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Mastering the art of slow cooking: tips and tricks for perfectly cooked meals

Unlock the secrets to slow cooking success with our expert guide.
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As the Autumn/Winter chill quickly approaches, it may be time to consider expanding your kitchen repertoire. With warm, hearty meals becoming the object of everyone’s food desires, slow cookers are perfect for those wanting to enjoy a comforting meal without the hassle of spending hours in the kitchen. 

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True game-changers, the handy appliances allow the user to set and forget their ingredients, with low and slow cooking allowing them to go about their day.

WATCH: Jules Sebastian slow cooker chicken. Article continues after video.

Great for breaking down protein at a low temperature, slow cookers (like the name suggests) cook your food over a longer period of time. This makes them perfect for before-work food prep. Simply toss your ingredients in the cooker and you’ll have dinner ready by the time you come home.

Those wanting to enjoy a more flexible style of cooking, however, may enjoy appliances like rice cookers, pressure cookers, or steam cookers. 

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What’s the difference, though? To inform your best cold-weather appliance addition, we spoke to Chloe Skipp, National Culinary Manager for Appliances Online. Speaking to New Idea she broke down the differences between cooker types and shared which one is right for your next hearty Autumn ragu or lamb and leek stew.

Slow Cookers

According to Skipp, slow cookers are a perfect appliance for multiple dishes.

Simply prepare your dinner before you go to work for the day and come home to a perfect roast dinner, slow cooked curry, soup or tacos. You can also cook dessert in slow cookers such as crumbles and cake.”

Slow cookers have a high and low temperature setting and many units also have a ‘keep warm’ function, allowing you to keep your food warm which is great if you are entertaining and wanting to keep your food warm for the evening,” she said.

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Breville BSC420BSS the Smart Temp 6L Slow Cooker (Credit: Appliances Online)

Breville BSC420BSS the Smart Temp 6L Slow Cooker, $172 at Appliances Online | SHOP NOW

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Russell Hobbs Master Slower Cooker with Sous Vide RHSV6000 (Credit: Appliances Online)

Russell Hobbs Master Slower Cooker with Sous Vide RHSV6000, $139 at Appliances Online | SHOP NOW

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WATCH: 8 of the best slow cooker tips. Article continues after video.

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Rice Cookers

Targeted to rice-centric meals, rice cookers allow one to prepare large amounts of the food in one go. 

“Great for family feats or entertaining, you can cook multiple rice-based dishes in a rice cooker such as risotto or paella – the list is endless,” Skipp said.

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Tefal Easy Rice & Slow Cooker Plus RK736 (Credit: Appliances Online)

Tefal Easy Rice & Slow Cooker Plus RK736, $175 at Appliances Online | SHOP NOW 

Multi Cookers

Multi cookers are the do-everything appliance. Providing more flexibility, users have “the flexibility to be able to cook whatever [they]  need, whether it be a quick or a slow dish with its multiple functions”.

“A multi cooker will also free up your bench space and eliminate the need for you to have multiple appliances on your bench.”

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Crock-Pot CPE210 Express Easy Release Multi-Cooker (Credit: Appliances Online)

Crock-Pot CPE210 Express Easy Release Multi-Cooker, $164 at Appliances Online | SHOP NOW

Pressure Cookers

Hailed as a massive time-saver, pressure cookers are considered the amped up slow cooker. Essentially, they can cook everything one would usually prepare in a slow cooker in a fraction of the time.

“A dish that may take 6 hours in the slow cooker, will take 30 mins – 1.5 hours in a pressure cooker,” Skipp said.

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“It works by using steam to help break down the meats and proteins you have placed inside, using the pressure to tenderise the food and cook it at a quicker rate. You can cook various dishes such as curry, stews, casseroles, meats, desserts and one of my favourites is dulce de leche.”

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Instant Pot Duo 8L Crisp + Air Fryer Multi-Use Pressure Cooker 140-0022-01 (Credit: Appliances Online)

Instant Pot Duo 8L Crisp + Air Fryer Multi-Use Pressure Cooker 140-0022-01, $299 at Appliances Online | SHOP NOW

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