What Instant Pot Should I Buy

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Which Instant Pot Should I Buy? | Cool Products | Kitchn

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Instant Pot Duo Plus Mini

The Instant Pot Duo series is quite vast, as you can see for yourself, and the next item on our list is the Instant Pot Duo Plus Mini, although you shouldnt let yourself be fooled by the name since theres nothing Mini about it.

Designed to replace 9 different kitchen appliances, the Duo Plus Mini can easily replace your old-fashion pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, food warmer, and sterilizer, making it ideal for those with limited kitchen and counter space, as well as those that dont want to spend money on tools that can only do one job.

This is also possible thanks to the 15 customizable Smart Programs that allow it to pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, soup, broth, cake, egg, rice, bean, grain, porridge, oatmeal, sterilize, yogurt, and sous vide, in many cases better than what a dedicated tool would do.

The outside of the pot is definitely high-tech, and the control is easy to comprehend thanks to the full cooking progress bar, the dedicated Start button, 2 separate pressure and temperature indicators, dual temperature indicators that show both Fahrenheit and Celcius values, and more.

As far as the hardware components go, the entire pot is designed using high-quality food-grade stainless steel with a tri-ply bottom that allows the cooking to be evened out, and if youre particularly interested in sautéing, youll love this pots anti-spin design.

Specs:

Best Smart Home Integration: Instant Pot Smart Wi

You may remember the first smart Instant Pot, the Instant Pot Smart, which was powered by Bluetooth. The company discontinued that model and replaced it with the $150 Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi.

This tech-forward multicooker connects to your phone’s Instant Pot control panel app for remote monitoring of your cooker, recipe customization and notifications. Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi is also controllable via voice commands through both Alexa and . It’s important to note that this model is only available in a 6-quart size, so if that’s not a good fit for you, it may not be the best Instant Pot for your cooking needs.

Programs included: Rice, Bean/Chili, Meat/Stew, Multigrain, Porridge, Soup/Broth, Cake, Steam, Egg and Manual or Pressure Cooking

What it doesn’t have: Poultry, Canning, Ultra and Sterilize

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Instant Pot Max Unlimited

The MAX is the latest IP model and comes with all the features that come along with the ULTRA, but it adds the ability to do true Sous Vide and Pressure Canning.

Some of the most important features that come along with the MAX are the ability to cook at 15 PSI, 13 new safety measures and the cool sous-vide function that will allow you to cook gourmet meals for your loved ones

Like all the multifunctional Instant pot this one can Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Pressure Canner, Sous Vide, Sauté/Searing pan, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Yogurt Maker, and Food Warmer. By using these programs and the newest 3rd generation system you are going to be able to cook just about anything in the Max.

One of the biggest improvements to this model is the design of the Pot with a modern and cool LCD touchscreen that will make really easy to understand and use the cooker.

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

Having Multiple Instant Pots

Which Instant Pot Should I Buy?

I started with one 6 quart Instant Pot. The more I used it, the more I wanted another one! Because I have a small family , I opted to buy a 3 quart.

Then, I purchased another 6 quart so I could use both at the same time to make things like Instant Pot Ribs in one, and a large batch of mashed potatoes or salt potatoes in the other. The 3 quart is also in the background making broccoli, corn on the cob, yogurt, or bacon green beans.

My recommendation is to use your 6 quart duo, then youll know over time if you need or want another one! Youll know if you need a 3, another 6, or 8 quart for the types of things youre wanting to make.

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Comparing The Instant Pot Duo Plus To The Instant Pot Duo

Next came the Instant Pot Duo. This is where the Instant Pot line came into its own. A bunch of design tweaks made the Duo a noticeably easier cooker to use than the Lux, especially the redesigned lid:

  • Integrated lid holder built into the handles – tabs on the lid fit into holes on the base handles. Easy and ingenious.
  • Easy-grab loop handle – keeps your hands away from the pressure valve
  • New pressure release valve

That integrated lid holder is a design masterpiece. No more looking for empty counter space to put the lid down, and any steam on the lid drips into the drain around the cooker base, keeping everything clean. The integrated lid holder is why I cant recommend the Lux. Id pay whatever price I had to for that lid holder.

The differences between the Duo and the Duo Plus are much more subtle. The Duo Plus is the 2017 upgrade to the Duo.

The Duo Plus adds:

  • LCD display with icons to show you whats going on in the cooker
  • Pressure Cook button

The Pressure Cook button is what sold me on the Plus. I dont have to explain to everyone that Pressure cook on high means Push the Manual button anymore. And, the new LCD display is much easier to understand.

Buy the Duo if: You can find a great deal

How To Use An Instant Pot Or Modern Pressure Cooker

Instant Pots can help you save time once you know how they work. This guide will help you overcome the learning curve.

The Instant Pot has become the latest kitchen must-have. You’ll likely find a variety of sizes and styles that can do everything from steam, roast and even air fry. Most Instant Pot or multi-cooker users swear by the ease and speed at which recipes cook. However, there are just as many stories of fails as there are successes. The key is to understand how the Instant Pot works.

This guide will walk you through what you need to know about your new Instant Pot and how to use it to create healthy, delicious dishes.

Read Also: Why Instant Pot Says Burn

Blogs And Google Searches

If youre looking for something specific, doing a quick Google search is always a great idea. Youll be able to find just about any type of Instant Pot recipe through a Google search.

Along the way, youll likely come across all sorts of different blogs where fellow Instant Pot users share their experiences and recipes. Bookmark them, or simply browse around when you come across them for plenty of fresh recipe ideas. Try the recipes as is, or use them as inspiration to come up with your own take on a dish.

First What Is An Instant Pot

Which Instant Pot Should I Buy? Instant Pot Lux VS Instant Pot Duo

Before diving into all the models, let us explain how an Instant Pot actually works. The Instant Pot is a multicooker appliance that can perform the functions of a variety of appliances in one tool. Every Instant Pot model can slow cook, pressure cook, keep your food warm and sauté, and all models can effectively cook rice, meat and soups. No matter which model you pick, you’ll get a pressure cooker that will help you prepare dishes in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods.

Also Check: What Does It Mean When An Instant Pot Says Burn

Instant Pots Are Safe

If youve never used an instant pot or a pressure cooker before, reading this article and how these pots build up steam on the inside can make you wonder whether they arent a safety hazard, especially since they sound as if they could blow up at any minute.

Fortunately enough, thats not the case. You see, modern instant pots come with a wide variety of safety features that ultimately make them completely safe to use. From their full stainless steel design to their locking lids and pressure release valves, the modern instant pot simply cannot explode, regardless of what you decide to cook.

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.

Read Also: Instant Pot Thaw Ground Beef

How Long Do Cyber Monday Sales Last

We’ve seen Cyber Monday sales last up to the end of the holiday shopping season, but for the most part, deals will end at the end of Cyber Monday, November 29. Since many deals are “while supplies last,” sales can end early as shoppers snap up the best discounts. Your best bet is to make your purchases quickly. Remember, you can usually return them if you change your mind.

Versatility And Special Features

Which Instant Pot Should I Buy?

What sets different models of Instant Pots apart from each other is the different features that they offer. While some Instant Pots just offer basic pressure cooker and saute functionality, others have modes for making specific foods or various cooking options, such as steaming. Other features include delayed cooking, keep warm settings, temperature controls, Alexa compatibility, remote cooking capabilities, high-altitude adjustments, sterilize features, air frying, and sous vide.

Clearly, there is no shortage of special features that this appliance can offer, so definitely prioritize which features are important to you and look for a model that offers them. Theres no need to buy an appliance that offers a laundry list of features if youre only looking to do basic pressure and slow cooking.

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Pressure Cooker Vs Instant Pot: Which One Should I Buy

Pressure cookers and Instant Pots both offer a wide range of benefits when it comes to cooking. Between the traditional approach offered by conventional pressure cookers and the high-tech convenience of Instant Pots, which one should you buy?

When it comes to pressure cooker vs Instant Pots, the clear winner is the Instant Pot. Both offer the benefits that come with pressure cooking, but the Instant Pot offers loads more convenience, ease-of-use, and safety than conventional pressure cookers can. Best of all, you dont need a stove to operate an Instant Pot. Instead, it sits on your countertop and works by itself like any other kitchen appliance.

In this article, were going to help you understand what pressure cookers and instant pots are, as well as how they work. Then, well dive deep into the benefits each of them offer and which one has more to offer you.

Lets get started.

What Size Instant Pot Should I Get

There are four Instant Pot sizes: 3-, 6-, 8-, and 10-quart options. The 6-quart Instant Pot is the most popular optionmany recipes call for a 6-quart Instant Pot, and a meal cooked in the 6-quart variety feeds 36 people. The 8-quart and 10-quart sizes, on the other hand, are ideal when youre feeding a large family, cooking for a party, or doing weekly meal prep. Last but not least is the 3-quart Instant Pot , which is perfect for cooking for 12 people.

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Reasons Not To Get An Instant Pot

Its All About the Meat.

