Both the instant pot and the crock pot are popular kitchen appliances used for cooking food over a period of time using moist heat. However, there are some key differences between the two.
What is an Instant Pot?
An instant pot is a multifunctional electric pressure cooker that can be used for functions like pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, sautéing, steaming, and more. It speeds up cooking times by building up steam pressure within a sealed pot to raise temperatures above the boiling point of water. This allows food to cook faster compared to traditional open pot cooking methods.
Some key features of instant pots include:
- Electric pressure cooking
- Adjustable pressure settings
- Ability to sauté ingredients
- Slow cook and rice cook settings
- Delayed start timer
- Auto keep warm setting
Popular instant pot models include the Instant Pot Duo, Instant Pot Ultra, and Instant Pot Max. Sizes range from 3 quarts up to 8 quarts.
What is a Crock Pot?
A crock pot, also known as a slow cooker, is an electric countertop appliance used for long, slow simmering of foods. It cooks food at low temperatures over an extended period of time.
Key features of a crock pot include:
- Low, even heat from all sides
- Removable stoneware insert
- Lid clamps down to seal in heat, moisture, and flavors
- Manual analog controls
- High and low temperature settings
- Auto shift to warm when cooking time completes
Popular crock pot sizes range from 1 quart to 8 quarts. Some of the top brands are Hamilton Beach, Crock-Pot, and Cuisinart.
Cooking Capabilities
Now that we’ve explained what these appliances are, let’s compare what they can actually cook and their functionality.
Pressure Cooking
A key difference between instant pots and crockpots is that instant pots can pressure cook while crockpots cannot.
Pressure cooking is the process of cooking food under high pressure steam, which allows temperatures to rise above the normal 212°F boiling point of water. The higher temperatures speed up cooking dramatically.
For example, dishes like beans, stews, and roasts can be cooked up to 70% faster in an instant pot versus slow cooked in a crockpot. The increased heat breaks down fibers in tougher cuts of meat and beans cook more quickly.
While crockpots cook food slowly over lower heat, instant pots build pressure to quickly cook food through pressure cooking.
Slow Cooking
While crockpots are designed specifically for slow cooking, instant pots have a slow cook function as well. So both appliances can be used for long, slow simmering of dishes like stews, chilies, and roasts.
However, there are some differences in how they slow cook:
- Crockpots typically have low and high settings, while instant pots have timing presets from 30 minutes up to 20+ hours.
- The lid on a crockpot leaves a small gap for steam to escape, while the instant pot seals the lid to trap steam and pressure.
- Crockpots heat from the sides and bottom, while instant pots heat from the bottom.
So crockpots are optimized specifically for slow cooking, while the instant pot offers pressure cooking plus a slow cook function. Both can make flavorful braised and stewed dishes.
Sauté Function
One advantage of the instant pot is that most models have a sauté function you can use before pressure or slow cooking. This allows you to brown or sauté ingredients right in the pot before switching over to another cooking program.
Crockpots do not have a built-in sauté function. You would need to pre-cook ingredients on the stove before adding to the slow cooker. The instant pot streamlines the process allowing everything start to finish in one pot.
Rice Cooking
Instant pots have specialized functions and preset programs for cooking various types of rice, including white rice, brown rice, and jasmine rice. The right amounts of water and cook times are built into these presets for easy rice cooking.
Crockpots are not designed for cooking rice. Most crockpot manuals advise against trying to cook rice in a slow cooker. The low moisture environment and temperatures are not ideal, often resulting in undercooked or mushy rice.
So for perfectly cooked rice, an instant pot with rice function is the better choice over a standard crockpot.
Steaming
Instant pots have a steam function that allows steaming of vegetables, seafood, eggs, and more. The instant pot can steam foods quickly and evenly due to the circulating pressure steam heating the food from all sides.
Crockpots are not designed for steaming. The lack of seal for building pressure prevents them from properly steaming foods. So an instant pot is better equipped for steaming tasks.
| Cooking Function | Instant Pot | Crockpot |
|---|---|---|
| Pressure Cooking | Yes | No |
| Slow Cooking | Yes | Yes |
| Sauté | Yes | No |
| Steaming | Yes | No |
| Rice Cooking | Yes | No |
Benefits and Drawbacks
Now that we’ve compared the cooking capabilities side by side, let’s look at some of the benefits and drawbacks of each appliance.
Benefits of the Instant Pot
- Fast cooking times – Pressure cooking speeds up cooking dramatically
- Energy efficient – Uses up to 70% less energy than traditional cooking methods
- Versatility – Can pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, cook rice, and more
- Convenience – Fewer dishes since you can sauté then pressure or slow cook in the same pot
- Safety features – Overheat protection and lid lock to prevent opening under pressure
Drawbacks of the Instant Pot
- Potential learning curve – Understanding how to use the pressure cooking functions
- Can only cook small batches – Typical capacity of 6-8 quarts
- Potential noise – Some hissing/steaming noise during pressure cooking
- Must wait for pressure release after cooking – Before opening lid and handling food
Benefits of the Crockpot
- Great for set-it-and-forget-it slow cooking
- Less intimidating – Very simple manual operation
- Cooks large batches – Larger size capacity up to 8-9 quarts
- Safe unattended cooking – Low risk of burning food
Drawbacks of the Crockpot
- Very slow cooking times
- Less energy efficient – Low heat means longer cook times
- Limited functions – Only slow cooking, no pressure cooking or other functions
- Can’t brown or sear food – Need to pre-cook on stove
- No delayed start function – Must be present to turn on
Pricing Comparison
There is quite a wide range of prices for both instant pots and crockpots, but here is an overview of average pricing:
Instant Pots:
– Basic Model (6 quart): $70 – $100
– Advanced Model (6-8 quart): $120 – $200
Crockpots:
– Basic Manual Model (4-6 quart): $20 – $60
– Programmable Model (4-6 quart): $50 – $100
So basic crockpots tend to be cheaper than instant pots. However, advanced programmable crock pots are similar in price to medium-tier instant pots. Higher-end instant pots boast more cooking features and precision, but cost more.
You can often find these appliances at reduced prices during holiday sales events or Amazon Prime Day. This can help bring down the cost.
Conclusion
In summary, instant pots and crockpots have some overlapping slow cooking functions. But the instant pot offers far more versatility with pressure cooking, steaming, sautéing, and features for cooking rice and other dishes. The trade-off is slightly more complexity with an instant pot versus a simple “set-it-and-forget-it” crockpot.
For those wanting fast-track cooking, multiple functions, and advanced programming in one device, the instant pot is the best choice. If you primarily want to slow cook large batches of soups, stews, or roasts, a traditional crockpot may meet your needs.
Consider how many people you cook for and what types of dishes you want to make. This can help determine which electric cooker is the better fit for your needs and lifestyle. Both instant pots and crockpots can be great tools for easy homemade meals with minimal effort required.