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The Instant Pot – it’s completely changed the landscape of the modern kitchen. Much more than a traditional pressure cooker, the Instant Pot offers many different cooking modes and features. But there are also an overwhelming amount of choices out there, and the last thing you want to do is waste your hard-earned money.
So we did the research, tested a wide variety of Instant Pots (and other brands), and aggregated tens of thousands of online reviews. After extensive tasting and testing, we were able to find the best Instant Pot. Here are our top picks – bon appétit!
Our Top Pick
Instant Pot DUO 60
With over 33,000 positive online reviews (yes, we’re serious) – this is the Instant Pot to get. A great price point, perfect functionality, and delicious flavors – who could ask for anything more?
Other Great Picks
Instant Pot Ultra
With over 3,000 glowing reviews, the Ultra is another great model of Instant Pot. It has 10 different functions in just one machine, and still comes in at a great price point. We loved the display, as well as some of the cheesecake we made with it. Highly recommended.
Instant Pot Smart WiFi
The Smart WiFi Instant Pot was a big hit with our office – as we can control it through our Alexa (and Alexa devices). It is a delight to work with, and it felt like we were in the future. It has over 400 positive online reviews, and made some of the best chili we’ve ever tasted.
Instant Pot LUX 60
With over 5,000 positive online reviews, the LUX 60 has 6 different functions in just 1 machine – and it has a stellar price point. We’ve gifted this to various family members, and our office has one in the kitchen, right now. Definite must-buy.
Instant Pot DUO Plus 60
With a whopping 5,000+ positive online reviews, the DUO Plus 60 is one of the best Instant Pots one the market. We loved the 9 different functions, and recommended spending slightly more, and getting the 8 quart model. This will provide much more space to meal prep, and allow you to cook large batches of healthy food at once.
Crock-Pot 8-Quart Multi-Use XL Express
With over 2,000 glowing online reviews, the first entry from Crock-Pot to challenge Instant Pot, offers many of the same great features. It does seem to come to pressure slightly faster than the Instant Pot – but there is no manual override – which is a key feature of every Instant Pot model.
Mealthy MultiPot 9-In-1
With over 1,300 positive online reviews, the Mealthy MultiPot offers 9 different cooking functions in one machine, and definitely gives the Instant Pot a run for its money. We liked the display, and how easy it was to use – as well as a set of other beginner-friendly features.
Yedi 9-In-1 Total Package
With over 900 glowing online reviews, and a near-perfect score – the Yedi Total Package is a great unit. It is very similar to the Instant Pot, and it functions just as well. If you are looking for an Instant Pot alternative, it may be this.
Power Pressure Cooker XL
With over 2,800 glowing reviews – the Power Pressure Cooker XL is a stellar multi-cooker. We loved making mac and cheese in it, as well as ribs – truly to die for, and loaded with flavor. Highly recommended.
GoWISE USA 12-In-1
With over positive 1,300 reviews online, this machine from GoWise is a great alternative to the Instant Pot. It offers 12 different cooking functions in one unit, and a great price point. It’s also very quiet, and our office loved the mashed potatoes we made with it.
What Is An Instant Pot?
Take the old design of the pressure cooker, improve it for the 21st century, and add five other functions. What do you end up with? The Instant Pot, that’s what.
Coming from out of nowhere, the Instant Pot completely took over the home cooking market – almost instantly. Created in 2009, the Instant Pot rapidly became a hot seller – with 215,000 units sold in just one day, in 2016.
With modern technology, faster cooking, easier cleanup, and the ability to ‘set it and forget it’ – the Instant Pot is the kitchen equivalent of what the personal computer was in the 1990s.
How We Tested For The Best Instant Pot
Testing for the best Instant Pot was easy – we love to eat, so we didn’t mind making batch after batch of food. We tried the most popular models, and made sure we gave each a full run. We also aggregated tens of thousands of actual user reviews, to make sure we didn’t miss any possible issues.
How To Use An Instant Pot
Using an Instant Pot is extremely easy – put your food in the inner pot, add a single cup of water (for most foods), and off you go. While the food is cooking, you can do anything you like.
One of the best features of the Instant Pot – you don’t need to stand by and watch your food cook. You can make a phone call, take a bath, exercise – your food will cook safely, and when it’s done, it will stay warm for you.
How Is An Instant Pot Different From A Pressure Cooker?
Pressure cookers have been around for decades – but they have not had the best track record when it comes to safety. The Instant Pot, on the other hand, has many built-in safety features, as well as advanced cooking technology.
This technology allows for food to be cooked more evenly. Additionally, the Instant Pot has many built-in features, which allow for complete control over how your food is cooked.
How Many Different Instant Pot Models Are There?
There are numerous Instant Pot models on the market. As of this writing, over 10 different Instant Pots are available.
Instant Pot has also moved into other markets, like blenders, sous vides, toaster ovens, and even air fryers. No matter what your needs are – there is an Instant Pot for you.
Are Instant Pots Safe?
Instant Pots are very safe, and their self-sealing mechanism helps ensure that nothing can go wrong during the cooking process. Just be certain to wear oven mitts when handling the inner pot, and stay away from the steam that is released when cooking is done.
