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Best slow cookers in Australia

We’ve read hundreds of customer reviews and compared top-rated products to find the best slow cookers for your kitchen.

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Tim Falk
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The best slow cookers in Australia

How did we pick this list?

Our editorial team selected the products on this list based on actual customer reviews on sites like The Good Guys, Harvey Norman and Appliances Online. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and identified the slow cookers with the highest review score within those parameters.

Read more detail on our methodology below.

Breville BSC560BSS the Flavour Maker 7L Slow Cooker

Best overall slow cooker

Breville BSC560BSS the Flavour Maker 7L Slow Cooker
Image: Supplied/Finder

Not yet rated

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • EasySear pan is oven and cooktop-safe

Cons

  • Pricey
  • Doesn't have a timer

Why we chose it

Breville's the Flavour Maker wins the title of the best overall slow cooker for several reasons. It's easy to use, has a large family-friendly capacity, and has a pan that functions as a piece of cookware in its own right. The Flavour Maker has also picked up a whole lot of positive reviews from Aussie consumers, including an average score of 4.2/5 from 90 ratings on productreview.com.au, an average score of 4.5/5 from over 40 The Good Guys customer reviews and an average score of 4.8/5 from over 150 Google reviews. When you take all these factors into account, it's hard to go past the Flavour Maker as a versatile and user-friendly slow cooker.

Aside from its big 7L capacity, one of the main features of this slow cooker is its EasySear pan. This pan is safe for stovetop and oven use, so you can use it to sear your meat and other ingredients on your cooktop before putting it into the slow cooker. This saves time and also saves washing up, which is a big bonus in any home cook's book.

Once you place the cast aluminium non-stick pan into the slow cooker, choose from the Low, High and Auto settings to cook your dinner just right. You can heat food for up to 10 hours and a roasting rack is also provided, while the fact that the appliance has a removable cord means that serving up your dish is a piece of cake.

The one stumbling block for some buyers will be the RRP of $200. However, at the time of writing we were able to find the Flavour Maker for between $150 and $170 at multiple retailers, so it's worth shopping around to find the best deal.

Breville BSC420BSS the Smart Temp 6L Slow Cooker

Best programmable slow cooker

Breville BSC420BSS the Smart Temp 6L Slow Cooker
Image: Supplied/Finder

Not yet rated

Pros

  • Automatic temperature sensing
  • Keep-warm feature

Cons

  • Some complaints about unreliable display
  • Can't be used for searing

Why we chose it

Breville makes its second appearance in this guide with the Smart Temp slow cooker. With its temperature-sensing technology and a digital timer, this cooker allows you to prepare your dishes just the way you like them. It also boasts a long list of positive reviews from Australian buyers, including an average score of 4.5/5 from over 60 The Good Guys customer reviews, 4.2/5 from over 35 ratings on productreview.com.au, 4.8/5 from over 20 Harvey Norman customer reviews and 4.7/5 from almost 200 Google reviews. As a result, the Smart Temp is our top pick as the best programmable slow cooker.

Boasting a 6L capacity to help you feed the whole family, this slow cooker uses what Breville calls Temperature IQ technology. This allows it to automatically detect and control the temperature to prevent overheating. Low, medium and high settings are available depending on your cooking needs, while the digital timer allows you to keep track of cooking time.

The Smart Temp features a ceramic cooking bowl with a dishwasher-safe glass lid. It also offers the convenience of a keep-warm feature, ensuring that your meal is at the perfect temperature when you're ready to serve up.

Finally, Breville's the Smart Temp is backed by a 12-month warranty. If you're searching for a slow cooker that can be programmed to suit the cooking requirements of any dish, it's well worth a closer look.

Russell Hobbs RHSC7 7L Slow Cooker

Best slow cooker for big families

Russell Hobbs RHSC7 7L Slow Cooker
Image: Supplied/Finder

Not yet rated

Pros

  • Affordable
  • 7L capacity

Cons

  • No advanced features
  • No light to indicate when the machine is on

Why we chose it

If you've got a lot of hungry mouths to feed, you need a slow cooker with a large capacity. And if it happens to be affordably priced as well, that's a big bonus. So while the Breville we chose as our top pick is certainly worth a look in this category, the Russell Hobbs RHSC7 7L Slow Cooker takes the win here.

This slow cooker is big, user-friendly and easy to keep clean. It's also backed by a whole lot of positive customer reviews, including an average of 4.9/5 among Harvey Norman customers and 4.5/5 among The Good Guys customers. That's why the Russell Hobbs RHSC7 7L Slow Cooker is our pick as the best slow cooker for big families.

With its 7L capacity, this unit has ample space to cook up meals for the whole family. It uses wrap-around heating elements to cook your food evenly, and cooking is taken care of in a non-stick ceramic bowl. The bowl is removable for easy serving and, along with the tempered glass lid, is also dishwasher safe.

