Pressure Cooker vs Slow Cooker: Everything You Need To Know

Frying up a succulent steak with some roast vegetables and topped with a thick gravy is a great way to finish a long day - but during the week, we don’t always have the luxury of having enough time in the kitchen. And as our lives become busier, turning on a slow cooker or pressure cooker and letting it cook a delicious meal while we’re at work has become a more popular choice than ever before.

But this has also raised a common question: when it comes to a pressure cooker vs a slow cooker, which one is better? As it turns out, the answer isn’t as simple as ‘one is better than the other’ - it’s based on a variety of factors. So, to help you make the right choice for you, here is everything you need to know when it comes to the slow cooker vs pressure cooker debate.

Quick Links:

• Commonly Asked Questions
• What Is A Pressure Cooker?
• What Is A Slow Cooker?
• Cooking: Slow Cooker vs Pressure Cooker
• Advantages: Pressure Cooker vs Slow Cooker
• Should You Get A Pressure Cooker Or A Slow Cooker?

Commonly Asked Questions

Is pressure cooking the same as slow cooking?

Even though both can produce similar results, there is a main difference between a slow cooker and a pressure cooker. A slow cooker will cook food longer at a lower temperature, whereas a pressure cooker uses hot steam to cook food much quicker.

Is it better to slow cook or pressure cook beef?

This completely depends on the type of meat you are planning on cooking. Because slow cookers take longer to cook, they are better suited to breaking down fat in meat while adding moisture. So if you are planning on cooking a whole rump beef, then a slow cooker is a better choice.

Is a slow cooker healthy?

Yes, slow cookers are a healthier way to cook food. This is because they use a low temperature to cook food, which unlike other styles of cooking, reduces the risk of destroying the nutrients in food when cooking at higher temperatures.

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker?

Yes, you can cook raw meat in a slow cooker. However, for more flavour and better texture, it’s always best to brown the meat before adding it in. Cooking raw meat in a slow cooker will also greatly increase the chances of the meat falling apart when cooked, rather than retaining its shape.

Is cooking in a pressure cooker healthy?

Yes, cooking in a pressure cooker is healthy. Unlike a slow cooker, which cooks foods for a long time at a lower temperature, pressure cookers do use high heat when cooking - but not for a long time. This means that most of the nutrients won’t be lost.

What Is A Pressure Cooker?

The pressure cooker was actually first invented all the way back in 1679 by French physicist Denis Papin, which was a hermetically sealed pot that used steam to cook food quickly. The main principle of pressure cookers hasn’t changed since then, as they use highly pressurised steam to quickly cook food at a high temperature.

If you are considering getting a pressure cooker for your kitchen, then there are two main types of pressure cookers:

• Electric pressure cooker: although a little more expensive, electric pressure cookers are an excellent option if you want to cook high-quality meals in a much shorter amount of time. Unlike stovetop pressure cookers, they will do most of the ‘heavy lifting’ when it comes to cooking. Simply put the ingredients in, set the timer and press the button.

• Stovetop pressure cooker: resembling a large saucepan with a heavy-duty lid, stovetop pressure cookers are more hands-on than their electric counterparts. Many will have a gauge to monitor the internal pressure, but other than that, you will need to keep an eye on it.

What is a multi-cooker?

Basically an upgraded version of a pressure cooker, a multi-cooker features pre-programmed settings that allow you to cook a variety of different foods such as steamed rice, tender lamb shanks, fluffy risotto and even yogurt. 

What is a pressure cooker good for?

The main benefit of a pressure cooker is its cooking time. Cooking a dish in an oven that might take you three hours can take one hour to cook in a pressure cooker and still produce very similar results.

What can you cook in a pressure cooker?

There is a huge variety of dishes and ingredients you can cook in a pressure cooker such as:

• Soups
• Chicken
• Meat
• Beans
• Stews
• Curry
• Lentils

Does a pressure cooker use a lot of electricity?

