Its manual control features three heat settings – high, low and keep warm – and there’s an indicator light. Dried beans - Using canned beans in slow cooker recipes tends to be easier, but if you do want to use the dried version, boil them in water for 10 minutes to soften them up before adding them into your cooker. The best slow cookers should be great at cooking both healthy meals for the week and joints of meat that need as much time as possible for the tastiest results.

best slow cookers 2023 | BBC Good Food 12 of the best slow cookers 2023 | BBC Good Food

If, like me, you lack a nice, cosy, temperature regulated space to stash your fresh dough in till it’s ready for baking, you’ll find this temperature-regulating gadget a godsend - particularly over the cooler months when fluctuating kitchen temperatures can wreak havoc. Its pot is made from aluminium rather than ceramic, meaning you can use it on the hob (not induction) to brown meat and veg.The sauce was a little on the thin side at the end of the cooking time, but reduced nicely after half an hour on the simmer/buffet setting. Alternatively, you can also just wing it, programming in your chosen times, temperature and pressure settings using the dials.

Morphy Richards 461013 6.5 Litre Ceramic Slow Cooker, One-Pot

To help you find the ideal slow cooker for your needs, we put each one through its paces with a series of tests and assessments. Other handy uses include making yoghurt and there are some handy accessories to consider investing in too, including a storage case and an internal shelf. It's essentially a 'set it and forget it' kind of appliance, which makes it ideal for busy weeknights, or for cooking large cuts of meat.

A built-in timer is handy, but these are generally found on more expensive models with digital controls. Just remember that cutting into smaller chunks will help avoid pitfalls such as hard veg, and liquid is your ally, helping to cook ingredients by aiding heat transfer and creating steam.

slow cooker 2023: Enjoy delicious, slow cooked meals Best slow cooker 2023: Enjoy delicious, slow cooked meals

If you’re planning on being gung-ho doing it anyway, you should either cook it separately and put it in at the end or only add it during the final hour of cooking. 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.The usable cooking space will be around three-quarters of its bowl size, for example, a five-litre cooker can accommodate around four litres of food.

Stew Slow Cooker - Stainless Steel Crockpot 6.5L Sizzle and Stew Slow Cooker - Stainless Steel

All removable parts (including the glass lid) can go in the dishwasher, and there is also a steaming rack for added options.

For bulk family cooking, look for a stated capacity of around 6 litres (which translates to a usable volume of around 4. There’s no need to reach for separate pans when prepping food for this slow cooker; it’s equipped with a powerful and even brown/sauté setting, meaning anything that needs to be seared ahead of time can be done directly in the cooking pot.