Slow Cooker Reviews {Tried & Tested}

So many of you ask for slow cookers recommendations, so I thought I would put some to the test. Here are the results!

Bringing you a huge variety of handy, healthy and delicious slow cooker recipes is one of my life’s goals, but what about the appliance itself? 

I thought it was time to put some slow cooker machines through their paces to find out which out there on the market might fit our needs the best, because getting a good one can honestly be a game-changer.

We tried all of them rigorously to find out which ones passed the test and might be the best slow cooker for you.

Important features we looked for:

Best for gas hob (for initial meat browning/sautéing without using a different pan)

Best for induction hobs

Dishwasher safe

Suitable for families 

Good price

Amazon reviews of over 4.5

Slow Cooker Reviews

BEST OVERALL

Morphy Richards Sear & Stew Slow Cooker

PROS: This continues to be our ride or die slow cooker (it’s THAT good). It’s light, easy to handle and store, and the size is ideal for families of 4-5 people. Definitely our favourite.

CONS: No good for induction hobs, sadly. You can obviously still buy and use it, you'll just have to use a separate pan for any browning needed.

ROUND-UP:

Good for use on gas hob

Good for use on induction hob

Dishwasher safe

Suitable for families

3.5 litre

Good price

Reviews over 4.5

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE MORPHY RICHARDS SEAR & STEW SLOW COOKER

BEST FOR SEARING WITHOUT A HOB

Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker

PROS: This lets you brown and pan fry right in the pan, no need for a hob at all. This is a great alternative to a my favourite ‘sear and stew’ slow cooker if you have an induction hob as you don't need to use the hob at all!

CONS: This is a much larger size which may be a plus or minus depending on your family size.

ROUND-UP:

No need for hob

Dishwasher safe

Suitable for families

6.5 litre

Good price

Reviews over 4.5

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE RUSSELL HOBBS GOOD-TO-GO SLOW COOKER

TOP PICK FOR INDUCTION HOB

Crockpot DuraCeramic Digital Slow Cooker

PROS: This is currently the only slow cooker we could find that has a pot you can use on an induction hob, so I suppose it’s good if you really want one for this reason!

CONS: Very expensive and the bowl is quite unwieldy. There are better alternatives out there.

ROUND-UP:

Good for use on gas hob

Good for use on induction hob

Dishwasher safe

Suitable for families

5 litre

Good price

Reviews over 4.5

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CROCKPOT DURACERAMIC SLOW COOKER

TOP PICK FOR SMALL PORTIONS

Crockpot Small Slow Cooker

PROS: This is a good option if you want to make servings for 1-2 people, or if you don’t have much cupboard or surface space in your kitchen.

CONS: Due to it’s small size, even if you are only cooking for 1-2 people, it’s far more energy efficient and cost effective to cook a larger batch in a bigger device and freeze the leftovers.

ROUND-UP:

Good for use on gas hob

Good for use on induction hob

Dishwasher safe

Suitable for families

1.8 litre

Good price

Reviews over 4.5

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE CROCKPOT DURACERAMIC SLOW COOKER

TOP PICK FOR GOOD LOOKS

Swan Retro Slow Cooker

PROS: This looks good on your kitchen side! The inner pan is attractive enough to serve food in too, so it’s great for parties or big dinners. It’s also good value.

CONS: Can’t be used on the hob for browning or searing.

ROUND-UP:

Good for use on gas hob

Good for use on induction hob

Dishwasher safe

Suitable for families

3.5 litre

Good price

Reviews over 4.5

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SWAN RETRO SLOW COOKER

TOP FAMILY BUDGET PICK

Dihl Slow Cooker

PROS: This is the best budget slow cooker that’s suitable for families. The bowl was sturdy and heavy weight (a pro or con depending on your preference!)

CONS: Can’t be used on the hob for browning or searing.

ROUND-UP:

Good for use on gas hob

Good for use on induction hob

Dishwasher safe

Suitable for families

3.5 litre

Good price

Reviews over 4.5

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE DIHL SLOW COOKER

Why use a slow cooker?

If you’re new to slow cooking and haven’t yet experienced its virtues, here are just a few reasons to invest in one (I could go on and on but I’ll keep try to keep it brief!)

Saves electricity: These devices are so energy efficient compared to ovens or hobs, using only about 1.3kWh for 8 hours cooking time. The Energy Saving Trust say they use about the same amount of electricity as a standard light bulb.

Depth of flavour: Cooking ingredients long and slow creates a delicious depth of flavour. 

Convenience: There is just something so simple about being able to put everything in and know a meal is going to be ready later, when time might be tighter. Yes it requires a bit of thinking ahead, but the rewards are great. 

More room in the oven: If you are making this as part of a bigger roast dinner, using a slow cooker means you’ve got plenty of room left in the oven for everything else!

Healthy options: Because everything cooks together and the flavours marinate over time, there’s often no need for frying, so it can be a healthier choice.

Low maintenance cooking: Slow cookers don’t get hot enough to burn or catch the food on the sides, which means there is rarely a need to stir what’s inside, allowing for truly hands-off cooking.

Cost saving: Not only does it save on electricity but slow cooker meals allow us to use cheaper (but tastier) cuts of meat that are perfect for cooking on a low heat over an extended period of time.

Looking For Slow Cooker ReciPES?

All information above was correct at the time of publication, but please check and verify before purchasing or using as information and products can regularly change.

I hope this guide is useful. Let me know if you’d like me to test any other kitchen favourites!