You can choose either low or high when cooking your food, while cool-touch handles are included so you don't have to worry about nasty burns when serving. There's also a keep-warm feature so that your dinner doesn't get cold if it's cooked before you're ready to eat.

Best of all, it's priced at $70, so adding this Russell Hobbs slow cooker to your family's kitchen won't leave too much of a hole in your budget.

Kmart 5L Slow Cooker

Best cheap slow cooker

Kmart 5L Slow Cooker
Image: Supplied/Finder

Not yet rated

Pros

  • Cheap (even for this category)
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Basic
  • Capacity may not be large enough for some

Why we chose it

Shopping for a slow cooker and have a maximum budget of $50? It's hard to go past this 5L cooker from Kmart. Sure, it's not from a major appliance brand, but it does boast an average score of 4.8/5 from over 100 customer ratings. Combined with its ease of use and sub-$20 price tag, this makes it our choice as the best cheap slow cooker.

As you'd expect in this price range, this slow cooker doesn't offer anything in the way of advanced features. So if you're looking for a machine with a timer or a bowl you can use on your cooktop, you'll need to look elsewhere.

But what the Kmart 5L Slow Cooker does offer is all the essential features you need to whip up slow-cooked dishes at home. Simply put your ingredients in the bowl, switch it on and choose either the low or high setting. When your food is cooked, the handy keep-warm setting will ensure that it's at the right temperature to serve whenever you're ready to eat. Other features include carry handles, a stainless-steel housing and a light that indicates when the cooker is on.

So if you're on a tight budget and you want an affordable slow cooker that's practical and easy to use, there are lots of good reasons to check out this bargain buy from Kmart.

ALDI Ambiano 3-in-1 Slow Cooker

Best mid-range slow cooker

ALDI Ambiano 3-in-1 Slow Cooker
Image: Supplied/Finder

Not yet rated

Pros

  • Versatile cooker
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Need to wait for Special Buys
  • No advanced features

Why we chose it

In the 2020-21 Finder Retail Awards, ALDI was voted by consumers as the best-rated slow cooker brand in Australia, taking this title for the second consecutive year. ALDI took the prize thanks to its Ambiano slow cooker, which impressed customers with its value for money and cooking performance.

So if you're shopping for a slow cooker in the $50-$100 price range, it's worth keeping your eye out for the Ambiano in one of the German supermarket chain's Special Buys sales.

Sold as a 3-in-1 appliance, the Ambiano actually comes with cooking pots in three different sizes: 1.5L, 3.5L and 5.5L. Not only does this allow you the convenience of choosing a bowl that suits whatever you're cooking, but the bowls are also stackable to ensure easy storage. The pots are ceramic and are reportedly also dishwasher safe.

In terms of settings, you can choose from low or high by turning the dial to your desired program. Handily, there's also a keep-warm feature to ensure that your food is at the perfect temperature to eat when you're ready to serve it up.

Finally, the ALDI Ambiano comes with a three-year warranty, while the $69.99 price tag means you'll be left with plenty of change from your $100 maximum budget. So if you're shopping around for a versatile and user-friendly slow cooker at a reasonable price, check your ALDI catalogue to find out when the Ambiano next goes on sale.

Sunbeam HP8555 SecretChef Electronic 5.5L Sear and Slow Cooker

Best premium slow cooker

Sunbeam HP8555 SecretChef Electronic 5.5L Sear and Slow Cooker
Image: Supplied/Finder

Not yet rated

Pros

  • Affordable
  • 7L capacity

Cons

  • No advanced features
  • No light to indicate when the machine is on

Why we chose it

If you're not limited by budget constraints, there's obviously a lot to like about the Breville slow cooker we chose as our top overall pick. But there are also lots of good reasons to check out the Sunbeam SecretChef Electronic 5.5L Sear and Slow Cooker. With its advanced features, digital display and searing functionality, it's a versatile appliance to have at your disposal. It's also been well received by Australian consumers, with highlights including an average score of 4.5/5 from over 100 The Good Guys customer reviews and an average score of 4.7/5 from over 450 Google reviews. As a result, it's our choice as the best premium slow cooker.

The standout feature of the SecretChef is that it functions as a frying pan as well as a slow cooker. That means you can sear meat in the same unit, with no need to use your cooktop or a separate pan, before switching to slow cooking mode to lock in those delicious flavours. There are five different temperature settings to choose from, so you can boil, sauté, stir fry and more.

There's also a lot to like about the slow cooking features on offer. You can choose between low or high depending on your needs, while the keep-warm feature ensures that your food is ready to serve. The timer and digital display allows you to select the optimum cooking time, while the delay start feature ensures your dinner is ready right on time.

The non-stick aluminium pan is also dishwasher safe, as is the tempered glass lid, helping to ensure that clean-up is quick and easy. So if you're looking for a high-end slow cooker, the Sunbeam SecretChef Electronic 5.5L Sear and Slow Cooker offers everything you need.

