How Many Quarts Is My Instant Pot

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Which Model Of Instant Pot Should You Buy

How to use the Instant Pot Ultra (3 quart)

Im just going to give you a quick overview of the models and options. No need to spend a ton of time on that, since right on the Instant Pot website theres a terrific Instant Pot comparison chart that maps out all the models, functions, features, and sizes.

Basically, there are six main models : The Lux, Duo, Duo Plus, Ultra, Smart, and Max. Falling somewhere in between these main models are the quasi-hybrid Nova Plus and Viva models that are basically a slightly different cocktail of features launched exclusively in partnership with Costco and QVC, respectively.

Each newer or more advanced Instant Pot model is targeted at offering some additional functionality, enhanced levels of control, or changes in the display screens and user interface. Obviously, the main question youve gotta sort out here is whether each of those changes and additions is truly important to you and actually worth the additional money, depending on the type of cooking you plan to do and how much complexity you really need to have to accomplish that.

Is A 6 Quart Instant Pot Too Big For My Family

It is a common question and I understand the concern.

But remember this when cooking in an Instant Pot or any pressure cooker, for that matter, you only really fill it about 2/3 of the way full.

You need to leave space for the pressure to build up and the boiling of the liquid or whatever else you might be making.

So, 2/3 of 6 quarts is 4 quarts which is equivalent to one gallon.

If you are worried that a 6 quart Instant Pot will be too big, then remember that you can always make less food in a larger size Instant Pot you don’t have to fill it up.

Do I Need To Adjust Recipes For The 8 Quart Instant Pot

Most recipes I have found online are written for the 6 Quart Instant Pot. I was really worried about adjusting this to my 8 Quart pot until I actually tried it.

I have found the one and only adjustment I have had to make to a recipe is making sure I have enough water in my Instant Pot when using it for pressure cooking.

The 8 Quart needs about 1 and a half cups of water in it, and I usually add more to be safe.

The water requirements can be found in the manual that comes with it.

Other than that I have not found a need to adjust recipes based on using an 8 Quart Instant Pot versus 6 Quart.

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How Much Water Do I Need To Add To My Instant Pot

We all know that different sizes of pots need different amounts of water in order to cook food properly. After all, theyre using steam and pressure to cook things quickly. Here are the breakdowns of water needed in order for each size pot to function correctly.

  • The 8 Quart Models need 2.5-3 cups of liquid
  • The 6 Quart Models need 1.5-2 cups of liquid
  • The 3 Quart Models need .75-1 cup of liquid
  • these numbers came from the Instant Pot website. The numbers have changed over the years and as of 8/2021 they are what I can find directly from Instant Pot.

Ive mentioned it before and Ill mention it again, your Instant Pot is going to be at least a tiny bit different from every other one out there. Do your own test to see how much water your pot needs in order to come to pressure and hold for 5 minutes. Use the amounts above as a general guideline.

What Size Instant Pot Do I Need

First Look at the 8

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What Size Instant Pot Do I Need? Today we are talking all about the instant pot pressure cooker, what are the sizes of instant pot and exactly which instant pot we recommend and why.

This recommended instant pot size guide is also featured in the Magic With Gadgets Podcast. Simply search for Magic With Gadgets on your preferred podcast player, then scroll to episode 12 of season 2 to access this awesome episode.

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An Overview On Instant Pots Nova

Instant Pots are currently all the rage in the world of home cooking. However, there are many models to choose from, each with a number of unique features, and each model also comes in multiple sizes, so it can be hard to know which model to pick.

These multi-cooking machines are a great way to downsize if you have several different appliances crowding your kitchen. For most people, the Instant Pot can easily replace the pressure cooker and slow cooker because it can do both those jobs. Its also excellent for other things, like steaming, roasting and sautéing.

There are several different Instant Pot models available. One of the most popular is the Instant Pot Duo Nova. This model is ideal for beginners because its simple to use, especially if youre new to the world of Instant Pots. The Duo Nova model combines seven different appliance functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer and yogurt maker.

Plus, it has an easy-seal lid and an LED display panel. It also has a cooking progress indicator so you have an idea of when your meal will be ready. One of the main reasons this model is best for beginners is because it has so many safety features. You can just turn on the setting you need and go about your other tasks without having to constantly check on it or fiddle with it. Plus, cleanup is a breeze because the cooking pot is dishwasher-safe and highly durable.

Are Larger Crock Pots More Expensive

Itâs easy to see why people may shy away from larger slow cookers believing them to be more expensive than the smaller ones. This may not necessarily be true as the prices range from $35 to $100 or more for premium models.

