Morphy Richards Sear & Stew
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
The Best Slow Cookers with a Sear Function (UK 2026)
Slow cookers with a sear (or hob-safe) pot let you brown meat and soften onions directly in the cooking pot on the hob before slow cooking - more flavour, and one less pan to wash. Morphy Richards' Sear & Stew range made this popular.
What to look for
- A hob-safe pot you can sear in.
- Confirmation in the manual that the pot is hob-safe.
- A sturdy pot handle for moving it hot.
- The usual size and control choices on top.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Morphy Richards Sear and Stew
A practical slow cooker (6.5L, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#3 
Morphy Richards Sear and Stew
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#4 
Swan Retro
A practical slow cooker (3.5L) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#5 
Swan Retro
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#6 
Crockpot Digital
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, digital timer) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#7 
Crockpot Lift and Serve
A practical slow cooker (4.7L, digital timer) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#8 
Retro
A practical slow cooker (3.5L) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
Frequently asked questions
Can you brown meat in a slow cooker?
Only if the pot is hob-safe (a sear function), like the Morphy Richards Sear & Stew range - then you brown in the same pot before slow cooking. On a standard slow cooker you'd brown in a separate frying pan first, which still adds flavour but means more washing up.
Bottom line
Our top pick is the Morphy Richards Sear & Stew (our score 9.6/10) - A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals..