The terms slow cooker and crock pot have often been used as synonyms. However, if you have enough knowledge about the nitty-gritty of cookware, you will know that there is a difference between the two.
A slow cooker has a heating part at the bottom and this is different from a crock pot. After some considerable research, we have been able to identify the difference between the two. This article will look at the question of slow cooker vs crock pot.
Differences between a Slow Cooker and a Crock Pot
Knowing the difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot will help you buy the right product. Crock pots came before slow cookers and the latter even has crock pots as its brand name.
A major difference between the two is that the inside of a crock pot is made of ceramic, which is pretty thick. This makes the heat mellow on the food that is put inside.
A crock pot also heats up the food from all sides rather than just from the bottom like a slow cooker does. Due to low heat distribution, a crock pot takes a longer time to cook food than a slow cooker.
A slow cooker is recommended for cooking soupy food like stews. This is to avoid burning of solid substances like big chunks of meat, which might be spoiled with heat only from the bottom.
We have shortlisted the best crock pots and slow cookers in the market for your convenience. If you read these reviews, you will be more familiar with what these two products are and their functions.
2 Best Crock Pots
Here are the two best crock pots that are in demand:
1. Crock-Pot SCCPVL610-S
The Crock-Pot SCCPVL610 is just the right kitchen equipment that you need. It comes with a digital timer that does not require you to constantly stay on vigil. You just put the food in and let it cook, while you do other chores. This crock pot is also made with stainless steel that gives it a fine finish and makes it easier to clean.
This crock pot will let you prepare your meal within the stipulated time. Its digital time is adjustable according to your needs. This will allow you to cook a meal in half an hour or even till twenty hours with the temperature settings it provides. If you put a time limit for a meal, then on completion of that time, the heat will go down to normal and won’t burn your food.
Let us now take a look at the pros and cons of this product:
- Lid can be locked easily without any extra mess
- Stoneware can be removed for cleaning
- Holds enough food for more than 7 people
- Stoneware is not oven-safe in the broiler
- The cooking temperature is very hot
- The outer surface of the pot is not insulated
2. Crock-Pot SCV700SS
The Crock-Pot SCV700SS is very easy to use because of its removable stoneware. This makes it easy to serve the food when there are guests at your home. This crock pot is designed in a sleek manner, making it convenient to be placed anywhere in the house. So, it does not take up a lot of space.
You just have to place all the ingredients inside this pot and close the lid. You can control the temperature and just come back in time to find your food ready. It has three settings to control the heat; this will let you cook your dish at exactly the temperature that you want.
- Adjustable temperature settings
- Stoneware and glass lid is dishwasher-safe
- Cooks for more than 8 people
2 Best Slow Cookers
Now that we have looked at the most popular crock pots, let us have a look at the best slow cookers in the market:
1. Hamilton Beach 33473 Slow Cooker
The Hamilton Beach 33473 Slow Cooker lets you prepare easily scheduled meals. You do not need to keep a vigil on the meal being cooked or you do not even need to constantly keep stirring the meal.
It distributes heat evenly with a wraparound facility. So once your food gets cooked, it will automatically shift to the warm mode. This just keeps your food warm and ready to eat, while at the same time preventing it from getting burnt.
This slow cooker has a time setting according to hours. So you can preset the time at two, four, six, eight, or ten hours, according to what you are cooking. Hamilton Slow Cooker also has a touchpad that can be cleaned quite easily. In addition to this, the stoneware and the lid can be removed and cleaned properly.
- Various heat settings
- Capacity of 7 quart
- Timer will show the remaining cooking time
2. Proctor-Silex 33043 Slow Cooker
Proctor-Silex 33043 Slow Cooker allows you to have fancy but home cooked meals with no extra effort. You do not need an elaborate preparation to cook food in this slow cooker.
It is just the right size with the perfect temperature. All you need to do is put the ingredients in the right amounts inside the cooker and wait for the desired food to be cooked.
