A rice cooker is a great kitchen appliance - just add your water and preferred grains, choose an appropriate cooking mode, and leave it to do the rest. When it beeps, open it up, and you'll have perfectly cooked, fluffy rice ready for dinner with zero effort.

Not all rice cookers are the same though, which is where I come in. I'm TechRadar's homes editor specializing in kitchen tech, and I've hand-picked the best cookers for delicious rice - and much more besides. All of these appliances also include modes for a wide range of other foods, from soups and stews through to rich curries and even cakes.

Read on to find out which rice cooker is right for your kitchen, your budget, and your meal plan.

Best overall

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker

The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker produced the best, fluffiest rice of any cooker we've tested to date – and a lot more, besides. It has eight cooking modes, all of which produced excellent results in our tests, and makes a great addition to your kitchen for cooking grains, pasta, and whole meals.

The PossibleCooker has a six-quart pot, which is big enough for a family of four, but won't take up an excessive amount of space on your counter. It's nicely designed too, with a non-stick pot with clear fill lines for rice, oats and pasta, plus a detailed instruction manual describing the best ratios to use for various types of rice and other grains.

Cooking white or brown rice took about 30-40 minutes, and the results were perfect every time, without any tweaking of the default settings. We had great results with Ninja's own recipe for Cajun dirty rice too, which involves browning meat and softening vegetables as well as cooking grains.

Surprisingly, it's also one of the must affordable rice cookers we've tested at full price, and is often available for a discount so you can get it for even less. You'll find all of today's best prices listed below.

Read our full Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker review

Budget-friendly

Cosori 5L Rice Cooker

Unlike the other two appliances in this roundup, Cosori's cooker is designed chiefly for grains, though it also has a few surprises to offer.

It comes with a non-stick pot (which we found incredibly easy to clean during our tests), a ladle, a measuring cup, a standing rice paddle, and a steam basket for vegetables like broccoli. There's also a booklet containing charts to help you add the right amount of rice and water for your preferred grain.

The cooker itself is compact enough for a small kitchen, but unlike the others here, it doesn't let you adjust the cooking temperature. That means rice can sometimes clump together a little, and you may need to experiment a little with cooking times to get the best results. It does the fundamentals well, particularly for the price, but it doesn't perform quite as well as the slightly pricier Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker above.

What really surprised us was that the Cosori 5L Rice Cooker can bake a mean cake. Yes, really. Just mix the ingredients as directed in the cooker's manual, grease the pot, pour in the batter, and select the 'cake' preset. Just over an hour later, you'll have a delicious, moist (if slightly oddly-shaped) dessert to enjoy.

Read our full Cosori 5L Rice Cooker review

Rice and more

Instant Pot Pro

The Instant Pot Pro multi-cooker is super simple to use, and a great option if you like the flexibility of the Ninja MultiCooker, but want more straightforward controls. When we tested it, one of our favorite features was the ability to set five cooking modes as one-touch presets so you can cook your rice and other foods exactly the way you want them in seconds.

There's no avoiding the fact that it's been a tumultuous few years for the company behind Instant Pots. After Instant Brands filed for bankruptcy in 2023, Instant Pot Brands was spun off as its own separate company. No new models have been released for a couple of years, but the Instant Pot Pro is still widely available in both the US and UK - and it remains a great option if you're looking for an easy way to cook rice, pulses, chilli, stews and other dishes to perfection.

Another feature that's particularly helpful for cooking rice is the Instant Pot Pro's safe steam release valve, which helps avoid burns. An audible alarm will let you know when it's time to use it.

Brown basmati rice turned out a little too 'al dente' for our first round of testing, but it didn't take much work to tweak the settings. We also made a curry to accompany the rice, which turned out perfectly, with the meat falling off the bone, whilst also browning well without sticking when we used the sauté mode. An excellent cooker for rice and more, and reasonably priced, too.

Read our full Instant Pot Pro review

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker: one-minute review

With the Ninja name comes an expectation of quality. From air fryers and coffee machines to blenders and ice cream makers, Ninja kitchen appliances are among the most popular on the market – with several of their products topping our buying guides lists. The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker MC1101UK offers the level of quality you’d expect while combining the power of multiple appliances into one compact package. This multicooker offers the capabilities of a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, and hob in one appliance, helping reduce your need for kitchen storage space and the amount of washing up after a meal.

The PossibleCooker offers eight main functions: sear/sauté, slow cook, white rice, brown rice, pasta (without drainage), porridge, steam, and keep warm. During our testing, we found results were consistently excellent. The 6L cooking pot offers plenty of space, while the appliance itself isn’t as bulky as you might imagine. And, thanks to a thorough user manual and clear markings inside the pot, it’s easy to ensure your liquid-to-oat/rice ratio is accurate with every cook.

While this multicooker will likely become a firm favourite in your household, it’s not flawless. Some cooking functions, like rice cooking, take longer than they maybe would on the hob, though the results are worth the wait. And while using the appliance is straightforward, its small digital display is quite basic, indicating a preheating function only via symbols and offering no timer for rice cooking functions.

We also found that the non-stick coating on the inside of the pot began chipping away within a week of testing, despite carefully following the cleaning instructions. Ninja says the cooking pot and lid are dishwasher-safe, but we’d recommend handwashing where possible, especially as it’s easy to do even with stubborn residue.

Overall, for £119.99 ($129.99 / AU$249.99 for non-UK models), the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker is an excellent value multicooker for households big and small who want more efficiency in the kitchen.

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker: price and availability

• MC1101UK model costs £119.99 at Ninja UK
• MC1101 model available for $129.99 in US, and AU$249.99 in Australia
• Available at third-party retailers like Amazon, John Lewis, and Staples
• Regular discounts at Ninja and third-party retailers

The Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker MC1101UK (which is the model I tested here) retails for £119.99 at Ninja UK, while non-MC1101UK models are available in the US and Australia for $129.99 and AU$249.99, respectively.

This means it’s more affordable than some of the top picks in our best instant cookers list, including the Instant Pot Pro ($129.99/ £149.99) and the Instant Pot Duo Crisp ($229.99/ £229.99), but just slightly more than the likes of the Instant Pot Duo Plus ($119.99/ £99.99).

Considering the quality of the results, the pot’s 6L capacity, and the functions on offer, we believe it‘s excellent value for money. Especially when you consider what buying a dedicated rice cooker, steamer, and slow cooker would cost combined.

What’s more, we regularly see discounts on this appliance at Ninja and third-party retailers, so keep an eye out for these to pick it up for even less.

• Value score: 5/5

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker: specifications

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker: design

• 6L capacity cooking pot
• Fairly compact and quiet
• Minimal effort needed to clean
• Non-stick coating on pot can easily come off
• Digital display can be confusing

Out of the box, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker MC1101UK comes with a silver main unit (with a black control panel), a 6L midnight blue cooking pot, a glass lid, a rice cup, a rice spoon, and a steam rack, plus a thorough user manual and recipe booklet.

Immediately, we were surprised by how compact the appliance is, given its capacity. When assembled, the PossibleCooker takes up less than one kitchen counter space, making it a great choice for those with fewer storage options or a smaller kitchen work surface.

On the main unit is a fairly straightforward control panel, listing the eight cooking functions on the left, beside a small digital display. On the right-hand side are arrow buttons for function, time, and temperature, alongside a start/stop button.

The cooking pot has a black non-stick coating inside, with clear lines indicating where to fill up to with water for white rice, brown rice, and oats, corresponding to the number of cups you’ve added. The included recipe booklet provides more thorough instructions on this in its grain and pasta chart, which covers a variety of rice types (and certain pasta), alongside handy cooking tips. So, if, like me, you struggle to get your ratios right, keep it near. This recipe manual also offers guidelines for commonly slow-cooked meats and steamed vegetables, plus some recipes to get you started. We did, however, find the recipes weren’t as flavoursome as they sound, and some of the instructions aren’t particularly clear.

Using the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker is straightforward, but we highly advise reading the user manual first to understand how each cooking function works. Though the advice given in the manual can sometimes contradict the recipe book: for example, in the manual it advises to keep the lid on during cooking, while the recipe book recommends removing it after boiling.

To use the appliance, turn it on, use the function buttons to navigate to the relevant function, and then (where applicable) adjust the temperature and timing settings before pressing start. Some functions kick in straight away, while others have a preheat period. This preheat period is indicated by progress symbols (lines) in the display window, but the user manual doesn’t make the preheating process particularly clear, or how long it will last. For searing/sauteéing, these progress symbols are followed by the instruction to add food, but for other functions, this isn’t the case. After several uses, we got to grips with this feature, but it can be confusing initially.

When running, the PossibleCooker is quiet, but lets out a loud beep when cooking is complete. The appliance has markers indicating which parts will get hot during the process (and not to touch with bare hands), and the user manual makes it clear, too. So, if you’ve got little ones, we advise moving it away from the edge of your counter and ideally positioning it near or under an extractor fan (it gets steamy).

After letting the appliance cool down, the main unit can be wiped down with a cloth, and you can hand-wash the cooking pot with ease – though avoid using anything abrasive on its non-stick coat. However, despite carefully following the instructions, the coat began to chip off around the rim of the pot, possibly due to wear from the lid, within a week. So, while Ninja claims the pot is dishwasher safe, we advise (as we do with any non-stick coated appliance) to only hand-wash for longevity.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker: performance

• Eight cooking functions, including rice and slow cooking
• High quality results across all modes…
• But expect a wait for some products
• Medium slow cook temperature would be beneficial

We started our testing of the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker MC1101UK by using its white rice function. Cooking perfect rice every time is no mean feat, and this reviewer regularly gets the ratios wrong. Fortunately, the rice chart made it easy. We added two cups of long-grain white rice to the cooking pot and filled it with water to the corresponding mark.

It’s initially a bit unclear whether the appliance is on. Following the progress symbols, the display doesn’t show anything, so you’re left in the dark about how long the rice will actually take to cook. On average, it can take around 30 to 40 minutes to cook this amount of rice. We, however, waited slightly longer.. The result was perfectly fluffy rice, but it took around 40 to 50 minutes. We will caveat, however, that you can expect this wait with some other rice cookers.

We had the same results with brown rice, which has its own function. This time, we tried the Cajun Dirty Rice recipe from the booklet, which first requires you to cook 360g of brown rice (two cups) using the corresponding function. The booklet suggests this will take approximately 50 to 60 minutes, but we found it took 75 minutes altogether. Brown rice typically takes longer to cook than white, and you may wait longer than the booklet suggests, but the result was perfectly cooked grains once again. Well worth the wait, as long as you expect it. If speed is your priority, though, this may not be the appliance for you.

The Cajun Dirty Rice recipe allowed us to test efficiency and the multi-functionality of the PossibleCooker. After removing the rice, we easily cleaned out the inside of the pot with a cloth, ensuring it was dry before the next use. When you use more than one function of this multicooker for a recipe, expect extra waiting times for the pot to cool enough to be cleaned. Fortunately, the pot was quickly washed up, and I selected the sauté function (which requires a preheat) for the next section: browning off pork and beef mince.

The cooking pot essentially acts as a pot or pan on a hob when this function is selected, though the controls only let you select High, Medium, or Low temperature (giving you less control over the heat). It works a treat, though, and the digital display shows how long the pot has been heated for, so you can easily keep track of your timings. After cooking my minced meat, followed by my veg, I added stock and brought the pot to the boil before folding in the brown rice. The recipe itself was a bit flavourless, but the result was perfectly cooked rice, meat, and veg.

This multifunctionality is also useful when slow-cooking. Rather than the abundance of pots and pans I usually use for my go-to beef stew recipe, we were able to soften the veg in the pot using the sautée function before adding liquid and beef. After four hours at High temperature, we were thoroughly pleased with the results: the beef was tender, the vegetables soft but not mushy, and the sauce reduced and flavoursome without being watery or congealed.

We had similar results with a Beef Tinga recipe, a Ninja recipe accessed via the QR code on the appliance’s box. This one didn’t require using the sautée function, but allowed us to test the slow cooking function’s capabilities on the Low temperature setting. After adding all the ingredients to the pot and setting the time to eight hours, the meat was melt-in-your-mouth, but the recipe was (again) a bit bland. Our main takeaway here is that the functionality of the appliance is great, but maybe use it for your own recipes.

The steaming and pasta functions are perhaps the only ones that we had a couple of issues with. Following Ninja’s guidelines, we chose to steam 200g of Tenderstem broccoli. The guidelines tell you the amount of water to add to the pot. You then place the provided steaming rack inside the pot and place the broccoli in a single layer across it before placing the lid on top. The digital display, again, showed the progress bar indicating preheating, but it’s not entirely clear what the appliance is doing at that time. Building up its steam?

Either way, this heating time isn’t taken into account when you set your timer. So, for example, we set our timer for eight minutes as recommended, but the preheating/presteaming process wasn’t accounted for in those eight minutes, so you may need to account for that when cooking. We also found water bubbled around the lid of the pot during steaming, with a little water coming out the top. Overall, the broccoli was steamed well: with a slight crunch but not too floppy. It may have been easier to steam it the old-fashioned way, however.

Pasta, too, offered mixed results. The guidelines in the recipe book recommend the amount of water to add for the weight of pasta you’re using (the lines in the pot don’t apply to this). The booklet advises adding the pasta first, followed by the water, and then select the function. The pasta function seems to work more like the rice function, not giving you control over (or insight into) temperature or time, but telling you when it’s done.

The draw of the pasta function is that it allows you to cook pasta without needing to drain the water, but the time it takes almost makes it not worth it. After preheating for about six to nine minutes, it’s meant to take around 18 to 20 minutes to cook (again, it’s unclear if preheating is taken into account), but the appliance didn’t beep for over 22 minutes, at which point we stopped the cooking because the pasta was starting to make a skin on the bottom of the pot. While the timings were questionable, and the skin gross, the actual resulting pasta was perfectly al dente. And, in fairness, we didn’t have to drain any water.

Overall, the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker's results are excellent, but you may need to wait a little longer than you expect from some cooking functions – and spend some time getting used to its quirks.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should you buy the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Cosori 5L Rice Cooker: one-minute review

Nowadays, rice cookers aren’t simply rice cookers. Many double as multicookers, offering a multitude of cooking functions that make them multifaceted kitchen appliances. The Cosori 5L Rice Cooker is one such rice cooker, offering more than 10 cooking modes that cover sautéeing, steaming, and even jams and cakes. However, this appliance falls short in what it should do best.

During our testing, we found the rice results to be overly dry, with clumps of overcooked grain. Far from inedible, but not the quality you’d expect from a rice cooker of this price range. The Cosori Rice Cooker’s other cooking functions present mixed results, too. In some cases, the results were excellent.

When it comes to making cakes, compotes, boiled eggs, and porridge, the quality is extremely high. However, we found its Slow Cook function a tad disappointing, and we wish we had more control over the temperature of some of the modes available.

The design of this rice cooker is top-notch, however. It’s exceptionally easy to clean, compact for its 5L capacity, and the digital touchscreen display is a joy to use. It’s not overly pricey either, at £119.99 / $99.99 (about AU$150).

If you don’t mind experimenting a bit to get optimal results, the Cosori 5L Rice Cooker is well worth considering. But we can’t help but compare it to similarly priced competitors offering higher-quality results.

Cosori 5L Rice Cooker: price and availability

• $99.99 / £119.99 at Cosori
• Sold at Ubuy and Amazon in Australia for between AU$197.57 and AU$249
• Available at third-party retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy

At $99.99 / £119.99 (about AU$150), the Cosori 5L Rice Cooker is a budget-to-mid-range appliance. You get extra value for your money here, as it also doubles as a multi-cooker. While it’s not the best Instant Pot alternative we’ve tested, it’s more affordable than the likes of the Instant Pot Pro ($129.99 / £149.99) and the Instant Pot Duo Crisp ($229.99 / £229.99)

However, when stacked against the likes of the Ninja Foodi PossibleCooker, which is another rice cooker that doubles as a multicooker and falls in a similar price range at $129.99 / £119.99 (about AU$200), there’s no contest. While the Cosori Rice Cooker has its benefits, performance isn’t as consistent, nor its results as high quality, as the Ninja.

• Value score: 4/5

Cosori 5L Rice Cooker: specifications

Cosori 5L Rice Cooker: design

• 5L capacity cooking pot
• Large, touchscreen buttons
• Easily clean pot and accessories
• Lines in pot indicating required water levels

Out of the box, this Cosori rice cooker comes with a black, silver-topped main base, a 5L non-stick cooking pot, a soup ladle, a measuring cup, a standing rice paddle, and a 3L steam basket. Assembling the appliance is straightforward thanks to its thorough user manual, though you may find its inner lid and steam cap a tad confusing to insert the first time.

This rice cooker isn’t overly chunky, taking up less than one kitchen counter space, and its modern matte black base, silver-topped design means it shouldn’t look out of place, no matter your kitchen’s style.

When on, the touch-screen digital display on the front of the rice cooker lights up, displaying the rice preset options, a Keep Warm button, and a Mode button, allowing you to access other cooking functions such as Sauté and Steam. The touchscreen is easy to use, with the large buttons and digital timer display (which is even bigger) clear to see, even from a few feet away.

To open this rice cooker, you simply click the silver button on its top, and the lid springs open, revealing the heating plate and temperature sensor inside. The 5L non-stick-lined cooking pot effortlessly inserts into the space and provides a decent capacity for small to medium households. Inside the pot are lines on either side indicating where to fill the pot with water when steaming or cooking white rice, brown rice, etc., corresponding to the number of cups of grain you’ve added. These lines, when combined with your measuring cup and the user manual’s quick reference chart, make it easier to balance your water-to-grain ratio when cooking.

This non-stick pot was probably the easiest cooking pot we’ve cleaned in our time testing appliances. By filling the pot with warm soapy water and wiping it with the soft side of a sponge, we found rice, porridge, and even compote residue could be removed with minimal effort. While Cosori says the pot and accessories are dishwasher safe, we don’t advise cleaning anything with a non-stick coating in a dishwasher, as it could damage the non-stick lining.

Just ensure you also clean the inner pot lid and its steam cap after each use. This has a few more crevices, and the lid needs to be disassembled for proper cleaning, but the process is, again, pretty easy. The same can be said of the inside of the base, which can be easily wiped with a cloth.

The accompanying 3L steam basket neatly fits into the inner pot, but we wish it had some non-metallic handles to make removal after cooking easier (and safer).

In addition to its user manual, the Cosori 5L Rice Cooker comes with a quick reference guide that includes tips for cooking, the grain chart, and a quick rundown of how to set up the appliance and cook white/brown rice. This is handy if you don’t want to flick through the user manual. The rice cooker also comes with a recipe book featuring global recipes that utilise its various functions. We always love the flavour of Cosori recipes, so we highly recommend trying these out.

Cosori 5L Rice Cooker: performance

• Variety of cooking modes and rice presets
• Rice was overcooked
• No control over temperature
• Cake function is excellent

The Cosori 5L rice cooker is positioned first and foremost as just that: a rice cooker. Unfortunately, we found its rice cooking capabilities to be lower quality than its other cooking functions.

This appliance has several presets for rice and grains. For white and brown rice, you can specify short grain, long grain, or quick cook (which takes less time but results in harder rice, according to the user manual). We added two cups of washed, long-grain white rice to the pot, filled it to the respective line in the pot, and selected the White Rice/Long Grain option, which takes 50 minutes. This is in line with some rice cookers, but slightly longer than cooking on the hob.

When running, the rice cooker is surprisingly quiet, registering around 32 decibels (about the volume of a whisper), but when cooking is complete, it lets out several loud beeps that you can easily hear from another room. After using the rice paddle to fluff the rice, we found clumps of overcooked rice in the batch, and the results were, overall, quite dry. In case it was an error on our part, we tried again with the Quick Cook option, which takes 39 minutes. While the dry clumps were less prevalent, there were still enough to make the results less than ideal.

We had the same issue with long-grain brown rice. On the relevant preset, it took 75 minutes, much longer than on a hob, even though brown rice takes longer to cook. Again, we found the results to be overcooked and quite dry, with several clumps of chewy grain. Edible, but not the high quality we’d expect.

It’s disappointing, as the Cosori 5L Rice Cooker’s other functions work pretty well. We tested several recipes from the Recipe Booklet, which utilises the different cooking functions, and were generally impressed by the results (though it was a mixed bag).

Following the Spiced Carrot & Lentil Soup recipe, we used the sautée function (accessed through Modes) to sauté onions and cumin seeds to perfection. Our only gripe here was that the pot gets very hot, and there seems to be no control over its temperature settings, so you need to be careful not to overcook in this mode. After sautéeing, we were able to seamlessly move to the Soup function, and after 45 minutes, we had a lovely chunky soup with soft carrots ready for blending.

The Jam/Sauce mode is impressive, too. We followed the Strawberry-Thyme Compote recipe, which requires the lid to be open, and had a delicious compote after 15 minutes: soft chunks of strawberry, plenty of tang, and just the right consistency.

This (perhaps minus the thyme) pairs well with porridge. We were surprised that, despite the rice cooking issues, the Porridge preset (under Grains) provided excellent results. We added two cups of rolled oats to the pot and filled the pot to the corresponding water/liquid line for porridge. While it took 30 minutes to get there, the porridge consistency was spot on.

The Steam function, too, provided great results. For steaming, you add water to the steam line in the pot, then place the steam basket into the pot. We followed the recipe for a soft-boiled egg, adding two eggs to the basket. For steaming, there’s some preheating required. While it doesn’t tell you how long preheating takes, the digital display shows when the rice cooker is preheating and beeps when finished. We were concerned this preheat time would impact cooking, as the eggs were in the basket during that time, and it wasn’t accounted for in its six minutes of cooking time, but the results were excellent. The egg yolk was runny and yellow, the white cooked but not overdone.

Again, following a recipe from the provided book, we made the Slow Cooked Sunday Sauce, which utilises the Sauté and Slow Cooker modes. We found the pot’s width to be somewhat of a restriction here. The recipe advises cooking your meat in batches, and we did, but there wasn’t a huge amount of room to ensure our chuck beef could layer along the bottom without several batch cooks.

The pot prioritizes depth capacity, so don’t expect it to act as a de facto hob in Sauté mode. After sautéeing our meat and veg in several batches and adding the necessary ingredients, we set the appliance to Slow Cook for four hours. After four hours, the sauce itself was delicious. However, the fat on the beef chuck hadn’t rendered, despite braising, and we were left with inedible, chewy fat on our meat. It’s a shame, because the meat was otherwise cooked well, though not necessarily melt-in-your-mouth.

The best results we got by a mile, however, were for cake. Of all things. We were understandably very sceptical of a rice cooker’s ability to bake a cake. We followed the Chocolate Cake with Chocolate Buttercream Frosting recipe in the book, which requires making the batter separately before pouring it into the greased inner pot and selecting the Cake mode. After 70 minutes, we had a (slightly oddly shaped) chocolate cake that was delicious. The cake was moist but not wet and somehow light. In my husband’s words: “It’s the best chocolate sponge I’ve ever had.”

The Cosori 5L Rice Cooker is a mixed bag when it comes to performance, but we’re particularly disappointed in its rice-cooking abilities. You potentially could, with some experimentation (like adding more water than suggested), get better results, but if you want a rice cooker that makes perfect, fluffy rice each time, this may not be the appliance for you.

• Performance score: 3.5/5

Should you buy the Cosori 5L Rice Cooker?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

Thermomix TM7: one-minute review

There are few times I’ve been so excited about a home appliance in my career as a lifestyle gadget reviewer as this; I’ve just finished testing the Thermomix TM7, an incredible, almost all-in-one device that can do everything from kneading bread all the way to sous vide. If you’ve ever lamented about your countertop space, this might just be the appliance for you. Still, there’s an interesting journey to perfection – or even just maximizing this device – that might color your choice to join the hype train.

I’ve tested almost all of the key functions available, and I must say I’m very impressed with the range on offer. Do I think it’s the best possible solution for each and every one? No, but I will say it makes tremendous efforts to cover all bases. I’ve made everything from bread to curry and smoothies using the Thermomix almost exclusively for every step, and I’ve never seen an appliance quite like it.

There are, of course, some trade-offs here. It’s bulky, and having a dishwasher is practically a must if you intend to use it regularly. Owing to its very powerful motor, it can also be pretty loud in use; we shudder to use it past 8pm in case our neighbors think we’re testing jet engines. It’ll also be a massive pain to stash away, so prepare for the Thermomix TM7 to be a mainstay on your countertops. If you can handle these setbacks, you’ll be more than happy to introduce it into regular meal prep and cooking rotation, though.

I’m also divided on the included subscription plan; you have three months of access to Cookidoo, wherein you’ll find ample recipes specifically tailored to the appliance, but after that, you face a $89 / £50 annual subscription fee. Of course, the machine is far from redundant after that period if you choose not to join up, but it will require a lot more manual input. In that sense, I don’t love the long-term landscape for Thermomix fans; especially given its lofty list price. I feel they could offer a little more as part of the base offering to help users, but if you’re willing to dole out further, it’s worth the investment.

All that being said, there’s a lot to love here, and a thriving community of users to support your Thermomix journey. New customers are encouraged to join up for one of the in-person training sessions; personally, I didn’t, and I found it pretty easy to learn the ropes and make best use of the machine, so don’t view that as a compulsory step if the effort to make it to a class is too great. Either way, you end up with a powerful, capable and relatively low-effort kitchen powerhouse.

Thermomix TM7: price and availability

• Available for $1,699.00 / £1,349 / AU$2,649 direct from Thermomix
• Encouraged to buy through a Thermomix 'Consultant'

Unlike a majority of the appliances we test and review here at TechRadar, the Thermomix can’t be easily purchased through standard avenues. You won’t find it on the shelves of a department store or lurking on Amazon during Prime Day; instead, you can exclusively buy this appliance from Thermomix itself, either online or through a Consultant, for $1,699.00 / £1,349 / AU$2,649.

What’s a Consultant? Basically, a brand representative who makes a commission from selling and delivering training to new Thermomix customers. Now, I’m not one of these, but you’ll find a fair amount of content online from people who are affiliated with the brand as such.

In addition to the appliance itself, there’s an array of extra tools and accessories that you can purchase to unlock further recipes and cooking methods. The standard package comes with the TM7 base unit, mixing bowl and lid, a Varoma steaming tray, the power cord and three tools: a spatula, butterfly whisk, and simmering basket. You also get three months' access to the Cookidoo platform, which costs $66/£50/AU$89

• Value score: 3.5/5

Thermomix TM7: specifications

Thermomix TM7: design

It’s hard to make a 'pretty' kitchen appliance, but the Thermomix TM7 is far from ugly. Large and in charge, the TM7 is a hefty piece of equipment for your countertops; and given its 8.5kg wight, you’ll probably want to keep it there rather than stash it in the cupboard if you’re looking to use it regularly. It takes up a lot of room, too; it stands at 33.6 x 25.3 x 40.5cm (H x W x D), but you’ll also need to find space for the 13.1 x 38.3 x 27.5 cm Varoma basket and other tools.

While I’ve not tested previous devices, the TM7 is a notable departure from older Thermomix designs. Since 1971, the appliance has seen a fair few design changes, but in the more recent years, it’s stayed fairly consistent until now. A new 10-inch multi-touch display is the headliner here, seated upon the main base and offering a bright surface from which to follow along with recipes. It’s pretty responsive and performs consistently, barring the occasional spot of lag if you're dashing around the screen too quickly.

Above the screen sits the 2.2L stainless steel mixing bowl, clad in a black insulated cover with a large, forward-facing handle. This cover locks in place using a lever mechanism on the right-hand side of the bowl, which keeps the bowl and blade inside secure; I found this could be a little stiff at times, and might be challenging for weaker hands to operate.

At the top of the device sits the lid, which has a removable steam cap so you can mount the Varoma steaming tray on top when needed. The steaming tray is 45% larger than the previous generation, and I found it was ample space to cook enough chicken for a six, maybe even eight-person meal.

One thing I will note about the steaming tray, lid, and outer cover is that the black plastic is an absolute grease-magnet. After cooking, it’s covered in oily marks and smears, and that’s where the dishwasher becomes a vital part of this package. I don’t have one in my apartment, so all cleaning was done manually, and when I tell you I felt cursed by the TM7, I mean it. The lid, in particular, is a real pain to clean by hand, and I had to re-clean it three or four times before I was satisfied the grub was gone.

I’m also not overly keen on the lid design, as it lets out a lot of cooking smells. Having researched older models, that’s a big change that has negatively affected the reception of the device, and while it’s by no means worse than using a saucepan on the stove, it’s definitely worth noting if you’ve got a TM6 or older device you’re not 100% sold on trading in.

• Design score: 4/5

Thermomix TM7: performance

The real reason you’ll want a Thermomix TM7 is all in the performance. My favorite local chef uses his Thermomix to make a wide range of soups and sauces as well as doughs and batters, and that’s just the beginning of what this tool can do in both personal and professional environments.

This stand mixer-cum-blender-cum-steamer-cum-food processor can even sautee your veggies, meaning there’s way less washing up at the end – so long as, of course, you have a dishwasher.

The screen and Cookidoo app will walk you through each step of cooking, starting with measuring out your ingredients with the built-in scales. These are pretty accurate, providing you’ve got a solid flat surface to place the Thermomix TM7 upon.

Most of the recipes I tested were from Cookidoo, but I’ve got really mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it’s incredibly useful for learning the machine; there’s a great variety of recipes, and I love that you can customize these for your preferences. The customizable home screen and meal planning are genuinely useful, especially for homemakers or power users, and the user experience for following the step-by-step guidance is pretty good.

That being said, I think there’s a lot of room for improvement. Almost every recipe I’ve tried has been way under-seasoned, and there are moments where the instructions aren’t clear enough; pre-heat the oven, sure, but is the suggested temperature for a conventional or fan oven?! Right now, I’m not sure it’s worth the monthly subscription after the initial trial period, though I’ve not actually seen how useful the machine is without it; I’m really hoping it doesn’t render it useless.

A huge miss for me is that you can’t remotely control the Thermomix TM7, despite the Cookidoo platform being accessible on other devices. Thermomix has hinted at this future utility, but I’d ask why they rushed to release the product without it; it feels pretty essential to me in the age of smart devices.

I started my Thermomix journey by making some of the recommended starter recipes; Thai peanut chicken with coconut rice, which uses only the Thermomix to cook at each stage (though you will need vessels to put some ingredients aside in at various stages). You begin with the Peanut sauce, putting in sliced garlic, roughly cut ginger and olive oil into the mixing bowl. After a three-second whizz, scrape down the sides and whizz again, before sauteeing the contents.

At this stage, I was already pretty impressed; the blades are incredibly powerful and sharp, able to quickly mince my ingredients to a suitable size, and the machine has saved me from having to turn on the stove and grab a frying pan. You can use this setting manually, too, searing and browning ingredients up to 160°C without needing a recipe from Cookidoo selected.

After adding some liquid ingredients to the mix for the sauce and switching on the machine to cook and slowly stir the contents for five minutes, the sauce is finished and can be put to one side while you make the rest. Now, given there’s another 20 minutes before it’s time to reintroduce the sauce, this is one of the early pitfalls for the Thermomix; concurrent cooking for more complex meals isn’t always a choice.

That being said, I loved that in the next stage, the rice is cooked in the main mixing bowl while the chicken and vegetables cook in the Varoma on top using the steam from below. The con? Well, you have to wash the sticky sauce out of the mixing bowl first, and it’s not as easy as the “quick rinse” suggestion the Cookidoo app makes. It was worth it in the end, though; the results were tender chicken, perfectly cooked rice and delicious (albeit very heavy and unhealthy) peanut sauce. It’s a pretty bitty way to cook the meal; I’d sooner cook the sauce separately in a saucepan while the rice and chicken cook to halve the overall cooking time, but it’s neat to see a meal like this made possible using mostly just the machine itself.

Next up, I tried making another suggested starter recipe: Pão de água, or Portuguese water bread. Using just bread flour, water, yeast and salt, the Thermomix TM7 was able to handle everything from mixing to kneading and even proving the dough. However, the process was a little more mixed, here, in my experience.

Primarily, that’s because of the kneading; nobody wants to watch as an expensive appliance visibly teeters while in use. I don’t think it moves enough here to launch itself in any kind of dangerous way, but it can’t be good for the screen, internals or motor to be jostled so much. If I were regularly making large batches of dough, I’d be seriously considering wedging the machine in somewhere it can’t scuttle out from.

However, I have to say, I was really impressed with the results. The dough proved wonderfully within the mixing bowl, and after a slight mishap (read: user error) that saw me unlock the mixing bowl and pour the blade out with the dough, the bread came out of the oven well-risen, delicious and with excellent texture.

Undeterred, I moved on to my next test: mushroom and cannellini bean soup. Here, I wanted to see if the food processing and blending were up to scratch, and they most certainly were. After cooking down the ingredients, the machine blitzed through the contents and left me with wonderfully smooth, tasty soup. The only issue? It was painfully loud while doing so.

Thermomix claims the TM7 has a quieter motor with “noticeably less noise, especially at low speeds”, but that certainly doesn’t extend to more challenging tasks. I was genuinely worried about damaging my ears when standing close to the device, and no wonder; when I crushed frozen berries in the machine to make sorbet, my sound meter measured 99db (equivalent to a subway train) at only the fifth of nine speed settings. With more crumbly contents, that dropped to 87db, and with sugar alone, it was 73db.

Some of this is to do with the powerful blades, but I have to wonder if the vented lid design and mixing bowl shape mean there’s rubbish sound isolation. I haven’t tried previous models to see if the issue is new, but the TM7’s redesign does have less cladding around the side to help prevent sound spillage, which definitely means blending past 8 PM is a non-starter in my apartment building. I will say, though, the sorbet was delicious, and the butterfly whisk attachment to whip it into a smooth texture is excellent.

Overall, it’s a mixed bag for me, and a lot of this comes down to personal preference; if you’re an accomplished cook who just wants a super powerful blend and mixer for handling some of those dishes that need constant stirring and a thin consistency, you’ll love the Thermomix TM7. Similarly, if you’re a homemaker without a great love for cooking (or washing up!) it’s a great way to make a low-effort meal for a whole family. I would argue it could be really useful for those with accessibility needs, too, but unfortunately, the bulky design and size of the device make it hard to lift and operate.

However, if you live in close proximity to neighbors, have children with early bedtimes, don’t own a dishwasher or just really enjoy the art of home cooking, you probably can (and should!) live without the Thermomix TM7.

• Performance score: 4.5/5

Should you buy the Thermomix TM7?

Buy it if

Don't buy it if

How I tested the Thermomix TM7

I used the Thermomix as many times as possible to cook for myself over a three week period, trying both the in-app recipes as well as manual mode. To test the features as advertised, I opted to try most of the recipes from Cookidoo's 7-day crash course, which helped to understand the machine's abilities.

I made bread, baked goods, full meals, sauces, soups, stews and desserts in the Thermomix TM7, comparing the experience of each against my cooking experience. I'm a confident home cook with experience in cooking almost all of the meals I tried by hand, comparing my experience to traditional methods as well as methods that use a range of the best kitchen appliances.

I've been testing home appliances for years now, and in that time I've tried a huge range of the best blenders, best air fryers, best food processors and beyond. I've developed a keen sense for value, performance and good design through my testing experience.

If your backyard barbecue game is feeling a little tired, I’ve found the perfect upgrade to help spice things up: the Ninja Woodfire is down to AU$499 (was AU$650) at Amazon.

While it’s not the absolute rock-bottom lowest price I’ve ever seen, it’s pretty close – and well below the typical AU$650 tag. Sure, it sometimes drops to AU$550, but this is only the second time I've seen an extra discount that takes it to a tasty sub-AU$500 price point – and that makes it well worth snapping up.

In fact, if you're looking for a thoughtful Father's Day gift idea and are willing to splurge on your dad (he is, of course, worth it!), this could well be it.

Prefer shopping in person? Good news – The Good Guys has it too, and you can even shave off an extra AU$6 if you hit the price beat button.

So why the Ninja hype? Normally, outdoor cooking forces you into a tough choice: the ease of gas or electric grilling, or the delightfully smoky flavour of charcoal and wood. The Ninja Woodfire says, “why not both?” and serves up the best of each.

As far as electric grills go, it’s pretty clever, and features a small chamber where you add a few wood pellets and it infuses your food with a pretty authentic smokehouse flavour while you cook.

But rest assured that it’s no one-trick pony and it can also air fry, bake, roast and, of course, smoke. In short, you’re not just buying a grill, you’re picking up an all-round cooker that’ll compete with the best meals from a BBQ this summer.

From viral sensations like the Ninja Slushi to some of the very best air fryers on the market, Ninja is king in almost every category. And, if you're searching for Father's Day gift ideas, our Ninja Woodfire review is a must-read. In fact, our tester was so impressed she awarded it a full five stars, saying, "It’s so easy to use and creates tasty, smoky flavours without a flame and with minimal mess."

All in all, I think the Ninja Woodfire is a compact and versatile option, and perfect if you don’t have a big backyard or will be cooking on a balcony. Though it’s also equally at home as part of a larger cooking setup and, thanks to its weather-resistant build, it can happily live outdoors all year round.

Ninja has a couple of other great deals going right now, or browse all the compatible grill accessories on Amazon.

• Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Oven: was AU$699 now AU$499 at Amazon
• Ninja Detect Power Blender Duo: was AU$249 now AU$179 at The Good Guys

Are you looking for something else? Check out our guide for great Father’s Day gift ideas.

If you're a bit of a kitchenware geek (guilty as charged) then you might be familiar with the name Thermomix. It's a unique appliance that's somewhere between a multi-cooker, a food processor, a blender, a steamer, and a recipe book – and it can prepare virtually any dish you can think of.

I recently had the chance to go hands-on with the latest version of the Thermomix, the TM7, in the airy London showroom of manufacturer Vorwerk. So what exactly is it, and how does it work?

The heart of the TM7 is a base containing the motor for the blade, heating element, and weighing scale (more on that shortly), with a large touchscreen on the front. It's quite compact, and has a footprint around the same size as that of a typical air fryer.

On top of this sits a large mixing bowl, with a matte black finish (as requested by the company's customers in a survey), a brushed metal handle, and a lid. The bowl is insulated so it's never hot to the touch, and your food is kept at the correct temperature.

Inside the bowl is a blade similar to the kind you'd find in a conventional food processor, but which is sharp on one side and blunt on the other. Spinning in one direction will chop or blend ingredients, while turning the other way will stir them.

One feature that's new for the TM7 is the ability to cook with the lid of the bowl removed. This is ideal for cooking delicate ingredients, and for safety it's only possible when using one of the slowest 'stir' modes. In any other mode, the blade will stop automatically when the lid is removed.

Occasionally you'll need to scrape ingredients off the sides and back onto the blade, and the TM7 comes with a specially designed spatula that fits perfectly against the side of the bowl for this purpose. The spatula can sit on its side, or upright on its base when not in use to avoid dirtying your kitchen counters.

There's also a steamer, called the Varoma, which sits on top of the bowl to steam dishes like fish and vegetables, with two layers for cooking two things at once.

How does it work?

One of the most important parts of the Thermomix TM7 is the companion app, called Cookidoo, which is home to thousands of tried and tested recipes. This isn't your usual digital cookbook though; once you've found a dish you like, you can send it to your Thermomix, which will then walk you through each step of the process and handle all the time-consuming tasks for you.

For example, if you're preparing a risotto (as we were shown in Vorwerk's demonstration), the touchscreen might prompt you to add an onion to the bowl, then press the play button to have it perfectly chopped. You might then be asked to add a slug of olive oil, and when you've pressed a button the confirm that it's in the bowl, the Thermomix will begin cooking the chopped onion while stirring, softening it to perfection. There's no need to dirty multiple pans, knives, and a chopping board.

When the onion is cooked, you'll be prompted to add risotto rice (the built-in scale will tell you when there's enough in the bowl), a stock cube, and water, before the Thermomix takes over the long process of stirring the risotto to release starch while it cooks. Meanwhile, you can safely leave it and do other things. The Thermomix will chime if you need to add more ingredients, or when cooking is finished.

Once you're done, the bowl, blade, spatula, and lid are all dishwasher-safe, so cleanup is a piece of cake.

Speaking of which, if you want to cook something that's not sauteed, stewed, boiled, fried or steamed (like cake or bread), the Thermomix can still handle the weighing and mixing, and will tell you what to pre-heat the oven to and how long to bake it for.

So what's it like to use?

At the event, one of Vorwerk's cooks demonstrated how to prepare a prosciutto and porcini risotto using the TM7, as described above. Unless it's doing something like grating a hard chunk of parmesan, it's surprising just hoe quiet the machine is in use, thanks to its insulated bowl.

Once that was done, the attendees (about 20 of us) were split into four groups, and tasked with preparing four different recipes. My group was assigned a berry sorbet, which was particularly interesting to me because I'd seen pictures online of chilled desserts prepared using a Thermomix.

It's important to note that the Thermomix doesn't actively chill ingredients, so they need to be frozen before going inside the bowl. For our sorbet, we used mixed frozen berries (a staple of my tests when I'm reviewing the best blenders for making smoothies, and often tricky to fully pulverize).

First we added granulated sugar to the bowl until a green tick appeared to show that we had the correct amount, placed the lid on top, and pressed play. Within a few seconds, the Thermomix blitzed the grains into powdery icing/confectioner's sugar. I certainly wasn't expecting that, and was very impressed – I always have granulated sugar to hand, but more than once I've had to make a late night dash to the corner shop for icing sugar when baking a birthday cake.

After that, we added the berries and a dash of lemon juice to balance the sweetness, then let the Thermomix take the reins. We were occasionally prompted to scrape the ingredients off the sides of the bowl, but after a couple of minutes we were left with a fresh, smooth sorbet, with only three ingredients and virtually no effort of mess.

The cooking didn't end there, though. After our guide scooped half the sorbet into a bowl for tasting (delicious) and replaced the bowl, the machine prompted us to add an egg white, and insert a beating tool that sits on top of the blade. the TM7 then whipped the egg and sorbet together to make a smooth, frothy mousse-like dessert.

Finally, the demo recipe prompted us to remove all but two tablespoons of sorbet, add a portion of milk, and replace the lid. A few seconds later, we each had a glass or berry milkshake to round off dessert.

It's very impressive, and I particularly like the fact that the Cookidoo app comes with sets of recipes made specifically for certain countries, including local cuisines (I spotted a recipe for Yorkshire puddings) and using readily available ingredients.

The Thermomix TM7 certainly isn't cheap, costing £1,349 from Vorwerk in the UK (it's due to launch in the US later this year, but the official price hasn't been announced yet) and you should also factor in the premium Cookidoo subscription, which is an extra $65/£50 per year.

I asked Vorwerk's representative whether it's possible to use the TM7 without it, and although you can, you'll have a much smaller selection of recipes to choose from, and you won't be able to do things like add notes to recipes you've tried.

It's a seriously powerful and capable appliance though, and as someone who cooks using online recipes almost every day, I can easily see it having a place in my kitchen. It's made to last too. In fact, Vorwerk only releases a new model every seven years or so, so you can be confident it'll be supported for a long time.

I'll soon be borrowing a TM7 for a week to try even more recipes, and will report back to let you know how I get on with stewing, baking, and more – and whether I think it's worth the investment.

You might also like

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• So you just got an air fryer – here are 10 things you need to cook now

My Ninja Woodfire is the star of the show every time I'm hosting garden parties and family gatherings, and there's almost a cult-like fascination with the outdoor cooker online, too. So, if you've got WF-FOMO (Woodfire fear of missing out), I've got good news for you; right now, you can get the Ninja Woodfire for $249.99 (was $369.99) at Amazon.

• See all of today's best Amazon deals

But wait, it gets better; the XL version, which also comes packed with a smart thermometer, is also on sale for $299 (was $399), so you can impress even more family and friends if you opt for that model.

Don't just take my word for it when it comes to how good these things are – the Ninja Woodfire scored a full five stars in our review, earning praise for its ease of use, versatility, and excellent results. The best part is that this isn't technically an Amazon Prime Day deal; you can shop this deal even if you don't have a membership, as many brands jump on the bargain bandwagon outside of official sales.

Best Ninja Woodfire deal

The Ninja Woodfire is super easy to use and negates some of the biggest problems with owning a conventional BBQ. Instead of using a hefty fuel tank, it's an electric appliance; the only thing you need outside of a good pair of tongs are the wood pellets to flavor your food,

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We're rounding up all the cheapest Instant Pot deals available right now, with all the latest discounts on the best value models. We've gathered all the lowest prices on everything from the best-selling Instant Pot Duo to the WiFi-enabled Instant Pot Smart and listed the features and specifications for each model so you can find the best Instant Pot for you and your wallet.

Instant Pots tend to be reduced throughout the year, but during holiday sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day, these pressure cookers tend to get a hefty price reduction. Thanks to the release of newer models that have added features such as air frying, such as the Instant Pot DuoCrisp, you can also find deals on popular older models, such as the Instant Pot Duo.

Below are today's best Instant Pot sales and deals. We compare prices from the most popular models online, including the Instant Pot Duo, Duo Plus, Duo Crisp, and the latest Instant Pot Rio.

The cheapest Instant Pot sales and deals

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp was released in 2022, and thanks to the addition of the air fryer lid, it joined the popular craze of air fryers. Like other models, the Instant Pot has several cooking functions, including pressure cook, slow cook, saute and steam, but the Duo Crisp has swapped the pressure cooker lid for an air fryer lid so you can also air fry, bake, and roast. The EvenCrisp technology allows for airflow, so your food comes out crunchy without the oil from a traditional deep fryer. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is available in 6-quart, 6.5-quart, and 8-quart models and comes with a free app that includes over 800 recipes.

The latest pressure cooker from the brand is the Instant Pot Rio, which is an updated version of the Instant Pot Duo. Released in 2023, The Rio stands for a Revolutionary, Innovative, and One-pot wonder upgrade, and, most importantly, it's priced lower than other models, retailing for $99.95. You're getting all the basic features that people love about the Instant Pot, such as 13 customizable smart programs and seven different cooking functions, which include pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, and food warmer. The Instant Pot Rio also features a slimmer design and a new guided cooking indicator that monitors progress.

This is Instant Pot's best-selling model and with good reason. As its name denotes, the Instant Pot Duo Plus is similar to the Duo model but with a few added features. You can make a cake or eggs in it, and it can also be used as a sterilizer, so it's great if you enjoy canning and preserving. You also get 15 built-in programs - one more than the Duo, to make a number of cooking tasks as simple as pushing a button. It is available in 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart models.

Instant Pot's signature model, the Duo, is a great pot for most people. It is a versatile cooker that can be used as either a pressure cooker or a slow cooker, depending on what is needed, as well as a yogurt maker and rice cooker. Plus, it comes with 14 pre-programmed cooking modes for specific items like soup and porridge. Better yet, it's one of the most affordable Instant Pot models. If the extra features of the Duo Plus or the Ultra seem unnecessary, then this is the pot for you. It's available in 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart editions.

• See also the best Sous Vide cooking machine sales and the best coffee maker sales

More Instant Pot deals

Want to check out some more Instant Pot options? Try these links below to browse the selection at the following stores:

• Walmart
• Best Buy
• Amazon
• Kohls

Other programmable cookers

With the success of the Instant Pot, many other companies have introduced their own multi-use cookers equipped with similar features and functions. We've rounded up the best prices on a selection of the most popular, which you can find below.

We're rounding up all the best sous vide sales happening right now just below, with price comparison technology bringing you the biggest offers across the full range every half an hour. That means you can save on everything from Instant Pot to Anova models, and secure yourself a nifty new kitchen gadget without breaking the bank. 

To use a sous vide, just fill a pot with water, set the desired temperature and time, and cook everything (meat, souffle, carrots) to perfection. You can achieve restaurant-quality meals by preparing your food at a constant temperature and not ever having to worry about over-cooking. Most machines also have a compatible app, so you can look up recipes and set your time and temperature all from your phone.

See our list of sous vide cooking machines below to find the best model, brand, and price that's right for you.

The best Sous Vide cooking machines:

The top-selling Anova Sous Vide is probably the most well-known cooking machine, with over 3,000 reviews on Amazon. To use the Anova, attach the tool to any water-filled pot, put your food in a ziplock bag and clip it to the side of the pot, then set your time and temperature on the device or the Anova app.

The app allows you to cook remotely, so you don't have to stay in the kitchen waiting for your food to cook. The Anova app allows you to check on the water temperature, turn the sous vide machine off and will even send you notifications on your cooking status. You'll also have access to over 1,000+ recipes as well as videos and guides for each recommended meal.

Instant Pot, a brand known primarily known for its pressure cooker appliances, has delved into the Sous Vide world with its Accu Slim immersion cooker. As the name implies, the Accu Slim features a compact design at an affordable price, with a starting price of just $99.99. The Accu Slim features a temperature range of 68F to 203F and packs 800 watts of cooking power.

The Instant Pot Sous VIde features a tilted LED display with a digital touchscreen and a waterproof design to prevent damage if accidents occur. Perhaps the best feature is that the Accu Slim is compatible with other Instant Pot appliances, so you can easily clamp down if you own one of the company's popular pressure cookers.

The Sansaire Sous-Vide started off as a Kickstarter campaign and exceeded its funding goal in just 13 hours. The Sansaire is unique from other sous vide machines because it can stand on its own in a pot or container of water without attaching to the side. This machine also doesn't offer WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity. To set the time and temperature you'll need to do so manually on the device.

While the Sansaire lacks a compatible app, you can still cook nearly any food and achieve restaurant-like results. The LED screen displays the temperature, and the thermometer holds the water to within 0.1°C of the desired temperature. The Sansaire even claims to be used in some of the world's best restaurants by professional chefs. 

The ChefSteps Joule stands out from other brands because it's half the size of other sous vide machines and can conveniently fit in your kitchen drawer. Despite its size, the Joule is quite powerful, offering 1100 watts of power for ultra-fast water heating and the precisely desired temperature.

