QUICK SMART
Amazing multi-cookers you need to know about
1
Breville ‘The Fast Slow Cooker’, $199, Harvey Norman With a 6L capacity that makes entertaining easy, this product functions as both a slow cooker and a pressure cooker, which means it can infuse your dishes with delicate flavours over many hours, or it can achieve delicious results in a flash. Bonus points for its low-heat function that’ll keep your meal hot and fresh until you’re ready to serve. “This slow cooker has the best of both worlds in one machine,” says food expert Jessica Brook of Sage Creative Co. “It is one of the larger on the market, making it more suitable for families or people who entertain regularly.” 2
Philips 8L ‘All-In-One’ cooker, $349, Harvey Norman Durable and easy to clean, this straightforward multi-purpose cooker from Philips features an anti-scratch pot with ProCeramic+ coating and a detachable inner lid. Perfect for busy family kitchens, this affordable option also has 20 pre-set cooking programs, cancel button and LED display. 3
5L slow cooker, $19, Kmart
Budget-friendly and big enough for making family meals, this cheap and cheerful slow cooker has adjustable low, high and warm temperature settings, a stainless-steel body and ceramic pot. “For its price point, this slow cooker is a great introduction for people who are unfamiliar with them,” says Jessica. “It is not overly complicated, and is a good size for most recipes (perfect for a whole chicken). It doesn’t have an automatic off switch though, so will need to be used when you’re at home.” 4
KitchenAid ‘5KMC4244AOB’ multi cooker with Stir Tower in Onyx Black, $749, Appliances Online
From stir fry and casseroles to baking cakes, this multi cooker from KitchenAid has more than 10 cooking functions to sear, sauté and simmer your way to culinary success. The inclusion of the three-speed Stir Tower means you can mix, flip and swish ingredients for even blending and heat distribution — hands free! A nifty solution for busy cooks. “KitchenAid is a well-known and trusted brand,” says Jessica. “Its appliances really do stand the test of time.” 5
Sunbeam ‘SecretChef’ 5.5L slow cooker, $59, Harvey Norman
With a wraparound element lining the sides and three cooking settings,
SecretChef promises even heat distribution and perfectly slow-cooked meals. Equipped with cool-touch handles, removable crock insert and power cord, this little beauty is great for the time-poor chef that hates cleaning up afterwards (both the pan and lid can be tossed in the dishwasher). “This one is a great first buy, with similar functions to the Kmart model and great heat distribution,” says Jessica. 6
Bellini 5.5L ‘Sear BSSC19’ slow cooker, $39, Target If you’re sitting on the fence about buying a slow cooker, this purse-friendly option from Target may be just the ticket. With three heat settings, a removable non-stick pot, digital controls and timer, this small investment has pretty much everything you need to get started on casseroles, soups and desserts. “This is one of my go-tos when suggesting slow cookers to first timers, for both its value and functions,” says Jessica. “It also has a simple digital display and handy automatic off switch.” 7
Tefal ‘Cook4Me+’ multi-cooker in Black, $399, Myer
Capable of pressure cooking, steaming, simmering, browning, reheating and gentle cooking, Cook4Me is a one-touch pressure multi cooker for those who love food. With a curvaceous body and just one dial button, Cook4Me allows users to scroll through more than 150 recipes on the screen, or create their own recipe in Manual mode. 8
Morphy Richards multifunction pot, $230, Appliances Online
Boasting a unique 40-degree ‘fondue’ mode for cheesy or chocolatey moments, Morphy Richards multifunction cook pot with variable heat settings has easy-to-clean non-stick pans and is compact in size, making it perfect for small kitchens that lack storage space. We love this trendy shade of sage green, too. 9
Crock-Pot ‘Choose-A-Crock’ one-pot cooker, $129, Myer This cheeky little stainless-steel number gives users the choice of two pot sizes to suit any meal, or even cook two dishes at once. A digital programmable timer allows cooking times of up to 20 hours, and automatically switches to warm mode when the cycle is complete.