which one is better? a slow cooker, or a pressure cooker?

Question

I am a busy mum with a preschooler and a baby and often find myself too busy to cook good nutritious meals. We often cook/eat whole roast chickens, potatoes, rice, curries, spaghetti bolognaise, meats with sauces type dishes. I have heard that the main difference between them is that a pressure cooker has separate trays within to separate the meat from the veg... but they are both touted as time-saving cooking devices for busy people. Not sure which one to get... but do you have experience of using both and could you tell me which would be better for us?

Answer 1

Are you a plan ahead kind of person? Do you like soups and stews? Then a slow cooker would be best for you. You can do pot roast in a slow cooker, but almost anything you cook in a slow cooker will be very juicy - even if you add almost no water to it, the meat will produce a lot of liquid and will be practically swimming in it. I often throw meat, veggies and some liquid into the slow cooker in the morning and come home to a nice hearty dish of soup. If you like to make your own spaghetti sauce, the slow cooker would be wonderful - put it in in the morning and let it simmer away all day.

If you are not a planner but are deciding what you want to eat on your way home at night, a pressure cooker would be better. It will generally cook your meat in 1/3 to 1/2 the time.

Neither device will give you a nice crisp skinned roasted chicken. I have both but I rarely use my pressure cooker - too hard to clean properly. Also a pressure cooker can be dangerous if you do not use it properly or allow the pressure valve to become blocked with food. On the other hand, I use my slow cooker several times a week - soups, stews, curries, pot roast... Veggies are easy enough to either cook on the stove or zap in the microwave and roast chickens are a Sunday dinner thing!

Good luck with your choice!

Answer 2

A pressure cooker is very helpful in situations where you do not have much time as they cook quite quickly. The results are very tender and moist meat. The juices are sealed in. I have not personally attempted to use my pressure cooker for veggies. In the amount of time it takes to throw a pan on the burner and steam a veggie the old fashioned way your meat will be half done. I also don't think I would want the two in the cooker at the same time, in fact, I know I wouldn't. I have not seen one that has a tray for veggies. I would assume though that the flavors would intermingle as the cooker is locked down tight and it is designed to keep flavor in. A slow cooker is only convenient if you are in a situation where you can start it in the morning and leave it for several hours. The meat is not nearly as tender and flavorful as when a pressure cooker is used either.

Answer 3

A pressure cooker uses heat and pressure to cook food faster. A slow cooker takes HOURS to make a meal. Both have advantages. With a pressure cooker you can prepare the entire meal in the afternoon/evening. With a slow cooker, you can start it at breakfast, and forget about it until dinner.

Answer 4

Personally ........... slow cooker as I prefer to shove it all in the pot and go to work and leave it for 7 - 9 hours ....... I wouldn't feel happy leaving a pressure cooker un-attended. So for me it would be slow cooker all the way ...........

I have some fab recipes if you need them ....

Answer 5

I would go with a slow cooker since it would make the food easier to make.

Answer 6

the pressure cooker is quicker but the slow cooker is easier and takes longer....try cooking things ahead and freezing......good luck

Answer 7

slow cooker

Answer 8

slow coking is always good for health & for the poket