What Does Instant Pot 6 In 1 7 In 1 9 In 1 Mean
The 6-1 to 9-1 numbers indicate the number of cooking functions that the Instant Pot model has.
Here they are based on number:
- 6-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Saute/Browning, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer & Warmer
- 7-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer
- 9-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, Sterilizer
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.
Built-in smart programs: 11Functions: Pressure-cooking, slow-cooking, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, air-frying, roasting, baking, broiling, dehydratingSizes available: 8-quart Instant Pot
How To Do A Water Test
To do a water test, follow your manuals instructions. A general water test goes something like this:
Pour 3 cups of water into the inner pot of your electric pressure cooker. Put the lid on and turn the valve to the sealed position. Set to High Pressure for 3 minutes. Once your machine reaches pressure, it will count down to 0.
After this cycle is complete, let the pressure release. Then, pour out the water. Assuming there were no problems during this process, your electric pressure cooker is ready! If there are problems, contact the manufacturer of your appliance.
Read Also: How To Cook Bbq Pork Chops In Instant Pot
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How Can You Tell If Your Instant Pot Is 6 Quart Or 8 Quart
All Instant Pot models should have a sticker on the back with pertinent information. Youll be able to find the specific model of your Instant Pot as well as the size.
While its likely you have the 6 quart model due to its popularity, checking this sticker will help you confirm this information. If the sticker is not available for whatever reason, you can manually take measurements.
The 6 quart is 14x12x13, while the 8 quart is 15x14x15.
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Whats The Diameter Of Instant Pots
The inside of each pot is where the real action is going to be happening and how much can fit in it.
There are several things to think about when looking at the diameter. A frozen roast of good size isnt going to fit in the 3 qt. If Im going to be doing any freezer cooking where I place a frozen meal in the pot to cook Ill need to be sure to freeze the meal in a container that will be slightly smaller than the diameter of the pot.
Also, the pot in pot method should be considered too. The pot in pot method is cooking foods inside the pot in smaller pots, like ball jars, ramekins, or stackable pans. This method would work in all three sizes but will be limited with the smaller 3 qt.
To give a comparison of the size of each I placed this large steamer basket inside each one.
The 3 qt. has room for the steamer with the sides straight up.
The 6 qt has room for the steamer with the sides spread out about halfway.
The 8 qt. has room for the steamer to spread the sides out about 3/4 the way.
Of course, you can close the sides on the steamer and enclose what is being cooked and even layer this above another dish, but this way you can get a feel for the size difference.
Is An Instant Pot Worth The Money
Lets take a look at the instant pot and whether or not its worth the money. Depending on the time of year, and what kind of deal you can find, the average Instant Pot will set you back anywhere from $70 to $150.
While its not the cheapest kitchen appliance on the market, it does have multiple uses and can take the place of other expensive appliances you might need.
You can purchase a stove top pressure cooker or slow cooker for around $25. Does that mean the Instant Pot is overpriced, or something you shouldnt consider buying? I dont think so.
If you arent sure if youll actually use it, the Instant Pot may be a waste of money. On the other hand, youll end up using it quite a bit if you keep it on your counter and use it as your pressure cooker, slow cooker, and rice cooker.
Ive found that those who purchase an Instant Pot and then promptly put it in a cupboard and never look at it again are the ones who say its not worth it. The first step is always the hardest.
If you vow to use it at least once or twice when you first receive it, it will be an investment thats well worth it. After I used mine the first few times, I couldnt put it away. I was using it every day.
Look through some recipes, borrow a friends Instant Pot if possible, and see if this seems like the type of appliance that will work well for you and your lifestyle.
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Check The Sticker On The Back Of Your Instant Pot
There is a sticker on the back of your Instant Pot with a few pieces of useful information on it. Be warned, the type is a little small so you may need bright light and a magnifying glass to read it clearly.
On this sticker is both the model name and number of quarts of your specific Instant Pot. Look for the Volume line below the Model name. Its about the 3rd line down from the Instant Pot logo.
If you havent turned your Instant Pot around recently, the sticker wouldnt be something youll notice unless youre specifically looking for it.
Instant Pot 3 Quart Models
The 3 quart Instant Pot is available in 3 models. You may also see this size referred to as the Instant Pot Mini. The 3 quart models include:
- Instant Pot Duo Mini
- Instant Pot Duo Plus Mini
- Instant Pot Ultra Mini
And for Star Wars fans, there is also a Duo Mini available as a BB-8 droid.
In the past, there were two additional 3 quart models including the Lux Mini and Duo Nova Mini. The Duo Nova Mini was introduced in 2019 and since discontinued.
They updated the Duo Plus Mini with new features in 2021 to make it a nice upgrade from the basic Duo.
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How Do You Know What Size Instant Pot To Get
Taking into account all of the factors discussed above, this decision will largely be based on your family size and required functions.
The difference in time it takes for both sizes to come to pressure is fairly insignificant, but this may weigh into your decision. The 8 quart is slightly bigger than the 6 quart, as well, so storage space may be a factor for you.
If you want the Instant Pot Max, the 6 quart is the only size available.
Is Black Friday Or Cyber Monday Better
Every year, the difference between Cyber Monday and Black Friday gets harder to distinguish. Black Friday is always three days before Cyber Monday. But, the sales have merged in many instances, and the event has been extended up to the end of the holiday shopping season. Every retailerâs deals will vary, and different products are on sale each day.
Order right away if youâre concerned a deal today might get beat by a future deal. You can always return your products, but you canât take advantage of a discount after the sale is over.
