Instant Pots Are Heatwave-Proof. These Are the Best to Use Instead of the Oven
These handy tools may posture as a winter kitchen appliance, but when it's too steamy to run the big oven, it's Instant Pot to the rescue.
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Instant Pots have become a kitchen staple, beloved for their versatility (most models cook in about five different modes), speed and unmatched convenience. While that slow-cooked style food might have a general winter vibe, Instant Pots are actually an unsung hero for summer when turning on the stove can result in a very hot kitchen and a very agitated home cook. Instant Pots give off a little steam but almost no heat, making them one of the best summer kitchen appliances, especially for those without grill space.
The best Instant Pot model for you depends on your cooking style, how many you're cooking for and budget. There are Instant Pots that air fry, others that sous-vide and even multicookers that connect to Wi-Fi to be controlled via a mobile device or smart home integration like Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. Most come in three sizes -- 3, 6 and 8 quarts -- each with distinct features, programs, cooking functions and price tags.
In terms of size, the 6-quart models are the most popular for families and perfect if you're cooking for three to five people. For a single person or even a couple, you could easily get away with a 3-quart and save a few bucks while you're at it. If you're making food for a large group on the regular, you might consider the larger 8-quart cooker.
These handy kitchen cookers look similar on the outside, and they will all do the basic functions of pressure cooking, slow cooking, warming and sautéing. If you're looking for an Instant Pot that performs specific food functions such as cooking eggs, making yogurt or even canning fruit, you'll need to know which models can do that. Different models prove better for different kinds of cooking like precision programs, air frying, yogurt making and sous-vide cooking.
We're here to help you figure out the best Instant Pot for your culinary needs. Here are our favorite Instant Pot models to help you find the perfect fit. We update this list periodically.
Best Instant Pots and multicookers for 2023
Best value model and for beginners
Instant Pot Duo
The Instant Pot Duo is the company's most popular series and for good reason. It's super simple to operate and offers seven versatile cooking functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker and warmer. You can buy the Duo in three sizes: 3-quart ($80), 6-quart ($99) and 8-quart ($109).
It's also the most affordable model with yogurt and poultry programs, as well as the option to pressure cook on high or low.
Programs included: Rice, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Meat/Stew, Multigrain, Porridge, Soup/Broth, Steam, Manual or Pressure Cooking
What it doesn't have: Cake, Sterilize, Egg and Canning
Best for slow cooking
Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1
The Ultra series offers upgrades from the previous models. You can cook dishes like Instant Pot chicken breasts, mac and cheese or mashed potatoes with high and low pressure for up to 6 hours, which is 2 hours more than the Lux and Duo series. It's available in 3-quart ($99), 6-quart ($125) and 8-quart ($160) sizes. It's the best Instant Pot for slow cooking.
The Ultra name comes from the added option to fine-tune parameters like temperature. Unlike with other Instant Pots, you can specify temperature to a single degree from 104 to 208 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also dial in specific values for cooking time, pressure level and delay time.
Programs included: Rice, Bean/Chili, Meat/Stew, Multigrain, Porridge, Soup/Broth, Cake, Sterilize, Steam, Egg, Manual or Pressure Cooking, and Ultra
What it doesn't have: Poultry and Canning
Best Instant Pot and air fryer combo
Instant Pot Duo Crisp
The big draw for this Instant Pot is that it doubles as an air fryer -- and a good one at that. We've made several air-fried recipes in this versatile multicooker and the results rival even some of our favorite standalone air fryers. The Duo Crisp has most of the other functions you'd expect of an Instant Pot but a separate lid turns into a superconvection air fryer to save space in the kitchen.
This model is available in a 6- or 8-quart capacity. You can also upgrade to the $180 Pro Crisp which offers the extra features of the Instant Pot with the air frying lid.
Programs included: Pressure Cook, Sauté, Slow Cook, Steam, Sous Vide, Warm, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate.
Doesn't have: Canning, Sterilize, Poultry, Egg.
Best Instant Pot for experts
Instant Pot Pro
The Instant Pot Pro is one of the more advanced models in the line, so it might not be the best choice for your first Instant Pot pressure cooker. That said, it's still easy to operate with just a few more features like adjustable custom cooking programs and a precision temperature dial. The Pro also features a sous-vide cooking function -- low and slow water bath -- along with 28 other cooking programs.
This model has easy-grip handles on the inner pot, a large LCD display, an upgraded steam-release valve and an auto-sealing lid. The 6-quart Pro is $130 while the 8-quart version will cost you $150.
Programs included: Pressure cook, Slow, Sous vide, Sauté, Sterilize, Yogurt, Warmer, Cake and Steamer
What it doesn't have: Air fry, Roast and Egg
Best smart home Instant Pot
Instant Pot Pro Plus
- The Instant Pot Smart WiFi sends mobile notifications when cooking is complete, and you can see the status of your food from anywhere through the Instant Pot app.
- Adding Wi-Fi doesn't give you integration with any voice assistants or other smart home products. You can't actually change a cooking mode in the app once it's started cooking and there's no numerical temperature reading.
You may remember the first smart Instant Pot, the Instant Pot Smart, which was powered by Bluetooth. The company discontinued that model and replaced it with the $200 Instant Pot Pro Plus.
This tech-forward multicooker connects to your phone's Instant Pot control panel app for remote monitoring of your cooker, Instant Pot recipe customization and notifications. With the Pro Plus, you can select from one of more than 800 smart recipes and the app will wirelessly program the Instant Pot Pro Plus and direct you when to take certain steps.
Programs included: Rice, Bean/Chili, Meat/Stew, Multigrain, Porridge, Soup/Broth, Cake, Steam, Egg and Manual or Pressure Cooking
What it doesn't have: Poultry and Sterilize
How to choose the right Instant Pot
Before settling on an Instant Pot or multicooker, there are some considerations to make in terms of size, price, functionality and cooking programs.
Consider the features and programs
Food-specific modes and options will make the difference when it comes to picking the best Instant Pot for your cooking needs. If you want to venture into making your own yogurt, or if you love hard-boiled eggs, it's worth it to pay a bit more for an Instant Pot model that can do those things.
Picking the right Instant Pot size
When it comes to choosing the right size, Instant Pot recommends a 3-quart model for one or two people. Families of six or fewer will likely be happy with the 6-quart multicooker. If you have a large household or host large groups often, consider springing for an 8-quart model.
Price and value
You can find multicookers and Instant Pots for hundreds of dollars, but even the budget-friendly models do most of what you'll ask of an Instant Pot and do it well. The pricier models may include more cooking programs, more user-friendly release valves or a sleeker exterior, but how well they pressure-cook, slow-cook or steam won't change much even as you jump up in price.
If you're still not sure which model will be the best Instant Pot for your kitchen, take a look at Instant Pot's product comparison chart or its guide to choosing the right cooker. At the end of the day, all of these models offer the basic pressure-cooking and slow-cooking modes Instant Pot is known for performing so well.
Other multicooker brands to consider
There are options from other brands, too. We reviewed a great Wi-Fi multicooker from ChefIQ, for example. It does more than Instant Pot's Wi-Fi model and comes with an integrated scale, nonstick pot and helpful iOS or Android app. It costs $200, so if you're not ready to graduate to a high-end model, Instant Pot's more affordable options are great for beginners. Ninja also makes several multicookers that have performed well in our testing. The Ninja Foodi 6.5-quart with SmartLid ($199) and is just one of several options from the brand's expansive line.
Instant Pot FAQs
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Read more: 9 Best Instant Pot Accessories