The ChefSteps Joule is WiFi and Bluetooth enabled and includes the compatible Joule app. Unlike other Sous Vide machines, the Joule can only be controlled from the app and not manually on the device. The app features an exclusive "visual doneness" that allows you to see exact photos of how your food will turn out. The Joule also works with Amazon Alexa so you can use your voice to control the sous vide. 

Where can I buy other Sous Vide cookers?

• Walmart
• Amazon US
• BestBuy
• Amazon UK
• Wayfair

If you still need more information on the sous vide machine before you make your buying decision, we've answered some common questions below to help you out.

See more kitchen appliance deals with our roundup of the best Walmart deals that are happening now.

If you're interested in other cooking appliances check out our list of the best Instant Pot deals and the best cheap Air Fryers on sale.

Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker: two-minute review

If you’re looking for a top multi-cooker, then there are plenty of best Instant Pot options to choose from. The Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker stands out as a great buy, not just for its 10 settings, but also because of its smart functionality. So, not only can you control the appliance from the touchscreen display on the front of the cooker, but you can start, adjust and stop it remotely via an app on your smartphone as well. This makes it a much more convenient option than your standard Instant Pot.

I really enjoyed browsing the Instant Connect app, which features lots of cooking inspiration. Offering access to over 1,400 recipes, you can search for a recipe to cook using keywords such as “chicken”, “fish”, or any other random ingredient you have to hand. Once you’ve decided what to cook, following the instructions in the app is super simple, and it will nudge you to choose the right cooking mode for the recipe chosen. This is a game-changer, making cooking really quick and speedy, with no need to refer to the instruction manual. It’s also handy when you’re stuck about what to cook and need some inspiration.

Provided the device is plugged in, you can turn the appliance on and off remotely, too – which is helpful if you want to keep an eye on the cooking cycle from the comfort of the sofa. This also means that provided you’ve prepped your ingredients correctly, you can turn on the cooker while you’re out – so that the slow-cooked lamb you planned first thing will be ready to eat when you walk through your front door.

In terms of design, the Instant Pot Pro Plus won’t catch the eye. Nevertheless, its timeless black and silver finish will work well in both modern and classic kitchen schemes. Offering 10 useful cooking modes, including those for steaming and making rice and a delay start and keep warm function; if there’s one option I was disappointed not to see, it’s an air fry function.

Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker review: price & availability

• List price: $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349
• Reasonably priced for capabilities
• Available in US, UK and Australia

The Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker is above average in price for an Instant Pot multi-cooker, setting you back $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$349. At the time of writing, this 6-quart / 5.7-litre design is on sale for $149.95 in the US, however.

You’ll be paying that bit more than the average due to its smart capability. For a  6-quart model minus smart features you can pick up the Instant Pot Rio for around $99.99. Or in the UK, you can buy the Instant Pot Duo Plus With WhisperQuiet Multi-Cooker for £99.99, which is currently on offer, down from £129.99. In Australia, a 5.7L Instant Pot Duo Plus will set you back AU$259, but can be found for around AU$199.

• Value for money score: 4 out of 5

Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker specs

Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker review: design

• 6-portion capacity
• 10 functions accessible via touchscreen
• Dishwasher-safe removable pot

In terms of looks, the Instant Pot Pro Plus is rather average; with a sleek black finish and touchscreen display, it’s nothing out of the ordinary. However, what makes it stand out from the crowd is its high-tech smart capability, which allows you to control the multi-cooker not just through the touchscreen panel, but via a smart app on your phone.

Size-wise, it isn’t too intrusive on the countertop, and at 7.05kg it isn’t too heavy either. Its body is curvaceous and sleek, offering a generous 6-quart / 5.7-liter dishwasher-safe stainless steel inner cooking pot with aluminium core that can hold up to six portions. In the box you’ll also find a steam rack and extra sealing ring for when the original wears out.

While you won’t need too much room to store this appliance on the countertop or in a large kitchen cupboard, you will need to ensure there’s adequate space around it for good ventilation while cooking. Venting is easy: there are three touchscreen options for natural venting, pulse venting or a quick vent. The display also denotes how much cooking time remains, and highlights the cancel and start buttons for quick access while running.

I found the digital display clear and easy to read, allowing you to choose from the 10 settings available. These include pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, yoghurt making, canning, sous vide, delay starting and keeping your food warm.

I found the device feels solid and secure on the worktop, with ample cord length to easily plug it in at the socket. The multi-cooker has a lid that’s easy to remove and lock into place when needed. Note that the sides of the machine do get a little hot to touch when it’s on, but nothing out of the ordinary – and the only time the multi-cooker makes much noise is when the steam is being vented. Helpfully, the inner pot comes with handles, which makes it super easy to take out.

• Design score: 4.5 out of 5

Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker review: performance

• Cooks up to 70% faster when pressure cooking
• 10 cooking functions via touchscreen or app
• NutriBoost to lock in vitamins, improve texture

To test out the Instant Pot Pro Plus, I used it over the course of a month to cook a variety of dishes. I downloaded the Instant Connect app and followed recipes such as pressure-cooked Easy Holiday Butternut Squash Coconut Soup, which was made in under 20 minutes. I was keen to see how well this multi-cooker could pressure cook, sauté, steam and cook rice, as well as produce a slow-cooked lamb curry.

I found the digital control panel simple to use, and found that the “easy seal locking lid” clicked into place effortlessly. Pairing the appliance with the smartphone Instant Connect app proved faultless, too. After pressing the Wi-Fi button on the pot, and following the instructions to connect, I was able to use the app to control my recipes.

The app itself is actually one of the easiest and most comprehensive I’ve used. I welcome the way you can search for a recipe, and the app delivers step-by-step instructions – from gathering your ingredients to choosing the right settings, adding ingredients and venting the steam – all in real time.

Offering 20% more power than previous models, for faster pre-heating time and 15psi suitable for canning, the Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker claims to be the most powerful Instant Pot to date. This design does, in fact, claim to cook up to 70% faster than other cooking methods when pressure cooking, and can therefore help you save on energy bills as a result. I certainly found pressure cooking to be super quick: I was able to cook very tough butternut squash in just five minutes.

Following the recipe for pressure-cooked Easy Holiday Butternut Squash Coconut Soup, the app automatically guided me through the natural venting setting at the end, which I found reassuring and easy to follow. The appliance does get quite loud when venting steam, and you’ll need to ensure there’s sufficient space above to avoid covering the kitchen units with condensation. While making the soup, I also clicked on the NutriBoost setting on the control panel, which is designed to make meals healthier by breaking down the food, locking in vitamins and enhancing the flavour. It’s hard to tell if this made any difference to the final results of the soup, but it’s a reassuring addition to the offering.

I found the appliance very quiet in use – particularly when used for making a slow-cooked lamb curry. It was very easy to sauté ingredients such as the lamb, onions and seasoning directly in the pot at the start of the recipe, which saved time and having to wash up a separate pan. I then simply added the rest of the ingredients and switched to the slow cook setting for four hours on high. I like the fact that the sauté setting can be used at the end of the slow cook to reduce liquids directly in the pot if needed, too. The appliance gently beeps to let you know when the food is ready.

Cleaning was pretty simple; the pot is dishwasher-safe and the base and lid can be cleaned with warm soapy water and wiped down with a damp cloth. For more advice, learn how to clean an Instant Pot.

• Performance score: 4.5 out of 5

Should you buy the Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

How I tested the Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker

• Tested for a month
• Used for a variety of dishes

I used the Instant Pot Pro Plus in my kitchen for a month and made it my mission to try each feature of the multi-cooker on meat, chicken and vegetables. I paired the multi-cooker with the Instant Connect app to make the most of the smart features. As well as using its remote features on the apps, which gave me access to a very good range of recipes ideas, I had a good play with the multi-cooker control panel too. 

I followed two main recipes to test both the pressure cooker feature and the slow cooker settings. The Easy Holiday Butternut Squash Coconut Soup gave me a good insight into how easy the pressure cooker setting was to use, while the lamb curry was ideal for testing out the slow cook and sautéing settings. After each use I cleaned the multi-cooker and rated how easy to clean its parts were.

Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL: two-minute review

Ninja’s near-relentless mission to become king of all appliances continues with the launch of the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL, its first smart Woodfire offering huge capacity and the same delicious flavors. 

We loved the Ninja Woodfire, scoring it a perfect five stars in our review. Nevertheless, on a personal level, I’d remained largely unconvinced by Ninja’s outdoor cookers – until now. Adding smart features such as the app-connected thermostat and a higher capacity for catering to larger groups, the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL stands to make a grill master out of me yet. 

Delivering delicious smoky flavors, convenient smart cooking features, and fantastic ease of use, there’s very little to complain about with the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill and Smoker. If I’m nitpicking, I’d say the hefty ‎40.2lb /18.3kg weight warrants the inclusion of the Ninja Woodfire stand, especially if you have a wooden table as I do and are concerned about it buckling; but that might have driven up the price enough to discourage prospective grillmasters, so I understand the logic. 

At 16.1 x 22.4 x 20.1in / ‎41 x 57 x 51cm, it’s a little larger than the 13.4 x 18.1in x 18.1in / 34 x 46 x 46cm  (h x w x d) standard Woodfire model, and enough so to offer 30% greater capacity according to Ninja. In practice, it offers some (much-needed) headroom, plus space for another portion or two of food – which, in my opinion, is more than enough to justify the meager $ / £50 / AU$ price difference. In addition, there’s the included smart thermostat, which can connect with the Ninja app to ensure perfect results every time. 

With that logic in mind, I’d go as far as to say the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill and Smoker is far more than a capacity upgrade to the original model. It might not quite qualify as a next-generation device, but it iterates enough upon the success of the original to stand on its own four feet. 

Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL review: price & availability

• List price: $449 / £499
• Available in the US and UK, no confirmation on AU release

Available for $449 / £499 directly from Ninja US and Ninja UK, as well as third-party retailers such as Amazon, the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is a fairly pricey purchase, coming in at around double the cost of a standard, basic BBQ – but you get a whole lot more for that price. 

It arrives with a sample pack of robust blend pellets, plus a pack of all-around blend wood pellets, which you can purchase separately for $32 / £30 for two 2lbs / 900g bags. Also included is the Ninja smart thermostat, which you can buy separately for $19.95 / £19.99, as well as a pellet scoop, a crisper basket, the grill plate, and the grease tray. 

There are a few further accessories you might need, however. The Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL is water resistant to IPX4, but to keep it in good condition if storing outdoors, you’ll want the waterproof cover that costs an additional $25 / £25. 

While the outdoor cooker’s underside is heat-safe and won’t damage surfaces, it’s a fairly heavy piece of kit, so you might prefer to shell out for Ninja’s collapsible grill stand, too, which will set you back a further $150 / £130.

If you want the full assortment of accessories, there are a variety of bundles available through both Ninja and Amazon. 

Considering the original Woodfire sold for $370 / £350 at launch in 2023 and now is available for $399 / £399, the relatively slim price difference between the original and the new XL version makes for a compelling argument to spend a little more for a whole lot more.

• Value score: 4.5 out of 5

Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL specifications

Design

• Bigger capacity than the original
• Handy smart thermostat storage tray
• IPX4 water-resistant for rainy days

It’s pretty hard to make a BBQ, grill and smoker multicooker look sexy, but Ninja has certainly tried – and to great effect. Available in an attractive blue colorway, it’s a fairly robust device, weighing 40.2lbs/ 18.3kg and measuring 16.1 x 22.4 x 20.1in / ‎41 x 57 x 51cm.

One of the biggest design departures from the original Woodfire is the layout of the control panel, which has been entirely revamped. From left to right, you’ll find the seven cooking functions (Grill, Smoker, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Air Crisp, and Broil), which can be easily navigated using the Mode button, as well as the Woodfire Flavor button to the left, the LCD panel and temperature/time controls in the center, and the control dial, start/stop and thermometer buttons to the right. This offers a significant improvement over the original model, which we found difficult to navigate for our original review. 

Above the control panel is the lid handle, which stays cool even after longer cooking periods. A surprising omission, given the increased weight of the Pro Connect XL, is the handles – meaning it’s a little more difficult to maneuver than the original Woodfire. Thankfully, however, there are still small grips on either side to help you lift and maneuver the Woodfire Pro Connect XL. On the right-hand side of the device, you’ll find the wood pellet tray, and underneath the control panel is a slot that houses the smart thermostat when it isn’t in use.

One of the biggest drawbacks of the entire Woodfire product line is that none of the accessories are dishwasher-safe. This isn’t too much of an issue when it comes to the grill and grease tray, which are relatively easy to clean by hand; but the crisper basket is quite a chore to clean off after use. At least all of the accessories are non-stick, but due to the increased size of the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL, they’re just a little too large to soak in the sink.

Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL review: performance

• Delicious, smoky flavors
• Very easy to use
• Smart thermometer app pairing and features work well

As someone who isn’t really a fan of a BBQ, I was pleasantly surprised by how consistently and deliciously well the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL performed on-test. In terms of its cooking capabilities, it’s as successful as the original Woodfire; both smoked and unsmoked dishes were bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. 

It’s easier than ever to smoke your meals with the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL. Simply throw in one level scoop of pellets, preheat the grill, and you’re set to throw on whatever you’re cooking. For my test, I tried chicken, ribs and asparagus with the robust blend wood pellets, using the smart thermostat to primarily test the internal temperature of the chicken. Following Ninja’s instructions, I set the Pro Connect XL to cook for one hour at 275°F / 135°C. 

Both the ribs and chicken cooked faster than the app had suggested, but it’s worth noting both were pretty lean to begin with. Regardless, the speed with which Ninja’s Woodfire cookers can work while still creating delicious food is incredibly impressive.

The results overall were spectacular. Enriched with smooth yet smoky flavors, the wood pellets had clearly done a fantastic job of imparting flavor to the meat. I loved that I barely had to interact with the cooker, freeing me up to speak with guests, tidy up the kitchen, or even file my taxes. 

I turned my food halfway through for this test, given it was a whole (albeit small) chicken we were cooking. For the next meal, I made chicken wings, where I didn’t see as much benefit from the flavor when left unturned – which is pretty similar to my experience with the original model. 

Even the non-smoke-enhanced cook settings work fantastically, netting me some deliciously grilled burgers, immaculately air-fried potato wedges, and crispy asparagus full of flavor – and moisture. We tried and enjoyed baking brownies in the previous model, and while I wouldn’t normally bake in my garden, having the ability to do so is useful if only for the Pro Connect’s app controls.  

If you opt to use the Woodfire technology for non-smoking settings, you really don’t need to use the recommended level scoop of wood pellets; better to be conservative with these fairly pricey pellets and opt for a half-scoop instead.

While the Woodfire Pro Connect XL is undoubtedly larger than the original, it’s nowhere near big enough to cater for larger groups. In terms of branding, Ninja would have been more accurate with “large”, since there’s nothing extra about this smart cooker when you’re feeding more than six people. 

All in all, the Woodfire Pro Connect XL is a spectacular addition to any patio, porch or plot, offering impressive (albeit sometimes unnecessary) versatility, fantastic flavor, and blistering cooking speeds.

Should I buy?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Also consider

How I tested the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill and smoker

• I used the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill and Smoker to cook a variety of meals over several weeks
• I tested all of its different cooking functions on vegetables, meat and fish
• I used the smart thermostat and app to test the functionality

I put the Ninja Woodfire Pro Connect XL BBQ Grill and smoker through its paces by cooking a variety of different meals over the course of my three-week testing period – including chicken, ribs, salmon, pepper, asparagus and beans. 

I tried all of the different settings, including the Woodfire mode where appropriate, and used both of the sample flavor packs that came with the device. I compared the results to my previous experience with standard BBQs as well as the original Ninja Woodfire, evaluating how well it delivered on flavor and ease of use.

While I’m no grill master, I’ve been cooking on BBQs during the rare bouts of summer sun in the UK for years, and I’ve also tried a host of electric cookers, both indoors and outdoors during that time. 

If you love to cook, chances are you're accumulating a whole load of appliances for different functions. And that means they're all eating (pun intended) into your storage space.

That's what makes a multi cooker an ideal solution. This countertop appliance can typically pressure cook, slow cook, rice cook, make yoghurt, steam, sauté, boil, simmer, stew, deep fry, grill and roast. 

Uh-huh, that's a lot of cooking in just one appliance. But wait, it doesn't stop there! There are some that can even air fry.

That's not just bang for buck, but you even open up storage space by getting rid of a lot of older appliances, and you can save time cooking a meal as well.

It can be argued that Instant Pot launched the multi cooker to its current fame, but Crock-Pot too can take some of that credit. There are now so many different brands being sold around the world that it's hard to keep up. To help you choose, TechRadar's reviewers try out several multi cookers to see which one works the best, while also offering tips and tricks on how best to use your multi cooker.

One-minute review

Cosori is a brand that's best known for its range of air fryers, several of which have featured in our best air fryer roundup . If you're considering a countertop multi-cooker like one of the best Instant Pots, it’s not the first brand that springs to mind; and add to that the fact that this particular appliance is called a 'rice cooker', and it's unlikely to top the shortlist of most people looking for a multi-cooker.

However, the Cosori Rice Cooker offers a decent range of cooking modes that make it more than just a rice cooker. With slow-cook, saute, steam, and other options, it’s a versatile countertop cooker, although unlike models from the likes of Instant Pot and Ninja, it doesn’t feature a pressure-cooking function.

It’s streamlined and compact, and arguably looks nicer than most multi-cookers around, although the 5-quart/ 5-liter capacity limits it to smaller 2-4 person households. It’s an affordably priced and easy-to-use countertop cooker, and with dishwasher-friendly parts, it’s easy to clean too.

On test it produced some tasty food, although many of the cooking times were long. Conversely, in slow-cook mode, it was a bit too quick. So it’s not perfect; but I think you’ll quickly get used to its quirks, and adjust your expectations and your recipes accordingly.

Cosori Rice Cooker review: price and availability

•  List price:  $99.99/ £119.99

The Cosori Rice Cooker is available from Amazon in the US and UK, or direct from Cosori in the US. At $99.99 / £119.99 it’s already affordable, but we have seen it discounted on Amazon to $89.99 in the US and £99.99 in the UK, so it's worth keeping an eye on the price on Amazon to bag yourself a discount.

• Value score: 5/5

Cosori Rice Cooker review: specifications

Cosori Rice Cooker review: design and features

• Compact footprint
• Straightforward touch-sensitive LED display
• Dishwasher safe accessories

I’ve reviewed plenty of multi-cookers, and it’s safe to say they’re generally not the most stylish kitchen appliances, but I was impressed with the streamlined appearance of this Cosori rice cooker. The control panel dims to black when the device isn't switched on, giving an uncluttered and sleek appearance. As it doesn’t have the ability to pressure-cook it has a neat flat lid, and I like how compact it is on the counter.

The lid flips up at the touch of a button on the top of the cooker. The non-stick inner pot sits inside, and there’s also a steam basket. The inner pot has markings for guidance on the water level for steaming as well as for rice portions.

The other accessories include a couple of spoons and a measuring cup. Within the lid there’s an inner lid that easily detaches for cleaning, and all the accessories can be popped in the dishwasher.

The touchscreen is easy to get to grips with, and offers plenty of cooking options. For white and brown rice, there are three choices: long grain, short grain or quick. There are also three grains options: quinoa, porridge or mixed. 

The manual offers guidance on rice or grain-to-water ratios, and estimated cook times. However, unlike the rest of the cooking functions, the rice and grain preset cook times can't be altered. Instead, the brand claims the appliance automatically adjusts settings during cooking for perfect results.

The cooking functions include slow cook, steam, sauté, soup, jam/sauce and cake. Within these functions the cooking time can be adjusted, but the temperature cannot, so it doesn’t offer the same degree of control as some other multi-cookers. 

Additionally, there’s a keep-warm function that can keep the contents warm for up to 24 hours. There’s also a delay timer that can delay cooking for 24 hours. The included recipe booklet gives you some pointers and recipes to help you get started, along with helpful cooking charts for rice and grains.

There’s no setting up to do as such. As with most appliances, the manual advises giving all the parts a wash before using, and other than that it’s simply a case of familiarizing yourself with the control panel. 

• Design score: 4/5

Cosori Rice Cooker review: performance

• Slow cooker is quick to thicken and cook
• Rice programs are quite long
• Lid can be opened during cooking

The first thing I cooked in the Cosori Rice Cooker was brown basmati rice. I consulted the rice-to-water ratio tables in the manual, and concluded that for my two cups of rice I needed to add 2.75 cups of water. I selected the long-grain brown rice preset, and the timer showed 75 minutes, which was a surprise. 

I cook brown rice a lot, and I know it’s slow to cook, but I could cook this on my stove in around 25 minutes, so 75 minutes seemed excessive. At this point I’d expected to be able to adjust the timer, but that’s not possible. 

After 60 minutes I opened the lid to check the rice, and it was cooked through, so I canceled the rest of the cook time. The rice was slightly stickier than I’d have liked, but it was nicely cooked with no clumping or drying out, so I was happy with the result.

Next I tried steaming broccoli. I cut the broccoli into florets and popped it in the steam basket, and filled the main pot with water up to the marker for steaming. I was completely in the dark when it came to the timings, so I set the timer for five minutes and hoped for the best.

It started on a preheat stage which took 9.5 minutes, and then it started counting down the five minutes on the timer. After this time had elapsed the broccoli wasn't completely cooked, so I put it back on for a further five minutes. So all-in it took almost 20 minutes to cook the broccoli, but the texture was great, and unlike when cooking on the stove you can leave the cooker unattended and get on with other things.

I made a slow-cooked beef chili, which also enabled me to try out the sauté function to sauté the ground beef, as well as the onion and celery. The sauté function worked well; when I first poured the oil in, it pooled around the edges due to the base of the pot being slightly convex. But as soon as you add the ingredients and start stirring them, it’s not really a problem.

It would have been nice to be able to adjust the cooking temperature when sautéing. Nevertheless , it was effective, and being able to do this part in the cooking pot saves on any additional dishwashing, so no complaints here.

I added all the chili ingredients and set it to slow cook for eight hours. In my experience, other multi-cookers usually have a very tight seal, which means that very little steam escapes, and hence the sauce doesn’t thicken much.

However, I noticed that steam was continually pouring out of the vent in the top of the lid. So I kept an eye on it, and opened it up occasionally to check it was okay. I ended up stopping it after 5.5 hours, because I didn’t want the chili to get any thicker. 

This was fine for my beef chili, but if you’re cooking something that particularly needs a very slow cook to tenderize it, you might need to add additional liquid part-way through, which isn’t very convenient if you were planning on leaving a dish to cook while you’re out.

Lastly, I tried out the cake function by following a recipe for chocolate cake that’s in the manual. After mixing up the cake batter, I tipped it into the greased pot and set the timer for 70 minutes. At the end of the cooking time the cake wasn’t cooked through, so I added a further 10 minutes. This by far exceeds the time a cake takes to bake in an oven, although no doubt the amount of energy used to cook it in this appliance is much lower.

The cooked cake had a shiny top with a few bubbly craters, while inside the texture was moist, and while it wasn’t dense like a brownie, neither was it light and fluffy; it was somewhere in between. It worked best warm with a scoop of ice cream.

• Performance score: 4/5

Should I buy the Cosori Rice Cooker?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also consider...

If you’re not sure about the Cosori Rice Cooker, here are a couple of other options to consider...

How I tested the Cosori Rice Cooker

• I cooked in it four times
• I used five different cooking functions
• I noted how easy it was to clean

I’ve reviewed several of the multi-cookers that are currently in our list of best Instant Pots. So for easy comparison I made the same foods: a slow-cooked beef chili, steamed broccoli and brown rice. But since the Cosori doesn’t have a pressure cook function, I swapped out the usual pressure cooked Thai curry for a cake.

During these tests I was evaluating how straightforward the cooker is to use, and how easy it was to adjust the settings. I also cleaned it by hand, as well as in my dishwasher, to see how easy it is to clean. I also noted any other quirks or frustrations along the way.

I’ve been reviewing kitchen and home appliances for over 15 years. I've learned how to thoroughly test and evaluate products during my time at the Good Housekeeping Institute, and now as a freelancer I work across a variety of publications and have tried out most of the big brand multi-cookers.

Read more about how we test.

[First reviewed August 2023]

There are still a lot of Prime Day Instant Pot deals to grab in the US, despite the fact that the Amazon event is wrapping up soon. So if you've been on the hunt for a bargain on an Instant Pot, you still have time to snag a bargain on best-selling (and otherwise expensive) Instant Pot models.

That's right; there are still plenty of great Amazon Prime Day deals on some of the best instant pots, as well as Instant Brand products, that are live now. These include an 18% discount on the popular Instant Pot Vortex Pro 10-QT air fryer and a massive 48% off the Instant Pot 6-QT Dutch oven. 

To help you find the biggest and best savings on Instant's kitchen appliances we've gathered the deals we've spotted here and have provided our thoughts on the ones we like.

• Browse Amazon Prime Day deals

Today’s best US Instant Pot deals

Today’s best UK Instant Pot deals

Amazon Prime Day Instant Pot deals: FAQs

One-minute review

Ninja makes some of the most multi-functional kitchen appliances around. Several of its air fryers have made it into our best air fryer roundup, and while it already has a range of indoor grills, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill - also known as the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker in the UK - is its first outdoor cooking appliance.

