Is a Crock Pot a Slow Cooker?

Is “Crock Pot” just a fancy term for slow cooker, or is this popular product something else entirely?

The Short Answer:

A Crock Pot is a brand of slow cooker, but not all slow cookers are Crock Pots.

The Long Answer:

Crock Pots are a popular addition to most modern kitchens, right up there with its polar opposite the Instant Pot. Their ability to cook meals slowly over time has been a boon to working families the world over.

When both mom and dad are working professionals, it’s helpful to have a handy device such as a Crock Pot. Either parent can load it up with the ingredients for a fantastic roast or stew, set the device on low, and leave, knowing that it will be cooking the food slowly over a period between four and eight hours.

You might be thinking to yourself, that sounds an awful lot like a slow cooker. You’d be absolutely right. A Crock Pot is a slow cooker. Crock Pot is a brand name, and not the actual name of the appliance. It’s sort of like “Band-Aid” instead of “adhesive bandage” or “Kleenex” instead of “facial tissue.” When you talk about a Crock Pot, you’re actually referring to a specific kind of slow cooker.

There are plenty of off-brand slow cookers that are just as effective as a Crock Pot and usually lower in price.

But what is a slow cooker, you may ask?

A slow cooker is a countertop appliance of varying sizes, which facilitates the art of unattended cooking. To use the product, one places raw food inside the pot with some form of liquid, whether that’s beef stock, chicken stock, broth, or water. The lid is fastened, the heat is set, and the cooking begins.

Food is cooked below the point of boiling, typically between 179- and 199-degrees Fahrenheit. The contents within attain a consistent temperature, transferring heat from the pot and its walls to the food.

Slow cookers are the go-to appliance when it comes to creating tender meat that falls apart at the touch. It’s especially useful in making soups, stews, and pulled meats like pork.

So, while all Crock Pots are slow cookers, not all slow cookers are Crock Pots.

What’s your favorite slow cooker recipe? Do you use a Crock Pot or an off-brand slow cooker? Sound off below and let us know!