Safest Non-Toxic Slow Cookers — Guide of Crockpots

Where can the safest, non-toxic slow cookers be found? Mamavation has created a guide of crockpots for you to browse through when you’re in the market for a slow cooker for your stews & dishes. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like the safest cookware, safest kitchen stand mixers, and safest waffle makers. Now, join us for our investigation on the safest non-toxic slow cookers.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links. Please make sure to do your own research as brands and materials may change at any time without notice. California’s laws on cookware and small kitchen appliances are forcing brands to disclose toxic chemicals as of January 1st, 2023. However, not all brands are in compliance with this new law yet. As they comply, these ranks may change if they disclose something they have not disclosed before. 

Slow Cookers Are Supposed to Provide a Chemical Disclosure via State Mandated Laws

California passed AB1200 a few years back to force manufacturers of cookware and small kitchen appliances like a crockpot to disclose the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is a fluoropolymer in the PFAS “forever chemical” class and other toxic chemicals. However, the problem is most small kitchen appliance companies are not complying with this new law. (We’ve been checking.) Companies are now required to provide a legal chemical disclosure of the toxic chemicals found or used to create the product. Because the State of California did not add any enforcement to the legislation, most slow cooker companies are not complying with this new law, and there are no consequences.

Mamavation has been monitoring the lack of compliance with this new California law, and it’s widespread. This makes our job very difficult because we rely on these legal disclosures to make recommendations. There’s also some inconsistency with customer service when you deal with representatives of small kitchen appliance companies–sometimes, their answers differ from email vs. phone calls. Therefore, it makes the legally mandated chemical disclosure even more important because that is vetted by their legal & quality assurance teams on the corporate side. Without those disclosures, we cannot recommend a slow cooker to you because we do not know if there are extra coatings or additional chemicals inside that machine somewhere on the accessories.

We fully expect this investigation to change as more companies disclose their chemicals and materials. As brands comply with this law and offer chemical disclosures for their products, some of them will be moved from “not our favorite” to “better” or “best” based on their disclosure. Right now brands that did not provide a chemical disclosure ended up in the “not our favorite” realm.

Materials Disclosed by Slow Cooker Brands

Since the passage of California’s AB 1200, some brands have been disclosing the chemicals and materials used to create slow cookers for soups, sauces, dips, meatballs, yogurt, chicken, vegetables, appetizers, potatoes, Yankee roasts, etc. Even if these chemicals are used to create nonfood contact surfaces like the digital interface or the locking lid, they still need to be disclosed. The vast majority of the brands that have disclosed this state-mandated information have disclosed the following:

Stainless Steel

A lot of chemical disclosures include stainless steel and the component materials that make that up in manufacturing. These disclosures of stainless steel sound a bit more concerning than they actually are. To spot stainless steel, they will disclose particular chemicals like nickel, phosphorus, manganese, & chromium. You have a very basic stainless steel when you see those chemicals on a chemical disclosure. Additional chemicals found in stainless steel could also be Molybdenum, Vanadium, etc. When the stainless steel is made, those chemicals are locked into the steel, so you are not directly digesting these chemicals in the stainless steel. Over time, these chemicals may come out in trace amounts but not enough to be problematic to human health unless there is an allergy involved.

If the slow cooker and accessories are made from stainless steel, it’s dishwasher-safe and considered “safe” for use for most people. However, if you have a sensitivity or allergy to nickel, trace amounts of these chemicals can come out that can impact you if you are sensitive. Therefore, if you have a nickel allergy or sensitivity, most small kitchen appliances would not be considered “safe” for you. In that case, you’d want to opt for something that is ceramic instead, perhaps Vitaclay. Of the disclosures that we found, all of the stainless steel products were 18/10 or 18/8 stainless steel. We did not find any 18/0 stainless steel slow cookers without nickel.

PFAS & Fluoropolymers (aka PFAS “Forever Chemicals”)

Some brands have disclosed fluoropolymers such as fluorinated ethylene, fluorinated propylene, or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE aka “teflon”). Non-stick coatings have become well known for their toxicity, and they’re bioaccumulative. Fluoropolymers used in non-stick coatings were found to increase the incidence of tumors of the liver, testicles, mammary glands, and pancreas in lab animals. The EPA has also categorized perfluorinated compounds (PFAS) as likely carcinogenic. Finally, a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered a shocking statistic — 98% of Americans have detectable levels of PFAS or PFCs in their bodies.

Mamavation has studied PFAS contamination closely in cookware, food packaging, and water. These chemicals are linked with the following diseases and symptoms you don’t want:

• Reduction in immunity
• Reduced vaccination response
• Increased risk of allergies & asthma in young children
• Affected growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
• Increase cholesterol levels
• Metabolic diseases like obesity & diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Lowered a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
• Lowered male fertility
• Increased risk of kidney & testicular cancers
• Causes endocrine disruption
• Disrupted normal thyroid function
• Increases risk of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children 

Aluminum

Aluminum is ubiquitous in cookware & small kitchen appliances meaning you’ll find it everywhere. Even cookware reviewed on other wellness sites as “aluminum-free” will very likely have an aluminum core. The aluminum core is not the issue when we refer to aluminum in cookware, bakeware, and small kitchen appliances. The most important part to concentrate on is food contact surfaces and what your food touches when it’s being cooked.