This electric outdoor grill offers the convenience and control of cooking on gas, combined with the smoky flavors of charcoal or wood barbecues. It does this by igniting a tiny amount of wood pellets and infusing the smoke into the grill.

Not only is this appliance a game changer if you only have a balcony or tiny patio, but it offers easy, mess-free outdoor cooking no matter where you plan to cook – so long as you have access to power. Furthermore, this isn’t just a BBQ/grill alternative; it offers multiple cooking functions. It can air fry, bake, roast, and it’s a smoker, too.

On test it proved its worth. It’s so easy to use and creates tasty, smoky flavors without a flame and with minimal mess. The bake and air fry functions worked as expected, and I enjoyed baking a brownie in the garden. This is a great outdoor cooking appliance that's sure to plug a gap in the market.

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill review: price and availability

• List price: $370 / £350 / AU$899.99

The Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill is available direct from Ninja US and Ninja UK, priced at $370/ £350. In Australia, the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill will set you back AU$899.99 and is available directly from the Ninja Kitchen online store, as well as JB Hi-Fi.

If you’re looking to store it outdoors, you’ll also need to invest in the waterproof cover that costs an additional $20 / £20 / AU$49. At the time of writing the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill Cover was out of stock in the UK.

Since it can be set up on any table, there’s no requirement to purchase the collapsible grill stand, but for those who want it, it’s a further $150 / £130 / AU$249. There are often bundle deals available, so it’s worth browsing the Ninja website and checking out what’s the best deal for the grill and range of accessories you’re hoping to add on.

The wood pellets cost $32 / £30 for two 2lbs/900g bags, which should last up to 40 cooking sessions. In Australia, a single 900g bag will set you back AU$25.

• Value score: 4.5/5

Ninja Woodfire review: specifications

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill review: design and features

• Can be used in the rain
• Multiple cooking functions
• Most functions can be used with or without smoke

In the US, the Woodfire Grill is available in red or gray, but UK and Aussie customers only have the latter option. It comes with a sample bag of each type of pellet, a pellet scoop, as well as the grill plate and crisper basket. There’s even a handy recipe book for inspiration, and it includes several pages of cooking charts at the back with suggested cook times and temperatures to get you started.

The cooking functions are Grill, Smoker, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Air Crisp and Broil (the UK model excludes the Broil function, but offers a Reheat mode instead). The large dial on the left of the control panel makes it easy to toggle through the different cooking modes, after which cook time and temperature are adjusted using the buttons below the screen.

There’s a start / stop button on the front, but also a second on/off switch under the left side of the machine. It’s quite poorly located, and virtually impossible to see, but once you know roughly where it is, you can just about find it with your hand.

The Woodfire flavor technology button can be selected when you want to add smoke to one of the functions. Simply select the cooking mode, time and temperature, then press the Woodfire button and add wood pellets to the smoker box. Cleverly, the grill will automatically ignite the wood pellets and direct smoke into the grill. There’s no flame; just a small, enclosed pot of smoking pellets.

I was surprised to read that the appliance can be used in the rain; but, obviously, if you’re running an extension power cord outside, you’ll want to be careful that it’s protected from the rain. The grill can be stored outdoors, too, if you buy the Ninja grill cover to keep it protected.

The large side handles make it pretty easy to move around. The sturdy lid handle stays cool in use and makes the Ninja grill easy to open. The accessories aren't dishwasher safe – which, in my opinion, is an oversight. Having said that, they're all non-stick and small enough to soak in the sink for removing any burnt-on residues.

There’s far less setup than I was expecting. The side handles screw on using the hex tool provided, after which it’s just a case of placing the accessories inside.

• Design score: 4.5/5

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill review: performance

• Tasty, smoky-flavored food
• Wood pellets ignite automatically and quickly
• Heats up fast

The most exciting function to try out was the grill with added woodsmoke. Setting it up was simple: I added a scoop of wood pellets into the smoke box at the side, set the grill time and temperature, and pressed the Woodfire button before hitting Start. First, the Ninja ignites the pellets – this took four minutes and during this time I started to see some smoke coming out.

Once the wood pellets are burning, the grill begins to preheat. It was set to the high temperature, with the preheat taking six minutes. I managed to find enough space on the grill plate for four chicken thighs, two burgers, a bell pepper that I’d cut into slices and five chunky slices of halloumi.

I put the chicken in first, adding the pepper and burger after four minutes. Then, following a further four minutes, I turned everything and added the halloumi. At this point I could see that the burgers were already quite charred, so I only cooked them for 2 minutes on the second side. The chicken thighs took 12 minutes, while the peppers cooked for 8 minutes and the halloumi took just 4 minutes.

All of the resulting food had a good smoky flavor, even the halloumi that only cooked for 4 minutes. The chicken skin was deliciously crisp and smoky, but the smoke flavor hadn’t made it into the meat beneath – probably because I kept opening the lid of the grill.

Despite cooking much quicker than expected, the burgers were still juicy and smoky. The peppers were super tasty, too. Given how frequently I opened the lid, I was surprised that all the food still developed a recognizable smoky hit.

With cooking complete, it took 2 ½ hours for the wood pellets to completely burn away, which meant I couldn’t bring the grill back into the house until quite late. As such, I’d probably use fewer than a whole scoop of pellets next time. The tiny smoke box barely had any ash in it at the end; it lifts out easily and I just sprinkled the ash onto my flower bed, or you could tip it straight into the trash.

I also tried out the Ninja grill's Smoker function, for which setup was similar. I filled up the smoke box with a scoop of pellets. This time, after the initial 4-minute ignition, it didn’t require any further preheat time and started counting down the 30 minutes I’d set on the timer.

I added four salmon fillets, cooking the fish at the default temperature of 250ºF/ 120ºC. I let them smoke for 25 minutes before lifting the lid, at which point they were perfectly cooked. The fish was moist and flaky, with a deep, rich smoky flavor. It was a great result and so easy to achieve.

To test out the bake function, I made brownies using this recipe. It only took 3 minutes to preheat the grill to 340ºF/ 170ºC. And 22 minutes for brownies with a deliciously gooey center. The edges were a little cakey, so in hindsight the brownie could have been removed a few minutes sooner. The aroma of chocolate brownie wafting around my garden in the breeze was certainly a novelty. And I’d absolutely class this as a successful, tasty outdoor baking session.

In my experience, Ninja air fryers are usually very good for making fries, so I gave them a go in the Woodfire using the Air Fryer function. I didn’t add wood smoke because I wanted to assess the Air Fryer function on its own. I pre-soaked my fries for 30 minutes before drying and coating lightly in oil. Following the 3 minutes to preheat, I added my 1lb/ 500g of cut potatoes, which looked like a minuscule portion in the large basket that has a 3lbs/1.5kg capacity.

I flipped the fries every 5 minutes or so. I was expecting them to take around 20 minutes, but I removed them after 16 minutes because they were nicely golden brown, crisped and with fluffy centers.

Having to hand-wash the basket and grill plate was a bit annoying, but it’s a small sacrifice to make given how easy the Woodfire grill is to use. I should also mention that there’s a drip tray included; simply place it under the back of the grill and it collects all the excess fat for easy disposal.

• Performance score: 5/5

Should I buy the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill?

Buy it if...

Don’t buy it if...

Also consider...

If you’re not sure about the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill , here are a couple of other options to consider...

How I tested the Ninja Woodfire

• I used four of the cooking functions
• I assessed how easy the woodsmoke function is to use
• I noted how easy it was to clean away charred and greasy residues

Having been reviewing household appliances for several years, I’ve reviewed multiple air fryers and BBQs, but never anything quite like the Ninja Woodfire Grill – so I was excited to try this one out.

To test the Air Fry function, I made home-cut fries – something we make to evaluate all the air fryers we review. I baked a brownie using the Bake function – it offered a great way to see whether the base of the brownie would be crisped by the bottom heating element (it wasn’t). Then I used the Woodfire Grill purely as a smoker, and also as a grill with added smoke. Both functions enabled me to get to grips with smoke function.

Throughout all the tests I assessed the appliance for ease of use, ease of clean-up, and the overall quality of the grill alongside the quality of the food it delivered. I was also taking note of how fast it was to heat up, cook and cool down.

Read more about how we test.

[First reviewed May 2023]

The best Instant Pots are versatile multi-cookers that combine slow cooking, pressure cooking, rice cooking, sautéeing, steaming, and more in one handy appliance. The original Instant Pot was an instant hit, and since its release the brand has brought out a succession of improved models with improved capabilities such as sous vide and even air frying, saving you the trouble of finding one of the best air fryers.

We've tested the very best models on the market today and arranged them so that you can quickly find the option that's best suited to your needs and budget - whether you want to cook dried beans, slow cook a delicious casserole, or make a batch of tasty yogurt. And we're also constantly looking for the best Instant Pot deals so you can get yours for the best possible price.

If you can't see exactly what you want, we've also put together a list of the best multi-cookers we've tested from other brands, including Ninja and Sage, so you can check out your other options.

Once you've chosen your Instant Pot we'd recommend reading two more of our articles: 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 stinky if you cook a lot of heavily flavored food.

The quick list

Meet the expert

The best Instant Pots 2025

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 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 Instant Pot Pro review

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

The Rolls-Royce of Instant Pots, if you can imagine such a thing, is the Pro Pot Plus. The priciest option in the current Instant Pot line-up, coming in at $199.95 / £199.99, this top-end model stands out thanks to its smart app functionality that not only enables you to control it via your smartphone, but which also gives you access to a database of over 1,400 recipes so that you should never be stuck for ideas on what to cook.

Our reviewer found the recipe library to be a game-changer thanks to its ability to help her find uses for random ingredients she had to hand. She was also impressed by its 10 cooking functions, including a NutriBoost setting designed to lock in vitamins and enhance flavor, and she found it to be super-fast at pressure cooking.

The Pro Pot Plus looks good on your countertop with a sleek and unobtrusive design, and it'll cook up to six portions at once; its stainless steel cooking pot is dishwasher-safe, too. If you have the budget and feel you'll get a lot of benefit out of its smart features, it's well worth the investment.

Read our full Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker review

The best Instant Pot for beginners

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 Instant Pot Duo Nova review

The best Instant Pot with air fryer

The Instant Pot 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-quart/8-liter 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. However, its pressure and slow cooking functions were impressive.

"Slow-cooked beef chili was a success," said our tester Helen McCue. "After six hours on the Lo setting the chili had a great flavor and the meat was soft and tender. Again we used the sauté function to brown the meat and vegetables before slow cooking and this means you don’t use any extra frying pans."

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 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.

After preparing a Thai red curry using the pressure cooking function, our tester Helen McCue said: "...the best bit is that in that 47 minutes, we were able to leave it completely unattended. When it was done, the chicken was thoroughly cooked through and falling off the bone. It was the perfect texture."

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

The best Instant Pot alternatives

We review multi-cookers from all brands here at TechRadar, so if you can't see an Instant Pot that's quite right for you, take a look at these alternatives:

Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1

Cook the perfect meats and other meals with this multi-cooker from Ninja that not only offers a lot of cooking options but also has a large 8-qt capacity - perfect for bigger families. It's a little on the pricier side, but it's worth every penny.

Breville/Sage The Fast Slow Pro

One of the better-looking options on the market, this boasts a brushed stainless steel finish and a neat, streamlined design, making it a great option for those who like to keep a nice aesthetic. Looks-aside, it delivers tender and succulent results, making it a well-rounded package.

Ninja Foodi Multi-Cooker

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.

Lakeland Mini Multi Cooker

A straightforward multi-cooker with the simplest operation may be the best option if you want something no-nonsense. Though stripped back to the bare essentials, it can still do a number of things including making yogurt and bread proving.

How to choose the best instant pot for you

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 Instant Pot can hold and whether it's sufficient for the number of people you have to cook for. Multi-cookers with a 6 quart / 5.7-liter 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 3.2 quarts / 3 liters 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.

Frequently asked questions about Instant Pots

1. Has Instant Pot gone out of business?

No. Instant Brands (the company behind Instant Pot, Corelle, and Pyrex) filed for Chapter 11 protection in the US in 2023. It was acquired by a private equity firm, and Instant Pot Brands was spun out as a separate entity in 2024. The company launched its last product, the Instant Pot Pro Plus, later that year. No new cookers have been released so far in 2025.

2. Is an Instant Pot really worth it?

There’s no denying an Instant Pot 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 gathering dust?

It’s important to remember that while Instant Pots 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 frys. And while some do come with lids that can air fry, we found making fries in an Instant Pot 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, an Instant Pot 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.

3. What's the best size Instant Pot?

Instant Pots and other multi-cookers come in an array of different capacities ranging from 3 quart / 3 liters right up to 8 quart / 7.5 liters, so knowing which size Instant Pot is best for you can be confusing.

For most people, the 6 quart / 5.7-liter size Instant Pot 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.

The larger 8 quart / 7.5-liter 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 the smaller 3-quart / 3 liter, Instant Pot will ensure you're not using additional energy by cooking a small quantity in an Instant Pot that's just too large for your needs.

It's worth remembering that not all models of Instant Pot are available in all sizes, so do check before deciding on the best model for you.

4. What can I cook in an Instant Pot?

The best Instant Pots 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. You can find an extensive variety of recipes at instantpot.com.

5. Should I choose an Instant Pot or a 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.

How we tested these Instant Pots

To see how Instant Pots and multi-cookers stack up, we’ve spent hundreds of hours whipping up curries and chilies, 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.

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The best multi-cooker or pressure cooker in Australia should handle multiple cooking methods within a single appliance, combining slow cooking, pressure cooking, rice cooking, sautéeing, steaming, and more.

Instant Pot and major appliance brands like Ninja and Breville have produced some of the best multi-cookers we've ever seen, and our international team of cooking experts tested a fair few over the years 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 and one-pot dishes like Mexican chilli or stews. Beyond that, steaming, sautéing and even making yoghurt are other 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 (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 reason why we've put this guide together.

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 best multi-cookers in Australia 2026

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Cyber Monday Instant Pot deals could be your last chance this year to bag a discount on one of the most useful appliances and kitchens could have. Most of these Cyber Monday deals are holdouts from the prior Black Friday sale last week, but don't let that put you off - there are still some bargains to be had.

Instant Pots are some of the most sought-after home appliances right now, so it's no surprise to see that major retailers still have many Cyber Monday Instant Pot deals available. The Instant Vortex 10QT air fryer, for instance, is still under $100 at Walmart, while the Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 6qt remains just $99.95 at Amazon, a 41%-off saving.  

We've found some fantastic savings across a range of models today, and we've laid them out just down below. 

Cyber Monday Instant Pot sales (US): Quick links

There are cheap Instant Pot deals throughout the year, but today's Cyber Monday sale is pretty much the best time of the year to save money. Below, we've highlighted the best deals live now, as well as the retailers to keep an eye on if you'd rather go deal-hunting alone. 

• Amazon: up to 40% on Instant Pot models 
• Best Buy: great deals on multipurpose cookers
• Kohls: savings on Instant Pot accessories 
• Walmart: Instant Pot deals starting at $35
• Target: many Instant Pot models available

Cyber Monday Instant Pot deals: under $100

Cyber Monday Instant Pot deals: under $150

Cyber Monday Instant Pot deals: under $250

Tips for buying an Instant Pot this Cyber Monday

1. Take a look at the cooking modes available

Before hitting buy on a Cyber Monday Instant Pot deal, make sure you do your research and ensure you're getting the model that's right for you, at the best price possible. 

All Instant Pots can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sauté, cook rice, make yogurt and keep warm. However, there are some models that can also be used as a sterilizer and offer sous vide cooking. Those with additional lids can air fry, roast, bake and grill as well, so decide what cooking methods you need on your Instant Pot. 

Next, consider how many programs you need, Instant Pots come with anywhere from 11 to 48 depending upon the model. These offer predefined temperatures and cooking durations for different dishes. If you're a fan of experimenting then you'll need less presets that anyone seeking a 'set-it and forget-it' appliance. 

2. Double-check the capacity

Don't just take a look at the price and the discount, and hit that buy button. Also consider the capacity the Instant Pot can hold and whether it's sufficient for the number of people you have to cook for. Lower capacity Instant Pots are usually cheaper, but you don't want to buy something that won't be big enough for your needs.

If you have a large family or batch cook, look for designs with a 6 quart / 5.7 liter capacity or above. If you're an individual or a couple, an Instant Pot that can hold around 3.2 quarts / 3 liters should suffice for an individual or couple. 

3. Don't exclude older models

Older Instant Pot models should still be reliable and just as reliable in handling your cooking needs. The best part is that they're likely to be much cheaper and better discounted than new models. Unless there are new features you want or need that older models do not come with, they are your best bets if you're on a tight budget.

4. Avoid the budget alternatives

Don't get us wrong; there are great Instant Pot alternatives that are more affordable. However, multi-cookers aren't built the same; some are better quality than others, which means they're more effective at cooking than many of their budget rivals. Since many Instant Pot models will see great price cuts for Cyber Monday, you're better off taking advantage of those Instant Pot deals instead of going for the budget ones that won't be as reliable or will break down faster.

3 best Instant Pots to look for on Cyber Monday

If you're looking for a top-of-the-range Instant Pot, the Instant Pot Pro is the ideal choice.  It has 10 cooking modes, 28 presets and 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. At $129.99/ £149.99, its the most expensive Instant Pot that doesn't offer the ability to air fry, so we expect to see a discount that will being the price tag down a little. 

Read our full Instant Pot Pro review

The entry-level Instant Pot Duo in the brand's most affordable multi-cooker. Simple to use, it has 14 cooking modes, and is compact and lightweight too. There are some compromises; the inner pot can't be used on the hob and when it comes to pressure release it's not as fast as other models, but it's a good model to start with. It's regularly discounted throughout the year, with a 36% saving being the biggest discount we've ever seen on the appliance. 

Read the full Instant Pot Duo V2 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker review 

If you want an Instant Pot that can replace an air fryer as well, look no further than this Instant Pot model. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer comes with an  additional lid that provides an air frying function, as well as the ability to roast and bake too. The Instant Pot dropped to a record low of $119 in 2021, so we expect to see similar substantial savings or better this Cyber Monday. 

Read our full Instant Pot Duo Crisp & Air Fryer review

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Walmart Black Friday air fryer deals are a huge hit right now, which means there are bound to be more to come. There are a lot of good ones that are already live now, too, so it's definitely worth taking a look and get ahead of your holiday shopping.

The most in-demand Black Friday deals right now are probably on air fryers, as many consumers are looking to save time, save money, and save effort in 2023. And, having an air fryer knocks all three off the list. Gas prices are still high, and we're not out of the cost of living crisis yet, which means that everyone's trying to score the best Black Friday air fryer deal they could find this holiday season.

Luckily, Walmart Black Friday sales include several highly-rated air fryers like the Ninja Foodi 4-in-1 8-Quart 2-Basket Air Fryer, which has dipped below $100, and the Instant Vortex 10QT Air Fryer Oven, which is now only $98. If you're looking for a real budget option, the 4.9-star Emerald Air Fryer is just under $50.

We expect more Walmart Black Friday air fryer deals to come on the day of – meaning on November 25. However, you need not wait until then. We're seeing up to 50% off on air fryers right now, so if you see something you like, best grab it fast. If you'd rather wait so you can have more options to choose from, however, most of these deals aren't likely to disappear on Friday.

• Browse the full Walmart Black Friday sale

11 best Walmart Black Friday air fryer deals

More US Black Friday deals

• Amazon: 50% off AirPods, vacuums, air fryers, toys, and OLED TVs
• Best Buy: Black Friday prices on TVs, laptops, appliances, and more
• Cheap TVs: smart TVs starting at $89.99 from Best Buy 
• Christmas Pajamas: family pajamas starting at $14.99
• Dell: laptop deals from $299.99
• Gifts ideas: 40% off  holiday gifts for the family from Amazon
• Halloween: costumes, decor, and candy starting at $5 at Walmart
• Overstock: 70% off holiday decor, rugs, furniture, and Christmas trees
• Nectar: save up to $200 on mattresses, plus $499 in free gifts 
• Samsung: up to $2,500 TVs, major appliances, and smartwatches
• Target: Black Friday deals on coffee makers, the Apple Watch, TVs, and more
• Toys: up to 50% off best-selling toys at Amazon
• Walmart: toys, TVs, vacuums, and laptops starting at $19.99

If you’ve been looking at any Black Friday Instant Pot deals, you know that Instant Pots are a godsend in the kitchen. The company’s pressure cookers make cooking stews and soups not only much easier but quicker as well. They can also handle other types of meal prep whether that’s cooking rice, warming up food, or even handling some sous vide cooking. But, Instant Pot also makes multi-functional air fryers as well as a number of other products.

No matter what you’re hoping to get out of an Instant Pot, you need to consider a few things before snapping up one of the many Black Friday Instant Pot deals. After all, they’re not all equal as they vary wildly in capacity, come with different sets of cooking functionalities, and fit into different price ranges. You might be on a budget or want to get the best one on the market.

While we recommend that you take a look at our best Instant Pot and Air Fryer guide, we’ll walk you through all the things to consider before jumping on one of the best Black Friday deals available. And, make sure to keep an eye out on our deals pages as we’re constantly checking all the retailers for any potential sales.

1. Decide on what kitchen appliance you need

The words “Instant Pot” might bring up mental images of pressure cookers but there are also Instant Pot air fryers, coffee makers, electric dutch ovens and even air purifiers. Your first task then, if Santa didn’t tell you already, is to figure out what you need or want to add to your kitchen when shopping for Black Friday Instant Pot deals.

Pressure cookers and air fryers are both multi-functional for all but the most basic of models. The Instant Pot Ultra 8 Qt 10-in-1, for example, comes with ten different cooking functions. Beyond pressure cooking, it can do slow cooking, rice, yogurt, steamer, and more. Or, consider the Instant Vortex Plus 6QT Air Fryer Oven which has six different functions, such as bake and roast. Yet, they don’t quite overlap.

Consider what kind of food you want to cook but need to streamline. If you want to make a lot of soups and cook a lot of rice, go with a pressure cooker. If chips or fries are your life, or more realistically, you want an easier way to fry or bake food, then an air fryer is the way to go.

2. Figure out your price range

Unfortunately, many of us are limited by what we can afford. With that in mind, you’ll want to figure out how much you can set aside for an Instant Pot. Since so many are getting solid Black Friday Instant Pot deals, you should be able to move up a price bracket as long as you don’t wait too long. 

For instance, if you’re on a budget, you might see a more mid-range model discounted to below $100 / £100. The Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 is currently going for $99.95 instead of its usual going rate of $169.99. Or, you can pocket the savings on budget models to spend on other gifts.

Regardless, you’ll want to factor in your budget range first so that you’re not figuring that out when you come across a sale. Many of the best deals won’t last long, especially once the big shopping day comes around, so you don’t want to lose time checking your bank account while the last couple units are being snatched up by people that aren’t you.

3. Get the right size

Who are you cooking for? If it’s for just one, maybe the most budget model will do. You might just need a small amount of capacity to make dinner. Something like the Instant Pot Duo 3 Mini 2.8L Multi Cooker will do the trick for bachelors and bachelorettes trying to save money while still offering various functionalities. Sure, you sacrifice capacity but you’ll save in the process, not to mention a smaller capacity unit will also take up less space, perfect if you’re looking for something to use in a dorm or cramped space.

More likely, you’re either cooking for a family or doing meal prep for a week. In that case, you want around six quarts or more for a single dish. That way, you can make a large chuck roast or goulash and portion it out for several meals throughout the week. The Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 8qt, as the name suggests, has an eight-quart capacity which is about 7.5 liters. 

4. Consider what secondary functions you want out of your appliance

Lastly, we suggest taking into account all the secondary functions you’re hoping to get out of your newest addition to the kitchen. As mentioned earlier, many come with multiple functions but they range from having a few to having up to eleven. And, some with the same amount of functions don’t have the same ones.

For example, the Instant Pot Pro models can sous vide which is great for steak aficionados but probably wasted on most people. Meanwhile, the Instant Pot Pro Crisp 8qt with its eleven functions can also air fry. In comparison, the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 6QT is pretty packed with its nine functions but comes with neither sous vide nor air frying capabilities. Air fryers are no different as you’ll find some like the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer Oven which can rotisserie a chicken while others, typically with a pull-out basket, can’t. 

The idea of getting the most functions you can is enticing but, if you’re on any kind of budget, consider first what you’ll realistically be interested in cooking before you start picking out models when shopping for Black Friday Instant Pot deals.

Black Friday Instant Pot sales right now

The 2022 Black Friday deals event has arrived as Walmart joins the shopping frenzy, we are seeing some of the best Instant pots available for a very appealing price.

Amongst the Walmart Black Friday deals is a super saving on the Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, which is now listed for just $50 (originally $79.99). That's a saving of $29.99 on a family favorite and happens to be the biggest discount and, therefore, the cheapest price we have seen it listed for. Amazon currently has it on sale for $79.99, which is the original price of the appliance listed with Walmart.

