What to look for when buying a slow cooker

Looking for a crockpot? These handy tips will ensure you invest in the correct one for your family.

Lindy Lawler

2 min read

May 9, 2024 - 12:11PM

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One of the best ways to save time and money is by investing in a slow cooker. It’s a saviour in the kitchen, turning budget cuts of meat into tender morsels or in-season vegetables into rich soups. Not only is it a simple way to ensure dinner is always on the table, but it’s also an excellent tool for meal prep.

And there are plenty you can choose from. Some are small enough for those who live alone, while others are large enough to accommodate large families. One of the best tips we can give you is to look for a slow cooker that considers the following needs:

Construction

We use slow cookers with a removable ceramic pot insert because they conduct heat well. They’re also effortless to clean – simply pull it out and wash as you would any other ceramic dish.

Space

One of the best things about slow cookers is that they don’t take up much space and can be packed away without fuss. However, you will need some bench space when using them, so consider how much space you have to spare.

Size and shape

What will you cook in your slow cooker? How many people will you need to cook for? Will you use your slow cooker to prepare meals ahead of time for freezing? Slow cookers come in various sizes, from 1.5 to 10 litres (but you can get some commercial slow cookers that are even bigger). There are even double- or triple-pot slow cookers that allow you to cook multiple dishes at once. Slow cookers can be round or oval (although we have seen a few rectangular pots, too). Consider these questions when shopping so you don’t buy a crock pot that is too big, too small, the wrong shape or won’t fit your Sunday roast chook inside.

Multi-cooking

Some slow cookers can be used on the stove, and others with a timer function to keep the meal warm until you’re ready to eat it. There are also multi-cookers that come with a handy slow cooker function as well as a pressure cooker function, a rice cooking function, and even a yoghurt-making function. This cooker can be convenient if you’re short on space but want to cook often.

Timer function

No one wants an overcooked meal, so having an in-built timer that switches off after a specific time will allow the meal to be perfectly cooked.

Warming functionality

Everyone loves coming home to a hot meal, so having a slow cooker with a warming function is a great way to ensure dinner is warm for everyone. The warming function won’t overcook your food and will keep dinner warm until you’re ready to eat it.

Sear functionality

Newer slow cookers come with a convenient sear function which means you don’t need to brown meat on the stove before putting it into the slow cooker. It’s all done in one pot by simply setting the slow cooker to “sear” before switching to the slow cooking option. This slow cooker is perfect for people who don’t own an oven and have minimal kitchen space. While this kind of slow cooker is handy, it’s also one of the most expensive.

Slow cooker orange cake