Did not understand a crock pot &slow cooker are same thing ,like kleenex & tissues. However due to the need of moisture makes you use more natural ingredients ie: real rosemary not the kind from the jar. My husband &I have been eating a lot healthier. Still getting use to using it,it's simple I just never cooked anything but eggs & chicken before. Finding great recipes online, not just for heavy soups, great investment so far, not that it was overly expensive especially being Cuisinart. Also easy to clean.