Instant Pots can also be considered as a multi-cooker, and this one is no exception to that. It has seven functions built into just this one appliance, meaning that it is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, and food warmer. You can even use it for browning or sauteing meat or vegetables and as a warmer for reheating leftovers. It'll help to save money on rising energy bills, too, since the high-pressure setting can reduce cooking time by up to 70%, and the dual-pressure settings speed up the overall cooking times.

For $50, just imagine all those delicious family meals you can quickly cook for a fraction of the price. There's also a free Instant Pot app to give you access to new recipe ideas, so you don't even need to fork out for a new cooking book. There's no code required, and we don't know how long this deal will be available. Just add the below deal to your basket and checkout - before it's too late.

Black Friday Instant Pot deal

Haven't quite found the Instant pot you're looking for? No worries: head to our Black Friday Instant Pot deals where you'll see some more offers from Walmart, plus other resellers such as Amazon and John Lewis (if you reside in the UK). More generally, if you would like an appliance which is more of an air fryer then check out our Black Friday air fryer deals - a lot of those do more than just air fry so are also considered a multi cooker.

More Walmart Black Friday deals

• Beauty: electric toothbrushes and shavers from $13.95
• Fashion: men's, women's and kid's clothing from $5
• Gaming: Nintendo Switch Sports down to $34.99
• Laptops: Chromebooks and laptops from $79 - starts Monday
• Kitchen: air fryers, coffee machines and cookware from $35
• Phones: iPhone 12 from $15.25 per month
• Toys: Disney, Paw Patrol, Marvel and more from under $10
• TVs: up to $600 off LG, Hisense and TCL TVs
• Vacuums: upright and robot vacuums from $59

These cleaning tips will help keep your best Instant Pot pristine because while cleaning it is easy to do, there’s a bit more to it than just chucking your stainless steel pot into the dishwasher. That’s particularly true with more stubborn stains, such as burnt-on lentils: they seem immune to even the most expensive dishwasher tablets. The good news is that there’s a hack for that.

While almost all of your Instant Pot is okay to wash in the dishwasher (if you have one), it’s not always the most effective way of shifting stains – and if you’ve ever put a sealing ring in the dishwasher in order to get rid of the smell of a strong chilli or soup, you’ll know that sometimes a dishwasher doesn’t really make a difference. Don’t despair, though. It’s really easy to get rid of even the toughest and most persistent stains and smells. Here’s how to keep your Instant Pot perfectly clean. 

If you're looking to upgrade your Instant Pot, Black Friday Instant Pot deals has popped up early so it's a good time to buy. That's especially if you want to avoid the holiday shopping chaos.

Clean your Instant Pot: start with the pot itself

The Instant Pot’s main cooking pot is dishwasher safe, so if you have a dishwasher then you can simply put the pot upside down in the lower rack as you would with any other pot. You’ll often find that dishwashing the stainless steel pot can leave it with a blue-ish haze; if you encounter that, soak it in white vinegar for a few minutes before rinsing and drying it and the blue will be gone.

No dishwasher? No problem. You don’t need any special cleaning products for the inside of your pot. Hot soapy water and a non-scratch scourer will do the trick. Don’t use steel wool or abrasive cleaners, though. They’ll damage the finish.

How to clean burnt-on food from your Instant Pot

We’ve burnt food onto our Instant Pot lots of times, usually by using a too-hot sauté setting or by forgetting to deglaze the pot before adding stock. To remove burnt-on food, rinse the pot as best you can to get rid of the easy bits and then add two tablespoons of baking soda and four cups of water. Put the lid on and do a manual pressure cook for five minutes. Once you’ve done that, let the pressure release naturally. You should now be able to get your pot perfectly clean with hot soapy water.

How to stop the Instant Pot seal from smelling

The sealing ring in your Instant Pot lid is a bit of a magnet for smells, so for example when we make a very garlicky soup it’s still smellable long after we’ve eaten it all and given the pot a wash. There are lots of online guides to making your Instant Pot sealing ring clean, but our favorite is by cooking bible The Kitchn: Kelli Foster recommends two options, using either white vinegar or lemon. Simply add two cups of white vinegar or two cups of water with a lemon rind and run a steam program for two minutes. You can then take the sealing ring out of the lid and let it air dry before refitting it.

You can also buy extra Instant Pot sealing rings, and if you buy the Instant Pot Pro or Instant Pot Duo Plus you'll get a second one in the box. Instant Brands recommends having two different ones: one for savory foods and one for sweet. They’re not expensive: expect to pay around $12/£12/AU $13 for a pack of two.

How to wash your Instant Pot lid

Every part of your Instant Pot is dishwasher safe apart from the main cooker base, but I’ve found that the lid takes up far too much room in the dishwasher and doesn’t always come out brilliantly clean. I prefer a manual scrub with hot soapy water instead.

How to wash your Instant Pot air fryer lid

The air fryer lid for the Instant Pot Crisp models doesn’t look like it should be dishwasher safe, but it is – provided you give it plenty of time to cool down before use, as it gets very hot when you’re frying. 

Cleaning the air fryer lid is a bit more involved than cleaning the standard Instant Pot lid. That’s because air frying many foods will create grease that can gunk up the lid somewhat. You can fix that with a baking soda and vinegar solution.

How to clean the food basket for your Instant Pot Crisp

The food basket in your Instant Pot Crisp can suffer from the same baked-on grease and grime that affects the racks in your oven, but unlike most racks it’s small enough to go in the dishwasher. If that doesn’t shift the grime (or you don’t have a dishwasher), a long soak in hot soapy water will remove a lot; if even that’s inadequate, try the very first tip here on cleaning burnt-on food.

If you’d like to prevent your basket from getting messy in the first place you can buy air fryer basket liners from the usual home and kitchen retailers.

How to clean the fiddly lip bit around the top of the Instant Pot

I hate the groove where the Instant Pot lid joins onto the rest of the cooker: it’s like the trench in Star Wars’ Death Star but filled with bits of chili rather than TIE fighters, a perilous chasm requiring incredible skills or some wadded-up kitchen towel and cleaning spray. Some owners suggest using a soft toothbrush dunked in hot soapy water for this.

How to clean the main Instant Pot body

Don’t put it in the dishwasher. The bit of the Instant Pot with the controls and heating element is absolutely not dishwasher safe; you need to use a slightly damp cloth to clean it inside and out (and if you’re cleaning it on the inside, make sure you’ve given it plenty of time for the heating element to cool down). The recommendation is “slightly damp” because you don’t want water getting into the control panel.

Buying one of the best Instant Pot multi-cookers is one of the best kitchen decisions you’ll ever make, especially with Black Friday Instant Pot deals available now. It’s one of the best-selling kitchen gadgets in the world with almost as many imitators as it has devoted fans. 

If you’re not familiar with the Instant Pot it’s a programmable electric pressure cooker that became a huge online hit, spawning endless articles and recipe guides and turning people like your writer into Instant Pot evangelists. But is this a case of publicity over practicality?

On the face of it, it seems so: even the cheapest Instant Pot is much more expensive than a traditional pressure cooker. But there are some important advantages of the Instant Pot in terms of safety, flexibility and capacity. Before we discover what they are, it’s important to understand what pressure cooking is and why it’s great.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker: what is pressure cooking anyway?

Pressure cookers go back much further than the Instant Pot: the first home pressure cookers went on sale in 1945, but the Instant Pot didn’t go on sale until 2010. At heart, though, they both use the same science: if you cook food at really high pressure, you can get the same results in a fraction of the time. So for example a casserole or chili you might slow cook for hours can be pressure cooked in less than an hour and be just as melt-in-the-mouth tasty.

To increase the pressure, a pressure cooker or Instant Pot has a tight seal that keeps steam from escaping (and a valve to release it when you’re done or if the pressure gets too high; without a valve there’s a real risk of explosion). The pressure increases the boiling point of water, reducing evaporation and extracting more flavor from foods. 

Whether you use a traditional stovetop pressure cooker or an Instant Pot, the results are the same: amazing food in less than 1/4 of the time normal cooking takes. But the Instant Pot does more than just cook. 

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker: what’s the difference?

One of the biggest differences here is that the Instant Pot is programmable: you can set it and leave it. With stovetop cookers there’s still a small risk of pushing the pressure too high and blowing the thing up, but the Instant Pot doesn’t have that danger. And it also has different pressure modes, so you can set it at low pressure for things like soup and high pressure when you’re in a hurry.

But the other key difference between an Instant Pot and a pressure cooker is that the Instant Pot isn’t just a a pressure cooker. It’s a multi-cooker. It has programmes to sauté, to make rice, to make yogurt… it’s a one-pot cooking system that saves time and also means less washing up. So for example when your writer is making soup it’s all done in the Instant Pot: sautéing the veg, bringing it all to the boil, taking it down to a simmer for the flavors to mingle, and keeping it warm once it’s cooked. Or if chili is on the menu the Instant Pot browns the beef, softens the beans and then slow cooks it to perfection.

Depending on the Instant Pot model you go for, you can turn it into other kinds of cookers too. The Instant Pot Pro can do sous vide cooking, where vacuum-sealed food is immersed in warm water for incredibly tender results, and the Crisp models have an extra lid that turns the Instant Pot into an air fryer so you can “fry” food too.

Another advantage of a programmable pressure cooker is that you can set it to run when you’re not there (with the exception of some programmes such as as sautéing). That makes it great for setting and forgetting, so you can have a tasty meal waiting when you get in from college or work.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker: what are the pros and cons?

The key benefit of a traditional pressure cooker is that it can deliver a higher pressure than all but the most expensive Instant Pots, so it cooks even more quickly: where most Instant Pots deliver a maximum pressure of 12psi, traditional pressure cookers can go up to 15psi. More pressure means a higher boiling point and faster cooking.

The main pros of an Instant Pot are its ease of use, its convenience and its safety: it’s a brilliant all-rounder that’s incredibly simple to use, utterly reliable and has a dishwasher-safe removable pot (although it’s best to wash by hand). You can also save custom programs if the presets don’t do what you want. 

The main downside is the price: where the cheapest basic pressure cookers we can find on Amazon cost around $50 / £40 / AU$115, even the cheapest Instant Pot – the 3-quart/3-liter Instant Pot Duo – is $59 in the US and £69 in the UK (it isn’t currently sold in Australia).

The good news is that as the capacity increases, the price rises much less steeply. The 8-quart/8 liter Instant Pot Duo is currently $79 / £109 / $AU188.

It’s also worth noting that the Instant Pot’s viral popularity means that you will see deep discounts during any big sales event such as Prime Day, Black Friday and other seasonal sales.

The other downside is that with the exception of the Mini model, Instant Pots are big: a 6-quart/5.7-liter Pro is roughly 13 inches/33cm high and the same width, while an 8-quart/8 liter model is just over 14 inches/36cm high.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker: what should you buy?

Whether you buy a stovetop pressure cooker, an Instant Pot or a similar multi-cooker, you’ll be amazed by the food you can make: even something as simple as eggs can be astonishing when pressure cooked. But the choice depends a lot on what you want to cook and how much space you’ve got.

A stovetop pressure cooker is brilliantly simple, but that simplicity also limits what you can do with it: if you don’t pressure cook frequently it’s a big and heavy pot you’ll need to find somewhere to store. The Instant Pot’s bulkier and heavier, but its flexibility means it’s more likely to be used more often instead of being put away; our one is in almost constant use through the week and sits permanently on the kitchen counter. 

If you’re a frazzled parent, a student or someone who’d like to have a brilliant meal waiting for them when they get in from a long day then the Instant Pot is the one to buy here: it’s a genuinely great and useful multi-cooker that’s capable of amazing things. But if you’ve already got a multi-cooker such as the best air fryer oven or just prefer to do things old-school, a stovetop pressure cooker is simpler, faster and more affordable. Whichever option you go for, though, you’re going to love the results.

The most predictable of all the Prime Day deals is here: Amazon is offering big discounts on multiple Instant Pot models including the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus at £89.99 (was £129.99), and the multi-talented Instant Pot Pro Crisp 11-in-1 at £169.99 (was £249.99).

I love my Instant Pot, and it's honestly the best gadget I've ever bought: it's an everyday workhorse for this harassed parent, and its ability to do lots of different things means it's ideal for my extremely cramped kitchen. 

If you're interested, my current one is the non-Crisp Instant Pot Pro because I already had an air fryer; it isn't currently on offer so you'd be better off with the Crisp, which is identical but adds an extra air frying lid.

• See all instant pot deals at Amazon.co.uk

I've made all kinds of things in my Instant Pot. It's brilliant for chillies and curries, for pasta and for eggs – if you haven't had Instant Pot eggs you haven't lived – and it's ideal for any kind of cooking that involves throwing a whole bunch of things into a pot and making them into something magical. 

And as far as I'm concerned, the most magical thing you can make is called Roberto.

Roberto is a soup, but to call it just a soup does it a disservice. It's a little bowl of heaven, and it's easy to adapt to whatever ingredients you happen to have handy. 

I learned the recipe from New Yorker food writer Helen Rosner, whose original story about Roberto went viral back in 2016. This one's a keeper: I first made it for me and for friends during lockdown and it's been my go-to mood lifter ever since.

You don't need an Instant Pot to make it, of course. But if you're in a hurry, putting it into pressure cooking mode makes the flavours mingle in a fraction of the time it would take in a normal soup pot. You know how soup always tastes so much better the day after? The Instant Pot makes that happen on day one too.

Here's my take on Helen Rosner's recipe.

How to make Roberto in your Instant Pot

The Instant Pot Pro models are better for this because they have a completely flat bottom in the bowl for even heating; for other models you'll need to keep a closer eye and stir more to ensure you get an even heat.

As ever, you need to assemble your ingredients first. I follow Rosner's recipe as closely as I can, so:

• 1 large white onion, diced 
• 4 nice big cloves of garlic, finely chopped 
• 500g of spicy Italian sausage - I've also had great results with various Chorizos, and M&S's jerk chicken sausages are brilliant too. Skip this or use vegetarian sausage for a veggie-friendly version 
• A 400g can of good quality chopped tomatoes 
• A 400g can of beans, rinsed – I tend to go for cannellini beans here but any beans are good 
• A big bag of kale or cavolo nero, de-stemmed 
• About a litre of stock – whatever you fancy, I've had great results with chicken and veg stock 
• Pecorino cheese 
• A lemon

First up, you want to dice a large white onion and chuck it into the Instant Pot with a pinch of salt and a good splash of decent olive oil. You're going to be using Saute mode for this, but make sure you use the lower-heat version: if you let the onions burn it'll destroy the flavour and ruin your day. 

You want to stir your onions for about 4 minutes or so until they start to go clear. Add the garlic and give it a good whoosh around for about a minute.

Now you want to add the spicy sausage (if using) and cook it evenly till it browns. If you're using chorizo or similar you'll get that lovely red tone throughout the bowl. This bit takes a while and you can go and do something else provided you come back and check regularly. I keep the lid off for this bit.

When you're sure the sausage is cooked, add the beans, the stock and the tinned tomatoes. If you've gone for big plum tomatoes you'll want to smash them up with your wooden spoon here. 

Let the mix heat until it's simmering – you can go for a hotter saute mode to speed it up – and then chuck in more kale than seems necessary. 

Rosen describes it brilliantly in her original: "The pot will look extremely full, but don’t worry—the kale will collapse like an empty wedding gown as soon as you start stirring it in, which you should do."

I normally add some freshly ground black pepper here and then cancel the saute programme, pop the Instant Pot lid on and put it into manual mode: high pressure for about an hour. You don't need to cook it for that long but I've found that when you do, the flavours are just immense.

When the soup's done give it a taste – wooden spoon only – and season; Rosen recommends twice as much pepper than seems wise, and then a bit more, but only half the salt. The cheese you're about to add is salty so you don't want to overdo it.

Now it's just a matter of serving Roberto with some grated Pecorino (Parmesan is good too; as long as it's Italian and salty) and a good squeeze of lemon into each bowl. There's no need for any fancy sides: a nice bit of bread is all you need, because Roberto is the star of the show here. 

Happy eating!

Featured instant pots

More Prime Day deals UK

• Amazon devices: up to 65% off Echo Dot, Fire tablets and Fire TV Stick
• Adidas: 30% off some sportswear and trainers
• Apple: save up to £150 on iPads and Apple Watches
• Back to school: backpacks and stationery from £1.50
• Beauty: save on Rimmel, Revlon, Olay, and more top brands
• Coffee machines: starting at just £19 with up to 60% off
• Fashion: 40% off Vans, Hugo Boss, Wrangler, and other brands
• Fire TV Stick: lowest price yet on all models
• Groceries: £10 off your first three grocery shops
• Grooming & hair care: 60% off Philips, Remmington shavers & straighteners
• Headphones: Sony and Bose headphones at lowest-ever prices
• Health: 57% off Oral-B and Philips electric toothbrushes
• Kindle: 25% off Kindle ereader bundles
• Laptops: 15% off Microsoft, Huawei, Acer, and Asus laptops
• Phones: Google Pixel 6 lowest ever price, OnePlus, Motorola
• PS5: Dualsense deals, plus savings on leading games
• Security: £180 off Ring Home Security bundles
• Smart home: £144 off Ring and Echo bundles
• Smartwatch: up to 50% off Garmin watches and trackers
• Tablets: 41% off Samsung, Lenovo, and Huawei tablets
• Tools: 49% off Bosch tools and garden items
• TVs: 4K TVs starting at just £199 with half-price deals
• Vacuums: 35% off Shark cordless vacs
• Xbox: Xbox Series X in stock for £449

If you're in the market for a pressure cooker that can create a wide variety of hassle-free meals, the 4th of July sales have just served up a pair of fine deals on two of the best Instant Pots you can buy.

Amazon now has the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 on sale for only $74.95 (was $99.99 recently), a price the retailer has only briefly bettered once this year. If you need even more versatility, then Amazon also has the Instant Pot Duo 11-in-1 down to only $149.95 (was $199.99 recently).

The benefits of Instant Pot's pressure cookers are many, including big reductions to your cooking times and the ability to quickly create a wide variety of meals. Whether you're rustling up rice, soup, stews, meat or even home-made yoghurt, there'll be a setting for it on these Instant Pots.

A word of warning, though: the Prime Day deals are kicking off soon, on 12-13 July, and it's possible that we'll see Instant Pot cookers fall to even lower prices during that period. If you can wait, then it might be wise to see what happens during Amazon's big sales event, but if you urgently need some Instant Pot help in the kitchen then these are still good deals that may not be bettered.

Today's best Instant pot deals

Instant Pots have deservedly secured cult status in the US and Canada – and while they've been on the market for a few years now, these two classic models remain great buys at these prices.

In our Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 review, we said that it was "incredibly easy to use, even a reluctant home cook will be able to work their way around the extensive cooking programs".

Referring to the regulated temperatures you get at each step, we said that "this is where you’ll see the real 'set it and forget it' benefit of multi-cookers", with our review adding that "there is virtually no noise or leaking steam, leaving you to finish off the rest of your cooking while it does the hard work for you."

While the 7-in-1 model is Amazon's best-seller, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1's ability to air-fry could give it the edge for those looking to fry their meals without all those unhealthy oils. 

More 4th of July deals: quick links

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Amazon has slashed 26% off the price of the Ninja Foodi Max 14-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker 7.5L OL650UK, reducing it from £269.99 to just £199.00. This is the best price we’ve seen for this Instant Pot alternative that can also air fry. (Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.) 

The best Instant Pots and multi-cookers offer a multitude of cooking methods in one device, which means you no longer need to clutter up your kitchen countertops with several cooking appliances. However, they can be a pricey purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome. 

The Ninja Foodi Max 14-in-1 SmartLid multi-cooker OL650UK is a paired-down model of the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid multi-cooker OL750UK. It has the same 7.5 litre capacity, which Ninja says is enough for six portions, and can still introduce steam when cooking to keep foods moist and succulent.t lacks the ability to do this when roasting, though, and doesn’t come with the bundled temperature probe.

Today's best Instant Pot alternative deal in the UK

As you’d expect, the Ninja Foodi Max 14-in-1 SmartLid multi-cooker OL650UK can pressure cook and slow cook, but it can also replace one of the best air fryers too. However, unlike cookers from rival Instant Pot, it doesn’t require an additional lid for air frying. 

Alongside the internal cooking pot, the multi-cooker comes bundled with a 4.7-litre frying basket for air frying, which Ninja says is big enough to hold up to 1.8kg of French fries, as well as a two-tier steaming rack for cooking vegetables. 

More Instant Pot deals

 You can see all of today’s best Instant Pot deals in your region below  

• Prefer fries? Then check out these great air fryer deals

Multi-cookers have increasingly become the must-have kitchen gadget over the last ten years. Combining several appliances in one, you can ditch your slow cooker, pressure cooker, steamer, sous vide, and yogurt maker and combine them into one multifunctional appliance.

Instant Pot may have been the first multi-cooker on the market but it was quickly followed by several other brands, including Ninja which has become one of its biggest competitors. These two brands produce some of the best multi-cookers available right, and with each model they get bigger and better. 

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp & Air Fryer is the brand’s top-of-the-range multi-cooker that can replace one the of best air fryers on top of the long list of cooking functions it already offers, and was unveiled in 2021 (although it’s also available without the air frying capability, a model which is just called the Instant Pot Pro). 

Ninja followed suit with the launch of the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid, which is known as the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker in the UK But how different are the top-of-the-range models from both of these trusted brands, and which should you choose? 

We’re pitted the two head-to-head, whipping up curries, chillies, and batches of fries to help you choose the right appliance for your kitchen. 

Best Instant Pot Pro and Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid deals  

Read on to discover how these two multi-cookers compare – or, if you’ve already decided which of the two you wish to buy, check out the best prices for each right now:  

Price

Before we delve into how well these multi-cookers perform when it comes to producing an array of dishes, let’s look at the price. 

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp is the more affordable of the two as you can get your hands on one for $249.99/ £249.99. Meanwhile, the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid, which is known as the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker in the UK is priced at $349.99/ £299.99. However, it does offer a handful more cooking methods (more about that below) and comes with a temperature probe for cooking meat perfectly, so we think this slightly higher price tag is acceptable. 

Both models are the brand's top-of-the-range multi-cooker so they sit at the pricier end of the multi-cooker market, but they offer the latest and best features including air frying capabilities. Neither model is currently available in Australia.

Design

Despite offering a similar range of core functions, there are notable differences in the design of these two multi-cookers, the most obvious being the lids. The Instant Pot Pro has two lids, one for dry cooking functions such as air fry and bake, and an additional lid for the other cooking functions including slow cook, pressure cook, and steam. The Ninja on the other hand has just one hinged lid that can perform all functions, offering a more convenient and space-saving solution.

The Instant Pot has 11 cooking functions, these are pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, sous vide, air fry, roast, bake, broil/ grill, de-hydrate, keep warm. But with a whopping 14 cooking functions (15 in the UK) there’s no beating the Ninja. Its available functions include pressure cook, air fry, grill, bake, dehydrate, prove, sear/ sauté, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sous vide, and keep warm along with two new programs; steam air fry, steam bake. These use steam during the cooking process, even though they are considered ‘dry’ methods to keep foods moist and succulent.

The UK model differs slightly from the US model and doesn’t have the sous vide function but comes with three additional steam programs;  steam meals, steam roast and steam bread.

In terms of capacity, there’s not much in it, the Instant Pot has an 8 quart / 8 liter capacity, while the Ninja is advertised as 8 quart / 7.5 liter. Likewise, you won’t find much difference in the measurements either, with the Ninja being 0.5 inches taller. But as we already mentioned, with two lids to store, the Instant Pot will take up more space in your cupboard.

For pressure cooking, the method and ease of steam release is an important consideration, and these two multi-cookers tackle this in very different ways. If you opt for the Instant Pot, the lid automatically seals for pressure cooking as you close it. But at the end, you’ll need to flick the switch to ‘vent’ in order to release the steam. 

The Ninja also seals itself, it does this when the slider is moved into the pressure cooking position. The steam release however is fully automated and you can select one of three steam release methods for a completely hands-off process.

They come with a similar selection of accessories in addition to the main cooking pot, including air fry baskets and cooking racks. Uniquely though, a meat probe is included with the Ninja. This connects into the multi-cooker and the other end goes into the meat you’re cooking. On the main menu screen, you choose the type of meat, select how well you want it cooked, and the Ninja will do the rest. It’s a unique feature that we haven’t seen on any other multi-cooker.

Features on test

While they differ in terms of design these two multi-cookers both produced excellent quality meals when we put them to the test. We made tasty slow-cooked and pressure-cooked meals in both cookers. However, we struggled to achieve the results we were looking for when steaming in the Instant Pot. Whereas the Ninja model comes with a useful recipe book that includes cooking charts, this takes away the guesswork and makes it easier to get it right the first time.

The additional functions available on the Ninja, such as steam air fry give you more scope to brown foods like chicken, whilst ensuring that the meat stays moist and succulent. What’s more, the included meat probe allows even novice cooks to produce perfect results. We successfully used it to cook a medium-rare steak and if you want hassle-free meats cooked exactly to your liking, this is a feature you’ll love.

While both come with dishwasher-safe cooking pots for easy cleaning, the Instant Pot is supplied with a stainless steel pot, whereas the Ninja pot is non-stick so is easier to wash by hand. Having said that, the Ninja pot doesn’t have a completely flat base, which is noticeable when sauteing because oil pools around the outside of the pot so results can be uneven. Instant’s cooking pot is completely flat so sauteing is more even.

Both multi-cookers are simple to use with clear display screens and easily adjustable time and temperature settings. And regarding the lids, it comes down to personal preference, some people will prefer just one hinged lid, but others may prefer a fully removable lid and not mind that there are two.

Verdict

Both these multi-cookers are from leading brands, they’re well made, easy to use and produce great results. When deciding which is best for you, it’ll come down to your priorities. If price is driving your decision, the Instant Pot is the cheaper of the two and it still offers a great range of useful functions. But with two lids to store, it will take up more space.

But if you’ve been holding back because you’re nervous of pressure cooking and steam release, the hands-free automatic steam venting offered by the Ninja multi-cooker is a good way to go. And the Ninja is also the best choice if you want the maximum number of cooking functions for the most multi-purpose appliance. Not forgetting the innovative meat probe feature.

• Just want to make healthier fries? Then check out the best air fryer deals.

Amazon has slashed 33% off the price of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, reducing it from $149.99 to just $99.95, which is just $10 more than the lowest price we’ve seen for this multi-cooker, which can air fry too. (Not in the US? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.) 

The best Instant Pots use steam to speed up the cooking duration of a multitude of dishes, including stews and curries. However, they can be a costly purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome. 

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp comes with an additional lid that offers four different ‘dry’ cooking methods – air fry, roast, bake, and grill – alongside the seven ‘wet’ modes you’d expect from a multicooker including pressure cooking and slow cooking. The Instant Pot has 6-quart capacity, which Instant says is enough for four portions. 

Today's best Instant Pot deal in the US

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp enables you to select the cooking mode, temperature, and duration yourself. Alternatively, if you want to take the hard work out of cooking, there are 11 presets for dishes such as soups, stews, chilli, and even porridge, each of which comes with a defined setting. 

On test, we found the pressure-cooking feature ensured meat was succulent and tender within 60 minutes – far quicker than with traditional cooking methods. The quick-release feature to reduce the pressure in the Instant Pot impressed us, as it ensured that very little noise or steam was emitted. 

More Instant Pot deals

 You can see all of today’s best Instant Pot deals in your region below  

• Prefer fries? Then check out these great air fryer deals

Cooking the same type of meal regularly, can lead to food boredom. After all, variety is the spice of life, so whether you’re trying to impress friends and family with an array of cuisines, or you simply want to liven up dinner time for yourself, there are plenty of handy kitchen gadgets to help. 

The Instant Pot is perfect for this. Already a cult product, this multi-cooker offers an array of cooking functions including slow cooking, pressure cooking, steaming and sautéin. It also speeds up cooking duration so you’re no longer chained to the stove. 

Food bloggers and recipe creators across the globe are continually giving us new and tasty recipes designed specifically for Instant Pots and the alternatives from brands such as Ninja and Sage. This means there’s no shortage of inspiration and advice to help you make the most of cooking in this appliance. (There's no shortage of savings either, especially with Black Friday Instant Pot deals available now.)

However, that’s not to say you can ditch your oven or stove completely and cook everything in a multi-cooker, there are some foods that absolutely do not work in an Instant Pot – and I’m talking from experience here.

Best Instant Pot deals 

Read on to discover what you really shouldn't use an Instant Pot to cook, or if you’ve already decided you want to invest in a multi-cooker, check out the best prices right now:    

My Instant Pot baking disaster

Recently I used an Instant Pot for baking cakes and cookies but I’ll never do it again despite the fact that there are several recipes online saying it works. I tried three cake recipes in my Instant Pot, a chocolate cake, carrot cake, orange cake and even an oatmeal raisin cookie recipe for good measure. 

The only one that was enjoyable – or edible for that matter – was the chocolate cake. That’s because if a chocolate cake doesn’t rise and has a dense moist texture, you just need to change the name and suddenly it’s a delicious brownie. The rest came out dense and chewy at best or completely inedible at worst and the cookie just wasn’t a cookie, it was a weird dry flat cake. I thought the Instant Pot was going to revolutionize my cake baking so to say I was disappointed with the results would be an understatement.

You might call me naïve for thinking I could bake a cake in a pressure cooker but in another bid to test my Instant Pot cooking skills I made cheesecake in an Instant Pot and I’ll never go back to my usual method. Cheesecakes cook brilliantly in an Instant Pot so all is not lost when it comes to baking sweet treats in a pressure cooker.

What else doesn’t work in an Instant Pot?

Unless you’ve got one of the newer and more expensive models that can air fry, such as the Instant Pot  Crisp + Air Fry, don’t even think about attempting to bake bread in an Instant Pot. Bread needs to brown and develop a crisp crust, this is a big part of its appeal and is important to the flavor too, but a crust is something you just can’t achieve using pressure cooking or slow-cooking methods. 

If you’re a regular bread baker though, you might be interested to know that while it won’t bake bread to perfection, you can use your Instant Pot to proof the dough. The yogurt function is a low-temperature setting that’s designed to ferment yogurt cultures and works just as well at fermenting the yeast in your bread dough. Using the yogurt setting will give you a consistent proofing environment, which can help you perfect your method and make some of the best homemade bread.

In just the same way as an Instant Pot can’t give you a crisp crust on bread, the same goes for all other foods that are best served browned and crispy, including breaded or battered foods such as chicken or fish. You’ll be able to heat these foods in an Instant Pot, but there’s no way of crisping the crumb or batter, so it’s unlikely you’ll be pleased with the inevitably soggy end result. Anything with pastry should be included in this bracket as well, pale mushy pastry is rarely anyone’s aim. 

As a rule of thumb, if a crisp texture is important to the overall enjoyment of the food, then you’re best sticking to other methods like broiling, grilling or oven baking. Alternatively, when it’s time to upgrade your Instant Pot, look at investing in one with an air fry lid, these models can brown and crisp foods and will take your Instant Pot cooking to the next level.

Creamy dairy-based sauces can also be troublesome in an Instant Pot. Depending on what you’re making, sauces made with cream, cheese, and milk are prone to curdling when pressure cooked. Most Instant Pot recipes advise adding cream and cheese at the end of cooking. You can use the sauté function if some heat is needed to melt cheese and this allows you to keep an eye on the consistency and to stir it regularly.

Slow cooking and pressure cooking both work well to tenderize tough meats and will give you excellent falling-off-the-bone textures, both of these cooking methods allow you to get the most from cheaper cuts of meat. I wouldn’t recommend putting expensive cuts of red meat into your Instant Pot though, because to do justice to these pricier cuts, they should be served pink in the middle. And unless you’re using the sauté function to fry up a steak, you can’t achieve rare or pink results in red meats when cooking them in an Instant Pot.

Similarly, very delicate foods like fish and shellfish don’t work well in an Instant Pot. It’s almost guaranteed that you’ll overcook most fish and shellfish regardless of whether you’re adding them to a slow-cooked or pressure-cooked recipe. You can still create tasty meals like paella in your Instant Pot, in fact, it’s one of the best ways to cook rice, but you’ll just need to add the cooked shrimp at the end.

• Check out these great cheap instant pot deals

Instant Pot is the appliance that’s been revolutionizing the way we cook since 2010. But this clever multi-cooker is so versatile, that for some people knowing where to start and how to make the best use of it can be a little overwhelming.

With slow cook, pressure cook, sauté and steam functions to experiment with, there are plenty of great ways to get the most out of this countertop cooking appliance. One of the great advantages of Instant Pot is that there are thousands of recipes online and virtually no limit to the things you can cook in it. And once you’ve mastered your Instant Pot cooking skills it’s still great to experiment with new foods and recipes so you don’t fall into a rut and use it for the same foods and meals every time.

Don’t let your Instant Pot gather dust on the counter – or miss out on the excellent Black Friday Instant Pot deals that are live now. There are numerous meals traditionally cooked on the stove that work much better in an Instant Pot and some might even surprise you.

Best Instant Pot deals 

Read on to discover what are the best things to cook in an Instant Pot to cook, or if you’ve already decided you want to invest in a multi-cooker, check out the best prices right now:    

What are the best things to cook in an Instant Pot?

 Soups, stews and curries

Sumptuous slow cooked stews, such as this beef stew, are the perfect winter warmer and the slow cooker function on your Instant Pot is a great way of creating this type of comforting meal. The same goes for curries and although these can be pressure cooked if you’re in a hurry, slow cooking allows the flavors to develop and deepen over time, giving you a rich and delicious meal – try this slow cooker chicken curry.

Just be sure to leave the steam release valve in the vented position to allow meals to thicken when slow cooking. Soups can be pressure cooked for speedy results, you’ll have a hearty broth in no time – try this healthy lentil soup. 

Red meat

The beauty of cooking red meat in an Instant Pot is that no matter how tough or inexpensive the cut, you can use your multicooker to turn it into mouth-wateringly soft meat that’ll fall apart before your fork even touches it. This is achieved by cooking it quickly on the pressure cook setting, or very slowly using the slow cooker. 

Both methods will give you very tender meats with minimal effort. We’re big fans of this slow-cooked beef chili that we make when reviewing multicookers. Personally, I’ve also had great success pressure cooking baby back ribs that then get finished off on the BBQ or broiled/ grilled, here’s a great recipe. You can even try a pressure-cooked pot roast for a fuss-free beef dinner. 

Cheesecake

This one’s from experience, I made cheesecake in an Instant Pot and I’ll never go back to my usual method. Forget the usual hassle of baking cheesecake in a water bath in the oven and fretting over whether it’s getting too brown, or if it has the perfect wobble that signifies it’s time to take it out. 

Cooking cheesecake in a pressure cooker removes these concerns, gives you a defined cooking time and also means you can walk away and forget about it until the timer goes off, what could be better? I’d recommend this chocolate cheesecake or this vanilla cheesecake which is the perfect base for adding fruits, caramel or any other custom topping – you can get creative.

Rice dishes

We always cook rice in Instant Pots when testing them for our reviews. Some Instant Pots have a specific rice program, but if yours doesn’t, you can achieve excellent results using the pressure cook function. Instant Pot offers a handy cooking time table for rice and grains. A good rule of thumb is to use a 1:1 rice to water ratio. 

Cooking times vary depending on the type of rice and it might take you a few tries to get the timings just right for your favorite rice. But once you master it, you’ll have perfectly cooked rice every time and that’s the beauty of rice in an Instant Pot – consistency. But it’s not just plain rice, rice dishes like this Instant Pot chicken and rice work really well too and rice based one pot meals are a mid-week winner. 

Potatoes and vegetables

Pressure cooking potatoes in an Instant Pot is great route to perfectly cooked potatoes without having to watch over them on the stove. In fact I made mashed potatoes in an Instant Pot and it was far easier than usual. 

Instant Pot does offer a cooking time table for steaming vegetables though in our experience the results can be a bit hit and miss the first few times you try it and will depend on the Instant Pot model you have as well as other factors like how much veg you’re loading in. 

If in doubt, steam or pressure cook for the minimum possible time, you can always add on more time, but you can’t rescue overcooked and mushy vegetables. We’d suggest buying a steaming accessory because steaming on the supplied rack is tricky. 

Once you’ve tried a few vegetables and got the hang of timings, steaming is a great way to cook vegetables, locking in the flavor whilst retaining a good crunch.

• Check out these great cheap instant pot deals

Amazon has slashed 29% off the price of the Instant Pot Duo, reducing it from £89.99 to just £63.99, which is just £6 more than the lowest price we’ve seen for this entry-level multi-cooker (Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.) 

The best Instant Pots are versatile appliances that offer a multitude of cooking methods in one device, so you don’t clutter up your countertops with an array of kitchen gadgets. However, they can be a pricey purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome. 

The Instant Pot Duo is the brand’s entry-level multi-cooker and offers seven different cooking functions including pressure cooking, slow cooking, and steaming. It has a 5.7-litre capacity, which Instant says is enough for four portions. 

Today's best Instant Pot deal in the UK

On test, we found the pressure-cooking feature produced succulent and tender meat within 60 minutes – far quicker than using traditional methods. We also found it easy to tweak the cooking times and temperatures of the preset if the dishes weren’t cooked to our tastes. 

It’s worth remembering that as the Instant Pot Duo is the brand’s entry-level model, it does lack some of the features you’ll find on more expensive Instant Pot cookers. While some of these, such as a cooking progress indicator, won’t make a huge amount of difference to most users, there is one major drawback of this version – the inner pot can't be used on the hob, so you’ll need to sear meat and vegetables in another pan before cooking meals. 

More Instant Pot deals

 You can see all of today’s best Instant Pot deals in your region below  

• Prefer fries? Then check out these great air fryer deals

Amazon has slashed 15% off the price of the Ninja Foodi Max 14-in-1 SmartLid multi-cooker OL650UK, reducing it from £269.99 to just £229.00, which is just £6 shy of the best price we’ve ever seen for this Instant Pot alternative (Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.) 

The best Instant Pots and multi-cookers speed up cooking durations so you can turn out curries, stews and chillis, which would otherwise require hours slaving over a hot stove, in under an hour. However, they can be a pricey purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome. 

The Ninja Foodi Max 14-in-1 SmartLid multi-cooker OL650UK is one of three Ninja multi-cookers introduced in 2021 that offer a range of presets which introduce steam when cooking to keep foods moist and succulent. On test, we found this was particularly effective for cooking steak. It has the same 7.5-litre capacity as the top-of-the-range Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid multi-cooker OL750UK, but lacks the ability to steam-roast and a bundled temperature probe. 

Today's best Instant Pot alternative deal in the UK

The Ninja Foodi Max 14-in-1 SmartLid multi-cooker OL650UK has a capacity of 7.5 litres, which Ninja says is enough for six portions. As well as pressure cooking and slow cooking, the multi-cooker can also air fry, but unlike cookers from rival Instant Pot, this cooking function doesn’t require an additional lid. 

Alongside the internal cooking pot, the multi-cooker comes bundled with a 4.7-litre frying basket for air frying, which Instant says is big enough to hold up to 1.8kg of French fries, as well as a two-tier steaming rack for cooking vegetables. 

More Instant Pot deals

 You can see all of today’s best Instant Pot deals in your region below  

• Prefer fries? Then check out these great air fryer deals

Amazon has slashed 30% off the price of the Instant Pot Duo Nova multi-cooker, reducing it from £99.99 to £69.99 for today only – that’s the best price we’ve ever seen for this 5.7-litre capacity cooking appliance. (Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.) 

The best Instant Pots are extremely versatile kitchen appliances that offer a multitude of cooking methods in one device, so you don’t have to clutter your countertops with an array of gadgets. However, they can be a costly purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome. 

The Instant Pot Duo Nova builds on the brand’s entry-level Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 multi-cooker, with an easy-close lid that automatically seals when pressure cooking and a cooking progress indicator, so you always know which stage your meal is at. Instant says the 5.7-litre capacity is enough for four portions. 

Today's best Instant Pot deal in the UK

The Instant Pot Duo Nova is also available in a 7.6-litre version, however this isn’t currently discounted, and will set you back £119.99. On test, we found the pressure-cooking feature produced succulent and tender meat within 60 minutes – far quicker than using traditional methods. The quick-release feature to reduce the pressure in the Instant Pot impressed us, as it ensured very little noise or steam was emitted. 

If you want to make cooking as simple as possible, there are 13 presets that can make preparing dishes such as soups, stews and chillies and even porridge a breeze, although these can be customised if you want to tweak cooking times or temperatures to suit your tastes. 

More Instant Pot deals

 You can see all of today’s best Instant Pot deals in your region below  

• Prefer fries? Then check out these great air fryer deals

Amazon has slashed 23% off the price of the Instant Pot Pro 6-quart multi-cooker, reducing it from $129.99 to just $99.95. While this isn’t the best price we’ve seen for the top-of-the-range kitchen appliance, it’s still great value. (Not in the US? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.) 

The best Instant Pots can speed up the cooking of a range of dishes such as stews, chillis and curries, enabling you to bring variety to dinner times without having to slave over a hot stove. However, they can be a pricey purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome. 

The Instant Pot Pro is the brand’s most versatile multi-cooker, and can sous-vide, bake cakes, and be used as a saute pan on top of the usual cooking methods you’d expect, such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, and cooking rice. It has a 6-quart capacity, which Instant Pot says is enough for four portions. 

Today's best Instant Pot deals in the Us

The Instant Pot Pro has five ‘favorite’ buttons that allow you to store your settings for recipes you make regularly, giving you the convenience of one-touch programs for your own custom recipes. On test, we found the multi-cooker excelled at pressure cooking, producing succulent and tender meat within 60 minutes – far quicker than with traditional cooking methods. 

More Instant Pot deals

You can see all of today’s best Instant Pot deals in your region below 

• Prefer fries? Then check out these great air fryer deals

Instant Pot is the multicooker sensation that’s becoming a mainstay in homes around the world. It offers a wide array of cooking methods including slow cooking, pressure cooking and sautéing, 

I regularly use my Instant Pot for savory dishes including slow-cooked curries and stews, and for pressure-cooking rice and steaming vegetables, but I rarely use it to cook anything sweet. I tried my hand at making cakes and cookies in an Instant Pot, but it was disappointing. 

However, there are plenty of recipes online for making cheesecake in an Instant Pot. Usually, I make cheesecake in an oven but have to watch it like a hawk to ensure it doesn’t brown too much, while many recipes advise using a bain-marie, which is a water bath. This helps to cook the cheesecake gently, but it’s fiddly to set up and there’s always the danger water will leak into your cheesecake pan.

However, if I used an Instant Pot, which uses steam during cooking, would I be able to get the same consistent results, with minimal fuss?  

Best Instant Pot deals 

Read on to discover what happened when we cooked cheesecake in an Instant Pot, or if you’ve already decided you want to invest in a multi-cooker, check out the best prices right now:    

 Plenty of preparation

The more research I did on Instant Pot Cheesecake recipes, the more it became clear, pretty much every recipe utilizes the pressure cook function on the Instant Pot. The beauty of this is that the cheesecake doesn’t come into contact with a direct heat source, it cooks gently in the pressurized steam which gives a consistent result.

This is particularly appealing because there’s a fine line between a baked cheesecake that’s undercooked and one that’s overdone - you’re looking to achieve the perfect wobble, which is no mean feat. If it jiggles too much, then it won’t set as it cools, but leave it in too long and it’ll be rubbery. So the idea of baking a cheesecake with exact timings and consistent results is what makes an Instant Pot cheesecake so appealing.

There are also some accessories you’ll need when baking cheesecake in an Instant Pot. First, is a round pan that’ll fit inside your Instant Pot, preferably a springform pan with a loose base, to make it easy to remove the cheesecake once baked. You’ll also need aluminum foil for covering the pan, the foil seals it so no moisture can enter and affect the cheesecake. 

The next thing to consider is how you lower the pan into the Instant Pot and also how you remove it. My pan is only slightly smaller than my pot, so the only way to lower it in and remove it without spilling the cheesecake batter was to make a sling using aluminum foil. 

This is simpler than it sounds, it’s just a case of folding up a long piece of aluminum foil so you can slide it under the pan and hold on to the ends to lower it gently into the Instant Pot. Alternatively, you can buy a silicone sling specially designed for the job.

Let's get cooking

My first attempt at Instant Pot cheesecake was a decadent chocolate cheesecake with an Oreo cookie crust and a dark chocolate cheesecake filling. Given that the recipe is enough for a 7 inch/ 18cm pan, the quantities listed in the ingredients are a bit less than if you were making a larger one in your oven. But in my house this was still enough for eight portions, six if you’re feeling greedy.

The method for making the cheesecake is exactly the same as normal, crush the cookies and mix with melted butter, then allow this to cool in the freezer while you mix together the cheesecake batter. 

Once everything is in the pan, the top needs to be covered with aluminum foil. I did it so that the foil was domed and not touching the batter, but this won’t be a problem if you have a deep pan. Make sure the foil is tightly sealed so that no moisture can get in and if you’re using a springform pan you’ll need another layer of foil on the bottom to stop water seeping in through the base.

Then I just needed to add water to the pot and sit the cheesecake on the trivet and set the Instant Pot to pressure cook on high for 35 minutes. This particular recipe said to allow it to cool on the counter with the foil in place and then refrigerate for six hours. 

Verdict

While leaving the cheesecake alone in the refrigerator for six hours was an arduous task, I managed it. The result was a deliciously rich, thick, and indulgent cheesecake with no cracks or browning, something I’d be proud to serve to guests – but actually kept for myself this time.

After my successful chocolate cheesecake, I went confidently into a vanilla cheesecake recipe. And although the ingredients list was slightly different, the method and times were virtually the same. The only exception was that this one was cooled uncovered before being put in the fridge. The finished cheesecake however was a little different from my first attempt.

This cheesecake rose slightly during cooking and due to my shallow pan, it rose up into the foil which gave it a dented appearance around the edges after it cooled. My pan is only 1.4 inches/ 3.5cm deep, but you could avoid this by using a pan that’s at least 2 inches/ 5cm deep. 

This cheesecake also developed a crack in the center. Having said that, I didn’t really mind because my plan was always to smother it in homemade caramel for a show-stopping dessert. The texture was light, creamy, and perfectly set and despite the crack, I was more than happy with the finished result which also got a big thumbs up from my dinner guests.

Was it quicker to make cheesecake in an Instant Pot? 

It wasn’t any quicker to make cheesecake in an Instant Pot, as while the pressure cook time was 35 minutes, it takes six minutes to preheat and the natural pressure release took 10 minutes, so it’s around 50 minutes overall, then there’s the cooling and chilling time. 

Cook times in the oven are similar for a 7 inch/ 18cm pan, but some recipes require a water bath and instruct you to turn down the temperature part way through cooking, so it’s a more involved process. Plus there’s the inevitable deliberation over whether it’s cooked at the end. Whereas with the Instant Pot, you can set it and walk away until the timer goes off.

I was so impressed with the results of cooking a cheesecake in an Instant Pot. Not only were the results more consistent that using an oven, it also ensure I was able to concentrate on other things while it was cooking, rather than having to watch it to ensure it doesn’t brown too much.  

Once I’ve tried out a few more recipes I’ll look forward to being able to recreate my favorites time and time again without worrying whether the finished dessert will be as good as last time or if I removed it from the oven too soon. 

• Check out these great cheap instant pot deals

With so many cooking functions, it seems there’s no end to the delicious meals that can be created in one of the best Instant Pots. They’re great for slow-cooked tender meat or fast pressure-cooked curries, but more often than not, we tend to dream of mouthwatering savory foods when thinking about what to cook next in this clever kitchen gadget.

An Instant Pot is one of the most versatile kitchen appliances around and with an army of fans worldwide, there are thousands of recipes online created especially for this popular multi-cooker. In fact, we've had great success cooking everything from mashed potato to hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot.

When I saw just how many cake recipes were on the Instant Pot website and app, I got to thinking, can you really bake a cake in one of these multicookers? Is an Instant Pot the answer to making bakes worth of the contenders on the Great British Baking Show or, if you’re in the UK the Great British Bake Off?

Best Instant Pot deals 

Read on to discover what happened when we used an Instant Pot to bake cake and cookies, or if you’ve already decided you want to invest in one of these multicookers, check out the best prices right now:  

How do you cook cakes and cookies in an Instant Pot? 

You don’t need an Instant Pot with an air fry lid to make cakes, but I suspect you’ll get better results that way. In a classic Instant Pot without air fry capabilities, the majority of cake recipes utilize the pressure cook function.

Once you’ve made the cake batter and filled a cake pan, it then has to be covered with foil. This stops moisture from getting into the cake and affecting your bake. By adding water to the cooking pot and sitting the cake pan on the trivet, it’s kept away from the direct heat at the base of the pot and instead cooks gently in the pressurized heat.

Most of the recipes I tried, call for a 7 inch/ 18cm round cake pan, fortunately, I had one this size. However my 6 quart/ 6 liter Instant Pot was only just big enough for the pan. So while I could just about ease it in, removing it from the hot steamy pot at the end of cooking was tricky, to say the least. It involved the use of several kitchen utensils in an attempt to lever it out. So if you’re serious about perfecting cakes in an Instant Pot I’d highly recommend buying a silicone pressure cooker bakeware sling, which sits in the bottom of the Instant Pot and has handles that enable you to lift out the cake tin with ease. 

So, how did the bakes turn out?

I envisioned impossibly moist and light cakes when I started this baking adventure. After all, if there’s no oven then the cake can’t burn or dry out. And it’s true, none of the cakes I made were burnt or overly dry, they just had other problems.

First up, let me tell you about my most successful creation, the fudgy chocolate cake. After following the recipe and pressure cooking for the required 30 minutes it didn’t look great. The top was bumpy and it didn’t appear to have risen much either. And while it would be a stretch to describe it as a cake, this chocolate treat actually tasted delicious. It was rich, dense, and fudgy with a pleasing brownie texture and a rich chocolate flavor, and I enjoyed every mouthful. But let’s be clear, cakes should be light and fluffy, which this was not.

