Instant Pot/multicooker - slow cooking issues?
 

For you folks that have Instant Pots, do you use the slow cooking setting and do you have any issues with it.

We have a Crock Pot slow cooker and the inset broke. We were thinking of "upgrading" to a multicooker, but the missus found some site where people were complaining about the "slow cook" option not being as good as a regular slow cooker.

Anyone have any particular likes or dislikes or general opinions?

I have one of each, Instant Pot, Crock Pot, and Pressure Cookers. I also Sous Vide. I prefer the Pressure Cooker first, the crock pot, sous vide and last is the instant pot. Use the Pressure cookers for just about everything.

Why do you prefer the pressure cooker over the instant pot (which is a pressure cooker)?

Stove top is not subject to the impact of the precipitation on electronics. I use Fisslers. I have had two instant pots replaced for this reason. The stove tops are more consistent with heat.

We got an insta-pot out of curiosity and I'm surprised how much I like it. The biggest advantage is that it maintains the pressure automatically. I don't have to watch the heat during pressure cooking.

Instapots and similar electric multicooker pressure cookers (this type of product has been around for a long time) reach about 11 psi. A stovetop pressure cooker reaches about 15 psi. Higher pressure means higher temperature and faster cooking.

I have a Fagor multicooker. It is a nice tool because it can slow cook, cook rice, etc; but for pressure cooking, I always use the stovetop cooker.

I think most of the current crop are going to 12 or 12.5 psi which means, I think, 245* vs 250* boiling point, so yeah, they cook a little slower.

When doing Chili Verdi or Chili Colorado, the Instant Pot does not adequately tenderize the meat. The Stove top does without a problem.

There is another issue in that I prefer single purpose tools. It has been my experience that "all in one" appliance fail you lose all capacity. Keep them simple and they are more reliable.

speaking of rice...

which of the items in this thread is better than a small rice cooker?

For rice I use an old fashioned rice cooker. Simple, no electronics.

If I had to choose just one device (desert island banishment) I'd take the stovetop pressure cooker. You can cook rice in a PC, you can't PC in a rice cooker, and either is more reliable than a fancy pants multi cooker. If FedEx could always ship me a new device (desert island has Amazon service) then I guess I'd take the multi cooker.