A slow cooker, also known as a crock-pot (after a trademark owned by Sunbeam Products but sometimes used generically in the English-speaking world), is a countertop electrical cooking appliance used to simmer at a lower temperature than other cooking methods, such as baking, boiling, and frying.

The Benefits of Using a Slow Cooker

• Saves you money – slow cookers are an energy efficient way to cook food.
• Saves you time – minimal food preparation and hands-off-cooking allows you to get on with other things.
• Great for batch cooking, so you'll always have something delicious to eat at the end of a long day.

Crockpot™ was the original brand of slow cooker and has become the generic words for a slow cooker today. Crockpots™ have a “crock” made of porcelain or ceramic that sits inside the heating element. Slow cookers can mimic this same design, or they can have a metal pot that sits on top of the heating source.

A 6 quart capacity feeds 7+ people and is great for feeding a family, or meal prepping for the upcoming week. With programmed cooking times up to 20 hours, High or Low cook settings, and a Keep Warm function, this convenient appliance does all the work while you're out.

Types of Slow Cookers

• “Traditional” slow cookers with ceramic inserts. These stoneware crock pot models are the least expensive type.
• Slow cookers with sear/sauté function and metal inserts. These devices are often called multi-cookers.
• Electric pressure cookers offering a slow cook mode. Also called multi-cookers.

Slow cooker is usually used to make non veg dishes but you can make veg dishes in it as well. If a dish usually takes 15-30 mins to cook, in a slow cooker it will take around 1-2 hours on high flame and 4-6 hours on low flame.

A slow cooker can help with eating healthily, as this way of cooking doesn't need much (if any) fat, which can help to lower the calorie content. It also intensifies flavours – which is helpful when cutting down on salt.

Here are five benefits to adding them to your kitchen arsenal:

• Pressure cookers cook food quicker.
• Pressure cookers save you money.
• Pressure cookers add variety to weeknight meals.
• Pressure cookers help to maximise flavour.
• Pressure cookers help you capitalise on eco-friendly residual heat.

In 1936, inventor Irving Naxon applied for a patent for a cooking device in the US that was portable and would heat food evenly. He started selling his device, the Naxon Beanery, in the 1950s.

Pure Ceramic Cookware Is Best For… Pure ceramic is a good option if you prioritize eco-friendly and non-toxic cookware. It's excellent for slow-cooked dishes, like soups, stews, and casseroles, because it retains heat so well. You can also use it for roasting or baking because it can withstand such high temperatures.

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. This will come in handy if you're out for the day.

The two 2.5 quart inserts fit inside the large crock any time you need to slow cook more than one food at the same time. The crock holds a 6 lb. chicken or a 4 lb. roast and serves 7+ people, It's perfect for making large meals of chili, beef stew or lasagna.

"Dual fuel is generally the preferred option for those looking to invest in a range cooker," say the experts at Smeg. "This option is particularly advantageous as people can enjoy a gas-powered hob, whilst benefitting from the precise temperature control of electricity to heat the oven."

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours. If you want to avoid overcooking your dish, follow the given guidelines as closely as possible.

It allows for the unattended cooking for many hours of pot roast, stews, soups, "boiled" dinners and other suitable dishes, including dips, desserts and beverages.