Slow cookers with sear/sauté function and metal inserts. These devices are often called multi-cookers. These programmable devices have larger, oblong-shaped metal pots. Overall these tend to cook slightly faster than the ceramic style discussed above. The cooking bowl then has a toughened glass lid with a large knob handle and a steam vent on the lid. Great for peeking at what’s cooking without needing to lift the lid and release heat. Functions: One major factor is whether you can sauté foods right in the slow cooker. If you frequently make dishes that require browning foods as as step, you might want to find a model with a function called "brown,""sauté" or "manual." Is the appliance's sole function to slow cook, or can you steam, air fry, pressure cook or sous vide as well? We also recommend those with an automatic “keep warm” setting that usually holds your cooked food at 165°F, which is above the food-safe temperature of 145°F but won't overcook the food.

Slow cooker review: We road test and compare products from Slow cooker review: We road test and compare products from

There are lots of settings and functions, but they are all easy to find and to use. Switching from one to the other was super simple, which I take very seriously – I don't have time to navigate difficult kitchen gadgets and I'm sure you don't either. The searing function worked well, but the smaller base meant I needed to brown in batches. But given that you'd mostly brown in batches in a frypan anyway, doing it in the machine still means less washing up. The insert is easy to remove and clean, as well as being light, but it doesn't have handles, again because it needs to be sealed inside for the pressure-cooking function. The Best Slow Cooker: The high-quality, 7-quart Wolf Gourmet Multi Cooker is an all-around winner. It is a reliable slow cooker with a non-toxic stainless steel insert for sautéing or searing. Within this category, you’ll find manual slow cookers and programmable slow cookers. Manual slow cookers work fine for warming sauces or dips, but they require extra monitoring so we don’t recommend them for unattended cooking (learn why a “ slow cooker timer” is not the solution). Programmable slow cookers allow you to cook for a set time and usually offer a Keep Warm function. Again, it's a large unit, so you'll make to make sure you'll be using it. It has a searing/browning function too and at 6L it's a good size for a large family. What you're paying extra for here is the multifunction options, certainly if you're going to be doing some pressure cooking as well as slow cooking, then getting the two devices in one is absolutely worth it. It's a bulkier (and taller) machine, but that's simply because of its capacity as a pressure cooker.We like this style because these large slow cookers can brown meat and sauté vegetables all in the same pot — and having one less pan to clean is very helpful on busy days (i.e. when we tend to use a slow cooker). If you’re an adventurous cook, then the Russell Hobbs slow cooker and sous vide water bath could be a great option for you. It works just like any other slow cooker, with the usual low or high temperature settings, which you can set on a timer. When the timer ends, it will automatically switch to the keep-warm setting.

the Best Slow Cooker Australia 2023 Ultimate Guide to the Best Slow Cooker Australia 2023

What should you look for in a slow cooker? When buying a new slow cooker keep in mind how and when you realistically will use the appliance. After that, find a brand and model that meets your general criteria (size, price point, features, etc.) and give it a try. Consider these FAQs: The Breville Searing slow cooker also comes with a detailed user guide, recipe cards and a 12 month replacement warranty. So, every additional extra on the product tests was fun to play with, but that was exactly the point — to find out if you really need the extras.The soup we cooked held its veggies together noticeably more than the other soups, which was a nice surprise, and was slightly lighter in colour, presumably because of less simmering movement in the pot. The flavour was rich and the barley was perfectly cooked. This is a great option if you're looking to do both slow and pressure cooking as it's a great two-in-one machine that it easy to use in both functions. READ MORE: Michelin-trained chef's tips for making perfect scrambled eggs Slow cooker Sunbeam soup was rich and dark (Supplied) Breville Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration. Have you ever made yoghurt in your slow cooker? I made my first batch while testing this mode and oh my! The pot and the lid are also dishwasher safe, so clean up is easy. It has three cooking settings, high, low and medium.

Best slow cookers 2023: Make stews, casseroles and curries

Slow cookers are great for making hearty winter meals, but can also be used during the summer to make a pot roast or one-pot meal without heating up your kitchen like an oven. In our test labs we give every slow cooker a thorough workout to find the models that:

Is a slow cooker the right appliance? Learn why a slow cooker may or may not be the best fit for your situation. Many people only need a simple high-quality dutch oven. The yoghurt default setting is for 8hrs but can be manually set, in 10 minute intervals, to between 6-12hrs. The Breville The Searing Slow Cooker has 5 preset browning settings and 4 preset cooking functions (including low slow cook, high slow cook, steam, and yoghurt), letting you conveniently prepare various dishes. Slow cookers are generally popular because they make cooking easy. You simply put the ingredients in the pot, turn the dial to ‘low’ or ‘high’, and leave the cooker to do its job for the day, while you get on with other things. But if you’re a fan of fancier cooking methods, there’s probably a model out there to suit you, too, with some giving you the option to sear your meat, stir while they cook or even sous vide (a method of cooking food low and slow in a water bath).