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10 best slow cookers for fuss-free meals, tried and tested
They’re the ultimate gadget for easy cooking, use less electricity than a lightbulb and, with a bit of organisation, you can have a home-cooked meal on the table within minutes of arriving home. It’s no wonder so many Mumsnet users swear by their slow cooker for fuss-free, midweek meals.
By Natasha Gregson | Last updated Mar 8, 2024
Whether you need help putting a healthy dinner on the table during a busy work week or are planning a more elaborate meal for a special occasion, the best slow cooker can quickly become a kitchen essential.
Much like the best air fryer, slow cookers excel at versatility. Beyond classic comfort foods like curries, stews and soups, you can use your slow cooker to start the day off with creamy porridge or jazz up dinner with pulled pork, mushroom risotto or the tastiest seafood paella. Best of all, the latest slow cooker models are multi-functional and great for busy people. You can throw in your food and cook it slowly overnight or as you go about your day.
As if their time-saving capabilities are not reason enough to invest in a slow cooker, the fact they can cut your energy bills and allow for batch cooking means it's a wise investment to help you weather the cost of living crisis.
How we tested the best slow cookers
To help you choose the best slow cooker for your kitchen, we thoroughly scoured the Mumsnet forums - the largest online network of parents in the UK - to see the makes and models our users love. We then also analysed the opinions of food industry experts and verified consumer reviewers to whittle down our shortlist.
From there, we conducted our own extensive testing, cooking up a range of meals to see how each slow cooker performed, carefully evaluating their ease of use, ease of cleaning, capacity, features and those all-important results. We also enlisted Mumsnetters' help for their own honest reviews to see how the slow cookers fared after long-term use in a real family home.
Crockpot Lift and Serve Digital Slow Cooker
Easy to use
Features a countdown timer on the display
Automatically switches to keep warm setting when cooking is complete
Lid and bowl are dishwasher safe
Two-year guarantee
Good capacity for families
Bulky
Hinged lid makes it tricky to remove the pot
Can't use the pot on the hob
Only has a slow cooking function
Price on writing: £49 | Capacity: 4.7 litres | Dimensions: 26.8 x 34.2 x 33.8cm | Weight: 5.3kg | Digital display: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes, bowl and lid | Settings: Three | Wattage: 220W
Impressively easy use and clean, the Crockpot Lift and Serve is a must-have kitchen gadget. It's not the cheapest model out there for a device that functions as a slow cooker only, but we think it offers good value for money thanks to its versatility – meats, casseroles, and stews were all a doddle to cook in it.
When your tasty dish is ready to serve, this clever slow cooker automatically switches to the 'keep warm' setting, so you can have a hot dinner ready at a time that suits you without having to warm it through in the microwave. It has a hinged lid for easy access, however, we were a little disappointed with the design of this feature and found it allowed condensation to drip.
All in all though, this Crockpot is an excellent choice for busy parents and those looking for a convenient and hassle-free way to prepare a range of meals, including beginners.
Read our full Crockpot Lift and Serve Digital Slow Cooker review
Excellent value
Large capacity
Easy to use
Has a keep warm setting
Hand wash only
No timer
No auto keep warm function
Price on writing: £33 | Capacity: 6.5 litres | Dimensions: 29.2 x 41 x 23.7cm | Weight: 3.59kg (inner pot only) | Digital display: No | Dishwasher-safe parts: No | Settings: Three | Wattage: 320W
Even if you're on a tight budget, you can still get in on the slow cooking action. Despite its pocket-friendly price, this gadget has an impressive 6.5-litre capacity, so it's great for families or batch cookers who want to stock up the freezer.
It was super easy to use; just pop your ingredients in straight from your food processor or chopping board, turn the dial to your chosen setting and then it gets to work. We were delighted with the results it produced too – coq au vin and beef ragu with pasta were particular highlights from this slow cooker.
It doesn't include fancy features like a timer or an automatic keep warm function, but we think it offers fantastic value for money. You can't bung it in the dishwasher, however, so a little effort is still required post-meal.
