Instant Pot Different Sizes

How Can I Tell If My Instant Pot Is 6 Or 8 Quart

Some people purchase an Instant Pot or are gifted one and forget to check the box. Maybe you are not sure what size you even have.

The easiest way to tell is by looking at the physical size of the pot.

The 6 Quart Instant Pot is 14x12x13 inches according to the chart above. The 8 Quart Instant Pot is 15x14x15.

Best Air Fryer: Instant Pot Duo : Nova 7

The best thing about the Instant Pot Duo _Nova 7-in-l_ is that it can do many things. When you first open the box, you will notice that it is quite big. It has a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a yogurt maker, a sauté pan, a portion of food warmer, and more.

If you are wondering how to use the Instant Pot Duo _Nova 7-in-l_, you are lucky. You just have to press the button and then start cooking. This is how you use this device. You should know that you need to have the instructions handy while you are using this device.

Brand Instant Pot

Closure Type Outer Lid, Inner Lid

Wattage 1000 watts

Product Dimensions 12.2D x 13.38W x 12.48H

What Are The Instant Pot Size Differences

The 2 main size options for the Instant Pot brand of electric pressure cooker are 6 Qt. and 8 Qt. There are other brands with different options, but the most typical are 6 qt. and 8 qt.

The 6 Qt. can easily hold a whole chicken, cook a pound of dried beans, hard boil 9-10 eggs, and cook 8 chicken breasts for shredded chicken.

The 8 Qt. is slightly larger and can cook more of all of the items listed above.

See recommendations below based on family size.

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Cleanup: Size Does Matter

Another factor to consider is cleanup. While most of the inner cooking pots used in these instant pots are dishwasher safe, depending upon the layout of your dishwasher, anything over a 6 or 8 quart may not fit.

Hand washing the pots usually isnt terribly difficult, but do take a look at the size of your sink and think about whether you feel up to wrangling a wet and soapy 14 quart pot and getting it rinsed thoroughly on a regular basis.

If you dont want to deal with washing a larger pot, but still want to be able to cook larger quantities, you might consider buying two smaller cookers.

For instance, if you got both a 6 and an 8 quart, youd have the option to cook 14 quarts at once, divided between the two pots.

Better yet, youd also have the option to cook two different things at once.

This might sound excessive now, but once you start using your new cooker and loving how easily you can make things you couldnt before, you might very well find yourself wanting a second one!

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.

Recommended Reading: How To Make Chicken And Dumplings In The Instant Pot

Which Instant Pot Do You Recommend

If youre deciding between the 6-quart and the 8-quart, there are several things to consider. For one, you can use the 6-quart and still have room for a large amount of ingredients. The 8-quart is quite a bit bigger than the 6-quart, and can hold a lot of food at once. But, it also comes with some drawbacks. For one, it takes up more space in your kitchen. The 8-quart is about 15 inches high, but the 6-quart is around 12 inches high. This means you may have to make some adjustments to your kitchen, or have a larger countertop in your kitchen. Another issue with the 8-quart is the venting. When you cook in the 8-quart, there are a few vents on the bottom to allow air to escape. If youre cooking a large amount of food, you can easily overheat the entire pot. The 6-quart has fewer vents, which means less air can escape. Additionally, it may take more time to come to a boil on the 6-quart, since there are fewer vents. Both the 6-quart and the 8-quart are amazing appliances, and are worth checking out. When youre buying one, youll want to make sure that you take these factors into account.

So How Many Quarts Is Your Instant Pot

If you dont know how many quarts is your Instant Pot, there are a few ways to check. Certain models are only available in a single size . Or you could measure the width of your Instant Pot and check against the dimensions. Otherwise, check the sticker on the back of your Instant Pot and it mentions the volume.

Do what size Instant Pot do you own? And is that enough for you or are you thinking you want to buy a different sized electric pressure cooker?

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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.

Instant Pot Ultra 10 In 1

The Ultra is the latest and greatest model from the Instant Pot Family, featuring 10 appliances in 1!

