You don’t need a slow cooker to heat freshly opened tinned butter beans: according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, pulses from a tin only need to be heated according to the instructions on the label. A pan you already own or a microwave is a more practical choice. A compact slow cooker could be useful if you also regularly make small dishes using slow cooking; for larger portions or extra cooking functions, a bigger appliance or multicooker may be a better fit. Don’t use a slow cooker as your standard method for reheating chilled leftovers.
After a trip to the market, you simply want to eat a freshly opened tin and find out whether a slow cooker offers any advantage. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises heating pulses from a tin according to the instructions on the label.
You’d also like to make small stews, but the capacity and storage space need to suit the way you cook. Russell Hobbs Netherlands lists a 2-litre capacity and three heat settings for the Compact Home 25570-56.
You often make larger dishes or want to use other cooking methods as well as slow cooking. Tristar lists a 3.5-litre pot for the VS-3915; Tefal Netherlands lists functions including frying, steaming, cooking rice and slow cooking for the RK8121.
First decide whether you simply want to heat a tin. Then consider capacity and extra functions for dishes you plan to make regularly.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Heating only | Decide whether you’ll regularly make slow-cooked dishes as well as heating this tin. | I only want to heat an opened tin after a trip to the market, and don’t want to buy an appliance just for that one task. Around 42% of consumers say their main need is to heat food quickly. |
| Capacity and space | Compare your usual portion size and available space with the capacity and filling instructions for the exact model. | I make small stews and want the appliance to fit on my worktop and in my storage space. For around 33% of consumers, compact cooking is their main need. |
| Portions and functions | Check whether you make larger dishes and whether you’ll actually use extra functions, such as steaming or cooking rice. | I often cook for several people or want to use different cooking methods in one appliance. Larger portions or versatility are the main requirement for around 25% of consumers. |
Pulses from a tin have already been cooked and, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, only need heating. You don’t need a slow cooker for this.
First choose a suitable way to heat the tin. Only consider a slow cooker if you also want to make other slow-cooked dishes.
An extra appliance takes up worktop and storage space for a task that doesn’t require any further cooking.
A keep-warm setting doesn’t mean an appliance is suitable for reheating chilled leftovers. The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service advises against reheating leftovers in a slow cooker.
Reheat chilled leftovers separately until piping hot all the way through; then follow the manual if you need to keep them warm.
The 1.8-litre capacity listed for the Crock-Pot CSC080 comes from a UK product page and doesn’t confirm that this version is suitable for use in the Netherlands.
Before buying, check the full model code, electrical specification and manual for the product you’re actually choosing.
The Compact Home 25570-56 is a compact model to consider if you want to make small slow-cooked dishes as well as heat food.
The VS-3915 is a slow cooker with a larger stated pot capacity than the compact 2-litre model mentioned above.
The RK8121 is a multicooker for anyone who wants to use other cooking methods as well as slow cooking.
The CSC080 is an example of a compact size, not a confirmed Netherlands version.
These Joybuy products are worth considering if, as well as heating an opened tin, you want to slow-cook smaller or larger dishes, or use several cooking functions. You don’t need a slow cooker just to heat butter beans.
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Suits anyone looking for one appliance to cook larger dishes using several different methods.
The product information lists a 7.1-litre capacity and enough for up to 10 portions. Functions include slow cooking, steaming, frying or roasting, and keeping food warm.
Don’t use the inner pot on a hob or in an oven. Don’t use a slow cooker as your standard method for reheating chilled leftovers.
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An option if you’re looking for a compact appliance for slow cooking that can also handle other methods.
The product information lists a 2.6-litre capacity, 1000 W and three manual heat settings. Cooking, steaming and stewing are also mentioned.
The description advises against frying at high temperatures. Don’t use the appliance as your standard method for reheating chilled leftovers.
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Suits anyone looking for a larger capacity and several cooking functions for dishes beyond a tin of beans.
The product name lists a 5.6-litre capacity and three settings. The product information mentions 14 cooking functions and enough capacity for more than seven portions.
When using it as a pressure cooker, follow the stated filling limits. For ingredients that expand, such as beans, the description specifies the half-full maximum mark. Don’t use a slow cooker as your standard method for reheating chilled leftovers.
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An option if you want to make slow-cooked dishes for one to four people.
The product information lists a 3.3-litre capacity, 150 W, a ceramic pot and four heat settings. A keep-warm function is also mentioned.
According to the description, the ceramic pot isn’t designed for use on a hob or in an oven. Keeping food warm isn’t a way to reheat chilled leftovers.
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Suits anyone who wants to combine slow cooking with other functions and make larger portions.
The product name lists a 7.6-litre capacity and 9-in-1 functionality. The product information mentions 12 programmes, capacity for up to 10 portions, slow cooking, steaming and stir-frying.
When using it as a pressure cooker, follow the maximum fill line and don’t fill beyond the half-full maximum mark when cooking ingredients that expand, such as beans. Don’t use a slow cooker as your standard method for reheating chilled leftovers.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, pulses from a tin only need to be heated. Follow the instructions on the label; this advice doesn’t automatically apply to dried beans.
Don’t use a slow cooker as your standard method for this. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises heating leftovers all the way through until piping hot; the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service advises against reheating leftovers in a slow cooker. A freshly opened tin is different from chilled leftovers.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, let cooked leftovers cool within two hours, cover and store them in the fridge at 4 °C, and eat them within two days. Reheat leftovers all the way through and throw away anything left after reheating once.
Choose a capacity to suit your usual portions, available space and the filling instructions for the exact model. A stated pot capacity alone doesn’t tell you how much of a particular recipe the manual says you can cook.
Follow the manual for your chosen model for filling, settings and cleaning. A removable ceramic pot, such as the one Tristar lists for the VS-3915, doesn’t tell you anything about the cleaning instructions for other appliances.
