My mum gifted me this £30 kitchen appliance when I left for university seven years ago, and I still use it all the time – it’s the only appliance a fresher needs

Bright and airy sky blue kitchen, with a red star tiled backsplash.

When I packed up and headed to university back in September 2019, the one thing my mum gave me was a Crockpot Slowcooker (£31, Argos). And now, four years later, it’s the one kitchen appliance I can’t live without.

If you have a loved one heading to university this autumn, I’d argue that one of the best slow cookers is possibly the best thing to send them off with - it definitely was for me. Slow cookers are cheap to run, make meal prep a breeze, and don’t take up as much worktop space as one of the best air fryers.