Instant Pot Top Rated

Features And Cooking Performance

All Instant Pot models boast a number of preset features. The Instant Pot Duo is the most basic model, and it can act as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer. Upgraded versions like the Pro Plus and Pro Crisp include added presets like air-fry, bake, roast, dehydrate, sous vide and proof. After researching both the most valuable and most frequently used presets, I specifically chose to test the manual/pressure-cook, sauté, slow cook, rice and air-fry settings.

In the Duo Crisp and Pro Crisp machines, both of which feature air-frying capabilities, I conducted two additional tests: I cooked one 28-ounce bag of frozen french fries for 10 minutes, one 8-ounce box of chicken nuggets for 10 minutes and one 1.5-pound bag of baby yellow potatoes for 20 minutesall using the air-fry setting. My goal was to determine whether this new function could thoroughly cook and crisp all three dishes in the given time frame. Next, I switched over to the pressure-cooking and roasting functions, one after the other, to cook a whole 4-pound chicken for 40 minutes, following a recipe for Instant Pot Roast Chicken and Potatoes from Instant Pot Eats. Though its not a true air-frying recipe, the method relies on the use of the air-fryer lid during the roasting process . I checked for doneness after 40 minutes, evaluating the crispness of the skin, the meats moisture and the overall flavor.

What To Eat With Homemade Chili

Really any sort of bread will get the job done beautifully, but if you are making this in an instant pot, then you probably want dinner done in a hurry, so these 1 Hour Rolls are your answer! I often like something light and fresh with my chili like this garden balsamic avocado salad. Ive also heard that people eat cinnamon rolls with chili, and I fully endorse this! Try our Worlds Best Cinnamon Rolls!

Other Multicooker Brands To Consider

There are options from other brands, too. We reviewed a great Wi-Fi multicooker from ChefIQ, for example. 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. Ninja also makes several multicookers that have performed well in our testing. The Ninja Foodi 6.5-quart with SmartLid and is just one of several options from the brand’s expansive line.

Also Check: 10 Qt Instant Pot Air Fryer

Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart

The defining feature of the new Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart is that you can pair it with your iPhone or Android to automatically engage the cooking functions from more than 800 smart recipes on the Instant Brands Connect app. This doesnt mean you can press Start while youre at the office and come home to your Instant Pot braising ribs , but you can control almost everything through the appincluding the steam release! The Pro Plus Smart also features a premium inner pot with easy-grab handles and comes with NutriBoost, a function that mimics the motion of boiling by moving food in the pot to enhance the flavor and texture.

Year released: 2021Built-in smart programs: Access 800+ smart recipes via the appCooking functions: Pressure-cooking, rice-cooking, slow-cooking, yogurt-making, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, baking, sterilizing, and NutriBoostSizes available: 6-quart Instant Pot

Instant Pot Lux Programmable Cooker

Uses: Pressure Cooker, Pressure Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Cake Maker, and Warmer | Built-In programs: 12

The oldest and most basic of the Instant Pot models, you will be able to get this model for the cheapest price. The Instant Pot Lux is perfect for those who will primarily use it as a cooker and want to save money by foregoing unnecessary features. The Lux lacks some of the features of its successors , but is still a solid choice for handling everyday cooking needs as it comes with 12 built-in cooking programs. It is available in 3-quart, 5-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart models.

The Instant Pot Smart was released in 2018 as the company’s most high-tech pressure cooker. The Instant Pot Smart is WiFi-enabled and works with Amazon Alexa so you can control your Instant Pot with the compatible app or with your voice. You’ll get access to 1,000 pre-programmed recipes with the ability to verify cooking progress, and you can receive alerts on your smartphone.The latest Instant Pot features eight kitchen appliances in one and includes 13 smart programs. The Instant Pot only comes in one size, six-quart, and provides up to six hours of cooking time.

Also Check: How To Cook Hard Boiled Eggs In The Instant Pot

Best Smart Pressure Cooker

With its hundreds of preset programs and step-by-step interactive recipes, the Chef iQ Smart Cooker is outstandingly precise.

• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Inner pot material: Nonstick
• Settings: pressure cook, sear/saute, steam, slow cook, sterilize, keep warm, ferment, plus 300+ preset programs in its menu
• Number of included recipes: 1000+ in the Chef iQ App
• Extras: Extra sealing gasket, steam rack, steam basket, heat-resistant pad for the lid

Pros: WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, a helpful app with 1000+ interactive recipes, full-color screen with 300+ present programs, quickest to cook rice and beans, good at searing, easy to set up

Cons: Didn’t do well in our pulled pork tests

The Chef iQ Smart Cooker has the best screen and most precise cooking options of any of the tested units and was easy to set up. Whereas other models have a button for beans, the full-color screen of the Chef iQ cooker offers much more detail. It has specific programs based on bean type, whether they’re soaked, and how much you’re cooking. The customization worked well. The Smart Cooker cooked a pound of beans perfectly 13 minutes faster than any other model.

