Wondering about a multi cooker vs. slow cooker? This quick guide will help you decide which countertop appliance is right for you!
Why you’ll love it
I get it. You need to replace that old, clunky slow cooker and youve been eyeing all of the options – and some of them are hella expensive.
It all comes down to one thing, is a multi-cooker better than a slow cooker?
I dont know about you but storage space in my kitchen is valuable – prime real estate so to speak. I have a rice cooker, a slow cooker, a pressure cooker, a deep fryer, and on and on.
When I can buy just one appliance that will step in and do the job of several I get excited!
A multi cooker does just that.
What is the difference between a slow cooker and a multi cooker?
Although I mention instant pots in the comparison I am not discussing them here. That is a different appliance completely and I dont have one for reference.
I have both a slow cooker and a multi-cooker and I use them often. My multi-cooker is a Ninja product that has been discontinued but Ive done some research and found another product that is very similar and Ill be using it in the comparison.
Both have stainless steel exteriors and are relatively easy to clean. Usually the inner pot is dishwasher safe, too.
A slow cooker has one function. It slowly simmers all kinds of foods to tender perfection in the (usually) ceramic crock.
Its perfect for stews, soups, pot roasts, and slow simmered sauces like beef ragu and chicken cacciatore. It slow cooks dinner and keeps it warm for you until you get home.
A good multi-cooker has slow cooker capabilities. Like a slow cooker it can gently simmer your chuck roast to buttery melt-in-you-mouth perfection and have it waiting for you when you get home.
But, it also allows you to sear that perfect roast and saute the onions right in the pot without having to use the stove.
I dont know about you but I think that few minutes of searing makes so much difference in the flavor and eye appeal of a pot roast!
Once youve seared the meat to a gloriously golden color you just turn a knob (or push a button), add the remaining ingredients, and slow cook your dinner as if it was a crock pot.
And it does much, much more.
Instant Pot vs Crock Pot: Which Should You Buy
Is a multicooker a crock pot?
Instant Pot is a brand name for a multicooker, the same way Kleenex is a brand name for tissues or Scotch Tape is a name for cellophane tape. (While we’re at it, Crock-Pot is a brand name for a slow cooker!) A multicooker is an electric appliance that, as the name implies, does many things.
Is a crock pot the same as an Instant Pot?
Instant also makes a slow cooker with a dutch oven insert now, too. 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 only traditional Crock-Pots are slow cookers, while all Instant Pots are multi-cookers.
Is a crock pot a slow cooker?
But only traditional Crock-Pots are slow cookers, while all Instant Pots are multi-cookers. ✔️ Crock-Pots are great for entertaining and transporting food to potlucks since most have travel-friendly latches and handles so you don’t have to worry about food sloshing inside and potentially spilling.
Are Instant Pots A multicooker?
Instant Pots were introduced in 2010 and have been super popular ever since. They’re actually multi-cookers, so you can sauté, pressure cook, and even slow cook all in the same pot.