What Size Instant Pot For Family Of 5

Other Differences Between Models

Displays and Controls 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 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 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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What Size Instant Pot Is Right For You

Best Answer: The most popular size, the 6-quart, is typically big enough for most people. Instant Pot has several different variants of their pressure cookers, but 6-quart is the default size for the LUX, DUO, DUO-Plus, Smart Bluetooth, Ultra, and Max versions. If you’re in doubt of what Instant Pot size to get, the 6-quart is usually the safest bet for the average person, and it can feed up to four people with leftovers.

What To Consider Before Buying An Instant Pot

Size

Do you have a large family or are you cooking solo? Size truly does matter when it comes to choosing the best Instant Pot. The most popular size is the 6-quart option, but some models offer 3-quart, 5-quart and even 8-quart options. Smaller sizes are more budget-friendly and take up less space on the counter, but larger sizes are great for cooking a family meal. We tested out all of our Instant Pot recipes using the 6-quart option and found it to be the perfect medium.

Editors Tip: Remember that the volume size is the absolute maximum capacity for your pot. When youre dealing with piping hot foods you should only fill your Instant Pot 3/4 full. For example, if youre looking to make a 3-quart recipe like our delish Pressure-Cooker Potato Soup, we recommend using a 6-quart Instant Pot. Though you can always learn how to cut down a recipe, here.

Functionality

As previously stated, the Instant Pot offers much more than a traditional pressure cooker. However, some Instant Pots have more settings than others. Regardless of the model, youll be able to pressure cook, saute, slow cook, steam, make ricethe list goes on. Just think of how many gadgets you can replace in your kitchen with a single Instant Pot. Thats a score for all of us who are low on storage space!

Price

Editors Tip: If youre buying an Instant Pot second-hand, make sure youre buying the latest version of that particular model.

Here are a few other smart money-saving ideas to consider.

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Instant Pot 8 Quart Vs 6 Quart And Comparing The Different Instant Pot Sizes:

The 6 Quart and the 8 Quart are not too different. The 6 Quart says its good for four to six people, and the 8 Quart is for six plus or if you like to have leftovers or meal prep.

Most people who already have an Instant Pot say they would prefer a bigger Instant Pot if they could get it.

I read many quotes of you can always make less food but if your pot is too small you cannot make more.

Better to have the bigger pot and not need it, than to have the smaller pot and need to make more food.

This attitude kind of sold me on the larger size, and made me realize maybe I would not regret my purchase after all.

If you ever like to have leftovers or make freezer meals the bigger size makes more sense.

After reading these thoughts I was less concerned about my pot being too big and waited to get my 8 Quart Instant Pot.

Once I got it I decided it definitely is not too big for me.

I have a family of five and while my children do not always eat what I make, it is nice to be able to make a large quantity of food if needed.

One of my concerns was how much space the Instant Pot would take on the counter, but it turns out I store it when its not in use, and then use it on my island so the steam is not hitting my cabinets.

This works out well and its not much bigger than my old slow cooker.

At the time, the only deal on the Ultra Instant Pot was on the 8 Quart and I really love the Ultra model.

It lets you know whether the pot is preheating, cooking, or done cooking and keeping warm.

What Is The Largest Size Pressure Cooker Electric & Stove Top

When it comes to size, a stovetop pressure cooker is always going to operate on a larger scale since they have an 8-15 PSI while electric pressure cookers have a 10-11PSI range. This means that if you go the stovetop route, you are able to purchase a pressure cooker that is anywhere between four and twenty-five quarts.

However, if you are looking into a pressure cooker/canner combination, there is a forty-one-quart aluminum stovetop option from All American Canner. Here is a breakdown of the largest electric and stovetop pressure cooker we could find.

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Versatility And Special Features

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.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats

Donna Currie is a cookbook author and writer for The Spruce Eats. Having tested both the Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Pressure Cooker and the Instant Pot Lux Mini 6-in-1 Pressure Cooker, she knows what to look for in an Instant Pot model: versatility, an intuitive design, and consistent results.

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Can I Use My Instant Pot As An Air Fryer

Instant Pot now sells a lid you can buy to make your Instant Pot an air fryer. This lid from Instant Pot only works on the 6 Quart!

But I recently bought a Mealthy CrispLid to make my 8 Quart Instant Pot into an air fryer as well. There are a couple of third party ones that work with the 8 Quart.

I will be reviewing this in a new post as soon as I try it out.

I love that a lid can be used with the Instant Pot though. Rather than having to buy another large kitchen appliance.

If you are interested in getting an Instant Pot that can work as an air fryer too then check out the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker 11 in 1, 8 Qt with Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate and more.

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!

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What Size Instant Pot Is The Best For You 2021

One of the biggest questions around forums is what is the difference between instant pot sizes? or what Instant Pot size should I buy? And its something that you need to get an answer before to buy any pressure cooker.

The number of Instant pot models gets wider by the year, so with so many options understanding what is the best size can be confusing, having in mind that you are trying to already know what are the best features and functions that fit you the best

So lets start by saying that the Instant Pot models are available in 4 different sizes 3 quarts, 5 quarts, 6 quarts, and 8 quarts. But have in mind that not all sizes are available for all models.

