What Is The Best Multi Cooker, Australia Has? (and how can it make life easier)

Multi Cooker Reviews

The Best Multi Cooker on the Market

Ninja Foodi OP300

I’ve been amazed by just how much the foodi can do and how quickly I can get a fabulous meal on the table during the week. It’s been used almost daily since I bought it due to the convenience, cooking quality and super easy clean up. – Nardia

Specifications

• No. of settings: 10
• Capacity: 4 litres
• Item weight: 11.8 kg

I LOVE using a multi cooker but the one thing that bugs me sometimes is it’s so hard to get that crispy baked finish on my food or those lovely sticky sauces from broiling. Well, say hello to the Ninja Foodi!

Easily the most impressive multi cooker on the market, the Ninja Foodi not only has all of the great cooking functions you would expect with a multi cooker but it also comes with a specially designed crisping lid. Pressure cook your food as normal to achieve that delicious fall off the bone meat then attach the crisping lid and use the bake or broil setting to finish off the dish.

You can also use the Ninja Foodi for air frying, so that’s one less appliance you’ll have to buy. For those of you worried about non-stick coatings on the inner pots, this is also the only multi cooker I’ve found which actually has a ceramic inner pot instead and it’s still dishwasher safe so no less convenient than other options.

What we like

• It saves your time and cooks everything perfectly
• Easy to use and love the multi functions!
• Easy to clean and very versatile

What we don’t like

• It is pretty bulky so this requires a good amount of counter space

Click here to check price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

Best Crock Pot Multi Cooker Review

Crock-Pot Express Crock

I love using it for stewing and pressure cooking. Makes my life so much easier as I can make delicious ribs within 30 minutes or one of my favourite curries and leave my house without worrying about it. – Ewa

Specifications

• No. of settings: 12
• Capacity: 5.7 litres
• Item weight: 6.9 kg

This is one of the top multicookers on the market and I absolutely LOVE my Crockpot Express! In fact, I love it so much that I wrote an entire review post on it here. Check it out for an in-depth look into this model.

The CrockPot Express is powerful and incredibly affordable. It has 12 cooking functions including pressure cook, slow cook, saute, steam, rice/risotto, keep warm and more. It comes in either 5.7 litre capacity or 7.6 litre. I have the smaller size and it’s more than enough for a family of 4.

It’s sturdy the build quality is very impressive, the whole machine wipes clean and the bowl is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

I honestly cannot recommend this multi cooker enough, it literally changed my life and stopped me from stressing about dinner time. So far I’ve made cheesecakes, chillies, roasted joints, bolognese, lamb stews, beef casseroles, fried rice, soups, curries and so much more.

What we like

• Makes perfect meals and perfect rice
• It cooks extremely fast and bigger portions
• Incredibly silent and easy to use

What we don’t like

• The lid can be hard to clean

Click here to check price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

Best Philips All in One Cooker Review

Philips Premium Collection

Specifications

• No. of settings: 10
• Capacity: 6 litres
• Item weight: 8.14 kg

Philips is one of the best multi cooker brands and is well known for offering high quality appliances and the premium multi cooker is no exception. This model comes with a pretty good 10 cooking functions, including all the usual suspects, but it’s all the extra little features that make this multi cooker so impressive.

Firstly, this machine has an “add ingredient” ability meaning you can add delicate items towards the end of the cooking time. It also comes with two inner pots, one is stainless steel the other has a non stick coating. Both pots are dishwasher safe, as is the detachable inner lid which is usually a tricky part to keep clean.

The Philips Premium has a programmable timer so you can set the machine to start whilst you’re at work and come home to a meal ready to eat. Don’t worry if you get home a little later than expected, the automatic keep warm function runs for up to 12 hours.

It’s all the added little extras that really make the Philips premium one of the best multi cookers on the market.

What we like

• Love that it comes with a stainless steel pot
• Robust built and love the digital display
• Easy to use and very versatile

What we don’t like

• The manual does not provide clear instructions.

Click here to check price on Amazon

Best Tefal Multi Cooker Review

Tefal Multicook and Stir

Tefal Multicook has been a real handy addition to our cookware. We have made risotto, soups and stir fries… we chop ingredients, throw into the machine… then set and forget… and within an hour you have a meal! – Dom

Specifications

• No. of settings: 18
• Capacity: 1.8 litres
• Item weight: 5.82 kg

The Tefal all in one cooker is a sleek modern looking multi cooker with state of the art features to match. Much more than your average pressure cooker, this model boasts an impressive 18 cooking functions including slow cook, pressure cook, saute, bake, bread rising, steam and even crisp/fry!

