Every household’s kitchen has at least a pressure cooker, an instant pot, or a crockpot, or else all of them. But many of you may not be aware of the differences/similarities between these three cooking appliances.
Therefore, it would be a very common issue if you assume whether pressure cooker, instant pot, and crockpot are the same type of cooking appliance or not.
So, let’s learn the explanations to clear out your understanding regarding these appliances.
Pressure Cooker, Instant Pot, Crock-Pot- Are They Same?
Pressure cooker, instant pot, & crockpot are different in terms of functionality. A pressure cooker isn’t a multicooker and uses steam to cook food but an instant pot is both a pressure cooker and a multicooker. And a crockpot is a multicooker too but it uses the shimmering method to cook food.
A traditional pressure cooker is a sealed stovetop pot that cooks foods by producing steam as the foods inside it are heated. On the contrary, an instant pot is also a pressure cooker but electronic and comes with both 6-in-1 and 10-in-1 multi cooking options.
And a crockpot is an electronic countertop cooking appliance that uses the shimmering method to cook food at a low temperature instead of using steam.
Thence, the connotations of a pressure cooker, instant pot, and crockpot are evidently indicating that all of the 3 cooking appliances are not the same. These are different from each other in terms of functionality.
Pressure Cooker Vs Instant Pot- Are They Same Or Different?
Although an instant pot comes with the functionality of a pressure cooker, they are totally different from each other.
A pressure cooker generally is a stovetop cooking appliance that uses high-pressure vapor created by water-based liquids when they are heated highly to cook food. And both the traditional and electronic pressure cookers only can work for pressure cooking.
But an instant pot is originally from a brand like the Philips electronics brand and manufactures electronic multicookers that have a function as pressure cookers along with yogurt makers, steamers, slow cookers, etc.
What Is The Difference Between Pressure Cooker & Instant Pot?
Disparities between a pressure cooker and an instant pot are explained below.
PSI Level:
The PSI level is the main difference between a traditional pressure cooker and an instant pressure cooker.
Any traditional stovetop pressure cooker such as a Farberware pressure cooker can reach up to a PSI of about 15, whereas any instant pot like Ninja instant pot only can reach a PSI of 12.
Safety:
An instant pot is more on the safer side while a traditional pressure cooker has the potential to get blown up.
Price:
Traditional pressure cookers cost less than instant pots. For example, a Cuisinart stovetop pressure cooker costs $100 or a little more on average, but a Ninja instant pot can cost $200+ (up to $600l) depending on model and functionality options.
Versatility:
Pressure cookers and instant pots differ greatly in terms of versatile usage of the appliance as well. Pressure cookers have no versatile usage, they only can be used for pressure cooking.
But an instant pot is versatile and comes with either 6-in-1 or 10-in-one cooking options. So they can be used for slow cooking, cake making, yogurt making, and many more.
Pressure Cooker Vs Crock Pot/Slow Cooker- Are They Same Or Different?
Pressure cookers and slow cookers/crock pots are poles apart in terms of practically being used and purposes.
A conventional pressure cooker is a sealed stovetop vessel that traps steam inside and the trapped steam generates pressure while raising up the temperature as well to cook food.
But a slow cooker/crockpot is an electronic cooking pot that basically shimmers food slowly for about 4-10 hours to cook the food perfectly. So the definitions make clear sense that a pressure cooker and a crockpot/slow cooker are different.
What Is The Difference Between Pressure Cooker & Crock Pot/Slow Cooker?
Differences between a pressure cooker and a crockpot/slow cooker are given below –
Cooking Time:
The biggest disparity between a pressure cooker and a crockpot/slow cooker is the cooking time. A pressure cooker can cook food very fast, for example, the Power brand’s pressure cookers lessen cooking time by 70%.
But a slow cooker as the name implies cooks food very slowly as any Ambiano crockpot takes at least 4-10 hours to prepare a meal.
Supervision Varies:
While cooking in a pressure cooker, strict and continuous supervision is needed to avoid any mishaps, blow off, and fire risks. But a crockpot/slow cooker can be left unattended for long hours, and it’s safe as well.