Read our full Cookworks Slow Cooker review
Eight settings
Can sear meat in the same pot
Large capacity
Fantastic value
Bulky
Control panel icons aren't intuitive initially
Price on writing: £60 | Capacity: 6.5 litres | Dimensions: 29.9 x 48.5 x 24.4 cm | Weight: 3.25kg | Digital display: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes, pot | Settings: Eight functions | Wattage: 750W
The Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker is a versatile eight-in-one kitchen appliance that is great for families and experimental cooks alike. Aside from the slow cooking and handy auto keep warm functions, it also includes roast, boil, sous vide, and steamer settings to name a few. And with an impressive 6.5-litre capacity, we found it was ideal for batch cooking meals from our best slow cooker recipe books.
The slow cooker setting worked well in testing, making tasty dishes that pack plenty of flavour. What really set this cooker apart from others, however, was having the ability to sear your meat in the pot; we didn't need to faff around with browning it on the hob first. It's also excellent at cooking rice, but bear in mind it is quite a bulky unit.
Read our full Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker review
Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker 9-in-1 OP350UK
Cooks nine different ways
Includes an air fryer
Large capacity
Pricey
Lid isn't suitable for all functions (the extra lid is included though)
Heavy
Price on writing: £199 | Capacity: 6 litres | Dimensions: 32 x 43 x 36cm | Weight: 11kg | Digital display: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes | Settings: Nine cooking functions | Wattage: 1,460W
Foodies rave about the multi-function Ninja 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker and it is not difficult to see why. This blowout option is extremely versatile; it comes with nine different settings, including bake, grill, and sauté, to name just a few, but it was the slow cook and air fry functions that we found the most impressive – it produced delicious stews, casseroles, and tender joints of meat.
Despite the wealth of culinary options available, the Ninja Foodi is surprisingly less complicated to use than you would think and the controls were super easy to understand and to operate. It is true that the price is eye-watering, but tests show that a Ninja Foodi could save you up to 45% on your energy bills, so you may feel it is worth the investment if you have enough counter space.
Read our full Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP350UK review
Drew&Cole CleverChef 14-in-1 Intelligent Digital Multi-Cooker
14 cooking functions
Great value for money
Stylish, sleek design
Easy to use
Doesn't have an air fry or pressure cook mode like some multi-cookers
Slightly smaller capacity than some other options
Price on writing: £70 | Capacity: 5 litres | Dimensions: 24 x 31 x 23cm | Weight: 3.9kg | Digital display: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes, inner pot | Settings: 14 cooking functions | Wattage: 860W
If you find your kitchen cupboards have been overtaken by multiple appliances, and everything from the best bread maker to your trusty rice cooker is sat gathering dust, ditch all the clutter and streamline down to one nifty device. The Drew&Cole CleverChef has 14 preset cooking programmes, and while it's not strictly a slow cooker, our testers found this multi-cooker functioned easily as one with high and low cook settings.
It produced a variety of delicious dishes, including everything from stews, casseroles and risottos to a whole chicken for your Sunday roast. The aluminium pot was easy to clean too thanks to its non-stick coating, and while it was missing an air fry and pressure cook function like some other multi-cookers, we thought it offered fantastic value for money.
Read our full Drew&Cole CleverChef Multi-Cooker review
Big capacity - great for big families or large gatherings
Pot and lid can go in the dishwasher
Can be used on hob to sear meat first
Pricey
No keep warm setting
Price on writing: £45 | Capacity: 6.5 litres | Dimensions: 41 x 39 x 32cm | Weight: 4.3kg | Digital display: No | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes, pot and lid | Settings: Three | Wattage: 290W
Whether you are doing a Sunday roast for a big brood or batch cooking for the week (see our guide to the best Tupperware for clever food storage solutions for this), the Morphy Richards 6.5 Litre Slow Cooker covers all bases. We were impressed with the removable hob-proof aluminium pot; it allows you to sear and stew in the same pot for less clean-up and more flavour.
Unlike its clunky counterparts, the inner pot of the Morphy Richards is made of aluminium rather than traditional ceramic, so it's lighter and easier to carry. This slow cooker is expensive, but we found it easy to use, and it produced delicious results that the whole family enjoyed - fussy toddlers included! Our only grumble was that it didn't have a keep warm function, which we'd expect at this price point.
