Instant Pot vs crock pot? Both are popular kitchen appliances for many reasons. They both provide set-it-and-forget-it cooking and deliver exceptional meals. However, telling the two apart can be confusing, especially because they have similar functions.
Knowing the difference between the two appliances and how to use them correctly will save you hours of prepping and cooking time! Now some may say the Instant Pot is the best with its faster cooking times, whereas others may prefer the crock pot for its tendency to cook meals for a longer period of time.
Grab your favorite apron and bust out your Instant Pot and/or crock pot. Let's examine their differences and similarities and how each one is used below:
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What Is An Instant Pot?
An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker, also known as a multi-cooker, because of its wide range of cooking methods. Different models have between four and thirteen different cooking methods.
The various cooking methods include slow cooker, rice cooker, dehydrator, sous vide, and sauté. The sauté function allows you to brown meat or vegetables before closing the lid to add the signature taste of the Maillard reaction.
Whenever you cook on a traditional stovetop, you cook in the same atmosphere as the air you breathe, called ATM 1. Pressure cookers build up pressure in the cooking pot up to 15 times ATM 1.
The built-up pressure changes the boiling temperature to 250℉ and accelerates cooking times.
You can slow cook in an Instant Pot, which is part of the confusion some have when learning what each model does. To keep it simple, an Instant Pot can do what a crock pot does, but the crock pot cannot pressure cook like an Instant Pot.
My personal favorite is the Instant Pot Duo 7, for its versatility and time-saving abilities!
What Is A Crock Pot?
A crock pot is an electric slow cooker with three settings: low, medium, and high. Each temperature setting takes hours to cook, allowing the flavor to soak into the food.
Several brands of slow cookers are on the market, but the Crock Pot brand name has become synonymous with electric slow cookers.
Crock pots are great for soups, stews, and keeping foods warm, especially at a tailgate party or similar event. They are also your best friend when you are cooking large batches for numerous people.
Must-read: Instant Pot VS Ninja Foodi: A Home Cook's Honest Showdown
Instant Pot Vs Crock Pot: Which One Is Better?
Instant Pots and slow cookers like Crock Pots both replace traditional ovens. This has many benefits, such as saving energy, not heating the kitchen during warmer months, and a smaller cooking space, which means faster cooking times.
Your cooking style and time preferences determine which countertop appliance is best for you. While neither an Instant Pot nor a crock pot is essentially "better," the Instant Pot has more cooking options and cooks food in a third of the time as a crock pot, so in these terms, the Instant Pot is better.
For instance, I cook beans at least once a week. I have always cooked them in a crock pot set to low and let them cook while I was at work. Now, I cook them in an Instant Pot, which takes less than an hour, so I can cook the beans when I get home.
This is not to say that I don't own a crock pot. However, I cannot remember the last time I used it. The Instant Pot suits my purposes and has never let me down!
Also read: Where to Buy Instant Pot 6 Quart? Our Top 5 Stores
Pressure Cooking Vs Slow Cooking
Pressure cooking uses atmospheric pressure up to 15 times higher than ambient pressure, which increases temperatures faster, equaling rapid cooking times. It also builds up steam, a form of "wet" cooking that allows the food to cook evenly.
The pressure and the steam are contained in the inner pot because the lid is sealed. The steam and pressure are released through a float valve that can release the steam quickly, naturally, or with a pulse option. Which one you choose depends on what you are cooking.
A slow cooker cooks food slowly, as the name implies. It uses a ceramic inner pot that slowly rises to the appropriate temperature and takes several hours to cook.
The ceramic inner liner distributes heat evenly and has little chance of burning food. The slow cooking time infuses more flavors into food, making slow cookers ideal for stews and soups.
Instant Pot Pros and Cons
As with all cooking appliances, the Instant Pot has pros and cons, though there are more pros than negatives. After writing reviews and questioning home cooks about their preferences, I was surprised to learn that many people are intimidated by the sheer number of features an Instant Pot has.
My answer to this quandary is to focus on one cooking feature at a time. After one or two uses, you will be a pro. Since the pressure cooking feature will probably be used most often, I would start with this option.
