The list in brief
1. Best overall
2. Best budget
3. Premium pick
4. Best for newbies
5. Most stylish
6. Best for small quantities
7. Most versatile
8. How to choose
9. How we test
The best multi-cookers and pressure cookers in Australia include heavy-hitting brands like Ninja, Breville and Instant Pot, but across the kitchen top gadget category, you’ll find a lot of differences between your options. Multi-cookers are made attractive by their cooking modes, maximum capacity, size and complexity of use, ultimately being great for whipping a meal together in a pinch – but finding the perfect multi-cooker is a tall task.
Most multi-cookers will have the ability to cook more than just one type of meal. Cooking rice specifically, along with being able to sauté, steam and even make things like yoghurt are tricks a sufficiently capable multi-cooker should be capable of pulling off. Some even double as air fryers with so-called ‘smart lids’, while others can function as slow cookers.
If there’s a meal you’ve been wanting to cook, there’s probably a multi-cooker that can pull it off – and that’s where we come in. We’ve reviewed the best multi-cookers in Australia, and decided upon the best across a wide range of categories as you’ll see below. If you’re looking for cooking tips with a multi-cooker, it’s worth brushing up on how to cook hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot , because the results are so great they'll immediately make you glad you bought your appliance, and how to clean an Instant Pot , because while they're very easy to clean, their seals can get a little whiffy if you cook a lot of heavily flavoured food.
Let’s get into it. These are the best multi-cookers in Australia.
The quick list
Below you'll find a quick roundup of our choices for the best multi cookers and Instant Pots in Australia. We've selected a mixture of models, catering to all budgets and all homes. You can jump to a more detailed review of each pick, and shop the latest deals using our price comparison tool.
Instant Pot for most
Replacing 10 cooking appliances in one neat package, this versatile multi-cooker may offer a lot, but it's also convenient with its one-touch programs as well as being easy and safe to use. That's especially true with its steam release method, which serves to minimise accidental steam burns.
Best budget Instant Pot
Prioritising outright safety above all else is the big draw to this Instant Pot, making it an ideal model for anyone wanting to get into pressure cooking, but want as easy route as possible.
Best premium multi-cooker
Offering virtually every cooking method under the sun in one easy-to-use unit, this Ninja multi cooker will have you serving up a storm in no time. It is on the pricier side, but if offers so so much in return.
Great for beginners
Offering 7 cooking methods and 14 pre-defined programs, there's a lot here for novice users to love. It's easy to use, is perfectly safe, and the lid even automatically seals for you before cooking starts. All you need to do is put your ingredients in and press start.
One good-looking machine
Not only is this Breville multi-cooker one of better looking models on the market, but we found it was able to cook meat and vegetables to near-perfection. It doesn't have any many cooking functions as some rivals, but the ones it does, it does very well.
Another great option
On top of its ability to pressure cook, this multi-cooker can also air fry, roast and bake, thanks to its air fryer lid that comes in the box. It has a big capacity as well, perfect for bigger groups. With that air frying function, you don't need another countertop appliance.
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For small households
Couples and individuals who want to cook small batches of dishes might prefer this multi-cooker from Ninja. It's loaded with features, however, thanks to its wide range of cooking techniques and a decent number of accessories included in the box.
A slew of cooking functions
With thirteen cooking functions, including sous vide and bread proofing, this is the most versatile multi-cooker on the planet. It's also incredibly easy to use, thanks to its automatic pressure release. It has a smaller capacity, but that is hardly a deal-breaker.
The best Instant Pot multi cookers in Australia 2024
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Below you can find more in-depth reviews of our choices for the best Instant Pots and multi cookers in Australia, and you can click through the full reviews of each, written by TechRadar's team of kitchen appliance experts.
The best Instant Pot overall
The Instant Pot Pro is the best Instant Pot you can buy right now. It sets out to replace ten kitchen appliances including a pressure cooker, slow cooker, saute pan, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer, and has 28 cooking modes for preparing different dishes. There's also a version that can air fry too, known as the Instant Pot Pro Crisp.
We were impressed the Instant Pot Pro also has five buttons that allow you to store your favorite settings for recipes you make regularly, giving you the convenience of the one-touch programs but for your own custom recipes.
The inner pot can be used on the stovetop to sear food before cooking, too, and has handles, so you can take the pot straight to the table. On top of that, the steam release switch is one of the easiest and safest steam release methods we’ve used when testing the pressure cook function on a multi-cooker and the steam valve has a cover to reduce splashes and noise too.
However there’s no recipe book or cooking charts included, which means using the Instant Pot does require some experimentation and in our tests, broccoli florets fell through the steaming rack, so to steam vegetables, you'll need to buy an additional accessory. But overall we found it easy to use and it can produce a great meal.
Read our full review: Instant Pot Pro
The best budget Instant Pot
While not necessarily the cheapest Instant Pot out there, the Instant Pot Duo Plus is still very reasonably priced while offering a lot of functionality, making it one of the best options out there for people on a budget. But, beyond the multiple cooking modes and presets, we really appreciated the safety features, particularly the fact that you can release steam with a flick of a switch. No need to put your hand near a hot valve.
We also liked the fact that it’s available in multiple sizes, so different sized households can make the most out of this model’s combination of price and performance. However, we do find it a bit light on presets compared to a lot of Instant Pots, though at least they’re easily customizable. Also, be aware that there’s no air fryer functionality on here. So, if you want a multi-cooker to replace all your other kitchen appliances, this might not be the one.
That said, the results of what the Instant Pot Duo Plus can do, whether it’s rice, Thai curry, or chili, are as good as its price tag is low.
Read our full Instant Pot Duo Plus review
The best premium Instant Pot alternative
The 8-quart / 7.5-liter Ninja Foodi Max adds air frying, grilling/ broiling, and dehydrating, to the long list of cooking methods offered by the best Instant Pots. It even offers the ability to introduce steam when air frying, which when paired with the built-in thermometer, ensures you can cook the perfect steak in this multi-cooker.
On test, as well as excelling at steak, we were also impressed by the Ninja Foodi Max's ability to perfectly cook a variety of dishes, from beef chili to fries. The large capacity is ideal for those that have several mouths to feed, although the multi-cooker is bulky and takes up a lot of space on a countertop.
The Ninja Foodi Max doesn't have presets with defined temperatures and times for different dishes, as Instant Pots do. Instead, you'll need to refer to the cooking charts that come bundled with the multi-cooker and we found these to be comprehensive and very helpful.
Read our full review: Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker
The best Instant Pot for novices
If you’re looking for an Instant Pot that makes releasing the pressure at the end of cooking as easy and as safe as possible, then the Instant Pot Duo Nova is worth considering. It has a quick steam release switch, which is separate from the steam valve, and ensures you can force the pressure to be released in a safer way - perfect if you're new to pressure cooking. On top of that, the steam release valve automatically closes when you secure the lid. On test, we felt these features made pressure cooking uncomplicated and safe, so if pressure cooking makes you nervous, this is the Instant Pot for you.
With seven different cooking methods and 14 programs offering pre-defined cooking times, it’s very similar to the Instant Pot Duo (above) and while it speeds up lengthy cooking times, it’s not quite as quick as the Instant Pot Pro or the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus. However the pot and lid are dishwasher safe, and it even comes with an additional sealing ring too.
The stainless-steel cooking pot doesn’t have handles, so we found it fiddly to lift in and out of the main body, and when steaming vegetables we found the florets of broccoli tended to slip through the gaps in the steaming rack, meaning they ended up soggy.
Read our full review: Instant Pot Duo Nova
The most stylish Instant Pot alternative
Most Instant Pots and multi-cookers don't chart high in the style stakes, but with a brushed stainless steel finish and a neat and streamlined design, the Breville the Fast Slow Pro is certainly one of the better-looking multi-cookers we've tested (we've reviewed the UK model called Sage the Fast Slow Pro).
Simple to use, it offers six cooking functions and you can either choose from a range of presets for dishes including stew, risotto and rice, or manually adjust the time and temperature to ensure the meal is cooked to perfection.
On test, we found the Breville the Fast Slow Pro cooked meat so it was tender and succulent, while vegetables and rice were cooked through but not soggy or mushy. However, you’ll need a screwdriver to remove the hinged lid if you want to clean it, and it has a minimum 1-litre capacity, meaning we struggled to cook smaller quantities.
If you can look past that terrible name, Breville's the Fast Slow Pro is without a doubt one of the best multi-cooker options worth considering.
Read our full Breville the Fast Slow Pro review (UK model)
A great multi-functional Instant Pot
The Duo Crisp & Air Fryer builds on the Instant Pot’s ability to pressure cook, slow cook, and steam with the addition of an extra lid that provides an air frying function that can roast and bake too.
It has a large 8-litre capacity, making it great for those feeding several mouths or planning to batch-cook, and is simple to use, with 11 presets for different dishes.
On test, we were impressed by some of the dishes we cooked in the Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer, however, when we followed Instant Pot’s recipe for chunky fries, they weren’t crisp enough for our taste, but hey, it's all subjective.
The cooking pot isn't non-stick, so you will need some elbow grease when cleaning and if you want a rack for steaming vegetables on, you will have to purchase this separately, as it doesn't come bundled with the Instant Pot.
Read our full Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer review
The best Instant Pot alternative for small quantities
With a smaller capacity than the Ninja Foodi Max, the Ninja Foodi Multi-cooker is best suited to couples or individuals that don't need to cook in larger quantities.
We were impressed with the dishes cooked when using the slow cooking and pressure cooking settings. When it came to air frying, it offered up the same air-fried chicken with crispy skin and succulent meat as its larger sibling but again left us disappointed with rock-hard fries.
It comes with a good choice of accessories including a 3.2L removable frying basket, grilling rack, and extra lid for when pressure cooking. However, it's one of the most cumbersome multi-cookers on the market. Its bulky lid opens to the side on a hinge, meaning it can’t be fully opened while tucked underneath a kitchen cupboard so if space is at a premium it may not be the multi-cooker for you.
Read our full Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker review
The most versatile Instant Pot
While it’s not particularly cheap, especially for its smaller capacity, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid is one of the most versatile Instant options out there. To start, it has thirteen cooking functions on tap, including air frying and bread proofing. And, it does a wonderful job with most of them as well, though its steam function can be a bit too intense for some ingredients.
More than that, we found it to be easy to use, not to mention that it’s pretty stress-free when pressure cooking due to three different options for automatic pressure release. There are plenty of other safety features including some pretty thick sliding locks that need to be secured before using any cooking functions.
Clean-up is easy as well as the parts are dishwasher safe. However, we’re still surprised by the fact that the cooking pot isn’t non-stick, so you might have to give it a good soak between uses.
Read our full Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid review
How we test the best multi cookers
To see how pressure cookers and multi-cookers stack up, we’ve spent hundreds of hours whipping up curries and chillies, preparing batches of rice, and even steaming portions of vegetables, comparing the end results. We’re looking for meat that falls off the bone but is still tender and succulent, rice that’s fluffy but still with some bite, and crisp vegetables. We’ve also compared how easy they are to use and just how much they speed up cooking.
We evaluate each model on how many different cooking methods it offers, how durable and easy to clean the body and parts are, how loud it is in use and when releasing pressure, and how hot the exterior casing gets. We’re also assessing how simple each multi-cooker is to use and whether you need to read the instruction manual before cooking, whether recipe inspiration is provided and the useful accessories such as racks and trays it comes with.
How to choose the best multi cooker or instant pot
With such a wide array of models available when it comes to Instant Pots and multi-cookers, choosing the right one for you can be confusing.
Start by considering the different cooking methods offered by the best Instant Pots and multi-cookers, and the dishes you prepare most. While some offer a handful of cooking modes including pressure cooking and slow cooking, others including the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus have as many as 48 different ways of cooking and can do everything including proving bread and making yogurt.
Next look at the capacity the cooker can hold and whether it's sufficient for the number of people you have to cook for. Multi-cookers with a 5.7-litre capacity and above are ideal for those with a large family to feed, or those that want to batch-cook, while a smaller Instant Pot can hold around 3 litres should suffice for an individual or couple.
On top of that, look out for Instant Pots and multi-cookers that have inner pots that can be used on the stove, when browning meat before slow cooking and are dishwasher safe to make sure you have as few utensils to wash up as possible.
The best multi cookers and Instant Pots in Australia: FAQ
Is a multi cooker really worth it?
There’s no denying a multi-cooker is a great kitchen appliance but you may be wondering if it’s really worth it? Or will it simply end up as another kitchen gadget that languishes on your countertop or cupboard gathering dust?
It’s important to remember that while multi-cookers offer a multitude of cooking methods, many of which means you no longer need to use an oven or a hob, they can’t cook everything. For example, they’re not an option if you regularly prepare pasta, noodles, or stir-fries. And while some do come with lids that can air fry, we found making fries in a multi-cooker wasn’t as good as using one of the best air fryers.
At the same time, you can’t just pop the lid off and check the dish you’re cooking, as you would when using the hob, the oven, or a slow cooker. You’ll need to release the pressure, effectively stop cooking, and detach the lid. Then if the dish isn’t ready, you’ll need to start cooking again.
Similarly, a multi-cooker can certainly shave a few hours off cooking stews, ribs and other dishes that usually take the best part of a day to cook, however with dishes like rice or steaming vegetables the time saving is minimal, which may mean an Instant Pot isn’t worth the investment.
However, if you’re looking to save space in your kitchen by replacing several gadgets with just one, or you are looking to broaden the repertoire of dishes you cook, without having to research and learn new cooking skills, an Instant Pot will more than prove useful.
What's the best size multi cooker?
Instant Pots and other multi-cookers come in an array of different capacities ranging from 3 litres right up to 8 litres, so knowing which size multi-cooker is best for you can be confusing.
For most people, a 5.7-litre size multi-cooker will prove to be the most useful. Instant say this capacity is enough to feed between three and size people depending upon your appetite, so will be ideal for families or those looking to batch cook meals for a handful of people.
A larger 7.5-litre size will be a better fit for bigger families, or anyone cooking on a large scale, such as creating chilies, stews, or curries for a party. Meanwhile, for one or two-person households a smaller 3 litre multi-cooker will ensure you're not using additional energy by cooking a small quantity in a multi-cooker that's just too large for your needs.
What can I cook in a multi cooker?
The best multi-cookers offer a range of different cooking methods, which means there are a plethora of different dishes that can be created in Instant Pots and multi-cookers. Slow cooking means you can use cheaper but tougher cuts of meat and cook them low and slow to make casseroles and stews, while pressure cooking speeds up cooking times, making it great for ribs and chicken wings. However, you can even bake cakes – in particular, we found making cheesecake in an Instant Pot was very good, air fry foods like fries, and even hard-boiled eggs.
Instant Pot vs Ninja Foodi
Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are two of the biggest names in the multi-cooker world and are regularly compared to see which is best. Both brands create a wide number of appliances including everything from air fryers to blenders.
As you might expect, the larger and more feature-heavy appliances from Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are more expensive, but generally speaking, Ninja models are normally more expensive.
It’s also worth comparing how easy these machines are to clean. Ninja Foodi machines feature a cooking pot with a non-stick coating so you shouldn’t need to scrub for hours to get rid of any food. Instant Pots have stainless steel pots but both of the brands’ pots can be placed in a dishwasher.
We’ve compared these brands in detail, to find out which came out on top, read our Ninja Foodi vs Instant Pot feature.
The latest updates to this multi cooker guide
August 15th, 2023
Reformatted the guide to make clearer distinctions between each product, providing clearer buying advice and how each product is suitable for a particular purpose.
Updated some product entries with newer models that have been reviewed by the TechRadar team.
