The phrase “an hour of freedom is worth a barrel of slops” is a famous line from E.B. White’s children's novel Charlotte’s Web.
The Story:
Wilbur the pig escapes from his pen. While the barnyard animals cheer him on and the goose warns him not to fall for a trap, Wilbur quickly realizes that being loose in the big world is frightening and overwhelming.
Then the farm owner Mr. Zuckerman uses a bucket of warm, delicious slops (milk, potato skins, and leftovers) to lure Wilbur back into captivity. The goose says this phrase to warn Wilbur for trading his liberty away just to satisfy his stomach.
Wilbur, however, decides that the comfort, safety, and full belly of home matter more to him than the cold, uncertain stress of true freedom.
Meaning:
It highlights the choice between the safety of a predictable, comfortable life and the risk of independence, and reflects how different personalities view life:
Wild or independent spirits believe true liberty is priceless, while domestic or comfort-seeking creatures prefer security and a warm meal over the trials of being on their own.
It touches on the idea that comfort can easily tame the desire for freedom, showing that people (or animals) will often surrender autonomy in exchange for basic needs and safety
From online, with editing
-------------------------------
I think the phrase is pretty much self explanatory. Not too much to add, except 10 minutes of freedom is worth a barrel of slops, for me! 
Below is pic I took from the book showing poor Wilbur's horriable experiences:
