Best slow cookers 2023: Which? Best Buys and expert buying advice

Looking for a delicious dinner, but trying to save some cash? A slow cooker could be the answer. 

A slow cooker is a kitchen appliance that – in keeping with its name – cooks food slowly over a period of time. It's essentially a 'set it and forget it' kind of appliance, which makes it ideal for busy weeknights, or for cooking large cuts of meat. By slowly heating food to a simmer over several hours, the slow cooker method allows the flavours of ingredients to meld together, resulting in rich, tasty broths and tender meats. 

The sky's the limit when it comes to slow cooker recipes. You can make everything from hearty stews and soups to tender chicken and ribs. Slow cookers are also great for making sides such as mashed potato or mac and cheese.

The best slow cookers make it easy to create recipes from cheaper cuts of meat, a variety of veggies, or whatever’s left over in your fridge, for a fuss-free, low-cost meal. And what’s even better is that the cooking’s done for you. 

If you're not sure where to start, this guide will explain what you need to consider before picking a slow cooker.

To see all of the slow cookers we've tested, visit our slow cooker reviews.

Best slow cookers for 2023

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Still not found the perfect slow cooker for you? Visit our slow cooker reviews for more tested products.

Last updated: 04 May 2023

Slow cooker types explained

Slow cookers are simple appliances that are easy to use. They come in two basic shapes:

• Round – usually smaller cooking capacity, can be cheaper, smaller size
• Oval – can be larger, with more room to fit bulky food, such as a whole chicken or leg of lamb.

An oval-shaped slow cooker is more versatile, so if you’re planning on batch cooking a veggie chilli, or tackling a whole chicken or leg of lamb, then you'd be better off with an oval shape. Its trickier to wedge a chicken into a round slow cooker, and you'll struggle to remove it in one piece. The larger capacity also lends itself well to batch cooking.

A smaller, round slow cooker is ideal if you’re cooking for one or two people, or aren’t fussed about having lots of leftovers to freeze. 

If you plan to cook only stews or curries, then either shape will be absolutely fine – simply choose one that is big enough for your needs. 

Looking for an easier way to cook rice? See our round-up of the best rice cookers.

Best slow cooker features to look out for

The range of settings on your slow cooker will depend on how much you spend. The most basic slow cookers will have high, low and possibly a warm setting, which you’ll need to select manually. So if you’re not too bothered by anything more fancy, then save yourself some money and opt for a basic model. 

Slow cookers with digital controls and other cooking options are usually more expensive, but have more options and are a bit more versatile.

If you're thinking of buying one of these handy kitchen gadgets, these are some of the important settings and features you should consider: 

Indicator light

It sounds obvious, but an indicator light will show you instantly that your slow cooker is on and working. Not every slow cooker has one, especially the very basic models. 

Keep warm

This useful setting does exactly what it says: it will keep your food warm after cooking has finished. Generally, this is a setting you select manually on many slow cookers, while some more expensive models have an option to switch over to the keep-warm program automatically.

Auto cook

Cooking on auto means the machine starts on high, then drops down to low power for the rest of the cooking time. Some will even switch over to ‘keep warm’ for you automatically, at the end of cooking. Auto cook settings can be found on mid-range slow cookers, so you don’t need to spend too much more to get this useful addition.

Timer

A built-in timer is handy, but these are generally found on more expensive models with digital controls. They’re ideal if you’re going to be away from the slow cooker for longer than the recipe states. Once the cooking time you've set on the timer has been reached, the slow cooker will either switch to a 'keep warm' setting or turn off. This means your food will still be ready to eat when you are, without it getting overcooked.

Hob-proof pots

Some slow cookers have an inner pot that can be used on the hob first. Some can be used on electric, gas and (less commonly) induction hobs, but you’ll need to check before you buy. This is a great feature to look out for if you’re a fan of searing meat or caramelising vegetables before slow cooking. It also helps cut down on washing up, makes cooking easier and can add to the flavour of your dish

Pot material

Ceramic and stoneware pots are generally heavier than aluminium ones, especially when they’re filled with hot curry or casserole. If you find it hard to move heavy pots around, then opt for an aluminium pot. Sometimes these also have a nonstick coating, which makes cleaning much easier. All our reviews will tell you which parts of the slow cooker can go in the dishwasher or need to be washed by hand.

