Breville the fast slow cooker
$189.95 (usually $249) at Amazon
Who knew a slow cooker could be so fast? Automatically adjusting temperature, pressure and time, the fast slow cooker delivers flavourful meals just as you like.
Key features:
- Capacity 6L
- Automatic cooking functions
- Select low, medium and high setting
- Three-way safety lock
Philips viva collection all-in-one multi cooker
$148 usually ($249) at Amazon
Slow cook, pressure cook, sauté, sear, steam and bake all your comfort food favourites in this popular product. The all-in-one multi cooker cuts preheating time by 25 per cent, putting dinner on the table a whole lot faster.
Key features:
- Capacity 6L
- Features nine safety protection systems
- Seven pressure cooking modes
- Automatic keep warm and reheat function up to 12 hours
Sunbeam slow cooker
$49 (usually $69.95) at Amazon
Not as costly as other slow cookers, this unit from Sunbeam offers generous bang for your buck. Featuring high to low cooking functions, get on with your day as dinner brews away.
Key features:
- Capacity 5.5L
- Low, high and keep-warm settings
- Dishwasher-safe pan and lid
Kambrook Meal Master Mini slow cooker
$55 at The Good Guys
Affordability is the top feature of this slow cooker from Kambrook. With an included measuring scoop and serving spoon, your small kitchen will rejoice at the mini size of this option! Works perfectly for couples, small families or dishes that only need one element slow-cooked.
Key features:
- Makes 1.5 cups of rice
- Simple one-touch cooking operation
- Auto Keep Warm Function
- Non-stock removable cooking bowl
- Measuring scoop and serving spoon included
Instant Pot duo 7-in-1 multicooker
$149 at Amazon
Instant satisfaction is a guarantee with the Instant Pot Duo multicooker. Featuring the best of built-in settings, and an adjustable pressure scale, cook your winter favourites as you like.
Key features:
- Capacity 5.7L
- 13 one-touch smart programs
- Cooks 70 per cent faster than traditional methods
Healthy Choice 8L slow cooker in black
$89.95 at Myer
Our favourite feature of this slow cooker is the 4-hours long keep warm mode. If you've prepped your dinner in the morning, and it's finished up before dinner time, then simply press a button and keep your stew, or soup, or stroganoff warm and ready to go! With 8L capacity, this choice is perfect for large dinners or meal prepping on a Sunday afternoon.
Key features:
- Single control knob to adjust low or high heat settings, and a 4 hours-long keep warm mode.
- Large capacity 8L inner ceramic cooking pot with tempered glass lids.
- Comes with a serving spoon, and three lid holders.
GreenPan slow cooker in Blue Haze
$255.20 (usually $319) at Amazon
Add a touch of flair to home cooking with this slow cooker from GreenPan. Fitted with a removable non-stick cooking dish, indulge in tender cooking minus the clean up.
Key features:
- Diamond infused non-stick dish
- Removable ultra-tough pot
- LCD display
- Tempered glass lid
Russell Hobbs slow cooker 6L with glass lid
$79 at The Good Guys
This option from Russell Hobbs gives you high quality slow cooking at a reasonable price. With your usual slow cooker features, you've also got the option of auto-mode, that allows you to switch it on, put in your ingredients and then leave it to do it's thing! It will even turn off itself after the cooking is complete.
Key features:
- Auto Mode: Operates on high until the slow cooker reaches temperature, then switches to low until manually turned off.
- Cool touch handles.
- Double heating element.
- Tempered glass lid.
What to look for when buying a slow cooker?
When cooking for a household of two, you'll only need a three to four litre model but if your family is double in size, go for a five to eight litre model. Depending on what you plan to cook, size can matter. Oval-shaped slow cookers are best for longer cuts of meat.
There are several features you won't want to compromise on. Make sure it includes a timer, is dishwasher-safe, and has automatic settings so it can reduce the temperature if you've stepped away.
"Food can be left unattended to bubble away in the slow cooker for approximately eight hours if on the low setting. However, there are slow cookers on the market that have timers which can switch the machine to 'keep warm' at a set time," says Fiona Mair, Choice expert and test coordinator.
Another important but not entirely necessary slow cooker feature is the sear function. Fiona suggests, "When cooking with a slow cooker, searing the meat first is very important. This allows the meat to caramelise and more flavour to develop".