Amazon prices last updated on 5 July, 2022 at 02:11 pm
eBay prices last updated on 5 July, 2022 at 02:58 pm

Methodology

14
Brands considered
20+
Products compared
6
Best products chosen
  • We considered slow cookers from 14 leading brands.
  • We based our findings on key product features and reviews from real customers.
  • The products on this list are chosen by our editorial team and are not selected based on commercial relationships.

What is a slow cooker?

A slow cooker can be a useful kitchen appliance for time-poor home cooks. It uses low temperatures to cook roasts, casseroles, curries, soups and more over a long period of time.

You can make meals to feed a whole family without constant monitoring it while it's cooking. Simply turn it on before you leave for work in the morning and then have a hot dinner waiting for you when you come home. Since only one pot is used, it's also usually pretty quick and easy to clean up afterwards.

Of course, slow cookers do have their downsides. The obvious drawback is that the cooking process takes hours, so they're not a great choice if you prefer fast food, and they also take up a fair bit of space in your kitchen cabinets.

What types are available?

There are two main types of slow cookers available:

  • Manual slow cookers. These traditional models are easy to operate and usually the most affordable option. Using them is as simple as switching on your desired setting – many models only have low and high settings, but some also offer a medium setting – and then switching the cooker off manually when your meal is done. These models don't have timers, but some will also feature a "keep warm" mode to ensure that your meal is ready to eat whenever you are.
  • Programmable slow cookers. These more advanced models offer more control over your cooking and are priced at the higher end of the scale. They feature digital controls and an electronic timer so that you can program your appliance to follow a recipe, and they will usually switch over to "keep warm" mode when the cooking time is completed.

How to compare slow cookers

Slow cooker prices range from around $30 to approximately $300. Manual models are cheaper than programmable models, while larger-capacity cookers obviously cost more than smaller appliances.

Make sure you consider the following factors when searching for the best slow cooker:

Size and shape

Slow cookers can be oval-shaped, round or rectangular. The smallest slow cookers start at around 3-4.5 litres and will be more than adequate for singles and couples. If you're cooking for four or more people, you'll want to consider models of 5 litres and above. The biggest slow cookers top out at a capacity of around 8 litres.

Make sure it can fit in your kitchen cupboards or on your benchtop and check the specs sheet for a list of the cooker's physical dimensions.

Ease of use

Check how practical the slow cooker will be to use regularly. Are the controls easy to reach and clearly labelled? Is there an indicator light so you know the cooker is working? Is there an automatic setting (which starts out on high and then switches to low once it reaches a certain temperature) for extra convenience?

Is the pot oven and microwave-safe if you need to reheat your food? Does the lid fit securely and can you easily see through it to check on the progress of your food?

Sear function

An increasing number of slow cookers also allow you to sear meat and veggies before the slow cooking process begins. Some offer this functionality by allowing you to use the slow cooker pot on your stove top, while others come with one or more searing settings built in.

Many slow cooker recipes do require you to sear or brown your ingredients first, so this can be a very handy feature to have. It'll also help minimise your washing up by ensuring that you only use one pot.

Cleaning

Consider how easy the slow cooker will be to clean. If the pot is dishwasher safe, will it fit in your dishwasher? If not, does it fit in your kitchen sink? Make sure to check if there are any gaps where food could accumulate and be difficult to clean out.

Delayed start

Check whether the slow cooker comes with a delayed start timer so you can program it to begin cooking at a specific time – for example, so your dinner will be ready 10 minutes after you get home from work.

Warranty

It's also worth checking the length of the warranty that comes with the slow cooker and exactly what it covers.

Slow cookers vs multi-cookers

One other appliance you'll come across when shopping for a slow cooker is the multi-cooker. As the name suggests, a multi-cooker is an appliance that can be used for a variety of cooking styles, including slow cooking.

You can use a multi-cooker for:

  • Slow cooking
  • Pressure cooking
  • Steaming
  • Roasting
  • Frying
  • Baking
  • Sauteing
  • And more

It can replace multiple kitchen appliances with one jack of all trades, helping you save on storage space in the kitchen. However, they usually cost a little more than most slow cookers.

If you think a multi-cooker might suit your needs better than a slow cooker, check out our multi-cooker buying guide. You can also check out our guide to slow cookers vs pressure cookers.

Three things to consider

Before you rush out and buy a new appliance, it's worth pointing out that a slow cooker isn't always the right choice for everyone.

  1. They're not always straightforward. While slow-cooked meals are undoubtedly convenient, many recipes require additional cooking steps (such as browning or sauteing) before the food can be put into the slow cooker on low heat. As a result, the cooking process may be a little more involved than you might anticipate.
  2. Watch for power outages. If there's an extended power outage when you're not home but your slow cooker is in action, your dinner could be ruined.
  3. They're big and bulky. Slow cookers aren't compact, so you'll need a decent amount of storage space if you want to invest in one. And if you don't have a whole lot of space to spare in your kitchen, you'll need to be sure you'll get enough use out of your slow cooker to justify the amount of room it takes up.

Best rated slow cooker brand award breakdown

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