Morphy Richards Sear & Stew
A practical slow cooker (3.5L, manual dial, sear-in-pot) for easy, budget-friendly slow-cooked meals.
What Temperature Does a Slow Cooker Cook At?
Slow cookers use 'low' and 'high' rather than a temperature dial, which can be confusing. Here's roughly what those settings reach and how to use them.
Quick answer
Most slow cookers reach a similar final temperature on both settings - around 90-100C (near a gentle simmer) - but 'high' gets there faster than 'low'. The difference is mainly speed, not final heat: high cooks in roughly half the time of low.
Low vs high
On low, the pot heats up slowly and holds a gentle simmer, ideal for tougher cuts of meat over 8 hours. On high, it heats faster and reaches simmering sooner, cooking the same dish in around 4-6 hours. Both settings finish at a similar temperature; you're choosing how quickly to get there. As a rough rule, one hour on high is about two hours on low.
Cooking safely
To be safe, food needs to reach and hold a proper hot temperature, so don't cut times short or lift the lid needlessly (it drops the heat). Brown meat first if the recipe suggests it, cook to the recipe's timing, and use a food thermometer for large joints if you're unsure they're piping hot throughout.
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.
Frequently asked questions
Is low or high better on a slow cooker?
Both reach a similar temperature; low just takes longer. Use low for all-day cooking and tougher cuts, high when you need the meal sooner. One hour on high is roughly two on low.
What temperature is slow cooker low?
Low builds up to and holds around 90-95C (a gentle simmer) over several hours. It reaches a similar final temperature to high, but more slowly.
Can you convert oven temperature to a slow cooker?
Not directly - slow cookers use time and a low/high setting rather than degrees. As a guide, a dish that takes 30-40 minutes in the oven often takes 6-8 hours on low or 3-4 on high.
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..