A slow cooker can make dinner easier to organise. Prepare a suitable recipe, choose the recommended setting and let the appliance cook gradually while you get on with your day. Picking the right size and controls helps it fit your routine.

Match the pot to your recipes

Think about how many portions you usually make and whether you want leftovers. The stated capacity is not always the amount of food you should put in the pot. Manufacturers specify suitable minimum and maximum fill levels, so check these before deciding what will fit.

If you cook mainly for one or two, a smaller model may be easier to fill appropriately. A larger pot can suit family meals and planned batches.

Understand the cooking settings

Basic models commonly offer low, high and keep-warm settings, but their operation varies. Follow recipes suited to your model rather than treating the settings as interchangeable between appliances.

A timer or digital countdown can help you plan dinner. Check whether it switches to keep warm automatically and how long the manufacturer permits that setting to be used. Keep warm is not a substitute for cooking food thoroughly.

Check the removable pot

A removable pot makes serving and washing easier. Some pots are approved for browning ingredients on a hob; others must never be used this way. Check hob compatibility, including induction, in the manufacturer’s instructions before buying for this feature.

Look at the pot’s weight when full, the handles and whether the removable components are dishwasher safe.

Would separate pots be useful?

Multi-pot slow cookers can prepare separate dishes, such as a main and a vegetarian alternative. Compare the individual pot sizes and whether each has independent controls. They can be useful for hosting, but a single larger pot may suit everyday stews better.

Choose for the meals you actually make

Plan around two or three favourite recipes, then compare capacity, controls and cleaning. Follow the appliance and recipe instructions for ingredient preparation, especially for frozen foods and ingredients that need separate preparation.

Browse our cooking appliances to discover current slow cooker options for your kitchen.