Why You Should Trust Us
Serious Eats has long promoted the benefits of stovetop and electric multi-cookers, but we are not Instant Pot evangelists. I personally have now been living with these five machines for over a monththey have taken up residence in my life, and we are currently in an intimate and complicated relationship, sprawling across every inch of my kitchen counter.
I am a seasoned cook and pretty darn familiar with following a recipe. I went to both culinary and pastry school and developed and tested recipes at Americas Test Kitchen for five years . I’m able to use my trained culinary background to recognize good outcomes and know what matters in the kitchen, and my Instant Pot agnosticism makes it easy to assess the usability of these machines.
Recently Discontinued Instant Pots
As its product line has grown and evolved, Instant Brands has retired some of its older models.Instant Pot Viva: Discontinued in the U.S.The Instant Pot Viva began as a QVC exclusive and was later sold through other retailers. The Viva has since been discontinued in the United States but this 6-quart model is still available in Canada.
Duo Nova Instant Pot: 10-quart Size DiscontinuedWhile you can still get a Duo Nova Instant Pot in 3-, 6-, and 8-quart sizes, the 10-quart Instant Pot Duo Nova has been discontinued.
Instant Pot Nova Plus: Discontinued
The Nova Plus was a Costco Instant Pot exclusive that is no longer available. The Nova Plus was similar to the Duo but had the blue LED screen of the Duo Plus.
Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus: Discontinued
The Duo Evo Plus was an upgrade on the standard Duo and has been discontinued by Instant Pot. It had an upgraded blue LED display panel like the Duo Plus and a sleeker interface.
Instant Pot Lux: Discontinued
This early Instant Pot lacked many of the features you can get in even the most basic models available in 2022. The Lux has been discontinued by the brand, though you can sometimes still .
Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi: DiscontinuedThis Wi-Fi-enabled 6-quart Instant Pot has been discontinued and replaced by the Instant Pot Pro Plus 6-quart Smart Multi-Cooker.
Instant Pot just got delivered? Put it to use with one of these Instant Pot recipes:
Which Size Is Right For You
When selecting your Instant Pot, you’ll want to consider how much space you have. Instant Pot models come in four different sizes: 3-, 6-, 8- and 10-quart. Depending on what youre going to use it for, the size you choose can make a big difference.
If youre sticking to side dishes and meals for up to three people, Instant Pot recommends the 3-quart size. This is offered in most basic models including the Duo, Duo Nova, Duo Plus, Ultra and Lux. The 6-quart size is the most popular and is available in every model except the Duo Crisp, which is an Instant Pot and air fryer combo. Instant Pot recommends this size for feeding up to six people. The 8-quart model is the next most-popular size. It is offered in all models except the Smart WiFi and Max models, and is recommended for large families or to meal prep food for the week. The Duo Nova is the only model that comes in the 10-quart size, which is designed for larger meals, feeding a crowd or to stock the freezer with family dinners.
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Best Instant Pot Deals For September 2022
Are you searching for the best Instant Pot deals you can buy today? We found a good a selection of deals and the best prices for current Instant pot models. Cooking with Instant Pots redefined pressure cooking and revolutionized home meal preparation. There are eight Instant Pot models and most are available in two or more sizes. Theres also an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid that adds air frying to many 6-quart Instant Pot pressure cookers. Weve broken out the significant differences between the various Instant Pot model families below, and highlighted the best Instant Pot deals.
Best Multitasking Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, air fryer, and sous vide machine all in one, making it one of the most useful and economical small appliances we tested.
- Capacity: 8 quarts
- Inner pot material: Stainless steel
- Settings: pressure cook, saute, slow cooker, steam, sous vide, air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate, keep warm
- Number of included recipes: 100s in the free Instant Brands Connect app
- Extras: Air fryer lid, air fryer basket, heat-resistant pad for the lid, broil/dehydrate tray, steam rack
Pros: Features air frying and sous vide cooking options, comes with an app with 100s of recipes, easy to set up and use, cooks rice in under 20 minutes
Cons: Tended to build pressure and heat up slowly, didn’t sear well
We tested three units that could air fry or sous vide, but only the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker could do both. The Duo Crisp comes with two lids: one for the usual multi-cooker activities and another with a built-in fan for air frying. And, an air fryer basket fits in the inner pot to allow for better airflow and flavorful browning. We air-fried frozen French fries and were impressed with how quickly they were ready and how crispy they tasted.
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How Do You Clean An Instant Pot
The good news is that most Instant Pots have dishwasher-safe components. At the least, the stainless steel cooking pot and the silicone ring are dishwasher safe. On many models, the entire lid is dishwasher safe. The lid has a few removable parts that should be removed and cleaned, but the process for that is different depending on the model, so its best to check the user manual to see what parts are removable and how to clean them.