Pros
- Over 100 safety features
- Up to 13 cooking features
- Rapid cook time
- Thousands of Instant Pot recipes
- User friendly
- Quiet
- Energy Efficient
- Same pot cooking
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Takes up counter space (Instant Pot Duo is a good choice for limited space)
- Limited size
Also read: Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Plus: Pressure Cooker Comparison
Slow Cooker Pros and Cons
Slow cookers shine when you need to make a large batch of chili or soup and have several hours to spare. The slow cooking time allows the food to soak up all the flavors of the spices and liquid you are using.
Another benefit of a slow cooker is that you can take an undesirable, tough cut of meat and make it fork-tender in a slow cooker. A little wine or acidity acts as a tenderizer and the slow cook time ensures the tough cut of meat soaks in all the flavor. Here are some touch cuts that work well in a slow cooker:
- Pork belly
- Lamb shoulder
- Stew meat
Though faster does not always mean better, many people opt to use a pressure cooker over a slow cooker because they can get the same results in a fraction of the time.
Pros
- Reliable
- Slow, even cooking style
- Infuses deep flavors into the food
- Set-it-and-forget-it cooking method
- Portable
- Quiet
- Energy efficient
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Takes a long time to cook
- Takes up counter space
- Heavy
Slow Cooker Recipe Conversion To Instant Pot Recipes
The primary thing to remember when converting slow cooker recipes to an Instant Pot is time. Instant Pots have a slow cooker option, but the cooking time is much faster than that of a slow cooker.
You also need to consider the amount of liquid you use. An Instant Pot requires liquid to cook; if not enough liquid is added, it will cease operating until you depressurize it and add more liquid.
Although the ratio of water to beans is 3:1 for Instant Pots and slow cookers, I usually use 2 ½ cups for the Instant Pot because 3 cups make the beans too soupy.
See this recipe: Instant Pot Ham And Beans
How to convert slow cooker recipes to use in an Instant Pot
- Make sure there is at least 1 cup of liquid
Crock pots and other slow cookers do not require liquid to cook. An Instant Pot will not cook without liquid, and if it did, you would end up with a burnt mess on your hands.
- Scale back the recipes
While slow cookers can be filled with ingredients, Instant Pots need room for the pressure to expand. The inner liner has a maximum and minimum fill line. If the inner pot is too full, the Instant Pot cannot build enough pressure to cook properly.
- Know what ingredients you are using
A few ingredients, like dairy, cannot be cooked under pressure because they scorch. Thickening agents like cornstarch prevent the Instant Pot from developing pressure. If you need a thickener, wait until the end and simmer using the sauté function while stirring in the thickening agent.
- Add the ingredients in small amounts
Because of the lower heat, you can add all your ingredients simultaneously in a slow cooker. However, if you use different-sized ingredients (pot roast), you must cook the bigger ingredients first in an Instant Pot. If you toss small diced potatoes with a large roast simultaneously, the potatoes will turn to mush.
- Watch the time
Since Instant Pots cook so fast, you must convert the time to reflect this. The first time I cook a converted recipe, I shave a few minutes off of the recommended cooking time for the converted recipe. If the food isn't cooked through, I cook it for a few more minutes.
See these recipes: Our Favorite Instant Pot Roast Recipes
Conclusion
Instant Pot vs. crock pot: Which one is better? This has become an increasingly popular question among home cooks.
The simple answer is that it depends on your cooking style. Both appliances have a stellar safety reputation, and both are dependable.
Each has pros and cons, but the ultimate determiner always comes down to time and cooking functions. An Instant Pot allows you to cook using multiple methods but only one pot. Slow cookers only offer one cooking method and take several hours to cook food.
The important thing to remember is that an Instant Pot can do what a slow cooker can, but not the opposite way. This isn't to say that one is better than the other, there are just more cooking options.
Slow cooker recipes will have to be slightly modified for Instant Pot cooking, but this process is straightforward. After a couple of meals, you will be an Instant Pot expert!
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