From Lakeland to Amazon to Not on the High Steet, here are the best children's baking sets for 2022 and where you can buy them online.

“Baking is great for teaching skills, not only measuring but also how to follow recipes and instructions. And to know and understand which utensils are used for which part of the baking. Plus, you get to sit and enjoy the fruits of your labor with a cuppa afterward. Win-win,” says Goodto’s Family Editor, Stephanie Lowe. “I learned to love baking with my toddler. And baking sets made especially for his little hands and his stage of development definitely helped with that."

Baking with your little one just got a whole easier thanks to this range of nifty baking sets. Whether you're looking for a gift or just want to give your child some more responsibility in the kitchen, a baking set specifically designed for children is a great choice. Plus they're perfected for whipping up a whole range of easy baking recipes for kids. These sets are suitable for 2 yrs+ with adult supervision.

1. Lakeland's Ultimate Baking Gift Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 3+

Why we love it: Best value for money

This amazing value kit comes with everything a budding little baker could need. The fun bright colours appeal, but it's also sturdy and good quality. It's suitable for children 3yrs+, but this kit contains so much it's great for older children too. Non-stick means no extra butter or oil is needed in recipes. Reusable cupcake cases mean less waste. "Enjoyed by my soon to be 4year old son. Very good quality and have baked some great cakes," says one happy Lakeland customer.

What’s included: This kit is packed with everything your child needs to get started. Rolling pin, pastry brush with nylon bristles, silicone spatula, balloon whisk, and six plastic measuring spoons to name a few. Not forgetting 10 assorted plastic cookie cutters, mini loaf tin, mini tartlet tin, and a 6-hole mini cupcake tin. We just love the mini silicone cupcake cases, 2-piece silicone mini cake pop mould, cake pop stand, and 12 reusable cake pop sticks too.

2. Tatty Bogle Floral Baking Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 4+

Why we love it: Best wooden set

This kit comes with a customised floral bag. It contains a selection of tools, all good quality from Tala. There is an option to select either metal or plastic cutters. We love the pretty fabrics, however, if you are after something less gender-neutral check out the shop via the link below as they offer lots of options.

Rated 4.5 stars by customers Not On The High Street complementing the bag's floral design and quality; "My granddaughter loved this baking set. I added a children's cookery book and apron too. There was plenty of room in the bag. The quality of the fabric was very good. Really pleased."

What’s included: A pretty personalised floral bag, along with a wooden spoon, mini whisk, and wooden-handled rubber spatula. Not forgetting a miniature rolling pin and flower-shaped cutters.

3. KitchenCraft Kids Baking Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 3+

Why we love it: Best quality

A good quality set with small moulds for child-sized bakes. The set is sturdy and durable and comes with a 12-month guarantee. "An adorable, well-made little set which is the perfect size for little hands. The silicone trays are scaled down to toddler size but that works well for me as I can make a larger version for everyone else while my toddler makes her own."

What’s included: This set includes four cookie cutters (heart, star, moon and sun), as well as small round silicone cake mould. We just love the silicone muffin tray, silicone loaf tin, spatula and spoon. Not to mention whisk and rolling pin.

4. Lakeland Kids’ 14pc Cake Decorating Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 6+

Why we love it: Best decorating set

Ideal for older children who enjoy crafting. This decorating kit is great for detailed cake decorations and letting creative juices flow. Despite this baking kit having no reviews from Lakeland customers, we think this set contains professional cake decorating tools, all of which have been recommended by our cake decorating expert Victoria Threader.

What’s included: This kit is bursting with quality cake decorating tools including a reusable silicone piping bag, four plastic piping nozzles, four plunger cutters, and three embossing tools. Not to mention, deco spoon, acetate tray mould – with heart, flower, star, and butterfly shapes.

5. Lakeland Children’s 10pc Baking Gift Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 2+

Why we love it: Best gift set

Coming in at under £10 this is a fab gifting option. It is a good starter kit and it is scaled down to make it easier for little hands to use. It's basic and great for giving small children an activity to keep them occupied while you're busy doing grown-up cooking. We love that this kit is entirely dishwasher safe and has fun bright colours. It also comes with a three-year guarantee. Lakeland has a great array of kids baking bits, so if it is a gift, and you're feeling generous then add a little apron to your order.

What’s included: 1 litre mixing bowl with handle and pouring lip, six silicone cupcake cases, whisk, spatula, and a pastry brush are all included in this great value children's baking set.

6. Gingerbreadman Baking Kit

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 3+

Why we love it: Best seasonal baking kit

Great for the more advanced little baker, and ideal for creating some jolly Christmas gingerbread men. The piping bag comes with different tips for playing with different shapes. The silicone moulds are heat resistant up to 250C, the flexibility also means it's easy to remove the bakes. If this one tickles your fancy check out our recipe for easy gingerbread. One customer said; "Yes. this was a good buy. the children loved it. The right size for little hands."

What’s included: This seasonal baking kit for kids contains an icing bag with five tips, spatula, mini gingerbread men silicone mould, large silicone gingerbread man mould. We just love the metal gingerbread man cutter.

7. Rocket and FOX Star Baker Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 2-5

Why we love it: Best personalised baking set

This neutral collection comes personalised, so perfect to avoid sibling squabbles. The kit is made up of small tools so it is great for little hands. Perfectly sized for children under 5. It all comes in a customised cotton bag too so can neatly be stowed away. You can also add a matching apron to your order for an additional £16. It's great for a gift as it comes wrapped in a bow.

What’s included: We just love the personalised drawstring bag as part of this children's baking set. A rolling pin, spatula, pastry brush (not customised), wooden spoon, and cutting board are also included.

8. Handstand Kitchen 75-piece Ultimate Real Baking Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 6+

Why we love it: Best 'push-the-boat-out' baking set

"I got this as a gift for my 6-year-old nephew. Loved it. He was able to handle everything and it was all easy for him to help clean. He was super happy," says one satisfied Amazon customer. This baking set is great for junior bakers who are ready to take their baking skills to the next level. It's not just about making cupcakes - they can try decorating with fondant, baking loaf cakes and much more.

What’s included: This kit has a rather hefty price tag attached, however, it is well worth the money containing 75 essential baking items such as a spatula, whisk, rolling pin, tart pan, loaf pan, and many many more. Our favourite items have to be the selection of cookie cutters and a variety of icing nozzles.

9. Children's Baking Set for Cupcakes by Little Pals

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 4+

Why we love it: Best cupcake kit

If you're looking for a stocking filler or quirky baking set for cupcake fans, this set is a great little find. Despite only making four cupcakes, this kit comes with a handy icing squirter with three attachable nozzles. It can all be stored in the mixing bowl too which is great if you're short on storage. Amazon customers said; "Bought this for my twin granddaughters to cook with Nanny. Loved it. Well worth the money, and excellent gift for the kids."

What’s included: Four butterfly-shaped reusable silicone cupcake cases, pink spatula, icing squirter with three nozzles, and recipe card are all included in this one of the top children’s baking sets.

10. Nadiya Hussain Deluxe Baking Set

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Age: 4+

Why we love it: Best celeb chef set

The kids are going to love this Bake Off inspired baking set by Nadiya Hussain. With a 4.7 star rating on Amazon, this kit certainly ticks all the boxing when it comes to baking must-haves. One customer said; "Great kit we have been doing online cooking classes and having the right equipment has really helped. My girls love the colours and having their own special kits to bake for us. The recipe cards are also fab and we are working our way through these."

What’s included: This quality set includes everything from rolling pin, whisk and mixing bowl. It also has reusable silicone cases, measuring spoons (a great learning tool), and a funky, vibrant apron. A great gift for junior bakers.

Here are the top retailers selling the best children's baking sets :

• Lakeland - Cake baking and decorating sets, children's aprons, and more
• Not on the Hight Street - Personalised sets, specific baking kits; hot cross bunnies, cookies, and more
• Amazon - Brands such as KidKraft, Baking Wizards, and Aoskie Kids
• Wayfair - Gingerbread baking kit and playsets too

Video of the week

We've tried and tested the best slow cookers you can buy in 2021, ideal for a warming midweek dinner and lazy Sunday afternoon supper alike. A slow cooker, sometimes called a Crockpot, is a great appliance that not only produces tasty slow cooker recipes but also saves money and time in the kitchen.

You can use your slow cooker to make beef, chicken, lamb, and many other meaty recipes, as well as cakes and desserts. Popular in the 1970s, the best slow cookers are enjoying a resurgence at the moment with people looking for cheap, quick, and easy ways to make healthy family meals. Whether you're looking to make a sausage casserole recipe or even slow cooker scones,  a slow cooker is a versatile piece of kitchen equipment.

As well as dedicated slow cookers, we've also included the latest multi-cookers with convenient slow cooking settings, which also give you the option to pressure-cook, steam, reduce food, and more should you wish.

* Why should I get a slow cooker? * How to use a slow cooker * Best slow cookers * Perfect slow cooking: tips and tricks * Slow cooker recipes

Why should I get a slow cooker?

While handy, slow cookers are an extra cost. So why should you buy one?

Quick and easy: Slow cookers make cooking healthy meals simple. You simply put the ingredients into the cooker and set it to cook, it then slowly cooks the meal - either on a low heat (which can take up to 8 hours) or high (which is generally 3-4 hours.) The joy of using a slow cooker is the ease, you can prepare the meal in the morning (or whenever you have a spare minute) and slowly cook it throughout the day without worrying about overcooking your food and serve whenever you wish, which gives you more time away from the kitchen to spend with your family.

Cheap: Handily, the types of food that work best in a slow cooker are the cheaper ones. Cheap cuts of meat like casserole meat or shanks are the best kind to use as well as cheap lentils and pulses. Also the slow cooker uses less electricity than your average cooker - which is not only good for your energy bills but is also environmentally friendly!

Healthy: Slow cookers typically create healthier meals. This is because they rarely require oils or fats in the cooking process. The food is left to simmer in it own juices, which preserves a lot of the vitamins and minerals otherwise lost during standard cooking. Slow cooker recipes are also normally packed full of vegetables and pulses, which is a great way of getting the family eating more healthily without drastically changing their diet.

Flavour: With minimal effort, slow cookers produce a much fuller flavour than traditional cooking. As the food is left to stew for hours the meat becomes more tender and sauces richer as their full flavour is released. And because the food is sealed in, none of the flavour is lost through evaporation.

How to use a slow cooker

Each slow cooker comes with its own manual, which you should always read before using. Once you are familiar with your machine, using it is fairly straightforward.

1. Preparation: Slow cookers require very little preparation. You simply chop your meat and vegetables (smaller chunks work best) and pre-heat the cooker. Some recipes require you to braise the meat beforehand to give the meat a nicer colour, although this is not an essential part of the cooking process.

2. Loading: Root vegetables take longer to cook so they need to be placed at the bottom of the cooker (items at the bottom cook faster). The meat should then be placed on top, followed by the liquid (most slow cooker recipes require some form to liquid to ensure the food doesn't dry out. Stocks, sauces, broths, wine and simple boiling water are the most commonly used liquids.) You should make sure the slow cooker is at least a third of the way full to avoid overcooking. Dairy products, seafood and quick-cook vegetables are usually only added for the last hour as they tend to break down and separate.

3. Cooking: Once all the ingredients are in the cooker, you simply set the temperature (low for a longer cooking period, high for shorter) and the timer (you can buy cookers with a built-in timer.) Timings aren't as strict with slow cookers as you can reduce the heat and leave the food to simmer until you are ready to eat. This is handy if you are feeding the kids before your partner as you can leave your portion simmering until the kids are asleep.

4. Cleaning: One of the best things about one-pot cooking is that there is less washing up! Choose a slow cooker that has a removable pot and once you are done, remove it and fill with hot soapy water. Leave to soak and dry the pot completely before putting away. Never put cold water straight into a slow cooker as it may crack.

Best slow cookers 2022 at a glance

The Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi-Cooker is our best slow cooker overall. We rate it on its versatility and powerful performance. Although it’s predominately a pressure-cooker, it has a fantastic slow cooking setting. With 4.7 litre capacity, it’s large enough to cook a full chicken or prepare enough portions of casseroles and stews for around six people- a perfect choice for large families, or those who enjoy batch cooking. We are also impressed with the keep warm function, and stylish design.

Best slow cooker overall: Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi-Cooker - Ninjakitchen | £149.99 Best premium slow cooker: Sage The Fast Slow Pro - Sage Appliances | £199.95 Best budget slow cooker: Russell Hobbs 3.5L slow cooker - Russell Hobbs | £24.99

1. Best slow cooker overall: Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP100UK

A powerful and versatile multi-cooker with excellent slow cooking function

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H32 x W35 x D38cm | Capacity: 4.7L

VIEW NOW - NINJA KITCHEN | £149.99

The Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP100UK is a powerful and versatile countertop appliance with a range of handy cooking features built-in. First and foremost, it's a pressure cooker that can also crisp foods, but it comes with a slow cooking setting. You will also find settings to air fry, steam, bake and roast and sear and sauté. Switching between all methods can be done with ease, using the LED control panel.

Within the box, you’ll find a separate pressure lid, a removable cooking pot, a cook and crisp tray that comes in useful when you’re air frying foods such as chicken nuggets or chips, and a rack, which is ideal for steaming veg and fish.

Set up was simple and we found the slow-cooking feature easily accessible as it’s positioned within easy view between the pressure cook, steam and sear/sauté buttons. To give each slow cooker a fair test we prepared the same lamb tagine recipe in each model. Before we started the slow cooking process we made use of the handy sauté button built into the design. This meant we could seal the lamb and fry the onions in the same pot to give a bit of texture to the dish, without having to make any separate pans dirty. Next, we added the rest of the ingredients into the pot and selected the slow cooking feature. You can easily increase the cooking time in 15-minute increments up to 8 hours on either a high or low setting, so we chose the high for four hours.

At the end of the four hours, the control automatically switches to keep warm, which is handy if you’re not ready to eat straight away. The meat came out very tender and piping hot and we found that four hours on a slow cook was more than enough to make a tasty dish. The juices were nicely combined with the meat, carrots and courgettes and this setting didn’t make the dish feel too watery.

• Read our in-depth review of the Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP100UK

2. Best premium slow cooker: Sage The Fast Slow Pro

Stylish and compact with a great set of cooking features

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H32 x W35 x D35cm | Capacity: 6L

VIEW NOW -  SAGE APPLIANCES | £199.95

With its contemporary brushed stainless-steel body and digital LCD display, Sage The Fast Slow Pro is an attractive piece of kit. Its round 32cm-high body sits neatly on the worktop without taking up too much space, and can be neatly stored on the side of the worktop when not in use.

Sage The Fast Slow Pro performs 11 different tasks from pressure cooking to slow cooking, sautéing and searing, which makes it a very flexible design. Inside the box you’ll find a comprehensive recipe book with ideas on how to cook ‘tasty meals under pressure’ or ‘tender them over time’. We were instantly impressed with how easy the controls are to navigate on this slow cooker, and how simple the process of slow cooking.

Like other multi-cookers we have featured in our round-up, The Fast Slow Pro can sauté food before you slow cook, which cuts out the need for using a separate dish on the cooker top. The sauté feature heats up very quickly and our lamb and onions were browned in just a few minutes. The slow cooking settings on this model lets you switch between high and low - up to eight hours - after which the keep-warm function kicks in with a timer telling you how long since your food was ready.

We chose four hours on a high setting for our lamb tagine, which was more than enough to produce tender lamb and carrots that still had bite. What we particularly like about this model is how specific the setting can be - and as well as choosing 'slow cook', it lets you choose from a number of specific dishes such as casserole, Bolognaise, stew, vegetables and more, and it adjusts the setting to suit.

• Read our in-depth review of the Sage The Fast Slow Pro

3. Best budget slow cooker: Russell Hobbs 3.5L Slow Cooker

A compact and great-value budget buy

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H22.1 x W35.7 x D30 cm | Capacity: 3.5L

VIEW NOW - RUSSELL HOBBS | £24.99

At £24.99, we think the Russell Hobbs 3.5 L Slow Cooker is a great value buy and we've highlighted it here as our best budget slow cooker. The capacity of this model is 3.5 litres, and while it’s not one of the largest designs we tested, it does give you ample room to prepare casseroles, stews and more for two people with leftovers, or enough food for a small family of four.

Unlike some small-capacity slow cookers you can find that are taller than they are wide, at 35.7 by 30cm the body of the Russell Hobbs Slow Cooker is quite wide and deep. This means the inside is great for laying down large cuts of meat and ensuring a wider portion of the dish gets covered in cooking juices.

While many of the multi-cookers we have included in our test have lids that lock and keep food hidden while it cooks, one of the plus points of this Russell Hobbs Slow Cooker is that you can see through its glass lid. This lid sits neatly on top of the pot and while it doesn’t lock into place, it does remove very easily, and as it's glass you don't need to remove the lid halfway through to check up on your food and risk losing heat while it cooks. Both the removable pot and lid are also dishwasher safe for easy cleaning after use and the handles are designed to remain cool to touch, which makes it easy to lift the pot out of the base when you want to serve up.

The control panel is basic with a high, low and keep warm setting, but it does give you all you need for simple slow cooking. We tried it on a high setting for four hours, which was more than enough time to cook the carrots and tenderise the lamb. You do need to be careful about how much liquid you add to your dish however, as this model doesn’t have a reduce button, so if you want to thicken up the sauce a little you’ll need to transfer it to a saucepan once the cook is complete.

4. Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 10-in-1 Multi Cooker

10 settings in one compact and stylish design

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H33.1 x W32.2 x D32.5cm | Capacity: 5.7L

VIEW NOW -  AMAZON | £129.99

As one of Instant Pot’s latest multi-cookers, the Duo Evo Plus has so much more to offer than a standard slow cooker. This powerful 1200-watt countertop appliance measures a compact H33.1 x W32.2 x D32.5cm and comes with a 5.7 litre removable pot, which makes it large enough to cook meals for up to seven people in one go. Made from stainless steel and black plastic, its body features a comprehensive LCD display too, which makes it easy to select the correct setting.

You can choose from one of the 48 pre-set programs to cook in a number of ways from professional-chef style 'sous vide' to a more traditional slow-cooked method. You’ll also find settings for baking cakes, sautéing so you can brown foods before you start to cook, steaming ingredients such as vegetables and fish, pressure cooking and making yoghurt. There’s also a delay start and keep warm function. While there are a number of pre-set programs for you to choose from, you can also use the control panel to customise your preferred time and temperature.

What we instantly liked about the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus is its ergonomic design with high-quality feel and finish. It has an easy to remove and lock lid, which is dishwasher safe and so easy to keep smelling fresh and a removable pot that has handles at the side for safe lifting out when there is hot food inside. We like the mix of specific options for pre-set times and temperatures for slow cook dishes such as Rib, Poultry, Chili, Stew, Beef and Pork, with timings ranging from four to eight hours. For our lamb tagine we chose the Chili setting and it cooked at a very leisurely eight hours on a low temperature, which gave the lamb a very succulent taste.

5. Morphy Richards Red Evoke Sear & Stew Slow Cooker

Striking design with an easy-to-navigate LED display

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H24 x W29 x D42cm | Capacity: 6.5L

VIEW NOW -  CURRYS | £69.99

With its black and rose gold finish, the Morphy Richards Red Evoke Sear & Stew Slow Cooker makes an eye-catching design statement in the kitchen. While it may be similar in style to the Salter model also featured in our round-up, the Morphy Richards Red Evoke Sear & Stew Slow Cooker is almost double the size and has a 6.5-litre capacity. We think a design with this much space inside is ideal for large households and could provide meals for up to eight people in one cook. Its wide oval shape is also ideal for large cuts of meat or for roasting a whole chicken, for example.

This model features a removable cooking pot and glass lid that lets you see what’s inside, without the need to remove it and interrupt your dish. The cooking pot has two subtly shaped handles on either side, which can be hot to touch after a cook, while two cool-touch base handles make it easy to move the pot around on the worktop.

Control wise, the Morphy Richards Red Evoke Sear & Stew Slow Cooker gives you a little more than your standard slow cook as it features a medium setting, for recipes that state 6-8 hours, as well as high setting, for those that recommend 4-6 hours and a low setting for up to 10 hours. What we particularly like about this model is the fact that you can use the inner non-stick pot on the hob to sauté your food before transferring it to the base for the slow cook. While there isn’t a specific reduce button, if the liquid feels too watery at the end of a cook you can also take the lid off, ramp the setting up to high and simmer until you achieve the perfect consistency.

6. The Crock-Pot TimeSelect Digital Slow Cooker

Intuitive control panel to plan your meals in advance

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H29.3 x W41.2 x D25.4cm | Capacity: 5.6L

VIEW NOW - AMAZON | £124.99

With a capacity of 5.6 litres, the Crock-Pot TimeSelect Digital Slow Cooker can make up to seven servings in one go and has ample room for large cuts of meat such as a leg of lamb or large chicken. We love the attractive stainless steel body of this design, which we think looks good in both modern and classic settings alike.

The Crock-Pot TimeSelect Digital Slow Cooker has a stainless-steel body that features a prominent and easy to read digital display. This includes both pre-set programmes and manual options. On board you’ll find a ‘Schedule Meal’ setting that lets you choose your optimal cooking time and temperature based on your choice of quantity and food type – be it red meat, poultry, soups and stews or vegetables – and set the time you want to eat. This means you can set the dish up to 12 hours in advance to start cooking at whatever time you want, so that you have a hot meal waiting for you when you come home.

For our lamb tagine dish, we used the manual controls that let us set the slow cooker on high for four hours. The countdown timer came in useful so we knew how long we had left and when cooking time had finished the auto keep warm function kicked in. After a four hour cook on high, the meat came out very tender and pulled away easily with a fork. As the liquid was a little thin we put the stoneware bowl in the oven to thicken up the sauce a little. As the bowl and glass lid are dishwasher safe we were able to clean them easily afterwards too.

7. Russell Hobbs Sous Vide Slow Cooker

A slow cooker with restaurant-quality settings

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: xx | Capacity: 6.5 L

VIEW NOW - ROBERT DYAS | £99.99

With a 6.5 litre capacity, this eye-catching modern slow cooker can easily create up to eight portions in one go. Its USP lies in the fact that it can perform more than your average slow cooker as it has a special sous-vide setting, which is a way of cooking that is often used in top restaurants to create a very succulent and tender dish. The process sees the food vacuum-sealed in a plastic pouch and slowly cooked in a temperature-controlled water bath. The appliance also comes with a temperature probe for times when you want to cook a perfectly tender whole chicken roast or large cut of meat, with holes in the lid to neatly insert the probe.

Design-wise, the Russell Hobbs Sous Vide Slow Cooker looks good on the worktop. With a modern all-black finish, it comes with large cool-touch handles and a dishwasher-safe removable ceramic inner pot. The pot itself can get quite heavy when full, but has a satisfyingly smooth finish to it that can be easily wiped clean. While the control panel is illustrated with icons rather than text, it is relatively intuitive to follow, and you can control the temperature and time of your classic slow cook manually, selecting high and low settings for your desired time. There’s also a handy timer and keep warm function.

After four hours on high we created a very tender dish with lamb falling off the fork with ease. The liquid did come out a little thin, but this was perhaps just us misjudging how much we needed, so we added some cornflour to thicken it up a little before serving.

While we tested this machine to see how successful its slow cooking feature, we were curious to try out the sous-vide setting too. You need to place your food in bags (that aren't included so you'll have to shop around for these separately) on a metal rack that sits inside the pot. We tried cooking the salmon on the sous vide setting and it came out a little too soft for our palette, so we had to pan fry the skin before eating. That said, if you're a fan of sous vide cooking, then you won't be disappointed with this appliance as it gives you the benefit of slow cooking and sous vide in one stylish and ergonomic design.

8. Salter Rose Gold Slow Cooker

An attractive and compact design that adds style and convenience

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: tbc | Capacity: 3.5L

VIEW NOW -  AMAZON | £41.99

With its black and stainless steel body, tempered glass lid and rose gold temperature control dial, the Salter Rose Gold Slow Cooker is an attractive and compact design. At 3.5 litres it can make between two and four servings at a time and its deep pot makes it particularly good for soups and stews.

While there is no digital display on board, the temperature control dial is easy to operate with a low, high and keep warm setting that you can simply click into place. Online at the Salter Cookshop website you can find a host of recipe ideas, but to get you started the instruction manual includes a few ideas including German Lentil Soup, Pulled Pork Sandwiches and Beef and Ale Stew. All of these recipes recommend high or low heat settings for a certain number of hours – between 4-6 on the high heat setting, and up to 10 hours on the low heat setting.

The only thing we would like to have seen on this slow cooker is a count down timer, so you can see exactly how long your dish has been inside. When used it to make a Lamb Tagine for four hours on a high setting, but had to sauté ingredients in a saucepan on a hob before adding to the pot. We were able to see the dish through the handy tempered glass lid and realised the stock needed topping up to stop it drying out. The meat came out well cooked after four hours on high, and the vegetables had a nice caramelised finish.

It includes a ceramic pot that is ergonomically shaped at the sides with substantial cool-touch handles so you can easily lift it out once you’ve finished cooking. The pot does get very hot while cooking however, so it's important to use your oven mitts to remove it after use. Unlike some of the slow cookers we have featured, the body of the Salter Slow Cooker also includes ample handles on its exterior, which means the complete machine is easy to lift and move around the worktop should you wish.

9. Tower Three Pot Slow Cooker, Food Warmer and Buffet Server

Cook and serve at the table

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: 3 x 1.5L | Capacity:H20 x W55 x D25.5cm

VIEW NOW - AMAZON | £46.99

An excellent choice for both the kitchen worktop and dining table, the Tower 3 Pot Slow Cooker features three compartments with a capacity of 1.5 litres each. Each pot sits snugly on board the 55cm wide black and steel base and has a tempered glass lid, which makes it easy to see your food inside. Three individual temperature controls allow you to switch between high, low and keep warm settings so you can cook different foods in each pot. This appliance would be ideal for making a delicious curry, including a dahl dish too.

In use, it’s important not to overfill the pots but keep them up to half full to ensure an even heat distribution. We used the slow cooker to make a lamb tagine, but split the meal into two so we had enough to serve up to four. We set these on High and noticed the liquid started to boil a little after half an hour, so we stirred it regularly to make sure the heat was evenly distributed and the liquid topped up. We used the third pot to make dahl, which came out piping hot. After cooking it was good to be able to switch each pot to the Keep Warm setting, until it was time to eat.

While the instruction manual explains what the settings are for, you will need to time the dish yourself as there isn’t a timer on board. You will also need to brown the foods in a separate saucepan on the hob before using the pots. The manual suggests cooking vegetable dishes and reheating food on a Low setting, and these won’t need to be stirred halfway through your cook. One hour on the high setting equates to two and a half hours on Low.

Each lid comes with a hook that allows you to hang the lid next to the dish so you can close it once you’ve finished. Although the lids get quite hot so you do need to ensure you use oven mitts, having a lid stand is handy when you're using it at the dining table. One thing to remember is that you will need to position the appliance so it’s near a plug socket, as at 69cm it's not the longest lead we've come across. Three large spoons inside is a nice touch, and come in useful when serving up.

10. Swan Retro Slow Cooker

Classic good looks in a variety of colours

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H22 x W33.2 x D26.5cm | Capacity: 3.5L

VIEW NOW - AO.COM | £32

The 3.5-litre capacity on the Swan Slow Cooker makes it a good size for cooking up to four portions at time. We love the retro styling of this model, which comes in pastel blue (pictured) as well as pastel green, grey, red, purple and yellow. There are also matching small appliances in the range, so if you’re keen to find a design that has classic good looks with a complementing kettle, toaster and more, then this slow cooker is definitely worth considering.

It comes with a non-stick ceramic pot so it’s easy to clean and the pot is also oven safe so you can use it in the oven too, which makes it a good option if you regularly cook casseroles, for example. The non-stick ceramic pot is easy to clean and oven safe, which means you can use it to perfect your casserole in the oven.

The Swan Slow Cooker comes with three settings on its basic dial, with a High and Low setting and a food warming option, which you can set it to once your food is cooked. Unlike some of the more high-tech slow cookers we’ve featured here, you will need to set the dial to the keep warm function yourself after your food is cooked. What’s more, whether you choose a High or Low setting, you will also need to time the meal yourself.

When making our lamb tagine, we found the High function on this model very powerful, and we needed to top up the liquid after an hour. The carrots were well cooked before the four hours we had planned and the meat seemed tender, so we only felt the need to cook the dish for three hours in total.

11. Lakeland Digital Slow Cooker

Contemporary design with useful settings

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H30 x W25 x D44cm | Capacity: 6.5L

VIEW NOW- LAKELAND | £59.99

With its white and black powder-coated wipe-clean exterior and digital control panel, the Lakeland Digital Slow Cooker is one of the more modern-looking designs we have featured in our round-up. Like the Morphy Richards Slow Cooker we have reviewed here, the Lakeland also has a large 6.5-litre capacity, which makes it ideal for cooking up to eight portions in one go.

It comes with an easy-to-read LED digital display that clearly indicates the settings offered including high, low, keep warm and delay start. There are also plus and minus buttons so you can adjust the timings to suit your recipe. A handy cancel button means you can stop your meal cooking at any time, which comes in useful if you look through the glass lid and realise your food is well cooked before the allotted time.

A plus point of the removable cooking pot inside is that it is both hob and oven safe. This means it can be conveniently used to sauté food directly on the hob, including induction surfaces, and placed in the oven after a slow cook to reduce any liquids or thicken up sauces. In the box, you’ll find an instruction booklet that tells you how to work the slow cooker, which also features useful tips and four recipes to get you started.

We used the design to cook for four hours on a high setting and we were able to check up on our food through the slow cooker’s glass lid. Three and a half hours in we noticed a lot of the water had evaporated and we decided to top up with a little more liquid stock. The dish came out a little more caramelised than we had intended, but it was delicious all the same.

Perfect slow cooking: tips and tricks

Elizabeth Brown, author of Perfect Slow Cooking, shares these essential tips on how to use a slow cooker

1. Make sure you always set the temperature correctly. If you are in a rush, you may wish to cook things at a higher temperature. If this is the case, you should be aware that the cooking time on ‘high' is just over half of that on ‘low.'

2. Make sure the slow cooker is positioned on a sturdy surface. You may wish to place it on a tea towel, which will absorb any liquid which spits or spills out. (It's also best to make sure the cooker is not touching the walls or any other appliances due to the heat it produces.)

3. Choose dried herbs over fresh, whenever possible. Fresh herbs will go brown and limp in the long, moist cooking process. Whole dried herbs and spices will release their flavour over time.

4. If you have any leftovers, remove them from the pot, transfer them to a clean container, let them cool slightly and then refrigerate and freeze. Don't allow food to cool in the slow cooker itself, as it retains its heat for a long time and bacteria can build up during the cooling process.

5. Don't be tempted to lift the lid to check on your cooking. The heat loss will extend your cooking time significantly. Every time you lift the lid, you can expect to add 20 to 30 minutes to your cooking time.

Slow cooker recipes

Elizabeth Brown, says: "Anything that is simmered, braised stewed or slow-roasted will work well in a slow cooker, but think beyond obvious candidates: risottos and desserts, for example, are easy to make in a slow cooker."

While your slow cooker will come with a booklet of recipes you can use, you needn't be limited in what you can make. You can easily adapt your favourite recipes for your slow cooker by remembering a few simple details.

The recipes that work best in a slow cooker require some kind of liquid, otherwise, the food can dry out quite quickly. It's not just casseroles and stews, risottos, pasta dishes, roasts and desserts can be cooked in a slow cooker, just remember to reduce the amount of liquid (unless it's rice or soup) to 1/2 as it won't evaporate in the same way. This is especially important if adding alcohol, as the alcohol content will not burn away in the same was as it does in traditional cooking.

General cooking times

Your slow cooker will have guidelines on timings in the manual but The Perfect Slow Cooker sets out this basic rule:

Conventional oven time = slow cooker time 15-30mins = 1-2hrs high/4-6hrs low 35-40mins = 3-4hrs high/6-8hrs low 50mins-3hrs = 4-6hrs high/8-18hrs low

Now that you know how to use a slow cooker, get inspired by our mouthwatering collection of slow cooker recipes.

The Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker 6L OP300UK is our pick as the best premium pressure cookers.

Its multiple cooking options, easy to navigate control panel and quick and intuitive features make it well worth worth stretching the budget on this large and versatile multi-cooker. The Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker has some of the best added extras compared to the models we've featured in our round up of the best pressure cookers for 2021.

Overall design

With its sleek black finish and large 43cm-high design, the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker 6L OP300UK isn't an appliance that you can easily hide on the worktop. If you're looking to invest in a pressure cooker such as this model, you really do need ample space on the worktop in which to house it and make it a permanent fixture in your kitchen - as opposed to an appliance that you plan to hide away in the cupboard after use.

In the box you'll find a range of useful tools included such as a 'cook and crisp' basket with detachable diffuser for cooking a whole chicken and crisping it after. There is also a reversible rack for steaming veg or grilling meats and a removable cooking pot, which you'll need to make sure is inside every time you use it. Unlike many of the pressure cookers we have tested, the Ninja is a little different in that it comes with two lids - one for carrying out functions such as pressure cooking, steaming and slow cooking - and the other specifically designed to crisp and grill foods - for that authentic oven-cooked finish.

