6 best slow cookers for hassle-free dining 2024
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THERE'S a lot to love when it comes to slow cookers. Obviously, there’s that smug thrill of travelling home from work knowing your dinner will be ready and waiting for you.
On top of that, slow cooking is an energy efficient way of cooking that can transform cheaper cuts of meat into gourmet meals. The low and slow cooking method not only tenderises meat but can also gives great flavour to vegetable-based dishes, soups, stews and casseroles.
Away from slow cooker classics, these appliances can be used to make yoghurt, cakes, bread and more.
Slow cookers come in various shapes and sizes and at a variety of price points, from the simplest appliances to multi-cookers that offer a variety cooking functions within one product.
I tested some of the best on the market. Read on for the results.
Best slow cookers at a glance
- Best overall slow cooker:
- Best value slow cooker:
- Best slow cooker for entertaining:
- Best slow cooker for large families:
Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker 8-in-1 Slow Cooker
Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker 8-in-1 Slow Cooker, £149.99
Pros: Versatile, attractive, generous capacity
Cons: Nothing major
Rating: 5/5
The Ninja foodie possible cooker has an 8L capacity and is perfect for batch cooking or entertaining.
Given its capacity, it is one of the larger kitchen appliances tested, but it has an attractive design and removable cooking pot.
Given the extent of its capabilities (it has eight functions), I was really impressed at how easy it is to navigate. The instruction manual is very simple to follow and the recipes included take no prior knowledge for granted.
I made a steak and ale pie from the recipe book included and it worked perfectly.
I used the sear function to brown the meat and was impressed by how quickly the pot heated up. After slow cooking on high for three hours the meat was really tender.
The pot is oven safe up to 260℃ so I was able to simply place the pastry on top and transfer it to the oven to finish the pie.
The Ninja slow cooker is the most expensive I've tested, but this is reflected in its functionality and it can also be used to steam, braise, simmer, bake and prove.
Ninja says it's five times more powerful than conventional slow cookers and this was noticeable in the speed at which it reached temperature and the even cooking delivered.
Another added bonus is that the cooking pot and accessories are all dishwasher safe, although if you want to keep your slow cooker in tip-top condition Ninja recommends hand washing the pot.
Cooking pot capacity: 8l; Size: H:28 x W:42 x D:29cm
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Russell Hobbs Good To Go Multi Cooker
Russell Hobbs Good To Go Multi Cooker, £49
Pros: Removable pot, large capacity
Cons: No delay setting
Rating: 4.5/5
The Russell Hobbs Good to Go Multi Cooker has a quirky design that sees the cooking pot plugged into a small control panel.
It means the pot can simply be unplugged from the panel and placed in the centre of the table for serving, while also allowing for a compact design relative to the generous capacity.
The multi-cooker has a sear function so you can brown meat or sauté onions and veg in the pot before you begin slow cooking.
I used the slow cooker to make a vegetable soup and the functionality was easy to navigate. When sauteing onions, the pot heated up really quickly and it was easy to switch to slow cooking with the option of high or low settings.
The control panel allows you to set an exact cooking time which can then be adjusted during the cooking period.
The cooker retained liquid well and the resulting soup was evenly cooked. The multi-cooker automatically switches to the keep-warm setting for up to four hours at the end of your cooking time.
The cast aluminium pot feels really solid and is designed to be able to withstand wear and tear and dishwasher use.
The multi-cooker can also be used to roast, sous vide, steam, cook rice and boil.
Height: 29.6cm, Material: Aluminium
Lakeland 6.5L Searing Slow Cooker
Lakeland 6.5L Searing Slow Cooker, £99.99
Pros: Large capacity, searing function
Cons: Not dishwasher safe
Rating: 4/5
Lakeland’s searing slow cooker is perfect for large families and entertaining, with its generous 6.5L capacity easily allowing you to feed six.
The obvious impact of this is that it’s a relatively bulky piece of kitchen equipment, so if you’re only going to be cooking for two or four this might not be the most space efficient option for you.
I was impressed by the slow cooker’s sear function, which has five temperatures to pick from, giving you as much control as you’d have on the hob.
The cooking pot heated up really quickly and was very effective for both browning chicken and softening onions.
