Types Of Pressure Cookers
Over the years, pressure cooker makers have upgraded the technologies and features of pressure cookers.
The results are various types of pressure cookers that offer more safety and functionality.
There are three main types of pressure cookers: first-generation, second-generation, and electric pressure cookers.
What Size Should I Get
The 6-quart Instant Pot is the most popular size by far, and the one we recommend for most folks. It offers plenty of capacity for weeknight dinners, soups and stews, a pot of beans, or even a whole chicken, yet doesnt take up a crazy amount of counter space or shelf space.
But the choice is entirely up to you, and dependent on your cooking habits and storage space. Both the Instant Pot Duo and Ultra also come in a 3-quart Mini size and an 8-quart size.
The 3-quart Mini version is a good option for one or two people, or folks with limited kitchen storage. But the appropriately named Mini has a tiny pressure-cooking capacity that tops out at 2 quarts. For foods that expand when they cook, such as beans and grains, the total volume cant exceed 1½ quarts.
If you cook for a lot of people or frequently make stock or broth, consider the 8-quart size. The hulking 8-quart Instant Pot will take up as much space on your countertop as a dish rack, which is why it isnt for everyone, but it can yield almost 1 gallon of stock. If for some reason you want to go even bigger, the Duo Nova model also comes in a 10-quart size.
What Are The Other Best Instant Pot Alternatives
- Crock-Pot Express Crock: Its a great option from a trusted brand;
- KitchenAid MultiCooker: This one isnt a pressure cooker, but it does most everything else a multicooker should. Its pricy, surebut check out that counter appeal. The optional matching Stir Tower is nice, too;
- VitaClay Smart Organic Multicooker: This appliance uses an organic clay cooking pot instead of metal. Its a healthier option;
- Presto Kitchen Kettle: This inexpensive multicooker isnt a pressure cooker nor is it a slow cooker. it does just about everything else an Instant Pot does, thoughand is also an air fryer.
So whats the Best Instant Pot Alternative? Here are a few of our favorites.
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Recommended Reading: How To Cook Chicken Breast In Instant Pot
What Can I Cook In An Instant Pot
The best Instant Pots offer a range of different cooking methods, which means there’s a plethora of different dishes that can be created in Instant Pots and multi-cookers. Slow cooking means you can use cheaper but tougher cuts of meat and cook them low and slow to make casseroles and stews, while pressure cooking speeds up cooking times, making it great for ribs and chicken wings. However, you can even bake cakes, air fry foods like fries, and even cook hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot. You can find an extensive variety of recipes at;instantpot.com.
There Are So Many Modelswhich One Should I Get
The dizzying array of Instant Pot models can be a real source of confusion when shopping for your first Instant Pot. Thankfully, weve learned this year that the brand is discontinuing many of their models and streamlining to a few core ones. Were testing a few new cookers to update our recommendations, but much of the following information is still helpful, since you may still find many of these cookers in stores or online.
We recommend the Instant Pot Duo to most people, though the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus is also very good if youre willing to pay extra for more sophisticated controls, and find it in stock somewhere. The company has a number of other models were not as crazy about, but mainly because we found the Duo and the Duo Evo Plus to offer the best set of features for their respective prices. If you can find another model on sale, we think most of these will serve you well. The only versions with significant downsides other than price are the Lux, which lacks a low pressure setting and a handle on the lid, and the Duo Crisp, which comes with an additional air fryer lid that takes up a lot of extra space without adding a lot of extra functionality. .
Heres a chart showing the most important differences between our picks and other Instant Pot series. You can read more about all of the models we dont recommend later in this guide.
| Model |
*At the time of publishing, the price was $120.
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The One Surprising Item That Will Solve Your Kitchen Clutter Problems
Small appliances and gadgets are often a huge source of kitchen clutter. Here, I’ll show you how just one item can help you declutter and streamline your entire kitchen!
Most of us have at least a few different small appliances in our kitchens. While almost every small kitchen appliance does something you can do on your stovetop or in your oven, we buy them because they offer added convenience that traditional methods cant match. But after a certain point, those convenient appliances start to become an organizational nuisance. After all, each of those small appliances takes up a certain amount of room!
More Ideas You’ll Love
Thats one of the reasons why the Instant Pot makes such a valuable addition to any kitchen. Because you can use this one appliance to replace at least seven of those other small appliances that are taking up your valuable storage space. And thats exactly what well be exploring in todays blog post! Find out how your Instant Pot can streamline your kitchen storage, and help you make the absolute most of the time you spend in the kitchen. 🙂
And to learn even more about this incredible cooker, check out my eBook Everything Instant Pot! This handy reference guide is packed with tips and tricks for both beginners and experienced users alike. You can find it in my shop, or get it for free if youre an OGT Plus member!
Instant Pot Blown Fuse And Fuse Replacement
When you own an Instant Pot unit, you will want to make sure that you use it to its full potential and get the best out of it. After all, you get to cook your food in many different ways, all while using the same appliance.
But there are times when a problem with the Instant Pot may prevent you from using it as much as you would like. For instance, a blown fuse is a serious issue and must be fixed as quickly as possible.
Thankfully, there are some simple ways to fix the problem with ease without letting the whole thing cause too many issues.
In case the fuse is blown, your only major option will be to replace the fuse. In the following article, we shall talk about some of the steps you need to follow to replace the fuse.
Replacing the Fuse
The Instant Pot fuse replacement process is rather complicated because you have to take the old fuse out, and you have to replace it with a new one.
The main issue here is that you have to figure out what fuse was blown and then remove it with gentle care. That alone can be an issue since there isnt just one fuse inside this complex piece of machinery.
This is why it makes a lot of sense to work closely with someone who knows how to replace the fuse. Taking your Instant Pot to repair experts is actually an excellent idea when you know that the fuse is blown out.
Its generally better to go to a professional for the repair work in most cases because if there is any other problem, they will fix that too.
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How Long Do Instant Pots Last
Being among the first electric pressure cookers on the market, Instant Pot has had plenty of time to perfect its design.
They are heavy, sturdy machines made out of quality materials.
Instant Pot offers a limited one year warranty against defects and workmanship for normal, residential use. Other than that, theres not much indication of how long Instant Pots are expected to last.
The silicone ring that lines the lid probably has the shortest life span of all the parts of the machine. It goes through the most wear and tear and is designed to be replaced every couple of years.
Luckily, replacement sealing rings can be had on Amazon for under 10 bucks.
The inner pot is stainless steel, and as such, will last for a very long time. These robust parts are indicative of an expected long life span.
While Instant Pot doesnt actually give an expected life span of their products, I would expect your Instant Pot to last five to ten years. But Ive had Crock-Pots last twice that long, so its entirely possible Instant Pots could last that long too.
Follow the manufacturers care instructions to get the most life out of your machine.
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, its hard to make a catastrophic mistake. The lid has two safety catches: a valve that releases excess pressure automatically, and a lock preventing you from opening the pot while its under pressure. If for some reason the steam-release valve isnt doing its job, the appliance has another sensor that shuts off the heating element if excess pressure builds inside the pot.
But as with any kind of cooking, there is a risk of injury if you are careless. If you follow the safety instructions, you should be good. Weve found only one confirmed report of an injury caused by an Instant Pot, and it was the result of user error: The person suffered minor burns after she covered the steam valve with a dish towel while the pot was under pressure. When she touched the towel a few minutes later, hot soup sprayed onto her arm and neck. The Instant Pot manual, however, explicitly states that all venting valves should be clean and free of debris.
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How Does A Pressure Cooker Work
When it comes to cooking food quickly, pressure cookers are very useful.
These cookers drastically cut the cooking time and make it possible to cook beans, whole grains, and even soul-warming stews on a holiday night much faster. But how does a pressure cooker work?
A pressure cooker might look like a regular pot. However, it has a modified lid that locks a rubber lining to make a seal. The seal helps to trap vapor that rises from the boiling liquid.
The cooker works by increasing the temperature of boiling water from 212°F , which is the maximum boiling point of water, to 250°F , thus reducing the cooking time.
Once the cooker has reached the maximum pressure, it indicates on a scale situated on the lid. The pressure then infuses the hot steam in the food.
The higher the pressure, the shorter the cooking time a pressure cooker will use. The only way to change the boiling waters temperature as it changes to steam is by trapping the steam in a tightly sealed space.
