9 best slow cookers, tried and tested for effortless and energy-efficient dinners
Whether you love to cook or you just want the luxury of having your dinner ready when you get home from work, slow cookers are a must-have appliance for almost every kitchen.
And they’re not just for the winter weather either. While they excel in producing hearty dishes, such as stews, casseroles and soups, you can also use your slow cooker for other year-round delights, such as bread, cakes and even yoghurt.
The best slow cookers are also a great way to beat the current cost of living crisis, as they’re an extremely energy-efficient way to cook. And it’s not just your smart meter that will breathe a sigh of relief, as using a slow cooker can also reduce your grocery bill.
Cheaper cuts of meats are perfect for the slow cooker, as cooking at low temperatures over a long period of time not only tenderises the meat, but also brings out the flavour. The same goes for veggies – you can stock up on root veg that will be perfectly cooked by the time it’s served.
Slow cookers come in a variety of shapes and sizes and with different technologies. You can get ones that are the ideal size for one person, or larger versions that can feed a whole family. They also come in a variety of price ranges, so if you’re on a budget, you’ll still find a good-quality slow cooker without breaking the bank.
How we tested
We tested out some of the best slow cookers on the market. We made a variety of dishes in each appliance to assess how well they cooked the food, whether the machine was straightforward to use, its capacity and, of course, how easy cleaning and storage was.
The best slow cookers of 2024 are:
- Best overall slow cooker – Ninja foodi possiblecooker 8-in-1 slow cooker, £129, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget slow cooker– Cookworks 3.5l slow cooker: £22, Argos.co.uk
- Best slow cooker for foodies – Russell Hobbs good to go multi-cooker: £49.99, Amazon.co.uk
- – Kitchen Master slow cooker: £19.99,
