What does the crockpot Express do?

The Crockpot Express is a popular multicooker that serves as both a pressure cooker and slow cooker in one convenient appliance. It allows you to cook foods up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods using pressure cooking, or cook low and slow all day using slow cooking. The Express has a variety of features that make it an extremely versatile kitchen tool.

Table of Contents

Pressure Cooking

The Crockpot Express can be used as a pressure cooker to drastically reduce cooking times. Foods that normally take hours to cook can be ready in minutes using the pressurized environment inside the inner pot. Here are some of the benefits of using the Express for pressure cooking:

Cooks food up to 70% faster – Pressure cooking can reduce cooking times by up to 70% compared to traditional stove top or oven cooking. Foods that usually take a long time to cook like roasts, ribs, chickpeas, stews and more can be ready in a fraction of the time.
Tenderizes meats and vegetables – The pressurized environment helps break down fibers in meat and plant foods, resulting in very tender and moist food.
Infuses flavor – Pressure cooking forces liquid and flavor into the food, infusing dishes with more taste.

Locks in juices and nutrients – Shorter cook times help reduce the loss of liquid and nutrients from food.
Energy efficient – Pressure cooking uses less energy than many other cooking methods. It brings the pot up to pressure on the stovetop or using electric power, then reduces heat to maintain pressure without needing constant high heat.

The Crockpot Express has multiple pressure cook settings from high to low, allowing you to customize cooking times for different foods. Most recipes can be cooked in under 30 minutes at high pressure.

Slow Cooking

The Crockpot Express also functions as a programmable slow cooker, with options for high and low slow cooking. Benefits of using the Express for slow cooking include:

Prep it and forget it – Just add ingredients in the morning and come home to a cooked meal.
Tender and flavorful meals – Long cook times break down connective tissue in cuts of meat, resulting in fall-off-the-bone tenderness and concentrated flavor.

Cooks unattended – The slow cooker doesn’t need to be watched and won’t burn food, unlike the stove or oven.
Energy efficient – Slow cookers use less energy than an oven.
Versatile – Almost any recipe can be adapted to the slow cooker – soups, stews, roasts, dips and more.

The Express allows you to program cook times anywhere from 30 minutes up to 20 hours on low or 10 hours on high. You can also switch from pressure cooking to slow cooking to finish meals.

Design

Here are some key design elements that allow the Crockpot Express to function as both a pressure cooker and slow cooker:

Removable cooking pot – The inner pot can be removed for easy serving and cleaning. It’s dishwasher safe.

Locking lid – The lid locks securely into place to seal in steam and create pressure. The lid release valve allows quick release of pressure.
Digital control panel – Allows you to select pressure cook times and settings or program slow cook times. Features a delayed start option.
Keep warm function – After cooking is complete, the Express automatically switches to keep warm so food stays hot and ready to serve.

The 6-quart Express model can cook around 6 servings of food at once. The inner pot and lid are stainless steel with a black outer housing. It’s compact enough to store easily on a counter or in a cabinet.

Safety Features

Crockpot designed the Express with a variety of safety features to make pressure cooking safe and foolproof:

Safety lid lock – The lid cannot be opened while the cooker is pressurized.

Pressure release valve – Allows you to safely and quickly release pressure after cooking.
Overheat protection – If temps exceed safety limits, the electrical system will cut power.
lid close detection – The appliance will not pressurize if the lid is not properly locked into place.

100 hour warm setting – Automatically shuts off after 100 hours in warm mode.

Always follow the owner’s manual for correct operation. The multiple sensors and safety valves make it difficult to make errors if used properly.

Accessories

The Crockpot Express comes with a few handy accessories:

Condensation collector – Catches excess moisture that drops off lid during pressure cooking to keep counters dry.
Recipe book – Includes instructions for using the appliance along with pressure cook time charts and tested recipes.
Serving spoon – Stainless steel spoon slots into handle for easy storage.

Optional extras you can add on include:

Glass lid – Lets you use the inner pot for browning, simmering or slow cooking with the lid off.
Air fryer lid – Turns the inner pot into an air fryer to make fried foods with less oil.

Tips for Using the Crockpot Express

Here are some handy tips for getting the most out of the Crockpot Express:

Cut food into smaller pieces – This allows food to cook faster when pressure cooking.
Use extra liquid – The sealed environment of the pressure cooker requires some extra liquid to create steam. Use broth, water or sauce.

Do a natural release – Allow pressure to come down naturally after cooking before doing a quick release. This prevents splattering.
Saute before pressure cooking – Browning meat and aromatics adds great flavor.
Stack food – Use a rack or steamer basket to stack ingredients for more even cooking.

Track cook times – There is some natural variation in cook times. Get to know your appliance.
Adapt slow cooker recipes – Lower any liquids called for and add more at the end if needed.
Refrigerate leftovers – To avoid risk of bacterial growth, refrigerate any leftovers immediately.

Cleaning Your Crockpot Express

It’s important to clean the Crockpot Express thoroughly after each use:

Hand wash removable parts – Wash inner pot, lid and condensation collector in hot soapy water. Do not use abrasive cleaners.
Towel dry – Allow all parts to air dry fully before returning them to the housing or storing them.

Clean the housing – Wipe down the outer housing with a soft cloth and mild cleaner if needed.
Descale regularly – Use distilled white vinegar to de-scale and remove mineral deposits about every 20 uses.
Check valve – Make sure the pressure release valve is not blocked and is functioning properly after cleaning.

Proper cleaning will keep all the parts and mechanisms functioning safely and efficiently. Be sure to read the manual for any additional cleaning tips.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Here are some troubleshooting tips in case you run into any problems using your Crockpot Express:

Issue	Possible Solution
Won’t pressurize	Check that the lid is fully closed and locked. Ensure the valve is sealed. Add more liquid. Make sure the inner pot is installed correctly.
Pressure releasing early	The pressure release valve may be faulty. Contact Crockpot support for help.
Food burns or isn’t done	Adjust cooking time. Cut food into smaller pieces. Make sure liquid is covering food.
Contents boiling over	Don’t fill the inner pot more than 2/3 full. Allow natural release before quick release.
Clogged condensation collector	Empty and clean collector after each use.
Won’t switch to keep warm	Try unplugging and restarting the unit. Contact support if issue persists.
Unexplained error message	Note the error code and contact Crockpot customer support.

Conclusion

The Crockpot Express is an incredibly versatile kitchen appliance that can cook food at a fraction of the normal time by pressure cooking, or cook low and slow all day by slow cooking. It’s packed with safety features, accessories and options to get the best results from any recipe. While it takes some getting used to, the Express can churn out delicious soups, stews, roasts, desserts and more at the touch of a button. Follow the owner’s manual for proper use and care, and you’ll enjoy fast, flavorful meals made easy in your Crockpot Express.