Instant Pot Duo as a Slow Cooker: Does the Slow Cook Mode Actually Work? Review
Considering the Instant Pot Duo as a Slow Cooker: Does the Slow Cook Mode Actually Work?? Here's what the specs, reputable reviews, and owner feedback actually say, strengths, limitations, and fit.
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Instant Pot
Instant Pot Duo as a Slow Cooker: Does the Slow Cook Mode Actually Work?
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Our verdict
The Instant Pot's slow cook mode is functional but not a substitute for a dedicated slow cooker if slow cooking is your primary use case. For households that already own an Instant Pot: use slow cook mode with the glass lid, it handles the job adequately. For households choosing their first appliance: the Instant Pot Duo's pressure cooking function is the primary value, and the slow cook mode is a bonus, not a selling point.
Considering the Instant Pot Duo as a Slow Cooker: Does the Slow Cook Mode Actually Work?? Here's what the specs, reputable reviews, and owner feedback actually say, strengths, limitations, and fit.
Who should buy it?
A good fit if you…
- Buyers prioritizing Slow cookers that fit their specific use case and budget.
Look elsewhere if you…
- Buyers who need a different feature set, check the alternatives below.
The Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker: Context
The Instant Pot Duo is primarily a pressure cooker, it reduces 8-hour slow cooker braises to 45 to 90 minutes of pressure cooking.
The slow cook mode is a secondary function that allows the Instant Pot to substitute for a dedicated slow cooker.
This review evaluates only the slow cook mode.
Temperature: the Core Issue
The Instant Pot's slow cook settings (low, normal, high) do not correspond directly to a traditional slow cooker's low and high settings.
Instant Pot slow cook low: approximately 195°F to 210°F (after 8 hours) Instant Pot slow cook normal: approximately 200°F to 215°F Traditional Crock-Pot low: approximately 185°F to 200°F Traditional Crock-Pot high: approximately 200°F to 212°F
Results by Recipe Type
Soups and stews (liquid-based): Excellent.
The higher temperature runs hot but the large liquid volume stabilizes the result, soups and stews are forgiving of 10°F to 15°F variance.
Reduce cook time by 20% from standard recipes.
Braised meats (chuck roast, short ribs, pork shoulder): Good.
The Glass Lid Requirement
Using the pressure lid (in venting position) during slow cooking allows some steam escape but creates an awkward setup.
If you plan to use the Instant Pot for slow cooking regularly: buy the glass lid at the same time.
Stovetop-Safe Inner Pot
The Instant Pot's stainless inner pot is stovetop-safe.
This is a genuine advantage over most dedicated slow cookers, you can sear onions, brown meat, and develop a fond directly in the Instant Pot inner pot on a gas or electric burner, then place the pot in the Instant Pot body and set the slow cook mode.
No second pan, concentrated flavors, less cleanup.
This is the same feature that makes the All-Clad and Cuisinart slow cookers with stovetop-safe inserts worth their premium.
Verdict
The Instant Pot's slow cook mode is functional but not a substitute for a dedicated slow cooker if slow cooking is your primary use case.
For households that already own an Instant Pot: use slow cook mode with the glass lid, it handles the job adequately.
For households choosing their first appliance: the Instant Pot Duo's pressure cooking function is the primary value, and the slow cook mode is a bonus, not a selling point.
For households that primarily slow cook and rarely pressure cook: a dedicated Crock-Pot is more reliable, cheaper, holds more (7-quart vs.
Instant Pot Duo as a Slow Cooker: Does the Slow Cook Mode Actually Work?
Check current price, availability and owner reviews.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Instant Pot slow cook mode the same temperature as a Crock-Pot?
No, and this is the most important thing to know before using the Instant Pot as a slow cooker. The Instant Pot's slow cook mode runs approximately 10°F to 20°F hotter than a dedicated slow cooker at comparable settings. Instant Pot's 'low' slow cook setting reaches approximately 200°F to 210°F, which is the equivalent of 'high' on a traditional Crock-Pot. 'Normal' runs even higher. A recipe calling for 8 hours on low in a Crock-Pot needs only 5 to 6 hours on the Instant Pot's low setting, or will overcook. Most recipe conversions: reduce cook time by 25% to 30%, or use the Instant Pot's low setting for Crock-Pot 'high' recipes.
Do I need to buy a separate glass lid for the Instant Pot slow cooker mode?
The Instant Pot's standard pressure cooking lid seals completely and traps all steam, no steam can escape during slow cooking, which causes condensation to drip back into the food continuously. The result: a waterlogged consistency that lacks the slight concentration of flavors that occurs in a slow cooker with a vented lid. Using the glass lid produces results much closer to a dedicated slow cooker. Using the pressure lid vented (sealing ring removed, set to venting): also works but requires careful setup.
Should I buy an Instant Pot or a slow cooker?
If you already own an Instant Pot: use its slow cook mode with a glass lid, it handles most slow cooker recipes adequately. The slow cook mode is slightly inferior to a dedicated slow cooker (temperature calibration issues, no probe, no wide oval shape for whole chickens without trimming), but the pressure cooking capability reduces 8-hour braises to 45 minutes. For most households: an Instant Pot makes more sense than a dedicated slow cooker unless you specifically use the slow cook function multiple times per week for large oval roasts.
Can I use the Instant Pot slow cooker for a whole chicken?
Yes, but with limitations. The Instant Pot's 6-quart round inner pot accommodates a 4-pound to 5-pound whole chicken. The round shape means the chicken fits differently than in an oval crock, it sits more vertically, which changes the cooking geometry slightly. For a whole chicken slow-cooked in the Instant Pot: use the low setting with the glass lid, 6 to 7 hours. For a chicken over 5 pounds: the 8-quart Instant Pot model is the appropriate size.
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