Microwave/oven-proof

A few slow cookers, such as Crock Pots, have cooking dishes that can be put in the microwave and/or oven. This can be handy for reheating food or doubling up as a casserole pot in the oven. If this feature sounds appealing, check that the cooking dish fits in your microwave before you buy.

Slow cookers vs pressure cookers

Slow cooking uses low temperatures, while pressure cooking uses high-pressure steam, but both methods allow you to make meals with tender meat and great depth of flavour. The main difference is time. Slow cookers take several hours to cook a meal, while pressure cooking times are much shorter. 

Like some slow cookers, electric pressure cookers can also act as multicookers, with some able to slow cook, steam or even air-fry your food. This extra functionality makes these slow cookers more expensive than basic models.

Don’t have time to slow cook? Head to our best pressure cookers instead.

How much do I need to pay get a decent slow cooker? 

Slow cookers can be inexpensive. We’ve seen some for as little as £9 in the past, but our Best Buys start at around £22, which proves you don’t have to spend a lot to get a decent slow cooker. 

Some of the priciest slow cookers we’ve tested cost over £100. These models have digital controls, timers and even some multi-cooker options, but price doesn’t always equal good value.

Our tough testing has also revealed a Don’t Buy, so before you commit to spending more than you need to, it pays to read our independent slow cooker reviews to avoid a useless slow cooker.

Our guide to How to use your slow cooker will help you to decide which setting to use for different foods.

What size slow cooker do I need?

Don’t rely on what the box says about the size of your slow cooker, and don’t be swayed by the marketing blurb promising litres of capacity.

It might promise 6 litres on the box, but you won't get 6 litres’ worth of your favourite recipe in the cooking bowl. 

Most slow cookers have a large claimed capacity, but the usable cooking space is around two-thirds of what is stated – that’s because it’s a safety risk if you overfill your slow cooker. 

We check claimed and actual cooking capacities, and list these under specifications, so that you can find a slow cooker that’s the right size for your household.

Generally speaking, the sizes fall into the following categories (showing stated capacities):

• Small (1-2 people): 1.5-3 litres
• Medium (3-4 people): 3-5 litres
• Large (5 or more people): 5-6.5 litres

For bulk family cooking, look for a stated capacity of around 6 litres (which translates to a usable volume of around 4.5 litres). This will feed five to eight people in one go, and it's ideal if you like batch cooking for the freezer. 

If you’re cooking for one or two and have no plans to freeze leftovers, choose a smaller 3.5-litre slow cooker (usable volume of around 2 litres).

Filter our slow cooker reviews to find one for your budget.

What can I make in my slow cooker?

Many slow cookers come with a recipe book, or at least some recipes in the instruction manual to get you started. They should also give a guide on how to convert recipes for slow cooking – by reducing the amount of liquid, for example. 

But if you're short of inspiration, a quick internet search will give many more slow cooker recipes to try. There’s no end to what your slow cooker can do, and even your favourite recipes can be adapted.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Stews, casseroles and curries
• Risotto
• Pulse-based dishes such as dahl
• Chilli, bolognese sauce and even lasagne
• Porridge
• Hot drinks such as mulled wine and hot chocolate
• Fudge

Stuck in a midweek meal rut? Discover how to use your appliance in whole new ways by browsing BBC Good Food's slow cooker recipes.

What shouldn't I put in my slow cooker?

While there are plenty of tasty recipes that you can whip up in a slow cooker, there are also a few items that you should think twice about before bunging them in.

• Pasta - While some people cook pasta in a slow cooker (2% of slow cooker owners we surveyed) it’s difficult to get it right. If you’re planning on being gung-ho doing it anyway, you should either cook it separately and put it in at the end or only add it during the final hour of cooking.
• Rice - Again, it’s very easy to get rice wrong in a slow cooker. If you’re planning on adding it at the start, you’ll need extra liquid and a low temperature setting. 
• Delicate vegetables - While a slow cooker is excellent for tougher root veg, it can cause softer produce such as courgette, asparagus and pumpkin to turn to mush. If you insist on adding them, they’ll need to go towards the end of the cooking process.
• Fresh herbs - Herbs such as basil, parsley, and coriander will quickly lose their delicate flavour in a slow cooker. Adding them at the end is best. 
• Dried beans - Using canned beans in slow cooker recipes tends to be easier, but if you do want to use the dried version, boil them in water for 10 minutes to soften them up before adding them into your cooker.