The Bottom Line: Which Instant Pots I Bought
For Myself ;Back in January 2017 , I decided to buy the Instant Pot Duo60 6-quart. I needed something bigger than the 3-quart, but wasnt sure I needed to go so huge as the 8-quart. Plus, I like that the 6-quart is the most common size, so the majority of recipes other people write are geared toward it, and as a recipe developer myself Ill be testing recipes in the size that most of my readers will be using when they make the recipes I create.
If I had it to do over again today, Id probably still make the same choice, with the possibility that Id go one notch higher to the Duo Plus;, just because, as a food writer, Id like to experiment with the additional functionality. For me, the fine-tuning capabilities of the Ultra model and the wireless capability of the Smart WiFi model just sound like overkill for how I know Ill personally be using this. And, Im just not sure the Max is worth the money.
For My Mom When I later picked out an Instant Pot for my mom , we ultimately decided shed be happiest with the Instant Pot Duo Plus Mini 3-quart. I honestly think she could have gone with the 6-quart size, but she really wanted the smaller Mini 3-quart size because it takes up less space.
Whew! Thats a lot of info!
What Kind Of Instant Pots Are There
Instant Pot carries different models, colors, sizes, and designs of their electric pressure cookers. They currently offer the following:
- Comes in a myriad of colors like white, black, teal, etc.
- Comes in 3, 6, and 8 quart sizes.
- Detachable cord on 3 and 6 quart, not on 8. This is standard between all models below.
- This is the model I own 4 of.
Is The Size Of A Pressure Cooker Important Can It Be Too Big
When we talk about the size of a pressure cooker, we arent discussing the aesthetics of how big the casing is, or other such cosmetic concerns. Instead, what were talking about its volume the amount of food it will hold inside with the lid closed.
In simple terms, this is the amount of space inside the pressure cooker, and it directly affects the quantity of food youre able to prepare in it at any one given time.
When it comes to pressure cookers, size does matter, and making sure that you have the right sized pressure cooker for the kind of uses youll be putting it too is vital. Otherwise, you may end up losing out some efficiency gains, which your new pressure cooker could afford you by having to cook the same meal twice in order to feed several hungry family members with the same, too small appliance!
Recommended Reading: Which Instant Pot To Get
Lets Start With How Tall Are Instant Pots
Starting out lets look at their general size. The little 3 qt. is just adorable and lightweight. It would be easy to find a place on your counter for it.
The 6 qt. is a nice moderate height. I have an old farmhouse and the upper cabinets in my kitchen come down low so not very many appliances actually fit under my cabinets. But this one does! I always pull it out when I cook with it so when I release the steam it doesnt go directly on the cabinets.
The 8 qt. is definitely a big girl. She isnt going to be tucked away anywhere. Shes going to be a show stopper and take up her fair share of the space.
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?
Also Check: How To Reheat Tamales In Instant Pot
Instant Pot Duo Crisp
This standout 11-in-1 pressure cooker does something that none of the other Instant Pots can do: ;air-fry! Talk about a space saver. Instead of having two separate kitchen appliances, you get both products all wrapped up in one. Like all Instant Pot models, this comes with advanced safety features and access to a digital library of more than 1,000 Instant Pot recipes.
Sizes available: 8-quart Instant PotBuilt-in smart programs: 11
Instant Pot Duo60 6 Qt 7
If there are two of you living in a home, its always a good choice to try and save some money on electricity when cooking meals.
The six-quart 7-in-1 Instant Pot makes this easy because its up to six times faster than regular methods of cooking and also saves up to seventy percent on electricity. This makes it the ideal choice for the eco-conscious couple at home who are working and on the go every single week.
It has a 24-hour delay time so that you can have a meal ready exactly when you want to. It also includes 14 separate cooking programs so that its easy to cook anything from yogurt to stews.
The DUO 6-Qt model is the best selling Instant Pot ever, so you will be getting a cooking appliance that has been tried and used by thousands of customers.
Recommended Reading: Can You Sterilize Baby Bottles In Instant Pot
How To Make An Instant Pot Reeses Cheesecake
Pulse the Oreo cookies in a food processor until you get a fine crumb, then add in the melted butter and pulse until combined. Pour into a 7 springform pan and use your hand or the back of a spoon to pack into the bottom to form the crust. Bake the crust at 350 degrees/F for 10 minutes then remove to cool.
First cream the cream cheese either using a hand mixer or a;stand mixer;for 5-6 minutes or until nice and smooth.
Mix in the sugar and flour until combined.