The controls are very easy to use and the screen counts down your cooking time. At the end of the cooking time the slow cooker will automatically switch to the keep-warm function for up to four hours, which allowed us all to eat at different times on a busy weeknight.
The lockable lid helps avoid any loss of liquid during the cooking process and means the pot can be easily transported if needed, something I crudely tested in my kitchen with not a drop of our meal lost.
The slow cooker also has steaming and yoghurt making functions.
Capacity: 6.5l; Size: 46.5 x 32.5 x 26cm
Russell Hobbs Chalkboard Slow Cooker
Russell Hobbs Chalkboard Slow Cooker, £27
Pros: Great value for money, funky design
Cons: No searing function
Rating: 3.5/5
Russell Hobbs’ chalkboard slow cooker is a great choice for the creative or experimental cook, allowing notes and doodles to be drawn with chalk on the side of the appliance.
It’s a nice design touch, also allowing you to leave your family or housemates messages, such as ‘don’t eat my dinner!’.
The 3.5L slow cooker is big enough for to prepare around four portions and has a compact design that won’t take up too much cupboard space.
At £29.99 it’s really good value, although it doesn’t have the functionality of pricier models, so you will still need to sear meat in a separate frying pan.
Once your ingredients are in the pot it’s exceptionally easy to use; just turn the dial to low, high or warm. I found that the pot heated up quickly and the curry I left on low for six hours was perfectly cooked.
The slow cooker does have a keep-warm function, but with no timer function, you will need to switch modes manually.
All in all, it’s a really solid, simple slow cooker with a funky design. Most importantly, it’s great value for money.
Cooking pot capacity: 3.5l; Height: 22.9cm
Morphy Richards 3.5l Sear and Stew Slow Cooker
Morphy Richards 3.5l sear and stew slow cooker, £44.99
Pros: Simple to use, hob-safe cooking pot
Cons: No keep warm function, no delay mode
Rating: 3.5/5
This simple, manual slow cooker is an affordable and effective option.
It’s a simple appliance with three heat settings (high, low and medium).
While it doesn't have an inbuilt sear function the cooking pot can be placed directly on a stove (as long as it’s not induction), so there’s no need to create extra washing up.
I made a sausage casserole with butter beans, which cooked perfectly and retained all the liquid despite the lid being removed several times to add ingredients.
The 3.5l capacity is easily big enough to cook a meal for four and the appliance is lightweight with a compact design.
What the slow cooker lacks is a keep-warm function and the ability to set a time limit on your cooking.
Nevertheless, it’s a really solid slow cooker and a further plus is that both the cooking pot and lid are dishwasher safe.
Size: 25D x 33W x 20H cm; capacity: 3.5l
Tefal SpheriCook RK745840 Multicooker
Tefal SpheriCook RK745840 Multicooker, £93.49
Pros: Even cooking
Cons: Difficult to brown larger cuts
Rating: 3.5/5
The SpheriCook Multicooker has a spherical bowl design which Tefal says allows for 360° heat circulation that ensures even cooking.
This does seem to be really effective when slow cooking, particularly with soups, stews and casseroles.
The multi-cooker has a browning function but I found that the design made searing tricky. I was browning sausages for a casserole and the shape of the bowl made it tricky to do so evenly, although this wouldn’t be a problem with smaller pieces of meat or vegetables.
The multi-cooker has a 5L capacity which is generous, easily big enough to make a family dinner or batch cook.
It has a keep-warm function and a reheat function, perfect if one of the family will be late for dinner.
The cooking functions of the SpheriCook include slow cook, stew, brown, steam and roast, with additional functions listed within the machine's menu.
Another added function of the SpheriCook is the ‘my recipe’ button which allows you to create shortcuts for preparing your favourite meals.
Tefal also says the SpheriCook Multicooker has intelligent sensor technology that automatically adjusts the cooking time and temperature.
Functions: slow cook, roast, stew, brown, steam; Capacity: 5l
How we tested these products
I used all slow cookers to cook a meal, using the sear and keep warm functions where applicable. I considered the cooking of the dish, the loss of liquid, ease of use, capacity, size and design as well as general functionality.
Where to buy these items
There are a number of slow cookers on the market and many multi-cookers which include a slow cooking function.
With so many options we'd first recommend reading our review above, where we've put several to the test.
If you're keen to shop now we'd recommend the following: