Whether you're a busy working couple, cooking for a family or feeding an army, a slow cooker is one of the healthiest, cost effective, and also fuss-free ways of cooking a meal. There can’t be an easier way to cook than to simply taking your ingredients put them into the appliance, turning the dial and then going about your day while your meal is slowly and perfectly prepared for you.
If you're cooking a stew, casserole, curry, pulled pork, a Bolognese, soup or even a sauce, you'll find slow cooking to be one of the best ways to get the meal done. Cooking slowly is perfect for releasing all the flavours from your ingredients and you can use cheaper cuts of meat so can save money and enjoy tastier food. Using a slow cooker is also cheaper than using your oven, and more of the nutrients are preserved in the lower cooking temperatures - again saving your money but also making your food healthier.
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Slow cookers range in size from 1.5 to 7 litres and can include baking, roasting and pressure cooking functions. With something as simple as a slow cooker now having so many options, we've researched the best on the market for all budgets.
The best slow cookers
1 of 7Crock-Pot Lift & Serve Digital Slow Cooker with Hinged Lid and Programmable Countdown Timer, 4.7 Litre
The addition of a digital timer to this Crock-Pot slow cooker makes it ideal for working families who are out of the house but want a hot meal to come home to. The 4.7 litre size is great for families of four or five, the bowl is dishwasher safe and has a hinged lid so the meal can be stirred easily with even less mess.
2 of 7Morphy Richards Slow Cooker Sear and Stew 3.5L
A number-one best-seller that is simple to use and big enough to cook dishes for up to four adults. The cooker has a metal non-stick pot so it is easy to clean but also being metal it means you can sear the meat in the pot on the hob prior to cooking, adding even more flavour and juices to your meal.
£32.89
3 of 7Sage the Fast Slow Cooker Pro
Sage are perhaps best known for their espresso machines, but that have a wide range of products that all have a very professional look and feel. The Fast Slow Cooker Pro is no exception, this appliance has a brushed steel finish and an LCD screen to tell you what's going on inside the pot. The Sage can pressure cook, steam, reduce, sauté, and sear plus you can use the display to choose advanced options such as cooking meat with the bone in or making a stock.
4 of 7Crock-Pot Slow Cooker SCV400RD, Easy-Clean Ceramic Bowl, 3.5 Litre
Crock-Pot is the original slow cooker brand and this is their basic model but offers so many culinary possibilities. A great size for families at 3.5 litres, the dishwasher safe stoneware pot comes with handles so you can take your cooking straight to the table for all the family to tuck in.
5 of 7VonShef Slow Cooker with Oven to Table Dish 3.5L
This 3.5 litre VonShef slow cooker is the perfect addition to your kitchen if you are looking for an easy and inexpensive way to cook taste packed dishes for parties of up to eight people. With a cooker this big you can easily batch cook meals to stock up your freezer.
6 of 7Instant Pot Duo V2 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 5.7L
It might look like something you would see on MasterChef but the Instant Pot Duo is a simple to use multi-function cooker that is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, and steamer all rolled into one, it can even make yoghurt. The cooker comes with a 24 hour timer and will keep your food warm for up to 10 hours. The 5.7 litre capacity is perfect for families of five or more.
£89.99
7 of 7Crockpot TimeSelect Digital Slow Cooker
This larger model lets you schedule cooking up to 12 hours in advance and its bright digital display makes it easy to see when your meal is ready. It has a 5.6-litre capacity.
What types of slow cooker are there?
The most basic slow cookers have a simple dial for high, low or medium cooking, but there are other models on the market now with more advanced functions. If you want to go high end or save some space in your cupboards there are pressure cookers that include slow cooking, sauté, baking and steam functions.
Slow cooker sizes
A 1.5 litre slow cooker will be perfect for two people, you will need to go to around 4 litres for a family of four and then up to 7 litres for larger families or dinner parties.
What to cook in a slow cooker?
Slow cookers are versatile and are perfect for busy people who are out all day, hectic families, and for larger gatherings when you want to serve a comforting crowd-pleasing dish that’s full of flavour. Curries, pulled pork, hot pots and stews all taste amazing after hours of gentle cooking, my favourite is pulled beef with homemade coleslaw in a brioche bun - simply amazing and bound to get you plaudits from your guests.
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