slow cooker: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Everyday, informal, culinary
Quick answer
What does “slow cooker” mean?
An electrical countertop appliance for cooking food at a low temperature over many hours.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An electrical countertop appliance for cooking food at a low temperature over many hours.
A method of cooking characterised by long, slow, moist heat, often used to tenderise tougher cuts of meat or to cook food unattended. Can also be used metaphorically to describe a prolonged, simmering situation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is standard in both varieties. In historical UK usage, 'crock pot' (a US brand name) was less common, but is now recognised due to global marketing.
Connotations
Connotes home cooking, convenience, and hearty meals in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally frequent in both UK and US English as the generic term for the appliance.
Grammar
How to Use “slow cooker” in a Sentence
[Subject] + put/prep/throw + [ingredient] + in/into the slow cookerThe slow cooker + cooks/simmer + [food] + for + [time]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “slow cooker” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- I'm going to slow-cook a lamb shoulder for Sunday lunch.
- This cut is ideal for slow-cooking.
American English
- Let's slow-cook those ribs all day.
- She prefers to slow-cook her chili.
adjective
British English
- It's a classic slow-cooker recipe.
- The slow-cooker function on my multi-cooker is brilliant.
American English
- I found a great slow-cooker pot roast recipe online.
- This is a slow-cooker meal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in retail, appliance manufacturing, or culinary business contexts.
Academic
Rare, possibly in food science or domestic technology studies.
Everyday
Very common in domestic and food-related conversation.
Technical
Used in appliance specifications, cooking instructions, and recipe writing.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “slow cooker”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “slow cooker”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “slow cooker”
- Using 'slow cooker' as a verb (e.g., 'I will slow cooker the beef' – incorrect). Correct: 'I will cook the beef *in the* slow cooker.'
- Confusing 'slow cooker' (appliance) with 'pressure cooker' (opposite method).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Crock-Pot' is a famous brand name of slow cooker. The terms are often used interchangeably, but 'slow cooker' is the generic term for the type of appliance.
It is generally not recommended for food safety reasons, as the frozen food may spend too long in the 'danger zone' temperature where bacteria can grow.
No, it typically uses less electricity than a conventional oven because it cooks at a much lower wattage over a longer period.
Tough cuts of meat (like chuck roast, pork shoulder), stews, soups, chilis, beans, and certain desserts like rice pudding excel with slow, moist cooking.
An electrical countertop appliance for cooking food at a low temperature over many hours.
Slow cooker is usually everyday, informal, culinary in register.
Slow cooker: in British English it is pronounced /ˌsləʊ ˈkʊk.ər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌsloʊ ˈkʊk.ɚ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A political slow cooker (a situation developing slowly but surely)”
- “Let it simmer in the slow cooker (allow an idea to develop slowly).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'LOW and SLOW' – it cooks food SLOWLY at a LOW temperature.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE KITCHEN IS A WORKSHOP / THE APPLIANCE IS A TOOL (for tenderising, melding flavours). TIME IS A RESOURCE (it saves active cooking time but uses more clock time).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary advantage of a slow cooker?