Best For Singles: Instant Pot Duo Mini 3

Amazon

With the larger sizes, buyers planning to cook primarily for themselves may wind up with more leftovers than theyd prefer. Thats why the Instant Pot 3-quart Duo Miniwhich packs all of the perks of the standard Duo into a compact packageis such a phenomenal choice for solo diners.

Since it’s less than a foot tall and weighs about 8 pounds, the small size makes it simple to store no matter what size kitchen you have. But it doesnt hold back on functions. It has all but two of the same program features as the larger Duos, and its just as easy to clean.

Price at time of publish: $83

Capacity: 3 quarts | Dimensions : 11.8 x 10.5 x 11 inches | Weight: 8.6 pounds | Programs: 11

The benefits of smart technology center around convenience. With the push of one app icon or a verbal command to Alexa or Siri, you can accomplish a wide swath of tasks. And, if you decide to purchase a smart multi-cooker like the Instant Pot Smart WiFi model, then you can add cooking a satisfying meal to the list of easy-to-complete necessities.

The Smart WiFi line is fully compatible with Alexa, which allows users to program the pot and receive progress updates via their smartphones. It also gives you access to thousands of recipes and the ability to share cooker commands with friends and family. This Instant Pot can execute all of the classic Duos functions, along with cake-making capabilities.

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How Do You Clean An Instant Pot

Cleaning an Instant Pot is easy but you should do it after each use. You’ll want to clean the base with a warm washcloth and scrub the cooking pot with soap and water. The lid, especially the underside, will also need a good washing after each use and the rubber ring can go through the dishwasher. Finally, you’ll want to wipe down the outside before putting it away. For more, see our full guide to properly cleaning your Instant Pot or multicooker.

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.

Also Check: Bowl For Instant Pot

Course Instant Pot Barbecue

The Best Rice Cooker For Control Freaks: Cuckoo Rice Cooker And Warmer

While the Hamilton Beach 34758 performed excellently in all of the tests we conducted, the Cuckoo CR-0655F rice cooker was another consistently strong performer. Given its slightly higher price point relative to the Hamilton Beach, we decided to recommend the Cuckoo only for those home cooks who are quite serious about rice. Similarly, while another rice cooker performed marginally better than the Cuckoo CR-0655F, its much higher price compelled us to recommend the Cuckoo, instead.d

Other than its good performance, the Cuckoo has a relatively small kitchen-counter footprint, an attractive exterior, and a number of different cooking presets, including one for germinated brown rice . While the control panel isn’t as intuitive as we’d like, once you get used to operating it, the Cuckoo offers up a range of customization options, including how long to soak your rice, how long to heat it, and at what temperature to cook it, which is particularly useful for cooks who regularly purchase and eat different varieties of rice, including “new crop” rice, or rice that has been harvested relatively recently.

Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Omni Air Fryer

Best Pressure Cooker Air Fryer: Ninja Foodi Ol701 Smart Xl Pressure Cooker

The new Ninja Foodi SMART XL is truly a cooking powerhouse. It can pressure cook, air fry, bake, make sous vide and more.

One of its biggest selling points is the SmartLid. Despite being both an air fryer and pressure cooker , it doesnt require two separate lids like most other models. Its just one, which you can set to one of three different modes: pressure, steamcrisp and air fry.

It can air fry and pressure cook like the best of them, but what truly sets this new Foodi model apart is the SteamCrisp mode. SteamCrisp simultaneously steams and cooks the food while essentially frying or boiling its surface. What you get is a juicy inside and a crispy outside without the risk of either drying or undercooking your food.

Theres also an included plug-in smart thermometer that allows you to set a goal temperature for your meat without the need to check it that often.

While it can seem pretty expensive at $350, the features, versatility and convenience that the new Foodi provides is unmatched. You can also often find coupons for $75 off.

If that price is still too high, you can consider these two other options: the slightly older OL601, and the smaller, OL501 6.5-quart version. These alternatives can be found for $280 or less, but they dont include the thermometer or have programmable pressure settings.

How To Use Instant Pot Safely

Dont ever put any alcohol stronger than wine in a pressure cooker. This is a safety issue. Under pressure alcohol may be turned to a vapour and escape through the steam valve, which makes it extremely flammable.

