Models with programmable settings allow you to adjust cooking times and temperatures, ensuring your meals are perfectly cooked without wasting energy. 3. Tight-Fitting Lid

Extremely safe to use, the slow cooker can be left on while you’re at work or sleeping, so you’re never far from a freshly cooked meal - without needing to spend all evening in the kitchen. Some rice cookers can also be used to steam meat and vegetables. Those that can will come with a steamer tray that sits above where your rice and water sits during cooking. Plenty of rice cookers come with recipes for steamed meals you can enjoy with your rice. Other rice cookers can double up as pans or sauté pans. Use canned or fully pre-cooked kidney beans; dried beans should always be fully cooked before added to a recipe The Andrew James Slow Cooker in a stylish red design is both energy-efficient and practical. With a 3.5-litre capacity, it’s perfect for crafting delicious family meals. Made from stainless steel and ceramic materials, it’s durable and easy to clean, even in the dishwasher.

Slow Cooker reviews over… which is the winner?

I’d always imagined slow cookers to be clunky and old fashioned, but the Vonshef is rather stylish. My kitchen is new and modern, and the slow cooker certainly doesn’t look out of place sitting on the work surface. It’s not too bulky to pop into a cupboard when I’m not going to be using it for a while though. This Morphy Richards 1.5L Slow Cooker is an attractive slow cooker with a small footprint, so it is perfect for small kitchens and motorhomes. The most commented feature about this item is that it is perfect for two people – or a big meal for one if you’re feeling greedy! Reviewers often mention that it is easy to clean and simple to use.

If you are looking to lose weight or keep the weight off then these three slow cooker diet recipe books could be very useful:

Frequently Asked Questions

Simply add your ingredients to the slow cooker, select the required heat setting and leave the appliance to work its magic. When using a rice cooker, take care to avoid steam vents and avoid touching any part of the cooking pot that might be exposed. They provide consistent and even cooking, extending the lifespan of the appliance and promoting safety with features like automatic shut-off. Furthermore, their programmable settings offer convenience, while their reduced heat generation is beneficial in warmer climates. What Makes an Energy-Efficient Slow Cooker? 1. Low Wattage Rice-to-water ratios vary As you'll find from reading the instructions, rice cookers have varying requirements for rice-to-water ratios. Several of the models we tested had different ratios for the same types of rice.

I used it to make a chilli. The sear and stew function meant it was easy to heat some oil and brown my mince first on the hob (the removable cooking pot is compatible with most hobs, with the exception of induction). Pre-browning meat and poultry prior to cooking seals in the moisture, intensifies the flavour, and provides more tender results. It’s not suitable to use on the hob, and the ceramic cooking pot shouldn’t be placed on any surface affected by heat. A trivet or an insulated pad is recommended. The Breville produces one or two hearty meals, so it's not good for batch cooking, but on the plus side it doesn’t take up very much space at all: perfect for a student, who can use it to elevate a sausage and baked bean casserole, or perhaps for a single person to keep in a pied-a-terre flat. We cook supermarket own-brand white basmati rice and wholegrain rice in each rice cooker, always following the rice cooker's instructions on water-to-rice ratios (where given).Created the perfect pot of rice and not sure how to serve it? See BBC Good Food's rice recipes to discover something new. litre capacity with a maximum working capacity of 900ml – ideal if you’re cooking for one or rustling up a meal for family or friends. In short... everything. Slow cooking food is healthy and tasty and it's not dangerous to leave your favourite foods simmering away.