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Lets Talk About Instant Pot Sizes
Instant Pot 3 qt If youre cooking meals for one or maybe two, the 3 qt might be all that you need. With most of the features of the larger versions, this option has a smaller footprint and is perfect for small spaces, an RV, or travel.
This is also a handy second pot if you want a smaller one for cooking rice or soups or eggs while your larger pot is in use .
If you are single or cooking for two but do a lot of meal prep or batch cooking, youll probably want to size up to to the 6qt. You can make bigger batches of food in the 6 quart, and if you have the space for the larger pot, I feel like you cant go wrong with the 6 quart.
If you like cooking larger food items, like a full butternut squash or a chicken, opt for the larger pot.
Instant Pot 6 qt This is what I have. I have a family of four, and its plenty big enough for my pretty basic cooking needs. I use it to meal prep . Its also been great for dinners .
You can easily fit a whole chicken inside the 6 qt.
This would be my recommendation if youre cooking for 3-4 people or doing meal prep. If youre doing a lot of meal prep, check out the 8 qt.
Instant Pot 8 qt This slightly bigger pot is perfect if you have a large family or do a lot of cooking. If youre the person who spends Sunday making giant batches of food for the week, this might be your pot!
If you are cooking for more than four people, this is probably a safe bet.
Do you have an Instant Pot? Which size did you get, and what were the deciding factors?
High And Low Pressure
Do you need both?
I will say that one thing I loooove about my IP is that it makes perfect rice, every time. I mean, I can even measure the water-to-rice ratio haphazardly and it still has my back.
Ive noticed that the rice setting uses low pressure, as do some hard-boiled egg recommendations. If either of those are your goals, low pressure may be worth it.
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How To Tell What Size Instant Pot I Have
If you take an Instant Pot as a gift from someone or if you dont know your Instant Pots size because of a different reason, and wonder about your Instant Pots size, you can check the sticker on the back of your Instant Pot. The sticker on the back of your Instant Pot has a few pieces of useful information.
Other Differences Between Models
Displays and Controls â Each model offers slightly different read-outs and various changes in the way you control the Instant Pot . If thats something thats really important to you, just take a quick read through the descriptions of the two or three specific models youre comparing on Instant Pots website, and its pretty easy to figure out the display and control differences between the models youre considering.
Pricing â As you step up from each model to the next, more decked-out model , you can expect to pay roughly $20 $30 more for each step up the ladder. Unless, of course, you hit a great sale, in which case â yay, you! But in general, each bump to the next best model, will cost you around an extra $20 $30, so its worth evaluating how many features youre really and truly going to use. Because, seriously sometimes more isnt better. Its just more.
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How Can I Tell How Many Quarts My Slow Cooker Is
The easiest way to know how many quarts your slow cooker is to check the box. However, if you donât have that handy, you can measure its capacity using water.
Four cups of water equal one quart. By counting the number of cups of water it takes to fill the crockpot to the rim, youâll know how itâs capacity. For example, 14 to 16 cups of water indicate that your slow cookerâs capacity is three and a half to four quarts.
Itâs worth noting that a crockpotâs capacity doesnât necessarily translate into the same volume foodwise. Say your slow cooker is 6-quarts, the usable cooking space will be much less since youâll not be filling it to the rim.
A 3-quart slow cooker should be able to cook enough food for one to two people. In the case of the 6-quart crockpot, youâll have around 4.5 quarts of usable cooking volume. Not to panic though, as this volume can sufficiently cater for six to eight people at one go.
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How Many People Does Each Pot Size Feed
A 3 quart pot is ideal for making side dishes as opposed to full meals. It is also a good choice if you are just cooking for yourself. Buying a 6 quart pot is a good choice if you are going for anywhere from 2 to 4 people. An 8 quart pot can accommodate large families and will be useful if you have a few guests over for dinner. If you are planning to have a big get together, this is a great option to consider.
Qt Vs 8qt Instant Pot
Letâs draw out some of these criteria and help you apply them to your family and needs:
What are you cooking?
No matter what your family size is if you batch cook or cook larger sized whole foods, get the 8-quart.
How big is your family?
If your family is larger , get the 8-quart Duo or Duo Evo Plus. If your family size is 1 to 2 and you also do batch cooking, get the 8-quart.
Or, if your family size is 1 to 2 but you rarely do batch cooking nor cooking of larger whole foods , get the 6-quart Duo or Duo Evo Plus.
Also Check: How To Make Corned Beef In Instant Pot
How To Find Instant Pot Recipes
Now that youre comfortable using this new electric appliance, youre ready to branch out and start to look for some other fun recipes to try.
There are plenty of home cooks who share their favorite recipes, tips, and adaptations on blogs and popular Instant Pot Facebook groups. We have our own collection of Instant Pot recipes on this site. When you join our mailing list, we also have a free Instant Pot Cookbook to share with you.
Check out our sister site, A Pressure Cooker Kitchen, for all things Instant Pot. We help you find easy-to-make, delicious Instant Pot recipes to get the most out of your pressure cooker. See our recipes, guides, and information to help you get started.
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What Are Instant Pot Smart Programs
All Instant Pot models, regardless of size, are equipped with a variety of Smart programs. These can be used with the touch of a button.
Outside of the pressure cook option that is standard for all models, your Instant Pot may also have saute, rice, beans, soup, and even cake programs! These programs can be further adjusted according to preference.
Read Also: Can You Bake Bread In An Instant Pot
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