Different Lid:
Pressure cookers have airtight lids that can’t be opened while cooking. But crock pots have removable lids.
Pressure Cooker Vs Air Fryer-Are They Same Or Different?
Though a pressure cooker and an air fryer might seem identical as both of the appliances require high temperature while cooking food but in terms of the cooking method they are totally opposite.
A pressure cooker needs high temperature to build high pressure inside the sealed pot that increases to the boiling point and cooks food with that steam heat.
Whereas, an air fryer is quite alike a convection oven with multi cooking options that certainly require high temperature to cook food but it lessens the inner pressure and relies on hot air circulation to fry/cook foods.
What’s The Difference Between a Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer?
The apparent disparities between a pressure cooker and an air fryer have been given below –
Cooking Method:
A pressure cooker relies on high inner pressure that is generated by the high temperature which makes the water-based liquid product reach its boiling point to prepare food.
But an air fryer cooks/fries food by using hot air circulation generated at high temperature, and reduces inner pressure.
Multi Cooking Options:
Pressure cookers don’t offer multi cooking options, like any pressure cooker from the Fissler brand or others isn’t capable of frying, baking, etc. other than only cooking veggies, meats, rice items with high pressure.
But an air fryer is a multitasker. Any new version of air fryer such as Bella air fryers not only can make fried foods but also can bake, stir fry, make yogurt, and others.
Quantity Of Added Liquids:
To cook foods in a pressure cooker, a minimum of a cup of liquids such as water, broth, or oil is required but an air fryer just requires a few drops of liquids and makes neatly foods.
Pressure Cooker Vs Pressure Canner-Are They Same Or Different?
A pressure cooker and a pressure canner are not the same. And the difference is, a pressure cooker is basically used for quick-cooking purposes and pressure cookers are smaller in size.
While a pressure canner is used for canning foods veggies, fish, meat (low acid ones only) that are stored in containers inside the vessel.
What’s The Difference Between Pressure cookers & Pressure Canner?
Differences between a pressure cooker and a pressure canner are given below –
Purpose:
Any pressure cooker of any brand such as Farberware or WMF, or any other ones are meant for cooking larger cuts of meats, for roasting foods, etc. quickly.
However, a pressure canner from any high-rated brand like Presto is used mainly for helping to can low acid foods such a fish/veggies/meat, that are stored in sealed jars like Tupperware or any other brand inside the pressure canner.
Size:
Pressure cookers are smaller sized than pressure canners. Pressure cookers from any brand regardless of the Fagor, Cuisinart, or others will only hold up to 4-6 quarts.
But a pressure canner will hold about 7-22 quarts of canned food.
Cooking Options:
Pressure cookers can only be used for cooking purposes but pressure canners sometimes can be used for cooking as well along with canning foods in jars.
Pressure Cooker Vs Rice Cooker – Are They Same Or Different?
A rice cooker and a pressure cooker are different in terms of cooking purposes. A rice cooker mainly is designed for cooking rice or foods with similar cooking ingredients as rice.
But a pressure cooker can be used for any recipe containing meat and rice. It’s more versatile than a rice cooker.
What’s The Difference Between a Pressure Cooker & Rice Cooker?
3 primary differences between a pressure cooker and a rice cooker are explained below.
Features:
A rice cooker has an outer case with a heating element or coil, has an inner vessel, and a removable lid.
On the opposite, a pressure cooker has a sealed lid that can’t be opened while cooking food inside, it also features a pressure sensor.
Functionality:
A rice cooker mainly functions to cook rice or dishes related to rice. It’s basically is a single function cooking vessel but these days, multi-functional rice cookers are found too, such as T-Fal 10-in-1 rice and multicooker. However, those rice cookers cook slowly.
On the other hand, a pressure cooker is more multi-functional than a rice cooker. British company Tower is well known in this sector for expanding the multi cooking functionality in pressure cookers.
Pressure Cooker Vs Oven- Are They Same Or Different?
Pressure cookers and ovens have tons of disparities between them, they are not the same at all.
