When testing these slow cookers we were keen to try out each of their main cooking settings, so while a more simple manual slow cooker was used to make a stew or simple curry, we pressure cooked meat and steamed fish in the more complex slow cookers on the market. When slow cookers came with digital settings we attempted delay-start recipes and tested how easy they were to use. Designed to make meal planning easy, the digital timer can be set from 30 minutes to twenty hours, with an LED display counting down the time – and if you’re not quite ready when your food is, an automatic keep-warm function will make sure it doesn’t go cold.

In an ideal world, a slow cooker at this price point would also have a timer and automatic switch to keep warm rather than relying on manual controls. However, what you do get for your money is excellent build quality, perfectly controlled heat, and a design that makes cooking super-easy. Most slow cookers will have similar standard controls – high heat for meals cooked in less than a few hours, low heat for all-day cooking. A 'keep warm' mode should hold food at a serveable temperature without actually cooking it. Some cookers will switch to 'keep warm' automatically after an elapsed cooking time, while more basic models need this altered manually. You can activate a keep warm setting to keep your food ready for as long as six hours after your cooking mode has finished. The sear mode took only a few minutes to pre-heat and we were able to brown our onions before adding curry ingredients, which delivered a lot of extra flavour.The slow cooker's 'reduce' function was useful for bubbling away excess liquid after slow cooking.The lid is made of glass and has a small steam hole. This is a neat little touch as it prevents the lid from rattling like we’ve seen in some cheaper slow cookers. We’re starting to see a little grime build up between the handle and the lid, but the handle is removable with a couple of screws and easily cleaned. What’s more, the unique hinged lid means no condensation on your worktop, no lost lids, and even makes serving easier too! Features and Benefits

High and low temperature settings give you versatility over your timings, while the keep warm function means seconds can be served up straight away and latecomers don’t have to miss out.Manufacturers of ceramic-coated cookware and kitchen appliances such as Oster claim that their products are extremely safe, durable, reliable, and contain no harmful chemical, toxins, carcinogens or heavy metals. If you know me at all you know I like to keep my countertops clutter-free, but on the other hand I need to have the tools I use frequently at hand to optimise efficiency. So, my best bet is to try and strike a balance.

However, we can’t say the same when it comes to longevity of ceramic coated cookware over Teflon coated ones. Various tests have shown that even the best ceramic-coating last six times less than Teflon coating. So, they aren’t that durable as manufacturers claim. As we said earlier, this special ceramic coating is made from oxygen and silicon. So, not only is DuraCeramic safe, it is also an environmentally friendly product.

Design of the Crock-Pot DuraCeramic CSC026

This is a really nice “in-between” size – not so enormous that you have to cook a curry for 10 people every time you use it, but also not so small that you can only cook for two. Instead, I browned the mince using a gas burner. The dish stayed steady on a cast iron support, even when stirred, which was an advantage as the handles grew hot while cooking. Slow cookers range in size from a compact 1.5 litres to a 6.5-litre bowl, so be sure to choose the right size for the way you intend to cook. As a rough guide, 1.5-3 litres will feed one or two people, 3-5 litres, three or four people and anything over five litres should suit a large family, with six litres or more ideal for batch cooks who like to fill the freezer. Alternatively, a larger cooker is great for those who like to eat what’s leftover for lunch the next day.

Refitting the lid to the base and lowering it created a secure seal around the rim. As the contents cooked, there was noticeably less smell of bolognese in the air than other machines tend to produce. So while you won’t be coming home to a house full of intense cooking smells, it’s likely to make for more tender, moist meals. Suitable for all hob types, including induction hobs, this impressive unit allows you to prepare casseroles, curries, chillis, soups, pot roasts, and even desserts – simply choose the low, high, or keep–warm setting to best suit your creation. After cooking, the removable pot can be taken straight to the table for serving, and if you have leftovers, it can be stored in the fridge or freezer. If you need help selecting your own slow cooker model, I provide a video lesson free of charge to help you do so. Just go here, and select the free option. Despite the pot being an odd shape – round, 25cm (10 inches) at the top, which tapers to about 20cm (8 inches) half way down – we really like the size of the CSC026. The pot will hold five litres when filled right to the brim, but more realistically will comfortably hold around three litres.Additionally, the application process of DuraCeramic-coatings is also easier when compared to many PTFE (Teflon) based coatings. Teflon based coatings need at least three applications, whereas DuraCeramic coatings require only one layer. Removing the need to sauté in a pan before transferring to the pot, the Sage Fast Slow Go is as useful for slow cooking converts as it is to experienced cooks. Functioning as both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, it includes sensors at the top and bottom to monitor temperature. This makes inconsistently cooked stews a thing of the past. The CSC026 has three settings – high, low and warm. We filled it with two litres of water then tested each of the settings in turn. As a result, this particular coating needs less curing time, which saves on the heat. This reduces energy and the entire manufacturing process emits 50 percent less carbon dioxide than Teflon based products.