So what the heck is the difference between the Instant Pot and Crock Pot anyhow? Which kitchen appliance should you buy? Instant Pot vs Crock Pot … who won the “Rice and Bean Challenge”? This article will attempt to answer those questions and provide you with some guidance on whether the Instant Pot or the Crock Pot is the right kitchen appliance for you.
What’s the Differences Between the Instant Pot vs Crock Pot?
Quick Answer – they cook food differently. One cooks quickly and under pressure while the other cooks slowly using constant low-level heat.
Honestly, both the Instant Pot and the Crock Pot are excellent choices for one simple reason; making a tasty, home-cooked meal is more nutritious than eating out. Besides, if you cook it, you know what’s in it! Regardless of whether you are cooking for yourself, meal-prepping or cooking for your entire family, research has shown that people who eat home-cooked meals tend to be happier and healthier than those who eat out and/or consume pre-packaged and processed foods. If that weren’t enough, home-cooked meals are usually cheaper and better for the environment!
Okay, back to the question at hand: Instant Pot vs Crock Pot!
The good old fashioned Crock Pot is also commonly referred to as a slow cooker… because this is what it does. The Crock Pot cooks food slowly . The Crock Pot will generally have just a few heat settings, (i) low, (ii) medium, (ii) high, and (iv) keep warm (sometimes). But again, the Crock Pot cooks food slowly … even the high setting on a Crock Pot will take hours to finish.
The Instant Pot, however, heats food in a completely different way than the Crock Pot. The Instant Pot is what is known as an “electric pressure cooker”. It has been referred to as the “Crock Pot for the new generation”. The Instant Pot cooks food quickly . It does this by cooking under pressure.
The Good ol’ Rice & Beans Challenge – Time Trials
Spoiler alert, the Instant Pot is way, way faster! Although rice and beans are usually thought of as side dishes of Mexican meals, they can be combined and actually be an incredibly cheap, nutritious meal that you can easily make at home. You see when you combine rice and beans, they form a complete protein. The meal is also low fat and packed with complex carbohydrates and vitamins and minerals. By combining the two in your Instant Pot or Crock Pot, you can create a powerful, budget-friendly, and healthy combo.Furthermore, the plant-based protein from this dish can be an excellent base for your “Meatless Mondays”.
Anyhow … let’s take a quick look at cooking times when making rice and beans in your Instant Pot or Crock Pot.
Canned, cooked beans and dry, uncooked rice.
| Instant Pot vs Crock Pot | Time |
| Crock Pot | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Instant Pot | 20 minutes |
Uncooked beans and uncooked rice.
| Instant Pot vs Crock Pot | Time |
| Crock Pot | 6 – 8 hours |
| Instant Pot | 25 minutes + 10 minutes to release pressure |
How About Pricing?
The Instant Pot costs more than the Crock Pot.Remember, these prices are for buying them new. Sometimes you can find a deal … on Craigslist, OfferUp, Let it Go or eBay, just to name a few. Oftentimes somebody might have received one as a gift or they have to move and don’t have room for it. Possibly, they just don’t use it and would rather have the cash. Either reason, you might want to take a look at these websites to see if you can find a deal on an Instant Pot or Crock Pot.
Should I buy the Instant Pot or Crock Pot?
Well, that totally depends on your lifestyle. Again, I don’t think you could go wrong either way. If you are making a healthy home-cooked meal, you are on the right path!
Quick and Easy – For the people who love tech and gadgets and have very little time on their hands, I would suggest buying the Instant Pot. The Instant Pot was the clear winner when it came to cooking time in the rice and beans test. Also, if you are trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle and trim down on the number of kitchen tools you have, the Instant Pot would probably be the better choice.
Slow and Low (and also easy) – For the people who love the simplicity and have more free time, I would suggest that they buy a Crock Pot. Even though the Crock pot lost with respect to time in the rice and beans test, it will still come out wonderful.
‘Mo Money’ is NOT ‘Mo Problems’ – For those of you who have won the rat race, just do it (you know you want to) … stop agonizing over Instant Pot vs Crock Pot and just buy both 😉
You Can’t Go Wrong, Either Way
Either way, you can’t go wrong … in both the Instant Pot and the Crock Pot, you take a bunch of ingredients, throw them all together in one pot, and hit start. Set it and Forget it! Simplicity is the name of the game with both the Instant Pot and the Crock Pot.
Which Products I Recommend …
It comes in stainless steel, red, and black. What have people said, “This is a very nice crock pot. This replaces a 6-quart slow cooker we used for years and it worked really well. I am also still using a smaller crock pot we received as a wedding gift 30-something years ago and use that for smaller dishes.” The Instant Pot can boil, simmer, bake, fry, deep fry, grill, roast, stew, steam and brown. What have people said, “I use this for everything! How did I live without this before???” Which one did you buy? Do you have any questions? Leave a comment below to let me know … Thanks for reading!
If you decide to buy a Crock Pot, I recommend the Crock-Pot Cook’ N Carry 6-Quart Oval Manual Portable Slow Cooker (model SCCPVL600S).
If you decide to buy an Instant Pot, I highly recommend the Classic Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 (6qt). This Instant Pot is a best seller and for good reason.
Highlights of The Instant Pot vs Crock Pot
