Capacity Of Instant Pot

Other Pressure Cooker Models

This article looked at the two basic models. Still, there are so many other Instant Pots out there with fabulous features and additional functionality such as:

Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo – Looking for an air fryer? We can’t wait to try our Easy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges Recipe in this one! These fancier models feature those twisty air-fryer lids!

This is among the strong candidates for extra versatility since it roasts, bakes, dehydrates, pressure cooks, slow cooks, and steams. It also acts as a rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, sterilizer, and food warmer.

You only pay a little more for a few very cool additional functions. Comes in both 6-quart and 8-quart sizes.

Go smaller with the mini 3-quart size! If you’re looking for something smaller, the 3-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 sells for around $100. This usable size 3-quart Instant Pots are perfect for smaller apartments, couples, and making breakfast oatmeal, rice, and desserts.

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 – this Instant Pot offers 10-in-1 functionality, including sous vide and cake baker. It’s the only multi-cooker with an inner pot with silicone handles that you can take from your Insta Pot to your stovetop. The 6-quart is similarly priced to the Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart. If you’re looking for different color options, this one is matte black.

Star Wars Fans can choose from these models:

Whats The Largest Size Of Instant Pot

Instant Pot makes everything in the 6 quart size. Some of them come with a smaller 3 quart size which would be great for a couple or a more portable version to take in your RV.

Over half of the models currently available offer an Instant Pot 8 quart size there is even one, the Duo Nova, that comes in a 10 quart size. That would be great for making large batches with leftovers for freezing to use a different day.

Max features an industry-first 15 psi pressure cooking and NutriBoost technology – all controlled by a microprocessor for smart and easy cooking.

Get the best price Instant Pot Max in Canada from:

Instant Pot Dimensions: How Big Are They

Depending on how big your kitchen is, or how much weight youre comfortable lifting, knowing the size and weight of each Instant Pot model can be important to your decision-making process. Heres a quick look at the Instant Pot dimensions side by side.

To start, for the different Instant Pot sizes , there are variations in length by width by height along with the weight. Overall, the dimensions are all pretty close for each quart-size within an inch or less. And the same goes for weight.

And one more note: this post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you buy through my link. You wont pay any more if you use this link.

Overall, heres a quick summary of the Instant Pot dimensions, as provided by the company, in general before we drive into the specifics

There is only one 10 quart Instant Pot option currently available, as part of the Duo Nova series.

* The Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer comes with two lids, depending on the cooking method youre planning to use. Overall the height of this Instant Pot increases by about an inch when using it as an Air Fryer. This also makes it the heaviest Instant Pot 8 Quart Models. The rest of the 8 quart models are approximately 15 1/2 lbs.

And one suggestion comes to mind if the overall Instant Pot weight has you nervous. Try lifting it in pieces . Each part contributes to the overall Instant Pot weight.

Lets take a look at each Instant Pot size, series by series.

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Are Pressure Cookers Safe

Yes, electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot are generally safe and easy to use. The Instant Pot has so many safety mechanisms built in that its hard to make a catastrophic mistake. As we found in our research and reporting in 2019, the lid has two safety catches: a float valve with a pin mechanism and a lock . If for some reason the steam-release valve doesnt do its job, the appliance has another sensor, which shuts off the heating element if excess pressure builds inside the pot. As an added safety measure, starting in 2021 all Instant Pot lids have an easy-to-use steam-release switch, so you can release pressure after cooking without getting too close to the valve.

In general, if you follow the safety instructions, you should be good. But, as with any method of cooking, using an Instant Pot isnt entirely risk free, and accidents can happen. In 2021, a woman filed a lawsuit against Instant Pot and Target because she opened the cooker, thinking it was depressurized, and the hot contents spewed out and burned her toddler. Instant Pot told us: While we are unable to comment on ongoing litigation, please understand that the Company takes consumer complaints and products claims seriously.

Other Uses For Your Instant Pot

As youve been doing your research while thinking about instant pot sizes to buy, you may have noticed people are using theirs for a lot of things besides cooking dinner.

In fact, many models come with presets specifically for different foods. If you like hot cereal for breakfast and want to cook with truly whole grains, rather than cracked or rolled, consider cooking a large batch overnight.

Think about how many youre cooking for, and how many days in advance youd like to have it prepped.

Be sure to remember that you have to reduce the amount you put in when cooking grains. This useful function alone may help you decide to go with a larger multicooker.

Many people have also started making homemade yogurt using their electric pressure cooker.

Some models even have a button to keep your yogurt at the perfect temperature while it cultures. Yogurt makes a great healthy breakfast or snack, and you can save a lot of money by making it at home.

You can even strain your finished yogurt to make your own homemade Greek style yogurt. If you choose a 6 quart instant pot size, you can make 4-5 quarts of yogurt at a time.

This sounds like a lot until you think about how much yogurt a family with growing kids can go through in a week.

If youre straining out the whey to make a thicker finished product, youll lose quite a bit of volume.

Choosing an 8 quart model that will let you make 6-7 quarts of yogurt at once could be a better choice for you.

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Lets Talk About Instant Pot Sizes

Instant Pot 3 qt If youre cooking meals for one or maybe two, the 3 qt might be all that you need. With most of the features of the larger versions, this option has a smaller footprint and is perfect for small spaces, an RV, or travel.

This is also a handy second pot if you want a smaller one for cooking rice or soups or eggs while your larger pot is in use .

If you are single or cooking for two but do a lot of meal prep or batch cooking, youll probably want to size up to to the 6qt. You can make bigger batches of food in the 6 quart, and if you have the space for the larger pot, I feel like you cant go wrong with the 6 quart.

If you like cooking larger food items, like a full butternut squash or a chicken, opt for the larger pot.

Instant Pot 6 qt This is what I have. I have a family of four, and its plenty big enough for my pretty basic cooking needs. I use it to meal prep . Its also been great for dinners .

You can easily fit a whole chicken inside the 6 qt.

This would be my recommendation if youre cooking for 3-4 people or doing meal prep. If youre doing a lot of meal prep, check out the 8 qt.

Instant Pot 8 qt This slightly bigger pot is perfect if you have a large family or do a lot of cooking. If youre the person who spends Sunday making giant batches of food for the week, this might be your pot!

If you are cooking for more than four people, this is probably a safe bet.

Do you have an Instant Pot? Which size did you get, and what were the deciding factors?

Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer

This standout 11-in-1 pressure cooker was the first Instant Pot model to offer an air-frying function by way of a second air fryer lid. When youre done frying, you can simply switch back to the standard lid for pressure cooking, steaming, sautéing, and more. Like all Instant Pot models, this one comes with advanced safety features and access to a digital library of more than 1,000 Instant Pot recipes. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp even lets you broil, and until the Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer came along, this model was the Ninja Foodis fiercest competitor.

Year released: 2019Built-in smart programs: 11Cooking functions: Pressure-cooking, slow-cooking, air-frying, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, roasting, baking, broiling, and dehydratingSizes available: 6- and 8-quart Instant Pots

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Can You Cook Frozen Chicken In An Instant Pot

Yes. There are a number of recipes devoted to cooking all kinds of foods from their frozen state in an Instant Pot. For some recipes, a little extra time is required to fully cook the meat, but in other cases the extra time required to come up to pressure is enough extra time to completely cook the food.

The Exterior Of The Instant Pot

• Brushed stainless steel, fingerprint-resistant, with lid holder for left and right-handed users.
• The pressure Regulator ensures the working pressure is below the safety limit
• Anti-Blockage Vent prevents food debris from blocking the vent
• Safety Lid Lock prevents accidental opening of the cooker while it is pressurized
• Designed with a sensor for lid position detection, monitors whether the lid is in an unsafe position for pressure cooking
• Automatic temperature control regulates temperature based on the type of program being selected
• High-Temperature monitoring avoids burning food
• Automatic Pressure Controller keeps pressure always in the safe range
• The electrical current and temperature fuse cuts off power if the current or internal temperature exceeds safety limits
• Excess Pressure Protection releases excess pressure into the internal chamber in a dangerous situation
• Smart detection of a leaky lid

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Instant Pot Lux Dimensions

With each Instant Pot Lux, it grows by about an inch in each direction with the larger quart sized models. And for weight, it goes up by a few pounds with each quart. From the 3 quart model to the 8 quart, its about a 80% increase in weight!

*The Lux 5 Quart is a discontinued size. You may still be able to find them on Amazon and parts are available on the Instant Pot website.

What Happens If You Open An Instant Pot Under Pressure

This is an experiment that we definitely do not want you to try at home! When in the closed-vent pressure cooking mode, steam builds up under enormous pressure inside your Instant Pot.

If you were to open the lid at this point, then your foodand boiling hot steam and liquidwould explode upwards into the air!

This would not only end up with your dinner splattered everywhere but potentially also cause serious burns and scalds.

This is why many Instant Pots have a locking system, which means it is impossible to open it whilst under pressure. The vent must be opened and steam allowed to escape before the lid is opened.

