Instant Pot Vs Slow Cooker Vs Pressure Cooker

If you've ever wondered what the difference is between an Instant Pot and Crock-Pot, then you're not alone. They're both crazy popular kitchen appliances that help make cooking more hands-off. Even though they technically have a lot in common, there are a few key differences that make them unique. Since no one wants to waste their valuable counter space, the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab is here to answer your questions and help you decide which cooker on the market is right for you.

What to know about Instant Pots

Instant Pot is a popular multi-cooker brand known for its time- and space-saving appliances. In 2010, the brand launched its very first product in order to help people with busy lives get food on the table, fast. This made pressure cooking more accessible to the average person.

Now, the Instant Pot has a cult following of people who swear it changed their lives — and there are almost 30,000 5-star Amazon reviews to prove it. They're fast, efficient, and multi-functional, and have performed well in all of our lab tests (the Duo is our top pick for pressure cookers). Not only do our Kitchen Appliance experts love Instant Pots, but so does our audience: they're often one of the most popular products that Good Housekeeping readers buy each month. Here's why:

Instant Pots are multi-functional. While many people simply think of IPs as electric pressure cookers, but they can also slow cook, steam, warm, sauté, and work as a rice cooker in addition to pressure cooking. The main function, pressure cooking, cooks food by raising the boiling point of water and trapping steam in order to reduce cook time. Plus, they come with a stainless steel inner pot, which is a material designed to heat up quickly.

DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker

Instant Pot amazon.com

$89.00

Is an Instant Pot good for slow cooking? Yes — technically an Instant Pot can replace a Crock-Pot. Just keep in mind that the results will be a bit different."Using the slow cooker function on an Instant Pot cooked food in the same amount of time as a Crock-Pot — but the results were a little drier," says Nicole Papantoniou, senior testing editor and producer in our Kitchen Appliances and Technology Lab.

What can you make in an Instant Pot? our experts recommend using it for things like soups, rice, steel-cut oats, and soaking dried beans (all of which make the appliance great for meal prep!). And that's just the beginning — our Test Kitchen made recipes specifically for the Instant Pot, and GH even has an Instant Pot cookbook available on Amazon! Tons of food bloggers have also taken advantage of the rise in popularity by dedicating their time to creating Instant Pot recipes and videos. You'll never be short on meal ideas!

What to know about Crock-Pots

Crock-Pot, on the other hand, is a much older brand (it's been around since the 1970s!) that's best known for its slow cookers. As such, the brand has a very loyal following. They're often made with heat-insulating stoneware, which helps maintain a consistent temperature so you can cook your food low and slow — a.k.a. by using lower heat over a longer period of time.

Here's where it gets kind of tricky: In recent years, Crock-Pot started making multi-cookers that can pressure cook, just like Instant Pots. So when you compare a Crock-Pot multi-cooker (like the Express Crock multi-cooker) to an Instant Pot, they're essentially the same thing and have the same functions. But traditional Crock-Pots are slow cookers, while all Instant Pots are multi-cookers.

Crock-Pot

6-Quart Slow Cooker

Crock-Pot amazon.com

Crock-Pots are great for entertaining since they have travel-friendly latches and handles, meaning you don't have to worry about food sloshing inside and potentially spilling. Since you can even get casserole-shaped Crock-Pots (which have wide surface areas and shallow edges), things like chilis, fondues, and hot sangrias are much easier to scoop out at parties.

What can you make in a Crock-Pot? Crock-Pots great for getting a good sear. If you expect to be cooking large chunks of meat, then a Crock-Pot might be your best bet. Papantoniou says a Crock-Pot is great for pulled pork, brisket, short ribs, and pot roasts, all of which come out great in a slow cooker. GH's Test Kitchen also has plenty of slow cooker recipes, but you can check our slow cooker cookbook for even more inspiration.

So which is better: Instant Pot or Crock-Pot?

In order to decide which appliance is best for you, think about what you want to make and how you want to make it. Certain features of an Instant Pot might meet your needs better than a Crock-Pot, and vice versa. Here are a few aspects to consider:

Time: While both appliances save time, they do so in two completely opposite ways. Crock-Pots are great for busy people, early birds, and those who like to plan ahead. Just throw ingredients together in the morning and come home to a finished meal that slow cooked all day. (That's why they're called "set it and forget it" appliances.) Instant Pots are great for last-minute people and night owls who can use the pressure cook function after work to get a hot meal on the table in a matter of minutes.

Size: Not everyone has the space for large countertop appliances. Instant Pots typically come in three sizes: 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart. Our pros say 6-quart is best for most people, but 3-quart is a good option if you live alone, and 8-quart is perfect for larger families. Crock-Pots come in way more sizes, with options as small as 1.5-quart (!) and as large as 8-quart.

Ease of use: Instant Pots have more functions, which might seem confusing to someone with no multi-cooker experience. It takes a bit of getting used to, but there are plenty of online recipes and tutorials that help make the learning adjustment easier. Traditional Crock-Pots only have a high-medium-low dial, which is much more straightforward, but is also quite limiting.

Price: Without a doubt, traditional Crock-Pots are much more affordable (some are as low as $15) since they can only slow cook. Instant Pots start at around $60 for the most basic multi-cooker option, but they're often discounted on Amazon for as high as 50% off.

Safety: If you remember the tragic This Is Us episode, then you might be worried about potential dangers of these kitchen appliances. Just know that both Instant Pots and Crock-Pots are safe to be left alone when used as directed. People are sometimes scared of releasing the steam from an Instant Pot, but you shouldn't be! Just make sure to use tongs (not your bare hands) to move the nozzle. For both Instant Pots and Crock-Pots, Papantoniou recommends following these safety precautions:

Always leave enough clearance from the wall
Keep them away from water sources (like the sink)
Place them on a heat-proof surface (avoid wood and cutting boards)

There's still some overlap when comparing an Instant Pot vs a Crock-Pot, depending on which model you're talking about. Just remember that all Instant Pots are multi-cookers, which mean they slow cook and pressure cook, and Crock-Pots are usually only slow cookers.

The bottom line: If you only care about slow cooking, then go for a Crock-Pot. Want to choose between slow cooking and pressure cooking in one appliance? Then you're better off with an Instant Pot.

Amina Lake Abdelrahman, Good Housekeeping Institute Editorial Assistant Amina is an editorial assistant at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she works with lab experts (who test all the latest products) and writes original content based on their recommendations.

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