Which Instant Pot Should You Buy
By ; |; Updated April 15, 2021; |; 0 Comments;
One of the hottest trends in cooking the past couple of years has been Instant Pot programmable pressure cookers. The reason Instant Pots have become so popular is how easy they are to use and how quickly they make delicious food.; The maker of these little pots also likes to talk about the health benefits of pressure cooking and the way it locks in nutrients.
If youre asking yourself which Instant Pot should I buy youve come to the right place.; Our guide has all the info you need to make the right choice when youre ready to buy.
The biggest advantage pressure cookers have over traditional slow cookers, and stovetop cooking is that cooking under pressure speeds up the process, so instead of a scrumptious pot roast with fork-tender chunks of beef taking four or five hours to cook, the same pot roast can be made in an Instant Pot in about hour.
After cooking with an Ultra for over a year, weve found that they do live up to the hype.; The majority of the cooking we do with ours is hearty dishes that benefit from being cooked under pressure and rice dishes that we want to set and forget.; A few of our favorite recipes are White Bean and Pancetta Ragout andMexican Rice.
Instant Pot is continually adding new features, so people can use their machines as a slow cooker, rice maker, sous vide, warmer, etc., instead of having a bunch of gadgets lying around the kitchen that only occasionally get dusted off.
What’s The Best Instant Pot To Buy For You And Your Family
Everyone’s talking about the;Instant Pot and you’re fairly certain you need one, too. Right?!
Only what model and what size do you get?
Deanna is asking this as well: Everyone I know has an Instant Pot! I know I want one, too, but the trouble is when I go to order one, I get overwhelmed by which model to choose and whether I should get a 6 or 8 quart? Can you help?
I understand; this is a big choice. You’ll see if you keep reading that it wasn’t easy for me, either.
Yet now I’ve been around the block with our;Instant Pot. And we have 2 different sizes in our home, so I’m happy to share my advice and from my experience to help you choose the model and size for you and your family.
That’s what’s on tap for today’s #AskWardee!
Both the podcast and video replay of this week’s show are below. Enjoy!
Instant Pot Smart Bluetooth
This is the Instant Pot to get if you like playing with kitchen technology. It comes with a downloadable app that lets you create and share recipe scripts that provide fined grained control over your shiny metal friends cooking.
One thing Instant Pot makes clear is that the Bluetooth function is designed for running recipe scripts and not for starting the pot while youre still at the office. This smart pot can cook under pressure for up to two hours.
Functions: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Porridge Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Sauté/Searing, Steamer, Warmer,
Sizes: 6 quart
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The Best Stovetop Cooker: Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Pressure Cooker
The Rolls Royce of stovetop pressure cookers, Kuhn Rikon’s models are built to last, with all-metal valve parts and quality gaskets that keep the pressure in, requiring less energy input to keep the cooker at high pressure. The Duromatic line comes in a range of shapes and sizes. This 6.3-quart option is a good choice for most homes, though if you can afford it, we’re also huge fans of its 8.5-quart, 11-inch-wide model for stews and braises.
Research And Buying Tips
How is an Instant Pot different from a pressure cooker?
A pressure cooker is a device that cooks food under pressure. Its either an electric device you plug into the wall or a stovetop device that uses the heat of your cooktop. An Instant Pot is a multifunctional pressure cooker, meaning it has additional cooking functions outside of pressure cooking.
What is an Instant Pot?
An Instant Pot is a countertop appliance that plugs into a wall outlet. Instant Pots are pressure cookers, but they can also slow cook, steam, sauté, warm, and more . They have presets for certain food items like poultry, rice, and stew, so you can simply press a button to cook your meal.
What can you cook in an Instant Pot?
You can make just about anything in an Instant Pot, especially if you have a model with an air frying lid. Before Instant Pot came out with the air frying lid, one of the biggest complaints about Instant Pots was that you couldnt make dry foods no breaded chicken or French fries, and chicken skin would come out soggy. With the addition of the air frying lid, you can now make crispy and crunchy food items. Just be careful not to overstuff the Instant Pot because it wont properly cook your food, and it could lead to problems with the pot itself.
Can you can food in an Instant Pot?
Which Instant Pot size is right for me?
Are Instant Pots safe?
