Flaws But Not Dealbreakers
A few of the Instant Pots parts require extra effort to cleanbut this goes for every Instant Pot model, not just the Duo. The depression around the rim of the outer pot traps salt, crumbs, and gunk, but we clear it out with canned air and a damp rag. Though the lids silicone sealing ring can also retain smells, you can deodorize it or buy extras .
None of the pressure cookers we tested, including the Duo, cook rice as well as the Cuckoo CRP-G1015F electric pressure rice cooker . But the Duo is more all-purpose than a dedicated rice cooker, and it still makes fine rice that wed be happy to eat.
Weve never experienced an accident with hot steam on the Duo, and we think the new pressure-release switch is even safer to use. But you should still keep your face and hands away from the valve.
The electric heating element in the Instant Pot cant sear meat as well as stove-top techniques . For intense browning, sear meat in a separate pan on the stove, deglaze, and add the meat and drippings to the electric cooker. This process may kill your one-pot-dinner fantasies, but sometimes life is a compromise. If youre looking for more versatility, our upgrade picks inner pot is designed to work on most cooktops.
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.
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
Read Also: Does Instant Pot Air Fry
Can You Use A Pressure Cooker For Canning
Large pressure canners can often be used for cooking giant batches, but smaller and electric pressure cookers dont meet the standards for safe canning. Regardless of a manufacturers advertising, Utah State University researchers have found pressure canner size and type matter. The National Center for Home Food Preservation only recommends pressure canning in stovetop pressure canners that hold at least four upright quart-size jars on a rack, can be vented before pressurizing, and have a way to monitor the pressure throughout the canning process.
Recommended Reading: What I Can Cook In Air Fryer
What Is The Best Model Of Instant Pot To Buy
After weeks of rigorous testing, I determined that the best Instant Pots on the market include three models. The Instant Pot Pro Plus 6-Quart Smart Multi-Cooker is the best overall option for most buyers: Its reliability, app-enabled perks and safety features are all must-haves. But for those with a few more dollars to spend, be sure to check out the Instant Pot Pro Crisp And Air Fryer 8-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker And Air Fryer. This upgraded pick offers air-frying capabilities . Finally, if youd prefer something with fewer bells and whistles or are on a budget, I suggest the original Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5. Its a solid option under $100, and its also nice for anyone short on space: Theres a smaller 3-quart size available.
Don’t Miss: Instant Pot Recipes To Lower Cholesterol
What About Other Instant Pot Models
Instant Pot has released many new models of electric pressure cookers since we first started testing them, and in 2021 the company reduced its lineup to five core Instant Pots. Figuring out exactly what youre giving up or getting from one to the next can be tricky. To help, Instant Pot has a comparison chart that you can reference. In general, however, if you can find another model on sale for a better deal than whichever of our picks is nearest in price, we think most of them will serve you well.
We understand that there are some cases where folks are looking for their Instant Pot to truly do everything . Thats when we get asked about the air-frying lid that you can purchase separately for a Duo or Duo Pluswhich features a heating element and a fan to convection-bake foodsor other Instant Pot models like the Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp, both of which come with an additional air-fryer lid. We have not tested the current version of the air-fryer lid sold separately, but we have tested the Duo Crisp, and we say more about it in the Competition section below. In general, they work okay, and they might be worth considering if youre committed to baking or browning foods directly in your Instant Pot. But they can also be larger and more expensive than our main pressure cooker picks, and they dont work as well as appliances dedicated to convection cooking.
Angela’s Tips & Recipe Notes
- All cooking methods should have an internal temperature of 145°F as read by a meat thermometer at the thickest portion of the baked corned beef as suggested by USDA food safety guidelines.
- Allow the pressure cooker corned beef to rest for 15-20 minutes before slicing. It will slice easier once rested and the juices will remain in the meat rather than running all over your cutting board.
- Perfectly cooked corned beef is tender and will melt in your mouth, not fall apart on your plate. Corned beef that is too tender won’t slice well for sandwiches .