When compared to other cooking appliances in the kitchen, pressure cookers do use less electricity. However, it does depend on certain factors such as the type of pressure cooker you and its size. An average pressure cooker can use between 700 to 1000 watts.

What Is A Slow Cooker?

The first slow cooker was first invented in 1940 by American inventor Irving Nachumsohn. This electric kitchen appliance uses built-in heating capabilities to slowly cook food at a low heat over a long period of time. Slow cookers have found incredible popularity with people who don’t have much time to cook at home.

This is because they can simply be turned on and left to cook a delicious meal throughout the day, and around six to eight hours later, you can come home to an aromatic house and a tasty meal. The three main versions of slow cookers are:

• Crockpot: many people ask is a crock pot the same as a slow cooker? The simple answer is yes - but with some subtle differences. Originally launched in 1971, the Crockpot was a type of slow cooker that was designed to cook beans. Since then, it has been redesigned in line with modern slow cookers and has a slightly different construction but still functions the same.

• Roaster oven: although functioning slightly differently, a roaster oven falls under the slow cooker umbrella. With a similar appearance, a roaster oven is an electrical appliance used to roast vegetables and meat over a long period of time compared to a conventional oven.

• Sous vide slow cooker: translating to “under a vacuum” in French, a sous vide slow cooker is an electric appliance that circulates and heats water to cook ingredients such as meat that have been sealed in a bag. Depending on the setting and type of food being cooked, cooking times can range from one hour to seven hours.

Instant Pot vs crock pot: what’s the difference?

As explained previously, a crock pot is a type of slow cooker. An Instant Pot is actually a brand of multi-cooker that was launched in 2010. So the answer to this question yet again comes down to factors such as how much time you have or don’t have at home to cook and what type of dishes you like to eat. 

What is a slow cooker good for?

The main benefits of a slow cooker are that they’re the perfect option for tenderising cheaper cuts of meat when cooking and can be safely left at home to cook while you are at work. Due to their lower cooking temperature, slow cookers also keep more moisture in the food which locks in more flavour.

What can you cook in a slow cooker?

There are many dishes and ingredients that you can cook in a slow cooker such as:

• Granola
• Braised beef
• Mash potato
• Soup
• Curry
• Chicken thighs
• Lamb shoulder
• Sausages

Does a slow cooker use a lot of electricity?

Slow cookers actually use very little electricity compared to pressure cookers - again, depending on the type and size of the slow cooker. On a low setting, an average slow cooker will use between 75 and 150 watts and about 150 to 210 watts on a high setting.

Cooking: Slow Cooker vs Pressure Cooker

Because slow cookers take a long time to cook food slowly on low heat, they are perfect for breaking down tough ingredients such as big chunks of meat and root vegetables. Due to this long cooking time, slow cookers can be safely left on to cook during the day, whereas pressure cookers can’t - unless you enjoy overcooked and dry food.

Because pressure cookers utilise steam to cook food very quickly, they are the perfect choice for cooking meals such as beef brisket that can take a much longer time than slow cookers, yet provide almost identical results. When it comes to pressure cookers vs slow cookers, always remember that they both lock in moisture so it doesn’t evaporate during cooking, so always add in less liquid than you think you will need.

What foods should not be cooked in a slow cooker?

Though slow cookers are awesome for producing some of the best tender and delicious foods, there are some limitations when it comes to ingredients. Here’s a brief list of foods that should not be cooked in a slow cooker:

• Lean meat/seafood: lean meats and seafood, such as chicken breast, fish and pork fillets, don’t contain much sinew or fat. This means that the slow cooker will end up turning them into leather.

• Lots of liquid: remember that liquid doesn’t evaporate in a slow cooker, so too much liquid will result in a stew or soup tasting very liquidy and less flavourful.

• Spice: when cooking with spices like chillies, the food will become spicier the longer it is cooked. Unless you enjoy incredible amounts of heat, it’s best to add in any spice and chillies near the end of the cooking time.

