Is The Instapot Duo Worth It If You Already Have A Slow Cooker

Many home cooks rely on their slow cooker for weeknight meals, meal prep, and comfort food classics like pot roast or chili. It's a trusted appliance that does one thing well: cook food slowly over many hours. But with the rise of multi-cookers like the Instant Pot Duo, a question surfaces in modern kitchens—do you really need one if you already have a slow cooker?

The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. The Instant Pot Duo offers far more than just slow cooking. It combines pressure cooking, sautéing, steaming, yogurt-making, and even air frying (in select models) into a single countertop unit. But does this expanded functionality justify adding another appliance to your kitchen, especially when counter space is limited and budgets matter?

To help you decide, we’ll compare the two appliances across key areas: cooking speed, versatility, energy efficiency, learning curve, and overall kitchen value. Real-world examples, expert insights, and a practical checklist will guide your decision.

Cooking Speed: From All-Day Simmer to 30-Minute Meals

The most significant difference between the Instant Pot Duo and a traditional slow cooker lies in cooking time. A slow cooker uses low, steady heat over several hours—typically 6 to 10—to tenderize meats, develop flavors, and cook grains. This is ideal for hands-off cooking while at work or running errands.

In contrast, the Instant Pot Duo uses high-pressure steam to drastically reduce cooking times. For example:

• Dried beans go from raw to fully cooked in about 45 minutes (vs. 8+ hours in a slow cooker).
• A whole chicken can be pressure-cooked in 25 minutes instead of 4–6 hours.
• Beef stew takes under an hour instead of 8 hours.

This time savings is transformative for busy households. As culinary nutritionist Lisa Harlow notes:

“Time is the most valuable ingredient in today’s kitchen. The Instant Pot doesn’t just save minutes—it gives people back entire evenings they’d otherwise spend waiting for dinner.” — Lisa Harlow, RDN & Kitchen Efficiency Consultant

If your schedule is tight and you often come home too late to start dinner from scratch, the Instant Pot’s speed alone may justify its purchase—even with a slow cooker on hand.

Versatility: One Appliance vs. Seven Functions

The Instant Pot Duo markets itself as a 7-in-1 appliance. While not every function replaces a dedicated machine, the range of capabilities goes far beyond what a slow cooker can do.

Function	Instant Pot Duo	Traditional Slow Cooker
Pressure Cooking	Yes – fast, sealed cooking under pressure	No
Slow Cooking	Yes – programmable timing and temp control	Yes – basic low/high settings
Sauté/Browning	Yes – eliminates need for stovetop pre-searing	No
Steaming	Yes – vegetables, fish, dumplings in minutes	Limited (with insert)
Yogurt Making	Yes – precise temperature control for culturing	No
Rice/Grains	Yes – consistent results with minimal effort	Possible but inconsistent
Reheating	Yes – gentle warming without drying out	Limited

The ability to sear meat directly in the pot before pressure cooking enhances flavor development—something impossible in a standard slow cooker unless you use a separate pan. This “brown then braise” workflow streamlines cleanup and improves taste.

Tip: Use the sauté function to caramelize onions or brown ground beef before switching to pressure mode—no extra dishes required.

Energy and Cost Efficiency Over Time

While both appliances are relatively energy-efficient compared to ovens, the Instant Pot typically uses less total energy due to shorter cook times. A slow cooker running for 8 hours on low consumes roughly 1.2–1.7 kWh. An Instant Pot completing a meal in 60 minutes uses about 0.9–1.1 kWh, including warm-up and cooldown.

Over a year of regular use, this adds up—especially if you're cooking daily. Additionally, faster cooking means less heat emitted into the kitchen, which can reduce cooling costs in warmer months.

Initial cost is higher for the Instant Pot Duo (typically $80–$120) versus a basic slow cooker ($20–$40). However, consider long-term utility. If you replace multiple appliances—rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker—with one device, the return on investment improves.

Real-World Example: Meal Prep Transformation

Take Sarah, a working mom of two in Portland, who relied solely on her slow cooker for years. She’d prep meals in the morning, leave them to simmer all day, and serve them after school and work. But she found herself frustrated by inflexible timing—if meetings ran late, dinner waited; if she got home early, food was overcooked.

After receiving an Instant Pot Duo as a gift, she began using it for batch cooking grains, hard-boiling eggs, and preparing soups—all in under an hour. On weekends, she makes homemade yogurt for the week. During weekdays, she uses the delayed start feature to have steel-cut oats ready at 7 a.m.