As the water changes to steam, it increases in volume. Since the pressure cooker is closed, the volume is not allowed to increase; therefore, the pressure increases.
He Used His Own Money And Sold It On Amazon
It took Wang roughly 18 months to develop the first iteration of the Instant Pot, including finding a manufacturer, ironing out the kinks of design, and tweaking the firmware and algorithms before releasing the first product on Amazon in October 2010.
Wang sank roughly $300,000 of his personal savings into the project to get it to market, he tells CNBC Make It. He originally had two partners who had previously worked with him at Nortel, but he says, “They did not believe in the idea” and left after just five months . Wang carried on by himself for another six months, he says, before another group of partners joined the effort, including two former BlackBerry employees: Yi Qin, who is now Instant Brands’ vice president of product management, and Dongjun Wang, who serves as vice president of quality assurance.
During those 18 months, Wang says he worked to identify “prominent pain points” for consumers who cook at home with electrical appliances so he could design a product that offered solutions.
One of those pain points was an overcrowded kitchen, so Wang created Instant Pot to combine the functions of multiple devices.
Another big frustration for home chefs? Burned food. “It’s a very frustrating experience,” Wang says. “So as one of the key objectives, we needed to design a certain burn protection mechanism.”
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What Can Instant Pots Do
As youre probably well aware, Instant Pots are capable of cooking just about anything, from chili to roast beef. But theyre really just pressure cookers with a few extra features. The only thing thats new about Instant Pots is that theyre affordable and safe to use.
Rather than doling out all of the Instant Pots features and capabilities like an instruction manual, were going to run through a quick and dirty list of what the Instant Pot;can do:
Alright, so now you know what an Instant Pot is capable of. But that brings us to the next logical pointwhere do Instant Pots fall short?
Why Arent The Other Instant Pot Models Wirecutter Picks
The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet, which is exclusive to Costco, is very similar to our top pick, and a great option if youre a Costco member. Its not a pick because its not as widely available as other models, and weve seen other Costco-exclusive Instant Pots be discontinued. It has a couple more preset functions than the Instant Pot Duo, most notably a sous vide setting . It also comes with a lid that seals automatically when you close ita nice upgrade from the Duos basic lidand a few more accessories, like silicone mitts and an extra sealing ring. As long as it costs roughly the same as or less than the Instant Pot Duo, we think its a great deal.
The Instant Pot Lux is the oldest model of the bunch. By the time we thought to test it, the Duo series was already available, with features the Lux model lacks. Mainly, the Lux offers only one pressure-cooking level . And the lid of the Lux has no handle, a smaller but still irritating drawback.
The Duo Plus is an upgraded version of the Duo series , but its changes are so minor that we dont think it warrants the $40 price hike. The only real differences are a sous vide setting and the LCD, which displays more information and has an easy-on-the-eyes blue background. But compared with the Ultra design, the Duo Pluss screen is smaller, and the control panel isnt nearly as streamlined. The Duo Plus also lacks features that makes the Ultra special, namely altitude adjustment and customizable temperature control.
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Cons To Consider Before Buying An Instant Pot
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You Can Get A Second Insert
Sometimes dinner needs a few different components maybe youre makingkung pao chicken and youre going to serve it with rice. Or maybe dinner is in one pot AND youre serving from it which means you cant use the Instant Pot for dessert until dinner is over AND the insert is washed.
Heres the solution get a second insert! You can buy a second insert and youll be able to make things back to back .
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What Is An Instant Pot And Why Is Everyone Obsessed With It
Imagine having a slow cooker that also functions as a pressure cooker, a rice cooker, a steamer, and a yogurt maker. Thats the Instant Pot. Its simply an electric pot that lets you cook fast or slow. People love it because its a convenient, time-saving device that lets you quickly cook dinner without keeping an eye on the stove.
This Countertop Appliance Can Replace Your Microwave
This powerhouse countertop appliance can replace your microwave, the Instant Pots popularity begins with its boasted seven features in one streamlined machine, tough cuts of meats quickly.The Instant Pot Lux is the oldest model in the Instant Pot series, 10-hour automatic keep-warm function, Its no longer made and difficult to find, stove and more, hence the basic features, grind, 5, The pressure cooker mode cooks thick, It does not replace a slow cooker, the Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker can seemingly do itThe Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, 2 BIG
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