Our ode to counter space: The best multi-cookers on the market

Appliances are officially on notice. 

They cause clutter, they can be hard to clean, and it seems they're replaced by something bigger and better almost monthly.  

Yet despite ourselves, we love to buy them. That's because even though we can acknowledge their faults, the right appliance can be a godsend in the kitchen. They're our little sous chefs – whirring and working in the background to deliver rice, stews, air-fried nuggets, dehydrated fruit and the like. They save us time. They certainly save us money.

That's where multi-cookers really sing for their supper. They justify their counterspace with multi-functionality, performing three, four, eleven (!) different tasks. 

And while the last thing any of us needs is another appliance, if they can work a little harder, show us a little more pizzazz, then our ears are cocked. We're interested. 

Here are some options for your kitchen bench.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 Multi Cooker

$319 here

11-in-1 sounds futuristic, but the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 Multi Cooker is the ultimate talent when it comes to multitasking.

It can act as a slow-cooker, pressure cooker, grill and an air fryer, while also offering options like dehydration, sous vide, and even yoghurt-making. And given how much it can achieve, it's a pretty reasonable price at just $315.

Philips Dual Basket Air Fryer 3000 Series

Was $399, now $319.20

While air fryers are pretty common in kitchens these days, a dual-basket option is a game-changer. This one from Philips has a generous six-litre drawer and a three-litre drawer, so you can make meals for the whole family with ease.

To find out more, check out our review of this air fryer here.

Crock-Pot Express Easy Release Multi-Cooker

Was $219, now $175.20

Giving you the option to pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sear, boil, or simmer, you have almost any option available to you when using the Crock-Pot Express Multi-Cooker. It can cook a meal in under 20 minutes, or slow cook all day until you're home from work and ready to eat. The easy-release steam release dial also keeps your hands away from the steam.

Breville 32L 1200W The Combi Wave 3-in-1 Convection Oven

$649 on The Good Guys$799 on Breville

The Breville 32L Combi Wave combines an air fryer, convection oven and microwave, with a range of different options and functionalities for all your food needs. 

You can cook dinner from frozen and have it on the table fast. It also comes equipped with a handy melt chocolate or soften butter option, which is much-needed when you're in a baking pinch.  

Breville The Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker

$373 on Amazon$419 on Breville

You can use the Breville Fast Slow Pro Multi Cooker for rice, risotto, desserts, curries, pulled pork and more – if you follow the advice of one enthusiastic reviewer, anyway. They were one of many raving about the utility of this appliance. Another even called it a "magic pot". 

Panasonic 4-in-1 Microwave

On Amazon for $807

Steam, grill, microwave and bake in the Panasonic 4-in-1, with air fryer-adjacent capabilities. While it doesn't list air fry as one of its four functionalities, this multi-cooker does something very similar with its grill tray feature. It claims to oven-cook your food while getting rid of the excess oils. 

Panasonic Induction Heat Rice And Multi-Cooker

Get it on Amazon for $319Get it on the Good Guys for $369

The Panasonic Induction Heat Rice and Multi-Cooker cooks rice perfectly, but it also comes with a range of functions to make one-pot meals. You can also steam, make soups and cakes. And with non-stick coating and temperature control, you don't have to worry about any sticking to the pan. 

GreenPan 6L Slow Cooker

$255.20 on GreenPan

And now for a multi-cooker that's retro-cute to boot. The GreenPan 6L Slow Cooker gets our vote for most aesthetically pleasing – and it doesn't hurt that it can sear and sauté, as well as slow cook, roast, and steam, so you can perform almost all functions in the one pot. 

It has a non-toxic, non-stick coating on the pot too, which is nice and easy to clean (it can be chucked in the dishwasher). It also comes in a range of other colours, like light blue, pine green, and navy.

READ NEXT: The top six must-have accessories to become a pizza-making pro