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!
Linda Peckally
Why are my carrots still hard after 3 hours in my instant pot slow Cooke setting
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Linda! As I stated in this post, the slow cooker function is really a lot less powerful than a typical slow cooker. So even at the high setting, it will take at least 3 hours and 45 minutes (you need to add 15 minutes for every hour on high setting).
julez
I have had an instapot Duo collecting dust. I found your website and it inspired this dad to go ahead and make his pork-chop potato stew in the slow cooker mode. Thanks.
Kristen Chidsey
That makes me so happy Julez! Thank you for sharing! Happy Instant Pot Cooking 🙂
Joan Edwards
How can I cook oatmeal overnight in the InstantPot
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Joan! It would depend on how you are looking to cook your oatmeal. If you are trying to make slow cooker oatmeal in your Instant Pot, I would cook on HIGH setting for 7 hours and 15 minutes. You may also like my recipe for Instant Pot Oatmeal or Instant Pot Steel Cut Oats.
Chris
Thank you thank you thank you. Your’s is the first and best real explanation for instant pot as a slow cooker. Can’t wait to try now.
Kristen Chidsey
I am glad you found this information helpful Chris! Enjoy your meals!
Rick
But does the valve stay opened or should it be closed? Won't it overhead if left opened?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Rick! No need to close the valve, it will not change the temperature. The valve just seals in pressure.
Elisha Morris
If I use my instant pot as a slow cooker, do I have to pressure cook it? I understand to push the slow cooker button and push medium ,, ,but then what do I do?I am afraid I am not going to put the lead on right? I am afraid to use it.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Elisha! When using your instant pot as a slow cooker, no pressure will be reached so no need to worry about sealing the lid.
Slade
Well that’s kind of stupid that the slow-cooker functions aren’t remotely comparable to an actual slow cooker. But thank YOU for helping us understand.
Kristen Chidsey
It is frustrating for sure Slade, but helps to know 😉
Bonnie
Is the pressure valve open or closed for slow cooking?
Kristen Chidsey
It makes no difference Bonnie! Pressure does not need to be reached so the valve can be open or closed.
Paul
When making a pot roast in the instant pot on the slow cook setting, should the vent be opened or closed?
Kristen Chidsey
It makes no difference Paul 🙂
Paul
Thank you very much for your response! I realized that eventually, and I’m guessing it’s just because the temperature isn’t high enough to pressurize. The pot roast was wonderful!!
Jennie
Thanks Kristen! This is just what I needed to slow cook my stew.
Worked out perfectly. Kudos, Kristen. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
YAY! I am so glad it worked out Jennie 🙂
Rupa
Hi,
Can we use a Pot in Pot in instant using in a slow cooker mode? I use it for pressure cook, but wondering if PIP would work in slow cook. I want to cook my dal in a small steel bowl in slow cook mode, that’s why this question. TIA.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Rupa, I have not used pot in pot for slow cooker mode, but I would think technically it work (but may take a bit longer). However, with the inner pot already being a steel bowl, I would doubt you would need to use pot in pot method.
Candace
Hey Kristen,
Thanks so much for this post! I’m making a meal for a function at my church and they gave us a 5-lb bag of frozen meatballs and spaghetti sauce to go over it and asked if we could all use our crockpots just so it’s all cooked the same way (huge group tonight). My crockpot is small and won’t hold that much so I’m using my instapot. I set it on slow cook for 8 hours on normal. Do you think that will work? I’m not sure since the meatballs are frozen. They are fully cooked already though.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Candance! I think it is awesome you are preparing a meal for your church family! Frozen meatballs should cook in about 4-5 hours on low in a slow cooker. So I would think you would need no more than 6 hours on normal setting in your Instant Pot will work, you can certainly ere on the side of caution and plan for 8 hours. You can test at 6 hours and turn to keep warm if cooked through at that point. I hope that helps!
Candace
Thank you! They came out perfectly!
Kristen Chidsey
YAY!!! I am so glad to hear that!
Jacob
Hey Kristen,
My name's Jacob and I'm trying to do a slow cooker coconut curry in my Instant Pot. It doesn't have a low or high setting for slow cook, just a "normal" one. The curry I'm making has quinoa, sweet potato (1), broccoli (3 crowns), a small white onion, a can of chickpeas, can diced tomatoes, and liquids (coconut milk & water) and spices (ginger, turmeric, garlic).
The original recipe called for 3-4 hours on high in a regular slow cooker, so I'm wondering if 5 hours in my instant pot makes sense for the recipe. What do you think?
Jacob C Wilson
Hey Kristen,
Actually, after looking through the instant pot manual, I found a way to make it on a high setting. I'll try the fifteen minutes for every hour in the original recipe approach you mentioned. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
Sounds like a plan! I hope you enjoy!
Raymond Toboni
Hi Kristen,
If I were doing bone broth (a `24 hr cook) on the slow cooker feature of my pressure cooker I would select the medium temp based on your comments above? The manual's temps are as follows:
Low- 176-80
Med- 180-190
High-190-210
thoughts?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Raymond! I would need to know what temperature the original recipe says to slow cook the broth on. If it is on low setting, you would use medium. If it is for high setting you would use high and increase time. I hope that helps.
Maggie
Do you keep your lid on vent? I'm guessing you don't want it on sealing.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Maggie! On the slow cooker function, your Instant Pot does not ever get hot enough to fully seal, so it really does not make much difference.
Lynn
I use the glass lid for instant pots when using the slow cooker mode.
Kristen B
Hi! Thank you so much for this article! I am slow cooking a simple bbq pulled chicken recipe in my instant pot on the slow cook setting. The recipe calls for 6-8 hours on low, and since I’m using frozen chicken breast, I set the IP for 8 hours on Normal. Does that sound right to you? I’m testing it out because I’m making slow cooker chicken tacos for a group later this week. I could always use my crockpot, but wanted to learn how to use the function on my IP.
After the 8 hours, will the IP automatically switch to keep warm? Why is the “Keep Warm” button lit when I have it set to “Normal”?
Thanks for your help!
Kristen Chidsey
Hi there, I would never put frozen chicken in the instant pot on the slow cooker function. The instant pot will not get warm enough quick enough to safely cook frozen chicken. Instead I would use my Instant Pot chicken breast recipe for frozen chicken and then add in the BBQ sauce at the end and leave on keep warm. I hope that helps.