In case you missed it, the Instant Pot is pretty much everywhere these days. But…wait a minute…rewind: What makes an Instant Pot distinct from your mother’s Crock-Pot, which has been in her kitchen for, like, forever? Is one really preferable to the other, or are the one-pot versions fully interchangeable?
A little history information: According to Business Insider, slow cookers have been around since the 1950s, but the legendary Crock-Pot didn’t reach the mainstream until the 1970s when it became a big hit.
In 2010, the instant pot pressure cooker air fryer made its appearance in the kitchen. The appliance has been called the “souped-up Crock-pot for a new generation” by Forbes. It makes sense: Both are multi-cookers for the countertop that can make anything from stews to stuffed peppers. What’s the better part? You can take a rest while they work their magic.
However, there are some significant differences between the two appliances. Let’s know more about this before you look for “glass pour-over coffee maker”.
They Prepare Food in Different Ways
Crock-pots operate by steadily cooking food at a steady temperature, allowing you to prepare a meal in the morning and have it ready to eat when you get home. It’s ideal for dishes like roasts and soups because of the slow cooking technique. According to a Crock-Pot website, you can schedule it to cook for 30 minutes to 20 hours, depending on the recipe.
On the other hand, the Instant Pot is an electronic pressure cooker that cooks food more quickly by regulating the pressure inside the pot. It can speed up cooking by two to six times while using 70% less energy.
For The Time Being, The Instant Pot Has More Versatility
A Crock-Pot usually comes with two settings: slow cooking on low and slow cooking on high.
The Instant Pot has settings for making soup, frying beef, sautéing, rice cooking, steaming, and making yoghurt, among other items. It’s for this reason that it’s marketed as a 7-in-1 appliance. Some models have up to ten cook configurations.
Crock-Pot, on the other hand, has buttons for yoghurt, beans/chilli, soup, rice/risotto, and poultry, as well as some Instant Pot-like features. Several manufacturers have hopped on the Instant Pot bandwagon and produced appliances with similar functionality.
The Crock-pot Is Significantly Less Expensive
The Instant Pot is available mainly in three sizes.
On the other hand, the Crock-pot has been popular long enough to come in a multitude of colours and shapes, as well as a cheaper price point.
Summary
When comparing the Instant Pot to the Crock-Pot, you’ll find the following:
Similarities
- The exteriors of both are made of stainless steel (Instant Pot also has a stainless steel inner pot).
- They’re around the same height.
- The inner pot is dishwasher-safe and reusable.
- They can both make big, one-pot meals.
Disparities
- The Instant Pot has a larger number of cooking options.
- Crock-Pot is more affordable.
- Crock-Pot is a slow cooker, while Instant Pot is an automatic pressure cooker.
- Meals are cooked much quicker in the Instant Pot.
- Crock-Pot is more convenient to use.
