The pressure cooker (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A few years ago, I was living by myself in my first apartment and I felt like having pot roast for dinner. Back then I didn’t know much about cooking so I wasn’t sure where pot roasts came from. All I knew was it was a dish my mom would prepare every two weeks when I was growing up. But how was I supposed to cook it by myself? I looked on the internet for a few recipes, and then I saw how much work was involved. I was disappointed because up until then, pot roasts magically appeared on the table thanks to my mom. Now I had to make one, and I didn’t even have the right equipment.

Upon doing further research, I learned that I needed either a slow cooker or a pressure cooker. This was totally news to me, and I didn’t even know there was a difference. Of course I’m a lot more experienced in the kitchen now, and I can prepare a pot roast with my eyes closed. But if you’re relatively clueless like I was, and you want to learn a bit of kitchen trivia, I’ll tell you the difference between a slow cooker and a pressure cooker. It might just come in handy one day if you ever decide to get into cooking.

The Main Difference

Okay, so the main difference is…get ready for it: one method uses slow cooking, and the other one uses pressure. This is probably obvious now that I’ve laid it out for you, you’d be surprised at how many people interchange the methods at first.

Slow Cooking

Slow cooking is exactly what it sounds like. You place your meat in a slow cooker and it will do its job over the course of several hours. A lot of people like using this method because it’s actually pretty convenient. As long as you’re not in a rush to eat, you can get everything prepared and do other things while your food cooks comfortably in the background.

Pressure Cooking

Pressure cooking is almost the exact opposite in terms of speed and cooking efficiency. You aren’t just sitting around and waiting for things to get done, you’re using intense heat and immense pressure inside the cooker to maximize the process. A roast that would normally take three or more hours to cook can be done in as little time as half an hour.

What they Have in Common

You probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between a pot roast prepared using slow cooking or one done in a pressure cooker. Unless it’s your own recipe that you’ve been cooking for years using one of these methods, the results usually turn out the same. That’s because you are essentially achieving the same effects by using either slow stewing or high-pressure. Both of these methods are the preferred way to cook tougher cuts of meat that are less tender. Now why would anyone want to eat something like that? First of all, these cuts tend to be cheaper and more cost-effective. It’s not like we can all afford to eat prime rib all the time. Sometimes all it takes is $10 to buy a big-enough roast that will last you for dinner and leftovers the next day. By using time or pressure, these cookers are able to break down the fibers and connective tissue in meat – and that’s what makes the food so tender.

What Does this Mean for Your Kitchen?

Well first of all, if you don’t already own a slow cooker or a pressure cooker, you might want to get one. Now you know the difference and what they’re actually used for, you can open up a whole new world of daily cooking. Some of the best comfort foods in the world are cooked using these methods, and there are lots of ways you can adapt them to suit your taste. I’m really happy that I eventually figured out what these kitchen additions do, and now it’s time to see what the fuss is all about for yourself.

This article comes from Jenny Hanson, the creator of tendercookers.com, a site dedicated to cooking and getting the most out of your kitchen. For more information, you can check out some reviews to find the best slow cooker.