Crock-Pot 6.5L Slow Cooker (SCV655B) Review – Is 6.5 Litres Big Enough?
On dark, drizzly evenings, a slow cooker quietly humming away in the corner feels like
the closest thing most of us get to a house elf. The Crock-Pot 6.5L Slow Cooker (SCV655B)
is one of the most popular family-sized slow cookers in the UK – but is 6.5 litres really
big enough, and is this classic model still worth buying in 2025?
We’ve been using this exact slow cooker in our own kitchen at
Danbury & Lovejoy for hearty stews, batch cooking and the
occasional experimental pud. Here’s how it’s held up, what actually fits in the pot,
and whether we’d buy it again.
Crock-Pot 6.5L SCV655B at a glance
Quick stats for the time-poor.
- Capacity: 6.5 litres (oval stoneware pot)
- Settings: Low, High, Keep Warm (manual dial)
- Approx. servings: 4–6 hungry adults, up to 8 with sides
- Best for: Families, batch cooking, hearty stews and joints of meat
- Cleaning: Removable ceramic bowl and glass lid, both easy to wash
- Footprint: A large oval that will live on the worktop rather than in a cupboard
If you’re looking for a classic, no-nonsense slow cooker that you can load in the morning
and forget about, the SCV655B still does that job really well.
How big is a 6.5L slow cooker, really?
One of the most common questions we see is:
“How many people does a 6.5 litre slow cooker feed?”
The short answer: it’s comfortably sized for most families, and generous for couples who like to batch cook.
How many people does 6.5L feed?
- 2 people: Plenty of leftovers – ideal for batch cooking or freezing extra portions.
- 4 people: Very comfortable, with seconds for hungry teenagers.
- 6 people: Works well for stews, curries and chilli if you add rice, bread or sides.
For context, a 6.5L Crock-Pot typically fits:
- A whole medium chicken with room for vegetables around it.
- A large beef joint for a pot roast.
- Enough bolognese or chilli to feed a family and have leftovers for the freezer.
If you only ever cook for one or two and you don’t like leftovers, this may feel oversized.
For most households, though, 6.5L is a very safe, flexible size.
Key features of the Crock-Pot 6.5L SCV655B
Simple manual controls
The SCV655B is a manual slow cooker with a straightforward dial:
Off – Low – High – Warm. There are no digital timers or clever programmes –
which, depending on your personality, is either charmingly simple or mildly annoying.
Removable ceramic bowl
The heavy stoneware pot holds the heat nicely and can be lifted out and carried straight
to the table. It’s also easy to soak and wash up. If you’re used to thin, lightweight pots,
this one feels satisfyingly solid.
Glass lid
The clear glass lid means you can check on dinner without lifting it and losing heat.
It does tend to fog up (as all slow cooker lids do), but we’d rather that than a mystery
metal lid any day.
Energy-efficient cooking
Like most slow cookers, the Crock-Pot sips electricity compared with an oven. It’s ideal
if you’re trying to keep bills in check but still want winter comfort food – part of our
wider approach in
cosy winter weekend slow living
.
Everyday performance in a real kitchen
Heat distribution & hot spots
On both Low and High, the Crock-Pot heats evenly with no scary hot spots around the edges.
We’ve used it for everything from overnight porridge to slow-roasted lamb, and haven’t had
any problems with burning as long as there’s enough liquid in the pot.
Cooking times
As a rough guide from our own kitchen:
- Beef stew: 8–10 hours on Low, 4–5 hours on High.
- Pulled pork: 8–10 hours on Low for falling-apart results.
- Whole chicken: 6–7 hours on Low, depending on size.
- Veggie chilli: 6–8 hours on Low.
The Warm setting is genuinely useful: we’ve left it safely on Warm for an extra hour or so
when trains have run late, and dinner has still been fragrant rather than frazzled.
Cleaning & storage
The ceramic pot and lid are easy to clean with a soak and a soft sponge. The main unit
just needs a wipe. The only downside is the sheer size – the 6.5L pot will dominate a
standard UK worktop and is heavy when full. If you’re short on counter space, it’s worth
measuring your spot carefully before buying.
Pros & cons
What we like
- Generous 6.5L capacity – ideal for families and batch cooking.
- Simple manual controls – no faffy menus or settings.
- Reliable, even cooking on both Low and High.
- Removable ceramic pot feels sturdy and keeps food hot for ages.
- Great value compared with more tech-heavy multi-cookers.
What could be better
- No built-in timer or delayed start – you’ll need a separate plug-in timer if you want that.
- Large footprint – you’ll probably need to give it a permanent home on the counter.
- Heavy when full – lifting a pot of stew out of the base can be a two-handed job.
Who the Crock-Pot 6.5L is best for
We’d recommend the SCV655B if:
- You regularly cook for 3–6 people, or love to batch cook for the freezer.
- You prefer simple, reliable controls over clever digital programmes.
- You want hearty slow-cooked meals but are also keeping an eye on energy bills.
- You have enough counter space to leave it out – it’s not a tiny gadget that tucks away.
It’s less ideal if you live in a small flat, cook only for one, or know you’ll never make use
of a full pot of chilli or stew.
6.5L Crock-Pot vs other slow cookers
Not sure if the SCV655B is the one? Here’s how it compares in simple terms with a couple of
other popular slow cooker styles:
| Model | Capacity | Controls | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crock-Pot SCV655B | 6.5L | Manual dial (Low / High / Warm) | Families who want simple, reliable slow cooking. |
| Typical 3.5L slow cooker | 3.5L | Manual dial | Singles, couples and small kitchens with limited space. |
| Digital multi-cooker | 5–7L | Digital programmes, often pressure cook too | Tech-friendly cooks who want one pot to do everything – but at a higher price. |
If you’re after the cosy, hands-off slow cooker experience rather than every possible
cooking mode under the sun, the classic Crock-Pot is still a very solid choice.
FAQ: Your Crock-Pot 6.5L questions answered
How many people does a 6.5L Crock-Pot feed?
Realistically, you’re looking at 4–6 grown-up portions for stews and curries,
or more if you serve with bread, rice or potatoes. For two people, it’s brilliant for batch
cooking and freezing leftovers.
Can you cook a whole chicken in a 6.5L slow cooker?
Yes – a medium whole chicken fits comfortably in the oval pot, with space for onions,
carrots and potatoes underneath. You’ll get very tender meat and an easy base for gravy.
Does the Crock-Pot SCV655B have a timer?
No, it’s a manual model with simple heat settings. If you want it to switch on or off at
a set time, you’ll need to pair it with a separate plug-in timer.
Is 6.5L too big for two people?
Not if you’re happy with leftovers. We find it perfect for a couple who like to cook once
and eat two or three times. If you’re determined to make only as much as you eat in one sitting,
a smaller 3.5L model might suit you better.
Final verdict – should you buy the Crock-Pot 6.5L SCV655B?
The Crock-Pot 6.5L Slow Cooker (SCV655B) isn’t flashy. There’s no app, no
Wi-Fi and no chorus line of LED lights. What you get instead is a big, reassuringly solid
pot that turns cheap ingredients into deeply flavoured dinners while you get on with your day.
If you:
- want to feed a household of 3–6 people, or batch cook for the freezer,
- prefer simple controls over digital dials, and
- have the counter space for a large oval pot,
then yes, we think it’s still a very good buy in 2025 – especially if you can catch it on offer.
For more cosy, budget-friendly ideas, you might also like our
cosy winter weekend slow living guide
and the latest edition of the
Danbury & Lovejoy Almanac.
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