As one can tell by the name, the best multi-cooker or pressure cooker in Australia is its capacity to handle different cooking methods within a single appliance – and to do so with ease.
The multi-cooker pioneer Instant Pot and major appliance brands like Ninja and Breville have produced some of the best we've ever seen, and we’ve tested a fair few to come to that conclusion. Their offerings are competitive on features and capacity, as well as their cooking modes, size and ease of use.
Any multi-cooker will at least have the ability to whip up a diverse range of meals. It will nail some basics like hard-boiled eggs, rice (If you don’t already have a rice cooker) and one-pot dishes like Mexican chilli or stews. Beyond that, steaming, sautéing and even making things like yoghurt are tasks that you can trust a good multi-cooker with. To save on counter space, there are also models that double as air fryers by swapping out a different lid (but some have ‘smart lids’ that don’t require swapping), or ones that also offer slow cooking.
Ultimately, if you’re shopping for an appliance of this type, you’ll likely be after something that can quickly put together a big meal – but picking the right multi-cooker for your specific needs can be a daunting task, which is one of the main reasons we've put together this guide.
TechRadar has reviewed a broad variety of multi-cookers to find the best options in Australia, and we’ve collected our findings below. Ranging from some capable budget options, to more feature-packed premium ones – and even something stylish – we’ve got something to suit most kitchens and households. We’ve also explored which ones are easy to clean.
The quick list
Below is a quick roundup of our recommended multi-cookers in Australia. We've chosen a variety of models, catering to budgets and kitchens in a wide range of sizes. We’ve linked each item to their individual in-depth reviews if you want to find out more, and you can also shop for any deals with our price comparison widgets.
Best multi-cooker for most people
Bringing together 10 cooking appliances in one neat package, this versatile multi-cooker is convenient, easy and safe to use thanks to its one-touch programs and steam release method that minimises accidental steam burns.
Best value for money multi-cooker
Buy this Instant Pot when it’s discounted and you get a very capable and easy-to-use multi-cooker for a bargain. It’s ideal for anyone wanting to get into pressure cooking, with fewer presets to ease a beginner’s experimentations.
Best premium multi-cooker
If you’ve got extra cash to spend, this Ninja multi-cooker also has air frying, grilling and dehydrating capabilities. It also comes with a built-in thermometer to help ensure meats are cooked perfectly.
Best multi-cooker for connected homes
As Instant Pot’s top-tier offering, this multi-cooker comes with app control to use the appliance remotely via your smartphone. It gives you access to 800+ recipes.
One good-looking machine
This Breville is one of better-looking models on the market, and it can also cook meat and vegetables to near perfection. It doesn't have quite as many cooking functions as some others do, but what it does it does very well.
Another great option
Apart from pressure cooking, this multi-cooker can also air fry, roast and bake, thanks to its included air-fryer lid. Its big capacity is also perfect for feeding a crowd. With that air-frying function, you get to save on countertop space too.
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A slew of cooking functions
With 13 cooking functions – including sous vide and bread proofing – this multi-cooker is as versatile as it gets. It's also incredibly easy to use, thanks to its three different options for automatic pressure release. It is on the smaller side, however, which may not work for everyone.
The best multi-cookers in Australia 2025
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Below are in-depth reviews of our choices for the best pressure and multi-cookers in Australia, as reviewed by TechRadar's team of kitchen appliance experts.
The best overall multi-cooker
✅ You want a pot with handles: Not inner pots have handles for safe and easy carrying, but this one does.
✅ You want simple and safe steam venting: You can vent steam with a simple switch, and the steam release cover minimises spluttering.
❌ You also want an air fryer: Some multi-cookers pull double duty as air fryers, but not this one.
❌ You want to steam veggies: The steam rack provided is only suitable for large items; for chopped vegetables you'll need to buy an additional steam basket.
The Instant Pot Pro is the best multi-cooker for most people. It aims to replace 10 kitchen appliances – a pressure cooker, slow cooker, frying pan, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer – and has 28 cooking modes for preparing different dishes.
We were impressed that the Instant Pot Pro lets you store up to five favourite 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 also be used straight on the stovetop to sear food before cooking, and its included handles let you take the pot straight to the table. We found the Instant Pot Pro’s steam release switch is one of the easiest and safest steam release methods we’ve used when testing the pressure cook function, and the steam valve has a cover to reduce splashes and noise.
There’s no recipe book or cooking charts included, however, which means using the Instant Pot Pro does require some experimentation. And in our tests, broccoli florets also fell through the steaming rack, so steaming vegetables does require you to purchase an additional accessory. But overall, we found this model easy to use and that it produced great meals.
