What's the difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot?

Question

Aren't they the same thing? I went to the store and there was a variety.... some said slow cooker and some said crock pot.....

Answer 1

They are the same thing. Like many popular new items, the name associated with the first manufacturer often sticks to all the ones made later by other manufacturers. So "Crock Pot" is the name that Rival gave to the first slow cooker and became associated with it (and technically all of the ones available now are "slow cookers" even though many people still call them "crockpots"). This happens in other languages besides English too.

Some other examples of that are Kleenex (tissues), Xerox (photocopies), Superglue (instant glue, cyanoacrylate glue), as well as Post It, Scotch Tape, Jello, Roller Blades, Band-Aid, iPod, Windex, Hoover, Lazy Boy, Tylenol, Jeep, etc.


There are a few different types of slow cookers though... some have removeable crocks or pots, heating elements only on the bottom, "warm" settings or timers, etc., and of course they're various sizes (one is actually just a keep-warm crock for dips, etc., usually about only 1/2 qt).

(TIP: the slow cookers sold nowadays cook much hotter than they used to on Low, or on any setting, which makes them not as great as they used to be
... many people were throwing *frozen* meats into their slow cookers even though warned not to, which can result in the meat being in the danger zone of bacterial development too long and being taken out before it's thoroughly cooked all the way through, so the manufacturers just upped all the temps so they woudln't get sued if someone got sick ... so now a meal that used to be fine to leave cooking all day while at work will be overcooked after 4-6 hrs, a real problem for many
... there are a few things that can help that, but it's really best if one can afford the type of slow cooker that has an actual temperature setting in numbers on it so it can be set at at low enough temp**, or buy an "electric roaster" instead which will do the same thing though take up more space)

The difference in temps used by a slow cooker is indicated by the *wattage* of the cooker (usually on the bottom of the unit, or google the model number) ... for example, a typical old slow cooker might have used 75 watts for Low and 150 watts for High, whereas a newer one will be 180-250 watts just on Low and actually bring the contents to a boil even on Low.

**You want to make sure that the interior of the food inside your slow cooker reaches 140 degrees F or higher *within 4 hours* to be safe to eat.


Diane B.

Answer 2

Crock Pot Vs Slow Cooker

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
What's the difference between a slow cooker and a crock pot?
Aren't they the same thing? I went to the store and there was a variety.... some said slow cooker and some said crock pot.....

Answer 4

Yes, they are the same thing.
It's probably companies being different to distinguish themselves from the others.

Also, maybe Crock Pot is a specific company trademark name while slow cooker is a generic name for those types of cookers.

Just like going to Kinko's make a copy of a document, some people will say they are using a "Xerox" while other will just say they are using a "copier". Both mean the same thing, but Xerox is a specific type of copier.

Edit... I just found some more info.
From wikipedia: The modern slow cooker was developed by Rival Industries with the trademarked name Crock Pot.

Answer 5

Actually, no, there is a difference. A slow cooker only has heating elements on the bottom and a crock pot has heating elements on the side. Unlike a crock pot, slow cooker is not appropriate for things like slabs of meat (e.g. a pot roast) because it cannot bring it up to temp. quickly enough to avoid bacterial growth. See this blog post (not by me but I found it to be a really good resource) for more info. http://cookinfanatic.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/crock-pots-vs-slow-cookers-yep-theres-a-difference/

Answer 6

They're the same. THey've just started calling them slow cookers to take away the way people thought of crock pots.

Answer 7

A crock pot cooks faster than a slow cooker, a slow cooker is used when you want to cook the food all day like leaving for work and coming home and the food is done.

Answer 8

crock pot is round slow cooker is oval they both do same thing

Answer 9

Its the same thing. Just called different due to different companies that manufacture them

Answer 10

Same thing, like others have said. They're very handy too, I love them!