This slow cooker’s stoneware is easily removable which makes food easy to serve. And it is easy to be cleaned afterward as well. There are three different settings for the temperature that lets you manually handle the heat. This will, therefore, simplify a lot of your kitchen worries and that too, in less time.
- Has a capacity of 4 quart
- Glass lid is dishwasher safe
- Setting to keep food warm
By now you will have something to say when we look at slow cooker vs crock pot. However, to make the distinction clearer, we will list the advantages of both the products. This will help you to know exactly if you want a slow cooker for yourself or a crock pot.
Advantages of a Crock Pot
- The ceramic pot: Any crock pot will have a ceramic pot that will fit perfectly into the crock. It comes with a lid that covers the pot totally to lock the heat inside. The heat in the pot combined with a long cooking time will destroy all germs in your food. This gives you safe and delicious food at the same time.
- What to cook: A crock pot is perfect for cooking large pieces of meat, which need to be cooked for a long time on low heat. Due to the even heat in the pot, it is perfect for cooking large sized meat that can get burnt in some other cooker or vessel.
Advantages of a Slow Cooker
- The Metal pot: Unlike a ceramic pot like crock pots have, a Slow Cooker has a pot that is made of metal. In addition to this, the pot does not fit inside the container. Instead, the pot has to be placed at the bottom of the container. This does not let the heat travel from the sides and heat is just concentrated at the bottom.
- The hot plate: Slow cookers have a hot plate beneath the pot. This plate has more setting to control the heat than a crock pot has. So food will heat up faster in a slow cooker than in a crock pot. However, the food needs to be stirred at regular intervals to prevent the food from getting burnt due to excessive heat.
The basic differences that we have charted in this article will solve most questions in the slow cooker vs crock pot debate.
Hopefully, you have a better idea about what slow cookers and crock pots are, after having read the entire article. You should be able to make a more informed decision about what to buy for your kitchen.
This will also let you use your money judiciously, as you know what exactly you need and stop you from spending unnecessarily.
You might find it surprising that a kitchen appliance that cooks food slowly can save your time and energy. However, once you use either of the two products that we have talked about, you will know why it saves time.
For instance, if you have guests coming over, you might want to do other chores, while the food cooks. In such times, a slow cooker or a crock pot will be the best option.
Resources:
- https://www.tastingtable.com/cook/national/slow-cooker-crock-pot-difference
- https://foodal.com/kitchen/pots-pots-skillets-guides-reviews/crockpot-vs-slow-cooker-thing/
- https://slowcookingperfected.com/slow-cooker-vs-crock-pot/
- https://www.thekitchn.com/whats-the-difference-between-a-crockpot-and-a-slow-cooker-word-of-mouth-217582
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FAQ:
Q: Is there a difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot?
A: The main difference between a slow cooker and a Crock-Pot is how the heat is dispersed throughout the appliance. Slow cookers cook with heat from the bottom and allow a wide range of temperatures at which to cook the food.
Q: What is the best brand of slow cooker?
A: Best Slow Cookers at a Glance Best Overall Slow Cooker: Cuisinart 3-in-1 Cook Central 6-Quart Multi-Cooker Runner-up: Hamilton Beach Set & Forget Programmable Slow Cooker Best Multi-Cooker for Slow Cooking: Ninja Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker
Q: Does an Instant Pot work well as a slow cooker?
A: There are just a few rules of thumb to follow to make sure your slow cooker recipe will be successful in an Instant Pot: If it’s a meat-based dish that can be cooked 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high in a slow cooker, it’s almost guaranteed that it will be done to perfection in 25-30 minutes in a pressure cooker. Check your liquid level.
Q: What is the best temperature for a slow cooker?
A: A slow cooker temperature ranges between 200 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and most have multiple settings for cooking time and temperature. Although it’s a trademark, some use the term Crock Pot when referring to a slow cooker.