Its true. Youll see recipes for absolutely anything you can think of, but that doesnt mean the results will be perfect. The main reason you want to buy an Instant Pot is if you want to cook tender meat, quickly. If time really doesnt matter to you, you can get tender meat using your slow cooker. Best of all, theres no need to read a manual and a much shorter learning curve.

Instant Pots are complicated to use.

Heres the truth. An Instant Pot has a lot of features. After all, it claims to be a multi-cooker. This means a lot of buttons and the need to sit down and read the manual. If youre the type that has trouble setting your digital clocks when the time changes, you may not be up for an Instant Pot. If you want simple, straightforward cooking, skip it. I have another friend who said, Oh, but I can make yogurt in it! Yeah, sure, if you have a thermometer and an extra 10 hours on your hands, you can make yogurt in an Instant Pot. No thanks. Ill buy my locally sourced yogurt from the Amish farm up the road and save myself the time.

Instant Pots take up counter space.

People often rave about keeping their Instant Pot on their counter all the time. Thats probably because they cant fit in their cabinets. An Instant Pot does not have a small footprint. If you like your counter tops to stay neat and tidy, an Instant Pot may not be for you.

Instant Pots are Expensive!

The food doesnt cook as quickly as Instant Pot claims.

Best For Beginners: Instant Pot Duo Plus 6

Should I Buy an Instant Pot? Instant Pot Vs. Appliances (With Recipes)

Capacity: 6 quarts | Dimensions : 12.2 x 12.2 x 12.9 inches | Weight: 11.5 pounds | Programs: 15

If youre totally new to the multi-cooker world, this intuitive version of the Instant Pot Duo might be ideal for you. The 6-quart Duo Plus can do all the things that the Classic Duo can do, including pressure cooking, sous vide, and slow cooking. But it also has an automatic sealing lid, which takes some of the guesswork out of the process, and keeps you from accidentally leaving the steam valve open and making a mess of your kitchen. There’s also a progress indicator that will keep you updated in real time.

The Duo Plus also features 15 “smart” program options, which allow you to start your meal by just pushing a button. Our tester, senior editor Sara Bir, tested the yogurt and sous vide functions. She was pleased with how intuitive the yogurt setting was, especially compared to the other Instant Pots she’s used, adding, “I’ll be using this pot to make my yogurt from now on.” The sous vide function, however, was underwhelming, particularly because it’s this setting that makes this Duo model a “Plus.”

When using the setting to make sous vide carrots, the cooker was never able to heat the water above 190 degrees Fahrenheit . “It’s not terribly accurate, it does not circulate the water, which is important for maintaining a constant temperature,” Sara explains. The carrots themselves turned out too al dente for her taste.

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What Are Todays Most Popular Best Instant Pot Consumer Reports Models

There are many best instant pot consumer reports items accessible today for men and women seeking quality and reliability. Every best instant pot consumer reports model follows the same essential premise. But they appeal to various users.Its no secret that certain products appeal to specific populations. What if you could see which products were the most popular across all consumers? You can, and weve got the list. Check out our collection of products that appear to appeal to all ages, genders, and locations.

The Need For Adjusted Recipes

Unlike standard cooking methods, using a pressure cooker exposes the ingredients to more heat and steam pressure than usual. As such, the recipes that youre using will need to be adjusted to take that into account.

Bear in mind that cooking recipes arent written with the pressure cooker in mind unless they explicitly say so. Unfortunately, that means youll need to convert the recipe by making several adjustments.

For instance, youll need to shorten your cooking time when using a pressure cooker to avoid overcooking the food. Besides that, volumes for stocks and other liquids also need to be adjusted, seeing how much less of it will be lost to evaporation.

The process of converting your recipes for the pressure cooker is likely to involve plenty of trial and error. So, until you get things perfect, youll probably make mistakes along the way.

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What If The 6 Quart Instant Pot Is Too Small

What Will You Be Making In The Instant Pot?

Now think about what you might be making for your meal.

If I make soup for dinner, I usually serve it with a side of bread or some sandwiches.

Chicken? Often I will serve it with a side of rice or mashed potatoes.

Do you see where I am going with this? The main dish can either be the whole meal or just a part of your dinner.

If you have a large family and you tend to make one pot meals, then maybe upping to the 8 quart Instant Pot is right for you.

Or perhaps you like to make extra food for leftovers again, a larger size could be better.

But here’s a twist

Why Not Get 2 Instant Pots?

If you have the space, you may consider getting 2 Instant Pots instead of one big one.

This way you can either make two different dishes at once. Or, if you want to make a larger portion of one dish, you can split it up between both the Instant Pots.

Choices, my friend, choices.

It’s also really cute, but that is beside the point.

My parents, who have a 2 person household, just bought the 3 quart version and are very happy with it.

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