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<\/p>\nSmart slow cookers are the next big leap in the kitchen miracle that is the crockpot. Life is busy, and having a personal chef is expensive. A slow cooker allows you to go about your daily business, while this little appliance spends all day cooking up a delicious meal that will be hot and ready when you arrive home.<\/p>\n
But a typical crockpot isn\u2019t foolproof. Set it too high and you\u2019ll burn your pot roast past the point of recognition. Set it too low and you\u2019ll have half-cooked potatoes and crunchy carrots. Forget to turn it on and you\u2019ll have a pale, slimy chicken instead of a crispy roasted meal.<\/p>\n
Smart home technology has answered all of these problems common with crockpot meals, and more. Several of the leading crockpot manufacturers are making smart slow cookers, and they promise cooking control and versatility from the convenience of your cell phone.<\/p>\n
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Affiliate Disclosure<\/a>: This page contains affiliate links, which earn us commission at no cost to you.<\/em><\/p>\n Here are the 3 best smart slow cookers that will result in easier, homemade meals. We\u2019ll dish up the capabilities and benefits of each in the following review.<\/p>\n Black + Decker is not known for making technologically-robust home appliances. But they get the job done, and their WiFi-Enabled Slow Cooker<\/a> fits the mold. Some reviewers complain of WiFi-set up woes or streaky performance in terms of connecting remotely to the device. Others have experienced little to no hassle.<\/p>\n <\/i> Capabilities: <\/i> What You\u2019ll Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i> Our Opinion:<\/strong><\/p>\n A lower-priced entry into WiFi\u00a0slow cookers, the\u00a0Black + Decker<\/a>\u00a0may be best for the occasional crockpot cook that wants a little more control over when and how their meal is cooked.<\/p>\n The company responsible for coining the term \u2018crock-pot\u2019 has been a leader in high-quality, reliable slow\u00a0cookers for decades. No surprise that they are joining in the revolution as one of the best smart slow cookers. The Crock-Pot\u00ae<\/a> 6-Quart. Smart Slow Cooker with WeMo combines their tried-and-true slow cooking with WeMo wireless technology. A highly-rated product on Amazon, with 4 out of 5 stars, this WiFi\u00a0slow cooker lives up to the\u00a0Crock-Pot\u00ae name. While some reviewers still complain of app connectivity, it has many happy home cooks monitoring their dinner from the office, soccer games, or dance recitals.<\/p>\n <\/i> Capabilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i> What You\u2019ll Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i> Our Opinion:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you already know and love the convenience of a slow cooker, chances are pretty good that you own a Crock-Pot\u00ae. Make the switch to the WeMo-integrated version if you\u2019re looking for more flexibility and control over the cooking process, without losing the dependability of the\u00a0Crock-Pot\u00ae<\/a> brand. This pick makes even more sense if you are already using WeMo smart plugs for other appliances in your home, since the same app can control all devices at once.<\/p>\n <\/i> Capabilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i> What You\u2019ll Need:<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/i> Our Opinion:<\/strong><\/p>\n If you are not in the market for a new slow cooker, but want the basic functionality of turning the appliance off when you are not home, then consider this smart home workaround as a solution.<\/p>\n Using a\u00a0smart plug, which essentially allows you to control the power supply to a device using an app, you can turn on the slow cooker before you leave the house (allowing you to set the cooking temperature), then turn off the device using the smart plug\u2019s app when the appropriate amount of cook time has elapsed. While most crockpots switch to \u2018Warm\u2019 after the cook cycle, that can still provide too much heat for some recipes, resulting in dry, leathery meals. The smart plug cuts power to the device, eliminating this dilemma.<\/p>\n It also gives you the control in your phone. It’s easy to forget to set a timer on the slow cooker or wonder if you set it incorrectly. When plugged into a smart outlet, you can control it on-the-go at a fraction of the cost.<\/p>\n <\/i>\u00a0Bonus Application:<\/strong> If you\u2019re using your slow cooker while you\u2019re home, pair the\u00a0WeMo\u00ae smart plug with Amazon Echo or Google Alexa to turn the outlet on or off. Just because you\u2019re home doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not busy, so ask Echo or Alexa to take care of the crockpot while you take care of the laundry. Simply say “Alexa, turn off the slow cooker.”<\/p>\n Smart slow cookers may be the workhorse of your weeknight meals, but they\u2019re not the only examples of useful kitchen technology on the market today. Check out this article for 20 other kitchen gadgets<\/a> to make cooking smarter.<\/p>\n Tell us in the comments below if smart slow cookers would make your weeknight dinner routine easier!<\/p>\nBlack + Decker WiFi-Enabled
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Crock-Pot\u00ae 6-Quart with WeMo\u00ae<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Apple device with iOS 7 or higher<\/li>\nPair your \u201cdumb\u201d slow cooker with a \u201csmart\u201d outlet<\/span><\/h2>\n
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A third option is to upgrade your existing slow cooker with a bit of new technology. By pairing your existing slow cooker with a smart plug like the\u00a0TP-LINK<\/a> or WeMo<\/a>\u00a0(the same technology utilized by Crock-Pot\u00ae is available as a stand-alone outlet adaptor), you can control when your slow cooker turns on and off while you\u2019re on the go. This option won\u2019t give you as much specific\u00a0control as the first two WiFi\u00a0slow cookers, since your crockpot won\u2019t be communicating directly with an app on your phone. Instead, you\u2019ll be controlling the power supply that your crockpot is plugged into.<\/p>\n\n
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