The crisping lid is permanently attached to the body of the design and when using the pressure lid you'll need to ensure there is space above the appliance so that the crisping lid can remain open - while this can seem a little annoying at first, it's something you soon get used to, and if you have the space it probably won't bother you at all.

Dimensions: H43cm x W36cm x D32cm| Capacity: 6L

Cleaning

Cleaning the appliance is relatively straightforward - as all the accessories such as the removable cooking pot, silicone ring, reversible rack and cook and crisp basket can all be put in the dishwasher. While the pressure lid can be washed with warm soapy water, cleaning the crisping lid is slightly more fiddly as you have to clean it with a wet cloth or paper towel after the heat shield cools and it can't be removed from the base.

The exterior of the model is easy to maintain as the sleek, black finish - including the control panel - can be cleaned with a simple wipe down of a cloth.

Performance

Functionality wise it does so much more than pressure cook, and has 7 main features in one - hence the name. First up, we were keen to find out how well it could pressure cook a chicken and fig tagine. We found its large capacity bowl a great size to add the ingredients and ensure everything was evenly places as opposed to being piled on top of each other. The control display is also one of the more easier to use designs we'd used too.

Before pressure cooking, we could make use of the Sear/Sauté setting to brown the chicken and onion, then we added the rest of the ingredients and switched to the Pressure Cook setting - choosing 25 minutes on high. What we particularly like about this model is how easily you can adjust the temperature and time to suit your dish - with simple arrows well positioned to the right and left of the main time display - so if you feel it's not quite cooked enough on the first attempt, it's easy to simply start up the appliance again.

Steam release

There are two ways to release the steam after cooking - the natural release way - and you'll need to factor in at least another 20 minutes at the end of your cooking time to make use of this mode - and a quick release method, which can be activated by manually switching the pressure release valve to the Vent position. We were very satisfied with the look and taste of the chicken and fig tagine, which had a good colour, felt tender when we pulled it with a fork and the dish came out piping hot.

While the exterior is cool to touch, the removable cooking pot lacks any handles so it can be hot and a little fiddly to remove - especially when wearing large oven mitts. There is a lot of steam that comes out when you lift off the pressure release When lifting off the pressure lid, a lot of steam escaped, so it's advisable to open the lid away from your face.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48YewAVAsvE

TenderCrisp technology

Aside from the pressure cooking setting, what makes this model stand out is its TenderCrisp technology with its specially designed lid with grill plate - which comes in addition to the pressure lid. This means you can air crisp foods after pressure cooking to give them that crispiness and crunch using little to no oil, or grill them to caramelise and brown foods, or use the bake/roast setting to bake Sunday afternoon treats.

The booklet in the box comes with 15 recipes to get you started and we used the Ninja to follow the Soy-Glazed Salmon & Bok Choy recipe. What we like most about the 'one-pot' aspect of an appliance like this is the fact that you can add ingredients as you go and end up with a complete meal. For example, we started by adding rice to the pot and pressure cooking for two minutes. Once this was complete we added the salmon and bok choy by placing it on a the reversible rack in the pot over the rice, and used the crisping lid for 15 minutes. Once the cooking was complete we could simply take all the ingredients out and plate up to very quick and impressive results.

Value for money

Now reduced to £179.99 the Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker 6L OP300UK this product is still not exactly cheap, but with its vast range of features - to steam, pressure cook, slow cook, saute, bake, grill and gives food an enticing crispy finish - we think it's great value. And, will make a fabulous addition to the kitchen.

If you’re willing to spend a little more on a slow cooker and looking for a premium model with extra functionality, you might like to look at our Ninja Foodi Mini 6-in-1 Multi-Cooker OP100U review. And don’t miss the rest of our kitchen appliance reviews.

Overlook any memories of those dodgy-looking pans that used to rattle around on the hob, the best pressure cookers have improved tenfold in recent years.

From hands-on cooker-top versions to electric 'set and forget' designs, pressure cookers are perfect for preparing main dishes such as a pot roast, stew, curry and pasta.

You can also use them to create foodie staples such as mashed potato, homemade stock, soups and more. It’s a healthy way to cook too, as pressure cookers retain nutrients in the food without them breaking down as you cook. With easy to navigate controls, cool-touch exteriors and improved safety features, a pressure cooker is now an essential appliance part of any well-organised kitchen.

To trial the pressure cookers in our round up fairly, we prepared the same meal in each design – our pressure cooker chicken and fig tagine.

What to look out for when buying a pressure cooker?

If you need versatility look for a pressure cooker with extra features which will allow you to try different cooking methods. An electric multi-cooker version will offer the option to pressure cooker, alongside slow cooking, baking, dehydrating and air frying. 

Also look out for a safety valve that is well positioned so you don’t hurt your hands when you let out the steam after cooking. Sage, for example, has its steam release button conveniently located on the main control panel. Cooking at such a high temperature means the exterior of the pressure cooker can get remarkably hot. The best models have ‘cool to touch’ exteriors and handles, making the lid more comfortable to lift after cooking.

If you're not sure which size pressure cooker to buy, consider the number of people in your household and whether you want any leftovers. Compact 4.7 litre designs will comfortably create a meal for up to four people. Six-litre designs can easily provide a dish for up to six people and more – depending on your portion sizes. If you have more than six mouths to feed or like batch cooking, you consider the 7.5 litre Foodi Max 9-in-1 OP500UK by Ninja.

Best pressure cookers at a glance

Best pressure cooker overall: Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus - Amazon | £129 Best premium pressure cooker: Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker  - Ninja | £199.99 Best budget pressure cooker: Crock-Pot CSC051 - John Lewis | £74.96 

1. Best pressure cooker overall: Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 10-in-1 Multi Pressure Cooker

An easy route to quick and tasty meals for all the family

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H32.5 x W32.2 D33.1cm | Capacity: 5.7L

VIEW NOW AT AMAZON | £129

With its simple, stainless-steel and black body, it may not be one of the most stylish looking pressure cookers we've tested, but the Duo Evo Plus is one of the best. As well as providing a very easy way to cook food for fast and tasty results, it comes with a range of smart multi-cooking pre-sets. These enable you to bake, steam, sauté, make yoghurt, cook rice and grains and slow cook as well as pressure cook.

This multi-cooker lets you carry out more than its 10 pre-set features promised in the manual. You can use the control to adjust the temperature and time controls to suit your dish. Once you’ve chosen your type of cooking method - be it pressure cook or slow cook - then you can scroll through the range of options for specific ingredients such as seafood, pork, brown rice, stew, cheesecake and more.

There are two ways to vent the appliance to release the steam after use – either manually or naturally, both of which are straightforward with a simple click of a switch. While you do need room above to let the steam out, the switch is easy to access and we found it easy to release steam without hurting our fingers.