The most popular size is the 6 quarts version cause it fits most types of families but check out the table below and keep reading to find out the benefits of each size and compare which model is the right for your kitchen and family.

Contents

Different Instant Pot Models

• Has 10 functions , holds up to 3 quarts, great for 2-4 servings
• Instant Pot LUX50 6-in-1 5QTHas 6 functions , holds up to 5 quarts, and great for serving 3-4 people. However, this model has been discontinued. Though, you should still be readily able to find this model.
• Instant Pot 10-in-1, 8QT, Ultra Has 10 functions , holds up to 8 quarts, great for 8-12 servings

Hopefully, I was able to answer your questions of what size Instant Pot you should buy, or maybe I made things a little more difficult because of how many options per size that they have. My personal recommendation is to go with the Instant Pot 6qt Duo 9 in 1 or 7 in 1. Itll do everything you need for your family, for your batch cooking, or any type of meal you would like to prepare.

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What Are The Best Instant Pot Accessories

The best Instant Pot accessories are items that will make your pot perform better and help your recipes come out tastier. But you also want additions that make cooking easier. Overall, when it comes to top-rated accessories, a good steamer basket is extremely important. While the Instant Pot comes with a trivet or steaming rack, its a good idea to get a larger and better one. For many recipes like steamed veggies, most chicken recipes, eggs, and potatoes you dont want your ingredients touching the water at the bottom. A larger steam basket allows you to expand your instant cooking repertoire without sacrificing the flavor of the food .

A glass lid is another smart accessory for your pot. Standard lids obscure your view of the food thats cooking. With a glass lid, when you slow cook or sauté, you can see inside of the pot without uncovering your food .

Baking accessories are another must for your Instant Pot, especially if you enjoy sweets. For example, a good springform pan or cupcake liners that fit into your pot make cooking and cleanup simpler. With the right baking accessories, you can easily follow recipes for cheesecake, brownies, lava cakes, and more.

Is A 6 Quart Instant Pot Big Enough

I am constantly being asked the question will a 6-quart instant pot be big enough or should I purchase an 8-quart instant pot.

The 6 Quart Instant pot is big enough to feed a family of 4 comfortably usually with leftovers. The size of the Instant Pot itself is not too large so the average person should be able to move it around a kitchen as well as use it safely as well as clean and store it away after use.

The 6-quart Duo Plus Instant Pot is also the most popular instant pot sold

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Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart

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What Are The Available Sizes For The Instant Cooker

Generally speaking, there are two size options for the Instant Pot- the 6 qt and 8 qt. While other brands of electric pressure cookers may come in smaller sizes, those two sizes are the most typical. With that said, some Instant Pot models are 3 qt.

To make it easier to visualize, a 6 qt pot can be used to hold 24 cups of liquid, while an 8 qt pot is equal can be used to hold 32 cups. One way or the other, both sizes are in no way small if youre looking for something more miniature, you may wish to look at other options. If however, youre looking for something capable of preparing food for 4-6 people, this is it.

What Cant I Make In An Instant Pot

You can make almost anything in an Instant Pot, but there are a few foods you shouldnt cook in a pressure cooker. Unless youre using an Instant Pot with a crisping function, foods with a breading, like chicken tenders, probably wont turn out very well, because the Instant Pot moistens when pressure cooking. Some berries, like strawberries and blueberries, can also be a nightmare, as they tend to sputter out of the top as the pressure releases.

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Can You Make Bread In An Instant Pot

An Instant Pot doesnt have the hot, dry environment thats typically used for baking standard loaves of bread. However, there are specialty types of baked goods, like steamed buns, that can be cooked in an Instant Pot. Its also possible to bake cakes, but they will have a different exterior and texture since they will be steamed rather than baked. However, for the models of Instant Pot that can hold a precise low temperature of about 90 degrees, the Instant Pot can be used for proofing bread dough.

Instant Pot Lux Dimensions

With each Instant Pot Lux, it grows by about an inch in each direction with the larger quart sized models. And for weight, it goes up by a few pounds with each quart. From the 3 quart model to the 8 quart, its about a 80% increase in weight!

*The Lux 5 Quart is a discontinued size. You may still be able to find them on Amazon and parts are available on the Instant Pot website.

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Qt Vs 8qt Instant Pot

Let’s 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.

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.

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What Are All Of The Sizes That Instant Pot Offers

Instant Pot offers four sizes at the moment: 3, 5, 6, and 8-quart. However, you have to keep in mind that not every model comes in all sizes.

The 3-quart is available for the LUX, DUO, DUO Plus, and Ultra Series. There used to be a 5-quart DUO a few years ago, but that’s been discontinued. However, the company has made a 5-quart LUX model that’s been available for select retailers like Walmart during Black Friday sales.

The 6-quart comes in every model. This means you can get a 6-quart LUX, DUO, DUO Plus, Smart Bluetooth, Viva , Nova Plus , Ultra, and Max. It’s safe to assume that if Instant Pot comes out with a new product, it’s of the 6-quart capacity unless otherwise stated.

The 8-quart is the largest size offered by Instant Pot and is available for the LUX, DUO, DUO Plus, and Ultra models.