When an old-school slow cooker is better than an Instant Pot

In the era of fancy, high-tech multicookers like the ubiquitous Instant Pot, it’s easy to overlook the simple slow cooker. But those old-fashioned devices are kitchen workhorses that can feed a legion of hungry friends and family members during the busy holiday season.

The classic slow cooker — Crock-Pot is the best-known brand but many other manufacturers offer competing products today — is little more than a ceramic pot that fits inside a heating element. But that very basic cooking tool is capable of producing everything from simple soups to elaborate roasts.

And one of the biggest advantages slow cookers have over multicookers is the ability to actually monitor your food and make changes as it cooks because it isn’t locked away under a pressurized lid.

Slow cookers have evolved quite a bit since they gained popularity in the 1940s, and modern versions have many improvements that are worth seeking out.

Temperature probe: If you want to cook large pieces of meat, look for a model with an integrated temperature probe that sticks into the meat to better monitor its doneness. Programmable: Programmable slow cookers are useful if you want to start and stop cooking at particular times. Some models will automatically switch to a low temperature designed to keep food warm for hours. Searing: Some slow cookers offer the ability to sear ingredients, which allows the development of deeply caramelized flavors traditional slow cookers aren’t capable of achieving. Some models do that with the heat from the slow cooker’s heating element, but those tend to be very slow and generally won’t get as hot as a skillet.

Other models have a pot that’s safe to use on the stove top, allowing for a much more rapid transfer of heat and better browning ability. You just put that pot back into the slow cooker heating element after searing.

While many of those features are a nice bonus, a wide range of delicious meals can be made with simple slow cookers, which are far more affordable. Basic slow cooker models can range from roughly $10 for a 2-quart size to about $30 for large 7-quart unit. More elaborate models can range from $60 to $250, and multicookers start at around $60.

This week we’ve simmered up four recipes in slow cookers featuring little more than a manual knob with a high, low and warm setting. pstephen@express-news.net

Photos by Paul Stephen / Staff A selection of dishes made in a slow cooker include, clockwise from top left, Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Pork Tenderloin, Slow Cooker Coq Au Vin, Vegan Slow Cooker Lentil Soup and Classic Slow Cooker Queso.