You’ve probably heard about electric pressure cookers before Instant Pots became the popular hit that it is today. With great marketing and some improvements, the Instant Pots became a must-have in all kitchens, especially in the ones belonging to busy people or those who simply don’t have the patience to cook. On that note, you can be sure that the best Instant Pot for you is out there, and we will help you find it.
With the multi-cooker, all-in-one gadget popularity increasing every day, there are plenty of recipes to be used on them of everything you can imagine. You can use your Instant Pot to cook lasagnas, cheesecakes, hard-boiled eggs, rice, soup, and so much more. Its versatility will allow you to make the entrance, main dish, and dessert, making your life in the kitchen the easiest it could be.
The Instant Pot has a feature that allows it to regulate its own heat, something that didn’t happen with older stovetop pressure cookers. That way, all you have to do is set the pot and go do your chores, or just relax, not having to worry about your meal getting burned or ruined. Besides that, you save a lot of counter space since the gadget can do it all – you won’t need a rice cooker or a slow cooker, for instance. Plus, the Instant Pot has made instant cooking approachable and easier for all cooks for being more user-friendly and easier to maneuver.
The majority of Instant Pots are made of stainless steel. That’s because it seems to be a preference from the users over the nonstick coating. In any way, there are also nonstick-coated options if that’s what meets your needs the best. The Instant Pot line has all kinds of products, from different sizes to various settings and functionals.
Another great thing about this gadget is that you can cook meats, make yogurt, use it as an air fryer, and much more. That way, it is perfect for newbies, professional cookers, and everyone in between. Finding the best Instant Pot for your personal tastes and needs will be super easy.
What to look for in your Best Instant Pot
As we explained before, there is definitely an Instant Pot model that was made for you. But, in a sea of options, it’s really hard narrowing down the ones that will actually fit all your needs. That way, you need to understand the models and the features available to choose the best Instant Pot for you.
The first things you need to consider when choosing which model would be the best one for you are: how many people you usually cook to, how often you will use the product, how much counter space you have, and your budget. Besides that, we gathered everything that you need to look for when purchasing an Instant Pot.
- Size
The size is one of the most important things to consider when getting an Instant Pot. That’s because the size not only defines how much counter space or storage you are going to need but also how much you will be able to cook at once.
If you usually cook in big batches for parties or just for meal prep, a bigger model will be the right fit for you. But, of course, you need to make sure you have room for it in your kitchen. Now, if you only cook for yourself or for a couple of people, or you don’t cook regularly, smaller ones will do it for you. You can find pots from 3 to 8-quart capacity. The larger the capacity, the bigger the price.
- Special Features and Versatility
The factor that actually sets the models apart is which features it provides. There are Instant Pots that come with just the basic pressure cooker feature, but you can find many other options in the marketing. There are Instant Pots with features to make specific foods such as rice, yogurt, soups, beans, cake, plus cooking settings like steaming. Among others like delayed cooking, Alexa compatibility, keep warm settings, air frying, sous vide, temperature controls, high-altitude adjustments, and remote cooking capabilities.
Of course, the more features the Instant Pot has, the more expansive it will be. Make sure you’re choosing the one that will actually attend to your needs so you don’t spend too much money on a product you won’t use to the fullest. Think about what is important to you and choose a model that offers that!
- Price
Since there are so many different models of Instant Pots, the price ranges wide, going from $50 to $200. You can find older and more basic models for the lower price, but the newer ones and the ones with various features and settings can reach up to $200.
The good thing about Instant Pots is that they are extremely versatile. If you are looking to really play around with it and will cook regularly and in large quantities, your money will definitely be worth the cost. On the other hand, if you are just starting on cooking and aren’t planning on using it so often, a more basic model will be the best Instant Pot for you.
Maintenance of your Best Instant Pot
Just like in every other topic, the Instant Pot also makes your life easier when it comes to cleaning. The lid, the sealing ring, and the steam racker are all dishwasher-safe so that you won’t have any trouble in that department. You can use a warm, damp cloth to clean the outside of the pot. You just need to make sure that your pot is unplugged and that it has cooled down.
If there is any stubborn leftover food stuck on spots that the dishwasher won’t reach, you can use a toothbrush to clean it all out. Now, if you notice the stainless steel is losing its shine or has any spots, you can safely soak in white vinegar and then rinse it.
