Russell Hobbs 24180 Chalkboard Slow Cooker, 3.5 L, Black

Product Information

Most slow cookers are oval in shape, but you can also find rectangular or round models. The different shapes don’t amount to any considerable difference in performance, though rectangular slow cookers are generally considered easier to store. Some single-serve slow cookers can also be used as a food warmer. These usually come in a round, compact design with a carry handle. Settings Performance: the slow cooker made meals within the indicated time frame and performed as expected without breaking down or malfunctioning. 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 most glaringly obvious downside to a slow cooker is of course that it’s slow at cooking. This means its cooking application is rather restricted. While some of the best slow cookers out there will provide a myriad of features that let them cook a wide range of foods, most cheap models will be limited to three settings – low, high and warm.

Next, I used the slow cooker to make the recipe for vegetable soup. Again, all the ingredients had to be sautéed and boiled before placing in the cook pot. It seems a shame that the cooker doesn’t have a hot enough setting to be able to sauté. The instructions also advise pre-heating the slow cooker for any recipe that hasn’t been initially cooked. 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. Respondents rate their satisfaction with their slow cooker brand(s) from zero to ten, where zero is extremely dissatisfied and ten is extremely satisfied. Brand satisfaction was rated by respondents on the following criteria: Slow cookers have got so much going for them, it’s hard not to love them. Not only will a good one save you time and effort in the kitchen, it’ll save you money too. Slow cookers transform cheaper cuts of meat into tender dishes and liven up economical healthy pulses, like lentils, beans and peas. Plus, while they can be on all day, it’s at such a low wattage that it will only cost pennies.Basic slow cookers won’t get hot enough to sauté meat or vegetables, so you’ll need to do this in a pan before transferring the contents to the bowl. However, more expensive models offer a different one-pot solution. This can either be bowls that you use on your hob or in your oven in place of a pan (some will even be induction compatible). They will need to be moved to the slow cooker base. Machines with a sauté function for high-heat browning can simply be switched to slow cooking. On the front, a dial controls the temperature with three settings: low, high and warm (for keeping cooked food at temperature prior to serving). Most of the recipes provided with the slow cooker offer the option of heating at low for a longer period or high for faster results. These allow each recipe to be adapted to your schedule. Note that there’s no timer function. Sunbeam enjoyed four stars in performance, features & functionality, design, value for money, ease of use, ease of cleaning and overall satisfaction. Editor’s notes

There are exclusions and limitations to Product Care TM. This section should always be read in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions for Product Care TM. The Russell Hobbs Good to Go Multicooker is a true multi-tasker. Armed with a variety of capabilities, you can make sure that your meat is cooked just right before you cut it open, or fill up a water bath for succulent sous vide fish or veggies. This digital slow cooker comes with a removable control dial on its front control panel, which has pre-set modes for steaming and stewing as well as high and low manual temperature levels. There is also a keep warm mode. Some slow cookers will automatically shift to this mode after a programme has ended, while others require switching manually. Slow cookers with digital controls may also have a delay start, which is ideal if you’re out of the house for more than eight hours. This means you can start cooking at a time to suit you – while it’s hard to overcook recipes with a lot of liquid, this gives more freedom with dishes that could potentially start to dry out. A timer is another handy feature – this will either turn the machine off after cooking or put it into a limited time keep warm mode. 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.Samantha Howse is Canstar Blue’s Consumer Research Specialist, coordinating the consumer research program behind our customer satisfaction awards across Canstar and Canstar Blue in Australia and New Zealand. Sam has earned a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) from Griffith University and, with seven years in market research and 2 years in marketing, she is experienced in survey design, implementation and analysis, coupled with an understanding of marketing principles and best practice. Automatic adjustment setting: With this setting, when a certain temperature or time is reached the slow cooker will automatically adjust from the higher setting to the low setting. This ensures that your food stays warm until you’re ready, without overcooking it. 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. Our experienced support team ensures that the assessment, replacement or remedy process under your Product Care TM is a convenient experience. Whether you are experiencing a product fault or needing toll free technical assistance, our team is here to provide support every step of the way. Advantage