Some smaller sizes cost more than their larger counterparts so itâs not a case of size alone. Other factors contribute to pricing. Some brands target high-end markets which means their products cost more.

As we mentioned earlier, oval-shaped crockpots cost more than round ones due to their versatility.

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Is An Instant Pot The Same As A Slow Cooker

Go through several âbest rated slow cookerâ review articles and youâll see an Instant Pot included. Are they the same?

An instant pot cooks faster because of the controlled pressure within the pot. According to their website, using an instant pot can speed up your cooking by two to six times. Pretty cool, if youâre in a hurry.

Slow cookers on the hand, can be programmed to cook from 30 to 20 hours. Youâll throw in all your ingredients in the morning and dinner will be perfectly done as you go about your other business.

âIf youre cooking a meat or soup recipe in the Crock-Pot and it calls for an 8-hour cook time on low, then the same recipe will only cook for 25 to 30 minutes in the Instant Potâ

Many food bloggers rave about instant pots while others use it with caution particularly when it comes to the slow cooking options. They would rather use their good old crockpots for the job.

In the end, crockpots and instants pot are good to have and each offers you the opportunity to whip up healthy meals without spending too much time in the kitchen. Comfort foods in winter and tasty delights in the summer, so why not make room for both!

Did You Know We Have A Podcast

NEW 2019 INSTANT POT DUO NOVA 10 QUART vs INSTANT POT DUO

We started the Magic With Gadgets podcast in the January of 2021 as a way to offer a different way to enjoy Recipe This. It focuses on cooking with kitchen gadgets. You can find out more about our podcast here.

With twice weekly episodes through September to December. This is episode 12 of the second season and you have the choice between reading this post, listening to the podcast or both.

If you would like to stay in the loop with our podcast, I recommend you subscribe below:

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Qt Or 8 Qt Which One Should I Get

This will depend on a few things such as the number of people in your house or how many people you plan to cook for regularly. While both the 6-quarts and 8-quart sizes are strong candidates, you will also need to consider what you will be cooking. Here is a list of things you should consider:

How many people will be eating?

Will you be doing batch cooking?

What type of recipes you will be making?

Do you want leftovers for the next day?

To sum up, if you have a large family of 4-6 people then a 6-quart Instant Pot should be enough for you. However, if you need to have some extra space for special recipes that take up more room or you frequently have guests visiting you then you may opt for the 8-quart size.

The 8-quart may also come in handy for those who prefer to do a large batch of cooking on Sunday so that they can freeze the food and eat it throughout the week. It also works for large quantities of chicken stock or soup that can be eaten slowly.

About The Instant Pot Duo60 6 Quart

This multi-cooker the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 is an electric pressure cooker that was designed in Canada. The main aims of the design process were to present a Convenient and Dependable cooker that must be safe as well.

Appliances that this multi-cooker replaces in your kitchen are:

This 6 quart Instant Pot replaces 7 Common Kitchen Appliances in one pot

  • Pressure Cooker
  • Fry Pan
  • Yogurt Maker

The result when using the different functions of the multi-cooker is the same as your traditional appliances, just in one place.

Easy one-touch controls select your dish and press the button to get started.

This cooker using 70% less energy than traditional cookers and your food is prepared 2 to 6 times faster.

The exterior body of this instant pot comprises a brushed stainless steel exterior which is also fingerprint-resistant. There are also lid holders for left and right-handed chefs. The Instant Pot traps all the goodness inside the appliance without heating up your kitchen. It does not leak steam or make any noises while in operation.

To maximize the performance of this multi-cooker the manufacturer advises that you should only use genuine Instant Pot accessories. These also assist you in protecting your multi-cooker from damage.

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What Is The Biggest Crock Pot Size

If youâre entertaining a large crew, youâll be looking for a super large slow cooker. So, what is the biggest crockpot size on the market? These massive appliances range between 8 quarts and 10 quarts.

You can easily fit huge chunks of meat, think 12lb roast, whole chicken or 10 lb turkey. They are ideal for feeding crowds which is pretty cool if you want to serve delicious homemade meals without breaking the bank.

Some of the best large crock pots available include:

  • Hamilton Beach extra large slow cooker with 10-quart capacity. You can find more details here.
  • Crock-Pot oval 8-quart manual slow cooker. View more details here.
  • Digital programmable Elite Platinum slow cooker by Maxi-Matic. Read more about this 8.5-quart crockpot here.
  • Presto Nomad 8-quart slow cooker ideal for travel. Learn more about this on the road crockpot here.

Thats Good To Know But Does The Instant Pot Size Affect Cooking Time

What Size Instant Pot Should You Get?