Read our full review: Instant Pot Pro
The best value for money
✅ You're nervous of pressure cookers: A cleverly designed steam release valve lets you depressurise the pot while keeping your fingers away.
✅ You're on a budget: This is one of the most affordable multi-cookers around, but pick it up during a sale and it’s excellent value for money.
❌ You want lots of preset cooking programs: The Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus is a better option if you want plenty of presets.
❌ You want cooking charts and recipes: This model doesn't come with much paperwork, though you can find lots of cooking times and recipes online.
It’s not quite the cheapest multi-cooker, but the Instant Pot Duo Plus is great value for money for what you get, particularly when purchased discounted – it’s often down to around the AU$170 mark. 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 that the Duo Plus is available in multiple sizes to fit different sized households. We did, however, find it a bit light on presets compared to a lot of Instant Pots – though at least they’re easily customisable. Unlike some other options in this guide, there’s no air fryer functionality, so this one can’t quite fully replace all your other kitchen appliances.
That said, the results of what the Instant Pot Duo Plus can do, whether it’s rice, a Thai curry, or Mexican chilli, are as good as its price tag is low.
Read our full Instant Pot Duo Plus review
The best premium multi-cooker
✅ You’re cooking for a crowd: the generous 7.5 litre pot will feed between six to 10 people, or handle batch cooking for smaller households
✅ You want browning meats: aside from air frying, this also has functions like barbecuing, grilling and baking – and a built in thermometer can help ensure steaks are cooked perfectly
❌ You’re on a budget: this one’s one of the most expensive options thanks to its many modes and features, and there are more affordable models available
❌ You’ve got limited space: more capacity means more countertop real estate, and this is one of the bigger ones in the market
The 7.5-litre Ninja Foodi Max adds air frying, grilling, barbecuing and dehydrating to the long list of cooking methods offered by the best multi-cookers. But arguably the best feature is its ability to introduce steam when air frying, which when paired with the built-in thermometer can help cook steaks perfectly, without drying them out.
In addition to excelling at steak, we were also impressed by the Ninja Foodi Max's ability to perfectly cook a variety of dishes, from Mexican beef chilli to hot chips. The big capacity makes it ideal for larger households or those who always have guests over, but the multi-cooker’s size and bulk does mean it takes up a lot of space on a countertop.
Unlike Instant Pot’s offerings, the Ninja Foodi Max doesn't have presets with defined temperatures and times for different dishes. Instead, you'll need to refer to the cooking charts that come bundled with the device, and while not as convenient, we at least found these to be comprehensive and very helpful.
Read our full review: Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker
Best for smart homes
✅ You don't have much time to cook: The pressure cooking here is impressive – butternut squash is cooked to perfection in just 5 minutes.
✅ You're stuck for inspiration: The Instant Connect mobile app gives you access to hundreds of recipes you can follow in real time.
❌ You don't want smart app control: The mobile connectivity is one of this Instant Pot's key features, so if you want to keep your cooking offline you can choose a simpler model instead.
❌ Your budget is tight: This is one of the most expensive multi-cookers you can buy.
As Instant Pot’s top-tier offering, this multi-cooker comes with smart app functionality that allows you to cook remotely using your smartphone. Called Instant Connect, the app lets users remotely start, adjust and stop the Instant Pot Pro Plus, or even completely turn it on and off – handy for when you’re out and about.
The app also comes with a database of more than 800 recipes to provide some cooking inspiration. The recipes have easy-to-follow instructions, nudging you to choose the right cooking mode for the recipe chosen.
Performance-wise, the Pro Plus is also 20% more powerful than previous Instant Pot models, providing faster pre-heating time and 15psi pressure to help cook faster, therefore saving on energy bills.
It’s not much of a looker with the typical Instant Pot design, but the Pro Plus is relatively lightweight at 7.05kg and not too intrusive on a countertop. Cleaning is also a breeze thanks in part to the dishwasher-safe stainless steel pot.
Read our full review: Instant Pot Pro Plus (note that this is what it’s called in other markets, but in Australia, it’s the Instant Pot Pro Plus WiFi)
The most stylish multi-cooker
✅ You want pre-set functions: this model from Breville automates time, temperature and pressure settings for common recipes
✅ You want a simple-to-use machine: the LCD screen makes navigating menus and options easy and intuitive
❌ You want to cook in smaller quantities: there is a minimum cooking capacity of 1-litre, so it’s not an option if you just need to cook less than that
❌ You want an easily removable lid: The lid is hinged, it is removable for dishwasher cleaning but has to be unscrewed.
Most multi-cookers don't chart high in the style stakes, but with a brushed stainless steel finish and a neat and streamlined design, Breville’s Fast Slow Pro is certainly one of the better-looking multi-cookers we've tested (we reviewed the UK model, where it’s sold under the Sage brand).
The Fast Slow Pro offers six cooking functions aimed to make it easy to use, with a range of presets for dishes including stew, risotto and rice. There’s also an option to manually adjust the time and temperature to ensure the meal is cooked to perfection.
On test, we found the Fast Slow Pro cooked meat well enough to be tender and succulent, while vegetables and rice were cooked through but not soggy or mushy. However, we found cleaning was a bit more involved, as you’ll have to unscrew a sealing nut to remove the hinged lid if you want to clean it. The Breville also has a minimum 1-litre capacity, meaning we struggled to cook smaller quantities.
If you can look past that unwieldy name, Breville's 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)
Best multi-functional multi-cooker
✅ You want versatility: The air fryer lid means this Instant Pot does much more than your average multi-cooker.
✅ You want to feed a crowd: This model's large 8-litre capacity makes it a great option for families.
❌ You're short of storage space: Most of this unit's accessories can be stored inside, but the air fryer lid is bulky.
❌ You want a sleek appliance: This multi-cooker is designed for function rather than aesthetics, and isn't the most stylish addition to your kitchen.
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 means it can roast and bake too.
It has a large 8-litre capacity, great for those feeding several mouths or planning to batch-cook. The Duo Crisp & Air Fryer is also simple to use, with 11 presets for different dishes.
On test, we were impressed by some of the dishes we cooked, except for one instance 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, which may be a good or a bad thing depending on who you ask, but either way some elbow grease will be needed when cleaning it. A rack for steaming vegetables isn’t bundled either, so you’ll have to purchase this separately if it’s a desired function.
Read our full Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer review
The most versatile multi-cooker
✅ You want lots of cooking options: This is the most versatile Instant Pot with 13 cooking modes to choose from.
✅ You've not used a multi-cooker before: Despite offering so many options, the Duo Crisp is simple to use thanks to its straightforward controls and text prompts.
❌ You're on a budget: This is one of the priciest multi-cookers in this roundup.
❌ You're cooking for a big group: If you're cooking for a crowd, some other models come in multiple sizes that will serve you better.
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 multi-cookers out there. To start, it has 13 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-cookers
With such a wide array of models available when it comes to multi-cookers, choosing the right one for you can be confusing.
Start by considering the different cooking methods offered by the best multi-cookers, and the dishes you prepare most. While some devices only offer a handful of cooking modes including pressure cooking and slow cooking, others (such as the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus) have as many as 48 different ways of cooking and can do everything including proofing 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 model can hold around 3 litres should suffice for an individual or couple.
Also look out for 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 if it will just end up as another kitchen gadget 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 a suitable option if you’re looking to regularly prepare pasta, noodles, or stir-fries. While some have lids that can enable air frying, we found making chips in a multi-cooker wasn’t as good as using one of the best dedicated air fryers.
At the same time, when pressure cooking you also 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. Once pressurised, to check the contents you’d need to completely release the pressure – effectively stop cooking – before you’re able to detach the lid. And if the dish isn’t ready, you’ll need to give it time to repressurise to start cooking again. (In other words, ‘checking as you go’ is not something that’s really done with pressure cooking.)
Similarly, a multi-cooker can certainly shave a few hours off cooking stews, ribs and other dishes that usually take multiple hours to cook, however with dishes like rice or steaming vegetables the time saving is minimal, which may mean a multi-cooker isn’t worth the investment.
However, if you’re looking to save space in your kitchen by replacing several cooking 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, a multi-cooker will more than prove useful.
What's the best size multi-cooker?
Multi-cookers come in different capacities ranging from 3 litres right up to 8 litres. For most people, a roughly 6-litre size multi-cooker will prove to be the most useful. Instant say this capacity is enough to feed between three and six 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 chillies, stews, or curries for a party. 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 they can create. 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. You can also bake cakes (we found making cheesecake in an Instant Pot was very good), air fry some chips, and make 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 other appliances, including everything from air fryers to blenders.
The larger and more feature-heavy appliances from Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are more expensive, but generally speaking, Ninja models tend to be pricier.
It’s also worth comparing how easy these machines are to clean. Ninja Foodi machines generally 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 which means they can require more elbow grease to clean, however, but both brands’ pots can be placed in a dishwasher.
We’ve compared these brands in more detail, so to find out which came out on top, read our Ninja Foodi vs Instant Pot feature.
The latest updates to this multi cooker guide
December 10th, 2025
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.
