Buying a Slow Cooker: The Complete Guide

The joy of coming home to a warm, hearty meal really can’t be overstated, which explains why the slow cooker has been a beloved household appliance for over half a century.

The best slow cookers are simple and easy to use, and can take those cheaper cuts of meat and draw out the flavours to make a wonderful, healthy dish. 

They have gained huge popularity over their ability to easily cook a range of delicious stews, casseroles, soups, and curries.

If you weren’t sold already, this guide will tell you everything you need to know about slow cookers. Keep reading to find out more.

What is a slow cooker?

As the name suggests, the slow cooker is an appliance designed to cook food at a low temperature over a long period of time. 

Slow cookers are sometimes called Crock Pots, an American brand that has become synonymous with the appliance.

There are three main components to a slow cooker: a removable inner container, an outer casing, and the lid. The design of the slow cooker has a long and rich history, having been used for well over a century to prepare a variety of dishes, from soups, curries, stews, and much more.

Modern slow cookers typically come in a range of shapes and sizes, capable of catering to families small or large. Slow cookers typically have three main temperature settings: low, medium, and high, which allows you to cater for a wide array of cooking options.

Their versatility makes them a great option for people who like to bulk prep food in advance, or those needing to feed many mouths. The low-and-slow cooking method allows them to be set and left on for many hours, making them incredibly convenient. 

Many slow cooker users will prepare their food and leave them to run throughout the night, or while at work, ensuring a hot, delicious meal is ready and waiting for them when they return.

Despite their long cooking times, slow cookers are actually very energy efficient. When compared to traditional ovens, slow cookers use less heat, which means they can run on less energy.

Who invented the slow cooker?

The history of the slow cooker reaches way back to the 19th century in the city of Vilnius, Lithuania, when Jewish families anticipated the Sabbath by preparing a stew of meat, beans and vegetables before nightfall.

They would store these ingredients in a crock, and take them down to the local bakery, where the ovens would slowly cook the stew overnight. This stew was known as cholent.

Inspired by stories of his great-grandmother cooking cholent, a man named Irving Nachumsohn brought this concept over to Chicago, where his version of the slow cooker was a solution to summer heat, allowing the family to create meals without needing to turn on the oven.

Nachumsohn - who later changed his surname to Naxon - patented this idea in 1940, and went on to sell the first slow cookers during the 1950s. These were called the Naxon Beanery, a crock that contained a fitted lid and a heating element built around the inner chamber.

When Nachumsohn retired in the 1970s, he sold his business to Kansas City’s Rival Manufacturing, who rebranded the Naxon Beanery as the Crock Pot. The Crock Pot went on to gain wide acclaim across the United States through the 70s, cementing the appliance’s place in history.

How does a slow cooker work?

A slow cooker is made up of three parts: the outer casing, the inner container, and a lid.

The outer casing, made of metal, contains low-wattage heating coils in the base. The coils heat up, which warms the sides and bottom of the inner container to ensure an even heat distribution. Depending on what settings are used, these metal coils will typically heat between 80°C to 150°C.

The removable inner container is commonly made from ceramic or porcelain. Once the ingredients have been added, and the slow cooker switched on, the inner container acts as a heat reservoir, and prevents excess heat from escaping.

The lid, usually made of glass, metal, or ceramic, hermetically seals the steam and heat inside the container. As condensation forms, moisture is added to the ingredients, which helps to break them down while unleashing their flavour. 

Cooking at a low temperature encourages what is known as the Maillard reaction. This is a chemical reaction between amino acids and reducing sugars that enhances the flavour of browned foods.

This chemical reaction is usually only found when cooking at higher temperatures. However, the extended cooking time of a slow cooker can still allow for a degree of browning and flavour development.

When meat is added to a slow cooker, the process allows the connective tissues to break down, which tenderises the meat and adds a rich texture to the dish.

Similarly, this process aids in cooking vegetables thoroughly, which can turn mushy when cooked for a prolonged time at high temperatures.

Depending on what ingredients and settings are used, the cooking process will usually last between 1 and 12 hours. Even after the cook has finished, the inner container will retain heat for a long period of time afterwards.

Benefits of a slow cooker

In case you hadn’t guessed by now, we love a slow cooker, but if you’re not sold on one just yet, here are some of our favourite benefits to using a slow cooker:

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Taste sensation

The cooking process of a slow cooker encourages out those rich, hearty flavours in your ingredients, making every meal a dish worthy of a high-end restaurant.

This is particularly true for those cheaper cuts of meat, which might end up tough or chewy if cooked conventionally. The low-and-slow cooking method breaks down the connective tissues in these meats, tenderising them, and bringing out their natural juices and flavours.

With a slow cooker, you can whip up delicious meals time after time, all with minimal effort. The sealed environment locks in all the moisture and flavours, making it perfect for recipes that benefit from gradual cooking.

