Is the Instant Pot slow cook mode the same temperature as a Crock-Pot?

No — and this is the most important thing to know before using the Instant Pot as a slow cooker. The Instant Pot's slow cook mode runs approximately 10°F to 20°F hotter than a dedicated slow cooker at comparable settings. Instant Pot's 'low' slow cook setting reaches approximately 200°F to 210°F — which is the equivalent of 'high' on a traditional Crock-Pot. 'Normal' runs even higher. A recipe calling for 8 hours on low in a Crock-Pot needs only 5 to 6 hours on the Instant Pot's low setting, or will overcook. Most recipe conversions: reduce cook time by 25% to 30%, or use the Instant Pot's low setting for Crock-Pot 'high' recipes.

Do I need to buy a separate glass lid for the Instant Pot slow cooker mode?

Yes, ideally. The Instant Pot's standard pressure cooking lid seals completely and traps all steam — no steam can escape during slow cooking, which causes condensation to drip back into the food continuously. The result: a waterlogged consistency that lacks the slight concentration of flavors that occurs in a slow cooker with a vented lid. The Instant Pot glass lid (sold separately for approximately $12 to $15) allows steam to escape exactly as a slow cooker lid should. Using the glass lid produces results much closer to a dedicated slow cooker. Using the pressure lid vented (sealing ring removed, set to venting): also works but requires careful setup.

Should I buy an Instant Pot or a slow cooker?

If you already own an Instant Pot: use its slow cook mode with a glass lid — it handles most slow cooker recipes adequately. If you are choosing between the two: the Instant Pot Duo at $60 to $80 replaces a slow cooker, pressure cooker, and rice cooker. The slow cook mode is slightly inferior to a dedicated slow cooker (temperature calibration issues, no probe, no wide oval shape for whole chickens without trimming), but the pressure cooking capability reduces 8-hour braises to 45 minutes. For most households: an Instant Pot makes more sense than a dedicated slow cooker unless you specifically use the slow cook function multiple times per week for large oval roasts.

Can I use the Instant Pot slow cooker for a whole chicken?

Yes, but with limitations. The Instant Pot's 6-quart round inner pot accommodates a 4-pound to 5-pound whole chicken. The round shape means the chicken fits differently than in an oval crock — it sits more vertically, which changes the cooking geometry slightly. For a whole chicken slow-cooked in the Instant Pot: use the low setting with the glass lid, 6 to 7 hours. For a chicken over 5 pounds: the 8-quart Instant Pot model is the appropriate size.

Instant Pot Duo as a Slow Cooker: Does the Slow Cook Mode Actually Work?

Everyone knows the Instant Pot Duo can pressure cook. Fewer people ask whether its slow cook mode is actually any good.

That's the narrower question this review answers. With a 4.7-star rating across more than 142,000 reviews, the $60 to $80 Duo has plenty of proof it pressure cooks well.

But can its low, normal, and high slow cook settings actually replace a dedicated Crock-Pot?

Testing found the Instant Pot's settings run 10°F to 20°F hotter than a traditional slow cooker at the same label, meaning low on the Duo behaves more like high on a Crock-Pot. That gap matters for anyone converting existing recipes or expecting all-day results without adjusting cook times.

The Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker: Context

The Instant Pot Duo is primarily a pressure cooker — it reduces 8-hour slow cooker braises to 45 to 90 minutes of pressure cooking. The slow cook mode is a secondary function that allows the Instant Pot to substitute for a dedicated slow cooker. This review evaluates only the slow cook mode.

Temperature: The Core Issue

The Instant Pot's slow cook settings (low, normal, high) do not correspond directly to a traditional slow cooker's low and high settings. Tested in liquid:

Instant Pot slow cook low: approximately 195°F to 210°F (after 8 hours)
Instant Pot slow cook normal: approximately 200°F to 215°F
Traditional Crock-Pot low: approximately 185°F to 200°F
Traditional Crock-Pot high: approximately 200°F to 212°F

The Instant Pot's low setting is approximately equivalent to a traditional slow cooker's high setting. This means standard slow cooker recipes (written for Crock-Pot low) will overcook in the Instant Pot on low if the cook time is not reduced.

Practical adjustment: For recipes that call for 8 to 10 hours on Crock-Pot low, use the Instant Pot slow cook low setting for 5 to 6 hours. For recipes that call for 4 to 5 hours on Crock-Pot high, use the Instant Pot slow cook normal setting for 3 to 4 hours.

Results by Recipe Type

Soups and stews (liquid-based): Excellent. The higher temperature runs hot but the large liquid volume stabilizes the result — soups and stews are forgiving of 10°F to 15°F variance. Reduce cook time by 20% from standard recipes.

Braised meats (chuck roast, short ribs, pork shoulder): Good. The higher temperature speeds tenderization — adjust time down. The round stainless pot gives a good sear before slow cooking (stovetop safe, no separate pan needed).

Whole chicken: Adequate. Fits the 6-quart round pot, but oval slow cookers provide a better shape match. Reduce time to 5 to 6 hours on low.

Beans from dry: Works but watch closely — the higher temperature can cause dry beans to blow out and become mushy if cooked the full 8 hours. Reduce to 5 to 6 hours.

Dairy-based dishes (cream soups, cheesy dips): Not ideal. The higher temperature more easily separates dairy proteins. Add cream cheese and heavy cream in the last 30 minutes only.

The Glass Lid Requirement

Using the pressure lid (in venting position) during slow cooking allows some steam escape but creates an awkward setup. The Instant Pot glass lid (sold separately, $12 to $15) is the correct solution — it seats on the Instant Pot rim exactly like a slow cooker lid, allows steam to vent, and produces results much closer to a dedicated slow cooker. If you plan to use the Instant Pot for slow cooking regularly: buy the glass lid at the same time.

Stovetop-Safe Inner Pot

The Instant Pot's stainless inner pot is stovetop-safe. This is a genuine advantage over most dedicated slow cookers — you can sear onions, brown meat, and develop a fond directly in the Instant Pot inner pot on a gas or electric burner, then place the pot in the Instant Pot body and set the slow cook mode. No second pan, concentrated flavors, less cleanup. This is the same feature that makes the All-Clad and Cuisinart slow cookers with stovetop-safe inserts worth their premium.

Verdict

The Instant Pot's slow cook mode is functional but not a substitute for a dedicated slow cooker if slow cooking is your primary use case. For households that already own an Instant Pot: use slow cook mode with the glass lid — it handles the job adequately. For households choosing their first appliance: the Instant Pot Duo's pressure cooking function is the primary value, and the slow cook mode is a bonus, not a selling point. For households that primarily slow cook and rarely pressure cook: a dedicated Crock-Pot is more reliable, cheaper, holds more (7-quart vs. 6-quart), and produces more consistent slow cooker results.

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