You May Like: How To Cook Short Ribs In Instant Pot
What Are The Advantages Of A Pressure Cooker Vs Slow Cooker
A pressure cooker is amazing for cooking food quickly. Pressure cookers can be manual or electric models. A pressure cooker cooks food in a sealed pot that contains liquid. When you heat the pot, it allows steam and pressure to build within the sealed pot.
This increases the temperature rapidly to a higher temperature that allows the food to cook faster. Another advantage of a pressure cooker is that it keeps food moist and makes it tender quickly. Electric pressure cookers have safety seals so that the pressure cant be accidentally released.
One downside of pressure cooking is that once started, you cant open the lid without releasing the pressure and having to start over. But the upside is unlike a slow cooker, you can come home from work and have dinner on the table in a short period of time.
Try our amazing Pressure Cooker Pot Roast. This comfort meal is made for you in no time.
Donât Miss: Philips Avance Xl Air Fryer
Upgrade Pick: Instant Pot Pro 6
*At the time of publishing, the price was $130.
In 2021, Instant Pot released the Instant Pot Pro 6-Quart, which has some great features that make it a meaningful upgrade over the Duo, namely handles on the inner cooking pot, a large LCD, customizable and savable cooking presets, more temperature levels for sautéing, a sous vide function, and a diffuser cap that makes the steam release just a bit gentler . The Pro also comes with an extra silicone sealing ring for the lid and works with Instant Pots QuickCool Tray if you want to depressurize foods faster before serving. Of Instant Pots costlier models, the Pro and its features are most worth the jump in price, especially if you plan to use your multi-cooker frequently. Instant Pots midlevel offering, the Duo Plus, usually costs about $20 less than the Pro at this writing, but the Duo Pluss features are less impressive.
Instant Pot has also made some design upgrades that improve the usability of the Pro over that of the Duo and Duo Plus. One improvement that stands out is that the handles on the inner cooking pot stay cool, which lets you easily remove the pot even when its hot. These handles also act as anchors that lock the pot into place so that it doesnt whirl around when you stira common gripe we had while testing other Instant Pot models .
You May Like: Best Air Fryer Instant Pot
Instant Pot Or Pressure Cooker
Instant pots are pressure cookers, but pressure cookers aren’t instant pots. You see, it’s more of a “all squares are rectangles” situation. An instant pot is the swiss army knife of pressure cookers. It slow cooks, pressure cooks, steams rice, and can make yogurt too. Unlike an instant pot, pressure cookers can ONLY pressure cook.
There’s some brilliant magic to the whole thing too. Usually you have to babysit the stove, but the instant pot is designed to jive with the 9-5 lifestyle . Because of its versatile nature it can be hard to imagine what it can cook.
Just about anything. Seriously! It defrosts meat or other frozen food. If you mix in the ingredients, you can make just about any meal. Set it and forget it is methodology of an instant pot. Pulled pork is a cinch. Interested in black bean soup? It can do that too. Chicken adobo is a no brainer. And for the holidays, you can even make delicious mulled wine.
Best Budget Stovetop Pressure Cooker: T
The T-fal Clipso is a breeze to use. In our tests, the Clipso pressurized very quickly. As with all stovetop models, you bring up the heat to your desired setting, and once steam begins to release through the valve, its time to reduce the heat and set your timer. We quickly found the sweet spot and noted that the pot held its pressure nicely throughout the cooking time, with little need for turning the heat up or down.
Like the electric pressure cookers, all the stovetop models performed well in our recipe tests, although some earned more points for better consistency, texture and faster cook time. So while the Kuhn Rikon beat out the T-fal when it came to making beans, risotto and stew, for about $155 less, the T-fal still did an admirable job.
The model comes with a steam basket and tripod and is dishwasher safe when you remove the gasket and pressure valve. It comes with a 10-year warranty against defects or premature deterioration and, for other parts, a one-year warranty is included. And we appreciate the side handles on the pot that allow for easy maneuvering. But what sets the T-fal apart from other models is its unique lid. Designed for one-hand use, the lid clamps down on the pot with jaws that lock into place with the press of a button. Once youre done cooking and the pressure is released , the lid opens by pressing the top of a large knob. As a safety feature, the lid will not open until all pressure is released.
