Few kitchen appliances deliver as much for as little effort as a slow cooker. You load it in the morning, go about your day and come home to a perfectly cooked meal. Choosing the right size and features will ensure you can enjoy your slow cooker for years to come.
Is a slow cooker worth it?
If your household eats stews, curries, chillies, soups or anything that improves with time, then yes, of course a slow cooker will make your life easier. Slow cooking transforms cheaper cuts like beef shin, pork shoulder and chicken thighs into the most tender version of themselves, and it is perfect for batch cooking, where one afternoon fills the freezer with a week of dinners. Where it will not shine is speed or crunch: quick stir-fries and crispy anything are jobs for other pans.
What size slow cooker do you need?
Size is the decision people most often get wrong, usually by buying too small. Our range covers four capacities, from single portions up to cooking for a crowd.
- 2.5L suits one or two people. Enough for a proper dinner with a portion left for tomorrow’s lunch.
- 3.5L is the couples-and-small-family size. It handles a midweek chilli for three with leftovers to spare.
- 6.5L is the family workhorse. Dinner for four or five, or a weekend batch cook that boxes up neatly for the freezer.
- 8L is for committed batch cookers, big households and anyone who caters for a crowd. It is a size most brands simply do not offer.
Top tip: slow cookers work best somewhere between half and three-quarters full. You can easily cook a smaller portion in a larger pot, so long as it covers the base of the pot.
Manual or digital?
Every model in our range comes in a manual version, and most sizes in a digital version too. The difference is what happens when the cooking time is up. With a manual model you turn the dial yourself: low, high or keep warm.
With a digital model you set the cooking time before you leave, and when it finishes, the cooker switches itself to keep warm ready for when you get home. The digital timer is great if you are often busy and can’t guarantee when you’ll walk in the door. The last thing you need after a long day is a dried out, overcooked dinner, and a digital slow cooker prevents this.
Frequently asked questions
What size slow cooker do I need for a family of four?
The 6.5L is the right starting point for a family of four. It cooks a generous family dinner with leftovers, and it gives you room to batch cook at the weekend. If you regularly cook for more than five or fill the freezer in bulk, step up to the 8L.
What is the difference between a manual and a digital slow cooker?
They cook identically. The difference is control: a manual model has a simple dial you switch yourself, while a digital model lets you set a cooking time and then switches itself to keep warm when the time is up, which is the safer bet if you are out all day.
Do slow cookers have a keep warm function?
Yes, every model in our range has a keep warm setting alongside its two heat settings, whether you choose manual or digital.
Can you put raw meat straight into a slow cooker?
Yes. Raw meat cooks safely in a slow cooker as long as it is fully defrosted first and the dish cooks for the full recommended time. Browning meat in a pan beforehand is optional: it adds flavour, but plenty of excellent slow cooker meals skip it.
Are slow cookers cheap to run?
Slow cookers draw modest power compared with an oven, and although they run for hours, the gentle heat means the totals stay reasonable for most households. Exact costs depend on your tariff and model, and the wattage is listed on each product page if you want to work it out precisely.
Choose your perfect slow cooker
Looking to buy? Compare all the sizes currently in stock, in manual and digital versions, in our slow cookers range here.