Top 10 Energy-Efficient Slow Cookers Ideal for Campers and RV Users
Slow cookers are a handy appliance for anyone looking to prepare delicious meals with minimal effort and low electricity costs. Whether you're feeding a family or cooking for one, there's a slow cooker to suit your needs. Here's a guide to help you choose the right one.
Factors to Consider
When selecting a slow cooker, consider factors such as wattage, capacity, digital or manual timer, additional features, physical size and storage, weight, keep warm function, and ease of cleaning.
For those with limited power, low wattage slow cookers are a great choice. Models like the Morphy Richards 460012 Slow Cooker, which uses between 100-163 watts, can cook for 3-4 people in a 3.5-liter capacity pot. Smaller capacity slow cookers, like the Crock-Pot Slow Cooker, Swan SF101701 1.5 Litre Slow Cooker, and Tower T16020 Infinity Compact Slow Cooker, are suitable for one person or couples, using between 100-220 watts.
Slow Cookers for Families
Geepas 3.5 Litre Slow Cooker, Daewoo 6.5L Slow Cooker, Crock-Pot Slow Cooker, Andrew James 3.5L Slow Cooker, Andrew James 8L Slow Cooker, Morphy Richards 3.5L Sear & Stew Slow Cooker, and Hamilton Beach 1.8L Mighty Mini Slow Cooker are slow cookers with varying capacities suitable for families.
Alternatives to Electric Slow Cookers
Thermal cookers, like the Thermos Vacuum Insulation Cooker Shuttle Chef 4.5L, THERMOS Vacuum Warm Cooker "Shuttle Chef" KBJ-3000, and Tayama Stainless Steel Thermal Cooker, work by using the heat energy from a heated pot to continue cooking the food. These can be a good option for those with limited power or who prefer non-electric appliances.
Slow Cookers for Motorhomes, Caravans, Boats, and More
If you're looking for a slow cooker for a motorhome, campervan, caravan, or boat with limited power, consider compact, efficient models designed to run within typical RV or small power system constraints. These models often have a wattage of under 150 watts to around 250 watts on low settings, and feature smart timers and keep-warm functions.
The Crockpot Lift and Serve Digital Slow Cooker is a versatile 4.7-liter slow cooker with a digital timer adjustable from 30 minutes to 20 hours and an auto keep-warm feature, making it ideal for family meals on the road. It's noted for being energy-efficient and suitable for limited power setups.
If you require even lower wattage or more compact forms, consider small slow cookers or multi-cookers designed for camping or tiny homes, which often operate at or below 200 watts on low settings.
Understanding Wattage and Ampage
Understanding ampage is important when considering the wattage of appliances and the voltage of the electricity. To calculate ampage, divide the wattage of the appliance by the voltage of the electricity. For example, a 1000 watt appliance on a 230v system uses 4.35 amps.
Using a Slow Cooker with an Inverter
When using a slow cooker with an inverter, consider the size of the slow cooker, the size of the leisure battery and inverter, and the wattage of the slow cooker to avoid overloading the system.
In summary, look for slow cookers around 150-250 watts max with good insulation and adjustable timers such as the Crockpot Lift and Serve Digital Slow Cooker, which is a solid, widely recommended option for limited power use in mobile living environments.
- For those seeking a slow cooker that caters to their lifestyle needs and home-and-garden setup, the Crockpot Lift and Serve Digital Slow Cooker offers technological advancements such as a digital timer and an auto keep-warm feature, making it suitable for both family meals and motorhomes.
- When choosing a slow cooker for home-and-garden, technology enthusiasts might consider models with additional features like the Geepas 3.5 Litre Slow Cooker, which boasts a thermal-fused silicone door, ensuring a tightly sealed cooking environment and energy efficiency.