Read our full Morphy Richards Sear and Stew Slow Cooker review
Tower T16042BLK Cavaletto 3.5 Litre Slow Cooker
Easy to use with a simple dial setting
Lightweight
Stylish
Affordable
No digital display or timer
Does not automatically turn to keep warm mode when food is ready
Basic model
Price on writing: £30 | Capacity: 3.5 litres | Dimensions: 25 x 35 x 24.5 cm | Weight: 3.16kg | Digital display: No | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes, pot | Settings: Three | Wattage: 210W
While it may not rival the versatility of the best multi-cooker, the Tower Cavaletto is an excellent high-quality choice if you want a hard-working, basic slow cooker. It's not all functionality over style, however - available in three colours (the midnight blue was our fave) with rose gold accents, this is one sleek kitchen gadget you'll be proud to display on your countertop.
We loved how easy it was to use and clean, but its simplicity was also its downside; there's no digital display or timer, plus it doesn't automatically turn to the keep warm mode when the food is ready like some other models. Despite this, we thought it was a great gadget that offers fantastic value for money.
Read our full Tower 3.5L Cavaletto Slow Cooker review
Stylish retro design
Great value
Super easy to use
Excellent results
Claims to have a keep warm setting, but this is just the low setting
Pot isn't hob safe
Price on writing: £32 | Capacity: 3.5 litres | Dimensions: 25.8 x 36.6 x 22.4cm | Weight: 3.6kg | Digital display: No | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes, pot and lid | Settings: Three | Wattage: 200W
If you want a kitchen gadget you can proudly place on display on your countertop, the Swan Retro Slow Cooker could be just what you're after. We loved the trendy 1950s look and bright red colourway (there are nine other colours to choose from, too), but it's not all style over substance. It was super easy to use, and the results it produced during testing were tasty and tender – it particularly excelled at cooking meats.
The main drawback is that it's quite a basic model, and there isn't a separate keep warm setting as suggested on the packaging; the brand recommends you use the low setting if your model doesn't include this. That said, we think this is a great value slow cooker that does the job exceptionally well.
Read our full Swan 3.5-Litre Retro Slow Cooker review
Versatile
Can be controlled remotely
Sleek design
Great results
Pricey
Doesn't include an air fryer
Price on writing: £200 | Capacity: 5.7 litres | Dimensions: 33.5 x 33.1 x 32.3cm | Weight: 7.05kg | Digital display: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes | Settings: 10 functions | Wattage: 1,500W
We were thoroughly impressed by this versatile kitchen gadget, which combines the functions of a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, plus so much more. While it took some time to navigate the online instructions and understand the different settings, once mastered, we found it was user-friendly and intuitive to use, and the Wi-Fi connectivity was a useful addition.
Our main gripe was the absence of an air fryer function, a standard feature of many multi-cookers at this price range. Nevertheless, it's a fantastic choice for families who want convenient and high-tech kitchen tool that delivers tasty, mouthwatering results - it particularly excelled at slow cooker stews and casseroles and is one of our best Instant Pot models on the market today.
Read our full Instant Pot Pro Plus Multi-Cooker review
Sage The Fast Slow Pro Slow Cooker
Excellent results
Good capacity
Multi-functional
Pricey
Lid can be tricky to close
Takes some getting used to
Price on writing: £199 | Capacity: 6 litres | Dimensions: 37 x 30 x 32cm | Weight: Not specified | Digital display: Yes | Dishwasher-safe parts: Yes, lid | Settings: Six functions, 11 pressure cook settings | Wattage: 1,100W
Another favourite amongst Mumsnet users, the Sage The Fast Slow Pro is a slow cooker and pressure cooker in one, with additional preset settings including searing, sautéing, reducing and steaming. It took a bit of time getting used to operating it at first, but once we'd got to grips with it, we were delighted with the results. We loved that you didn't have to brown meat separately on the hob before slow cooking too.
The main downside is the cost; it's a pricey gadget, but it offers excellent versatility and high-tech features if you can afford to splash out.