As a pressure cooker uses heat to create steam directly inside the vessel to prepare food faster. But an oven, usually cooks/bakes/heats/roasts food by using hot air circulation. Thence, it makes sense that pressure cookers and ovens are different.
What’s The Difference Between Pressure Cooker & Oven?
Differences between a pressure cooker and an oven are given below –
Method Of Cooking:
As the name is already indicating, any pressure cooker from renowned brands like the Fissler, WMF, Tower, Farberware, etc. uses the pressure cooking method to cook food.
On the opposite, convection ovens from famous brands such as Philips, ninja, or any not-so-popular brands prepare foods by using hot air circulation.
Duration:
As water or water-based liquids are better conductors of generating heat than air, pressure cookers cook food faster than any ovens. Because it’s using high pressure generated by boiling water/water-based liquids.
Hence, the air is not so good a conductor for creating heat, ovens cook foods slowly.
Cooking Options:
Pressure cookers don’t come with several multi-cooking options except for pressure cooking, but ovens have multi-cooking options like baking, roasting, oven frying, etc.
Pressure Cooker Vs Steamer-Are They Same Or Different?
A steamer and a pressure cooker both use the steaming method while preparing food but they differ in terms of the duration of cooking.
Pressure cookers use high-pressure steam at a temperature of 250° F for speedy cooking, whereas conventional steamers cook at a water boiling point of 212°F. This means pressure cookers cook faster than steamers and they are different.
What’s The Difference Between a Pressure Cooker And a Steamer?
Differences between a pressure cooker and a steamer are given below –
Duration Of Cooking Process:
The main disparity between a pressure cooker and a steamer is the time each cooking vessel takes to cook food. A pressure cooker cooks food faster than a steamer and because of its fast cooking process, they differ from each other.
For instance, pressure cookers from renowned brands such as T-Fal, Farberware, Cuisinart, and others reach at a high temperature as much as 250° F to create enough high-pressure steam to cook food faster.
But any steamer either electronics such as Ninja, Ambiano, Philips, or stovetop steamer can only reach a temperature of 212°F to create high-pressure steam to cook food.
Functionality:
A pressure cooker is more functional than a steamer. As pressure cookers can be used for both steam cooking and pressure cooking with a wider range of cooking elements. But steamer only can be used for cooking steamed food.
Can The Instant Pot Replace A Pressure Cooker?
An instant pot certainly can replace a stovetop pressure cooker because an instant pot itself can function as a pressure cooker. Moreover, it comes with more than 6-10 cooking options that traditional stovetop pressure cookers don’t have.
Besides, instant pots are safer to use than a pressure cooker.
Are Instant Pots And Electric Pressure Cookers Are The Same?
Instant pots and electric pressure cookers are the same things. Instant pot is actually a brand name that manufactures electric pots with much different functionality and safety.
However, the electronic pressure cooker got popular with the brand’s name “Instant Pot” more.
Can A Pressure Cooker Be Used As A Slow Cooker?
An electronic pressure cooker obviously can be used as a slow cooker because any electronic pressure cooker/instant pot is manufactured with slow cooking functionality.
However, stovetop traditional pressure cookers cannot be used as a slow cooker, those don’t have the slow cooking option.
Can Pressure Cookers Be Used For Canning?
Pressure cookers can’t absolutely be used for canning. Because, this cooking vessel is designed for only cooking purposes, not for canning. So if meat or veggies are attempted to be canned inside pressure cookers, it can be proved really dangerous.
Is A Pressure Cooker A Closed System?
Every pressure cooker regardless of the brand has a closed system. Pressure cookers see manufactured as a tightly sealed pot and a whistle. So that no outer and inner element can enter or leave the vessel, but inner hear can be transported.
Final Thoughts:
Pressure cookers, instant pots, and crock pots are not the same in terms of purposes and functionality. But a few similarities such as both the pressure cooker and instant pot can cook food using steam and both the instant pot and slow cooker has multi-functionality are seen, but they are different.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why Is My Pressure Cooker Not Whistling?
Can You Boil Water in a Pressure Cooker?
Does a Pressure Cooker Use a Lot of Electricity?
Why Pressure Cookers Is Used in High-Altitude or Hilly Areas?