It comes in 3 sizes s you can choose from 3, 6 and 8 quarts as well.

Just like the 9 in 1 model it can be used as a Pressure Cooker, Saute, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Warmer, Yogurt Maker, and it also includes the Egg/Cake modes and the Sterilize function.

But thats not all! this series includes the revolutionary ULTRA function that improves all the functions giving you the ability to pre-program the cooker with different cooking times and different temperatures, and also you can choose between two types of pressure.

In case you want to know more about it you can check

Or read OurFull Review>

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What Happens If You Fill An Instant Pot Too Full

One vital thing to remember when it comes to Instant Pots is to never fill them too full. The maximum fill line is there for good reason, so ignore it at your peril!

If an Instant Pot is overfilled it may result in food that is unevenly cooked. This is at best annoying, and at worst could result in food that is unappetizing and even potentially inedible.

Another problem caused by overfilling an Instant Pot is overspill. These may be liquids that splatter over the edge of the pot, creating a mess and potential burns.

Overfilling with rice or other expanding foods may cause them to become welded to the lid, and they will also not cook through properly.

How Many Different Instant Pot Sizes Are There

You can buy a 3 quart, 5 quarts, 6 quarts, or 8-quart size. Most of the time people are reaching for the 6 or 8 quarts if they have a family to cook for. This is for the Instant Pot brand, now granted other brands will offer different sizing options if you prefer.

Generally, you will want a 6 or 8 quart if you are cooking for a family. I have made many kid friendly Instant Pot recipes with my 6-quart DUO. The 3 quart is more for hard boiled eggs, sides or for one person based on how much it can hold size wise.

Either the 6 or 8 both can fit roasts, whole chickens, and more inside, and both are great sizes. You can even make even make an Instant Pot turkey dinner right in one pot!

There are a variety of models as well you will need to weigh in on.

My advice is on what size to buy, choose one with a higher volume capacity than what you might think you will need. I say this because you wont regret having a larger Instant Pot, but you would regret if you wish you bought a bigger size. You have to remember there is a max fill line that doesnt go all the way to the top of the pot. Just because it is 6 quarts doesnt mean you can utilize the entire 6-quart space.

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What Size Instant Pot To Get

While think about buy an Instant Pot, there is a question everyone ask to self what size Instant Pot do i need?. Finding the best model for your needs is a more involved task than it may seem.

If youre wondering about what size Instant Pot do you need to get, we hope that this article will be beneficial for you to answer the questions on your mind.

Currently, there are 4 sizes available: 3 Quart, 6 Quart, 8 Quart and 10 Quart.

• 3 quart Instant Pots are just under 12 inches wide.
• 6 Quart Instant Pots has 5.68 liters capacity and about 13 inches across.
• 8 Quart Instant Pots has 7.57 liters capacity and about a little more than 14 inches wide.
• 10 Quart Instant Pots are just under 17 inches wide.

There are a few differences between sizes of Instant Pot models. Some of the cooking differences are time to come to pressure, release time, water needed, and wattage. Instant Pot recipes on the internet usually built for the 6 Quart model unless its noted otherwise. That means, you have to adjust cooking times and the amount of liquid if you will have the other sized models.

As we mentioned before on our What is Instant Pot? namely article

Before you purchase an Instant Pot pressure cooker, consider your specific needs and the average serving sizes youll be cooking. Families of four require at least a 6 Quart, while larger families will probably prefer 8 Quarts. Additionally, 3 Quart is usually the best option for one or two people or for preparing side dishes.

Take Out A Tape Measure And Check The Dimensions

If youre up for a little more work, then pull out a tape measure and check the actual dimensions of your Instant Pot.

Simply measure across the top of your Instant Pot from handle-to-handle:

• 3 quart Instant Pots are just under 12 inches wide.
• 6 Quart Instant Pots are about 13 inches across
• 8 Quart Instant Pots are a little more than 14 inches wide
• 10 Quart Instant Pots are just under 17 inches wide.

If you have an older model Instant Pot, its possible you have a 5 quart electric pressure cooker. It was originally available as a Lux or Duo.

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Instant Pot Max / Ultra

Sizes: 6 quart

Functions: In addition to the regular Instant Pot functions, the Max has a function for sous vide cooking and pressure canning. However, I have read some worrisome reviews that claim that the Max may not reach temperatures high enough to destroy potentially harmful bacteria during pressure canning.

• The Max is the most expensive Instant Pot.
• The Max is heavier than the Duo and Ultra by 2 pounds.
• It has a sleek design and an LCD display with a touch screen.
• You can control the steam venting using the touch screen, and even program the steam release before you start the cooking cycle.
• The Max has a higher wattage and can therefore achieve higher pressure . This does not mean that it can reach pressure faster, though. The higher pressure may affect the cook times, meaning that you might not be able to use the same cook times given for recipes tested in the most common Instant Pot, the Duo.
• It has a feature called NutriBoost, which is essentially a self-stirring function to help with even cooking when cooking broth, rice and beans.
• The Max has a bigger learning curve, so it may not be ideal for beginners to Instant Pot cooking.

Are Instant Pots Safe

One of the main reasons people are often on the fence about purchasing an Instant Pot or an electric pressure cooker in general is safety. Stovetop pressure cookers got a bad reputation because their lids were relatively easy to remove before the pressure was released, which ran the risk of burns and messes, experts told us. electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot are incredibly safe compared to stovetop pressure cookers, Weinstein said. And even are much safer than they used to be.

Weinstein also noted that Instant Pots and similar electric pressure cookers are designed with safety mechanisms so theyll shut down if something goes wrong. One of those safety mechanisms is a burn notice thats triggered if the Instant Pot overheats and food begins to burn the appliance shuts off completely in this case.

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Do Different Sizes Of Instant Pots Cook Differently

Im sticking by my statement that each Instant Pot is different. This is so true when you hear people talk about how long they cook their hard boiled eggs.

In addition to each pot being different, everyone has preferences about their hard boiled eggs, and how old your eggs are makes a difference too. There are a lot of cooking variables to consider.

With regard to noodles, I have realized that I like my noodles overcooked a little rather than undercooked. After making a few recipes in my IP, I know that if I am cooking a dish with noodles Ill always add a minute.

You can make changes to recipes you find online to get the best possible results when you make them at home. Like I said, every Instant Pot is different. It is always going to take some trial and error to figure out how your own pot differs from others, and understand what your cooking preferences are.

These tips and tricks will show you some common Instant Pot cooking differences and how to adjust your timing, pressures, and liquid in order to avoid a flop!

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

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Instant Pot Duo Nova Dimensions

The Instant Pot Duo Nova is the newest model released in August 2019. The dimensions for this model are comparable to its electric pressure cooker siblings. The weights are as noted on Amazon, but will likely be updated as I think they include the shipping materials, not just the appliance itself.

Lets take a closer look at the Instant Pot Duo Nova dimensions for each quart size. The 3 quarts, 6 quarts, 8 quarts, and 10 quarts are available models.

* The Instant Pot Nova Plus, not to be confused with the Duo Nova Plus, was previously a Costco exclusive model thats no longer available.

** The height of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer comes with two lids to accommodate both cooking methods. The Air Fryer lid adds about 1 inch of the overall height of this model.

Is There A 10 Quart Instant Pot

The 10 quart Duo Nova was discontinued. It was released in early September 2019 and was the only model available at that size. It was difficult to find online because it was not listed with the rest of the series on Amazon originally.

You may still be able to find a 10 quart Instant Pot online or at your local stores, but the inventory is likely limited.

If you need an electric pressure cooker larger than 8 quarts youll need to look at other brands. You may also want to consider contacting the company to let them know you would buy a larger Instant Pot. With enough feedback maybe theyll consider making another 10 quart model.

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