Going into my second bake I was optimistic and after the rich chocolate cake, I landed on a recipe for what looked like a fresh and light orange olive oil cake. Again, I followed the recipe and pressure cooked it for 35 minutes, but this one ended up being the worst cake I made in the Instant Pot. It didn’t rise at all and what came out of the pan was very dense, rubbery, and completely inedible.

At this point, I didn’t know what to expect from the third cake. This time I tried one of my all-time favorites, a carrot cake, and had high hopes for a delicious bake. At 65 minutes, the cooking time for this one was double that of the previous two cakes and I wondered if this would be the key to creating the perfect cake. And the finished cake did actually rise much more than the previous two, it certainly looked far more like a traditional cake. But sadly it just wasn’t the real deal, it was denser and chewier than a carrot cake should be. I was left wishing I’d baked it in the oven instead, for a lighter springier result.

There aren’t many cookie recipes that don’t require the use of an air fry lid, but eventually, I found one for oatmeal raisin cookie which looked worth a try. Like the cakes, it gets cooked in a foil-covered cake pan using the pressure cook function. The end result did look like a giant cookie, but that’s where the similarities ended. It had the texture of a dry flat cake which although edible, was very disappointing and certainly didn’t feel like a treat.

I’d love to tell you that Instant Pot is the answer to all of your baking woes, but this experience showed me you just can’t create light and fluffy bakes in a pressure cooker. Instant Pot is a fantastic appliance for creating so many tasty dishes, but let’s face it, even die-hard Instant Pot fans have to admit that it can’t be good at everything.

• Check out these great cheap instant pot deals

There’s nothing more comforting than a big scoop of creamy mashed potato. It’s the unsung hero of side dishes, smooth, creamy, and the perfect accompaniment to so many meals. Whether you like to customize your mash with garlic, cheese or herbs, or you just prefer straight-up buttery mash, it’s a firm favorite in so many households.

This inexpensive potato dish isn’t exactly difficult to make, but mastering the perfect results every time can be trickier than you might think. Most people want to achieve a smooth mash that’s light and fluffy, but many of us have experienced disappointingly lumpy results. This is, in part because, when boiling potatoes on the hob, they must be watched like a hawk and checked often before being drained and mashed. They're perfectly cooked when a butter knife slides through them with ease, although it doesn’t take long before they become a watery mess.  

The best Instant Pots take the hard work out of cooking an array of dishes, including vegetables. Pressure cooking is one of the multitude of cooking methods these appliances offer and unlike boiling sees less water evaporate during cooking, retaining an even temperature throughout the cooking pot. This got us thinking  - surely potatoes will cook more thoroughly in an Instant Pot, ensuring a smooth, creamy mash every time? 

Read on to find out just how to make mashed potato in an Instant Pot, or if you want to get your hands on one of the best multicookers right now, check out these great deals for some of the best prices on the market.  

So, what's the secret? 

Before you even start cooking, the best mash starts at the grocery store. By selecting potatoes that are higher in starch you’ll get a better result. There are hundreds of potato varieties, so find out what’s available in your local store and pick the most suitable. In the US varieties like Russet and Yukon Gold are popular for mash and in the UK Maris Piper or King Edward are a good choice.

Back in the kitchen and the first thing you’ll need to do is peel the potatoes. Some people love to leave the skin on for a more rustic mash, and if that’s the result you want, go right ahead. But for the best creamy mash, peel your potatoes first. Then, chop them into even size pieces, this is important because if the potatoes are all roughly the same size they’ll cook evenly. Now this doesn’t mean you need to spend ages cutting them into tiny pieces, quite the opposite, small pieces can over cook and break down which will leave you with a watery potato mess. Around 1.5 to 2 inch/ 4 to 5 cm square chunks are fine.

There are several recipes online for making mash potato in an Instant Pot. I read lots of them before my first attempt and my biggest takeaway was that there’s no set potato to water ratio, just add your potatoes to the pot and then add enough cold water to just cover the potatoes. Crucially, you need to take care not to exceed the max line on your pot.

I added 4.4 pounds/ 2kg of potato and 2.3 pints/ 1.3 liters of water and a teaspoon of salt. Then I set my Instant Pot  to pressure cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. The time was based on what I’d read in other recipes, taking into account that I was making quite a big batch. It’s worth remembering that the time required will vary depending on your potato variety, how big the chunks of potato are and also the number of portions you’re making. But 8 to 12 minutes is a good starting point.

At the end of cooking, release the pressure quickly, remove the pot of potatoes and drain away any excess water. Be sure to use some oven mitts to protect your hands when lifting the pot and tipping the water out. Then you can add in your flavoring, I added heavy cream and salt for an indulgent and creamy mash, but you can add butter, olive oil, spices, cheese or garlic, get creative. I’d advise adding some fat in the form of butter, oil or cream, this will give you a tasty mash that doesn’t have a dry texture.

The potatoes need to be mashed while they’re still hot, so as soon as you’ve drained away the water, get mashing. You can do this in the cooking pot, then at the end there’s only one pot to clean. I’d recommend using a potato masher, but for very creamy and super smooth whipped potatoes an electric hand whisk  works wonders at banishing lumps.

Is it any faster? 

In short, no. The preheat took 25 minutes, then there was the 12 minute cook time and add to that the 5 minutes to release the pressure at the end. This gave a total cook time of 42 minutes for my large batch, compared to about 25 minutes on my stove. But the preheat will be quicker if you make a smaller batch.

The thing is, that despite the slightly longer cooking time, I’d still cook my mash this way again because I didn’t have to watch over the pot, so I was free to leave the room or concentrate on cooking other parts of the meal. Additionally, the potatoes were perfectly cooked through, which gave me a really smooth lump-free mash.

Yes you still have to peel the potatoes, and then use a bit of elbow grease at the end to mash them, but letting your Instant Pot take care of the cooking gives you potatoes that are cooked to perfection, which really does make the end result smoother and creamier, I’m certainly a fan.

• Check out these great cheap instant pot deals

Since the first Instant Pot was released in 2010, we’ve seen this multipurpose countertop appliance continue to grow in popularity and become a worldwide success. Instant Pot is one of the better known multi-cooker brands, but in recent years rival multi-cookers from brands like Ninja and Breville , which is known as Sage in the UK, have become hot competition and regularly feature in our best Instant Pot guide.

But if you’ve never come across one, you might still be wondering exactly what an Instant Pot is and how it works. In short, an Instant Pot is an appliance that offers a multitude of different cooking methods in one space-saving kitchen gadget, hence the broader term multicooker.

As well as replacing several different gadgets in your kitchen, it can also speed up cooking times too, which means you can impress friends and family without spending hours slaving over a hot stove. 

Read on to find out just how Instant Pots work, or if you want to get your hands on one of the best multicookers right now, check out these great Black Friday Instant Pot deals for some of the best prices on the market.  

What cooking methods does an Instant Pot offer? 

Depending on the model you buy it could replace a slow cooker, pressure cooker, yogurt maker, rice cooker, steamer, sterilizer, and even a sous vide. So there’s really no limit to the type of foods and meals that can be made in this appliance. Think tender meat falling off the bone in a sumptuous stew, a comforting curry or perfectly steamed vegetables.

A more recent multi-cooker innovation is the addition of air fry capabilities, which can add broiling/ grilling, roasting and air frying to the already wide range of cooking methods. With these models, you can create perfectly crisp fries, roast a chicken and even bake cookies. As you’d expect, they’re more expensive, plus they often require a secondary lid to perform the extra functions.

Most multi-cookers offer a sauté setting so you can soften onions or brown meat in the pot before going on to cook with another method like pressure cook or slow cook. It ensures all the mess remains in the pot and reduces the amount of dishwashing at the end.

Other common functions include keep warm settings that’ll automatically keep your meal warm at the end of cooking, as well as timers to delay the start of cooking so you can ensure your delicious creation is ready right after you get home from work, just in time to feed your hungry crowd.

On top of the many functions, you’ll often find numerous presets for various foods and meals such as egg, rice, stew or soup. These presets have predefined time and temperature settings to take the guesswork out of cooking popular foods. Multi-cookers come in varying sizes, around 6 quart/ 6 liter is fairly standard pot capacity but for batch cooking and larger households they go up to around 8 quart/ 8 liter, but even the larger ones don’t take up too much space on your counter.

 So how does an Instant Pot work?

Instant Pots and other brands of multicooker all work in a similar way. The main unit houses a heating element in the base and this will heat up to various temperatures depending on which function is selected. A removable metal pot contains the food during cooking so it doesn’t come into contact with the base or element and being removable makes it much easier to clean.  

For slow cooking, the element will maintain a low temperature for long periods of time and cook foods just like a regular slow cooker. Yogurt-making functions and sous vide work in a similar way.

Pressure cooking is a bit more complicated and relies on the lid which utilizes a rubber sealing ring to seal in the pressure when the lid is locked. When pressure cooking, the base element quickly heats the food and water in the cooking pot and locks in the steam so that pressure builds. Pressure sensors monitor the pressure and keep it at the optimum level for safety.

Cooking food under pressure is much faster than boiling on the stove. At the end of cooking, in-built safety features mean the steam has to be released before the lid will unlock. Steam is released via a valve in the lid and this can be done fast, by moving the valve or flicking a switch to the vented position. Some multicookers even have automatic settings for steam release, for a completely hands-off approach.

Alternatively, the steam will release naturally over time, this is a longer process and the food will continue to cook until the steam is released and the lid is opened. A float valve on the lid indicates whether it’s still pressurized.

For multicookers that can replace an air fryer, there’s often an additional lid required, although Ninja has recently launched models that are capable of all the functions without switching to a secondary lid. But whether it’s a separate lid or the same one, they work in much the same way as the best air fryers, by using a powerful element and fan. These work in conjunction to create fast, even heat that’s very efficient at dry cooking methods like air fry, roast, and broil/ grill. And can be used to create perfect crunchy fries, roast beef, or just to heat up some frozen chicken nuggets.

They usually come with an air fry basket which allows the air to circulate around the food for optimum crisping.  And if you’re just cooking small portions of frozen foods, instead of preheating your whole oven you can save energy by using the air fry function in a multicooker, as there’s no need to preheat and it’ll often cook the food quicker.

If you’re new to multi cookers, they can seem a bit daunting at first, but the more you cook with it, the more you’ll see the value in this one-pot cooker. And there are huge communities of multicooker fans online who have created recipes specifically designed for these appliances. So if you’re stuck for inspiration or don’t know how long to cook things for, there are plenty of mouth-watering recipes to get you started.

• Check out these great cheap instant pot deals

Amazon has slashed 17% off the price of the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid multicooker OL750UK, reducing it from £299.99 to just £249.00. That’s the same price we saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday for this Instant Port alternative, making it great value. (Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot and multicooker deals in your region.) 

The best Instant Pots and multicookers are an ideal space-saving gadget, as they offer a multitude of cooking methods in one appliance, ensuring your kitchen countertop doesn’t get cluttered. However, they can be a costly purchase, so a good deal is always welcome.

The Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid multicooker OL750UK has a capacity of 7.5 litres and can hold enough food for four to six people. It can pressure-cook, slow-cook, steam, make yogurt, sear/sauté, bake/roast, broil, dehydrate, and keep foods warm, and unlike Instant Pot cookers it doesn’t require an additional lid to air-fry. 

Today's best Ninja multicooker deals in the UK

Unlike previous Ninja Foodi multi cookers, this version, which was only launched in late 2021, includes a handy new steam-air-fry function that introduces steam when air-frying to keep foods moist and succulent, while still ensuring they cook quickly with a crisp finish. On test, we found this was particularly effective for cooking steak. 

Along with the bundled meat thermometer, which will indicate the internal temperature of the meat, so you know exactly when it's cooked to your liking, it makes cooking this indulgent treat a breeze.  

More Instant Pot and Ninja multicooker deals

You can see all of today’s best Instant Pot and multicooker deals in your region below 

• Prefer fries? Then check out these great air fryer deals

The best Instant Pots and the array of alternatives, such as the Ninja Foodi range of multi-cookers, are extremely handy kitchen gadgets, as they offer an array of different cooking methods in one appliance. From slow cooking a stew to pressure cooking meats so they fall off the bone, multi-cookers can have a variety of functions making them one of the most versatile kitchen appliances around.

Some of the newer and even more versatile multi-cookers feature air fry lids, so they can be used to make fries as well as grill/ broil meats and even bake cakes. But would you risk putting an expensive cut of meat, such as a juicy steak, in a multi-cooker?

Ordinarily we’d say don’t do it, as steaks need to be watched constantly, which isn’t possible when you’re using an Instant Pot. However, the recently-launched Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker includes a thermometer that works alongside dedicated programs to cook meat exactly how you’d like it. So does this mean you can cook a juicy steak perfectly with very little fuss?  

Want to get your hands on a Ninja Foodi or Instant Pot even without finding out how well this model cooked steak? Then check out the best deals we've found on the web right now. 

Seriously simple

Whether you prefer a medium rare steak or a beautifully blush lamb chop, it can be tricky to judge when your meat is cooked to perfection. We’ve all heard pressing the meat and comparing the firmness to various parts of your hand can be a simple way to tell whether it's ready. But I for one, have never found these methods reliable and always end up cutting into the meat to see how pink it is inside - which ruins the presentation of the food.

However, the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker, which is known as the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid in the US, comes with a meat thermometer, which will indicate the internal temperature of the meat, so you know exactly when it's cooked to your liking. 

The meat probe sits neatly in its own little compartment on the side of the Ninja Foodi, so all we had to do was plug one end into the lid and the other end into the steak. Although rather than inserting the probe into the top, the manual advised I push the probe through the side of the steak rather than the top and also to ensure that the tip is in the middle of the steak, or the middle of the thickest part, to get an accurate reading.

As suggested in the manual, I brushed the steak with oil and popped it in the air fry basket before selecting the air fry function. Next it was just a case of choosing how I wanted it cooked - there are nine options to choose from ranging from rare to well done. 

I selected medium rare, closed the lid and let the Ninja take care of the rest. It was a relief to know that I didn’t have to watch it, poke it, or cut into it. All I had to do was wait for the beep that would tell us it was cooked, it really doesn’t get much easier. Plus, it meant I could concentrate on perfecting the side dishes while the steak was cooking.

So, was the steak cooked to perfection? 

The steak took eight minutes, after which I removed it and allowed it to rest, covered a plate for four minutes as recommended in the instruction manual. When I sliced it in half, I was delighted to discover that the steak was indeed medium rare – I got exactly what I ordered. 

I was even more pleased to discover that the strip of fat running down one side had rendered well, creating a crisp and juicy texture that is usually tricky to achieve in a pan. I often spend ages holding the steak on its side with tongs so that the fat is pressed into the pan, otherwise it just doesn’t cook properly.

During cooking, the Ninja doesn’t determine the cook time based on preset timings. Instead, it uses the probe to monitor the temperature in the center of the meat. It figures out how well-cooked your meat is based on this temperature reading. One of the biggest drawbacks with this method of cooking is that you don’t know exactly when the meat will be finished cooking, so it can be tricky to work out the timings for the rest of the meal. Although I think after you’ve used it a few times for your favorites, you’ll get a pretty good idea how long they take.

If you’re cooking more than one steak and you want them cooked to different levels, the Ninja instructions say to put all the steaks in and set up cooking for the least well done. Once this steak is cooked you have to remove it and transfer the probe to the next steak, resetting the program to how you want this steak cooked. 

This probably won’t be the best cooking method to use if one of you wants a rare steak and the other wants theirs well done. Because the rare steak will be cooked far quicker than the well done one. It’s also worth avoiding cuts of meat that are an uneven thickness, otherwise you’ll have perfect results in the thickest part, but the rest is likely to be more cooked than you’d like.

As I’ve mentioned above, there are a few drawbacks, and this won’t be the right choice for everyone. But I was really pleased with my steak, and I definitely think this new Ninja makes it easy to get your meat cooked right, so for a lot of people it’ll take the stress out of cooking and give you the perfect results every time.

I can’t wait to try it for lamb chops, these usually spit fat all over my stove, so the idea of containing that mess inside the Ninja sounds dreamy. I’m also intrigued to try a small roast beef, this is another expensive cut of meat that can be tricky to get right and I suspect my Ninja might be the answer.

• Check out these great Instant Pot deals you can buy right now

One-minute review

Ninja is a brand that prides itself in its ability to continually innovate and come up with solutions to some of your biggest kitchen frustrations. It’s already a go-to brand for some of the best Instant Pot alternatives, but its new range of SmartLid multi-cookers has taken the already versatile kitchen appliance to the next level.

The Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker is known as the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 6.5 quart Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid in the US. The two models are very similar, but the US model has additional proof and sous vide functions and comes with a cook and crisp plate instead of a basket.

The slider on the lid has three positions, each one unlocking different functions, so it’s always correctly sealed for the cooking function you’re using, it couldn’t be simpler. And not content with the innovative new lid, Ninja has also introduced new combination steam functions that mean you can steam and crisp at the same time for the juiciest results.

This model is the smallest in the range, but at 6 litre / 6.5 quart it’ll still be big enough for four-person households. And while it’s still an expensive multi-cooker, it’s cheaper than the most premium model in this range, but it does lack the meat probe and the automatic steam release as well as some of the cooking functions that you get with the top-of-the-range model in the Ninja SmartLid multi-cooker line-up. 

It’s a great multi-cooker that produced excellent results during testing, it’s very easy to use and really would suit most people looking for a multi-cooker that can also air fry and bake, but if you’re on a budget there are less expensive options so long as you’re happy to switch lids.

Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker price and availability

•  List price: £229.99 / $279.99 

As we mentioned above the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker is known as the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 6.5 quart Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid in the US, and it’ll set you back £229.99 / $279.99. It’s available from the Ninja Kitchen website in both the US and the UK. 

This is the smallest and least expensive of the innovative SmartLid range of multi-cookers from Ninja. However, it is still an expensive option. The Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker, which is known as the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid in the US, is the most expensive model in the line-up at £299.99 / $349.99. 

Design

• One lid for all functions
• Simple interface
• Large footprint

It might be the smallest multi-cooker in the range but the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker isn’t exactly petite. It measures 33 x 35 x 36cm  /13.07 x 14.21 x 15.39 inches (h x w x d) and at 10.9kg / 24 lb it’s not light either, so you won’t want to move it in and out of a cupboard every day.

This SmartLid range from Ninja utilizes a slider on the lid with three positions, and it allows you to select cooking functions based on the position of the slider. This ensures the lid is always correctly locked or unlocked for the function you’re using.

The UK model has 11 cooking functions: pressure, steam air fry, steam bake, air fry, grill, bake, dehydrate, sear/ sauté, steam, slow cook and yogurt. The US model has all of the same cooking functions plus proof and sous vide.

The removable cooking pot has a non-stick coating to make it easy to clean but it’s also dishwasher safe. The other accessories are also dishwasher safe and include a reversible rack and a Cook & Crisp basket in the UK or Cook & Crisp plate in the US.

We found the menus and settings very intuitive to use. It doesn’t have preset programs for different foods or meals, but instead comes with a recipe booklet that includes cooking charts detailing how best to cook all of your favorite foods.

Performance

• New combi steam functions
• Crisps well
• Easy to clean

We used several different cooking methods and made some delicious meals with this easy-to-use appliance.

We started off by making chunky fries using the air fry function. One of the great things about this multi-cooker is that it comes with lots of cooking charts giving advice on times and settings, so we followed the suggestion for chunky fries and set it for 22 minutes. During cooking, we turned and stirred the fries three times to help with browning. At the end of the 22 minutes, we added an additional three minutes to increase the browning to our liking which gave us deliciously crisp fries with fluffy centers.

To steam broccoli, we again followed the advice in the cooking chart, adding water to the pot and putting our broccoli florets on the reversible rack. The rack is fine for chunky veg but won’t work for smaller pieces as they’ll fall through. We set it to steam for six minutes, there was a seven-minute preheat but after the 13 minute total cook time, the broccoli was perfectly cooked and al dente. During cooking, steam vents out of the back of the appliance so it’s best to be near a cooker hood or window, if you place it under a shelf or wall cupboard you’ll get condensation collecting from all the steam.

Cooking brown basmati rice to the perfect texture was easy. The cooking chart didn’t let us down, giving the perfect time for pressure-cooked rice, but you may need to experiment if you want to make more or less than the suggested quantity. Setting it to pressure cook on high was easy, it preheated for seven and a half minutes, then cooked for a further seven minutes. The chart suggests a delayed pressure release so we left it for 10 minutes before flicking the valve into the vent position which quickly released any remaining steam. The 25 minute cook time is only slightly longer than cooking it on the stove, but the results were perfect and it’s nice not to have to watch over it.

We utilised the pressure cooker again to make a Thai red curry, browning chicken legs first using the sauté function. The base of the pot isn’t flat, and we noticed that all of the oil settles around the outer edges, meaning we had to place the chicken at the edges to ensure it was fried in the oil. This was probably the biggest downside while using this appliance. That said, the chicken browned well and it’s not too much of a problem if you keep moving and stirring your ingredients. 

Once the rest of the curry ingredients were in the pot, we set it to pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. The preheat was nine minutes and at the end of cooking, we flicked the pressure release valve to the vent position which took three and half minutes and registered 77dB on our decibel meter, which is equivalent to the sound a car traveling at 65mph makes. 

The pressure release is easy but does involve putting your hands near the area where the steam is released, you can make this safer by using tongs to move the valve. The chicken was beautifully cooked and fell off the bone at the end of cooking.

To make a slow-cooked chili we used the sauté function again to brown the beef and vegetables before setting it to slow cook on high for six hours. The chili thickened up significantly during cooking, giving us a rich and tasty dinner for very little effort.

Finally, we had a go with the new steam air fry function which claims to crisp foods as well as steam to keep them moist and succulent. Following the suggestions in the cooking chart, we added water to the pot and placed two skin-on chicken breasts onto the rack. The steam preheat took six minutes and then it started counting down our 20 minute cook time. 

Like when using the steam only function it emits lots of steam from the vent at the back and the noise level is similar to air frying. The sides of the lid reached 45 C  /113 F, which is the hottest temperature we recorded on the exterior of this appliance during any of our tests, for the most part it stays cool enough to touch. At the end of cooking the chicken was moist and succulent on the inside but with very crisp golden skin on top, an excellent result.

Should I buy the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker?

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One-minute review

Ninja offers some of the best Instant Pot alternatives on the market, and despite having only launched its first multicooker with air frying capabilities in 2018, Ninja has continued to innovate and now come up with a whole new design that’s more convenient than ever.

The Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker is known as the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt. Smart XL Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid in the US and, to confuse matters more, it's called the Ninja Foodi Smartlid 14-in-1 7.5L Multi Cooker in Australia. All three versions differ slightly in terms of the functions on offer but for the most part, they’re the same.

One of the biggest new features that stands out is the SmartLid, which comes with a built-in thermometer so you can monitor the temperature of meats and fish and adjust it to automatically produce anything from rare to well-done results.

The UK model has 15 functions while the US and Australian models have 14, with all three offering the typical culinary options such as pressure cook, slow cook, and steam as well as air fry and bake. However, for the first time, there’s also an option to combine steam and browning for crisp foods that stay juicy on the inside. 

With all these features, this new Ninja multi-cooker offers far more than even the most premium model available from Instant Pot. It’s a top-performing multi-cooker that excelled in our tests. The large capacity makes it perfect for bigger households, but everyone should be able to cook up a storm in this innovative appliance.

Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker price and availability

•   List price: £299.99 / $349.99 / AU$549

The Ninja Foodi Max SmartLid Multi-Cooker retails for $349.99 / £299.99 / AU$549. It’s available from the Ninja Kitchen website in the US, the UK and Australia. 

It’s the most expensive multicooker we’ve reviewed to date but it’s also the most advanced and innovative model, not only from Ninja but across the board. It’s worth noting that there are a couple of smaller models in this range that are less expensive, check out our review of the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker (known as the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 6.5qt. Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid in the US) which lacks some of the features seen in this model but still has some and is less expensive.

Design

• Automatic steam release
• Built-in temperature probe
• Dishwasher safe accessories

There are plenty of things to love about the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 SmartLid Multi-Cooker but the size and weight isn’t one of them. It measures 36 x 35 x 36cm / 14.25 x 14.21 x 15.39 inches (h x w x d) although this chunky size can be forgiven somewhat due to the large cooking capacity. The 7.5 litre / 8-quart cooking pot allows plenty of space for large recipes and batch cooking. At 11.7kg / 25.8 lb you won’t want to move it too regularly, so it’s best if you can find a permanent space for it on the countertop.

In addition to the main cooking pot, it comes with a two-tier reversible cooking rack and a crisping basket, all of which are dishwasher safe. The cooking pot is non-stick which makes it easy to clean even if you don’t have a dishwasher. There’s a digital cooking probe stored in a little compartment on the side, ready to be put to use when needed. Once the probe is plugged into the lid you can choose either the beef, pork, lamb, fish, or chicken preset and then also choose from nine levels of cooking which range from rare up to well done, allowing the cooker to create the perfect results for you. But if you prefer a more hands-on approach, there’s a manual setting that allows you to choose your target temperature.

