It is not as straightforward as you would think to use your Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker. However, with these tips, you CAN use your Instant Pot for slow cooking.
Many people purchased an Instant Pot to make their lives easier and to cut down on appliances. While the Instant Pot does a wonderful job making Instant Pot Rice, replacing the need for a rice cooker, and is superb at making yogurt, replacing the need for a yogurt incubator, an Instant Pot DOES NOT make a great replacement for a Crockpot.
While the slow cook function on a pressure cooker is not a useless Instant Pot Setting, like Porridge or Beans, it requires modifications.
Important to Remember When Using an Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker
- You must still have thin liquid in the inner pot. For the Instant Pot to reach and maintain a consistent temperature, it is crucial to have at least 1 cup of thin liquid in the inner pot. The slow cooker function will not work without the addition of thin liquid (water, broth, juice, etc).
- Layer correctly. Just like pressure cooking, be sure the thin liquid is on the bottom of the inner pot. If you have a thick sauce, such as BBQ sauce or tomato sauce, your pressure cooker will struggle to reach and maintain temperature.
- You have to modify the setting and time. The heat settings of low, normal, and high do not equally equate to the keep warm, low, and high settings on a slow cooker. Use my guide for converting recipes below.
- It shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes to heat up. If after 20 minutes your Instant Pot is still heating, rather than counting down the cooking time, it is likely struggling to reach temperature. To override this, you can take the lid off your pressure cooker, press saute, and saute for 2-4 minutes. Hit cancel, and then reset the cooking time using the slow cook function.
- No pressure will be reached. When using the slow cook function on your pressure cooker, pressure will not be reached. Therefore, you don't need to worry about locking your lid or vent knob into place and you can remove the lid to check on your dish as desired. If you would like, you can use a glass lid, which will allow some of the liquid to evaporate, as a traditional slow cooker lid does.
Instant Pot Slow Cook Temperatures Explained
The Slow Cook Function on the Instant Pot can be adjusted to Low, Normal, or High Temperature.
- Low on the Instant Pot Slow Cooker Function is like the keep warm on a traditional slow cooker. The low setting reaches about 170 degrees F.
- Normal on the Instant Pot Slow Cooker Function is equivalent to low heat on a traditional slow cooker. Normal reaches 200 degrees F.
- High on the Instant Pot Function does not get as high as high heat on a slow cooker, but by adding 15 minutes per hour of slow cooking, you can experience similar results. High reaches about 210 degrees F, which is 10-20 degrees less than a slow cooker on high.
How to Use the Slow Cook Setting on the Instant Pot
Below this explanation, you will find a printable chart you can keep on hand to help you quickly remember how to slow cook your favorite slow cooker recipes using the Instant Pot.
- To turn on the slow cook function, hit the slow cook button on your pressure cooker.
- Hit adjust/pressure or toggle your knob to select between low, normal and high temperature.
- Use the knob or +/- buttons to adjust the cooking time, which should be able to be set in 30 minute increments. Remember to add 15 minutes of cooking time per hour if cooking on High.
- Once the cooking time is set, the Instant Pot will heat and once fully heated, the cooking time will begin.
- After the cooking time elapses, most models will default to keep warm (be sure it is selected by hitting the keep warm button if not lit up.)
Click on Picture to access the DOWNLOAD and print.
Should I Get Rid of My Slow Cooker?
NO! If you have space for both a traditional slow cooker and an Instant Pot, I would highly recommend keeping both, as both serve their purpose. A slow cooker will produce more consistent results for crockpot recipes and you don't need to worry about adding thin liquid.
However, if you only have space for one appliance, I would still recommend purchasing the Instant Pot and with this guide, you CAN slow cook using your Instant Pot.
Slow Cooker Recipes to Instant Pot Recipes
While this post was designed to teach you how to use your pressure cooker as a slow cooker, the whole purpose of the Instant Pot is to SPEED up cooking.
Here are some of my favorite Slow Cooker Recipes that I have used as inspiration to create Instant Pot versions.
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas to Instant Pot Pork Tacos
- Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas to Instant Pot Steak Fajitas
- Slow Cooker Baked Ziti to Instant Pot Creamy Pasta
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork to Instant Pot Pulled Pork
If you still have questions, please leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer!
Claire
I know this is an old post, so I'm not sure if you'll see this. But if there's any way you could answer my question, I would appreciate it! (Thank you very much for this post, by the way; it's been very helpful.)