Our 6.5L Multifunction 10-in-1 Food Cooker is a great example of this versatility. It’s not just limited to slow cooking, it’s also a fantastic option for cooking rice, searing, frying, sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, roasting and more.

Energy efficient

Even though it may take longer to cook food, a slow cooker is actually much more energy efficient than conventional cooking methods.

This energy efficiency is due to the unique design of the slow cooker. The slow cooker’s insulated casing and fitted lid prevent heat from escaping the cooking chamber. This stored heat is reused, in turn further cooking the food, and allowing the appliance to operate on a much lower wattage than an oven or stovetop, and therefore consuming less electricity over time.

To put this into perspective, an oven may use up to 2000 watts of power when in use, whereas a slow cooker will typically consume between 150 and 300 watts.

By maintaining a consistent low temperature, slow cookers can minimise the energy spikes that are common with traditional ovens, which frequently cycle on and off to maintain heat.

Recipe versatility

We’ve mentioned the fact that a slow cooker can make a great stew, soup or casserole, but that’s not all it’s capable of cooking.

Creamy risottos, flavourful pasta dishes, layered lasagne, and even delicate noodles are all possible in this incredible little appliance. The slow, gentle cooking method infuses every grain of rice or piece of pasta with flavour, creating comfortable, delicious dishes.

And let’s not forget about the slow cooker’s baking capabilities. Believe it or not, you can even bake bread in your slow cooker. The consistent, low heat creates the ideal environment for dough to rise and bake evenly, producing moist, tender loaves.

But the possibilities don’t end there. You can whip up an incredible array of desserts in a slow cooker. Rich brownies, moist cakes, gooey cinnamon rolls, fruity cobblers, creamy cheesecakes, and irresistible cookie bars, all made effortlessly in your slow cooker.

Don’t believe us? Check out our slow cooker recipes to see what delicious meals you could tuck into with a slow cooker. From main courses to desserts, you really can do no wrong with a slow cooker.

Nutritional benefits

There are several nutritional benefits to using a slow cooker. One of the key advantages is how it retains nutrients. 

Traditional cooking methods cause water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C and B vitamins, to leach out into the cooking water. However, because slow cookers use lower temperatures and cook slowly over a longer period of time, they are able to retain nutrients, ensuring your dish remains nutritious.

Slow cookers are especially beneficial for cooking vegetables. High-temperature cooking methods can cause vegetables to lose their nutritional value, but the low, steady heat of a slow cooker helps maintain the integrity of these nutrients. 

Antioxidants like lycopene and beta-carotene, found in tomatoes, carrots and sweet potatoes, are preserved with the low heat of a slow cooker. These antioxidants play a vital role in protecting your body from oxidative stress, and promoting overall health, so you want to do everything you can to keep them in your meal.

Healthier meals

Following on from the previous point, meals prepared in a slow cooker are generally more healthy. Leaner meats work well as they won’t dry out, meaning you can still get a delicious flavour without needing to consume as much fat.

Cooking in a slow cooker doesn’t require oil or fat to retain moisture. Nor do they need additional salt and sugar adding, as the cooking process brings out the natural, rich flavours of the ingredients.

The low-and-slow cooking method also has wider health benefits. High temperature cooking methods, such as grilling or frying, can produce compounds like heterocyclic amines or polycyclic hydrocarbons, which have been linked to a higher cancer risk. Slow cooking minimises the risk of those harmful compounds forming.

Set and forget

There really is nothing like the joy of coming home after a long day at work to a home cooked meal. With a slow cooker, this can be your reality whenever you want.

The beauty of a slow cooker is in its simplicity and convenience. All you need to do is prep your meal in the morning or the night before, then set it off while you’re busy with your day. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a scrumptious meal ready to go.

The set-and-forget feature makes the slow cooker a must-have for combatting those busy schedules. It removes the need to hover over the stove without sacrificing the end result. It’s like having a personal chef on standby.

Not only that, but it also reduces the stress of last-minute meal preparation. Once those aromatic smells of a slow cooked meal hits your nostrils, you won’t want to succumb to another take-away or frozen pizza.

Easy clean-up

Another standout benefit of the slow cooker is how easy it is to clean up after use. Once you’ve finished cooking, only the inner container and the lid need cleaning. This simplicity can massively reduce the time you’d spend cleaning up post-meal.

Many modern slow cookers are designed with convenience in mind, and are dishwasher safe. Simply pop the pot and lid in the dishwasher, and let it handle the hard work. No more scrubbing or soaking for you.

Even if you don’t have a dishwasher, the non-stick surfaces on most slow cookers makes handwashing a breeze.

Better yet, as you can usually throw all your ingredients into the pot at the same time, there’s no need to use multiple pots and pans as you would with conventional cooking methods.

