This score reflects the results using the slow cooker's high setting for 5 hours when cooking our beef stew recipe. High scores indicate more tender meat and vegetables at the end of 5 hours.

Slow cookers are all about convenience ... While it had a nice, easy-to-operate interface, we found the KitchenAid heavy and its dimensions awkward. That made cleanup a hassle.

This is the product's overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.

The KitchenAid KMQFX33910 free-standing microwave ... but it really comes into its own as a back up cooker. It's also a bit of a sous chef, thanks to that 'special menu'.