Aluminum cookware and small kitchen appliances likely leach trace amounts of aluminum into food when it’s part of the food contact surface. Over time, trace amounts of aluminum in your diet can be problematic to your health. It is bioaccumulative and a known neurotoxin that can cause neurological disorders like dementia.

When brands were not transparent about where their aluminum was located, we slotted them in the “not our favorite” or “better” realm. You’ll not find aluminum food contact surfaces in the “best” realm below.

Titanium Dioxide “Ceramic” Coatings (Likely Nanoparticles)

When you see titanium dioxide disclosed as a material, especially if it says “unbound particles of respirable size,” this very possibly could be a nanoparticle and not based on regular-sized titanium dioxide particles. That is an important distinction in terms of cookware or small kitchen appliances because nano-titanium is known to have problematic effects on the immune system. Nanoparticles have been recently discovered as a leaching byproduct of ceramic coatings. Nano titanium dioxide is the most prevalent substance found and is hazardous because it’s been shown to cause immune system disruption and pre-cancerous lesions in the gut.

Nanoparticles themselves are problematic because their tiny size allows them to enter most areas of the body and wreak havoc in the most pervasive ways. For example, asbestos is a carcinogenic nanoparticle that has taken many people’s lives. Mamavation has taken a cautious stance against nanotechnology in ceramic glazes, which are very prevalent as “ceramic cookware.” As for slow cookers, you’ll find coatings made from nanoparticles in several products.

Prop. 65 Sometimes Relevant & Sometimes Not

California Prop. 65 is very useful in warning your family of potential health harms, but sometimes the warnings are not always as useful or even relevant to ordinary exposure. For instance, we found two types of Prop. 65 Warnings that we believe you don’t really need to be concerned about in terms of slow cookers.

Lead (inside internal components)

Lead is a big problem if it’s on a food contact surface because your food will be exposed. But when lead is disclosed inside internal components, like computer wiring, this is not really something you are going to be exposed to. Internal component exposure is very unlikely unless you smashed the product on a rock and then decided to cook with it anyway. But yes, one brand disclosed lead because it was inside internal components, so this would be an example of a Prop. 65 warning that is not very relevant.

Bisphenol-A (BPA) Disclosure in Cords

Most cords we have found are made from a type of bisphenol like Bisphenol-A (BPA). BPA is very problematic as a food contact surface, but in this instance it is not a food contact surface. This exposure is not very problematic when it’s just about the cord. You’d have to be chewing on the cord to be exposed in a way that was significant, so perhaps make sure the kids don’t do that. Therefore, this is another example of a Prop. 65 Warning that was not relevant.

Differences Between Slow Cookers, Pressure Cookers, Multi-Cookers, & Rice Cookers

Small kitchen appliances like slow cookers, multi-cookers, pressure cookers, crock pots, and rice cookers may have similarities. As the years go by, these appliances will have more and more in common because they are starting to become more multi-faceted. Then when you see these products side by side in the store, it can become confusing. The ingredients you use to create the best flavors on slow cooker settings can also be used in less time with pressure cooking. But some multi-cookers may have a food processor, sear function, sous vide cooking, sauté function and other functions. Other cookers are more simple like a dutch oven for slow cooker recipes. Here’s some definitions.

• Slow Cooker – This is a cookpot sitting inside a larger insulated pot typically used at a low temperature for a longer time period like 6-8 hours. Most of what this article is about is slow cookers.
• Pressure Cooker – This tightly sealed pressure cookpot cooks food quickly using temperatures as high as 250°F. Steam builds up inside a pressure cooker, which is released through a valve. The components are a bit more complicated, but the systems are easy to use. This is not what this post is about.
• Multi-Cooker – This is the wave of the future. A multi-cooker is a term for the idea that these cookers can do anything. They may have a pressure function or can also air fry, steam, and sterilize. We included some multi-cookers in this investigation.
• Rice Cooker – Rice cookers are insulated pots typically used to cook rice, but they can cook other things with the rice as well making them a bit more useful. Mamavation did an entire investigation on rice cookers here if you would like to avoid PFAS “forever chemical” & nano-ceramic coatings.

Additional Cookware & Kitchen Investigations From Mamavation

Here’s a list of additional investigations from Mamavation that will help you in the kitchen!

