FOREVER switching on the oven to knock out meals for the kids?
Slow cookers could be your saviour, with some costing as little to run as a standard light-bulb.
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Given that powering the average oven costs 26p an hour – nearly 21p more than a medium-sized slow cooker – that’s quite a saving for busy families.
According to Direct Energy, a typical electric oven uses between 2,000 to 5,000 watts of energy – over 10 times more than a slow cooker.
Cooking food at a lower temperature over a longer period of time means busy parents can prepare the evening meal at breakfast, then have a delicious dinner ready later in the day.
Slow cooking also preserves nutrients – good news for health-conscious mums – and means you can make the most of cheaper cuts of meat, which are more tender if cooked slowly.
Clare O’Reilly tests out eight of the latest models and marks them out of five on performance, features and value.
Tower Cavaletto 3.5 litre Slow Cooker, £34.99, towerhousewares.co.uk
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This model’s stylish blue and gold colour scheme looks classy on my kitchen counter.
Three heat settings – low, high and warm – and the 3.5 litre capacity mean you can comfortably cook for a family of five, which is handy as we often have a house full.
The removable pot can go in the dishwasher, which, for a busy mum of three, is a time-saver.
And the cool touch handles means you can take it straight to the dining table, with no oven gloves needed.
It was a doddle to bung a beef stew in it at breakfast time and have it ready for dinner, and the food cooked evenly.
There is also a reassuring three-year warranty when you register your purchase online, plus the Cavaletto range includes a matching toaster, kettle, bread bin and mug stand – great if you like your kitchen coordinated.
Rating: 4.5/5
Cookworks 3.5 litre Black Slow Cooker, £16.50, Argos
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The standard three heat settings made light work of another beef casserole, which took around six hours to cook to perfection.
I was pleased to see the tender cheaper cuts of meat falling apart at the touch of a spoon.
One drawback is that it is hand-wash only, but at just £16.50, it is currently reduced from £22.00, it is incredible value for money and has a big enough inner pot to feed a family of four.
It comes with a standard one year warranty, but for just £4.79 you can add on an extra two-year replacement care policy.
The toughened glass lid survived an accidental drop, too.
Rating: 4/5
Morphy Richards 3.5 litre Stainless Steel Slow Cooker, £27.99, Amazon
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I loved this gadget’s brushed stainless steel exterior, which looked a lot classier in my kitchen than the plain black models I tested.
As an added bonus, its ceramic cooking pot is dishwasher safe, so you don’t need to stand and scrub anything when you’re done with dinner.
This model uses just 170 watts when cooking, which is around 8p per hour, so is very energy efficient.
The 3.5 litre capacity is more than big enough for a family of four, but if you’re a fan of batch cooking, you can get a 6.5 litre version for £48.99.
It doesn’t have a ‘keep warm’ function, but it does let you cook at a medium setting rather than just low or high.
Rating: 4.5/5
Dunelm Chalkboard Slow Cooker, £20, dunelm.com
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Sick of the kids asking, “What’s for dinner?”
Good news – you can scribble what’s bubbling away and what time it will be ready directly onto the outside of this quirky cooker, using the chalk that’s provided.
Better still, get the kids involved by having them write it on there for you.
The 3.5 litre capacity pot is more than big enough for a family of four, making this low-cost option a good buy.
It also comes with a two-year guarantee and is more compact than some of the machines tested, so would suit a smaller kitchen if you’re strapped for surface space.
Another beef casserole came out tasting great.
Rating: 3.5/5
BEST BUY: Swan Retro Slow Cooker, £17.99, robertdyas.co.uk
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Despite being one of the cheapest slow cookers we tested, as it is currently reduced from £24.99, this 3.5 litre model looks pleasingly luxe and the retro stylings and cream finish set it apart from other appliances.
It also comes with a 32-page recipe booklet, so if this is your first foray into slow cookers, there are plenty of great ideas to try, making mealtimes a lot more interesting.
The high, low and auto settings made light work of my chilli con carne and beef curry, which came out full of flavour.
The removable inner pot can go straight onto the dining table for serving and the low function will keep everything warm for anyone who wants seconds.
Brilliant.
Rating: 5/5
Hamilton Beach Mighty Mini Slow Cooker, £19.99 (was £39.99), currys.co.uk
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Perfect for singles or couples, with a 1.8 litre capacity this is among the smallest slow cookers on the market.
But its compact size means you can easily pop it into a cupboard, or it can sit on a worktop without getting in the way.
It’s the only one I tried with a ceramic pot that can go in the oven – an added bonus if you want to top your stew with dumplings and brown them in a conventional oven before serving.
The internal pot is dishwasher safe too, so won’t need scrubbing when you’re done.
Its keep-warm setting didn’t dry out the chicken curry I made either – despite being left on for four hours after it was cooked.
Rating: 4/5
Lakeland 1.5 litre Slow Cooker, £34.99, lakeland.co.uk
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With heating elements that surround the pot rather than just sit underneath it, this was one of the more even cookers and the bolognese I made didn’t need to be stirred during testing.
It comes with a three-year guarantee and the crock pot and lid are both dishwasher safe.
Its 1.5 litre capacity means it’s really only suitable for singles or couples, but the pot and lid look nice enough to go straight onto the dining table.
The stainless steel outer looks classy, too, while its small footprint means it will fit easily into your kitchen cupboards between uses. A great option if space is an issue.
Rating: 4.5/5
Laura Ashley China Rose Slow Cooker, £59.99, reduced to £54.18, wayfair.co.uk
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With a blue floral design the Laura Ashley slow cooker is one of the better looking ones and suits being out on the kitchen counter.
Three settings – warm, low and high, mean it’s incredibly easy to operate.
The removable pot goes into the dishwasher and it has a year long warranty too.
It made easy work of a chicken stew keeping the meat moist and filling the kitchen with a lovely warming smell, plus the glass lid means you can keep an eye on how things are cooking without opening it.
Rating: 4.5/5
