Crock pot vs Instant Pot

[thatgirl2478]

So I've noticed that many crock pot meals are ... well boring. If you have an instant pot and have made similar meals in the crock pot, do they taste similar? Better? Worse?

[cupcake0214]

We just got an instant pot. I love it so far we made chili, chicken soup, a cake, hard boiled eggs and General Tso's chicken. Everything took about 1/2 hour.

[tacokick]

There is a good crockpot book that just came out called Slow Cook Modern that has a ton of non-boring meals.

I think the results in the instant pot and the slow cooker are pretty similar TBH. Both are methods that don't allow for evaporation.

[MixedBerryJam]

I always double the herbs and spices in crock pot meals and that seems to help. I think the volatile oils must vaporize or something. That said I do roasts in the instant pot. I may not double the seasoning, but I still use a heavy hand when measuring.

[zelda25]

Better; it's not just slow cooking everything to mush. And you can use an instant pot as a slow cooker, so yay for multitasking.

Sent from my SM-G930P using proboards

[Deleted]

I have been so happy with my instant pot. I feel like the food cooks better and has more flavor. I have a 30 minute pot roast that is far better than any roast I ever did in the crock pot. Plus I love that I can sear the meat in the same device prior to starting the cooking process and it gives it so much better flavor and texture.

[CloudBee]

Better. The flavors are more infused, and the food is less mushy, IMO.

[Champagne Supernova]

I think it's similar but of course, I prefer the IP because it's faster.

[peachy]

Instant Pot is the way to go. I haven't even used my slow cooker for the last year or so since I got my IP.

[zoomzoom]

Sept 18, 2017 21:19:51 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

I have been so happy with my instant pot. I feel like the food cooks better and has more flavor. I have a 30 minute pot roast that is far better than any roast I ever did in the crock pot. Plus I love that I can sear the meat in the same device prior to starting the cooking process and it gives it so much better flavor and texture.

I wonder if mine is defective b/c it doesn't get searing hot?  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm not letting it heat up long enough?  I like that it's both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker.  I also use it to steam artichokes quickly.  Yum.

[redheadk]

Sept 19, 2017 11:02:20 GMT -5 zoomzoom said:

Sept 18, 2017 21:19:51 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

I have been so happy with my instant pot. I feel like the food cooks better and has more flavor. I have a 30 minute pot roast that is far better than any roast I ever did in the crock pot. Plus I love that I can sear the meat in the same device prior to starting the cooking process and it gives it so much better flavor and texture.

I wonder if mine is defective b/c it doesn't get searing hot?  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm not letting it heat up long enough?  I like that it's both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker.  I also use it to steam artichokes quickly.  Yum.

I have to let mine sit at hot for about 5 minutes before attempting to sear or it doesn't stay hot enough to get a decent seat.

[Champagne Supernova]

Sept 19, 2017 10:47:44 GMT -5 aeg511 said:

Where do you guys get your IP recipes?
Pinterest? A cookbook?

I think I'll ask for one for Christmas and I'll be starting full time nursing school in May and I'd rather make something quick and yummy than crock pot stuff all the time.

The IP came with a cookbook with basic stuff but I get most of my recipes on online, Pinterest and via the IP Facebook page.

Get an IP! I ate so much corn in a cob drenched in butter this past summer. No boiling or whatever....just two minutes in the IP and they're ready.

[raangoli]

This thread is making me want one to replace my slow cooker. I'll keep an eye out for deals around Christmas.

[mrsd2006]

Sept 19, 2017 12:09:11 GMT -5 raangoli said:

This thread is making me want one to replace my slow cooker. I'll keep an eye out for deals around Christmas.

I believe it goes on sale around Black Friday. 

[wannabe]

Also Team Instant Pot.

Target has the 7-in-1 6 quart in stock for $99, and if you have a red card you can get 5% off of that.

[y4m]

Sept 19, 2017 11:02:20 GMT -5 zoomzoom said:

Sept 18, 2017 21:19:51 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

I have been so happy with my instant pot. I feel like the food cooks better and has more flavor. I have a 30 minute pot roast that is far better than any roast I ever did in the crock pot. Plus I love that I can sear the meat in the same device prior to starting the cooking process and it gives it so much better flavor and texture.

I wonder if mine is defective b/c it doesn't get searing hot?  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm not letting it heat up long enough?  I like that it's both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker.  I also use it to steam artichokes quickly.  Yum.

Maybe you already know this, but since I didn't at first I'll point it out.  Once you turn on the saute function, you can use the adjust button to turn up the heat.  You always want to sear with the adjustment set to "more" and I think normal is the default.

I personally think the end results are about the same between crock pot and instant pot, but the instant pot is faster and more versatile (boiled eggs, yogurt, pot-in-pot, etc.).  

[litebright]

This thread reminds me that I want to get an IP -- but I also think the recipes and techniques you use for the crock pot matter in how well things turn out. I have America's Test Kitchen's Slow Cooker Revolution, and I use that almost exclusively for slow cooker recipes now (with a few exceptions). What I've learned from that is that if you want to do slow cooker stuff right and not just end up with a mush that all tastes the same, 99% of the time you can't just toss a bunch of uncooked food and spices in and let it sit all day, which was basically how I grew up seeing my mom use a crock pot.

You have to do things like saute the aromatics, sear the meat before you put it in (I can sear and/or saute with my Cuisinart crock pot, then switch it over to slow cooking mode), use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, and other tweaks like adding delicate veggies 5-30 minutes before serving so they still have texture/flavor; or holding certain spices until the very end (or adding half at the beginning and half at the end) because they'll lose their flavor if they sit in the pot all day, etc.

