Instant Pot Slow Cooker Setting

The Instant Pot Slow Cooker Setting is not equivalent to the temperatures on your traditional slow cooker. This may be why many people struggle to use the Instant Pot as a slow cooker. With this guide, however, you will be able to master using your Instant Pot as a slow cooker.

Instant Pot Slow Cooker Setting

Because the temperature is different between the two devices, hitting the slow cooker setting on your Instant Pot will not cook the recipe as it would in the crockpot. To be honest, I rarely use the Instant Pot slow cooker setting because it takes longer to cook than simply using my old-fashioned crockpot. 

However, with that being said, you can use the knowledge of the temperature change to modify your recipes so that it cooks as it would in a crockpot. Using the Instant Pot as a slow cooker allows you to only need one appliance instead of two.

Instant Pot Slow Cooker Setting Temperatures

The settings for using the slow cooker function of your Instant Pot is a little different than the crockpot. In fact, the temperatures are lower than they would be in your crockpot. 

• Low setting: The low setting on your crockpot means the temperature is 190-200℉, but for the Instant Pot slow cooker setting it is only about 170℉.
• High setting: The high setting on your crockpot means the temperature is 225-275℉, but the Instant Pot slow cooker setting is only 210℉.

Instant Pot Slow Cooker Time Chart

When using your Instant Pot as a slow cooker, there are 3-setting that you can choose from, and they are a little different from the traditional slow cooker. Use the chart below to help you understand the settings:

Instant Pot Setting	Slow Cooker Setting	Cooking Time
Low Setting	Keep warm	This is “keep warm” and should NOT be used for cooking food.
Normal Setting	Low setting	The time remains the same on the normal setting as it does for your traditional low setting on your slow cooker.
High Setting	High setting	On the high setting, you’ll need to add an additional 15-minutes to each hour you would cook your food in a traditional slow cooker.

How to Use the Instant Pot Slow Cooker Setting

When using your slow cooker setting, you will have to adjust the time you cook your food to ensure it gets done completely since it is cooking at a lower temperature. 

1. Add your food to the inner pot. Then, add at least 1 cup of liquid to help the Instant Pot heat up properly. 
2. Hit your slow cooker button.
3. Then, use the adjust button to change the setting to “normal” or “high” (The older LUX model does not adjust).
4. If you want to cook the recipe on low like you would in a crockpot, you can keep the time the same, usually 6-8 hours. 
5. If you want to cook the recipe on high, you will need to add 15-minutes for each hour. For example a crockpot time of 4-hours would then become 5-hours. 

Tips for Using Your Instant Pot as A Slow Cooker

• Adjust your time. Make sure you are properly adjusting your time otherwise you will end up with undercooked food. 
• Use a tempered glass lid. The glass lid allows some of the liquid to evaporate much like a traditional crockpot would. 
• Don’t worry about the steam release knob. There’s no pressure, so it doesn’t matter which position it is in. If you are using the Instant Pot lid, you can leave it on the venting position if you want some of the liquid to evaporate. 
• The lid does not lock. Since there’s no pressure in the Instant Pot, the lid won’t lock, so you can open it to stir during the cooking process. 
• It needs to be preheated. The Instant Pot slow cooker setting will preheat for 10-15 minutes before it even begins to slow cook anything. 
• Try again. If it takes longer than 10-15 minutes to start slow cooking, hit cancel and try again. 

Instant Pot Slow Cooker Recipes To Try

• The Best Buffalo Chicken Soup
• Delicious Vegetable Casserole
• Slow Cooker Chicken Stuffing Casserole
• Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

What do you think about the Instant Pot slow cooker setting? Do you prefer your Instant Pot or a traditional crockpot? Let us know in the Instant Pot Recipes for Beginners Facebook group!