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 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.

This function starts your cooking off on a high setting before automatically reducing the temperature to the low setting for the remainder of the cooking time. Slow cookers are nifty appliances that do all the cooking for you, so you can whip up scrumptious meals without spending hours working away behind a stove. Slow cookers range in capacity, from a compact 1.5 litres up to 7 litres. As a general guide, a 1.5 to 2.3-litre capacity is great for two people, a larger 4 to 4.5 litres will feed four, and 5.5 to 7 litres is ideal for four to six people. Step 2 Melt the butter and chocolate together in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of barely simmering water (make sure the base of the bowl doesn't touch the water). When the mixture is melted and smooth, lift the bowl off the pan. Some slow cookers will automatically shift to this mode after a programme has ended, while others require switching manually.By sealing food in pouches, the juices and subtle flavours that could otherwise be lost during conventional cooking are retained. With a generously sized 4.7 litre bowl, and a working capacity of 3.5 litres, there is sure to be enough food to keep a family of hungry mouths well fed. The glass lid on the top lets you keep an eye on your food and ensure it is cooked to perfect for a slow-cooked treat. 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.

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. 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.Ideal for entertaining, the countdown timer allows you to plan ahead, counting down as your meal cooks so you can go out for the day or enjoy more time with family and friends while it cooks a flavoursome, home-made meal. With a clear display, it’s easy to see how long your food has got left and lets you set the table ready for your slow-cooked feast. Step 5 Lift the fondant out and dust with icing sugar, if you like. Serve immediately with ice cream or double cream.