The all-in-one approach not only saves time, but keeps your kitchen tidier. The convenience of the slow cooker is just one of its many benefits, so if you want an appliance that can do it all, the slow cooker is the right choice for you.

What is the best slow cooker to buy?

When it comes to buying a slow cooker, there are a couple of factors you will want to consider, such as size, shape, settings, and features.

Before we get into each of those, think about your kitchen situation. How many people do you cook for? Do you want to bulk prepare food? What features do you want from your slow cooker?

With all that in mind, let’s look at the different factors of a slow cooker:

Size

At Morphy Richards, we have a range of slow cookers that come with 3.5L and 6.5L capacity:

• 3.5L - let’s begin with the 3.5L capacity slow cooker. The small slow cooker size makes it a great option for stews, casseroles and even curries, as well as rice dishes, porridge, and risottos.
  Their smaller size makes them quicker to heat up, so you get your meal faster. They are more energy efficient than larger models, and are easier to store away when not in use.
  Better yet, the 3.5L size makes it really easy to transport, so if you want to keep your meal lovely and warm long after you switch off the slow cooker, this is the size for you.
  Check out our Easy Time 3.5L Slow Cooker that combines convenience with simplicity.
• 6.5L - if you’ve many a mouth to feed, or like to prep your meals for the week ahead of time, the 6.5L capacity slow cooker is for you.
  The larger capacity also allows for a greater degree of freedom when trying new recipes. From whole chicken and roasts, to large batches of soups, stews, and casseroles, a large slow cooker can handle it all. You can even push the boat out further and make cake, bread and pudding.

Shape

These days, modern slow cookers come in one of two different shapes: circular and oval. But which shape is the right one for you?

• Circular - the classic design is still beloved by many to this day, who believe that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
  Circular slow cookers are typically better for cooking smaller batches of food, like casseroles, soups, stews or oats. They excel when you want to cook a cake - something an oval design is not suited for.
  Their circular design means that they have an equal width and depth, which can make them easier to store away.
• Oval - this elegant design is a favourite for many slow cook enthusiasts. The oval shape allows it to accommodate sizable cuts of meat that wouldn’t quite fit into a traditional circular slow cooker.
  They are a popular choice for people looking to cook whole small chickens or fish, and long terrines.
  The oval design means that their depth is shorter than their width, which can make them better for people who like to keep their slow cooker out on the counter without it taking up too much space.
  If oval is your thing, our Sear & Stew Oval 6.5L Slow Cooker adds a touch of elegance to any kitchen worktop with its premium finish.

Heat settings

Depending on your situation and the meal you want to prepare, there are a number of different heat settings available on modern slow cookers:

• Low - running at a temperature around 80°C-90°C, the low setting on a slow cooker maintains a long, low cook over a period of around 6–8 hours.
• Medium - a good middle ground for most meals, the medium setting produces a temperature around the 100°C-120°C mark, and generally runs for 3–6 hours.
• High - for meals that need to be produced as soon as possible, the high setting will reach temperatures up to around 150°C, and will cook a dish in as little 1–3 hours.
• Auto - certain models of slow cooker take the guesswork out of cooking with a setting that adjusts heat automatically based on the cooking time you set. This is especially helpful when you have a set timeframe to cook your food.

Features

• Glass lid - do those opaque slow cooker lids fill you with too much temptation to take a peek inside? Doing so can impact the performance of a slow cooked meal, as the heat and moisture trapped inside is the key to bringing out those delicious flavours.
  In this case, you want a glass lid, which takes the intrigue away, and lets you keep an eye on your dish without losing that sought-after taste.
• Hob-proof pot - some foods and liquids require precooking before being slow cooked to ensure they can cook properly.
  Save time by getting a slow cooker with a hob-proof pot, which can be popped on the hob ahead of time to get those trickier ingredients where they need to be without needing to swap pots.
• Dishwasher safe - cleaning up your slow cooker can be a chore you could do without. Take the tedium out of your clean-up by getting a slow cooker that is dishwasher safe, meaning all you need to do is remove the inner container and lid, and pop them in the dishwasher.
• Auto keep warm - if you face timing conflicts between meal prep and mealtime, the auto keep warm feature is the one for you.
  This handy feature activates for two hours, ensuring the temperature of your food stays nice and hot to serve when you’re ready.

Find the best slow cookers at Morphy Richards

If you’re looking for a convenient and easy way to prepare delicious meals, without spending a lot of time in the kitchen, then a Morphy Richards slow cooker is for you.

When you buy direct from Morphy Richards, you’ll benefit from a two-year warranty (with an extra year of warranty for free when you register your slow cooker with us).

We also offer free shipping (on qualifying orders) and flexible payment options that let you spread the cost of your new slow cooker.  

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