Cooking is an art, and if you want to get better at it, you must practice. If you’re searching for a means to develop your craft, you can check into the air fryer and crock pot slow cooker as kitchen appliances that will help you produce a wide range of delectable meals.
While the slow cooker has been around for over 50 years longer than the air fryer, its popularity has never faltered, especially among those who prefer easy cooking. Both machines cater to those who want their dinners quickly after a stressful day at work, but they are significantly different in terms of cooking procedures and the types of food they can handle.
Having said that, which of these two should you add to your cooking arsenal? Spare yourself the hours of exploring the internet for answers because here at DaDongNY, we will take an in-depth look at them to determine which will best fit you.
How An Air Fryer Works, Pros and Cons
An air fryer cooks food quickly by blowing powerful hot air circulation. And because heated air flows over your food, it becomes crispy as well as roasted, giving you that Michelin-starred New York strip steak that melts right away in your mouth. The results are comparable to those of a regular oven or deep fryer, but the air fryer does not use any oil and is ideal for individuals who don’t have much time to prepare food.
Since their release by Phillips in 2010, air fryers have grown in popularity for the past few years as a healthier alternative to traditional frying, not to mention how they heat food. Deep fryers use high temperatures to heat oil or fat. This enables them to prepare food rapidly. On the other hand, air fryers use a fan to circulate hot air around your food, cooking it from all sides for a more even result.
An air fryer’s specifications are as follows:
| Model | TOA-65 |
| Capacity | 16.99 liters |
| Dimensions | 17” x 21.73” X 15.75” |
| Weight | 20.3 lbs |
| Temperature | 80-450 °F |
| Output Wattage | 1800-watts |
| Release Date | April 2021 |
| Cooking Settings | 13 |
| Colors | Silver |
| Controls | Touch display |
| Good for | Up to 5 persons |
| Price | Get it on Amazon! |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Cooks food faster ✔️ A much healthier alternative to deep frying ✔️ Compact and easy to store ✔️ Uses little to no oil ✔️ Packed with various cooking features such as air frying, broiling, grilling, baking, toasting, dehydrating, etc. | ✖️ Quite Expensive compared to slow cookers ✖️ Some air fryer models create smoke while cooking food ✖️ Air fryer doesn’t cook food well when the basket is overcrowded |
Who Should Purchase An Air Fryer?
Air fryers are convenient and will save you significant time when preparing your meals. If you want to invest hundreds of dollars in a multifunctional appliance, you should consider purchasing an air fryer microwave oven combo. It is more efficient than a slow cooker and can also bake and roast food!
Air frying is the best kitchen equipment for a simple and tasty dish for your household.
How Crockpot Slow Cooker Works, Pros and Cons
A slow cooker employs moist-heat cooking, which involves simmering food at a low temperature for an extended length of time. Steam generated by hot liquids inside slow cookers covers and surrounds your food as it cooks. This heated moisture prevents foods from drying out and falling apart, as hot air circulation from an air fryer would.
A slow cooker is a kitchen appliance that allows you to cook tender and flavorful food even when you are not around to keep an eye on every time. It works by heating your food with steam rather than hot air, ensuring that each bite is as soft and flavorsome up to the last. The term “slow cooker” refers to the fact that cooking food takes a substantial amount of time.
Unlike an air fryer, which is a newer kitchen appliance innovation, the crock-pot slow cooker has been around for a long time, ever since it was first introduced in 1971, and has been ideal for people who have a busy work schedule during the day because it allows them to leave their food to cook while they work.
A crock pot slow cooker’s specifications are as follows:
| Model | SCV700-S-BR |
| Capacity | 6.62 liters |
| Dimensions | 14.4″ x 14.4″ x 9.5″ |
| Weight | 12.12 lbs |
| Temperature | 400 °F |
| Output Wattage | 1500-watts |
| Release Date | March 2022 |
| Cooking Settings | 3 |
| Colors | Silver |
| Controls | Manual |
| Good for | Up to 9 persons |
| Price | Get it on Amazon! |
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| ✔️ Portable kitchen equipment ✔️ No need to monitor food periodically ✔️ Best suited for individuals who don’t have time to cook ✔️ Ideal for making food deliciously tender | ✖️ Can’t cook the whole roast ✖️ Takes 2-12 hours to cook food ✖️ Crock-pot slow cooker plastic handle melts ✖️ Can’t air fry foods |
Who Should Purchase A Crockpot Slow Cooker?
A slow cooker is your go-to kitchen equipment if you want an old-fashioned and hassle-free way of cooking food. You can simply place your ingredients inside, turn them on low heat, and set it aside to be ready for dinnertime. You can also make stews or other soupy foods without worrying about overcooking or drying out your food because slow cooking makes it impossible to overcook anything.