Editors’ Recommendations
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Most Popular: Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus Pressure Cooker
Instant Pots have exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming one of the buzziest, most popular kitchen appliances out there. The Instant Pot Duo Nova 8-Quart Pressure Cooker is the company’s “most user-friendly, intuitive model.” A pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, sous vide machine, steamer, sauté pan, and cake maker in one, this utility player features 48 customizable cooking programs. The inner pot is great for browning and has handles so you can easily lift it out and transfer it to the stovetop. This particular model also incorporates safety features like an easy-seal lid, safety lock, and protection against overheating.;;
“I absolutely LOVE this model, the Duo Evo Plus, 8-quart by Instant Pot,” said one shopper. “I’ve been using Instant Pot brand electric pressure cookers for years and have the Duo and Viva, but this one is a game-changer. The upgrades and improvements make pressure cooking SO much easier. The improvements are awesome such as the completely flat bottomed inner pot that sautes more evenly and heats up faster due to the increased wattage and better materials. The stay-cool handles DO stay cool and they provide a more stable lifting of a full pot. The self-sealing lid is fantastic as is the built-in steam diffuser. These are only a few of the reasons why I think this is the best version of the Instant Pot yet and I use mine several times a day.”;
To buy: $140 at williams-sonoma.com or $140 at
The Best Instant Pot For You: A Comprehensive Guide To Every Size And Model
All products featured on Epicurious are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Youve heard the hype, read the articles, perused the recipes, and come to the conclusion that you absolutely need an Instant Pot . But finding the best Instant Pot model for your unique cooking needs is a more involved task than it may seem. This buying guide for the beloved kitchen appliance has the answer to every anxious Instant Pot question you may have and will help you determine which of the many varieties is right for you.;
Though every Instant Pot model has the same basic multi-cooking functionality that made it a household favorite, some are more versatile than others. Most of the models are very similar in terms of pot size, wattage, and voltage; where they differ is mostly in the softwarehow many smart programs are built in with preset heat, time, and pressure levels.;
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What To Look For In A Countertop Pressure Cooker
Nearly all countertop pressure cookers these days are multi-cookers that also have slow-cooker functions; searing functions; sautéing, simmering, reducing, steaming, and, in some models, yogurt-making functions. A specific model may say “six in one” or “seven in one,” but you can largely ignore those numbers. The only question that matters is whether it will do what you need it to do.
I want to be able to sear and sauté in the same vessel, and I want that searing to be powerful enough to actually brown meat in a reasonable amount of time. I want the cooker to come up to pressure and maintain that pressure with no monitoring. The more automation, the better. I’d like to get the thing running with an intuitive interface that gives me maximum control over my cooking with minimal button presses. I want to be able to manually adjust timing and pressure, both at the start of cooking and on the fly. I also want a pressure cooker that’s easy to clean. Some models I tested had internal pots that would not sit stillthey’d rotate around and around as I tried to stir, making cooking in them difficult and tedious. Others had lids that were difficult to align or lock down.
I’m less interested in the slow-cooking function in most multi-cookers, but I tested these out anyway.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer
The ability to make crispy and dry foods was one of the most significant features the original Instant Pot lacked. One of the more innovative new instant pot models checks all the boxes, though. The 8-quart Instant Pot Duo Crisp is an air fryer and a multifunctional pressure cooker. It does everything the Instant Pot does pressure cook, sauté, steam, slow cook, sous vide, and keep warm and more. Its additional features let you roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate foods.
Lets say you decide to pressure cook a rotisserie chicken in the Duo Crisp. You can also crisp the skin in the same appliance. Making crispy foods like French fries is also easy. Not to mention, its healthier than heating a vat of oil.
Instant Pot also has an air frying lid that you can purchase separately and attach to most 6-quart Instant Pots. The Instant Pot air fryer lid is compatible with most six-quart pots, just not the Smart Wi-Fi 60, Smart Bluetooth, Duo Evo Plus 60, Duo SV 60, Max 60, or any model with a ceramic inner pot.
A pressure cooker and an air fryer are two of todays kitchen must-haves, and theres nothing better than a multitasking kitchen appliance. Instant Pot has been breathing new life into the pressure cooker for a while now, but the company has only recently forayed into the air fryer business. Were grateful that they did, even if it took them a bit.
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What Can You Do With An Instant Pot
~ Even after I bought my first Instant Pot, I was honestly still kind of wondering, What can you do with an Instant Pot? What can you cook with it? Maybe youre in the same boat. Or, maybe youre just trying to figure out Should I buy an Instant Pot? Will I actually use it? Heres an overview of the types of recipes you can make with an Instant Pot and also some of the things you just really cant.;~
In last weeks post we delved into the ins and outs of the very first question most people ask in any Instant Pot journey: Just exactly what is an Instant Pot?
I promised wed talk next about which Instant Pot you should buy, but then I realized that theres probably a more important question we oughta address first.