Their recipes vary from 4-6 hours on low to 5-7 hours to 9-11 hours on low, plus a decent amount of prep. I WFH so I actually prefer the ones that need to be started partway through the day, but that's not going to work for a lot of people compared to an IP that cooks things really fast. But you can absolutely get tasty food using a crock pot.

I tend to do at least one or two crock pot recipes a week; yesterday it was Italian stuffed bell peppers. I make killer ribs with it, too.

[zoomzoom]

Thanks, y4m.  I'll check that out.  I probably ought to read the manual at some point, too.  Lol.

[zoomzoom]

Sept 19, 2017 15:18:48 GMT -5 litebright said:

This thread reminds me that I want to get an IP -- but I also think the recipes and techniques you use for the crock pot matter in how well things turn out. I have America's Test Kitchen's Slow Cooker Revolution, and I use that almost exclusively for slow cooker recipes now (with a few exceptions). What I've learned from that is that if you want to do slow cooker stuff right and not just end up with a mush that all tastes the same, 99% of the time you can't just toss a bunch of uncooked food and spices in and let it sit all day, which was basically how I grew up seeing my mom use a crock pot.

You have to do things like saute the aromatics, sear the meat before you put it in (I can sear and/or saute with my Cuisinart crock pot, then switch it over to slow cooking mode), use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts, and other tweaks like adding delicate veggies 5-30 minutes before serving so they still have texture/flavor; or holding certain spices until the very end (or adding half at the beginning and half at the end) because they'll lose their flavor if they sit in the pot all day, etc.

Their recipes vary from 4-6 hours on low to 5-7 hours to 9-11 hours on low, plus a decent amount of prep. I WFH so I actually prefer the ones that need to be started partway through the day, but that's not going to work for a lot of people compared to an IP that cooks things really fast. But you can absolutely get tasty food using a crock pot.

I tend to do at least one or two crock pot recipes a week; yesterday it was Italian stuffed bell peppers. I make killer ribs with it, too.

Their line of cookbooks is amazing!  All of them!

And, agreed.  Seems like crockpots back in the day were cream of crap with whatever meat.  Lots of recipes from the Campbell's soup folks.  Lol.

[litebright]

Can the IP people weigh in with recommendations? Is the 6 quart big enough for cooking family meals or would you go with the 8-quart? How did you decide between models? You've got the 6-in-one, 7-in-one, 9-in-one, 10-in-one; one of them even has Bluetooth, lol. How do you decide and what features do you actually use and/or use the most?

[thatgirl2478]

litebright 's question is also mine - how do you size them?!

I think it sounds good - I might have to break down and buy one. I have next to zero time now thanks to school, and if I get into nursing school it's not going to get better.

[Champagne Supernova]

Holy shit, there's a 10-in-Ones now? ETA: Shit, it can make cake!? OMG.

I just got the 6 qt. 7-in-1 because it was the one on sale at the time. It's just DH and I and we have leftovers for about a week.

I want to advise everyone who wants to buy to also get an extra pot or two, extra lids and extra rubber gaskets. Seriously, getting extras of everything is the best advice ever. I can cook rice, take off the pot and put a lid on it and put another pot in without having to transfer food into containers.

[MixedBerryJam]

Sept 18, 2017 21:19:51 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

I have been so happy with my instant pot. I feel like the food cooks better and has more flavor. I have a 30 minute pot roast that is far better than any roast I ever did in the crock pot. Plus I love that I can sear the meat in the same device prior to starting the cooking process and it gives it so much better flavor and texture.

I know I can sear in the IP but I don't like leaning over/into that deep pot when things are sizzly so I just sear in cast iron and then move it into the IP for pressure cooking. 

[Deleted]

Sept 19, 2017 11:02:20 GMT -5 zoomzoom said:

Sept 18, 2017 21:19:51 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

I have been so happy with my instant pot. I feel like the food cooks better and has more flavor. I have a 30 minute pot roast that is far better than any roast I ever did in the crock pot. Plus I love that I can sear the meat in the same device prior to starting the cooking process and it gives it so much better flavor and texture.

I wonder if mine is defective b/c it doesn't get searing hot?  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm not letting it heat up long enough?  I like that it's both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker.  I also use it to steam artichokes quickly.  Yum.

I have found I have to really let it heat up. I test it with water to figure out when it's right. When a few drops sizzle, I know it's ready to go. 

[5thofjuly]

Sept 19, 2017 21:33:02 GMT -5 @princessbubbleyum said:

Sept 19, 2017 11:02:20 GMT -5 zoomzoom said:

I wonder if mine is defective b/c it doesn't get searing hot?  Hmmm.  Maybe I'm not letting it heat up long enough?  I like that it's both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker.  I also use it to steam artichokes quickly.  Yum.

I have found I have to really let it heat up. I test it with water to figure out when it's right. When a few drops sizzle, I know it's ready to go. 

I have the opposite problem. Mine sears on crazy hot almost immediately.

[minionkevin]

Instant Pot, hands down.
Last week I used my slow cooker for the first time in months because my Instant Pot was in the dishwasher (I was making food to take to a friend with a new baby) and I didn't want to figure out how to adjust the slow cooker recipe (from the ATK Slow Cooker Revolution book) for the IP.
I don't have the "real" IP brand, but some knockoff my mom got, so I don't know if this is allowed, but when I sear, I just put the insert pot thing on my stove and sear meat that way. ::shrug::