The Cheapest Instant Pot Sales And Deals For September 2022
Shop the best online prices for the popular pressure cooker
We’re rounding up all the cheapest Instant Pot deals available right now, with all the latest discounts on the best value models. We’ve gathered all the lowest prices on everything from the best-selling Instant Pot Duo to the WiFi-enabled Instant Pot Smart and listed the features and specifications for each model so you can find the best Instant Pot for you and your wallet.Instant Pots tend to be reduced throughout the year, but during holiday sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, these pressure cookers tend to get a hefty price reduction. You can also find deals on popular older models, such as the Instant Pot Duo, thanks to the release of newer models that have added features such as air frying like the Instant Pot DuoCrisp.You’ll find today’s best Instant Pot sales and deals below, comparing prices from the most popular models online, which include the Instant Pot Duo, Duo Plus, the Instant Pot Lux, the Ultra, and the Instant Pot Smart.
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Course Instant Pot Barbecue
Use large, tough cuts of meat for your Instant Pot. Pork shoulder is a great pick for pulled pork sandwiches.
Add some nutrition to your barbecue with some tender, steamed artichokes.
Side dishes like corn on the cob can be made in the Instant Pot while you man the grill.
For mac and cheese or pasta salad, make the noodles in the Instant Cooker first, then add the cheese.
Whip up a dessert in your Instant Pot the night before, from cheesecake to cobbler.
Best Upgrade Instant Pot
- Those with smaller kitchens
Skip if:
- You like the look and feel of a sleek digital display or simply want more features
I determined the bestselling Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5 to be an excellent tried-and-true model for any home cook with a slightly lower budget. At under $100, its an ideal pick for those who are curious about all things Instant Pot but arent yet ready to splurge on one of the newer models. That said, as you might imagine given its substantially lower price , this is not the most advanced or modern option out there. For starters, the Duo does not offer a digital touchscreen or ergonomic dial, and its inner pot does not feature the silicone handles of the Pro Plus .
That said, I concluded that this original device pressure-cooks just as well as pricier models: The pork was tender and fully shreddable after 60 minutes of pressure-cooking, and the rice I cooked was fluffy, well separated and the perfect canvas for homemade teriyaki chicken, which, I should add, was my dinner for many nights in a row during this testing process. But despite producing great results, the rice cooker here is still somewhat basic, and both novice and sophisticated cooks alike might be put off by the lack of convenient controls. Unlike the upgraded Duo Plus, theres no way to select which type of rice youre cooking the only options are for cook times .
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Straight To The Point
The best Instant Pot is the Instant Pot Pro. It performs well and has nice features like a steam release switch and handles on its cooking pot. Our budget-friendly pick is the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1.
Instant Pot has become synonymous with a type of electric appliance more correctly known as a “multi-cooker” . Similar to how Xerox has become the de facto term for copy machines, Instant Pot has become the most well-known electric multi-cooker, even though plenty of other companies make electric multi-cookers, too. While we don’t think Instant Pots should be considered in a vacuum , the fact of the matter is there are so many Instant Pot models that we think it’s worthwhile to sort through them. This review, then, is our look at everything Instant Pot offers to help you weigh those options, but it’s only part of the larger question of what kind of pressure or multi-cooker you should buy, which we answer in a separate review.
Which Instant Pot Is Right For You
Food-specific modes and options will make the difference when it comes to picking the best Instant Pot for your cooking needs. If you want to venture into making your own yogurt, or if you love hard-boiled eggs, it’s worth it to pay a bit more for an Instant Pot model that can do those things.
When it comes to choosing the right size, Instant Pot recommends a 3-quart model for one or two people. Families of six or fewer will likely be happy with the 6-quart multicooker. If you have a large household or host large groups often, consider springing for an 8-quart model.
There are options from other brands, too. We recently reviewed a great Wi-Fi multicooker from ChefIQ. It does more than Instant Pot’s Wi-Fi model and comes with an integrated scale, nonstick pot and helpful iOS or Android app. It costs $200, so if you’re not ready to graduate to a high-end model, Instant Pot’s more affordable options are great for beginners.
If you’re still not sure which model will be the best Instant Pot for your kitchen, take a look at Instant Pot’s product comparison chart or its guide to choosing the right cooker. At the end of the day, all of these models offer the basic pressure cooking and slow cooking modes Instant Pot is known for performing so well.
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Best Instant Pot Deals: Be Ready For Game Day With A $40 Multicooker
It is definitely Instant Pot season. We found some excellent deals on the popular appliance.