What’s The Difference Between An Instant Pot And An Air Fryer?
An Instant Pot and an air fryer differ in the fundamental way that they cook food. The Instant Pot uses pressure cooking technology to cook foods faster – whereas an air fryer uses hot air for cooking.
Air fryers also disregard the traditional cooking oil, which is typically used for fried foods. Both appliances are steps forward in the home cooking market – as they make the entire process of cooking easier, faster, and neater.
Instant Pot Recipes: Where Can I Find Them?
As the Instant Pot has increased in popularity, so have the amount of recipes available. You can find Instant Pot recipes in cookbooks, in the official Instant Pot app, and on many different websites.
No matter which type of diet (or dish) you are looking for – you’ll be able to find a way to cook it inside your Instant Pot. And we particularly love that foods are ready in minutes – not hours.
How To Cook Rice In An Instant Pot
Cooking rice inside an Instant Pot is simple. Simply combine the rice and some water in your inner pot, and let cook. Within 20 minutes, you’ll have a whole batch of rice – ready to eat.
How To Cook Chicken In An Instant Pot
Cooking chicken in an Instant Pot couldn’t be any easier. Whether you’re cooking a frozen chicken breast, or thawed chicken, you just drop it inside the Instant Pot, add a little water, and let it cook. Within 20 minutes, you’ll have a great meal.
How To Make Yogurt In An Instant Pot
Making yogurt in an Instant Pot is very easy – and it tastes great. Simply add milk to the Instant Pot, and choose the yogurt setting (set to boil).
Once the cook cycle is complete, cool the inner pot in a bowl of ice water. After this, mix together some yogurt and milk (outside of your inner pot).
Stir this mixture into your inner pot, and then put the inner pot back into the Instant Pot itself. Select the yogurt setting again, and let cook.
Once cooked, let the yogurt cool in the fridge, and then enjoy.
What Should An Instant Pot Not Be Used For?
While nearly any food will work in an Instant Pot, there are some rare exceptions. Dairy in general is not great in the Instant Pot pressure cooking process – you’ll mostly want to add dairy in after the pressure cooking portion is complete.
If you don’t, dairy may curdle during the pressure cooking process. Fried foods also do not typically turn out great in the Instant Pot – they won’t have quite have the right finished texture.
That said, you can still cook these foods in an Instant Pot – but your results may not be perfect. All dairy dishes can be easily be modified to add the cheese or milk at the end, and dishes like cake do not need to be modified at all.
For fried foods, you can easily finish them in the oven, if you want a crispy outside texture. Other than these two exceptions, any food will cook absolutely flawlessly with an Instant Pot.
What Is The Best Instant Pot For Me?
There are many different Instant Models out there (and of course the other brands now competing with Instant Pot). Ultimately, you should determine how often you plan on using the Instant Pot, who you’ll be cooking for, and how big your budget is.
This will help determine which model may be right for you. We do recommend erring on the side of caution though, when it comes to choosing the size of your Instant Pot.
It’s far easier to buy an Instant Pot with a bigger inner pot, and never really need to use it – than it is to get stuck with an Instant Pot that’s too small. We also found it much easier to cook in the bigger sizes, as it made maneuvering in and around the Instant Pot much easier.
Unless you are only cooking tiny batches of food (meant only for yourself) – it isn’t a great idea to go with a smaller model. To get the most efficiency and benefit out of your Instant Pot, you are going to want to make each batch of food as big as possible.
Instant Pot Accessories: Which Ones Do I Need?
There are a ton of great Instant Pot accessories. While you don’t need every one of them, there are some essential choices we would recommend.
For starters, get a backup inner pot. This will save you from constantly having to wash yours, and will allow to make bigger batches of food quickly. Next, you’ll definitely want a springform cake pan.
This makes desserts far easier to make, and will allow you to perfect the art of making sweets in your Instant Pot. We also recommend silicone mini mitts – they help you grab the inner pot easily, without burning your hands.
There are a ton of other helpful Instant Pot accessories, but not all of them are immediately essential. The best thing to do is start cooking with an Instant Pot, and see which accessories may benefit your own unique cooking style.
Does The Instant Pot Have Smart Features?
Every Instant Pot model has a number of state-of-the-art features. These include a microprocessor, which helps adjust the cooking temperature for the amount of food in the inner pot.
Every Instant Pot also has features like a 24-hour delayed start, and some also have an LCD screen. But if you want WiFi connectivity, you’ll need to get the Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi.
This model is truly next level – you can control your Instant Pot right from your phone. You’ll also be able to use the pre-programmed recipes in the Instant Pot app, as well as check on the status of your cooking.
The Best Instant Pot
There you have it – our picks for the best Instant Pot. This device has truly revolutionized cooking for the 21st century.
No matter if you want a small Instant Pot for just you, or a huge Instant Pot to cook for your family – there is a model for everyone. You can do meal prep for the whole week – all while you work on something else.
If you want yogurt, cheesecake, chili, tomato soup, or even quiche – you can make it in an Instant Pot. For less than $100, you can have a cleaner, more efficient kitchen – and who doesn’t want that?
However, there are a ton of great kitchen tools besides the Instant Pot. So be sure to take a look at our other kitchen and home product reviews.