The Crock-Pot Multimeal Can Cook Two Different Dishes at Once—& We Tested It

If the cost seems steep for you, take it from Lindsay: “I think the Crock-Pot is worth the money—it makes delicious meals, and my son was definitely a fan of the results. I love how it immediately starts to keep things warm. It’s great for a small family like mine in terms of size.”

He claims that it’s easy enough to use (and clean) with no hand holding, even if you’re new to this type of appliance or haven’t used a slow cooker with two compartments before. “It’s pretty intuitive, so I figured out how to use it the first time without needing to read the instructions. I love the two-sided design because I can have two different things cooking at the same time. The downside is that the divider prevents you from using the whole Crock-Pot for a single larger dish or piece of meat.” (Note that if you buy a model that comes with an additional 8-quart pot, you can cook one large meal instead of two small.)

Another con? Lindsay says it’s a bit big to store, but ample counter space kept that from being an issue for him. Aesthetically, he says it’s simple, but “the basic [off-white] white color means it isn’t overly noticeable living on my counter.”

The Bottom Line

If you use a slow cooker often but find yourself turning to the stove, pots and pans to make side dishes like grains and veggies, you can save yourself some hands-on effort and dirty dishes by using this dual-compartment gem instead. If you have the storage or counter space for it, it’s a worthy upgrade to your old model.