Before you worry over which model is right for you, lets talk more specifically about what kinds of foods you might cook in an Instant Pot and what sorts of expectations you should have so you can figure out whether or not this is even something that will fit into your lifestyle and typical cooking strategies .
THEN we can proceed to the question of exactly which size and which model you might be happiest buying, ok?
Best Instant Pots: Which Instant Pot To Buy
See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.
Are you wondering which Instant Pot to buy? There are so many options, from different sizes to different models, that it can be overwhelming. In this Instant Pot comparison I simplify the options to help you decide on the best Instant Pot for you and your family.
As a mom of four with real-life experience using different sizes and models of Instant Pots, I can help you decide what size and features you really need. So which is the best Instant Pot? Its the one that meets your cooking needs and has the functions that you need, without extras that you dont. Extra features sound nice, and they are if you actually use them. But if youll just be using the basics theres no need to pay more for a more complicated Instant Pot model.
I have purchased two Instant Pots for myself and one for my mom. Ive also helped my mother-in-law decide which Instant Pot to buy. Ive helped friends with different Instant Pot models learn how to use an Instant Pot.
Ive done lots of research and Ive had lots of experience cooking with different Instant Pots. Im ready to share what Ive learned to help you decide which Instant Pot to buy. Youre going to love your new Instant Pot! Also see my favorite picks for the best Instant Pot accessories.
Also Check: How To Saute Vegetables In An Instant Pot
Duo Evo Plus / Instant Pot Ultra
The 10-in-1 Duo Evo Plus has all the previous features and the main change is the inner pot. Unlike many other Instant Pots, its inner pot can go on the stovetop, so you can also use it as a stock pot.
The Instant Pot Ultra offers precision altitude adjustments to take the guesswork out of recipe conversion. It also covers all the functions of a a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sous vide, sauté, food warmer, cake maker and sterilizer.
Approximate Retail Price: £129.99 / $119.99
The Best Instant Pot for
Advanced home chefs that want extra customization
Ok Ok So Which Instant Pot To Buy
Actual Size Remember that, for pressure cooking, you typically dont want to fill the pot more than 2/3 full , because a too-full pot can cause the quick-release pressure valve to clog. So, when youre considering which size to purchase and how much room youll need to make your favorite recipes, its important to think about the actual usable size, not just the total size.
What Do You Like to Cook?;;When debating about which size to get, think about whether you like big-batch cooking, cooking to freeze ahead, or the ease of making enough to have leftovers for a few days. If so, then you probably want to choose a slightly larger option, rather than going a little smaller.
How Adventuresome Do You Truly Plan to Be?;;Reality check. Heres where you need to ask yourself things like, Do I really plan to make yogurt with my Instant Pot? Its easy to get lured in by the promise of all the fun you could have with more moreMORE functionality. But, since each step up in model also means a step up in price, you might want to have a serious talk with yourself about what kind of cooking is actually likely to be happening, and if the lure of I might make yogurt one time or I might;one-day-maybe write my own recipe scripts is actually worth a higher price tag. If youve got the bucks and you think some added bells and whistles could be fun, though then by all means go for it!
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Recommended Reading: How To Set Instant Pot On High Pressure
What Size Electric Pressure Cooker Should You Get
“The sizes that I’ve seen are three quarts, six quarts, eight quarts, and now 10 quarts, which is enormous,” said Eisner. “I always suggest getting the six-quart, even if you’re just a family of two up to a family of six. The three-quart is good for maybe a single person, but it’s limited. One of the best things you can make in an Instant Pot is a roast. But, you’re going to have trouble in a three-quart model because it’s so tiny. So, I always suggest going with a six-quart. Start with a six-quart, see how much you love your pot, and then, from there, people typically start to get addicted to it, and they’ll get a larger size, like an eight-quart.”
Many of the models in our guide come in several sizes. All except one of the models we tested was either six or eight quarts, the two most popular sizes. We didn’t notice any significant differences in cooking time or food quality between the sizes.
Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer
After seeing the success of the Duo Crisp, Instant Pot came out with another model that air fries. The Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer is an 11-in-1 pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer, sous vide, air fryer, roaster, mini oven, broiler, and dehydrator. It comes with two lids one for pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, and functions that use liquid, and another lid for drying functions like air frying and dehydrating.
Available in 8 quarts, the Pot is large enough to fit plenty of ingredients. You can make French fries, chicken tenders, and even baked goods. The inner pot is stovetop friendly, while the upgraded lid helps prevent burns. The Pro Crisp looks great, too, with a sleek design and a clean-looking display.
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