Read our full Sage The Fast Slow Pro Multi-Cooker review
What are the benefits of slow cooking?
A slow cooker is a handy kitchen appliance that allows you to cook food at a low temperature over a long period of time. They are a great energy-efficient option for busy families who want to come home to a hot meal that's ready to serve up at the end of the day.
Mumsnet users love slow cooking for its time-saving qualities, but it also has some culinary pros too; the gentle heat combined with the long cooking process helps to tenderise tough and cheaper cuts of meat and enhance the flavours of staple dishes like stews and casseroles.
Read next: The best soup maker for busy families
What to look for when buying a slow cooker
There are so many options on the market, it can be tricky deciding on the best slow cooker for your family. Here are a few things to consider:
Cooking modes: Are you looking for a basic, manual slow cooker to prepare family favourites like chicken soup and chilli, or do you want to unleash your inner Masterchef with a multi-cooker that's kitted out with extras like a pressure cooking mode and a temperature probe? Think about your budget, too – multi-functional gadgets will be pricey, whereas you can pick up a slow cook-only model from as little as £20.
Capacity: Slow cookers can range in size from 1.5 litres to a whopping seven litres. Your choice will depend on your family size and kitchen space. As a general rule, 3.5 litres should be enough for a family of four, whereas larger families will want to size up to 6 litres.
Features: A keep warm function is handy for busy families – it keeps your meal hot without the risk of overcooking it. On basic models, you'll have to manually switch to this setting, whereas more expensive slow cookers may have a timer that makes this change automatically when your meal is ready.
Cooking pot: Some models have inner pots that can be used to sear meat on the hob before you start slow cooking, saving you extra washing up. Ceramic pots are not hob safe, however, so you will need to use a separate frying pan or saucepan if you want to brown meat or soften veggies before adding them to your slow cooker.
Are slow cookers cheap to run?
On the whole, yes, it is generally cheap to run a slow cooker. They tend to use less energy than ovens, and they are designed to cook food at a low temperature over a long period of time, usually between four and eight hours.
How to use a slow cooker
Here are five tips to help you get the most out of using your slow cooker:
Cut your ingredients into similar sizes to ensure even cooking. You can also prep ingredients in this way the night before and store in your fridge; expert Heather Whinney, author of The Slow Cook Book, advises having a meal plan so "you have your ingredients at the ready for the pot the morning before supper."
It's optional, but if you have time you can brown meat before adding it to the slow cooker to add extra flavour and to prevent it from becoming tough.
Layer ingredients in the slow cooker with ingredients that take longer to cook at the bottom (where it's hottest) and lighter ingredients that take less time to cook on top.
It may be tempting to see how your food is doing, but don't lift the lid too often as this will release the heat and extend the cooking time. If you'd like to keep an eye, opt for a model with a glass lid so you can take a peek while the lid is on.
Heather advises that "you will find you need less liquid than in the oven with slow cooking as it doesn't evaporate at the same rate". As a general rule of thumb, you should reduce the liquid you would usually add by a third.
Read next: Best kitchen scales for precise measuring
How we tested
First up, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users to get their feedback on their favourite slow cooker. We also considered feedback from trusted industry experts and investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews to whittle down our shortlist to the 10 best slow cooker models.
We then tested selected slow cookers in house, putting them through their paces to cook up a range of dishes, including casseroles, stews and bolognese. During testing, we carefully scored them on their ease of use and cleaning, design, features and those all-important results.
About the author
Natasha Gregson is an Affiliate Content Editor at Mumsnet, overseeing home and lifestyle product round-ups and reviews. With several years of editorial experience under her belt, she has also had work published in The i Paper, Stylist Magazine, Gransnet and Exposed Magazine.
An avid foodie, she's always whipping up new creations and experimenting in the kitchen. Over the past year, she's been on a quest to try the top slow cookers for Mumsnet and has become somewhat of an expert in this area; she uses her trusty slow cooker collection on a weekly basis and knows exactly what makes a standout kitchen gadget, bringing this know-how to every review she writes.
Why you should trust us
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.
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