Maybe you are the meal prepper that cooks all day Sunday requiring enough food to smash out a huge batch of healthy hearty meals in preparation for your busy week ahead. Slow cookers are energy efficient if used correctly. Manufacturers advise a slow cooker works at optimum efficiency when the insert is filled halfway up and no more than two-thirds.

My first impressions of this family-sized slow cooker are WOW. Uniquely modern and slim looking with a family-size capacity. If you have space and are uncertain of what size you need – this is an option. It does not take up any more space than the average family-size cooker but provides you with more. When cooking main meals serving them with accompaniments will stretch them further (rice, pasta, potatoes, vegetables)The most basic slow cookers will have two or three temperature settings (low, warm and/or high), a large capacity ovenproof pot, a lid and a timer and that’s about it. Be sure to choose a model with a removable pot for easy cleaning and also to be able to use on the hob to brown off ingredients without using a separate pan. More advanced slow cookers offer greater control over the temperature, but also, crucially, the time, meaning you can tell it when you want for your dinner and it will calculate cooking time accordingly. A standard-size slow cooker is considered one between 5 quarts and 6 quarts. This is the size most families choose. Leftovers or second servings are left after dinner. A larger family should consider a 7-quart slow cooker or above. How many pounds of meat will a 7-quart slow cooker hold?

The latest breed of multi-cookers, particularly from Sage and Ninja, allows you to cook under pressure, as well as bake, fry, oven cook and even dehydrate and air fry. Pressure cooking allows you to cook dishes in a fraction of the time, handy if you’ve forgotten to turn the slow cooker on before work. Before choosing the right one for you to make a list of your particular requirements and expectations of what you expect your new slow cooker to do for you. Do you already have a slow cookeris this an extra one, a replacement, or an upgrade to a large model? For more interiors, fashion and technology releases delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our GQ Recommends newsletter.Large cuts of meat, such as pulled pork, cook brilliantly in a slow cooker because the tough muscle fibres break down over the extended cooking time, allowing the meat to get nice and tender. Stews also work well because cheaper cuts of meat can be used and vegetables won’t get overcooked. Most countries and cuisines have signature dishes ideal for slow cooking. As a result, there are literally hundreds of great slow cooking recipes, from perfectly fluffy rice, tagines, paellas, curries, dahl, spareribs, kleftiko and chilli. That said, it’s pretty difficult to ignore a classic steak and ale (or sweet potato and lentil) casserole. Shop GQ’s selection of the best slow cookers you can buy… I love the fact that you can brown it in the same pot as you slow-cook the dish. The flavors are enhanced when you are able to carry out the cooking method in a single cooking pot. It is because the majority of us out there who are using a 6-quart slow cooker are regularly preparing meals for families, bonus leftovers for the week ahead, or freezing. Some use various sizes for larger quantities required for entertaining.

Technology – will you be satisfied with a traditional manual type slow cooker or do you like to keep up with technology – options! If you have the space to store it – it is for everyone. The interchangeable pots allow you to cook recipes for one up to as many as you need.With a little planning and the right ingredients, even the most basic slow cooker can serve up a sensational lamb shank, beef stew, authentic curry or hearty casserole — or see you through a marathon batch cooking session. They’re the ultimate kitchen gadget for the time-poor home cook who wants to eat well but doesn’t want to faff about with complex cooking settings and other kitchen appliances like tech like air fryers and rice cookers. This guide will help you navigate what new brands and the best slow cooker appliances are available in the market today. Especially if you are new to slow cooking or you are replacing or upgrading an existing slow cooker. Small Slow Cooker 1 to 2-Quart Slow Cooker