The fuzzy logic technology will adjust the temperature to create the perfect cooking environment. You can also customise the cooking to your liking with fully adjustable temperature and timing as well as a “manual mode” allowing you to use this multi cooker just like a stovetop.

The non-stick inner bowl is spherical which is optimal for heat circulation which ensures even cooking. The feature that really makes this multi cooker stand out from the pack is its “self stir” function. No need to open the lid periodically to stir your food and make sure it’s not sticking as this machine does that automatically with the built in paddle.

For super easy cleaning, the Multicook and Stir even features a self rinse function. Just attach the special paddle, put water in the bowl press the self rinse setting then the bowl can be fully removed and placed in the dishwasher.

What we like

• Can make delicious risotto. Just set and forget!
• Smart stirring function is fantastic
• It’s very versatile and so easy to clean

What we don’t like

• The operation booklet is not so helpful. Learning how to use this model can be hard.

Click here to check price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

Best Breville Multi Cooker Review

Breville Fast Slow Pro

This makes fantastic soups, risotto, and spaghetti bolognese sauce. Heaps of capacity to make dinner and leftovers for another night. – Sandi

Specifications

• No. of settings: 12
• Capacity: 6 litres
• Item weight: 7.04 kg

This Breville all in one cooker is a great choice if you haven’t used a multi cooker before. Simply choose the slow cook or pressure cook function and then turn the dial to select the type of meal you’re making. The multi cooker will then do all the hard work for you by using dual sensors to monitor the internal temperature and make constant adjustments.

If you’re worried about releasing the steam after a pressure cook function, this machine has an automatic hand free steam release setting. The Breville Fast Slow Pro will choose the best release method from quick, natural and pulse, meaning you don’t have to risk getting your fingers burned.

The LCD display lights up a different colour when the machine is heating, cooking and pressure releasing which makes it easy to see, at a glance, what stage the machine is at.

What we like

• The manual is simple and helpful and the recipe book has a lot of good basic recipes
• Easy to use and pre-programmed settings are helpful
• Easy to clean either by hand or in the dishwasher

What we don’t like

• It takes some time to heat up

Click here to check price on Amazon

Best Sunbeam Multi Cooker Review

Sunbeam Aviva

I’m super happy with my pressure cooker. I’ve had it for over a year now. It never failed me and cooks everything I need in fraction of the time I’d need on the stove. – Kasia

Specifications

• No. of settings: 6
• Capacity: 6 litres
• Item weight: 6 kg

If you’re just looking for a reliable multi cooker with the basic settings, the Sunbeam Aviva is the multi cooker for you. This model has 6 cooking functions, as well as a 24 hour timer and an automatic keep warm function.

This sunbeam all in one cooker consistently gets 5-star reviews online and customers are very happy with the quality of build, despite the small price tag.

The Sunbeam Aviva has a large, easy to read and simple to use display panel and there are no complicated dials or controls to master. Simply choose the cooking function, use the arrows to adjust the time and press start. The machine will then display the cooking time remaining as well as what mode the machine is currently in. Easy!

What we like

• Easy to clean and easy to use
• Reasonably priced and has great functions
• Pressure cook and brown mode are fantastic

What we don’t like

• Some users said it doesn’t seal properly sometimes

Click here to check price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

More All in one Cooker Reviews

Tefal Cook4me+

Specifications

• No. of settings: 5
• Capacity: 6 litres
• Item weight: 6.4 kg

The cook4me is an impressive multi cooker that has 150 pre-programmed recipes. These guide you through which ingredients to add when and what cooking function to use according to the number of servings and type of meal you’ve selected. If you want to cook a specific food just choose from the list of 40 ingredients for suggestions.

If you prefer to go it alone, the manual mode has 5 cooking functions – pressure, steam, brown, simmer and reheat. The delayed start functions allows you to set the multi cooker to start whilst you are still at work and the 6 litre capacity makes this model big enough for most families.

My favourite thing about this model is that the handles are actually attached to the inner bowl, making it easy to lift the entire inner pot out of the machine to pour the contents out. It may seem like a small thing but my machine doesn’t have that and it’s almost impossible to get the bowl out while there is still food in it.