Read our in depth review of the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus

2. Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker 6L OP300UK

Pressure cook and crisp your way to delicious meals

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H43cm x W36cm x D32cm| Capacity: 6L

VIEW NOW AT VERY | £199.99

This six-litre multi-cooker is a ‘one pot that does the lot’. As well as pressure cooking foods up to 70% faster than conventional methods, it can crisp to give foods a delicious, crunchy fried finish. It comes with a large removable cooking pot and unlike the other pressure cookers, it also has a convenient 3.7-litre cook and crisp basket. This makes it easy to insert and lift out foods such as chips or a whole 2kg chicken.

There are seven cooking function on its easy-to-read display that also has controls to adjust the temperature and time manually. Choose from pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, steam, bake/roast, sear/sauté and grill. We found it easy to make our chicken tagine as we simply popped all the ingredients in, sautéd the meat and onions and pressure cooked on high for 25 minutes.

After cooking the machine switches to keep warm mode. There are two ways to release the steam - be it natural pressure release, which can take up to 20 minutes or more, and the quick release way. We opted for the latter, by simply switching the pressure-release valve to the vent position to let out the steam.

Best suited to kitchens that have enough worktop space, the black and steel finish of the OP300UK can look rather imposing. With it's wipeable exterior and ceramic-coated, non-stick dishwasher-safe parts, we found it easy to keep in tip-top condition.

Read our in depth review of the Ninja Foodi OP300UK.

3. Crock-Pot CSC051 Express Electric Pressure and Multi-Cooker

Traditional meets modern

VIEW NOW AT JOHN LEWIS | £74.96 

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H34 x W30.8 x D34.4 cm | Capacity: 5.6L 

Crock-Pot CS051 does much more than simple pressure cooking. On board you’ll find 11 settings to cook foods such as stew, rice, poultry, soup and more. We particularly like that it can slow cook too. Then there’s the brown and sauté feature, delay start and keep-warm modes to help you prep for and finish your meals. For our chicken and fig tagine we used the ‘meat’ button on a set time of 35 minutes. This is a powerful machine and the meat cooked quickly and tasted great.

With its round, streamlined body and basic black and stainless-steel finish, the CS051 isn’t quite like the classic Crock-Pot designs you may know well. Its modern design is easy to use and keep clean and you can simply wipe around the exterior and digital control panel. You can also remove the interior pot – that measures an ample 5.6 litre in capacity – for easy cleaning.

As the lid comes off completely, it’s easy to lift the pot out and clean around the sides. Inside the box you’ll also find a grill and spoon, and recipe booklet for inspiration.

The digital display includes an option to use the pressure cooker on a manual setting too, and the instruction booklet gives you a comprehensive guide on how long to set the timer. We found the dial easy to use as you can simply move the arrows up and down to change the time –  steam vegetables in 12 minutes, make rice in 12 minutes and pressure cook poultry in 15 minutes.

You can also choose between four and eight hours for low and hi settings. Make sure there is enough liquid in your pressure cooker before use. This can be either stock, water or – if it’s Friday night – a splash of wine.

4. Tefal Cook4Me+

A pressure cooker with step-by-step recipe instructions on board

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H38.1 x W36.5 x D35.5cm | Capacity: 6L

VIEW NOW AT AMAZON | £164

The Tefal Cook4Me+ is round and compact in design and is relatively unobtrusive on the worktop compared to other multi-cookers. The control panel is straightforward to use and basic in design, but the 100 on-board recipe ideas can be easily accessed. Choose from starter, main and dessert dishes such as lamb shanks, beef teriyaki stir fry and caramel pudding.

Using the Cook4Me app on your smartphone you can also access hundreds of pressure cooker recipes quickly. We found the digital LCD display and built in cooking assistant helpful, as it gives you step-by-step instructions on how to prep and cook your meal. This includes when to add the oil, brown the onions, add the chicken, etc. One dial makes it easy to access the recipe settings and a simple press of the OK button will start the machine.

As well as the pre-setting recipe guides, there is a manual setting feature, which lets you control the time and type of cooking you do – be it pressure cook, classic cook, reheat or keep warm. We chose to make our tagine using the manual instructions and in under 30 minutes we prepped, cooked and dished up our meal.

We particularly like the separate ingredients setting, including broccoli, apples or beetroot. Simply choose the food, press ok and the machine will work its magic. Bear in mind that this machine releases steam at intervals throughout the cooking process, so you’ll need to ensure there is ample space above it.

5. Sage The Fast Slo Pro

A high-tech multi-cooker with a wide range of options

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H32 x W35 x D35cm | Capacity: 6L

VIEW NOW AT JOHN LEWIS | £199.95

The Fast Slo Pro looks good and has an impressive range of features to match. It comes with 11 pressure cooker settings on top of its slow cook offering, and can automatically adjusts the time, pressure and temp to suit. The appliance stays cool to touch on the sides during cooking due to its stainless-steel construction. It also has a three-way safety system and hinged removable lid that can be unlocked and taken off for when its time to clean.

What we like most about this design is its LCD display. With a pressure indicator, temperature and countdown timer and steam release indicator, it gives you a good insight into what’s going on inside the pot. The eight pressure levels range from 1.5 psi to 12 psi, indicating how hot the cooker is going to get. It’s really easy to scroll between the settings and choose the specific food item such as chilli, stew and poultry, and then press start.

We found the fact that we could reduce the liquid at the end of the pressure cook a useful feature and this model can also keep warm, sauté, bake and more. If you prefer you can also use the custom setting to change the time and temperature as you see fit. The steam release button is also located on the main control panel – instead of at the top – which makes it safer to release steam after cooking.

6. Drew & Cole Pressure King Pro 12-in-1 5L Digital Pressure Cooker

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H x W x D cm | Capacity: 5L

VIEW NOW AT CURRYS | - £69.99

With 12 functions and a large five-litre capacity, the Drew & Cole Pressure King Pro is compact in design and will serve up to six people. Designed to cook up to 80% faster than traditional methods, it can handle a range of healthy and indulgent meals. We love the attractive and subtle styling on the Drew & Cole Pressure King Pro. As well as this slick chrome and black finish, it comes in gold, red or black.

It features 12 pre-set buttons with a digital display timer. Choose from specific settings for Stew, Soup, Rice, Meat, Fish, Pasta, Steam, Slow Cook, Browning, Keep Warm, Delay Timer and Fast Reheat. Using the Browning setting we sautéd the chicken inside the pot. It gets hot quite quickly, so you have to be mindful of the edges, but it works quickly and efficiently.

For this meal we used the Stew function and adjusted the time to 10 minutes. After pressure cooking it switches to the keep warm function. When cooking meat you need to use the slow release method to get the food out. This meant we had to wait for the pressure to release naturally, which took 15 minutes. After this point the chicken came out tender with a satisfyingly thick sauce. We found the fast reheat setting a particularly useful feature

Useful accessories with this kit include a steamer tray, measuring pot and spoon. We used tongs to release the pressure valve as it got quite hot. What we love about is that you can download a recipe app  – which has loads of recipes for pressure cookers – with new content being added to each week.

