One thing to bear in mind, though, is that while standard slow cookers are relatively cheap, the more functions a model has, the more expensive it’s likely to be in both upfront and running costs. Practically anything. Although they’re traditionally used for casseroles and stews, we’re always discovering new ways to use these economical and efficient cookers to make our new favourite meal. Try mouth-watering, melt in your mouth BBQ pulled-pork, lasagne, light and fluffy cakes, and even chocolate fudge! How long does a slow cooker take? When using any of our marketplaces – e.g. jobs, courses, energy comparison etc. We may receive money from third parties who are listed on our marketplaces e.g. an employer paying to advertise a job, or a course or energy provider paying a commission to us. Equity release may involve a lifetime mortgage or a home reversion plan. To understand the features and risks, ask for a personalised illustration.

Equity release may impact the size of your estate and it could affect your entitlement to current and future means-tested benefits. The compact Lakeland 1.5L slow cooker is ideal for individuals and couples with small kitchens while the 3.5L slow cooker is perfect for making meals for two to four people. When it’s time for those big family get-togethers or batch cooking to freeze meals for later, then the 6L slow cooker is the one you need. It’s the ideal family size slow cooker. There are different slow cooker sizes to suit your family’s needs. If you get one that’s too big then you’re paying for extra energy that you don’t need to run it. Too small, and you won’t fit enough in to feed everyone.You might also want to think about your cooking style when looking at slow cookers. If you only want to make one meal at a time, then you won’t need a huge one, but if you’re a fan of batch cooking (whatever the size of your household) then you might want to choose a larger one. Slow cookers can be particularly suitable for batch cooking, after all.

Are you a slow cooker convert already, or have you never sampled this cheap, easy way to produce delicious, nourishing pot roasts, casseroles and stews? Slow cooking isn't new. In fact, it's a centuries-old technique, but with ever-improving advances in equipment, it's never been so simple to give your family seriously good home-cooked grub. Unlike pressure cookers, which cook food fast, or thermal cookers which use the heat of the food you put in them to cook without any external power source, slow cookers do as they say and cook over longer periods of time at a lower temperature for a greater flavour. Slow cookers are generally popular because they make cooking easy. You simply put the ingredients in the pot, turn the dial to ‘low’ or ‘high’, and leave the cooker to do its job for the day, while you get on with other things. But if you’re a fan of fancier cooking methods, there’s probably a model out there to suit you, too, with some giving you the option to sear your meat, stir while they cook or even sous vide (a method of cooking food low and slow in a water bath).