She still uses her slow cooker occasionally for large roasts or holiday dishes where long, slow melding of flavors matters. But 80% of her weekday meals now come from the Instant Pot. “It didn’t replace my slow cooker,” she says, “but it made my kitchen smarter.”

Learning Curve and Safety Considerations

One barrier to adopting the Instant Pot is the learning curve. Unlike a slow cooker, which is nearly foolproof, the Instant Pot requires understanding pressure release methods (natural vs. quick), liquid requirements, and lid sealing.

Missteps—like opening the lid too soon or not adding enough liquid—can lead to failed recipes or safety concerns. However, modern models include 10+ built-in safety features, including overheat protection, lid interlock, and pressure sensors.

Most users report becoming comfortable within 3–5 uses. The included manual and vast online recipe libraries (such as those on InstantPot.com or Reddit’s r/instantpot) make troubleshooting easy.

Tip: Always ensure the float valve is clean and moves freely. A clogged valve can prevent proper pressurization.

Step-by-Step: Transitioning from Slow Cooker to Instant Pot Duo

If you’re considering making the switch—or using both—follow this timeline to integrate the Instant Pot smoothly:

1. Week 1: Try one familiar recipe (e.g., chili or pulled chicken) using an Instant Pot conversion. Compare texture and flavor to your slow cooker version.
2. Week 2: Experiment with the sauté function to brown ingredients before pressure cooking. Notice reduced cleanup and enhanced flavor.
3. Week 3: Test non-pressure functions: make rice, steam vegetables, or prepare a quick soup.
4. Week 4: Attempt a new recipe category, such as yogurt or cheesecake, to explore full versatility.
5. Ongoing: Evaluate which meals are better suited to each appliance. Retire duplicates only when confident in results.

This gradual approach minimizes frustration and helps identify true value.

Checklist: Should You Buy the Instant Pot Duo?

Answer these questions to determine if the Instant Pot Duo makes sense for your kitchen:

• Do you frequently run out of time to cook dinner?
• Would you benefit from making dried beans, soups, or stews in under an hour?
• Are you interested in making yogurt, rice, or steamed dishes with less effort?
• Do you want to reduce the number of appliances you own?
• Can you store or relocate your slow cooker if needed?
• Are you willing to learn a new appliance with slightly more complexity?

If you answered “yes” to three or more, the Instant Pot Duo is likely worth the investment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Instant Pot Duo replace my slow cooker entirely?

Yes, in terms of function—the Instant Pot has a slow cook setting. However, some purists argue that true slow cooking develops deeper flavor over many hours. For most everyday meals, the Duo performs adequately, but for special dishes like bone broth or smoked brisket, a dedicated slow cooker may still be preferred.

Is pressure cooking safe for beginners?

Modern electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot Duo are very safe. They have multiple fail-safes to prevent over-pressurization. Follow the manual, don’t overfill, and use proper venting techniques. Millions of home cooks use them safely every day.

Will I save money by switching?

Direct savings depend on usage. You’ll save on electricity and possibly grocery bills (by cooking dried beans instead of buying canned). Indirectly, the time saved has monetary value—especially if it reduces reliance on takeout.

Final Verdict: Complement, Not Replace

The Instant Pot Duo isn’t just a “faster slow cooker”—it’s a fundamentally different tool. While your existing slow cooker excels at unattended, all-day cooking with deep flavor development, the Instant Pot shines in speed, versatility, and precision.

For many households, the two appliances can coexist. Use the slow cooker for weekend braises, holiday meals, or when you want to walk in the door to a ready-made dish. Reserve the Instant Pot for quick weeknight dinners, grain batches, and multi-step recipes that benefit from integrated sautéing and pressure cooking.

If counter space or budget forces a choice, prioritize the Instant Pot Duo. Its broader functionality offers greater long-term value. But if you already own both, treat them as complementary tools in a modern, efficient kitchen.

“The best kitchen isn’t filled with single-purpose gadgets. It’s equipped with tools that adapt to your life. The Instant Pot does that better than most.” — Mark Rivera, Home Appliance Reviewer, *Kitchen Tech Weekly*

Conclusion

Having a slow cooker doesn’t disqualify you from benefiting from an Instant Pot Duo. In fact, if you already enjoy slow-cooked meals, you’re likely someone who values convenience and home cooking—exactly the person who stands to gain the most from faster, smarter meal preparation.

The Instant Pot expands your capabilities without eliminating the comforts of traditional slow cooking. Whether you keep both or upgrade entirely, the decision should align with how you actually live and eat.

🚀 Ready to test the difference? Pick one recipe you make often in your slow cooker, find an Instant Pot version, and compare results. Share your experience in the comments—your insight could help others decide.