The best instant pots for upping your cooking game
Spend less time in the kitchen with the help of these user-friendly instant pots.
| Best Overall |
|
Instant Pot Electric Slow Cooker | SEE IT |
Featuring an impressive capacity and 16 programs, this instant pot can replace almost all of your other kitchen tools (and make cleanup easier, too). |
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
| Best Value |
|
Moosoo Electric Pressure Cooker | SEE IT |
Affordable and effective, this instant pot can handle six quarts of contents and cook them 70 percent quicker than other models. |
Pros
|
Cons
|
|
| Honorable Mention |
|
Yedi Total Package Instant Pressure Cooker | SEE IT |
With powerful cooking abilities, this instant pot has pre-programmed settings to make dinner prep easier. It’s safe, sturdy, and built to simplify the entire dinner process. |
Pros
|
Cons
|
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Everyone likes to eat, but not everyone likes to cook. You’ve got a busy schedule filled with work, hobbies, and working out — not to mention things like showering and sleep. Now, while there’s no shame in hitting the drive-through once in a while, overdoing it can start to slow you down. Sure, you can spend hours over the stove simmering and sautéing, but who has the time? Instant pots require next to no attention and result in truly delicious and surprisingly healthy meals. Simply chop up your food, toss it into the cooker along with some broth, beer, or plain old water, turn it on, and walk away. By the time you arrive back home, your slow cooker has done all the work. Instead of chopping bamboo shoots, you could be enjoying a round of Call of Duty and relaxing.
Whether you’re prepping lunches for the week or making chili for the big game, every kitchen needs an instant pot. To help you find the best instant pot around, we’ve listed the top options along with some tips on making meals to give you the energy you need.
Is your morning routine hectic enough, rushing from the gym to the shower to work? The Instant Pot Electric Slow Cooker might not change that, but it can sure make your evening smoother. The instant pot doubles as a pressure cooker and can support up to six quarts of contents. Working as a yogurt maker, steamer, rice cooker, and everything in between, simply toss the food into the main chamber and turn it on low. The LCD screen and intuitive controls make it easy to curate a perfect dinner without messing up your kitchen. By incorporating a microprocessor, the advanced technology ensures that you won’t face any safety risks. Instead, it simply slow cooks your food while you’re out of the house or tackling chores in the next room. The stainless steel parts are easy to maintain, making cleanup just as easy as prep.
If you’re looking to save a few bucks while still getting all the advantages of an instant pot, the Moosoo Electric Pressure Cooker is worth looking into. It can handle up to six quarts of contents and perform a full 15 functions. The sheer efficiency of cooking 70 percent more rapidly makes it easy to prepare your dinner in advance. Able to pressure cook, create yogurt, and perfectly finish rice, this instant pot is extremely powerful. A bright LCD screen keeps you informed of the status of your food while user-friendly controls simplify the cooking process. Despite it being able to reach an impressive 16 pounds per square inch when pressure cooking, it is a really safe tool to have around. The stainless steel material and impressive safeguards are there to keep your kitchen secure and your meals tasting great.
Looking to take the guesswork out of food prep? While it might not be as easy as heading to the mess hall, the Yedi Total Package Instant Pressure Cooker is the next best thing. It features15 pre-programmed settings so you can customize the heat and pressure for the food you’re preparing. From chicken to eggs to oatmeal, there is a setting for every meal of the day. The instant pot comes with multiple accessories, each meant to help with a specific type of food. Able to hold up to six gallons of contents, this pressure cooker instant pot can streamline your menu. Coming with a recipe book for reference, you’ll have an easy time readying for game day or fixing lunches for the week. Made out of high-grade materials, it is built to last over the long term so your kitchen chores stay easy for longer.
Whether you’re new to the world of cooking or a seasoned chef, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker can take your kitchen game to a whole new level. The compact design is built to handle up to six quarts of contents. It doubles as a pressure cooker and a warmer, letting you tackle any cooking challenge. With 14 pre-programmed settings, this instant pot makes perfecting your rice and sautéing your vegetables that much easier. Able to cook efficiently, the cooker applies the ideal amount of heat to prevent burning yet speed up the results. It incorporates a bold LCD screen, surrounded by intuitive controls that take the mystery out of food prep. Safe to use, this instant pot incorporates temperature and fuse safeties to avoid damage. This way you can leave the cooker unattended and get on with your day, coming home to a delicious, fully-cooked meal.
The Rozmoz Electric Pressure Cooker might seem like a basic model, but it stands out in terms of cost-effectiveness and function. Featuring a stainless steel structure, it resists rust and corrosion while remaining sturdy and easy to maintain. The six-quart capacity makes it so that you can prep lunches for a full week in a single go. With a prominent and bright LCD screen, the display keeps you in-the-know about your food\s status. To add ease to the overall cooking process, it includes 10 accessories specific to a certain dish. The egg holder makes breakfast more convenient while the tongs and gloves simplify the plating part of your cooking journey. Entirely safe to use, this model comes with 11 safety features built into the design. It’s great at making everything from soup to cakes, so you don’t need to worry about having the right supplies when you host a game night.
Related: Release your inner chef with this stainless steel cookware
Instant pot duo crisp pressure cooker
Whether you’re new to the world of cooking or a seasoned chef, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pressure Cooker can take your kitchen game to a whole new level. The compact design is built to handle up to six quarts of contents. It doubles as a pressure cooker and a warmer, letting you tackle any cooking challenge. With 14 pre-programmed settings, this instant pot makes perfecting your rice and sautéing your vegetables that much easier. Able to cook efficiently, the cooker applies the ideal amount of heat to prevent burning yet speed up the results. It incorporates a bold LCD screen, surrounded by intuitive controls that take the mystery out of food prep. Safe to use, this instant pot incorporates temperature and fuse safeties to avoid damage. This way you can leave the cooker unattended and get on with your day, coming home to a delicious, fully-cooked meal. [Buy]
Moosoo electric pressure cooker
If you’re looking to save a few bucks while still getting all the advantages of an instant pot, the Moosoo Electric Pressure Cooker is worth looking into. It can handle up to six quarts of contents and perform a full 15 functions. The sheer efficiency of cooking 70 percent more rapidly makes it easy to prepare your dinner in advance. Able to pressure cook, create yogurt, and perfectly finish rice, this instant pot is extremely powerful. A bright LCD screen keeps you informed of the status of your food while user-friendly controls simplify the cooking process. Despite it being able to reach an impressive 16 pounds per square inch when pressure cooking, it is a really safe tool to have around. The stainless steel material and impressive safeguards are there to keep your kitchen secure and your meals tasting great. Buy]
Yedi total package programmable instant cooker
Looking to take the guesswork out of food prep? While it might not be as easy as heading to the mess hall, the Yedi Total Package Instant Pressure Cooker is the next best thing. It features15 pre-programmed settings so you can customize the heat and pressure for the food you’re preparing. From chicken to eggs to oatmeal, there is a setting for every meal of the day. The instant pot comes with multiple accessories, each meant to help with a specific type of food. Able to hold up to six gallons of contents, this pressure cooker instant pot can streamline your menu. Coming with a recipe book for reference, you’ll have an easy time readying for game day or fixing lunches for the week. Made out of high-grade materials, it is built to last over the long term so your kitchen chores stay easy for longer. [Buy]
Instant pot electric slow cooker
Is your morning routine hectic enough, rushing from the gym to the shower to work? The Instant Pot Electric Slow Cooker might not change that, but it can sure make your evening smoother. The instant pot doubles as a pressure cooker and can support up to six quarts of contents. Working as a yogurt maker, steamer, rice cooker, and everything in between, simply toss the food into the main chamber and turn it on low. The LCD screen and intuitive controls make it easy to curate a perfect dinner without messing up your kitchen. By incorporating a microprocessor, the advanced technology ensures that you won’t face any safety risks. Instead, it simply slow cooks your food while you’re out of the house or tackling chores in the next room. The stainless steel parts are easy to maintain, making cleanup just as easy as prep. [Buy]
Rozmoz electric pressure cooker
The Rozmoz Electric Pressure Cooker might seem like a basic model, but it stands out in terms of cost-effectiveness and function. Featuring a stainless steel structure, it resists rust and corrosion while remaining sturdy and easy to maintain. The six-quart capacity makes it so that you can prep lunches for a full week in a single go. With a prominent and bright LCD screen, the display keeps you in-the-know about your food\s status. To add ease to the overall cooking process, it includes 10 accessories specific to a certain dish. The egg holder makes breakfast more convenient while the tongs and gloves simplify the plating part of your cooking journey. Entirely safe to use, this model comes with 11 safety features built into the design. It’s great at making everything from soup to cakes, so you don’t need to worry about having the right supplies when you host a game night. [Buy]
Why should you trust us
I’ve been providing consumers with reliable product reviews for five years, mainly focusing on automotive gear, tactical supplies, and household appliances. My academic background in the sciences lets me approach topics objectively, while my three years as a news correspondent help me cut through the noise with simple, accurate reviews. My work can be found on Car Bibles, Narcity Media, and The Drive. Among my most recent pieces for Task and Purpose are reviews of wallets, office chairs, and fitness trackers.
Popular types of instant pots
Though all instant pots have the same end game — making one-pot meals efficiently and without requiring constant attention — there are different types to choose from. It all comes down to how the instant pot cooks the contents. In order to get the results cooking enthusiasts want while minimizing the work you put in, it’s important to pick the right type of slow cooker.
Slow cookers
This is the more traditional type of slow cooker, becoming popular in the United States in the 1940s, largely due to women becoming more prevalent in the workplace due to the Second World War. These feature a simple design, using a heating element, water, a main pot, and a lid to slowly cook the contents over the course of the day.
The slow cooker plugs into the wall outlet. You fill the base with water and place the pot on top of the fluid to prevent burning. Raw food, broth (or water), and spices go in and the lid seals it all in. Typically, these have high and low settings, depending on what is being cooked. To this day, this type of slow cooker remains popular.
Pressure cookers
A modern version of an instant pot, these models are built to accelerate the cooking process of time-consuming dishes. They are designed to limit the amount of energy required to cook the contents and can tenderize tougher cuts of meat. The overall design of a pressure cooker is similar to more traditional instant pots, though because of the sealed contents, they require less attention since the water won’t evaporate.
Unlike standard slow cookers, they increase the pounds per square inch of force within the instant pot. This works in conjunction with the heat from the main element to cook the contents. While they are powerful, standard pressure cookers tend to have fewer options for settings than their more up-to-date counterparts.
Hybrid instant pots
In effect, hybrid instant pots are a blend of slow cookers and pressure cookers. As a result of their versatility, they are some of the most popular models available. They feature a lid that seals in moisture and applies pressure to the contents, provided you opt for that setting. Because of how precise the pressure and temperature can get, you can use this type of instant pot to cook a wide variety of foods.
Typically, these models have a bright LCD screen and single-button controls. Most selections have upwards of a dozen different cooking settings, letting you choose the exact temperature your eggs, rice, or poultry require to get ideal results. While they are much more efficient, this type has more advanced electrical components which can break more easily.
What to look for when buying an instant pot
When you go to choose an instant pot, there are a few essential things to keep in mind. The first is the capacity of the cooker. The standard is six quarts, though you can get larger or smaller versions depending on your needs. Next, look at the settings available. Check how many programs there are and the display on the front. These will indicate how intuitive the function actually is.
From there, consider the safety features of the instant pot. This is particularly important if you plan to leave the device unattended during the day. If you won’t be there to replenish the water, make sure it doubles as a pressure cooker. Check that it has an automatic shut-off feature to make it more secure when you are out of the home.
Think about the cooking accessories that are included with the instant pot. Modern cookers are able to tackle everything from porridge to yogurt to stew, to everything in between, but it is a lot easier to do more advanced cooking with the right tools. Keep an eye out for tongs, gloves, and other helpful pieces to make your life easier.
Why do you need an instant pot?
There are many benefits to having an instant pot in your home, not the least of which is the time it can save you in the kitchen — something useful for busy lifestyles. An instant pot requires little more than prep work to complete a delicious meal, instead of lengthy cleanup and struggling over a hot stove. You can get set up and walk away, coming home to something amazing.
In addition, an instant pot takes way less energy to give you the same results. Instead of racking up your electricity bill, you can save both time and money. Plus, instant pots are excellent for those who don’t have much cooking experience. With single-button preset controls, you can cook like an expert with the simple touch of a button. The benefits don’t end there, though.
- Slow cookers save you time and energy in the kitchen and money on your electric bill.
- Quality instant pots can replace most kitchen appliances like boiling pots and egg cookers.
- Multiple safeguards let you rest easy knowing your home is safe while you’re away.
- Simplified cleanup is a major advantage since everything is done in a single pot.
- Pressure cooker functions let you tenderize the meat and speed up the cooking process.
Price ranges for instant pots
- Under $100: In this range, you can find functional instant pots that often work as pressure cookers. Typically, they will have fewer preset functions and may support fewer contents.
- Over $100: Most high-functioning instant pots fall into this category, with most doubling as a pressure cooker and having well over a dozen preset functions. Generally, these are easier to maintain and longer-lasting.
How we chose our top picks
After analyzing reliable online sources about instant pot comparisons we determined what features are the most essential. By learning the history of slow cookers and scouring the internet for actionable instant pot cooking tips, we found the models that are most likely to work for you. A good instant pot is all about saving time without sacrificing taste, and the selections on this list are designed to help you achieve that goal with utter ease.