• Rice/pasta: when cooked for a very long time in a slow cooker, starchy ingredients like rice and pasta will turn into a mushy mess.

• Dairy: dairy is a delicate ingredient, and when cooked for a long time in a slow cooker, it will separate and turn into a watery mess by the end.

What temperature is low in a slow cooker?

Depending on the type of slow cooker you have, the average low temperature on a slow cooker is around 87°C. But for the exact low-temperature setting on the slow cooker you are considering, refer to the product’s packaging.

What temperature is high in a slow cooker?

Again, depending on the type of slow cooker you have, the average high temperature on a slow cooker is around 148°C. And as always, refer to the product’s packaging for the exact high-temperature setting on the slow cooker you are considering.

What foods should not be cooked in a pressure cooker?

When it comes to the pressure cooker vs slow cooker debate, the humble pressure cooker also has a list of certain foods that aren’t ideal to use:

• Dairy: just as with slow cookers, dairy products like milk and cheese will turn into a curdled mess when cooked at high temperatures.

• Crispy food: if you’re after crunchy food like crispy chicken or breaded meats, then a pressure cooker isn’t the best for obvious reasons. As an alternative though, you can cook ingredients like chicken and then crispen them up in a frying pan or oven at the end.

• Pasta: although rice turns out great in a pressure cooker, pasta doesn’t, and will end up a mushy or unevenly cooked mess due to the amount of steam. Your best bet is to simply boil pasta the traditional way.

• Steak: it may be tempting to cook a tender bit of steak in your pressure cooker - but it’s not worth it. Steak needs to be cooked at a certain temperature and the fat needs to be rendered down, which is not possible to do in a pressure cooker.

What temperature is low in a pressure cooker?

Depending on the type of pressure cooker you have, the average low temperature on a pressure cooker is anywhere between 109°C and 111°C, and will typically use about 5.5 to 7 PSI.

What temperature is high in a pressure cooker?

Again, depending on what type of pressure cooker you have, the typical high temperature on a pressure cooker is about 121°C, and will average about 15 PSI.

Advantages: Pressure Cooker vs Slow Cooker

Apart from huge benefits such as the reduced pressure cooker vs slow cooker energy consumption, there are many advantages that each one provides. Here are the main advantages when it comes to pressure cookers vs slow cookers:

Slow cooker advantages

• They can be left on their own to cook a delicious meal for you to come home to.

• You don’t need to stir them periodically, just turn it on and let it do its thing.

• Slow cookers are more affordable than pressure cookers.

• They come in a wide variety of sizes to suit all types of households.

• Great for turning cheap and tough cuts of meat into juicy and tender pieces.

• Slow cookers are incredibly easy to use. Simply add in the ingredients, turn it on and that’s it!

Pressure cooker advantages

• It allows you to cook a delicious meal faster than using any other type of appliance, shaving hours off of your cooking time.

• An ideal choice for quickly cooking tough and cheap cuts of meat and making them tender.

• Because pressure cookers cook with steam, ingredients are able to retain more of their minerals and vitamins.

• As the heat is contained, pressure cookers won’t heat up your kitchen as stovetops and ovens can.

• Many modern pressure cookers have multi-cooker functions that allow you to cook a variety of different ways from one kitchen appliance.

Slow Cooker vs Pressure Cooker: Which One Should You Get?

So, when it comes to answering the heated pressure cooker vs slow cooker debate, it all boils down to your personal preference. If you want to turn it on and leave it to cook while you’re at work, then a slow cooker is for you. But if you want to cook delicious meals quickly that would normally take hours, then a pressure cooker is for you.

To find the best option for you, explore our great range of slow cookers, pressure cookers and food processors at Harris Scarfe today. If you’re looking for a delicious slow cooker recipe to try, then check out this fantastic tomato and thyme braised osso buco recipe by none of than celebrity chef Miguel Maestre!