Add the heavy cream and mix on low speed until combined, then slowly increase to high for about 1 minute.
Mix in the eggs, one at a time, and just until the yolks disappear into the batter.
Fold in the Reeses last with a spatula mixing as little as possible.
Pour into the prepared crust and tap gently on the counter to release any air bubbles. Cover the pan completely with aluminum foil.
Pour one cup of water into your pressure cooker and place the trivet inside. Place the cheesecake on top of the trivet and set your cooker to high pressure for 40 minutes and allow to naturally release for 10 minutes.
Remove the cheesecake from the pressure cooker CAREFULLY! I use a trivet with handles like;this one;to keep from burning myself when taking things out of the pot.
Cool on a wire rack until room temperature. Refrigerate at least 6 hours but over night is preferred.
Which Instant Pot Do I Like The Best And My Recommendations
The 3 qt. didnt make my rice cook any quicker, but its so cute and handy I think Ill be using it a lot as an additional helper. Plus itll be perfect to cook sides in or when cooking for 1-2 people. My sister loves to use this size to keep her cheese dips warm during parties. She likes it better than using a slow-cooker as the sides dont get overcooked or hard.
The big 8 qt. will go with my daughter when she gets married, but I have a feeling Im going to miss it. It can hold a lot. Cooking for a family of 5 or more this would be the one to go with.
The 6 qt. will probably always be out on my counter ready to go. Is it just right? Its pretty close, but if I had a growing family I think the 8 qt. would win out. And if my cabinets were just a little higher. Overall, if you are cooking for 2-4 people I think this would be the best size.
Also Check: What Is L000 On Instant Pot
Confused By The Different Electric Pressure Cooker Models We Break It Down To Help You Find The Best Instant Pot For Your Kitchen
I distinctly remember the rappity-pop-pop, rappity-pop of my grandmothers old pressure cooker rattling away on the stove in her kitchen. While I associated the sound with her soon-to-be delectable homemade rice pudding, I steered clear until that final hissing of steam trailed off. Shed be tickled to discover todays craze for pressure-cooking and the safety and convenience of electric pressure cookers.
Although there are several different manufacturers of multi-functional electric pressure cookers, the Instant Pot brand has cornered the market on popularity so far. But the number of models, functions, bells and whistles can be overwhelming. How do you know which model is right for you?; Take a look at some of the basic differences to determine which is the best Instant Pot for you.
Can Instant Pots Really Replace Other Kitchen Appliances
Instant pots are equipped with a ton of pre-programmed buttons, ranging from slow cook to yogurt. The slow cook option allows the Instant Pot to let off some steam , but the other settings dont do anything special, theyre just pre-set pressure cooking times. In fact, most Instant Pot chefs suggest avoiding these buttons in favor of the simple pressure cook button.
Knowing this, its worth asking whether or not an Instant Pot can replace your other appliances. And the answer is a solid;maybe. It depends on what youre cooking and what youre coking with.
An Instant Pot can replace your rice cooker, veggie steamer, or hard-boiled egg maker a little better than it can a slow cooker. In some instances, the Instant Pot can replace your slow cooker, too.
In our experience, slow cooker recipes dont always carry over to the Instant Pot. This comes down to the fact that, while slow cookers release a decent amount of steam, pressure cookers retain steam, which prevents reduction . Although to be fair, you may be able to modify the recipe to suit the Instant Pot.
The other big advantage to a dedicated slow cooker is that its easy to pop the lid off to give things a stir or add new ingredients over time. Thats a little more complicated with an Instant Pot.
However, the Instant Pot is reasonably good at all those tasks. If you dont already own those other gadgets , the Instant Pot is worth taking a look at.
Don’t Miss: What Instant Pot Size To Get
What Is The Instant Pot Anyway
It’s a multi-purpose electrical appliance. Think like a Crock Pot or slow cooker, except it can also do other things it’s a pressure cooker, a yogurt maker, and more. What features you get depends on what model you choose.
In other words it’s a plug-n-play machine that can replace a bunch of your kitchen appliances! And it’s amazing!
We have 2 Instant Pots and use them both multiple times each day. In fact, I love it so much that we have an entire class on pressure cooking featuring the;Instant Pot.
For more info, check out the Pressure Cooking eBook & Video Package or our Pressure Cooking eCourse .
Yet I use the Instant for much more besides like it’s my favorite way to reheat leftovers which you can learn about here. Or if you want to see 11 creative uses for an Instant Pot, go here. They’re fun!
