Hamilton Beach 33861 Portable Programmable Slow Cooker
- Slow Cooker
- 6 quarts
- 280 watts
- Touch, Manual, Programmable
- Better rated than 75%
- More reviewed than 88%
A dependable 6-quart slow cooker whose two-stage programming and locking lid earn it repeat use, with an occasional complaint about uneven heat around the edges on high.
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How it ranks among the 51 slow cookers we track
4.7★ across 3,969 Amazon ratings, Bayesian-smoothed toward the category average.
3,969 Amazon ratings, weighted on a log scale so huge counts don't drown everything.
33,861+ bought on Amazon last month.
Brand identity, imagery, description and spec coverage.
The ProductDome score is separate from the Amazon rating shown above: it combines the Bayesian-smoothed Amazon rating with evidence volume, tracked demand, and data quality across the 51 slow cookers we track - how the scorecard works · full slow cookers data report. Confidence: medium - useful but incomplete evidence.Last refreshed Jun 15, 2026. Data-computed, not a hands-on test. Compiled by the ProductDome Research Team.
Overview
A 6-quart oval slow cooker with a removable crock and a FlexCook digital timer that runs two different heat settings and times within one cooking cycle before switching to warm automatically. A locking lid and clip handles are built in for carrying it to gatherings.
The main draw reviewers call out is the two-stage FlexCook programming, letting a dish start on high and finish on low without anyone needing to be there to switch it. Despite the dishwasher-safe listing, at least one long-time owner recommends hand washing the stoneware crock to avoid a white residue building up over repeated dishwasher cycles.
- 6-quart oval crock, fits a 6 lb chicken or 4 lb roast
- FlexCook: two heat settings and times in one cycle
- Clip-tight sealed lid for spill-free travel
- Manual mode with high, low, and warm options
Who it's for
Good for anyone who wants to set a cook cycle and leave, or who carries slow cooker dishes to potlucks and gatherings thanks to the locking lid. Less useful for someone who only ever uses a single manual heat setting and doesn't need the extra programming.
What buyers say
From Amazon customer reviews.
The FlexCook two-stage timer and the locking travel lid come up again and again as reasons buyers keep using this cooker for years. The one recurring complaint is uneven cooking on the high setting, with food at the edges finishing well before the center, which one reviewer solves by stirring partway through.
Strengths and trade-offs
Drawn from this product's published specifications.
- Two-stage FlexCook timer needs no manual switching
- Locking lid makes it easy to transport
- Removable crock simplifies cleanup
- Heat can run uneven around the edges on high
- Larger footprint than simpler slow cookers due to the latches
- Crock may be better hand washed despite the dishwasher-safe listing
Performance notes
The FlexCook mode lets a cook set an initial heat and time, then a second heat and time, and the unit switches automatically before shifting to warm when done. One reviewer who uses it several times a week found the outer food cooks noticeably faster than food in the center on the high setting, and recommends stirring partway through longer cooks.
Specifications
| Brand | Hamilton Beach |
|---|---|
| Model | 33861 |
| Dimensions & fit | |
| Item Weight | 11.2 pounds |
| Size | 6 quarts |
| Item Dimensions D x W x H | 10.9 × 17.1 × 11.2 inches |
| Capacity & performance | |
| Capacity | 6 quarts |
| Power & efficiency | |
| Wattage | 280 watts |
| Voltage | 120 volts |
| Construction & materials | |
| Material | Stoneware |
| Color | Lid Lock for Easy Travel, Silver |
| Included components | |
| Included Components | Slow Cooker |
| Warranty & support | |
| Warranty Description | 1 year |
| Other details | |
| Control Type | Touch, Manual, Programmable |
| Number of settings | 3 |
| Is the item dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Pattern | Solid |
| Part Number | 33861 |
| Item Type Name | Programmable Slow Cooker, Dishwasher Safe Crock |
| Item Shape | Oval |
Other Hamilton Beach slow cookers
How it compares
This product against the closest alternatives we track in slow cookers.
| Product | Amazon rating | Ratings | ProductDome score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamilton Beach 33861 Portable Programmable Slow CookerThis product | 4.7 / 5 | 3,969 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Presto 06017 8-Quart Nomad Traveling Slow CookerPresto | 4.8 / 5 | 2,900 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Elite Gourmet MST-250XS Electric Slow Cooker Ceramic PotElite Gourmet | 4.6 / 5 | 39,105 | 4.5 / 5 |
| Disney Mickey Mouse 5-Quart Slow Cooker & 20 Ounce Dipper by Select BrandsDisney | 4.8 / 5 | 2,700 | 4.4 / 5 |
| NESCO SC-150R, Oval Slower Cooker, Red, Ceramic, 1.5 quart, 120 wattsNesco | 4.6 / 5 | 1,000 | 4.4 / 5 |
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Questions about the Hamilton Beach 33861
Common buyer questions answered straight from the product spec data - no fluff, no "it depends".
What does the FlexCook feature do?
It lets you program two different heat settings and durations in a single cooking cycle, for example high for three hours then low for six, switching automatically.
Is the crock actually dishwasher safe?
It's listed as dishwasher safe, though at least one longtime owner prefers hand washing to avoid a white film building up on the glaze over time.
How big is the cooking capacity?
6 quarts, sized for around a 6 pound chicken or a 4 pound roast, or roughly 7 or more servings.