I was just gifted a new instant pot last week. I'm hoping to be able to get rid of my slow cooker, which is old, and I don't have the space for both that and the instant pot. My standard crockpot post roast recipe is: chuck roast, surrounded by carrots, sprinkled with onion soup mix. When making it in my crockpot, I have never had to add water. It sounds like in the instant pot I would need to add water, even when using the slow cooker feature?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Claire! Congrats on your new Instant Pot! If there was any way to keep the slow cooker as well, I think you would be happier in the long run, as the IP does not work the same as a slow cooker. BUT I completely understand space issues. For the slow cooker function, you do NOT technically NEED liquid (because the it will not be coming to pressure), but I have had no success with the Instant Pot holding temperature on the slow cooker function without the water--hence, why I recommend the liquid. If you would like to make chuck roast with carrots, you may want to check out my recipe for Instant Pot Pot Roast. Feel free to use add your onion soup mix to the recipe as well.
Claire
Thanks so much Kristen! I will definitely give that a try.
Libby Tarin
Could you perhaps give me some real specifics on how to cook ribs slow cooker mode in the Instant pot. Do you cook them whole on their side, or do you cut them into pieces? How long would you cook them? And do I have to put water in the bottom? I never did that in my slow cooker ...
As I said before, I’m in the dark. I would appreciate any help.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Libby, personally I would not use the slow cooker mode on your instant pot for ribs...I would use my recipe for Instant Pot Ribs. https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-ribs/
Lynda Mantha
Hi there:
Do these same principles apply for the Ninja 101C pressure cooker? I was wondering because I had the same issues with the slow cook function.
If you could confirm that would be great!
Thanks a bunch!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Lynda, from my research, yes. The Slow Cooker function is not effective on other brands of pressure cookers as well. Sorry
Ryan
Thanks to your article, I’m ordering a slow cooker today. After a slow cooker recipe listed cook time as 4 hours on high, my Instant Pot meal wasn’t bubbling or cooked after 7 hours. This was my second slow cook fail in my IP. Buying a slow cooker is well worth it for me not only to save time but to not waste food or money using the IP slow cook feature. Interestingly, wonder if using the glass IP lid vs. the main lid made for slow cook feature delayed the cook time even more? There is a vent hole on the glass lid and does fit securely.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Ryan! I am glad you found this insightful. I think you will be happy to have both an instant pot and slow cooker. And I tested a glass lid and saw no difference, but that is a GREAT thought. Sometimes the simplest things make the biggest difference.
Joyce
I have tried twice to use my Instant Pot slow cooker setting and it has failed both times. The second time, I used the high temp setting for 8 hrs and the food was still not cooked! I finally just set it to pressure cook for 30 mins and it was ok. Still not as good as slow cooked, but at least it was edible.
Kristen Chidsey
UGH--sorry Joyce, as I stated it is NOT my favorite function of the Instant Pot.
Sharon
Thank you! I am making Mac and cheese. It takes 3hours and 15 mins in the crockpot. I just read what you have put instant pot on normal and the hours stay 3 hours and 15mins. I hope that’s right? If I read it wrong please let me know. That thing is scary!
Thank you
Sharon
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Sharon if it was for 3 hours and 15 minutes on LOW in the crock-pot, it would be 3 hours and 15 minutes in the Pressure Cooker. Like I said, using your Instant Pot as a slow cooker is NOT my favorite function. You may want to start at Instant Pot 101 to get a better idea of how to use it and then explore Instant Pot Recipes for inspiration! You can master it 🙂
Lynda
I am trying to make vegetable soup in my IP using slow cook. My machine doesn’t have an adjust button to change the temperature. After 4 hours on normal it is tepid, spinach hasn’t even begun to wilt. Help!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Lynda, since you can't adjust the temperature, I would cook on high pressure for 20 minutes. I hope that helps.
Elaine
I also am a new IP user - today I’m try a bean soup/stew using my IP on the slow cooker setting. I have soaked the beans over night, put all ingredients into the IP, pressed slow cook twice to have it to the “more” as per manual and see the time for 4 1/2 hours. We’ll see how that works out😊
Kristen Chidsey
Let us know how it goes Elaine! But you may be interested in my recipe for Instant Pot Beans as well 🙂
Phyllis
Hi! I am making a 3lb boneless turkey breast for the 1st time using slow cook method and the reciepe says 5 hrs on low. So, by what I'm reading that would be normal or on mine medium... right? Also, it said no liquid needed, but again by what I read I still need at least a half cup water or liquid, so I used chicken broth with water mix... right? My question is... Using medium temp for 5 hrs is that going to be enough time?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Phyllis. I prefer using my Instant Pot Turkey Breast instead of using the slow cooker function. It can be tricky, as I state in my post. If you really want to use the slow cooker method, 5 hours SHOULD be enough time, but test with an internal thermometer to be sure your turkey has reached 165 degrees. If it has not, increase to high slow cooker and cook for another hour. I hope that helps.