The trick part of the Instant Pot is the sealing ring. Even though it is dishwasher safe, it only lasts around 18 to 24 months. That’s because sealing rings tend to crack, discoloration, and acquire odors, which makes them unsuitable for use. If there are any leaks on the sealing ring, the pressure cook won’t work. Another thing to consider is getting two sealing rings if you plan on using your Instant Pot to cook both savory and sweet dishes.
The Best Instant Pots on Amazon
Now that you’ve learned everything that is to know about Instant Pots, including how they work, what to look for in the models, and how to maintain them, it’s time to choose which one you’ll take home with you! We gathered the best models available on Amazon on a list to make it even easier for you.
Once you choose the best Instant Pot for you, you purchase through this article by clicking its link!
Best Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
The Duo Plus is great for both singles and big families. Counting with the most popular features of Instant Pots, you get pressure, slow cooking, sous vide, yogurt, sterilize, oatmeal, grain, bean, rice, porridge, cake, egg, broth, soup and sauté. You can cook all the essentials with just the press of a button, making your life in the kitchen way easier.
It comes with a progress bar in the display that allows you to follow how the cooking is going in an easy way. The display also shows the temperature and the pressure, which is great for the sous vide feature since it allows precise temperature for it. That way, you can cook steak, chicken breast, and even soups and stews without risking getting it wrong!
Another great thing about this model is that it has a great Manual cooking setting that is really easy to use. There are clearly marked buttons for all the functions, being really user-friendly. On the downside, the cooking pot doesn’t come with a nonstick coating, and it doesn’t have the most updated design.
This Instant Pot has a 6-quart capacity, falling into the medium category. If you are using the gadget just for yourself or for a couple of people, but you like to cook in batches, this can be a great choice for you. Plus, it doesn’t need much room for storage, with a 13,4 x 12,2 x 12,5 inches dimension.
You can find it on Amazon for $105.
Best Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker
The Duo 7-1 cooker comes with all different kinds of settings and features to make your life in the kitchen easy and simple. You won’t have to worry about letting your food burn or remember to keep an eye on it all the way through. Perfect for busy people or the ones who just don’t have the patience to cook.
This Instant Pot has pre-programmed settings for broth, soup, stew, meat, poultry, chili, beans, steam, keep warm, sauté, rice, slow cook, multigrain, porridge, and yogurt. The last one is the users’ favorite! That’s because, even though making yogurt isn’t so hard, this cooker makes the process even easier. It keeps the culture at the proper temperature without the need for any intervention from the user.
Plus, if you don’t want to use the pre-programmed settings, you can leave it just as you like it. The cooker allows you to choose between two levels of pressure, three sauté temperatures, and three slow cook temperatures. And the best part is that it remembers previous settings, so you won’t have to set it up every time you use it. It also comes with delayed cooking features – that allow you to delay up to 24 hours; and the manual cooking setting can be set up to 2 hours.
The product has a 6-quart capacity and a 13,3 x 12,2 x 12,4 inches dimension, not being hard to store. You can find it on Amazon for $89.
Best Instant Pot Pro 8-Quart 10-in-1
We all know Instant Pots come with all different kinds of features, settings, and functions, but the Duo Crisp takes it to a whole other level. Not only is this a multi-cooker but it is also an air fryer. It comes with two different lids, one of them with a fan and a heater, which allows the air fryer effect. Also, it comes with a special basket, made for this kind of method, that allows the air to flow all around. That makes the Instant Pot even more versatile, allowing you to cook pretty much anything on it.
Besides the air fryer function, this cooker also comes with the most popular features of Instant Pots. You will get pressure cooking, sauté, slow cook, steam, and sous vide cooking. The air fryer lid allows you to dehydrate, broil, bake, and roast. Even though it doesn’t come with pre-programmed settings, there is so much to work with that you don’t even miss it.
This cooker has a big capacity, holding 8-quart. You can put a whole chicken into the air fryer and have it crispy and golden in a few minutes. That way, this model is ideal for big families, or for people who cook a lot or for a lot of people. If you are planning to use it just once in a while, it might not be worth the investment.
You can find it on Amazon for $200.
