Used in conjunction with the slow cooker, this is a time-saving way to cook that cuts washing up, too.

With an incredible 9 cooking functions and a large capacity to feed the whole family, the Ninja Foodi MAX 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker makes it quick and easy to cook delicious meals, sides, snacks and desserts. The chalkboard doubles up as a stylish matte black look too, if you’re not so interested in doodling on it. Like its fellow Crock-Pot above, this easy-to-use slow cooker is large enough to feed a family of six. Currys Group Limited is a credit broker under exclusive arrangements with the lender Creation Consumer Finance Ltd. By sealing food in pouches, the juices and subtle flavours that could otherwise be lost during conventional cooking are retained.

This robust, multi-functional slow cooker is another one that's ideal for large families with its 6.

Finally, very few have the grill, roast and air crisp options built-in, meaning they can cook by methods of conduction and convection, but not radiation. Read more about the condition For parts or not working: An item that does not function as intended or is not fully operational. With Ninja’s exclusive TenderCrisp Technology, pressure cook tender meals up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods*, then crisp to give your food a perfect golden finish. It scored full marks on our curry, soup and stew tests, and cooked meat and vegetables to perfection.This multi-functional machine, another one from market-leaders Crock-Pot, allows you to schedule your cooking up to 12 hours in advance, with plenty of customisable manual and auto-function options. Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment.

It needs a fair bit of worktop space but can replace your slow cooker, air fryer, pressure cooker and can be used in place of a rice cooker and even your hob and oven too. I have an Instant pot and also a Russell Hobbs multicooker which I mainly use as my slow cooker as I find it better for slow cooking than my IP. To get started, you just need to fit the cooking pot, then what you do next will depend on which cooking function you are using. A couple pointed out something I hadn't considered initially – it needs a lot of head height for use in sear/sauté with the lid open and should not be too close to wall units as the steam release will damage them. If you want the functionality of several appliances but only have room for one big piece of kit, the Ninja Foodi Max 9-in-1 Multi Cooker should definitely be it.Whether it’s a new recipe or your grandma’s classic slow-cooked beef stew, you can cook a surprisingly wide range of dishes in a slow cooker. Slow cookers do tend to run for longer though, so if you’re looking to save, look for recipes with a shorter cooking time that can be left on a low heat setting. Sear steaks before cooking, Sauté ingredients to prepare sauces and caramelise onions for maximum flavour. These devices are known for bringing out the best of any ingredient, making your food a blend of fragrant aromas and delightful flavours. Each appliance will be used for at least a fortnight, and we try to test every function and setting it has to offer.

Instead of having to switch between lids for steaming/pressure cooking and air frying, there is one lid for all.

Our slow cookers will make versatile and practical additions to your small kitchen appliance collection. Cooking for multiple diners or week-in-advance batch cooking suddenly becomes a breeze as you simply pop your ingredients in, select a cooking temperature, and voila! Unlock 15 cooking functions under one SmartLid – Pressure Cook, Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Dehydrate, Prove, Sear/Sauté, Steam, Slow Cook, Yoghurt, Steam Meals, Steam Air Fry, Steam Bake, Steam Bread and Steam Roast. A pressure cooker is a game changer in the kitchen, and a slow cooker that doubles as a pressure cooker as well is the ultimate package for efficient and delicious cooking. Multi-cookers are also worth considering, as these machines offer additional cooking methods, including pressure cooking and air frying, which are speedier ways to cook.