Morphy Richards Sear & Stew
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
Slow Cooker vs Multi-Cooker: Which Do You Need?
Slow cookers and multi-cookers (like the Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot) are often confused, but they're different appliances. Here's how to know which one you actually need.
What a slow cooker does
A slow cooker does one thing and does it well: it cooks food gently at a low temperature over several hours. It's simple, cheap to buy, very cheap to run, and ideal for hands-off stews, curries and casseroles you leave while you're out. There's little to go wrong and nothing to learn - add ingredients, set Low or High, and leave it.
What a multi-cooker does
A multi-cooker (multi-function or pressure cooker like the Instant Pot or Ninja Foodi) combines several appliances in one: it can pressure cook (fast), slow cook, saute, steam, and sometimes air fry. It's far more versatile and can cook quickly under pressure, but it costs more, is more complex to use, and takes up more space. Its slow-cook mode is one feature among many.
Which should you buy?
Buy a dedicated slow cooker if you mainly want simple, cheap, hands-off slow cooking and value reliability and low cost. Buy a multi-cooker if you want one appliance to do many jobs - especially fast pressure cooking - and don't mind the higher price and learning curve. If slow cooking is all you need, a simple slow cooker is cheaper, easier and just as good at that one job.
Our top picks
#1
#2 
Morphy Richards
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#3 
Morphy Richards Sear and Stew
A practical slow cooker (6.5L, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#4 
Crock-Pot
A practical slow cooker (1.8L) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#5 
Morphy Richards
A practical slow cooker (6.5L) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
#6 
Morphy Richards DuoServe
A practical slow cooker (3.8L) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
Frequently asked questions
Is a slow cooker the same as a multi-cooker?
No - a slow cooker only slow cooks (gently, over hours), while a multi-cooker or pressure cooker (Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi) does many jobs including fast pressure cooking, sauteing and sometimes air frying. Slow cookers are simpler and cheaper; multi-cookers are more versatile but pricier and more complex.
Do I need a multi-cooker or just a slow cooker?
If you only want easy, hands-off slow cooking, a dedicated slow cooker is cheaper, simpler and does it just as well. Choose a multi-cooker only if you also want fast pressure cooking and other functions in one appliance.
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..