7. Lakeland 5.5L Pressure Cooker

A classic pressure cooker with a one-handed lid locking system

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions:  H33 x W21.5 x D25cm | Capacity: 5.5L

VIEW NOW AT LAKELAND | £99.99

The Lakeland 5.5L Pressure Cooker is one of the taller designs we've come across and its compact size is ideal for storing neatly in a side cupboard. It’s 5.5 litre capacity feels generous in design and we were able to effortlessly fit all our ingredients in the pan. We found its shape particularly good for spaghetti.

Unlike other pressure cookers, this design has a one-handed locking lid set up, with nothing to align before it clicks into place. This makes it easy to use – particularly if you’re trying to juggle a range of other things at the same time. All you need to do is put the lid on the pan, press the button on the handle and it will safely lock.

There are two pressure settings on board – one for fast cooking and one for a more gentler cook. The pressure release valve can be twisted to release steam at any time – should you want to insert ingredients into the pan mid cook – or just check on the cookers progress.

Once the cooker has reached full pressure a red indicator will pop up and you can start timing your cooking. Also in the box is an additional glass lid, which means the pot can be used like a normal pan on the hob. It can also be placed in the oven should you need to keep food warm or cook your dish further. This model is refreshingly simple to use. We simply browned the chicken, added the ingredients and stock liquid, popped the lid on and timed it for 15 minutes once it had reached temperature.

8.Tower 6L Pressure Cooker

A traditional design with a generous 6L capacity

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H23 x W44 x D23cm | Capacity: 6L

VIEW NOW AT ROBERT DYAS | £58.99

With a six litre capacity, this pressure cooker is light to handle and easy to lift. Although it's on the lower end of the budget scale, its stainless-steel body gives it a premium feel, making it great value for money. The pan is a good size to fit a decent amount of ingredients and liquid, so we found cooking the chicken tagine a breeze. The food cooked quickly and as the base is wide it was easy to brown the ingredients at the start.

The lid can feel a little clunky in hand and we found it a little annoying to store. But, once we’d mastered how to use its quick click and lock system, we appreciated how secure it felt in use. There are two pressure settings on the handle’s dial with a steam release option and indicator to let you know when the cooker has got to pressure. You have to be careful when releasing the steam as the valve can get hot so it’s worth wearing a glove.

To finish off its good-value spec, it comes with a steamer basket accessory. This is great for steaming fish, meat and veg.

9. Prestige Quick & Easy Aluminium Pressure Cooker

An easy to hold and use classic

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions:  H41.5 x W24.99 x D23cm | Capacity: 6L

VIEW NOW AT AMAZON | £44.99

Like both the Morphy Richards and Tower cooker-top pressure cooker designs we have included in our round up, the Prestige version comes with a 6-litre capacity. It also claims to cook meals up to 70% quicker. This is more than enough to cook a meal for a family of six and still have some leftovers for the next day.

While it only comes with one 10lb pressure setting, it can pack a punch when you’re trying to get dinner on the table quickly. We were able to prepare our chicken tagine in under 15 minutes, with satisfying results. While the pan gets hot in use, the heat-resistant handle is easy to use and features a visual pressure indicator and multi-functional locking system for safety.

It comes with a range of useful tools in the box including a separator, divider and wire trivet – ideal for steaming. While this is a very reasonably priced model with a range of tools for versatility, it’s worth bearing in mind that it isn’t suitable for induction hobs.

10. Tefal Secure 5 Neo 4L Pressure Cooker

A cooker-top pressure cooker ideal for small quantities

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions:  H20.4 x W45 x D30cm | Capacity: 4L

VIEW NOW AT ARGOS | £60

A stylish design with a stainless-steel body, this four-litre pressure cooker is ideal for preparing meals for two to four people. Reasonably priced for its functionality, it includes a steamer basket that's perfect for steaming vegetables. The pressure cooker can be used on a variety of hobs including induction and features a dishwasher-safe pot for easy cleaning.

We like the secure feel of the locking system on the handle of this cooker. We also like the simple way the settings are illustrated with specific icons for meat and vegetables. It’s easy to overcook food in a pressure cooker, so recommended settings like this are useful. We chose the meat setting for our chicken tagine, and found the pressure release valve was easily operated.

The body of the cooker gets quite hot and you have to take care when releasing pressure. But, the Bakelite handles remained relatively cool and comfortable to hold. A design like this works well as an accompaniment to an existing worktop tool such as a multi-cooker, as the simple pressure cooker can double up as a saucepan when you need an extra pot.

11. Morphy Richards 97700 6-litre Pressure Cooker

Compact and classic pressure cooker

Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Dimensions: H34 x W29 x D25.5cm | Capacity: 6L

VIEW NOW AT Currys | £67.99

This pressure cooker is generous in size, and its deep design allows you to cook enough food for up to six people. There are two adjustable pressure settings you can use here – a low and high setting.  And it comes with an indicator that is easy to read, letting you see when the pressure has been reached.

While the lid is a little bulky in comparison to the sleek body of the cooker, we found it easy to lock into place. In comparison to the Lakeland version we have featured in our round up, the Morphy Richard's doesn’t come with the option of a second lid. But, it is cheaper and the capacity is that little bit bigger. This pressure cooker can also be used on all hob types. We found the bonded, encapsulated base - that is designed to distribute heat evenly - did just that, impressively quickly in fact.

When making our chicken tagine recipe, we noticed how quickly it got to pressure - the meat was cooked in under 14 minutes. The main body of the pressure cooker can get quite hot during use, but the two stay-cool handles make it easy to lift off the cooker hob after use.

Is there anything you can’t cook in a pressure cooker?

Generally speaking you can cook anything in a pressure cooker, but some foods do better than others. Pasta can be cooked in a pressure cooker, but if left for too long it can come out a little unevenly cooked or soggy.

Likewise, fish doesn’t do that well in a pressure cooker as the process can make the flesh a little rubbery. Dairy is also a tricky one to get right in a pressure cooker as the high temperature can make it curdle or clump together.

If you have a recipe that involves dairy, try to include it at the end when less cooking pressure applied. There are lots of foods however that do particularly well in the best pressure cookers including beans, tough cuts of meat, soups and mashed potato.

Is the pressure cooker better than the slow cooker?

The best pressure cookers will speed up the cooking process, while retaining the nutrients. Use it to cook anything from cuts of meat, to stews and soups, in half the time you’d spend the more conventional way. A slow cooker on the other hand will gently simmer away over a longer period of time – usually between four and eight hours – to create a very tender finish, with meat that gently falls off the fork and stews that are full of flavour.