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Best slow cookers

Slow cookers from Crock-Pot, Lakeland, Morphy Richards and Ninja tested. Discover which make perfect stew time after time and how much they really cost to run
Matthew KnightProduct testing team leader
Stew 476347

Find out which slow cookers produce succulent stews with a minimum of fuss and running costs.

We found slow cookers can cost from 2p to 5p per hour on their lowest setting, and from 4p-31p an hour on their most energy guzzling settings. 

There's a big difference in how easy each slow cooker we tested is to use too, some even have casings that get too hot to touch.

We tested the most popular slow cookers from brands such as Crock-Pot, Greenpan, Lakeland, Morphy Richards, Ninja and more. 

The best slow cookers

Only logged-in Which? members can view the slow cooker test results below. 

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Slow cookersCost per hour on low settingQuality of stewEase of useDoes more than slow cook?Where to buy
3pExcellentVery easyNo
2pGoodVery easyYes
3pExcellentAverageNo
2pGoodGoodYes
6pExcellentVery easyNo
3pGoodVery easyNo
4pGoodVery easyNo

Date tested: November 2023. Pricing and availability last checked February 2024. We're not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available.

The slow cookers we tested

All the slow cookers we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best slow cookers from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Cookworks 3.5L Slow Cooker

Cookworks 3.5L slow cooker

Available from Argos (£22) (Check stock locally)

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Features Low, high and keep warm settings, removable ceramic bowl

Cost to run Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know Size 18cm x 26cm x 35cm (HxWxD); cable length 90cm

Crock-Pot TimeSelect 5.6L Digital Slow Cooker

Crockpot TimeSelect Slow Cooker

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Features Removable ceramic bowl; slow cook on low or high; keep-warm function; preset timer up to 12 hours in advance

Cost to run Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

Need to know Size 22cm x 30cm x 42cm (HxWxD); cable length 65cm


Find out how Crock-Pot multi cookers fared in our reviews of the best multi cookers


Crock-Pot 4.7L Hinged Lid Digital Slow Cooker

Crockpot 4.7L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable ceramic bowl; slow cook on low, medium or high; keep-warm function

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Need to know Size 20cm x 33cm x 38cm (HxWxD); cable length 64cm

Daewoo 6.5L Stainless Seel Slow Cooker

Daewoo 6.5L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable ceramic bowl; slow cook on low, or high; keep-warm function

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Need to know Size 21cm x 45cm x 30cm (HxWxD); cable length 84cm

Greenpan Slow Cooker 5.6L

Greenpan 6L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable bowl with non-stick coating; slow cook on high or low; brown, steam, keep-warm, simmer and reheat

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Need to know Size 23cmx37cmx54cm (HxWxD); cable length 70cm


Find out how the Greenpan frying pan fared in our reviews of the best frying pans 


Lakeland 3.5L Slow Cooker

Lakeland 3.5L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable ceramic bowl; slow cook on low or high; auto (keep-warm) setting

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Need to know Size 19cm x 35cm x 26cm (HxWxD); cable length 86cm

Lakeland 6.5L Searing Slow Cooker

Lakeland 6.5L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable non-stick cooking pot; slow cook on low or high; steam, yoghurt maker, sauté, keep warm

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Need to know Size 22cm x 45cm x 30cm (HxWxD); cable length 102cm

Morphy Richards 6.5L Easy Time Slow Cooker

Morphy Richards 6.5L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable non-stick bowl, easy time selection, slow cook on low, medium or high, keep warm

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Need to know Size 22cm x 37cm x 22cm (HxWxD); cable length 90cm

Morphy Richards Evoke 3.5L Sear and Stew Slow Cooker

Morphy Richards 3.5L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable ceramic bowl; slow cook on low, medium, or high

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Need to know Size 19cm x 35cm x 26cm (HxWxD); cable length 86cm

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker 8-in-1 Slow Cooker

Ninja Foodi Slow Cooker

Pros Log in or join Which? to instantly reveal

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Features Removable non-stick cooking pot; slow cook on low or high; steam, prove, sear/sauté, braise, bake, simmer, keep warm

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Need to know Size 33cm x 48cm x 33cm (HxWxD); cable length 80cm


See our Ninja air fryer reviews


Salter Chalkboard 3.5L Slow Cooker

Salter Slow Cooker

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Features Removable ceramic pot;, slow cook on low or high; keep-warm, casing doubles as a chalkboard

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Need to know Size 22cm x 27cm x 27cm (HxWxD); cable length 66cm

Tower Cavaletto 6.5L T16043BLK Slow Cooker

Tower 6.5L Slow Cooker

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Features Removable ceramic bowl; slow cook on low or high; keep-warm setting

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Need to know Size 22cm x 45cm x 30cm (HxWxD); cable length 68cm

Beef stew in a slow cooker

How we test slow cookers

We select the UK's best selling slow cookers and put them through our rigorous test programme to determine our Best Buys. 

We pay for every slow cooker we test. 

  • Energy use We'll tell you how much it costs to run your slow cooker on both its lowest and highest setting. The best only cost 2p an hour to cook a stew. 
  • Cooking The best slow cookers produce a beautiful stew on their lowest setting. The worst will still have hard potatoes and undercooked veg. 
  • Ease of use We assess each cooker for how easy it is to use and programme.
  • Versatility Some slow cookers have extra features, such as searing, yoghurt making, baking, proving and simmering. We rewarded slow cookers that come with these kinds of useful extra features.
  • Durability We use our laboratory scratch pen to try and scratch the cooking bowls on each slow cooker. Some are almost impossible to scratch, whereas others have non-stick coatings that we found peeled off easily with just a light scratch
Stew

Are slow cookers energy efficient?

Slow cookers are an efficient way to batch cook large quantities of food, such as a stew, soup or curry. 

The most efficient only cost 2p an hour to run, which means one stew will cost you about 16p to cook over eight hours. The least energy efficient will cost almost 50p to cook the same stew. 

By contrast, it costs about 30p an hour to keep your oven on.


For more ways to lower your energy bills look at the best and worst energy companies and find out the cheapest ways to cook


Slow cookers

What size slow cooker do I need? 

A good rule of thumb is that every litre in volume the slow cooker can cook equates to one serving. 

So a four litre slow cooker is good for four servings, a five litre is good for five servings, and so on. 


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Gammon in a slow cooker

How to cook gammon in a slow cooker

Gammon in a slow cooker is one of the most popular slow cooker recipes.

It will take approximately two hours per 450g in a slow cooker. See our step-by-step guide on how to cook a gammon joint