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Where To Start When Choosing An Instant Pot Size

Depending upon the brand and model, a wide variety of pressure cooker sizes are available.

You can find anything from a relatively petite 3 quart model to the largest instant pot size at a whopping 14 quarts. How on earth is a person supposed to choose?

Here are 3 key considerations to help you choose the best pot capacity for your household:

1. Food Quantities and How You Cook

The first thing to take a look at is how many people you usually cook for. For these purposes, a small group is usually considered to be 1-3 people, and a large one 4 or more.

The second thing is to analyze your cooking style.

Do you like to cook every day? Do you want to have leftovers, or just enough for one meal? Have you embraced instant pot freezer meal cooking and want your freezer fully stocked?

If you like to cook small amounts more frequently, and are cooking for a small group, a smaller model is the way to go.

Unless youre cooking for just one or two and dont like leftovers, the 3-Quart size will probably still be too small for this, but a 6-Quart model could suit your needs perfectly.

Cooking for groups or batch cooking?

If youre cooking often for a bigger group, or want to cook freezer meals to stash away, youll want to go with a larger model.

Consider an 8-Quart to be the starting point for this, and if youre cooking for more than 6 people, youll certainly want to think about even larger sizes.

2. Your Pot Needs Room

3. WHAT You Cook Factors in Choosing Your Instant Pot Size

What Size Do I Need

Most Instant Pot users go with the middle size, which is a 6-quart pot. This is the most popular size for many reasons. It can easily cook a small amount or a large amount of food. Its good for making 4-8 servings.

If you are only cooking for 2 people and dont like to make leftovers, then a 3-quart Instant Pot is the best size for you. It will cook a small amount of soup enough for 2 servings, or a small roast, a few chicken breasts or thighs, pork chops, and can easily accommodate enough potatoes for mashed potatoes, while cooking 2 chicken breasts on the trivet above.

If you are cooking for 8+ people, then an 8-quart Instant Pot is the way to go. While you can still cook smaller amounts in this pot, you will have room for all the larger meals you want to make. You can cook a larger whole chicken or a small turkey in this pot. Its also great for cooking pot-in-pot.

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The Best Instant Pots Of 202: A Comprehensive Buying Guide

All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Youve heard the hype, read the articles, perused the recipes, and have come to the conclusion that you absolutely need an Instant Pot . But finding the best Instant Pot model for your unique cooking needs is a more involved task than it may seem.

Though every Instant Pot has the same basic multi-cooking functionality that made it a household favorite, some are more versatile than others. Most of the models are very similar in terms of pot size, wattage, and voltage where they differ is mostly in the softwarehow many smart programs are built in with preset heat, time, and pressure levels.

Ahead, we’ll take a close look at all of the Instant Pot models and break down the built-in smart programs, cooking functions, and more. You can read about all of Instant Pots or jump straight to a specific model if you have one in mind:

But first things first: For those new to Instant Pot, let’s break down exactly what an Instant Pot is and what it can do.

is

The short answer: The Instant Pot is a convenient multi-cooking machine that lets you cook fast or slow.

Now, let’s get into each of the Instant Pot models.

Check The Model As Some Are Only Available In 1 Size

Certain special Instant Pot models are only available in a single quart size.

For example, if you have an Instant Pot Max, Instant Pot Duo SV, or Instant Pot Smart WiFi, you own a 6 quart model. These models are exclusively offered in the 6 quart size.

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer is an 8 quart model. And this is the only Instant Pot to be offered as only at the 8 quart size.

Check the front control panel of your Instant Pot to confirm which model you own. The name should be on the upper right of the control panel on the front of your Instant Pot.

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Whats The Diameter Of Instant Pots

The inside of each pot is where the real action is going to be happening and how much can fit in it.

There are several things to think about when looking at the diameter. A frozen roast of good size isnt going to fit in the 3 qt. If Im going to be doing any freezer cooking where I place a frozen meal in the pot to cook Ill need to be sure to freeze the meal in a container that will be slightly smaller than the diameter of the pot.

Also, the pot in pot method should be considered too. The pot in pot method is cooking foods inside the pot in smaller pots, like ball jars, ramekins, or stackable pans. This method would work in all three sizes but will be limited with the smaller 3 qt.

To give a comparison of the size of each I placed this large steamer basket inside each one.

The 3 qt. has room for the steamer with the sides straight up.

The 6 qt has room for the steamer with the sides spread out about halfway.

The 8 qt. has room for the steamer to spread the sides out about 3/4 the way.

Of course, you can close the sides on the steamer and enclose what is being cooked and even layer this above another dish, but this way you can get a feel for the size difference.