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Everyone might be talking about air fryers, but the humble slow cooker hasn't gone away – and it's one kitchen gadget we wouldn't be without. Throw some meat, vegetables or pulses into the pot in the morning and by dinner time you have a perfectly cooked meal ready to serve. In our time-pressed, busy lives, what could be better?
We're big fans of slow cooking but less keen on unsightly appliances cluttering up our worktops. The Laura Ashley China Rose collection from VQ makes this a thing of the past: its everyday appliances are also beautiful objects, with Ashley's signature floral patterns adorning every model. As well as a slow cooker, the range also includes a toaster, hand blender, kettle and more, so you can co-ordinate your gadgets with your decor.
This slow cooker promises to be an appliance you'll actually want to display on your counter, but is it all style over substance? We tested the Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker to find out…
Jump straight to:
- Summary
- How we tested
- Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker review
- Where to buy the Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker
- Our verdict: should you buy the Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker?
- Looking for more?
Summary
With its intuitive functions and comprehensive user guide, the Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker makes it easy to create low-effort home-cooked meals from scratch.
- Buy now from VQ
How we tested
I tested the slow cooker by following the set-up instructions in the manual and using a trusted recipe for ginger chicken to cook a curry for six people. I looked at how easy the appliance was to operate and clean, and whether it cooked the food in the expected time. As I've been cooking for years with a Morphy Richards 3.5L slow cooker, I was also able to compare the functionality and performance of the two. I considered the heat settings, the materials used for the cooking pot and the success of the finished dish to determine whether the Laura Ashley slow cooker is worth purchasing.
Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker review
Key features
- 3.5-litre capacity
- Three heat settings (Low, High and Keep Warm)
- Removable dishwasher- and oven-safe pot
- Tempered glass lid
- Stainless steel outer
- Non-slip feet
- Laura Ashley China Rose design
- 2-year manufacturer's guarantee
- Height 22cm, width 36cm, depth 25cm
Design – 5/5
With its distinctive Laura Ashley floral print and matching blue and white details, this is an appliance to keep on your countertop rather than hide in a cupboard. It would look lovely in a cosy farmhouse or Shaker kitchen, and it added a welcome pop of colour to my dark 90s-style decor. Displaying a few co-ordinating appliances in the range would be an easy way to bring a dated kitchen back to life.
The slow cooker is designed to make up to five portions, more than enough for the average family. The recipe I tried easily fed four adults and two children, with another inch of cooking space left in the pot before it reached its maximum capacity. For bigger families, dinner parties or batch cooking, though, you could easily run out of space. There's also a Laura Ashley 6.5L slow cooker available, which may be a better option if you're regularly catering for a crowd.
While I wouldn't want to show off the non-stick cooking pan of my trusty Morphy Richards slow cooker, the white ceramic pot that comes with this appliance would make a stylish serving dish on the dinner table. It is, however, very heavy – even when empty – and I'd be a little nervous about lifting and carrying it when full.
Functionality – 4.5/5
In terms of functionality, the Laura Ashley slow cooker keeps things simple. There's one dial with an off switch and three cooking settings: Low, High and Keep Warm. You can cook your food on either Low or High for the required amount of time, then switch it over to Keep Warm to maintain the serving temperature until you're ready to eat. I don't usually track cooking time too closely when using a slow cooker (it's one of the advantages of this style of cooking, after all), but can see the Keep Warm setting being useful for anyone who does. I tried it at the end of cooking and the food was plenty hot enough when served.
This slow cooker doesn't have the extra functionality of some comparably priced models – likely because you're paying for the beautiful design and branding instead. There's no timer function or temperature indicator, and no option to turn off automatically or switch seamlessly to the Keep Warm function at the end of cooking. These would all be useful features to have, but even without them the cooker still did everything I needed.
Ease of use – 4.5/5
With its simple functions and one-dial operation, this slow cooker is really easy to use. Give the bowl and lid a wash before first use, plug it in and it's ready to go. The user manual, however, goes above and beyond. As well as the basic usage instructions, it also has a detailed guide to slow cooking. I was particularly impressed with this, as it covers lots of things you'd expect from a dedicated slow-cooker cookbook. There's guidance on the best ways to prepare meat and vegetables for slow cooking, tips on how to thicken sauces, and advice on when to add dairy products to avoid them breaking down during cooking.
Alongside everything you need to improvise your own meals from scratch, the booklet also includes some recipes to get you started. There are vegan, vegetarian and meat dishes to choose from, and I’m looking forward to trying the Spicy Peanut Stew and Vegetarian Lasagne. But on closer inspection it's not quite as good as it seems: the BBQ Ribs and Pulled Pork are effectively the same recipe with a different cut of meat, the Vegetarian Pot Pie has the wrong instructions, and two recipes feature the same image. These things detract from an otherwise really useful resource.
Performance – 4/5
The first thing I noticed when I switched on the slow cooker was the dimness of the on/off light. I had to turn the appliance on and off again to check it was working. I can see why VQ has chosen a blue indicator light – red would be jarring against the pretty floral design – but it really needs to be brighter. If you're likely to forget that the cooker is switched on, or need to warn little hands to stay away in a busy family kitchen, then an easily visible light is essential.
Once switched to the required temperature, the cooker quickly began to heat up. On the High setting, it wasn't long before the liquid in the pan began bubbling. My chicken curry boiled steadily for four hours, with no signs of burning at the edges and only a little dried-on liquid on the sides of the pan. My Morphy Richards cooker needed regular stirring on the High setting to prevent browning at the edges and keep the meat from drying out at the top, so I was pleased with how little attention this one demanded.
On the downside, the ceramic pot does take much more time to clean than the non-stick pan I'm used to. It needed thorough soaking and scrubbing – and there are also numerous warnings in the user manual about the risk of it cracking from temperature shock if you switch between hot and cold liquids too quickly. It is dishwasher safe, though, and can also be used in the oven. Being able to finish dishes in the oven or under the grill is a big bonus, as it means you can add crunchy breadcrumb or cheese toppings to casseroles, or cook a pie in stages without needing to change to a different dish.
Value for money – 4.5/5
The Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker has an RRP of £59.99 from VQ, though it can currently be found for £49.99 at Amazon and other retailers. While you can buy 3.5L slow cookers cheaper, or get models with extra features such as timers at a similar price point, the big selling point of this one is its looks. If you're searching for an eye-catching, stylish appliance to display on your countertop, or to co-ordinate with a modern farmhouse kitchen, then it represents great value for money. There's also a two-year extended warranty (if you register the product online) for added peace of mind.
Where to buy the Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker
Buy now from VQ.
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Our verdict: should you buy the Laura Ashley 3.5L slow cooker?
Whether you're new to slow cookers or looking to upgrade your current model, the Laura Ashley 3.5L is a great option. It's beautiful to look at, easy to operate, and ideal for everyday family use.
Looking for more?
Complete your kitchen gadget collection with the Laura Ashley 4-in-1 hand blender set.
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