Cookware & Bakeware

• Cookware
• Ceramic Cookware
• Stainless Steel Cookware
• Cupcake & Muffin Pans
• Baking Sheets, Cookie Sheets, and Sheet Pans

Other Kitchen Accessories

• Glass Measuring Cups
• Kitchen Utensils
• Cutting Boards

Small Kitchen Appliances

• Water Filters
• Air Fryers & Air Fryer Ovens
• Juicers
• Kitchen Stand Mixers
• Rice Cookers
• Waffle Makers
• Indoor Kitchen Grills & Paninis
• Blenders
• Nut Milk Makers
• Food Processors
• Toasters & Toaster Ovens
• Outdoor Grills & BBQs

Food Packaging

• Disposable plates & foodware
• Cupcake Liners
• Plastic Free Disposable Straws
• Sandwich Bags like Ziploc

Serving & Plating

• Dishes & Dishware
• Silverware

Mamavation’s Investigation of Slow Cookers

Not Our Favorite Slow Cookers

These products were a bit problematic. Some disclosed they had “non-stick” or a type of PTFE chemical (also known as Teflon) or potential nano-based ceramic coating. For other products in this list, our staff contacted them, but received no communication back about the materials their products were made from. Brands not providing a full chemical disclosure of the toxic materials used are operating outside the latest AB1200 law. This list is expected to change as more brands abide by the new California cookware disclosure laws.

• Beautiful 6 qt Programmable Slow Cooker
• Bella Slow Cooker
• Black & Decker 7-Quart Digital Slow Cooker with Temperature Probe + Precision Sous-Vide
• Black & Decker 7-Quart Slow Cooker – Teal
• Chefman 6-Quart Slow Cooker
• Cuisinart PSC-350 Slow Cooker
• DeLonghi Livenza Multi-Cooker
• Geek Chef 6 Qt 17-in-1 Multi-Use Electric Pressure Cooker Stainless Steel Inner Pot
• Granitestone Calm Under Pressure – Pressure Cooker with 12 Presets
• Hamilton Beach Sear & Cook Stock Pot Slow Cooker with Stovetop Safe Crock, Large 10 Quart Capacity, Programmable, Silver (33196)
• Hawkins B60 Pressure Cooker, 3 L, Stainless Steel, Silver
• Instant Pot® Superior Cooker Slow Cooker + Multifunctional Cooker
• Magic Mill Deluxe Flat Top Slow Cooker
• Ninja MC1001 Foodi PossibleCooker PRO 8.5 Quart Multi-Cooker,
• Nuwave Duet Electric Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer Combo
• Our Place Dream Cooker | 6-quart Multicooker
• Precise HeatPrecise Heat 6.3Qt. Electric Pressure Cooker
• Wolf Gourmet Multi-Function Cooker

Better Slow Cookers

These products are a bit better. However, some of them still have some issues, such as having a silicone or aluminum food contact surface.

• Breville the Fast Slow Pro™
• Breville the Fast Slow GO™
• Cuisinart 4 Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central Multicooker
• Green Pan Elite 6-Quart Slow Cooker
• Hamilton Beach 9-in-1 Searing Slow Cooker
• Prestige Popular Aluminum Pressure Cooker, 5 L, Silver
• Presto 6-quart Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker Plus

Best Slow Cookers

These products are the safest by far. They have no PTFE, silicone, nano-ceramic, or aluminum food contact surfaces. Some of these products had a prop. 65 warning but when we looked into what the warning was about, it was mostly BPA in the cord or something similar that were not problematic.

• 360 Cookware 6 Quart stainless steel slow cookers (Made in the USA! Take 20% off by using “MAMAVATION” at checkout!)
• 360 Cookware 4 Quart Stainless Steel Slow Cooker (Made in the USA! Take 20% off by using “MAMAVATION” at checkout!) 
• 360 Cookware 2.3 Quart Stainless Steel Slow Cooker (Made in the USA! Take 20% off by using “MAMAVATION” at checkout!) 
• Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook & Carry Programmable Slow Cooker with Digital Timer, Stainless Steel
• Hamilton Beach 6-quart Slow Cooker with 3 Cooking Settings, Dishwasher-Safe Stoneware Crock & Glass Lid, Silver (33665G)
• Hamilton Beach 8 Quart Programmable Slow Cooker (33480)
• Hamilton Beach Set & Forget® 6 Quart Defrost Slow Cooker Silver (33869)
• Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker with 3 Cooking Settings, Dishwasher-Safe Stoneware Crock & Glass, 8-Quart Built-In Lid Rest, Black 33182
• Housnat Slow Cooker, HOUSNAT 10 in 1 Programmable Cooker
• Instant Pot® Duo™ 8QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5
• Liberty Tabletop Stainless Steel 6 Quart Gourmet Stockpot with Cover with Slow Cooker (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for 15% off) (Made in the USA)
• Vitaclay 6-In-1 Organic Clay Stock Pot and Multi-Crocks (Use discount code “MAMAVATION” for $30 off products)
• Wolf Gourmet Programmable 6-n-1 Multi Cooker with Temperature Probe
• Zavor DUO 8.4 Quart Multi-Setting Pressure Cooker with Digital Cookbook and Steamer Basket – Polished Stainless Steel 
• Zojirushi EL-CAC60XZ Multicooker, 6 Qts, Brushed Stainless