By sealing food in pouches, the juices and subtle flavours that could otherwise be lost during conventional cooking are retained. They aren’t just for stews and casseroles either. In fact, they're real multi-taskers, even up to the challenge of cooking a whole cut of meat – including sweet and salty coca cola ham or a tender beef joint. Vegetarian family favourites such as macaroni cheese are also a go-to. Take a look at our collection of must-cook slow cooker recipes for more inspiration.

As with many slow cookers, the inner pot can't be used on the hob (although it is oven safe), so I did need to sear meat and soften vegetables in a separate pan on my hob first before adding them to the pot. This did create a bit of extra work with washing up, but it wasn't too much of a chore. Slow cookers range in capacity, from a compact 1.5 litres up to 7 litres. As a general guide, a 1.5 to 2.3-litre capacity is great for two people, a larger 4 to 4.5 litres will feed four, and 5.5 to 7 litres is ideal for four to six people. There are 3 different heat options - low and high - letting you tailor the temperature to a wide range of dishes, as well a warm function so food is cooked throughout the day, ready for when you get home from work. The Russell Hobbs Good to Go Multicooker is a true multi-tasker. Armed with a variety of capabilities, you can make sure that your meat is cooked just right before you cut it open, or fill up a water bath for succulent sous vide fish or veggies. This digital slow cooker comes with a removable control dial on its front control panel, which has pre-set modes for steaming and stewing as well as high and low manual temperature levels. There is also a keep warm mode.

Our verdict

The only downside I found with the design was that the base material was quite tinny and thin, which made it feel a bit flimsier than other slow cookers I've tested. That said, this means it's pleasingly light, so it's easy to manoeuvre around the kitchen, even when it has the ceramic pot inside. A keen home cook, she loves nothing more than whipping up new creations and experimenting in the kitchen, which often includes testing out and researching the latest time-saving kitchen must-haves including slow cookers, multi-cookers and recipe boxes. The results were great – it produced delicious casseroles and tender meat and vegetables. The outer body was a bit tinny, however, which made it feel less sturdy compared to other slow cookers I've tested, but all in all, I was impressed – this is a great buy for your kitchen. A one stop pot for cooking all of your curries, soups, stews and casseroles, this stainless steel Tower manual slow cooker makes preparing family meals hassle-free.

Most slow cookers will have similar standard controls – high heat for meals cooked in less than a few hours, low heat for all-day cooking. A 'keep warm' mode should hold food at a serveable temperature without actually cooking it. Some cookers will switch to 'keep warm' automatically after an elapsed cooking time, while more basic models need this altered manually. Not quite what you’re looking for? Discover more ways to make tasty hearty meals using our vast range of air fryers to microwaves, you can find everything you need at Robert Dyas. Find more ways to save on energy around the home with our super handy blog post. Save time - Prep your meals the night before then turn your slow cooker on low all day and come home to a delicious meal Tower is an iconic British brand boasting over 100 years of quality in manufacturing and design excellence. Tower is the UK’s fastest growing SDA & Housewares brand loved by millions of households You can place the cooking pot in the dishwasher or wash by hand fairly easily. The Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker also has a basket insert and can be used to air fry other treats when not in use as a slow cooker. Is this the future of slow cooking? We think so.

Cooking in the Tower 3.5L Cavaletto Slow Cooker: how easy is it to use?

Related: The best food processor for blending, chopping and dicing Cooking in the Tower 3.5L Cavaletto Slow Cooker: how easy is it to use? Some slow cookers will automatically shift to this mode after a programme has ended, while others require switching manually.