We recommend multi cookers that score at least 80% overall and don't show any scratch marks on the cooking surface following our tests.

The overall score is made up of cooking performance (60%) and ease of use (40%).

The lamb shanks test assesses how well the pressure cooker can cook melt-in-your-mouth meat that falls off the bone, with good flavour development.

The chilli shredded beef test (with dried beans) assesses how well the pressure cooker can cook a rich, fully flavoured sauce, tender beans, and meat that falls apart.

The lamb shanks test assesses how well the slow cooker can cook melt-in-your-mouth meat that falls off the bone, with good flavour development.

Brown rice is cooked in the pressure cooker, to assess how well it maintains the desired level of heat at a lower temperature for the duration of cooking.

Jasmine rice is cooked using the rice/steam function to assess how well it cooks rice without sticking.

Ease of use is broken down into ease of assembly and storage, quality of instructions, ease of using controls and functions and ease of cleaning. All these aspects are weighted equally. The external temperature of the cooker surface, handles and controls during operation is also checked.

Following the tests, we assess the condition of the non-stick surface and note if it has been scratched or not.

This is the manufacturer's recommended retail price. Prices are generally always flexible, so shop around both online and in bricks-and-mortar stores for options.

This is the annual cost to cook a meal on low and high slow cooking functions, three days a week at 30c/kWh.

This is the annual cost to pressure cook a meal, three days a week at 30c/kWh.

This feature allows you to program the multi-cooker to start cooking at a pre-set time.

A multi-cooker with pre-programmed settings is easy to use and has many functions.

Does the multi-cooker offer a sauté, sear or browning setting?

Does the multi-cooker offer slow cooking on low and/or high?

Does the multi-cooker offer pressure cooking on a low, medium and/or high setting?