Community Chat

[Ainhisg]

I have and love both...wouldn't give up either one.  I use them for different things.  Even though a pressure cooker has a slow cooker setting, it DOES NOT cook like a slow cooker as the heat only comes from the bottom.  Join the Instant Pot Facebook page, and you will see post after post of people complaining that the slow cooker setting does not work like a normal slow cooker.  The only pressure cooker I've read about that offers a slow cooker function that seems to work like a normal slow cooker is the Mealthy brand.  But I do not know from personal experience if that is the case.  

I have a killer beef stew recipe that I love, love, love in the pressure cooker.  Conversely, I have several soups that I like to do in my slow cooker or actually on the stove--I know--GASP!  Slow cookers are relative inexpensive, so if you can swing both and have room for both, I'd get a slow cooker and a pressure cooker.  As someone else pointed out, Prime Day is October 13 and 14, and they always have great deals on these appliances.  Plus Christmas is coming up, and I know merchants have deals on these items then, too.

 If you decide to purchase a pressure cooker, do not get a smaller size than a 6-qt. even though there are just two of you.  (I cook for just my husband and myself, as well.)  You can cook small amounts in a 6-qt, but you can't cook larger amounts in a 3-qt.  Also, 6-qts are generally cheaper.  For a slow cooker, I have a variety of sizes from 2 qt. to 6 qt, but if I had to choose one size of slow cooker, I would choose a 6 qt. as most recipes are written for that size (same for pressure cookers).

[Jacie]

I don't want to do anything when I get home, start my Crock Pot in the morning and DONE!

[SharkE]

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@ProudMa wrote:

Looking to purchase one or the other....Just hubby and I...but winter time stews and soups are our fav

which have you found the most useful...and get better results...

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Should post over in Kitchen we address kitchen gadgets constantly.

I'm Ninja Foodi freak LOL

[Jdpic]

InstaPot is where it is at.  They are great to cook with.

[Nuttmeg]

@ProudMa

I used a slow cooker 40 years ago. It was a nice appliance, back then.

Today, I have a Insta pot ultra with a big blue display which I brought from Amazon. It cooks everything, rice, fresh greens and string beans. 

Amazon has Prime Day on October 13-14.

You can now return items until January 31, 2021. 

[Sooner]

@Mimi 1883 There are 2 of us and we use our IP's several times a week.

The 3 quart is light and easy to slap on the counter from underneath on the shelf.  Mostly we use it for boiled eggs, making soup out of leftovers, cooking chicken for a meal or two (boneless skinless breasts or tenders usually), a pot of pea soup, making greens quickly, a couple of potatoes (it's great for sweet potatoes).  Small amounts and yogurt.

And a bonus is we can put the lid (extra purchase) on for the fridge and it's easy--and we have a second pot and sometimes use both for a meal. 

The 6 quart is for bigger batches of soup, more chicken or a whole chicken, roasts, chili, etc.  Sometimes we cook meal on the bottom and potatoes on a rack above so we use it for two-tier cooking sometimes.  This one lives in the laundry room below the sink.  

We have an old 6 quart we have had a long time, but we bought a newer one on sale last summer and the inner pot has handles--which we LOVE--and a steam vent that closes autoatically and releases at a more gentle steam.  The big downside is that the silicone lid we bought for the old one doesn't fit.

SO if we want to make a big batch of chili or soup for a few days, we get out the old one with the lid!  It lives in the garage!

Do some shopping and I'll bet you'll find sales!  AND Williams-Sonoma has cute Star Wars ones (white!) at really good prices right now! 

[Ibby114]

I don't need food cooked fast-  the whole concept of 'rushing with food' is   something I consciously deal with often since losing (& keeping off) lots of weight. I use my slow cooker often!

I'm big on meal prep- even with working from  home since March.  I slow cook large portions of food and portion them out 

Can people who use their insta pot post what they prefer to cook 'fast'-- vs using a slow cooker?  Maybe that'll spark some ideas for me!

[faeriemoon]

I have a Crock Pot which I don't use a whole lot (half a dozen times a year maybe?), but am pleased with the results of the recipes I use it for.  I would never use and Insant Pot.  As someone up thread mentioned, I'm a stove/oven person.

[TVLand]

I was thinking of an Instant Pot....BUT... I have heard its on its way out....has anyone else heard this...???

[Mimi 1883]

Thank you so much @Sooner ! What brand do you have? I want something that I know someone else has who uses it and it works. Thanks. 🙂