This slow-cooker beef stew recipe certainly satisfies when it's chilly outside. Each spoonful delivers tender bites of beef, ...

Best slow cookers for low-maintenance meals, tried and tested - These energy-efficient appliances are godsends in the kitchen ...

Add the beef to the slow cooker with the shallots ... When the casserole is almost ready, heat the butter in a frying pan and fry the mushrooms until golden brown and softened.

Also look for models where the removable inner pot can be used on a hob - the ability to sear meat or sauté veggies before whacking them into the slow cooker can transform dishes, adding flavour ...

Browning: I browned burgers in the models with a browning or searing function ... The reason, she explained, is that slow cookers break down the tough muscles of meat to make them tender.

As well as a slow cooker, you'll need a small beef chuck roast, a bottle of Heinz chili sauce, gingersnap cookies, and around seven carrots. I started by searing my chuck roast in a cast-iron pan ...