So What Size Do You Need
As this article on HipPressureCooking.com discusses, the size of your pressure cooker directly impacts a number of elements which you should be thinking about when deciding on which make and model is ideal for your own culinary needs.
Its important to note that while size is absolutely something you should be considering, bigger doesnt mean better. In fact, choosing a pressure cooker that is unnecessarily large for your needs is just as problematic than selecting one that isnt quite big enough!
This is because youll be losing out on a lot of efficiency. If youre regularly filling your over-large pressure cooker to only a third or a half, then youre expending a lot of heat energy in heating up a whole lot of unused space within your pressure cooker! This has a knock-on effect as to how long the cooking process can take, as well as the obvious energy and financial implications.
Another reason not to go large for the sake of it is that you may be limiting the available cooking techniques at your disposal in doing so. The larger the pressure cooker volume, the higher the minimum amount of water youll have to use in cooking. This means that if youre trying to braise a piece of meat, the sheer quantity of liquid required to properly operate a larger pressure cooker might make it impossible. Youd have to make do with boiling instead, or perhaps pre-cooking which may defeat the purpose, and certainly reduces efficiency!
Don’t Miss: How Long Does Chicken Take To Cook In Instant Pot
Other Instant Pot Meals Youll Love
This Instant Pot hibachi style steak and zucchini is a quick and easy way to enjoy the classic Japanese steakhouse flavors at home. Its quick enough to make any night of the week!
Looking for other Instant Pot meals? Try these:
If youve tried this INSTANT POT HIBACHI STYLE STEAK AND ZUCCHINI or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on;,;, and;;to see more amazing recipes and whatever else weve got going on!
Can I Use Frozen Chicken Breasts Instead
Yes! To use frozen chicken breasts, they must be individually frozen and no larger than 8 ounces each.
Add the ingredients as normal and set the pressure for 11 minutes, then allow for a 10-minute natural release before removing the remaining pressure manually.
I personally enjoy this recipe with raw chicken breasts best as the rice cooks to the perfect texture.
You May Like: How To Instant Pot Chicken Breast
Alternative Competitive Electric Pressure Cooker Models
There are many competitive models on the market today that offer different features and functionalities. Most of these multi-cookers combine the benefits of an electric pressure cooker, along with other useful features.
The below competitive models are broken down by name and sizes, along with their respective set of features and winning features.
Full Set of Features: Pressure Cook, Air Crisp, Sear/Sauté, Bake, Broil, Steam, Slow Cook, Dehydrate
Something to keep in mind: It’s a bit on the bulkier side
Winning Features: TenderCrisp technology allows the latest model of the Ninja Foodi to double as an Air Fryer, allowing the best of both worlds
Mealthy Multipot 9-in-1 Review: 6QT, 8QT
Full Set of Features: Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Rice Cook, Sauté, Steam, Cake Maker, Egg Maker, Yogurt Maker, Warm.
Winning Feature: LED display that allows you to see the progress of cooking.I have also observed that the pressure build-up time is shorter by a few minutes as compared to an Instant Pot.
Mealthy Multipot 2.0 Review: 6QT
Full Set of Features: Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Rice Cook, Sauté, Steam, Cake Maker, Egg Maker, Yogurt Maker, Warm
Winning Feature: Hands-free & programmable pressure/steam release with the touch of a button. You can now set a Natural, Quick and Auto release
Exclusive $10 saving off the total purchase of $59.95 or greater, when you buy a Mealthy 2.0 Multipot on the Mealthy website. Use promo code: SPICECRAVINGS
The Best Size Is The Size Youll Most Frequently Use
Now that youre fully aware of some of the major factors which should be taken into consideration when assessing the optimal size for the pressure cooker youre going to purchase, lets take a look at some of the most common volumes and how you might want to use them.
- 5;Quarts or Less This is the perfect size for cooking meals for one or two people, or perhaps a small family at a push. If a relative is heading off to College or a friend is moving into a new place, this can be a great and practical gift to help make cooking for one a whole lot easier.
- 5 to 7;Quarts This is very much the standard size when it comes to pressure cookers. Youre provided with more flexibility in terms of the types of meals you can cook fully within the appliance, and can look to serve anywhere between 3-5 people with a single use.
- 7 to 10;Quarts If youre part of a big family, regularly cook for guests, or love cooking ahead of time and then storing meals for later, this is the perfect size pressure cooker for you. With this volume, you can easily serve groups of more than 6 people, and maybe still have some leftovers for the next day!
Thanks for reading and please share & pin this post!
Also Check: How Long To Cook Chicken Thighs In The Instant Pot
