Design: Are you looking for a simple, budget-friendly option that just slow-cooks (but does it extremely well) or something more versatile that sous-vides, pressure cooks, bakes and roasts too? Do bear in mind that the more technological the slow cooker, the higher the price.

Plus, slow cooking conserves nutrients better than common alternative cooking methods such as frying, so give it a try if you're aiming to eat a healthier diet. What can you cook in a slow cooker? Technically you can put all the raw ingredients into a slow cooker, but you won’t end up with a truly flavoursome chilli at the end. Taking the time to fry everything and make it golden means you’ve caramelised them, which in turn adds tonnes of flavour to the chilli. They also calculate the energy consumed by each model to see how economical they are, and measure the moisture lost when cooking to ensuring your dinner won't end up dried out. This is not because they are better than a smaller-size slow cooker. They will all cook meals as well as each other if liquid and ingredients quantities are followed for recipes in the correct size cooker.Chocolate is used in Mexico in savoury mole and adds a rich, slightly sweet note to the finished dish, as well as making the texture of the sauce super-silky. You can leave it out if you prefer, but we think it really enhances the chilli. If you’re a small family or living alone, go for the user-favourite Morphy Richards 460013 Slow Cooker which lets you simmer, stew, and serve in the same bowl. The budget-friendly Asda George Slow Cooker is also a good option if you’re not willing to put a dent in your bank account.

Finished results: the tenderness of the meat and vegetables, the consistency of the cooked sauce and the heat of the food when serving A large slow cooker like this will suit big families and families that love to entertain. Even an avid food prepper will get the maximum use out of a cooker this size. 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 CookerIf 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. Manual or Programmable: Slow cookers usually come in two types. Manual cookers require monitoring, and you’ll have to turn them off. Programmable slow cookers are ideal if you’re leaving the house for long periods, since the digital timer lets you choose the cooking time and the digital display shows the remaining time. They also have a keep-warm feature which keeps your food warm after the cooking time ends. Cook from frozen and enjoy deliciously crispy results - perfect when you need to get dinner ready in a hurry. Below you'll find the best slow cookers according to our experts, as well as everything you need to know before shopping – from must-have features to their energy efficiency. How we test slow cookers