If you are not following a specific recipe, for each type of food you cook always follow the guide to which fill line to use on the cooker.You need to do this because some foods like dried beans expand as they cook and create lots of bubbles and froth which has potential to block the valve. Never go over the ½ way line for these.

Dont peer over the top of the cooker when you vent steam as it can shoot out quite fast. Also bear in mind that if the pressure rises too much the pot will vent on its own which can make you jump.

Available from:

Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Guinness Beef Stew

How We Researched & Tested

To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best products on the market in this category, evaluating their key featureslike ease of use, material, or pricein addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. Our team also incorporated their own personal experiences testing products in their own lives. We then used these insights from our research and testing to assign a star rating from one to five to certain products on the list.

Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer

The 8-quart Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer is the Duo Crisp turned up to 11. This pro model has all the same functionality of the Duo Crisp, plus an upgraded lid with advanced heat protection, auto-sealing, and gentle pressure release. The sturdier stainless-steel inner pot is made to handle anything its stovetop friendly and oven safe up to 450ºF.

Year released: 2020Built-in smart programs: 11Cooking functions: Pressure-cooking, slow-cooking, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, air-frying, roasting, baking, broiling, and dehydratingSizes available: 8-quart Instant Pot

Recommended Reading: How To Make Bread In Instant Pot

Most Popular Instant Pot Recipes

Well begin by introducing you to the top pressure cooker recipes weve tried or seen around since the Instant Pot came on the market. These were selected based on their popularity on social media, blog comments, shares, level of drool-worthiness, and our personal experience. Some of these are super easy, while others might require a handful of speciality ingredients. Its a mixed bag, really, in no particular order.

Test : Winnowing The Field

The first round of tests involved cooking medium-grain white Japanese rice, medium-grain brown Japanese rice, and basmati rice in each of the cookers, in varying quantities, in six different rice cookers. The results of this round left us with three rice cookers that were clearly head and shoulders above the others: the Zojirushi NP HCC10, the Cuckoo CR-0655F, and the Hamilton Beach 37548.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Read Also: How To Make Ribs In Instant Pot

Who This Is For

If youre a set-it-and-forget-it type of cook who needs to get dinner on the table with minimal effort, an electric pressure cooker may become your new favorite cooking tool. Making meals can be stressful and time-consuming, but an electric pressure cooker can do a lot of the work for you. As with a slow cooker, you add your ingredients to a pressure cooker, seal the lid, turn it on, and walk away. But instead of leaving it to simmer all day, you can cook dinner in an electric pressure cooker in under an hour . Pressure cookers speed up traditional braising, stewing, boiling, and steaming methods by trapping steam inside the pot. As pressure increases, it heats the moisture in the pot beyond the boiling temperature , so it can cook foods more quickly.

• After cooking many pounds of brisket, rice, and beans in six pressure cookers, we think the Fissler Vitaquick 8.5-Quart Pressure Cooker is the best you can get.

Some Alternatives To The Duo Crisp

We think you should get the Duo Crisp only if youre set on using both the pressure-cooker and air-fryer functions to make one-pot meals. If you want one function or the other, here are our alternative recommendations:

• To crisp up foods quickly, use a convection toaster oven, which will give you better results than an air fryer. We recommend the Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven. We tested it against a number of different air fryers and found that the toaster oven yielded crunchier, more evenly baked finger foods. Toaster ovens are also more versatile: A toaster oven fits larger batches and works better for tasks like toasting bread, making a cake or pizza, or even cooking a whole chicken. You can, of course, also use a regular oven for any of these tasks it will just take a little longer.

• We recommend the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo if you just want a pressure cooker. Preset cooking programs make the Duo easier to use than the Duo Crisp, and the 6-quart version is a more reasonable size for most kitchens. You can also use this pot as a slow cooker, a rice cooker, or even a yogurt maker.

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How To Choose The Best Instant Pot 8 Quart

The Instant Pot is one of the most popular kitchen appliances on the market today. It’s a Pressure Cooker, Slow cooker, Rice cooker, Steamer, and more all in one pot. It can be used to cook a variety of food items from meat to vegetables to desserts. So, if you’re in the market for an Instant Pot, how do you choose which one is right for you? Here are some things to consider:

1. Size:

The Instant Pot comes in a variety of sizes, from 3 quarts to 8 quarts. If you have a large family or entertain often, you’ll want to choose a larger size. If you have a small family or are cooking for one or two people, a smaller size will suffice.

2. Features:

The Instant Pot has a variety of features, including a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and more. decide which features are most important to you and make sure the Instant Pot you choose has those features.

3. Price:

The Instant Pot ranges in price from around $60 to $200. Choose the Instant Pot that fits your budget and has the features you’re looking for.