Slow Cooker

The best morsels in life take time, and a good slow cooker can turn even the cheapest cuts of meat into a feast. Based on the time-worn tagine, the modern slow cooker gets an update by young Dutch designer Margriet Foolen for Royal VKB. The terracotta bowl/lid can be used either way up: The bowl can serve 2-3 diners, while the white glazed "lid" can double as a single-serving plate. Or stack multiple slow cookers for individual servings or a myriad of dishes. Silicone rings at the base of each dish means it can go straight from the oven to the table. The terracotta shell maintains moistness and preserves flavor and nutrients. No wonder such creatively innovative improvements garnered Margriet the Design Plus Award and the international Red Dot Award for product design in 2008. And to think, it all started as a graduation project at the Design Academy in Eindhoven. Can't cook? You can now. Comes with comprehensive instructions and a recipe booklet. Just toss in some fresh ingredients, pop it in the oven and dinner is ready before you know it.