For the 3 and 6-quart sizes, a good rule-of-thumb is to always have at least one cup of water or thin liquid in with what youre cooking. The 8-quart, since its larger, should have at least two cups of thin liquid with whatever youre cooking.

Its always important to note that you need a thin liquid with whatever you plan to cook in the Instant Pot. This is because you need steam to create pressure, and the only way to get that is to have a thin liquid.

Some ingredients release their own thin liquid as they cook, so you may not need as much. Think of chicken and certain vegetables, like cabbage or onion. On average, for a 6-quart to come to pressure , it can take up to 20-30 minutes, depending on how much liquid is in the pot.

If theres a lot of liquid, such as with soup, it will take longer to come to pressure. This also applies to the 8-quartsince its larger and needs more liquid, it takes a bit longer to get to pressure than the smaller versions.

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If I Already Have A Slow Cooker And A Rice Cooker Do I Really Need Another Appliance

Well, we cant dictate what you need. However, the Instant Pot is more functional than both a slow cooker and rice cooker combined because it can also pressure-cook. The word instant in the name gives it away: You can cook things astonishingly fast in a pressure cookereven notoriously slow-cooking or labor-intensive foods like risotto and brisket.

We think rice cooked in the Instant Pot is fine for most people, though the grains dont come out as fluffy and light as they do from a high-end rice cooker like our upgrade pick, the Cuckoo CRP-G1015F. Rice aficionados might want to keep their rice cooker, especially for cooking sushi-grade grains.

If youre worried about clutter, you can donate your old appliances to a charity, or hand them off to someone in your life whos just starting out. Were sure theyd appreciate them.

How Is An Instant Pot Different From A Pressure Cooker

Mainly it comes down to safety, ease of use, and versatility. While a regular pressure cooker possesses all of these qualities to a degree, Instant Pots are much safer, easier to use, and capable of much more than your average pressure cooker.

All Instant Pot models, even the more basic models, have several safety features in place. The available programs make using the machine as easy as pressing a button for many items. And Instant Pots do much more than just pressure cook.

Even the most basic Instant Pot Duo offers several different functions including pressure cooking and slow cooking.

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Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes For Two

Making up a main dish in the oven? Whether its steak or meatloaf, these mashed potatoes are an undeniably delicious and comforting side dish. We all know they taste the best fresh from the pot anyway, so dont worry about using up leftovers with this recipe for the 3-quart pot. Recipe from Dessert for Two.

What Size Instant Pot Is Right For You

Unboxing Instant Pot 8 Quart Brand New Version 2. IP-DUO80 V2.

Best Answer: The most popular size, the 6-quart, is typically big enough for most people. Instant Pot has several different variants of their pressure cookers, but 6-quart is the default size for the LUX, DUO, DUO-Plus, Smart Bluetooth, Ultra, and Max versions. If you’re in doubt of what Instant Pot size to get, the 6-quart is usually the safest bet for the average person, and it can feed up to four people with leftovers.

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No Recipe Is Truly Instant

Pressure has to build inside before the appliance actually starts cooking, and then the pressure has to come back down once the set cooking time has ended.

This means that when a recipe says to cook for 20 minutes, you have to add time before AND after to allow for this. The amount of time depends on how full the Instant Pot is.

The Smart Bluetooth Model

Truly the Cadillac version of the Instant Pots. If you love technology, boy you will be in heaven with this model. It offers all your awesome cook options and has 14 smart programs for you to choose from. It is a Bluetooth model so you can sync to your phone to watch the progress of your meal cooking away while you are off in another room folding laundry, working, or relaxing.

It is really neat, and if you love having the option to monitor food easily while in a different room, this is the option for you.

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How To Know What Size Instant Pot To Buy

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Have you been considering buying an Instant Pot? The fact that you can put the food in, close the lid, push a couple of buttons, and then walk away, even out of the kitchen makes this a must-have appliance in todays kitchen. Its just so easy to use. But what size Instant Pot should you get?

Maybe you already own one and youre thinking of buying another one and youre not sure which size you should get. Well, I took the three main sizes of Instant Pots 8 qt., 6 qt., and 3 qt. and compared them to help you have a better idea of which one is right for you?

Diameters Of The Inner Instant Pot Liners:

Instant Pot
  • 8 Quart Models have an inner pot diameter of 9.25 Inches
  • 6 Quart Models have an inner pot diameter of 8.5 Inches
  • 3 Quart Models have an inner pot diameter of 7 Inches

For those of you who like to use all the Instant Pot accessories that can make cooking fun and exciting, these measurements come in handy for determining if certain accessories will work in your pot. Its also great to know for sizing batches of whatever meals you are cooking or baking.

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