What we like

• Cooks very well and quick
• The recipe book and app make the shopping list easy
• Easy to use and has a lot of great functions

What we don’t like

• Takes to figure out the cooker and get used to it

Click here to check price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

Russell Hobbs Express Chef

Specifications

• No. of settings: 10
• Capacity: 6 litres
• Item weight: 6.4 kg

The Express Chef is a great option for anyone looking for a great entry level, budget multi cooker.

This cooker has all of the basic features you would expect and comes with an impressively low price tag. There are 10 pre-programmed pressure cooking settings for popular dishes like curries and stews as well as a rice cooker option and a slow cook function.

The Russel Hobbs machine has a delay start function and the 6 litre capacity makes it perfect for an entire family but with a very small footprint and small 6kg weight it won’t be obtrusive and ugly on your kitchen bench.

What we like

• It’s easy to release the steam/pressure
• Sauté option is fantastic
• Highly versatile and foolproof cooker

What we don’t like

• Silicone seal tends to absorb odour

Click here to check price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

MasterPro MPMULTICOOK 12-in-1

Specifications

• No. of settings: 12
• Capacity: 6 litres
• Item weight: 630 g

The MasterPro is a budget multi cooker with all of the basic functions you would expect as well as a couple of extras you might not. It’s the only multi cooker I’ve seen with a sous vide cooking function. The saute setting also has an adjustable temperature range of up to 200C, making it more powerful than a lot of other machines.

Unfortunately, with the lower price comes a lot less adjustability of the pressure cook and slow cook functions but, for its price point, I really think this machine is a good deal.

Another thing that’s slightly unique about the MasterPro is the display. It’s easy to read and the buttons include a worded label as well as icons making it super easy to read with a quick glance.

What we like

• Easy to use with very pleasing results
• Great quality and easy to clean
• Fast and no mess cooking

What we don’t like

• The instructions on the manual lacks clarity

Click here to check price on Amazon

Breville Multi Chef 9 in 1

Specifications

• No. of settings: 18
• Capacity: 5 litres
• Item weight: 7.9 kg

The Breville Multi Chef is a seriously handy little gadget that’s designed to be a whopping nine different appliances in one!

This multi-cooker will save you so much money and bench space. It’s a slow cooker, deep fryer, dough maker, bread baker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and more! There are a huge 18 programs to choose from within those broader categories, covering things like bread type and meat type.

The bread maker setting is the thing I’m most impressed with and I haven’t seen that function on any of the other multicookers I’ve tested. The machine has a 5-litre slow cooking capacity, 8 cup rice cooking, and makes 900g bread loaves.

What we like

• A very versatile cooker! You can easily have fresh bread in the morning
• Easy to operate and clean
• A great investment

What we don’t like

• None. Love this!

Click here to check price on Amazon

Breville The Multi Chef Cooker

Specifications

• No. of settings: 2
• Capacity: 10 cups
• Item weight: 3.7 kg

Breville Multi Chef is an advanced multi cooker known to deliver slow cooked meals, rice, risotto, as well as saute or steam your vegetables. This cooker would look good in any kitchen as the brushed stainless steel finish makes it look quite appealing, and it comes at a reasonable price. 

The Multi Chef has many convenient features such as an auto off function, a removable cord which makes it easy for serving, the lid is dishwasher safe, and the cooking bowl has a non stick coating making it easy to clean,  The stand out feature of this cooker is its risotto function which produces admirable results. 

In terms of capacity, this cooker can make 10 cups of rice and 3.7L slow cooking capacity. The ease of use and stress free cleaning makes this a go-to appliance within the household. 

What we like

• It is compact and easy to use
• Fantastic risotto function
• Great built at a reasonable price

What we don’t like

• The capacity can be small for some

Click here to check price on Amazon

Click here to check price on Catch.com.au

Kenwood Multi Smart Thermo Cooker

Specifications

• No. of settings: 6
• Capacity: 4.5 litres
• Item weight: 14.2 kg

Owning the Kenwood Multicooker, also known as kcook multi smart, is like having an extra pair of hands in the kitchen! Although it does come with a hefty price tag, fresh and healthy meals can be created with minimal skills, saving you time and effort. This cooker stands out due to its versatility. 

The direct prep attachment which comes with the cooker will slice, grate and shred your ingredients for you, straight into the cooking bowl or separately. The cooker’s wide temperature range starts from 30℃ and can be stretched to 180℃, which means you can stir fry, saute, slow cook or fry your meal. The steamer attachment and food warmer are also a great bonus! 

