Why Every Home Cook Needs a Crockpot: Pressure Cooker and Slow Cooker Benefits for Easy, Healthy Meals
- Eliane Muskus
- Jan 23
- 5 min read
How My Crockpot Became My Kitchen Sidekick: A Chef's Perspective
Having worked as a professional chef for years, I’ve used every tool and gadget you can think of, but few have made as much of a difference in my personal kitchen as my crockpot—a combination of a pressure cooker and a slow cooker. This trusty appliance has become my go-to, not just in my home kitchen, but also in my past cooking classes, where I teached others how to make cooking simpler, faster, and just as flavorful.
Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the versatility of this tool. Whether I need a meal ready in under an hour or I want to let something simmer gently all day, my crockpot has it covered. The combination of pressure cooking and slow cooking functions makes it a one-stop solution for so many meals.
From the Professional Kitchen to Home: How I Discovered the Crockpot
In professional kitchens, we’re always working against the clock. Whether I was braising meats or preparing big batches of vegetables, speed and efficiency were key. But after years of running a fast-paced kitchen, I wanted something that could give me both speed and the option to slow things down, depending on what my day looked like. That’s where the crockpot came in, and I quickly realized it’s a tool every home cook should have. Now, when I teach my cooking classes, I encourage my students to use tools that help them get the best of both worlds: fast cooking when they’re pressed for time and slow cooking when they want to extract every bit of flavor from their ingredients. The crockpot does just that.
Pressure Cooking: The Quick Fix for Delicious Meals
There’s no denying the magic of the pressure cooker mode. As someone who loves making hearty, rich meals, I find this setting perfect for those days when I need a meal fast. Let’s face it—life can get busy, and even though I enjoy spending time in the kitchen, I don’t always have hours to spare.
With the pressure cooker, I can throw in my ingredients—whether it’s a tough cut of meat or dry beans—and have everything cooked to perfection in a fraction of the time. I used to braise meats for hours in the oven to get that tender, fall-apart texture, but with my crockpot, I get the same results in 30 minutes. It’s not just about convenience; it’s about keeping the flavor, moisture, and nutrients intact.
Slow Cooking: Letting Flavors Develop Slowly
On the flip side, when I’m teaching my students how to build flavors, I often turn to the slow cooker setting. There’s something beautiful about letting ingredients simmer gently over hours, allowing each element to contribute to the overall taste.
When I use the slow cooker in my classes or at home, I emphasize how it creates deeply satisfying meals without much effort. Whether it’s a chicken stew that falls apart after hours of cooking or a rich, slow-cooked soup, the flavors develop beautifully, giving you a meal that tastes like you spent the whole day cooking. In reality, I just set it and forget it!
Teaching with the Crockpot: Why My Students Loved It
When I introduced the crockpot to my students, many were skeptical. They thought it might be too “gadgety” or not something they would actually use. But after showing them how they could make restaurant-quality meals with minimal effort, they were hooked.
Here’s why they love it—and why I recommend it to everyone:
Set It and Forget It: Whether using the pressure or slow cooker mode, once you’ve loaded your crockpot with ingredients, you can walk away. That’s a game-changer for people who feel intimidated by cooking or are short on time. Consistency Every Time: One of the biggest challenges I see my students face is getting consistent results, especially when they’re new to cooking. The crockpot takes away that guesswork. If you follow the cooking times and instructions, you’ll get perfectly cooked meals every time—whether it’s a slow-braised beef stew or a pressure-cooked chicken breast.
Control Over Ingredients: I always tell my students that what goes into your dish is just as important as how you cook it. With the crockpot, you’re able to control every ingredient, which is particularly important for those looking to make diabetes-friendly meals or for anyone watching their intake of salt, sugar, or fat.
How My Crockpot Makes My Life Easier
In my own kitchen, the crockpot has become an essential tool for both everyday meals and when I want to prep for the week ahead. I love that I can use the pressure cooker setting to whip up a healthy dinner in no time when I’m busy, but also rely on the slow cooker setting when I want to plan ahead and let something cook throughout the day.
If you want to batch cooking, the crockpot makes it easier than ever. I can prep a big batch of lentils, chicken breasts, or a hearty vegetable stew, portion it out, and store it in the fridge or freezer. This way, when life gets hectic, I have healthy, homemade meals ready. For me, that’s the real beauty of the crockpot—it helps you maintain balance without sacrificing flavor or nutrition.
Pressure Cooker vs. Slow Cooker: Why My Crockpot Has Both
When I first started using my crockpot, I couldn’t decide which setting I liked better—the pressure cooker or the slow cooker. Now, I love that I don’t have to choose. On those days when I need to get dinner on the table fast, I turn to the pressure cooker setting. On the days when I have more time or want to build deeper flavors, the slow cooker option is my best friend. Having both settings in one appliance makes it flexible and adaptable to my needs, whether I’m teaching a class or preparing meals for myself. It’s like having two indispensable tools in one, and that’s why I can’t stop raving about it.
Final Thoughts on why every home cook needs a crockpot
As someone who’s spent years working in professional kitchens and teaching others how to cook, I can confidently say that my crockpot is one of the most useful tools in my kitchen. It’s not just a convenience—it’s a way to cook smarter, not harder. Whether you’re looking to save time, simplify meal prep, or take the stress out of cooking, the crockpot has you covered.
So if you’re looking to make life in the kitchen a little easier, trust me, a crockpot—with its dual pressure cooker and slow cooker settings—will change the way you cook. It’s made my life easier, and I’m sure it will do the same for you.
