Autumn marks the arrival of hearty stews. Those light, summer salads just don’t cut the mustard come October! What better then, than a slow cooker? The ingredients go into the pot in the morning – and as if by magic – a delicious, warming stew or casserole appears in the evening.

Preparing a meal in a slow cooker means flavours have time to mingle and evolve. You’ll find hundreds of recipes and tips in books, magazines or the internet. There’s usually enough to last a couple of days. All you need is crusty bread… or throw in a few dumplings to maximise the joy! 

1. 5L Digital multi cooker with stirring paddle: £55, Tesco
2. Russell Hobbs Creations multi cooker: £89.99, Argos
3. Crock-Pot digital slow and multi cook: £119.99, Lakeland
4. Giles & Posner 5.7L sous vide slow cooker: £69.99
5. 6.5L brushed digital sear and stew slow cooker: £59.99, Morphy Richards