You can connect to the weighing scale with Bluetooth and add ingredients as you go. The Kenwood app will provide you with over 400 recipes. You can receive notifications on your smartphone or device when the meal is ready, which is quite a handy feature to have in this day and age! 

What we like

• A real time saver and comes with a lot of attachments
• The recipe app is fun and has a lot of interesting recipes to try
• Very versatile at a reasonable price

What we don’t like

• Takes a bit of time to get the hang of it

Click here to check price on Amazon

What is a Multi Cooker and How to Use One

A multi cooker is an electrical kitchen appliance that performs the cooking function of a number of other appliances. It looks like any other pressure cooker or slow cooker except it usually has many more buttons and dials, reflecting the large number of cooking options available.

The best all in one multi cooker lets you simply place all your ingredients in the bowl inside the unit, fit the lid (which can be pressure sealed or left unsealed) and select the correct cooking function.

You may hear the best multi function cookers referred to as all in one cookers, multicookers or in some cases pressure cookers (although not all pressure cookers are multi cookers).

Find our choice of best pressure cookers here

What Functions Does the Best All in One Cooker Need?

The best multi purpose cookers in Australia have a huge range of different cooking functions but there are some standard functions that any multi cooker worth buying needs to have.

• Brown/Saute – This function is absolutely vital as you need to brown meat before pressure cooking or slow cooking. There is no point in having the best all in one pressure cooker if you first have to use a separate pan to brown the meat.

• Pressure Cook – This setting traps the steam from boiling liquid inside the pot and increases the pressure which, in turn, raises the boiling point of the liquid and forces moisture into the food. This process means dishes cook a lot faster than conventional methods.

• Slow Cook – The opposite of pressure cooking. This setting cooks food very slowly at a very low temperature which tenderises the meat and infuses flavours very thoroughly. Find the best slow cookers here.

• Rice Cooking – If you’re looking to replace as many appliances as possible, definitely get a multi cooker with a rice cook function. I’m a great cook but for some reason, I’m always burning rice. Now that I have a multi cooker I just throw the exact measurements in, set a specific time and I never have any trouble.

At a very minimum, you should buy a multi cooker with the above functions but also look at getting as many of the below functions as possible:

• Air Fryer – Yep, some newer multi-cookers can even air-fry!!! Find the best air fryer here.
• Steam Cook
• Yoghurt Maker
• Poultry
• Beans/Chilli
• Keep Warm – Great if you want people to just serve themselves as they wish.

Features to Look For

Size/Capacity

Even the very best rated multi cooker won’t be suitable for you if it’s too small to make enough food for your family.

All in 1 cookers come in different capacities, usually ranging from 4 litres up to 10 litres. You’ll need to consider how many people you cook for regularly, whether you like to make extra for the freezer and what types of meals you want to make (large roasting joints will need more space).

I have a family of 4 and we like to make extra to freeze. Our cooker has a 5.7 litre capacity and it’s big enough although, if buying again, I’d probably size up as it’s so convenient to use the multi cooker to fill the freezer quickly.

Power

The power of machines really does vary. I’d used a friends’ multi cooker before I bought one myself. The first time I used our new one on the “pressure cook” setting I was surprised how much more powerful it is and I accidentally liquified our dinner by cooking it for too long!

If you plan on using your multi cooker regularly you choose an appliance with a higher wattage.

Ease of Use

The best electric multi cooker needs to be simple to use, otherwise, you’ll get frustrated and leave it in the cupboard. The Crock Pot Express Multi Cooker I bought is so easy to use and after just one or two meals I had it down to an art. Now it permanently lives on our kitchen bench and I use it nearly every day.

Look for something with a simple display, control panel and that has the buttons or dial clearly labelled. Some appliances use little pictures instead of text to show the function and, personally, I think that can be confusing. I also like a machine that shows a countdown display so you can see exactly how long there is left until dinner is ready.

Most of the best multi pressure cookers on this list come with clear instructions and recipe books that run you through every function step by step.

Cleaning

Make sure to choose a multi cooker with a removable bowl that is dishwasher safe. Cleaning an electrical appliance that you can’t put in the sink is time consuming and awkward.

Don’t forget to choose something with a wipe clean display panel and buttons that don’t have any small gaps or cracks where food can get stuck easily.