Last updated:
Straight to your inbox
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.
There are two main types of slow cookers available:
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:
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
It's also worth checking the length of the warranty that comes with the slow cooker and exactly what it covers.
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:
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.
Alternatively, if you're looking for a little extra help in the kitchen, you might want to check out our all-in-one kitchen appliance buying guide.
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.
