multi-cooker for those prioritizing maximum capability and capacity.

Discover remarkable versatility in a familiar form factor with the Hamilton Beach 33604, a 6-quart programmable slow cooker that goes far beyond basic slow cooking. Its key strength lies in offering 9 distinct cooking options, including dedicated Sear/Brown and Sauté functions directly within the pot, eliminating the need for separate cookware and simplifying one-pot meal preparation. This model is engineered to be a multi-functional powerhouse, capable of handling everything from slow-cooked roasts and stews to rice, steamed vegetables, and even baked goods, directly addressing the desire for convenience and consolidated kitchen tools. The easy-touch controls and countdown timer provide an intuitive user experience.

Performance-wise, the Hamilton Beach 33604’s in-pot searing and sautéing functions work effectively, allowing you to develop rich flavors before switching to slow cook mode. The 6-quart capacity is a practical size for most families, comfortably fitting a 6 lb chicken or 4 lb roast, serving 7+ people. A standout feature is the Delay Start function, particularly useful for rice, grains, and steaming, allowing you to schedule cooking up to 15 hours in advance. The ceramic nonstick pot is PFAS-free and dishwasher safe, making cleanup exceptionally easy. While it boasts many functions, the roasting function operates differently than a conventional oven, relying on the pot’s heat rather than circulating air.

Compared to the simpler Hamilton Beach 33662 (which sears on the stovetop), the Hamilton Beach 33604 offers the convenience of in-pot searing and a significantly wider range of functions, including rice cooking and steaming. While it doesn’t match the massive 8.5-quart capacity or the sheer number of functions of the Ninja MC1001, its 9 functions and 6-quart size strike an excellent balance for users who need more than just slow cooking but don’t require the largest capacity or every possible cooking mode. It presents a strong mid-range option, offering excellent multi-functionality and ease of use at a competitive value relative to the larger, more feature-packed Ninja.

For those who consider rice a staple but desire added cooking flexibility, the COSORI 10 Cup Rice Cooker offers a compelling blend of specialized rice cooking and multi-functional capability. At its core, this appliance is a highly capable rice maker leveraging Fuzzy Logic technology to consistently deliver perfectly cooked rice across various types and textures. However, it extends its utility with 18 functions, including dedicated Slow Cook and Sauté modes, allowing it to contribute to a wider range of meals. The inclusion of a stainless steel steamer basket further enhances its versatility for preparing vegetables or dumplings alongside your grains.

In practice, the COSORI excels at its primary function, producing fluffy, evenly cooked rice thanks to its intelligent Fuzzy Logic system. The Sauté function is useful for building base flavors for dishes like risotto or sautéing aromatics before slow cooking, though its power and surface area are optimized more for smaller batches suited to rice-centric meals rather than searing large cuts of meat. The Slow Cook function adds value for preparing smaller portions of stews or soups. Features like the 24-hour keep warm and delay timer are incredibly convenient for meal planning. While it handles rice and grains with expertise, its slow cook and sauté capabilities are supplementary to its main purpose.

Compared to the Hamilton Beach and Ninja units which are designed primarily as slow cookers or multi-cookers with integrated searing, the COSORI is fundamentally a rice cooker that incorporates these functions. It offers a vast array of grain-specific settings unmatched by the other models. While it provides sauté and slow cook, it lacks the capacity and power typically found in dedicated slow cookers for larger meals. It’s the ideal choice for individuals or smaller families who eat rice frequently and want the occasional ability to sauté or slow cook without needing a separate large appliance, offering a different value proposition focused on grain perfection plus bonus functions compared to the general-purpose multi-cookers.

Step into the world of high-speed versatility with the Midea WideMax 12-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, an appliance that puts pressure cooking at the forefront while offering a comprehensive suite of functions, including sauté and slow cook. Its defining characteristic is its primary identity as a pressure cooker, enabling significantly faster cooking times for many dishes compared to traditional methods. The innovative removable lid is a unique feature, allowing for easier stirring and access during sautéing or other non-pressure cooking modes, directly addressing the difficulty of maneuvering food in deep pots with attached lids.

The Midea WideMax truly shines in its pressure cooking capabilities, drastically reducing cook times for tough meats and grains. The 6.5-quart capacity is suitable for cooking for up to 6 people, making it practical for families. Its Sauté function benefits from a wider cooking surface (9.44 inches diameter) than many traditional pressure cookers, providing more space to brown ingredients effectively before pressure cooking or slow cooking. The slow cook function performs reliably, offering a standard low and high setting. While it excels as a pressure cooker and offers convenient sautéing, its slow cook function is less programmable than dedicated slow cookers, typically offering fewer time/temperature combinations.

Unlike the other models in this lineup which are primarily slow cookers or multi-cookers without pressure cooking, the Midea WideMax uniquely offers pressure cooking, making it a fundamentally different appliance. It’s the perfect fit for users who prioritize speed and efficiency offered by pressure cooking but still need the option to slow cook or sauté in the same pot. While it may not have the sheer number of slow cook specific settings as a dedicated unit or the massive capacity of the Ninja MC1001, its combination of pressure cooking, a wide sauté surface, and a removable lid makes it a highly versatile and efficient choice for busy cooks seeking speed and convenience.

Experience straightforward, large-capacity cooking with the Instant Pot Superior Cooker, a 7.5-quart multi-cooker designed by the creators of the popular Instant Pot line, focusing on essential functions rather than overwhelming complexity. This model hones in on four core functions: Slow Cook, Sear/Sauté, Steam, and Warm, providing the most frequently used modes for versatile meal preparation. Its generous 7.5-quart capacity is a major highlight, offering more cooking area than a standard 12″ skillet and easily accommodating large cuts of meat like 5 pounds of chicken or 3 racks of ribs, making it ideal for feeding large families or entertaining guests.

Performance testing shows the Instant Pot Superior Cooker’s Sear/Sauté function is effective for browning ingredients directly in the pot, a crucial step for building flavor before slow cooking. The large 7.5-quart aluminum inner pot is remarkably lightweight (over 80% lighter than ceramic), making it easy to carry from the base to the table or oven (up to 350°F). The core slow cooking function is reliable, offering flexibility to adjust settings. While it covers the essential functions well, it doesn’t include specialized modes like rice cooking (beyond steaming) or pressure cooking, keeping its operation focused and simple. Cleanup is straightforward, with a dishwasher-safe pot and lid.

Compared to multi-cookers with extensive function lists like the Ninja MC1001 or Hamilton Beach 33604, the Instant Pot Superior Cooker takes a more minimalist approach, focusing on the most popular cooking methods. It offers a larger capacity than the 6-quart Hamilton Beach models and the 6.5-quart Midea, sitting just below the Ninja’s 8.5 quarts. This makes it an excellent choice for large families or individuals needing significant capacity for batch cooking, who prefer a simpler interface without dozens of presets. It delivers core slow cooking, searing, and steaming capabilities effectively at a compelling value relative to higher-function, larger-capacity models.