A slow cooker is the countertop appliance built for slow cooking: a thermostatically controlled electric base holding a lidded earthenware or glass pot. Food goes in raw or seared in the morning, the cooker holds it at a steady low temperature all day, and dinner is ready with no attention in between. The sealed lid traps moisture, so nothing dries out and flavours concentrate, and the low, even heat is ideal for stews, curries, pulled pork, and porridge. Energy use is modest, roughly a light bulb’s worth. The trade-offs are the inability to brown properly inside the pot and the need to plan ahead. For busy households it is the closest thing to a cook that works while you are out.