We assess how simple each rice cooker is to set up for the first time, how helpful the instructions are for assembling it, and the advice it gives on capacities and water-to-rice ratios. Advice on cooking times is also a plus. There’s no direct heat at the bottom, so generally it’s best to fill your slow cooker at least half full for even cooking The 6.5l Vonshef slow cooker is a good size for us as a family of three. Its large capacity allows me to cook bigger portions, so we can eat half and freeze half for another day.

The keep-warm setting will impact the quality of your rice Although the drop in quality was slight with the best models we tested, we found that after being left for an hour on the keep-warm setting at least a slight drop in the quality of the rice was inevitable. The rice will likely be drier and need some fluffing before you serve it. Generous 6.5 litre capacity with a maximum working capacity of 4.5 litres – perfect for large families, entertaining or batch cooking. When using a rice cooker, take care to avoid steam vents and avoid touching any part of the cooking pot that might be exposed.They're all perfectly safe to leave on overnight or while you're out, so you can have beef bourguignon, creamy porridge or even mulled wine ready and waiting. This round slow cooker features three heat settings (low, high, and keep-warm) and is oven-safe for browning. Not only does it excel at casseroles, curries, chilli, soups, and desserts, but it’s also energy-conscious. Root vegetables and potatoes take longer to cook than meat and should be thinly sliced or placed near the sides or bottom of the cooking bowl, because of their starchy cellular structure. Portions and cups are not the same Rice cookers always measure rice in cups, as it's a more straightforward way to work out rice-to-water ratios (eg one cup of white rice usually needs one cup of water). But cups are often much bigger than portions – one cup is 150-180g of rice, and Bupa recommends that 75g of rice is one portion. Your cooking options in a rice cooker can really be expanded if you're able to set it to cook for specific times, though. There are plenty of recipes online on how to cook rice pudding in a rice cooker, for example, but you'll need to be able to program it to cook for a set time. If you can't, your rice cooker won't be smart enough to know that there's milk, sugar and other extra ingredients in there, so it won't be likely to cook for the right amount of time.

The 200-watt power usage ensures low electricity consumption, making it an economical choice compared to conventional ovens. Featuring three temperature settings – High, Low, and Auto – this slow cooker adapts to your cooking needs. Lots of people search for answers to this question. However, all the rice cookers we tested seemed safe after we used each one four times and followed the instructions.

Not everything benefits from the slow cooker: while slow cooking turns tough joints tender, it can render lean cuts leathery, and more delicate vegetables like courgettes and peas can end up mushy. This autumn, we went in search of the very best slow cookers, cooking batches of everything from chilli to Irish stew (filling the freezer in the process). We considered each slow cooker in terms of its size, heat distribution, versatility and how easy it was to use and clean – and, of course, the deliciousness of the results. Slow cooking is nearly twice as energy-efficient as conventional ovens, making it a cost-saving choice. Plus, it comes with a 2-year guarantee for peace of mind. They provide consistent and even cooking, extending the lifespan of the appliance and promoting safety with features like automatic shut-off. Furthermore, their programmable settings offer convenience, while their reduced heat generation is beneficial in warmer climates. What Makes an Energy-Efficient Slow Cooker? 1. Low Wattage

Use canned or fully pre-cooked kidney beans; dried beans should always be fully cooked before added to a recipe Let us begin by looking at the Swan 1.5L Slow Cooker (SF17010N). Swan is a British brand with a long history. They have always been well known for their quality kitchen products, but it has been quite a while since I have seen their products for sale. I’m glad to see that they are still around although it appears that they have been through the mill a little. Fortunately, they are now owned by Tefal so you can be sure that they have a quality company supporting them.I like that the Vonshef slow cooker has fast, slow and auto settings. The first time I used it, I fiddled around a bit too much and kept changing it from slow to fast. Now I set it to auto and let the cooker work out what to do. Cleaning the Vonshef slow cooker

Cook delicious one-pot meals whilst you’re at work or sleeping. The VonShef 1.5L Slow Cooker goes hand in hand with the fast-paced modern lifestyle – allowing your dishes to be cooked low and slow without needing any supervision. Extremely safe to use, the slow cooker can be left on while you’re at work or sleeping, so you’re never far from a freshly cooked meal - without needing to spend all evening in the kitchen. We cook supermarket own-brand white basmati rice and wholegrain rice in each rice cooker, always following the rice cooker's instructions on water-to-rice ratios (where given). Useful indicator lights for when the rice cooker is cooking or on the keep-warm setting are a plus, and the more straightforward it is to switch on, the better.Energy-efficient slow cookers not only lower electricity or gas bills but also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. If you are looking to lose weight or keep the weight off then these three slow cooker diet recipe books could be very useful: