Instant Pot Review 2023: Select the Right Size and Model
Do you own separate appliances for pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming and cooking rice? Well, let me tell you, that is not how you lead an efficient kitchen. Such an approach leads to increased expenses and poor kitchen space management. What if I told you that all these operations and more can be performed using a single appliance! Yes, you read that right. Welcome to my Instant Pot review and let me introduce you to the majestic Instant Pot or Instapot as some call it.
You probably have already known the all-purpose Instant Pots for a while now. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to state that this appliance is the current favourite of the American and Canadian households. The popularity of InstaPots can be evaluated by the fact that more than 300,000 units of these were sold on the latest Amazon prime day this year. Now that’s quite a number!
Domestic households with small kitchens have been inclined towards this magnificent gizmo. The prime reason being, an InstaPot functions as a multipurpose kitchen appliance. The fact that an Instant Pot couples the function of multiple kitchen appliances into one, makes it the favoured choice for domestic households with restricted kitchen space.
If you don’t already own an Instant Pot pressure cooker, you might want to know about the available InstaPot sizes and their specifications before investing in one of them. Further along the article, we have incorporated critical details that will lend you a helping hand prior to buying your best InstaPot. This Instant Pot review includes all necessary details you need to know before you select the right InstaPot model for yourself.
Read along and help yourself get the best Instant Pot that precisely suits your requirements!
Best InstaPot Reviews 2023
All 5 Instant Pot models in this review have been manufactured with similar functions and safety mechanisms. However, there are slight modifications introduced in the latest ones. We below have a genuine comparison between all of them. You are advised to buy any model after deciding appropriate capacity using the dedicated segment below. Also, you must opt for the one that has all relevant features as per your family requirements.
1. Instant Pot DUO plus 60 9-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot DUO plus is an improved version of the DUO series (featured further) with an additional sterilizer feature. You can even make cakes in this one. This model is available in the following three sizes : 3 Quart, 6 Quart, 8 Quart.
Manufacturers have emphasized on improving the usability with adding a vibrant blue LCD display in the user interface panel. This modification ensures that you can easily monitor the progress of your preparations. There are 15 pre programmed settings in the models from the DUO plus series that take the guesswork out of meal preparations. This implies that each cooking session gives you perfectly done meals.
The interior pot and the lid are made from stainless steel that are easy to clean and are dishwasher safe. Furthermore, the set comes along with resourceful accessories like a steam rack, serving and soup spoons, a measuring cup and a recipe booklet.
Users can also manipulate the settings once the cooking has started. Additionally, users are completely assured on the safety aspect. Until the appliance is used extremely unconventionally, there are no safety concerns associated.
2. Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 range of multidisciplinary cookers are designed with an upgraded user interface. The control panel in the front consists of a large LCD display and a central dial giving it a high-end look with less buttons. People who prioritize convenience and sleek design in their kitchen appliances should go for this model.
The Instant Pots from the Ultra series can potentially replace 10 discrete kitchen appliances. You can use them as pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, cake maker, egg maker, yogurt maker, sauté pot, steamer, warmer and a sterilizer. This model is also available in all three aforementioned sizes. That is, 3 Quart, 6 Quart and 8 Quart.
The Ultra series of Instant Pots are equipped with the latest technology that enables the device to constantly adjust cooking time, temperature and pressure for perfect meals each time. The set comes with a steam rack, serving and soup spoons, measuring cup and a recipe booklet.
This InstaPot is designed with 11 safety features to ensure that usual errors do not pose any potential threat to the user. There’s an additional safety feature compared to other models in this one. The quick release button. It allows you to manually manipulate the steam release rate.
3. Instant Pot DUO60 7-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pots from Duo series offer 7 discrete functions and are arguably the most famous among the people. The Duo series of InstaPots has gathered over 25,000 positive reviews on Amazon. This is a very rare sight in the appliance industry. The amazing public response only proves the credibility of the brand as a whole.
Coming to the versatility of the Instant Pot DUO60, it can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker and a warmer. Alongside being multifunctional, it is equipped with 14 smart programs facilitating convenient cooking.
Similar to the previous model, the DUO series has 3 variants with different sizes. The 3 quart size being the most compact one on the list is recommended to families with not more than 3 members. The other two variants with the 6 quart size and 8 quart size provide larger cooking capacities ideal for families with 6 or more members.
The InstaPot is accompanied with a stainless-steel rack, a rice paddle, a measuring cup, a condensation collector and a recipe booklet. The recipe booklet includes easy instructions for people that are new to the appliance. Furthermore, there lie no security concerns owing to the dedicated safety mechanisms. With precise guidelines included, I believe, this is the best Instant Pot for beginners.
4. Instant Pot LUX60V3 6-in-1 Programmable Pressure Cooker
The LUX60V3 Instant Pot model sits on the lower end of the budget scale and is the most economical model out of all. Being fairly low on the price scale, it doesn’t have all the features as compared to the newer models. However, if budget is your only concern, lux will be the best pick for you.
This InstaPot can potentially replace 6 kitchen appliances. To elaborate, it can function as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, sauté pan, steamer and a warmer. Now that is how you get value for money. Moreover, it prepares food up to 70% faster than traditional stovetop pressure cooking aiding the fast-paced lifestyles.
The 3 Qt size is the most compact variant of the lux series while 6 Qt and 8 Qt sizes offer greater cooking capacities. All 3 variants from the lux series on the downside, don’t make yogurt. So only invest in this one if you rarely resort to homemade yogurt making techniques.
This Instapot comes with a stainless-steel cooking pot, steam rack and a lid. All of these accessories are dishwasher safe. Therefore, cleaning after meal preparations is sorted. The exterior exhibits a large display panel with user-friendly input controls. Furthermore, the exterior surface is fingerprint resistant.
5. Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi Electric Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot smart Wi-Fi is a multifaceted programmable electric pressure cooker with Wi-Fi connectivity. The model exhibits an improved user interface with an easy to read LCD display and convenient one-touch buttons.
Getting this smart model gives you the convenience of scheduling and adjusting the cooker settings from anywhere. For context, you can monitor the progress of your preparations from your room itself. This is indeed some hardcore ‘hands-free’ cooking.
Furthermore, you get access to over 750 pre-programmed recipes that can be directed to the cooker via a few clicks. However, unlike the other models of InstaPots, the smart Wi-Fi only offers a 6 Quart size.
Additionally, you get the keep-warm feature to maintain food at desirable serving temperatures. The stainless-steel cooking pot, steam rack and lid are all easy to clean and are dishwasher safe. Also, 11 safety mechanisms are included in the smart 6 Quart Wi-Fi InstaPot.
Buying Guide: Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is a seemingly prodigious multicooker that allegedly replaces more than 7 distinct kitchen appliances, leading to reduced expenses and effective management of kitchen space. This versatile kitchen invention does the job of a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, heating pot and more!
All InstaPot models are equipped with one-touch controls to facilitate convenient cooking. Furthermore, adjustable temperature and pressure settings allow users to precisely cook meals and decide the level of doneness.
How to use an Instant Pot (Everything explained)
How impressive does it sound to have a kitchen appliance that eliminates the need to own separate cookers for different tasks? This invention is indeed an embodiment of the term ‘efficiency’. The Instant Pot has emerged to be an extremely resourceful appliance for a majority of the population.
Suggested Instant Pot Sizes according to Family Size
One of the most influential factors while selecting the best Instant Pot for your kitchen is, the size of your family. Other trivial factors being storage space restrictions, desired features and of course your budget.
Instant Pots are essentially manufactured in three standard sizes of 3 quarts, 6 quarts and 8 quarts. You can follow the thumb rule of 1 quart being sufficient for 1 person to fairly account for the cooking requirements of your family. Otherwise, the following breakdown can be used to decipher the Instant pot size best suited for your family.
- The 3 quart InstaPot size is ideal for college students and can be used to cook for up to 2 people.
- The 6 quart size is best suited to moderate sized families with 5 to 6 members.
- The 8 quart size being the largest is ideal for families with more than 6 members.
- Irrespective of the family size, get an 8-quart size Instant Pot if you often batch cook your meals.
The table below gives a clear idea of how to choose the perfect Instant Pot size according to your family size.
| Family size | Suggested Instant Pot sizes |
|---|---|
| Small families with 2 to 3 members | 3 quarts |
| Families with 5 to 6 members | 6 quarts |
| Families with more than 6 members | 8 quarts |
Why are InstaPots so hyped all across the states?
The Canadian company recently revealed that the sales of their Instant Pots have more than doubled every year since 2011. The syndicate of enthusiastic owners of the Instant Pots even has a name. They are proudly known as the potheads!
What is it that produced such a massive surge in the sales of this appliance? The secret is arguably it’s capability to replace multiple appliances at a time. Instant Pots (Instapot) can allegedly function as 7 discrete appliances eliminating the need to individually own them all.
Following is a list of appliances that are threatened due to the multitasking abilities of Instant Pots.
- Pressure cooker
- Slow cooker
- Rice cooker
- Steamer
- Yogurt maker
- Sauté pans
- Warming pot
Instant Pots allow people to efficiently manage meal preparations, kitchen space and kitchen expenses. This has made them a popular kitchen appliance among the already existing ones. We highly recommend this appliance to people who struggle with a limited kitchen expanse.
Are Instant Pots Safe?
Tales of pressure cookers exploding upon inefficient pressure release have made people skeptical over their use. Same goes for the use of electric pressure cookers. So, are there any stern safety measures employed while manufacturing the Instant Pots to make them any better from the traditional pressure cookers?
There certainly are specific provisions in the design of the InstaPots to make them a safer alternative to traditional pressure cookers. The most prominent one of those being a blockage free steam release. The smart steam release mechanism facilitates optimal pressure build-up inside the pot and further leads to adequate liberation of pressure.
The appliance being electricity driven, there has to be a safety mechanism to counter any potential voltage fluctuations. The Canadian brand has taken this fact into consideration and subsequently have added electrical and thermal fuses to the design. Comprehensively, you are guarded against any electrical and thermal surcharge.
All in all, the producers of Instant Pots have set the safety bar at a respectably high standard. Although there is enough effort put into ensuring safety of the users, there are certain guidelines that the users must stick to.
Safety tips that every InstaPot owner must be aware of
- Seal the lid properly before pressure cooking: Failing to seal the pressure vessel lid appropriately can potentially lead to an explosion. Be it cooking with a regular pressure cooker or the modern Instant Pots, ensuring proper insulation beforehand is necessary. To achieve this, users must always clean the sealing ring off any food particles leftover from previous cooking session.
- Do not forcibly open lid while the pot is still pressurized: Amateur cooks are most likely to do this mistake. Liberating all of the existing pressure is critical before opening the lid. Trying otherwise can lead to severe mishaps. Furthermore, it is recommended to open the lid (after the pot is depressurized) in such a way that your skin stays at a distance from the escaping steam.
- Do not overburden the Instant Pot: There is a specified limit up to which the InstaPots can be filled without generating tremendous pressure levels. To account for the cooking portion restrictions, users can stick to the thumb rule of filling the pot (with uncooked edibles and liquids) up to the two-third level. This rule however may not be as effective in case of items that expand upon cooking. Hence, while cooking rice, noodles, pasta, etc. in your Instant Pots, it is advisable to not go over half the capacity.
- Do not leave it unsupervised: Although there are enough safety measures included in the design of this multicooker, you can’t be certain enough to leave it unattended while it is in operation. Any potential mishap can be prevented after learning warning signs with the user being in close vicinity.
Who should consider investing in an Instant Pot?
As much as this appliance may sound enticing, you must ensure that getting it will facilitate your lifestyle. Although buying an InstaPot saves you a lot of effort and space, it should be a very well calculated move to make the most out of your investment.
Purchasing an Instant Pot pressure cooker can prove to be a clever idea if you relate to any of the below mentioned contexts.
1. Fitness enthusiasts
Individuals with physical fitness as a concern may find the InstaPots to be extremely resourceful. As already established, it can serve as a single solution to cook rice, pressure cook meat curries, boil sweet potatoes and much more. Furthermore, weekly meal prep will be highly expedited when you own this masterpiece.
2. Limited kitchen space
Restricted countertop space is one of the most common problems in modern kitchens. Owning multiple bulky kitchen appliances can prove to be a nightmare for such households. Opting for an Instant Pot, on the other hand, eliminates the need of owning several other appliances. Not only this investment saves you your precious kitchen space, but also saves you the bucks you would’ve spent on other appliances otherwise.
3. Tight budget
Purchasing an electric Instant Pot pressure cooker can considerably cut your expenses as it would serve you with functions of other appliances as well. So, you are not compelled to buy a bunch of necessary kitchen gadgets. A single investment in an InstaPot can help you keep your budget intact. Now this is what you should label as a smart buy!
4. College students in dorms
Students living in hostels or college dormitories already have to face a lot of stress. Adding to the discomfort, the meals from the mess are often total mess. In such scenes, it is best for students to get a personal multidisciplinary Instant Pot and exhibit a bit of a revolt against the horrendous quality standards of meals served in college hostels.
5. Vegans
Cooking as a vegan can sometimes get to your nerves. Pressure cooking lentils and beans on a stovetop for hours is no joke. Well, you can always have a sigh of relief by upgrading to more efficient modern kitchen appliances. An Instant Pot (Instapot) might prove to be one such addition to your kitchen. With calculated settings, you can set your beans for pressure cooking in the same Instant pot you cooked rice a bit earlier. We’re talking efficiency.
6. Travelers
If you’re an individual with a severe case of wanderlust amalgamated to your system, a portable Instant Pot is your best mate. Think about having fresh and nutritious meals along the way to your dream destination instead of the gedpre-packa ones. Heavenly! Right when you thought wandering to remote expanses can’t get any better, technology proves you wrong.
Conclusion
A vast majority of American and Canadian households has been noticeably inclined towards the multidisciplinary Instant Pot pressure cookers. The prime reason being its ability to function as different appliances. This reduces the overall investment as the need for other appliances is eliminated. This consequently results in efficient kitchen space management.
Being the current favourite multicooker of the domestic households, InstaPots have attracted a large number of buyers throughout the years of their availability. Although all variants of the Instant Pots are highly resourceful and efficient, some features in specific models can prove to be deciding factors before making a purchase.
We have tried our best to write a comprehensive guide by covering all such aspects so that you are aided with making the right choice. From suggested sizes to people who can benefit from Instant Pots, we have discussed everything in minute details in the above segments. Further above the article are listed the 5 best InstaPots that are governing the market. We really hope that our comparison of them all helps you in buying the best Instant Pot for your family. Happy cooking 🙂
