Direct answer first:
Yes—an Instant Pot can function as a slow cooker, but you’ll need to adjust
expectations and follow a few practical steps to get reliable results. How to
use the Instant Pot as a slow cooker
- Prepare like a slow cooker recipe: Chop ingredients, measure liquids, and season as you would for a traditional slow cooker. Expect slightly different evaporation and temperature dynamics.
- Use the Slow Cook setting: Select Slow Cook, then choose the temperature (Low, Normal, or High) and set the time. Normal is generally closest to Low on a traditional slow cooker, while High mirrors High heat in a slow cooker. If your recipe calls for a long cook time, you may need to translate hours to hours on the Instant Pot’s timer (e.g., 8–10 hours on Low may map to 6–8 hours on Normal, depending on the recipe and model).
- Manage temperature and timing:
- For most traditional slow-cooker recipes, start with Low or Normal and avoid constant high heat unless the recipe explicitly requires it.
- If your pot seems slow to heat, you can briefly use the Sauté function to bring ingredients (and liquids) up to temperature, then switch to Slow Cook to maintain low simmering heat.
- Lid and venting:
- Use the normal lid and keep it venting if you’re not building pressure. The Slow Cook function operates with little to no pressure, so venting helps avoid pressure buildup and makes timing more predictable. Some users prefer a glass lid or a regular pot lid depending on what you have handy.
- Liquid considerations:
- You might need slightly less liquid than your traditional slow cooker recipe because the Instant Pot’s lid reduces evaporation. If uncertain, use the recipe’s recommended liquid but be prepared to adjust on subsequent attempts. Some guides suggest reducing liquid by a small amount (e.g., 15%–20%) to account for reduced evaporation when using the device this way.
- Adaptation tips:
- If a recipe includes a long cook time (e.g., 8–10 hours on Low), plan for a shorter time on the Instant Pot after you’ve calibrated your pot’s heat response. Start with the lower end of the time range and check for doneness, then adjust on subsequent batches.
* For braises, stews, and soups, the Pot’s heated start and closed lid can mimic a slow-cooking environment, but expect slight differences in texture or moisture loss compared with a conventional slow cooker.
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Overfilling: Don’t fill the pot more than about two-thirds full when cooking foods that foam or expand (e.g., beans, grains) even though you’re not pressurizing; this helps prevent sticking and uneven cooking.
- Not heating ingredients first: If ingredients start cold, the pot may take longer to reach the proper simmer; a quick browning or sauté step before slow cooking helps with flavor development and can reduce overall time to reach the desired doneness.
- Expecting identical results: The Instant Pot’s slow-cook mode is a close approximation, but the heat distribution and evaporation differ from a dedicated slow cooker. Some recipes may require tweaking times or liquid amounts to match your preferred texture.
What to expect in practice
- Everyday slow-cooker dishes like pulled beef, chili, chili con carne, soups, and stews can be adapted for the Slow Cook mode with careful timing and slight liquid adjustments.
- Temperature behavior varies by model, so start with Low or Normal and a modest cooking time, then adjust in future attempts based on results.
If you’d like, share a specific recipe you want to adapt (ingredients and the original slow-cooker time), and prefered target model (e.g., Duo, Rio, Pro), and it can be translated into a concrete Instant Pot Slow Cook plan with times and liquid adjustments.