Comparison: Air Fryer Vs. Crockpot Slow Cooker
With air fryers and slow cookers in demand today, it’s hard to figure out which is perfectly suited for you. To help you decide, let’s look at the similarities and differences between these two kitchen appliances.
Cooking capacity
Slow cookers typically have a cooking capacity of 1 to 8.5 quarts and can serve up to 5-9 people at once. On the other hand, an air fryer has a capacity of 2 to 16 quarts and can serve 12-16 people.
Air fryers have the advantage of cooking capacity because they can hold substantially more food than slow cookers and are ideal for large families or those who like to throw parties.
Cooking methods
Both of these kitchen equipment employ distinct cooking methods. Slow cookers heat your food with steam rather than hot air, whereas air fryers use hot air circulation for cooking food. Nonetheless, both cooking methods use convection and conduction to circulate heat for the best results.
Power consumption
Slow cookers are said to be more energy efficient. According to a study, a crock pot slow cooker uses about 250 watts of power. This is more than double the energy usage of an air fryer, which consumes over 1750 watts. So, an air fryer may not be the best option if you’re looking for methods to save money on your electric bill.
Related Article: Things You Should Know: How Much Electricity Does An Air Fryer Use?
Maintenance
It is critical to keep up with the maintenance of an air fryer, which uses hot air circulation to cook food. Make sure to wipe your air fryer with a wet dishcloth after each use and that all of your components are dry before you begin frying food again. If you do not maintain your air fryer properly, it may malfunction or break.
Attention required
Despite the fact that a slow cooker does not require constant monitoring, it does require some attention. You’ll need to add plenty of water to cover your food and keep an eye on it throughout the cooking process to ensure that your dinner is not overcooked.
Cleaning and care
Cleaning an air fryer is much easier than cleaning a slow cooker. Most air fryer models have detachable nonstick inserts that may be cleaned in the dishwasher or under running water. On the other hand, a slow cooker is typically considerably more difficult to clean and may contain dangerous chemicals like BPA.
Related Article: Air Fryer Cleaning: Simple Hacks For Getting Grease And Food Out
Price
Air fryers typically cost around $50 if you’re on a tight budget or don’t intend to use them frequently, and high-end models cost more than $50 with all of their extra features, while slow cookers start at around $50.
Footprint
An air fryer and a crock pot take up roughly the same amount of counter space. Unless you have one of those big new air fryer ovens, they are also simple to unplug and store on a shelf when not in use.
Health
Both an air fryer and a slow cooker produce quite nutritionally balanced dishes. In fact, given the recent discussion over overly browned foods being harmful, we believe the crock pot has a little advantage here. Whether it’s oil-free ‘fried’ foods or nutritious stews and casseroles, these appliances fare well in terms of health.
FAQs
Is It Possible To Use My Air Fryer As A Slow Cooker?
No, because they are completely distinct types of kitchen appliances. The crock pot slow cooker is used to slow-cook foods such as casseroles and stews. In contrast, an air fryer is used for air frying, roasting, baking, and broiling. The closest you can get with an air fryer is to cook a stew or casserole in a casserole dish and put it on one of the included accessory kits.
Is An Air Fryer Better Than A Slow Cooker?
It’s difficult to say whether an air fryer is superior to a crock-pot or slow cooker because they are very different appliances. One is for slow-cooking stews and casseroles, while the other is for frying, baking, broiling, and roasting meals. We at DaDongNY prefer an air fryer to a crock-pot since it offers more cooking choices in the same size.
Is It Healthier To Cook Using An Air Fryer Rather Than A Slow Cooker Or Crockpot?
Both an air fryer and a slow cooker produce generally healthy dinners, albeit the slow cooker has a tiny advantage because its slow-cooked meals aren’t connected with browning and potentially burning food, which some feel is a cancer-causing agent.
Bottomline
In the battle between the air fryer and the crock pot slow cooker, both kitchen appliances provide a completely different cooking experience. The crock pot is about quick one-step cooking, whereas the air fryer offers faster cooking times and an air-fried crisp.
You can’t make slow-cooked food in an air fryer, and vice versa, so it comes down to personal preference regarding which equipment you want in your home.
We recommend using an air fryer instead of a crock pot if you have a small kitchen. A crock pot has only one purpose: gradually cooking and tenderizing meat. On the other hand, an air fryer can perform the same functions as three kitchen appliances: a deep fryer, oven, and microwave. Using an air fryer rather than a crock pot on your limited kitchen countertop space makes far more sense. To learn more about air fryers, click the link to learn everything you need to know about this trendy kitchen gadget.
You’re in luck if you like both of these pieces of equipment and can’t decide which to choose. There is now hybrid kitchen equipment that can combine the cooking techniques of a crock pot and an air fryer. The two most popular options for this would be a Ninja Foodi or an Instant Pot. They would combine the ease of use of an air fryer with the slow cooking capabilities of a crock pot.