Blythe Klipple
Is it possible to change the temp when 'slow cooking' from 4 hours to 7 hours? I've tried many things but can't get the cook time to change once the cooking is underway. I know now to select the time BEFORE I start cooking but.....I didn't due to ignorance. Should I wait for the 4 hrs to expire and then restart for another 2-3 hours? Also thanks for the tips re the levels of heat. I should be using 'more' rather than 'normal' for my pulled pork. Fortunately it's for tomorrow, not today. 🙂 Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
I am glad these tips helped. And to change time. Simply hit cancel and start again. Enjoy your pork
Amy
Does the glass lid have to have a steam vent hole in it to use the pressure cooker as a slow cooker?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Amy! No steam vent hole is needed if using as a slow cooker 🙂
Amy
Thank you so much. I have a lid with from another pot that fits my Power Cooker Pressure Cooker but all of the lids I looked at online had a steam vent hole. Thank your quick response and all of the helpful tips. So glad I found your website.
Debbie
Hi! I’m new to instapot and trying out the slow cooker function. When I push the slow cook button it automatically turns on “keep warm”, even if I change to “more” for the high setting. It doesn’t seem to be heating up very hot.. then I turned off the keep warm for an hour.. it was still on slow cook and “more”, but still didn’t seem to get very hot. I’m not sure how to set it? Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Debbie! I may be misunderstanding you, but to use your slow cooker function you need to hit your Slow Cooker Function on your Instant Pot and then hit the adjust button to change the setting to "normal" or "high." It sounds like you maybe didn't hit the adjust button, and used the =/- button. But it may be your model--let me know and I can help further. Also, watch the video on this post, it will help for you to see me adjusting the temp to help you. Hope that helps!
Debbie
Hi! Thank you for sharing what you learned about using the slow cooker option. I too am up against the clock. I want to change the roast to pressure mode to finish it....BUT, will I have a problem because I first coated the roast with flour before searing it. The roast is almost covered with liquid and has been slow cooking for 2 hours. Will the flour cause a problem with the IP?
I read your advice above about using a cornstarch slurry. Should I finish my roast in the oven because of the flour? Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Debbie, I really do not recommend using flour in your pressure cooker. You can try to turn it to High Pressure and cook for 25-40 minutes (depending on how much the roast is already cooked) If you get the burn warning, you will need to transfer your roast to the oven. I know that is not definitive answer, but you MAY not get a burn warning with sufficient liquid, or you could.
Debbie
Thank you for the quick reply! It’s already been cooking for almost 5 hours on high slow cook. Should I switch to pressure cook now and for how long? There’s no flour on the beef but there is tapioca mixed in with the liquids
Thanks
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Debbie! I have never made anything with tapioca in the pressure cooker, but I do know recipes for tapioca pudding do exist--so it SHOULD be okay. I would cancel slow cooker and cook for 15 minutes on high pressure and let pressure release naturally. It may need longer, but my guess is after how long it has been cooking already, it will not. Sorry I can't give you a definitive answer.
Debbie
Thanks for the quick “emergency “ advice!!
Kristen Chidsey
You bet!
Debbie
I have a beef stew in the Instant Pot right now on high slow cook setting. When I put it in I was going to cook for 5-6 hours on high, per the regular slow cooker recipe. I don’t have time to add an additional 15 minutes per hour as my guests will be hungry. Instead, could I slow cook on high for 6 hours and then pressure cook for a short time? If so, how long?
Kristen Chidsey
Hey Debbie, Instead I would cook this on High Pressure for 30 minutes and let pressure release naturally. Just be sure not to use flour on the beef, instead use a cornstarch slurry to thicken at the end. I have a Beef Stew Recipe coming out next week--I hope you come back for it 🙂
Dev
Hi! I thankfully came across your post before I made Italian beef sandwiches. It called for 10 hours on low in a crockpot, so I set my instant pot to 10 hours on medium this morning. However, it was not cooked. I switched it to the high setting and 2 hours later, still not cooked. Not sure what I did wrong. Any suggestions? Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Dev! It may have been a tougher cut of meat, but after 12 hours total time, I would have imagined it would have been cooked. In the future, I would only use the HIGH setting for slow cooking or use my French Dip Recipe to cook in pressure cooker (about 20 minutes per pound on High Pressure).