Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker review: our verdict on this versatile kitchen gadget

Overall star rating: 5/5

Price on writing: £70 | Buy now from Amazon

What we like

• Eight functions in one

• Can sear and slow cook in the same pot

• Large capacity

• Digital display and timer

• Automatically switches to keep warm mode after slow cooking

• Easy to use and clear instructions for each setting

• Lightweight

• Dishwasher-safe pot and lid

• Good value for money

What we don't like

• Bulky

• Pricey if you're only buying it for one function

• Control panel icons aren't intuitive initially

• Difficult to drain the pot if using the boil function

Our verdict

• Ease of use: 4.5/5

• Ease of cleaning: 4/5

• Features: 5/5

• Results: 5/5

• Design: 4/5

• Value for money: 5/5

£70 might seem expensive for a slow cooker, but the Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go is so much more than just that. It has eight impressive functions, including sear, slow cook, roast, sous vide, steam, rice, boil and keep warm, so it offers excellent value for money. The only missing multi-cooker feature it might leave you hankering after is an air fryer setting, but you'd typically pay a lot more for a device with that included.

My favourite feature of this impressive multi-cooker was the ability to sear and slow cook in the same pot without the need to use the hob at all. The keep warm setting was fantastic too – at the end of the cooking time, it automatically switched to this mode so food wasn't overcooked but was still hot when I was ready to eat.

The downside is that it's bulky and wide; it took up a lot of counter space and was a pain to hand wash as it was a struggle to fit in the sink. However, its size means it has a large 6.5-litre capacity, so it's ideal for families and batch cookers. If you have the space, this is a great buy, and it's a gadget Mumsnetters rave about too.

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Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker: design and style

While the shape and design make it look like a standard slow cooker, it was different to what I was expecting. The cooking pot isn't separate to the outer body like many slow cookers, and it's an all-in-one design, apart from the lid and the control panel, which slides easily into place to operate the multi-cooker. Once the meal is ready, the control panel can then be removed so you can serve the pot straight on the table for everyone to dig into.

I really liked the style of this gadget; the sleek black design would suit most kitchens, and the digital control panel gives it a modern look. It's very wide though, so you'll need to make sure you have enough storage space amongst your cookbooks and Tupperware to house it. Still, as it does the job of a few other gadgets, you may find you actually save on space rather than having a separate slow cooker, rice cooker, and sous vide.

It also comes with a steam rack and roast rack, but these can easily be stored in the cooking pot when it's not in use.

Cooking in the Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker: how easy is it to use?

At first glance, the buttons depicting each setting on the Good-to-Go weren't the most intuitive, but there's a handy key to refer to in the instructions. Once I was clued up on what the different icons represented, I found it very easy to use. You simply choose your setting, select your time, and follow the instructions for that particular function – the included guidance is all very clear and easy to follow.

Having the ability to sear ingredients in the pot before slow cooking gave it extra points when it came to ease of use too. I could brown meat and soften veggies in the multi-cooker, something you have to do in a separate frying pan on the hob with a lot of slow cookers – any feature that saves on washing up is good in my books!

The only downside with the sear feature is that you don't get the same level of instant control over the temperature as you would with a gas hob, but for a quick pre-slow cook sear, it does the job well. Then I just added the rest of my ingredients, popped the lid on, and switched to the 'low' slow cook mode.

I found the digital countdown timer super useful – it's something you don't typically get with more basic slow cook-only models. After your slow cooked dish is ready, the Good-to-Go beeps and switches to the keep warm mode, another handy feature busy families will appreciate. The timer then resets, counting upwards so you know how long it has been on the warm setting for, and it automatically switches off after four hours (the maximum time it's safe to leave food on this setting for).

The boil setting worked well to cook pasta too – you just need to make sure you don't overfill it with water so it doesn't bubble over. However, it was quite fiddly to drain the pasta into a colander when it was ready because of the size of the pot, so hob cooking is definitely the simpler option here. Still, it's a nice option to have if you're wanting to save on gas use, and as with any multi-cooker or Instant Pot, some modes will always be used more than others.

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Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker: what are the results like?

I was very pleased with the results of the Good-to-Go, particularly the slow cook mode. I rustled up a delicious, creamy curry that was a crowd-pleaser, and thanks to pre-cooking the chicken and onions using the sear setting first, the meat was tender and packed with plenty of flavour. The sauce was the right level of thickness, and wasn't too watery as is sometimes the case with slow cooked meals.

It also excelled at cooking rice and pasta, making this a great all-rounder whether you're whipping up a tasty stew, casserole, chilli, curry, or sides to accompany your main dish.

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How easy is the Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker to clean?

It really depends on what cleaning method you use (plus the size of your sink!).

If you're using the dishwasher, it's a cinch to clean. Once you remove the control panel, the cooking pot and lid can simply be popped in the dishwasher. Just bear in mind the pot will take up a fair bit of space.

I opted to wash it up by hand using warm water and washing up liquid in the sink, which was quite tricky. While it does wash well, its awkward shape means it's difficult to fit in a standard-sized sink.

You also need to make sure it's completely dry before use, something that is challenging if you're using a tea towel or kitchen roll due to all its nooks and crannies on the base, so it's better to let it air dry on a dish rack.

Key specs

• Capacity: 6.5 litres

• Size: 29.9D x 48.5W x 24.4H centimetres

• Weight: 3.25kg

• Settings: Eight - sear, slow cook, roast, sous vide, steam, rice, boil and keep warm

• Pot: Aluminium

• Dishwasher safe: Yes, pot and lid

• Power: 730W

How we tested the Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker

I tested the Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go Multicooker in my north London kitchen, using a variety of its functions to cook up different dishes.

During testing, I carefully rated it on its features, ease of use, ease of cleaning, design, value for money, and the results it produced, evaluating how it performed in a real-life kitchen setting in comparison to other models I've recently tested, including the Crockpot Lift and Serve Digital Slow Cooker, the Swan Retro Slow Cooker, and the Tower Cavaletto Slow Cooker.

Through testing a variety of different slow cookers, this allowed me to cross-compare the Russell Hobbs Good-to-Go with different models to assess its performance and offer a balanced view to help Mumsnetters choose the right slow cooker for their needs.

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About the author

Natasha Gregson is an Affiliate Content Editor at Mumsnet, with an expertise in home and kitchen product reviews and round-ups. With several years of editorial experience under her belt, she also has had work featured in national publications including The i Paper and Stylist Magazine.

A keen cook, she's always whipping up new creations and experimenting in the kitchen, and this often includes testing out the latest time-saving kitchen gadgets for Mumsnet.

When she’s not busy seeking out the top products and advice for Mumsnetters, you can find her searching for the next best restaurant, watching live music, curling up with a good book, cross-stitching, or enjoying a good hike or swim.

About Mumsnet Reviews

All Mumsnet product reviews are written by real people after extensive research and testing. We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust. Sometimes, we earn revenue through affiliate (click-to-buy) links in our articles. However, we never allow this to influence our coverage.

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