5 Reasons Why An Instant Pot Could Replace Your Slow Cooker

As you know, we love slow cookers here at Simplemost, so when I heard about the Instant Pot, a 6-in-1 programmable pressure cooker, I had to try it. So, I get it—you’re perfectly happy with your Crock-Pot or slow cooker, so why make the switch to a pressure cooker, particularly the Instant Pot? In a word: convenience.

There are six primary things it does:

1. Pressure cooker
2. Slow cooker
3. Rice cooker
4. Steamer
5. Warmer
6. It will sauté or brown food and vegetables

Honestly, I was pretty skeptical of this gadget when I first read about it.  It was one of those things that seemed too good to be true.

But then I did a ton of research on it…

Here are the five main reasons on why I think you should make the switch… or at least add the Instant Pot to your collection of kitchen must-haves.

1. Save Time

If you’re short on time, you can make a meal faster with the Instant Pot vs. a slow cooker—whether you’re making breakfast, lunch, or dinner. This is due to the fact that pressure cookers cook food at higher temperatures (over boiling temps) vs. a slow cooker, which cooks food at lower temperatures for a longer timeframe. The Instant Pot cooks your food 70 percent faster than a slow cooker would. Pretty impressive!

2. Save Electricity

Want to be green (and money-conscientious)? You can save approximately 70 percent electricity by using an electric pressure cooker instead of a slow cooker. (And with how high heating bills get in the winter, this is great news!) Plus, the former has insulated housing, which saves on energy usage, too.

MORE: 5 ways your slow cooker can save you hundreds of dollars each year

3. Have Scent-Free Cooking

With a Crock-Pot, you know how you can smell the dish—like beef stew—cooking? Well, with the pressure cooker, you smell nothing. Nothing! No scent, no steam, due to the lid being sealed under pressure. Plus, without smelling the food wafting through the kitchen and house, it makes you forget it’s cooking vs. counting down the minutes and hearing your stomach growling for hours. However, to be honest, I like smelling my food as it cooks, but when you don’t, it’s a nice surprise when your meal is finally ready and you lift the lid. It’s a like a reward for the time you waited, and you’ll impress yourself on what a great job you did making pulled pork.

4. Retain Nutrients Of The Food

We mentioned high heat above, but it comes in handy while thoroughly cooking your food. Because the temperature is between 239°F-244°F (!), it kills toxins that slow cookers may miss. In addition, vegetables and other foods will maintain their nutrients by being cooker at higher temps vs. with slow cookers, which often remove them.

5. Enjoy Healthier Meals

After working all day, it’s so easy to go to a drive-thru, grab some fast food, and call it a night. But, with a little bit of planning, you can have your Instant Pot meal all ready for you the moment you walk in the door. So, you can have “fast food” that is far more healthy than the common definition of it. Plus, there are a ton of pressure cooker cookbooks out there, like The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Cookbook, so once you get your Instant Pot, prepare to work up an appetite and try out some new recipes!

You can get the Instant Pot on Amazon for $89.  The 5 quart version has a 4.6 / 5 rating with over 1,800 reviews.

In any case, bon appétit!

Simplemost is not affiliated in any way with The Instant Pot.  However, if you buy something through our posts, Simplemost may get a small share of the sale.