David Watsky
Senior Editor / Home and Kitchen
I live in Brooklyn where I write about food subscriptions, cooking, kitchen gadgets and commerce. Anything with sesame is my all-time favorite food this week.
If you’re looking for an Instant Pot, there are serious deals on the popular multicookers today. We found Instant Pots and Instant Pot accessories that are way down from their normal sticker prices. that not only includes the brand’s signature pressure cooker and slow cooker, but also an electric Dutch ovens, air fryers and more handy kitchen gear.
If you’re starting from scratch with multicookers, the Instant Pot is a popular small appliance that functions as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer and warmer, with a sauté mode so you can make tender meats like brisket, beef stew, shredded chicken and pulled pork from start to finish. An Instant Pot keeps all the food securely inside the pot with a safe-locking lid. It’ll deliver easy meals that taste like they’ve taken hours to make — but in reality require a fraction of the time.
We’ll continue to update this post with the best Instant Pot deals for the holiday shopping season, so check back often.
The Best Black Friday Instant Pot Deals
CBS Essentials is created independently from the CBS News staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.
Instant Pot is on sale for Black Friday. The versatile kitchen gadget is a must-have for prepping Thanksgiving, Christmas and Hanukkah feasts. Plus, an Instant Pot makes an excellent gift for friends and family, no matter their level of cooking expertise.
Keep reading to discover the best Black Friday deals on Instant Pots.
Top products in this article:
Instant Pots are a relatively hands-off way to throw together snacks and meals in minutes. The kitchen appliance is versatile enough to make soups, stews and yogurt, roast meats, air fryer frozen items and even bake delicious desserts and breads.
If you’ve been waiting for a deal on an Instant Pot model, now is a great time to buy one. We’ve found the best Black Friday Instant Pot deals that you can shop right now. Browse our wide variety of on-sale Instant Pot models, including traditional Instant Pots, Instant Pot air fryers and even an Instant Pot coffee and espresso maker.
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Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus
Did you know that Instant Pot makes a dual coffee and espresso maker? Now you do! The 4.4-star-rated Instant Pot Dual Pod Plus is on sale for Black Friday.
This kitchen gadget is compatible with K-Cup pods, Nespresso capsules and ground coffee when used with the included reusable pod. It lets you brew up to 12 ounces of coffee and up to 6 ounces of espresso at a time.
Instant Pot Key Features
The Instant Pot first launched in 2010 and has quickly become one of the best pressure and slow cookers on the market. The brand is known for their Electric Pressure Cooker design, first created by Robert Wang and has been a huge seller from its inception. The product serves as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, searing pan, steamer and food warmer. The brand has since branched out to create Air Fryers as well.
Some models also feature a super cool cake mode, which will make and prepare small moist cakes with minimal efforts. This is perfect for amature bakers and those with limited time. Other models even have a 24-hour delay timer, allowing you to create a dish and prepared cook time a whole day in advance.
- 3-quart Instant Pot: The 3-quart Instant Pot is a best seller for a good reason. It’s the ideal size for a single person or a couple. Its also a good option if you need to transport it to a cookout.
- 6-quart Instant Pot: This is the mid-range size of the Instant Pot. It’s plenty big enough for a family meal, or for a solo cook who wants a lot of leftovers.
- 8-quart Instant Pot: The 8-quart Instant Pot is enough to cook for a crowd. Given the larger size, it’s generally pricier, which is why it’s a good move to buy it on Black Friday.
Keep checking back because the BlackFriday.com team will keep adding new information about the sales and deals throughout the season.
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What Does An Instant Pot Do
Yeah, why can’t you just get a regular slow cooker? At their core, Instant Pots are electric pressure cookers. The proprietary locking lid creates a seal that heats any water inside far past its boiling point, turning it to steam. When that steam has nowhere else to go, it creates pressure thus cooking food 2-10 times faster than what an oven or slow cooker could do.
The Instant Pot’s heart is a microprocessor aided by built-in temperature sensors that give Instant Pots the ability to 1. Mimic the cooking functions of multiple different appliances and 2. Switch between those functions at the press of a button. This collection of programs can be tweaked and tailored to perform super specific tasks that you may have struggled with pre-Instant Pot . They get down to the nitty-gritty of heat intensity, pressure, and cooking duration to achieve more precise results in the kitchen. Some of the more advanced models even offer personalized programming and will remember your settings for the next time.
Each Instant Pot model gains a new cooking method or two, so you aren’t paying for functions you won’t use.
What Can I Make In An Electric Multicooker Or Instant Pot
Virtually all Instant Pots and off-brand multicookers can pressure cook, slow cook, saute, cook rice, and keep foods warm. Some models can also sous vide, air fry, make yogurt, and much more.
For more ideas of what is possible with an electric pressure cooker, check out these articles:
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