Morphy Richards Compact Square Slow Cooker 460751 Black Slowcooker

Product Information

Programmable slow cookers come equipped with a digital timer and electronic controls. These features allow you to set a specific cooking time, or program the appliance to start at a certain time. Some models even have an automatic keep warm setting to ensure your food stays at the perfect temperature once cooking is complete. This means you can set a slow cooker to begin when you're at work so you can come home to a hot, freshly prepared meal. Capacity Using frozen meat in a slow cooker is not recommended. Frozen meat and poultry should be thawed before using in a slow cooker recipe. While some frozen vegetables can be added to a soup or stew in a slow cooker without issue, frozen meat and poultry will increase the cook time needed and may not cook evenly. The majority of slow cookers provide a number of cooking levels that may include low, medium, high, and warm options. The more levels a slow cooker has, the more flexibility you’ll enjoy in your preparation of foods. The warm level is particularly useful if you plan to use your slow cooker frequently as a chafing dish. Slow cooker capacities generally range from 2 to 8 litres. A 3-litre slow cooker should suffice if you have a 2 person household, while a family of 4 may require a 4- to 5-litre model. If you entertain often, consider a slow cooker that can hold at least 6 litres. Remember to fill your slow cooker 1/2 to 3/4 full to avoid overcooking or spillover. Dishwasher safe

We cooked a seven-pound pork roast comfortably in the Set & Forget, and were especially impressed with the temperature probe option because it allowed us to raise the setting to high and speed up cooking time without worrying that the meat would become tough. We also loved its overall design—the casing didn’t get too hot during cooking, it was small enough to store easily, and it felt sturdy without being too heavy. There was no visible dripping between the lining and the casing while it ran, either. With so many different slow cookers out there, choosing the right one for you can be confusing. Here are a few questions you might want to consider. Today’s slow cookers offer a variety of useful features. From programmable timing to special lids that contain heat, you’ll find all sorts of extras that make cooking easier. Of course, if your needs are simple, those features might make your device more complicated (and expensive) than it needs to be. The controls tend to be similar on most slow cookers with a ‘low’ setting for longer, slower cooking throughout the day and a ‘high’ setting for faster cooking with similar slow-cooked results. Mini slow cooker cords tend to be on the short side. Shop around for one with a longer cord if it is a feature you need. The cooker should also offer an easy way to store the longer cord.

Tips

Don’t lift the lid to peek at your food! If you do, the slow cooker will lose heat, and you will add to your cooking time. This will come in handy if you’re out for the day. Once the timer you set has been reached, the cooker will either switch off or automatically shift to the ‘keep warm’ setting, depending on the model, so you come home to dinner that's ready to serve. It's incredibly convenient to be able to sear ingredients in the same pan before slow cooking, and the steam function is helpful for veggies, seafood, dumplings or tamales. There are handles on both the exterior and the ceramic bowl, which makes it easy to travel with the whole machine to keep food warm on a buffet or just the lighter interior. If you can afford a more expensive slow cooker, this is a fantastic choice that'll last a long time. An increasingly popular way of cooking, sous-vide is a French term that simply means ‘under vacuum’. You place your food inside a sealed pouch and then pop it into a temperature-controlled water bath to cook. As mentioned, you can add whatever fresh vegetables you prefer; just use what you have available. Such is the beauty of a sausage casserole! You can add some additional herbs and spices if you wish.

Design: Are you looking for a simple, budget-friendly option that just slow-cooks (but does it extremely well) or something more versatile that sous-vides, pressure cooks, bakes and roasts too? Do bear in mind that the more technological the slow cooker, the higher the price.The standard capacity for slow cookers is 6 quarts, generally speaking. As evidenced by our list of the best slow cookers, there are larger and smaller models available to suit a variety of needs and household sizes. Bear in mind, however, that most slow cooker recipes are geared toward 6-quart models, so if you opt for a non-standard model, you may need to adjust the measurements depending on what you’re making. They also calculate the energy consumed by each model to see how economical they are, and measure the moisture lost when cooking to ensuring your dinner won't end up dried out.

Below you'll find the best slow cookers according to our experts, as well as everything you need to know before shopping – from must-have features to their energy efficiency. How we test slow cookers They aren’t just for stews and casseroles either. In fact, they're real multi-taskers, even up to the challenge of cooking a whole cut of meat – including sweet and salty coca cola ham or a tender beef joint. Vegetarian family favourites such as macaroni cheese are also a go-to. Take a look at our collection of must-cook slow cooker recipes for more inspiration. Slow cookers come in a variety of sizes, but a “mini” slow cooker may be considered one that holds four quarts or less. Even within this narrow range, you will find a considerable difference in how much food a mini slow cooker can accommodate. Slow cookers with a four-quart capacity generally hold enough food for two to three people. Slow cookers with a 1.5-quart capacity size are much better suited for one or two diners. How easy is it to clean? Some slow cookers also give you the option of cooking rice, steaming vegetables, and engaging in other types of food prep. A slow cooker like this is a lot like an Instant Pot. Mini slow cooker prices A clear lid lets you monitor cooking progress without having to remove it. This retains heat so your food can reach the right temperature. Triple slow cookerHeat retention: how the cooker holds heat for safety on the worktop and whether the food catches or burns

How long you cook sausages in a slow cooker will depend on how much time you have. I like to put mine on early in the day so that I don’t need to think about it anymore, so I’ll usually put it on low for 7 to 9 hours. But there are always those days where I forget, or I’m just generally running behind, so if I need to put the sausages on high in the slow cooker, I’ll leave them in for around 4 hours. Can You Put Frozen Sausages in a Slow Cooker?If you plan on traveling with a full cooker, choose one with clamps or some other fastening system so the lid stays secure during transport. There was some issue with a dip getting slightly burnt on the sides, which is likely because it was spread out too thin, but the queso we prepared didn't have this problem, so there may be a learning curve when it comes to figuring out proportions. Still, a 20-minute soak and a trip to the dishwasher easily cleaned residue off the liner. This 22-pound, 7-quart behemoth has an impressive amount of features, including a temperature probe, a rice cooker setting, and a sous-vide function. However, the price tag doesn’t justify those features, as we had trouble figuring out how to manually program the device, and the pulled pork we made was unevenly cooked and slightly scorched. Instant Pot 6-Quart Electric 5-in-1 Precision Dutch Oven, Red Most slow cookers are made with a ceramic, aluminum, or stoneware insert, a glass lid, and a stainless steel outer core. As stated before, some may prefer ceramic because it’s oven- and stove-proof, but for those who are less concerned about that feature, other insert materials also work perfectly well. However, sometimes liner material can be heavy, so consider the weight of the entire slow cooker when making your decision. If you have to wash it in a sink or transport it frequently, you may want to go for a lighter material like aluminum.