crockpot or slow cooker

[Anonymous]

hello experts:
busy mom here; which one do you recommend? Slow cooker or crockpot? What is the difference? Pls recommend specific ones with link, nothing too expensive.
thanks!

[Anonymous]

Do you mean crockpot/slow cooker vs. an InstantPot?

crockpot=slow cooker

[Anonymous]

OP here - yes, I guess...see, this is how much I know about this LOL

[Anonymous]

Crockpot is a brand name of a company that makes slow cookers. The Wirecutter usually has good reviews.

[Anonymous]

OP, you are not alone. I didn't know crockpot was the brand name for a slow cooker. lol And I have a slow cooker.

[Anonymous]

ok, so should I get a slow cooker or a insta pot?

[Anonymous]

I have both.

I prefer my instant pot because it has more uses. It cooks meat much faster of course.

I still keep my crockpot for items I want to keep on all day.

[Anonymous]

InstaPot is more expensive than a slow cooker and has a steeper learning curve which might be an issue here.

You can probably get a slow cooker for free off a buy-nothing group and it's pretty user friendly.

I have both.

[Anonymous]

I have an Instant Pot, which I also use as a slow cooker. I like that the insert is metal, so you can brown meat or bloom your aromatics right in the same container and not dirty another pan. And stuff I've made in it using the slow cooker function has always turned out fine.

If you've never used either, try a used slow cooker rather than investing a ton up front. Also, sometimes you realize that you need a bigger/smaller size, or you don't need certain features but wish you had others, etc. Once you figure out what actually works best for how you cook, then you can invest in a nicer one, if you want, or try an Instant Pot.

[Anonymous]

"Slow cooker" = electric pot that cooks food at a low temp.

"Crockpot" = one brand of slow cookers. The classic.

"Pressure cooker" = pot with a sealing lid that cooks food at high pressure by building up steam within the sealed compartment. Can be electric (usually with some automated features like holding a particular pressure for a set amount of time), or stovetop (literally just a pot with a clamping lid and pressure valve, you heat it on the stovetop and adjust the stove heat level to maintain the desired pressure).

"Multi Cooker" = not really defined, but generally an electric device that can function as either a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, or other.

"Instant Pot" = one brand of multi cooker.

I have a Crockpot and an Instant Pot. I use the Instant Pot 95%. I usually prefer pressure cooking to slow cooking, but even when I want a slow cooker, the IP can do either. The only times I pull out my Crockpot now are when I need both (e.g. Thanksgiving dinner), or the larger capacity (I have a giant Crockpot and only a medium sized IP). I wouldn't buy a new CP if my current one died, but since I had it first, it continues to live in my cabinet.

Why do I prefer pressure cooking over slow cooking?
1. I think the food tastes better - it gets very tender without drying out. I don't have as much luck with slow cooking.
2. Timing. Slow cooking usually requires 4-6 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low, which is awkward for me - too short for a standard workday (I'm gone from the house 9-10 hours), and I don't like leaving food on a warm setting for a couple of hours. I can run the IP in 20-60 minutes after work, depending on what we're cooking

But there is more of a learning curve with the IP. Slow cooker is more of a 'dump it all in and turn it on' kind of device. IP has another dimension with the pressure settings.

[Anonymous]

It depends on where you want to spend your time or where you have extra time.

Slow cookers are great for when you need a meal ready soon after you get home/ finish work. But you need to have time that morning or the night before to chop, dump, fill the pot.

Instant pots are better for folks who have time to cook before the meal but do not want to spend a lot of time checking on food. Keep in mind, Instant pots take much longer to cook than the cooking time. They have to heat up, then cook, then release. I have given up on instant pot meals and had to get take out because it took too long.

Taste is also a factor. I have several meals that we like that use a slow cooker. I have only found one recipe using the instant pot that is worth the time. But others seem to like it.

Slow cookers are also good for when your family eats at different times (if it has a warm function).

[Anonymous]

Get an Instant Pot instead (not InstaPot…I don’t know why that annoys me so much).

[Anonymous]

OP here - thank you All, I will investigate the matter. A friend of mine has both and will ask her advice.

[Anonymous]

Instant Pots are much larger than a crock pot with a similar capacity. Make sure you have the counter space. Ours had to go back when I realized my mistake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have an Instant Pot, which I also use as a slow cooker. I like that the insert is metal, so you can brown meat or bloom your aromatics right in the same container and not dirty another pan. And stuff I've made in it using the slow cooker function has always turned out fine.

If you've never used either, try a used slow cooker rather than investing a ton up front. Also, sometimes you realize that you need a bigger/smaller size, or you don't need certain features but wish you had others, etc. Once you figure out what actually works best for how you cook, then you can invest in a nicer one, if you want, or try an Instant Pot.

This has not been my experience - I think the slow cooker function on the Instant Pot stinks.

OP, I have both, and use them for different things. One tip - if you get a slow cooker, get one with a cast iron insert, rather than ceramic. Then you can brown items directly on the stove and transfer it to the slow cooker.