Which Should You Buy: a Slow Cooker or a Pressure Cooker?

Here's how to decide between a slow cooker and a pressure cooker

By Donna Currie

Updated 09/20/18

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While slow cookers and pressure cookers can often be used to cook the same sorts of foods—like tough meats—the way they go about that cooking is completely different. Slow cookers are designed to cook food gently and for a long time. Pressure cookers are designed to cook food at a temperature that’s higher than the normal boiling point (because of the pressure), and they cook much faster.

If you only have room, or budget, for one of these devices, which should you choose?

Slow cookers tend to be less expensive, particularly on the low end of the price range, since they don’t need a lot of technology for their most basic tasks. The least expensive slow cookers might just have high, low, and off settings, with no timer or extra features. Higher end machines might have timers, a keep-warm function, or a browning function. The slow cooker is ideal when you want to cook your food unattended, or even when you’re not at home. Many people put food in a slow cooker before going to work so it’s ready when they come home or they leave food cooking overnight. Since the slow cooker doesn’t need to stay sealed during cooking, you can taste for seasoning or add ingredients throughout the cooking process.

Electric pressure cookers tend to be more expensive than slow cookers, since there’s a bit more technology and engineering involved. For safety, the lid locks on during pressure cooking and it won’t unlock until pressure has been released. Because of that, it’s best to cook recipes that don’t require tasting during the process and that don’t need ingredients to be added at different times. Since the pressure cooker speeds up the normal cooking times, you can put foods in the cooker after work and have dinner on the table quickly. But since the time is generally so short, you probably wouldn’t leave it cooking while you’re at work. Electric pressure cookers generally have extra functions that make them more versatile, like a browning function as well as the ability to slow cook.

If a pressure cooker can also slow cook, why wouldn’t someone choose it over a slow cooker? For one thing, many slow cookers are oval-shaped to accommodate large roasts or whole chickens, which might not fit well in a pressure cooker. For another, while pressure cookers are safer than they were in the past, many people have a lingering fear of them. And last, pressure cooking is a completely different technique than cooking on the stove, so there is a bit of a learning curve, whereas using a slow cooker is very similar to cooking on the stove, so it’s much more familiar.

Once you’ve decided which appliance is right for you, here are the best options on the market.

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  • 01 of 06

    Best Slow Cooker: Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker

    Hamilton Beach Set 'n Forget Programmable Slow Cooker With Temperature Probe, 6-Quart (33967A)
    Courtesy of Amazon.com.

    Not only does this slow cooker have the basic functions, it also has a few special features that you won’t find in other slow cookers, like the temperature probe than can be used to check the temperature of a roast while it cooks. This is a programmable slow cooker with a keep-warm setting, but you can also opt to ignore the programming and use it manually.

    The oval shape of this 6-quart cooker means there’s plenty of room for a roast or large chicken. It’s designed for travel, with clips that hold the lid on, and a gasket for a tight seal. Sturdy handles make it easy to carry. It also includes a spoon that clips to the cooker, so it’s handy for serving.
    There are three settings: program (which allows you to set a cooking time) probe (which uses the temperature probe to determine doneness) and manual (which lets you set high, low, or warm temperatures without setting a cooking time).

    Interested in reading more reviews? Take a look at our selection of the best slow cookers. 

  • 02 of 06

    Best High-End Slow Cooker: All-Clad Programmable Oval Slow Cooker

    All-Clad SD700450 Programmable Oval-Shaped Slow Cooker with Black Ceramic Insert and Glass Lid, 6.5-Quart, Silver
    Courtesy of Amazon.com.

    This cooker has a polished stainless steel exterior that looks pretty enough to sit on a buffet table to serve warm foods. It holds 6½ quarts, which is plenty for large roasts and whole chickens, and it has a timer that will run for up to 26 hours.

    It has a black ceramic insert that can be removed for serving or cleaning, and a glass lid so you can see what’s cooking. The digital display is easy to read, and it has sturdy stainless steel handles for carrying the cooker.

  • 03 of 06

    Best Budget Slow Cooker: Crock-Pot 4-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker

    Crock-Pot SCV401TR 4-Quart Oval Manual Slow Cooker, Red
    Courtesy of Amazon.com.

    If you don’t need all the options that come with high-end cookers, this model can handle your basic slow cooking needs and is great for smaller families, since it’s just four quarts. There are no timers and no programming modes, just a simple dial that can be set to low, high, warm, or off.
    The oval stoneware insert is removable for serving or cleaning, and it has a glass lid. This comes in black, red, or silver, and there is a similar 7-quart model, if you want or need a larger size.

  • 04 of 06

    Best Pressure Cooker: Instant Pot DUO 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker

    Instant Pot 7 In 1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart | 1000W
    Courtesy of Amazon.com.

    Instant Pot is one of the most popular electric pressure cooker brands on the market, and this 6-quart model is one of their best sellers. It has buttons for multiple functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté/browning, yogurt maker, steamer, and warmer. It can cook at high or low pressure, and has three sauté temperatures for versatility.

    The cooking insert is stainless steel, so it’s dishwasher safe, but not nonstick. The included rack can be used for steaming or for easy removal of larger foods from the cooking insert.

    The automatic keep-warm feature can hold cooked food at a safe temperature for up to 10 hours, and the manual keep-warm feature can hold food for almost 100 hours. If you want to start the cooking at a later time, you can set a delayed start for up to 24 hours.

    This model is also available in 5- and 8-quart models.

    Interested in reading more reviews? Take a look at our selection of the best pressure cookers. 

    Continue to 5 of 6 below.
  • 05 of 06

    Best Large Pressure Cooker: Gourmia GPC-1200 Multifunction Pressure Cooker

    Gourmia GPC1200 Smart Pot Electric Digital Multifunction Pressure Cooker with 13 Programmable Cooking Modes, 12 quart Stainless Steel with Steam Rack, 1400W, Silver Free Recipe Book Included
    Courtesy of Amazon.com.

    If you regularly cook larger amount of food, this 12-quart pressure cooker holds much more than other models. If you want to delay the start of cooking, you can set it to start cooking up to 24 hours later, and it will resume cooking in the event of a power loss.

    There are 13 cooking modes: meat, poultry, soup, steam, sauté, slow cook, dessert, beans, porridge, rice, timer, preset time, and warm.

    If this is a too large, the same model also comes in 4-, 6-, 8-, and 10-quart sizes.

  • 06 of 06

    Best Small Pressure Cooker: Aobosi 8-in-1 Electric Mini Pressure Cooker

    [New Arrival] Aobosi 8-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker 3Qt/800W Mini Size Perfect for Small Family Digital Non-Stick Rice/Slow Cooking Pot,Cookbook Included
    Courtesy of Amazon.com.

    If you’re looking for a small pressure cooker for a small family, single person, or a dorm room, this little 3-quart electric pressure cooker can do almost anything its big brothers can, but in smaller quantities and with a smaller footprint. It functions as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, warmer, and stock pot. It can also sauté foods, and it has a yogurt setting. The cooking time is adjustable, but pressure cannot be adjusted.
    The cooking pot has a nonstick surface for easy cleaning and the cooker has multiple safety mechanisms, so you don’t need to worry about accidentally opening it while it’s still under pressure. This comes with a cookbook, a soup spoon, a rice spoon, a measuring cup, an extra sealing ring, and a steaming rack.