Read Also: How To Set High Pressure On Instant Pot
Best Instant Pot : Our Top 6 Multi
Find the best Instant Pot for your kitchen, with the help of our reviews of the Duo, Pro, Crisp, and even a few alternatives from Ninja
Choosing the best Instant Pot can be overwhelming. After all, its an expansive line, with a range of functions and capacities to choose between. That includes the Duo, Pro, and Crisp lines, all of which have various differences that will make them more suited to some users than others. So, which is the best Instant Pot for you?
Weve been busy reviewing all the best Instant Pots over the past few months to bring you our top picks, and weve also included a few alternatives from Ninja, which have in-built crisper lids as well as pressure cooking functions. A lot of Instant Pots come with crisper lids too, meaning they will double up as the best air fryers, as well as steaming or pressure cooking any food you could hope to make.
One of the major perks of owning an Instant Pot this time of year is the sealed-in, compact design. On a hot day, the last thing you want to do is pour over a hot stove, but the best Instant Pot will do all the cooking for you, and it will prevent your kitchen from overheating while it works. And when your meals are done, you can expect to put all removable parts in the dishwasher to take all the effort out of mealtimes. For our top picks of the six best Instant Pots, keep on reading.
Read Also: Nuwave Oven Vs Air Fryer
Overview Of A Pressure Cooker
A pressure cooker is a sealed pot with a weighted valve and a regulator. When its heated, the trapped steam builds pressure. This increases the boiling point of the water, which in turn cooks the food faster.
Some people use the terms pressure cooker and instant pot interchangeably, but there is a key difference: An instant pot has a programmable timer and multiple functions, such as slow cooking and sauteing. A pressure cooker doesnt have those features.
Don’t Miss: Instant Pot With Temperature Control
Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot: Which Is Healthier
It all depends on what youre cooking and the ingredients you put inside of them.
Say youre cooking a cheesy bacon casserole in the Instant Pot and chicken or chickpeas in the air fryer, says Maguire. Then the air fryer would win this challenge. On the other hand, if the bacon is going in the air fryer and youre making a veggie soup in the Instant Pot, then the healthy meter goes in the other direction.
Should You Buy The Duo Plus
This pressure cooker is not only intuitive, but its versatility is impressive. Each feature is easy to use and performs well. It will happily take the place of your rice cooker, as long as you don’t mind slightly sticky rice, and yourfavorite slow cooker, clearing up space in your kitchen. The Duo Plus is truly a marvel, and its upgraded valve control leaves us with little to complain about. The Duo Plus is, without a doubt, a fantastic value. While it is still a bit of an investment, it is far less than the most expensive options in our test suite and outperforms many of them. It is a versatile kitchen tool that not only can get all the jobs done but it does each of them quite well.
Also Check: How To Saute Vegetables In An Instant Pot
What’s The Best Size Instant Pot
Instant Pots and other multi-cookers come in an array of different capacities ranging from 3 quart / 3 liters right up to 8 quart / 7.5 liters, so knowing which size Instant Pot is best for you can be confusing.
For most people, the 6 quart / 5.7-liter size Instant Pot will prove to be the most useful. Instant say this capacity is enough to feed between three and size people depending upon your appetite, so will be ideal for families or those looking to batch cook meals for a handful of people.
The larger 8 quart / 7.5-liter size will be a better fit for bigger families, or anyone cooking on a large scale, such as creating chilies, stews, or curries for a party. Meanwhile, for one or two-person households the smaller 3-quart / 3 liter, Instant Pot will ensure you’re not using additional energy by cooking a small quantity in an Instant Pot that’s just too large for your needs.
It’s worth remembering that not all models of Instant Pot are available in all sizes, so do check before deciding on the best model for you.
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:
Also Check: Instant Pot Creamy Chicken And Rice
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
