Crock Pot High vs Low (Settings Explained)

When so many tasks are waiting for you in the queue, why do you spend so much time cooking in the traditional manner? 

It seems tiring if you are a working person and have to make dinner after long working hours.

Making dinner is followed by many processes, and preparing vegetables takes the most time. 

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Crock pot High Vs Low

The main difference between crock pot high vs low is that the low crock pot works slowly, so it takes you more time to cook the meal. In contrast, a high crock pot can make the dish in a few minutes.

A low crock pot can take many hours to cook one dish. So for the low crock pot, you can set it and forget it. 

Yes, you can cook chicken today in the high crock pot in just a few minutes rather than cooking it in the low crock pot for long hours. 

We will be sharing the features of both the high and low crock pots and which ones are the best to buy. Let’s read more about crock pots.

What is a High crock pot?

Generally, a high crock pot refers to a pressure cooker. It works by using high pressure and warm steam and so prepares the food in just a matter of minutes. 

We just need to put ingredients into it and seal it. The steam builds inside the crock pot and exerts pressure. This gets the food ready in just a few minutes. 

For example, you can cook dried beans in just a few minutes instead of cooking them with traditional methods that will take long hours. 

The high-speed feature of the high crock pot has turned the table, and its use is increasing day by day. 

The use is not limited to dried nuts; you can cook anything in it. It is the best for your daily use. 

It cuts down the long cooking hours and creates less mess to clean as you have just a pot of the crock pot to wash. 

You might have heard about the high crock pots exploding due to high steam pressure, so we recommend using them carefully.

How Does a High crock pot Work?

Now we know that the high steam pressure prepares your food in a few minutes but how high steam cooks the food instantly? 

The crock pot has a valve button on the top of its lid. When you add water with the ingredients into the crock pot, the water inside it gets converted into steam and exerts pressure because of the flame below. 

We can manage this pressure using a valve on its lid. This valve controls the boiling point of water inside.

If the boiling point is high, the cooking speed also becomes high. Cooking at a very high boiling point is never recommended as it can cause considerable damage.

Note: You can also add oil instead of water to the crock pot. The highest temperature that a crock pot reaches is 250 degrees Fahrenheit. The food not only cooks earlier but also becomes soft. 

Settings of a High crock pot

Understanding the settings of a high crock pot can help you cook soft and well-cooked food next time. 

The settings of a low crock pot are as follows:

  • Low Temperature: 229 degrees Fahrenheit or 233 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, food cooks very slowly.
  • High Temperature: 239 degrees Fahrenheit or 245 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the most suitable temperature for cooking food as fiber in the vegetable and meat breaks down easily and food cooks instantly. Most food recipes use the temperature for cooking; you can take it as a default temperature. 

Cooking at low temperatures using a high crock pot is never a good idea as it only extends the cooking time.

What Can I Cook in a High crock pot?

Some people think that only canned meals can be processed in a high crock pot, but now you can cook anything that comes to your mind. 

The crock pot never affects the taste of the ingredients. So, do not think that a crock pot can make anything but it comes with a compromise to taste. 

Following are just a few examples of cooking in a high crock pot.

  • BBQ ribs
  • Pasta Dishes
  • Roasted Chicken
  • Turkey Breast
  • Soups of any kind
  • Stews
  • Fluffy rice
  • Hard-boiled eggs

The above examples are famous ones. We still recommend cooking anything into a high crock pot.

Best High crock pots

If you are planning to buy crock pots, let’s discuss the best ones you need to think of before making up your mind to buy one. 

  1. Ninja OP301 Foodi 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker: This crock pot is all in one. It not only provides you with low crock pot features but also provides you with a value of high crock pot features. It has enough capacity to make anything in it. It comes with an elegant style and is very easy to use.
  2. Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus: It comes in different sizes, and you can choose the one that best suits to your needs. 

With almost 50 presets, this crock pot is the users’ best choice as it provides many other small accessories and safety.

What is a Low crock pot?

Generally, a slow crock pot refers to a slow cooker that works at low temperatures and thus takes a lot of time to cook. It does not mean that it provides no value. 

You can just put the vegetables into it in the morning, turn it on and leave for your office. You will find the meal ready when you are back home.

You can set it and forget it without any worries. This crock pot does not use any steam pressure inside it to cook the food but uses a warm container. 

You might have heard of a brand named Crock-pot, which makes slow cookers known as crock pots. 

The procedure is quite simple; you just need to put the ingredients into it and get your meal cooked in a few hours. 

It works at low temperatures, so it takes time to cook the food.

Some people think that low crock pots can only be used to make items that require long cooking hours, such as soups. But now you can use it for all the dishes around.

Read the article on how to clean a crock pot little dipper.

How Does a Low crock pot Work?

A low crock pot will not bake the food but will cook the food in a few hours. It uses a damp warmth and keeps on cooking the food. The only difference that will be found between low crock pots and high crock pots is that a high crock pot will make the food much earlier than a low crock pot. Both of these provide the same soft and cooked food.

The low crock pots are mostly made of porcelain or ceramic material and come in different sizes. Some crock pots have an additional heating feature, while others have a temperature setter, and you can set a specific temperature. 

The temperature mostly varies between 200 to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Some companies offer low crock pots with an automatic switch button, so you only need to set the timer, and they will automatically start and stop.

What Can I Cook in a Low crock pot?

You can make all the things in a low crock pot that you have been cooking in a high crock pot. It is just a matter of time that differs. 

Most people use low crock pots for making grains and beans as they prefer cooking them for longer periods for better taste. 

Look at a few things you must try into low crock pots.

  • Cheese
  • Macaroni
  • Ribs
  • Shredded chicken
  • Stews
  • Soups
  • Brownies
  • Lasagna
  • Butter chicken
  • Roasted chicken

The above examples are the famous ones. We still recommend cooking anything into a low crock pot.

Best Low crock pots

Let’s talk about the most well-known low crock pots. Many still prefer using a low crock pot as it is safer than high crock pots. Here we are presenting two of the best low crock pots.

  1. Hamilton Beach Portable 6-Quart Slow Cooker: This low crock pot is the best as it comes with bells. It does not require any manual input and no supervision as well. It lets you track the heating inside your crock pot as well. Not only is it friendly to use, but it is very handy too.
  2. Crock-Pot 6 Quart Cook and Carry: This crock pot is branded and belongs to the well-known crock pot Brand. With a digital timer, this low crock pot is the best option if you are a working individual. You can now set the timer and leave for your work. This crock pot will automatically turn off once the timer completes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

Why is it useful for a high crock pot to cook under high pressure?

A high crock pot cooks the food at a temperature that is even more than the atmospheric pressure. Due to that, the cooking reactions get faster, and food cooks quickly. The food never gets dry as the water remains in the crock pot.

What’s better: a high crock pot or slow cooker?

A low crock pot takes considerable time to cook, while a high crock pot can cook the dishes in minutes. Both have their advantages. Though a low crock pot takes longer, it is safer.

What are the disadvantages of high crock pot cooking?

High crock pots are expensive and sealed while cooking, so you can’t check your food. You can not adjust any flavor during the cooking procedure as well.

Final Words

crock pots are an essential kitchen appliance. Now, you know all about crock pots and how useful they are. It all depends on your choice.

We recommend you take great care when using a high crock pot.