Instant Pot vs. Slow Cooker, which one is better? An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that sits on your counter. The Instant Pot gives you the opportunity to have dinner ready in a matter of minutes, unlike a Slow Cooker. A Slow Cooker is common in most kitchens. You start food in it in the morning and at dinner time the food is ready. Both of these appliances do the same thing but one cooks quicker than the other. So which one do you choose?
Similarities of Instant Pot and Slow Cooker
-
Good for cooking cheap cuts of meat like pork shoulders and beef roasts.
-
Great for cooking beans, soups, stews, and chilies.
-
Ideal for busy families. You put everything in, turn it on, and let the food cook.
-
Each appliance takes up about the same amount of space on your counter or in your cupboard.
The Difference Between an Instant Pot and Slow Cooker
The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker that’s controlled through a digital interface. You tell it how long you want to cook your meal under pressure Then set the timer and you’re good to go. It brings up and holds the pressure at a safe level.
A slow cooker heats food at a lower temperature. Giving you the ability to set it and forget, you’re able to leave it unattended for many hours. Depending on what type of slow cooker you have it either has a dial or a digital interface to choose what temperature you want to cook your food.
The average Instant Pot will cost anywhere from $70 to $150. A basic slow cooker costs around $25. Depending on the time of year, you can find bigger discounts on these items. On Black Friday I saw an ad for 6-quart Instant Pot for $49 and a basic 7-quart Slow Cooker for $20.
The biggest difference between the Instant Pot and the Slow Cooker is cooking time. The slow cooker cooks your meal low and slow. The average slow cooker dish takes six to ten hours to cook. The Instant Pot will cook most meals in under an hour from start to finish.
Instant Pot vs. Slow Cooker
The Instant Pot can help you declutter your kitchen. It can replace your rice cooker and slow cooker since it has a rice and slow cook setting. Depending on the model you choose, it can even replace your yogurt maker. If you want more options in one appliance and the ability to cook a home cooked meal in a very short time, the Instant Pot is the way to go.
You made not have a need for an Instant Pot if you’re good about planning ahead to start your dinner in a slow cooker. Also, if having a pressure cooker in your kitchen scares you, you’re better off sticking to your slow cooker.
Which one do you choose?
I have this 6-quart Instant Pot which I like. I bought it in August because it’s too hot to turn on the stove top or oven in the summertime. It also came in handy when I was on my last round of the Whole 30 in September. You can steam vegetable in a matter of minutes and have meals cooked in 20 minutes.
The first time I used my instant pot was scary because I wasn’t sure if I was using it right. I imaged the lid shooting off of it and making a hole in the roof and burning myself. I remember the pressure cooker my mom used when I was younger. It made a lot of hissing noises and created a lot of steam when she was cooking in it. It always seemed like it was going to cause an explosion. Of course, that never happened but there are horror stories of accidents happening. After using it a few times I learned how simple it was to use and decided it was worth the investment.
A slow cooker has always been in my kitchen ever since I first started living on my own. This is the slow cooker I have now. I often use it to cook meats or freezer meals that I have prepared ahead of time. It makes life a little easier to throw everything in it in the morning and then have dinner ready in the evening. You don’t have to worry as much about hurting yourself with a slow cooker.
Instant Pot is the Winner
Instant Pot vs. Slow Cooker, which one is better? Instant Pot is the winner. It can be intimidating at first but using an Instant Pot is as simple and easy as using a slow cooker. The Instant Pot also has a slow cook option. So if you don’t want to clutter your kitchen with several different appliances definitely go with the Instant Pot.
If you found this information useful Please Pin and Share Thanks!
Leave a Reply