It’s super easy to use thanks to three automatic steam release settings when pressure cooking. This makes the steam release process completely hands-free which is a dream if you’re nervous about this part of pressure cooking or just don’t want to have to think about it.

The lid has a slider to switch between the pressure function, combi-steam, and air fry/ hob plus all other functions. It doesn’t allow you to select a function unless the slider is in the correct position. This ensures the lid is correctly sealed for each cooking method.

The UK model has 15 different cooking functions, which are: pressure, air fry, grill, bake, dehydrate, prove, sear/ sauté, steam, slow cook, yogurt, steam meals, steam air fry, steam roast, steam bake, and steam bread as well as a keep-warm function. The US model doesn’t offer the steam meals, steam roast or steam bread functions, but does have a sous vide function instead. And the Aussie model misses out only on the steam roast option.

Aside from the probe presets mentioned above, there are no other presets for different meals and foods, but it does come with a recipe book that includes lots of cooking charts for common foods, providing a really useful starting point.

Performance

• Excellent fries
• Useful cooking charts
• Easy pressure cooking

This multicooker is easy to use and we found the cooking timetables that come in the box proved helpful and accurate.

First up we steamed some broccoli using the steam function and the reversible rack. We followed the instructions for the amount of water and set it to steam for eight minutes. The broccoli florets were big enough to fit on the rack, but smaller vegetables might fall through. It took seven minutes to preheat, so the total time was 15 minutes. The cooked broccoli was the perfect al dente texture. During cooking there is some noise from the fan and quite a lot of steam is ejected out of a vent at the back. So it’s worth thinking about where you place it, because if it’s under a shelf or cupboard, you might get condensation forming.

For pressure-cooked brown basmati rice, we followed the weight and time detailed in the cooking chart. The cook time was seven minutes with a nine-minute preheat and then an automatic delayed pressure release which took 10 minutes. So the total cook time was 26 minutes which is only a few minutes longer than it usually takes on the stove. The finished rice was perfectly cooked and with the automatic pressure release, it was very hands-off and far more convenient than watching it as it boils in a pot.

We made a slow-cooked beef chili which we cooked on the slow cooker setting for six hours on high, making use of the sauté function to brown the beef and vegetables before slow cooking. The only frustrating part was that the cooking pot isn’t completely flat, it’s higher in the middle so the oil naturally falls to the edges of the pot while sautéing, otherwise, it works well. The beef chili thickened much more in this multicooker than when we’ve made it in others and the result was a flavorsome meal with soft meat and a rich thick sauce. The finished temperature was 89ºC / 192ºF

Again, we used the recommendations in the cooking chart when making thick-cut fries using the air fry function. The fries were cooked to perfection with fluffy insides and crisp outsides in just 22 minutes at 200ºC / 390ºF. We cooked them in the air fry basket and stirred twice for more even results. 

To try out the meat thermometer, we air-fried a sirloin steak. Once the thermometer is in place, it’s just a matter of selecting your preference, in this case medium rare, and then the Ninja does the rest. It monitors the temperature in the center of the steak until it’s cooked to perfection. Our medium-rare steak cooked exactly as we hoped. The fat on the side had rendered well and had a deliciously crisp texture. If you struggle to cook the perfect steak, you’ll love this feature.

Before pressure cooking a Thai red curry, we browned chicken legs using the sauté function on the highest of the five heat settings. There’s no preheat time when sautéing, although it does take a few minutes to start sizzling. Once all the ingredients were in the pot, we set it to pressure cook on high for 20 minutes and selected auto quick pressure release. 

The preheat took 10 minutes and at the end, the automatic pressure release took a further four. So in just 34 minutes, we had a delicious Thai curry with moist tender chicken that was falling off the bone. The pressure release registered 81dB on our sound meter which was the loudest of all the cooking modes we tried. This is similar to a truck travelling down the road at 40mph, but as it’s only for a short time it didn’t really bother us.

Lastly, we had a go with one of the new innovative combi-steam functions, steam air fry. It steams food at the same time as browning it so that it doesn’t dry out. We placed two skin-on chicken breasts on the reversible rack, followed the cooking chart for times and amount of water in the pot, and set it going for 20 minutes. 

There was a six-and-a-half-minute preheat before it started counting down the 20 minutes on the timer, and as with steaming, a lot of steam is vented out of the back during cooking. But we were impressed with the finished chicken. The skin was super crisped while the meat underneath remained succulent and very moist and it was thoroughly cooked through. The metal part of the lid reached 55ºC / 131ºF during cooking which was the hottest temperature we measured on the outside of this multicooker during any of the tests. Most of the time the exterior was comfortable to touch regardless of the cooking function we were using.

Should I buy the Ninja Foodi Max 15-in-1 Smartlid Multi-Cooker?

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Instant Pot's appliances can be pretty pricey, especially its flagship multicookers, but luckily, Black Friday deals make it possible for you to get them for much less. Even the best Instant Pots are guaranteed discounts on the biggest sale event of the year. Previously, we've seen a boatload of deals up to 43% off in both the US and the UK, making the wait truly worth it.

Black Friday has officially landed today (November 24), and retailers like Best Buy in the US and Currys in the UK are thriving with deals and offers, with more retailers following suit over Black Friday weekend. 

Here, we'll be listing all the best Instant Pot Black Friday deals we find during the event, whether you're looking for the best air fryer, the best coffee maker, or a multicooker for the holidays. For now though, we have shared everything you need to know about this year's event below, including what the best bargains are and taking a look back at last year's top sales. 

Black Friday Instant Pot deals - quick links (US)

• Amazon: decent discounts on many Instant Pot models 
• Best Buy: price cuts on some Instant Pot products
• Kohls: many Instant Pot models available
• Walmart: Instant Pot deals up to $149 off
• Target: many Instant Pot models available

Best early Black Friday Instant Pot deals in the US

Black Friday Instant Pot deals - quick links UK

• Amazon UK: some Instant Pot models on sale up to 30% off
• Argos: affordable Instant Pots available now
• Robert Dyas: some deals on select Instant Pot cookers   

Best early Black Friday Instant Pot deals in the UK

Black Friday Instant Pot deals 2023: FAQs

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One-minute review

The first Instant Pot launched a decade ago, and since then the brand has become the go-to name when it comes to multi-cookers. Not only do these kitchen appliances offer a way to speed up cooking times, as well as offering a multitude of cooking methods, you’ll also find thousands of recipes and cooking tips available online, created by its community of followers to make these multi-cookers even more user friendly.

There’s a wide array of models vying for the crown of the best Instant Pot, the latest being the Instant Pot Duo Plus. It builds on the Instant Pot Duo Nova, with a quick steam release button and the EasySeal lid which automatically seals the pot for pressure cooking. You’ll also get a clearer screen and the addition of a sous-vide function. 

The Duo Plus is available in three different capacities: 3 quart/ 3 liter, 6 quart/ 5.7 liter, and 8 quart/ 8 liter, although the smallest version is only available in the US, making it suitable for most households no matter how many people you need to feed. It has 15 cooking programs, these are a mixture of preset programs for various food types and customizable cooking functions such as slow cook, sauté, sous vide, and pressure cook.

At $119.99/ £99.99 it's ever-so-slightly more expensive than the same capacity Duo Nova and is a good choice if you want the quick steam release button and EasySeal lid, but don’t want the array of preset founds on the pricier Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus or the Instant Pot Pro. This does mean you will need to experiment a bit more with cooking times, or head online and delve into the thousands of recipes from the Instant Pot community, but we think it’s still good value for money. 

Instant Pot Duo Plus price and availability

•  List price: $119.99/ £99.99 

The Instant Pot Duo Plus will set you back $119.99/ £99.99 for the 6 quart/5.7-liter capacity or $139.99/ £139.99 for the bigger 8 quart/8-liter version. The  3-quart  / 3-liter capacity is $99.95, but this model isn’t available in the UK. All sizes are available directly through Amazon in the US and UK. It’s not currently on sale in Australia. 

As we mentioned earlier, it’s the most affordable Instant Pot that features the quick steam release button and is an upgrade on the Instant Pot Duo Nova which is also available in Australia and costs $99.99/ £119.99/ AUS $269 

Design

• Dishwasher safe parts
• Easy steam venting
• Easy to customize time and temperature settings

We reviewed the 6 quart/ 5.7 liter capacity Instant Pot Duo Plus and the size and footprint is similar to the other Instant Pots of this size. It measures 12.9 x 12.2 x 13.4 inches/ 33.5 x 31 x 33cm and the US model weighs in at 11.5 pounds while the UK version weighs 5.6kg. Generally speaking, these appliances are designed to stay on your countertop, but this one isn’t too heavy to lift in and out of a cupboard if you prefer to hide it away. Plus, all the accessories including the power cord fit inside the pot, making it neater to store.

The cooking functions available include pressure cook, slow cook, sous vide, yogurt, and sauté. The other settings are smart pressure cook programs for cake, egg, soup/broth, rice, bean/grain, porridge/ oatmeal and a sterilize program. Every setting has customizable time and temperature or pressure options. There’s also a keep warm mode that can be switched on at the start of cooking, so if you’re not around when it ends, it’ll keep your food warm. Additionally, the delayed start gives you the option to delay the start of cooking so that your meal finishes right at dinner time – a useful function that means it can start cooking while you’re out at work.

As we’ve already mentioned, when the lid is on and locked into the closed position, the EasySeal design means the steam release valve automatically seals ready for pressure cooking, so the only time you’ll need to think about it, is if you’re using one of the non-pressure cooking functions that require it to be in the vent position. After pressure cooking, to release the steam it’s just an easy flick of a switch to go from sealed to venting, so you don’t have to put your hand close to the steam valve, a nice design that takes the stress out of releasing the pressure.

A tab on the lid slots into the handle so you don’t have to put the lid on the countertop if you don’t want to, which is a simple but handy little feature. In the box, you’ll also get a spare sealing ring and a steaming rack. All accessories including the lid can go in the dishwasher for super easy cleaning.

Performance

• Fuss-free pressure cooking
• Easy to clean
• Lid gets hot

Pressure-cooked rice was the first thing we prepared in this Instant Pot. We consulted the rice and grain cooking timetable on the Instant Pot website, and based on the quantity of brown rice, the suggested cook time was 20-22 minutes with a rice to water ratio of 1:1. Since the Duo Plus has a Rice preset, we used this and just bumped up the time to 22 minutes. 

It took just under seven minutes to preheat, and the instruction manual recommended a 10 minute natural pressure release, so the total cook time was 39 minutes. The end result was nicely cooked rice, not too sticky and while the cook time is longer than on the stove, the convenience comes from not having to watch over it.

A Thai red curry was our next recipe, we used the sauté function to brown the chicken legs, which keeps all the flavor in the pot and saves washing extra dishes. There are three sauté temperatures to choose from and it took five minutes to preheat to the highest temperature. Once we’d added the rest of the ingredients, we set it to pressure cook on high for 20 minutes. The preheat took ten and a half minutes and at the end, we flicked the switch to depressurize the pot, this took just two and a half minutes. 

The chicken was pleasingly tender and succulent, falling off the bone and at 210oF/ 99oC, was certainly cooked through. In just 33 minutes the curry was perfectly cooked and flavorsome.

Steam release is the noisiest part of using the Instant Pot but at 72dB it’s the equivalent sound level of a dishwasher mid-cycle, which is acceptable. During cooking, the sides of the pot stayed at a comfortable 99 F/ 37 C and the handles stayed cool too, but the metal part of the lid reached 185oF/ 85oC, so care must be taken not to touch this area.

We used the sauté function again, this time to brown ground beef for a slow cooked chili. The stainless-steel pot isn’t non-stick so some of the beef did stick to it, but as soon as we added stock in preparation for slow cooking, the stuck meat came away from the pot with ease. The chili bubbled away for six hours on the high slow cooker setting and the finished dish had the perfect texture as well as a deliciously deep flavor – the kind you only get from a long slow cook. The temperature of the cooked chili was 185 F/ 85 C.

This Instant Pot lacks the steam setting that many other Instant Pots have, so to cook broccoli, pressure cooking was the only option. The Instant Pot website has a cooking timetable for vegetables which advises adding one cup / 237 ml of water to the pot and putting the vegetables in a steel bowl on the steam rack. 

We set it to pressure cook on low for the advised one minute. The preheat took six minutes and the quick steam release took just 45 seconds. The broccoli on the top was nicely cooked and al dente, but the florets underneath were undercooked. So while increasing the time slightly would help, you might get more even results if you purchased a steamer basket separately.

Should I buy the Instant Pot Duo Plus?

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First reviewed: October 2021

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Instant Pots are extremely popular kitchen appliances that allow you to cook some of your family favorites like stews, casseroles, and tender ribs. They offer a multitude of cooking methods and can speed up cooking times, too.

So it's no surprise, you’ll find one of the best Instant Pots in more than a quarter of US homes, according to research by Kerry, a food science and nutrition firm. A versatile addition to your kitchen, an Instant Pot allows you to pressure cook, slow cook, steam and sauté. Some models can be used to make yogurt, sous vide, and even replace one of the best air fryers, so there are plenty of reasons why this simple cooking appliance can earn a valued spot on your kitchen countertop. 

One of the biggest draws of an Instant Pot is the pressure cook function, which speeds up cooking times and, in many cases, ensures you’ll have tender meat that falls off the bone in under 30 minutes. But you may be wondering, does this intense pressurized cooking use more, or less electricity than you’d use making meals in your oven? We put it to the test to find out. 

Fancy grabbing yourself an Instant Pot now rather than finding out how much electricity they use? We've rounded up the best prices on the web. 

Under pressure

First off, we must admit that this isn’t an easy calculation. Not all ovens are the same, some are more efficient than others and that’s before you take into account the cavity size and how well insulated the oven is. Even if we could hook up an electricity meter to a household oven, they vary so much that it wouldn’t be representative of all ovens.

So we’ve made a few assumptions in order to figure out the best way to compare Instant Pots to ovens.The average size single built-in wall oven in the UK with an A energy rating uses around 0.8Kwh of electricity per hour when used at around 356 F / 180 C. Keep in mind that UK ovens are typically smaller than US ovens, they usually have a capacity of around 2.5 cubic feet / 70 liters, whereas US ovens in a standard 30 inch range have an average capacity of 5 cubic feet/ 140 liters which means they will use more energy.

So, to figure out how much energy an Instant Pot uses, we hooked up the Instant Pot Pro Crisp - the brand’s top-of-the-range model - to an energy meter and got cooking. First, we prepared two racks of baby back ribs in the Instant Pot on high for 25 minutes. The pressure cooker took seven minutes to preheat so the total cook time was actually 32 minutes. It used 0.26Kwh of electricity and gave us beautifully succulent and tender ribs falling off the bone. 

The same ribs cooked in the oven on low take around three hours. As the oven was at  230 F / 110 C we halved the 0.8Kwh figure for electricity consumption. This gives us a total of 1.2Kwh estimated electricity use if cooked in the oven for three hours. By our calculations, cooking the ribs in the oven on low uses around four and a half times the amount of electricity than pressure cooking them in the Instant Pot. 

We admit that after pressure cooking you might want to grill/ broil the ribs for a short time smothered in BBQ sauce to create the perfect result – but adding that would just complicate the calculations and the ribs are perfectly delicious without this step, you can coat them in sauce and eat immediately.

What about slow cooking?

Alongside pressure cooking, slow cooking is another of the Instant Pot’s multitude of cooking methods, but is using an Instant Pot for this method of cooking more energy-efficient too? We whipped up a beef chili in both appliances to find out. 

The chili was bubbling away on the high setting in the Instant Pot for six hours and used just 0.31kwh of electricity. However, cooking the chili in the oven at a low temperature for six hours would use a total of 2.4Kwh, as we once again halved the average usage of 0.8kwh to reflect the oven was used at just 230 F / 110 C. 

Based on our crude calculations, an oven would use a staggering eight times more electricity than an Instant Pot to slow cook a chili for six hours. We suspected the Instant Pot would win in this competition, but this difference is mind-blowing. And if you have a bigger or less efficient oven, this difference will grow significantly, meaning the Instant Pot could potentially save you even more money.

We’ve been quite conservative in our estimates of how much electricity an oven would use, it’s highly likely that most ovens would use far more electricity than the figures stated above. But despite us giving best case scenario figures for the amount of power used by an oven, the Instant Pot is still the clear winner, by miles. 

Just how much money you’re likely to save on your electricity bill will depend on your tariff, but there’s no denying that if you switched some of your oven-cooked meals to an Instant Pot, you would save money - it’s a very efficient little countertop cooking appliance. 

But watch out for the automatic keep warm function, if this kicks in after cooking and you leave it for several hours, the energy consumption will obviously increase. Having said that, it would have to be in keep warm mode for a very long time, to get anywhere near the amount of energy used by an oven just to cook the meal in the first place.

• Check out even more great Instant Pot deals

One-minute review

Since its launch in 2010 Instant Pot has developed a cult following of loyal multi-cooker fans who swear by the benefits of this one-pot multi-function cooking appliance. And with several versions now available, it is sometimes difficult to tell what distinguishes one Instant Pot from another. 

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp is the brand’s top-of-the-range model, and is one of only two designs that come with an air fryer lid. This means you can air fry, bake broil (grill) and roast as well as all the usual multi-cooker functions like pressure cook, slow cook, steam and sauté, and makes it a contender for our best Instant Pot list.

The most expensive Instant Pot currently available, it's a slight upgrade on the Instant Pot Duo Crisp. They both have the same eleven cooking functions, same 8 quart/ 8-liter capacity, and the same accessories included in the box. However, the Instant Pot Pro Crisp comes with silicone handles on the cooking pot for easy lifting, and has a number of features to make releasing the steam and pressure much simpler. 

The Pro Crisp also has a bigger LED display screen that features a cooking progress bar, plus there’s a dial for easier time and temperature customization. The air fry function means there are two separate lids to store, so it’s bulkier than a standard multi-cooker, but it benefits from several extra cooking functions and you’ll save storage space by not having a stand-alone air fryer. 

In terms of performance, like all Instant Pots, it’s easy to create delicious meals in this appliance and the large capacity means it’s ideal for larger households. The lack of a recipe book and cooking charts means you’ll have to head to the app or online for recipe inspiration. But with an army of loyal fans, there’s no shortage of cooking suggestions online.

Instant Pot Pro Crisp price and availability

•  List price: $249.99/ £249.99 

The Instant Pot Pro Crisp will set you back $249.99/ £249.99 and is available directly through the Instant Home website in the US or Instant Brands in the UK. It’s not currently on sale in Australia. 

It’s one of only two Instant Pot multi-cookers that are available with air fry lids and as detailed above it features some upgrades that make it more expensive than the otherwise similar Instant Pot Duo Crisp, which is also available in Australia and costs $199.99/ £179.99/ AU$299.99.

Design

• Large 8 quart/ 8 liter capacity
• Stainless steel cooking pot with silicone handles
• Easy steam release switch

With its black finish and larger LED display screen the Instant Pot Pro Crisp certainly looks more premium than the more affordable Instant Pot Duo Crisp. While the large 8 quart/ 8 liter capacity is great for feeding a crowd, it does impact the overall size. This chunky multi-cooker measures in at 14.17 x 14.24 x 14.78 inches/ 36 x 36.2 x 37.5cm (h x w x d) and with the air fryer lid on it’s even taller. It weighs 26.2 lbs./ 11.88 kg so it’s a bit cumbersome to lift in and out of a cupboard and is designed to stay on the countertop.

As we’ve already mentioned, it comes with a standard multi-cooker lid for pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, sous vide, and steam. This lid automatically seals for pressure cooking when you lock it into position and there’s a simple switch on top to vent the steam. For bake, broil/ grill, roast, dehydrate, and air fry you have to switch to the air fryer lid which contains a heating element and turns the multi-cooker into a mini oven.

Each cooking mode has customizable time and temperature settings with the option to engage a keep warm function at the end of cooking, which will keep food warm for up to ten hours. Additionally, there’s a delay start timer so that you can throw all your ingredients into the pot and set it to start cooking at a specified time, so that your meal is ready when you get home.

In the box, you get an air fryer basket, a multi-functional rack, grill/ dehydrating tray, and protective pad/ storage cover. Everything excluding the base of the multi-cooker and the air fryer lid is dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.

Performance

• Easy to use
• Fast steam release
• Sides stay cool to touch

To test out how well the Instant Pot Pro Crisp can cook a variety of dishes, we started with a slow-cooked beef chili. The sauté function allows you to brown meat and onions in the pot before slow cooking and keeping everything in the same pot means there’s minimal mess and clean up. 

It took just over four and a half minutes to preheat to the correct temperature to sauté and while the meat browned nicely, the stainless-steel cooking pot isn’t non-stick so there was some sticking. Thankfully this didn’t matter as any stuck residue was released from the pot during the six-hour slow cook. The end result was a flavorsome meaty chili with a temperature of 167 F/ 75 C.

It took us several attempts to figure out the best way to steam broccoli, the instruction manual states that the steam release switch should be set to vent when using the steam program. During our first two attempts, it didn’t get further than the preheat stage before it had completely boiled dry and we had to abandon the test.

Finally, we set the steam release to ‘seal’ - programmed it for one minute and after preheating for just over four minutes, it completed the one-minute cook and we then flicked the switch to vent which took just 30 seconds. The broccoli was a little too al dente and so we would cook it for longer next time, but it had finally worked and we figured out that the steam release needs to be set to ‘seal’ for this program. 

It’s also worth noting that the multi-functional rack provided with the Instant Pot isn’t suitable for steaming vegetables, so we had to put the broccoli in a metal tray on top of the rack, but this worked fine.

We didn’t have any issues when pressure cooking a Thai red curry, after browning chicken legs using the sauté function it took just 20 minutes on high pressure to make a delicious curry with succulent meat that was falling off the bone. The pressure cook function took six and a half minutes to pre-heat and just two minutes to release the pressure at the end of cooking. 

The pressure release is the noisiest part of the process coming in at 77dB, which is equivalent to a toilet flushing, and one of the noisier Instant Pots we’ve tested. The lid reached 140 F/ 60 C during cooking, but the sides and handles all stay cool enough to touch.

To get some advice on cook time and rice to water ratios we headed to the Instant pot website where we found a useful cooking chart for rice. It advises a 1:1 ratio of rice to water for brown rice and past experience tells us that this is 1:1 by volume not weight. We set the pressure cooker to 22 minutes and after a four and a half minute preheat and one minute quick pressure release, the total cook time was 27.5 minutes. The rice was nicely cooked but a little sticker than we would prefer. There was also some sticking to the base of the pot, although after a short soak it wasn’t tricky to clean off.

We tried out the air fryer by making chunky fries, we added 1 tbsp oil to 17 oz/ 500g raw potato cut into fries and put them into the air fry basket. 24 minutes later (22 minute cook time plus 2 minutes to preheat) we had lightly crisped and golden fries. The Instant pot prompts you to give them a shake halfway through the cooking time. The fries were nicely cooked and much faster than oven cooking.

Should I buy the Instant Pot Pro Crisp?

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First reviewed: October 2021

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Home cooking can sometimes feel like a chore, but whether it's to save money or improve your health and wellbeing, there are dozens of reasons to make your own meals from scratch on a regular basis. 

One of the best Instant Pots can ensure that preparing meals yourself is easier and less time-consuming. However, there's a wide array of Instant Pot models to choose from, and knowing which Instant Pot to buy can be a bit daunting. 

Some offer as many as 48 presets ensuring can be used for a wide array of cooking methods. However, they will all pressure cook, steam, slow cook, and sauté. Pressure cooking can sound scary, but in actual fact, the Instant Pot makes it completely hands-free. 

You simply turn off the vent to allow the chamber to pressurize, and your meat will cook in record time. It's ideal whether you left it a bit late to defrost the chicken and have it cooked in time for dinner, or you love a slow-cooked brisket but don't want to leave your oven on for hours while it cooks.

While it's not a feature you'll find in all Instant Pots, higher-end models come with a lid to convert them into a convection cooker comparable with the best air fryers. This will mimic the flavor and texture of deep-fried food, but with a lot less fat and mess to clean away afterward. 

Deciding on which Instant Pot is for you will depend on what you’re looking for. Consider the cooking methods you'll use regularly, and those you are unlikely to make use of, as well as the number of portions you want to cook at a time. 

For many people, keeping a budget in mind will also help but also take note of how big each Instant Pot is and how much space it will take up in your home. 

Which Instant Pot should I buy for modern features? 

The Instant Pot Pro is our top choice because it's packed with smart features to make your life easier. This includes the ability to assign five favorites as presets so you can quickly start cooking your preferred meals, and a total of 28 cooking modes. While you will still get full use of all modes, these saved presets will allow you to shortcut to any modes you use on a regular basis such as as pasta, or even sterilize. 

It calls itself a ten-in-one multi-cooker, and claims to take the place of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous vide, rice/ grain cooker, food warmer, cake baker, sauté pan, sterilizer, yogurt maker, and steamer. 

While it's not the cheapest Instant Pot available, it is immensely versatile. As well as all of the presets, you can adjust the temperature and cooking time for any recipe. We're keen on the sleek black exterior and the updated lid, which will increase pre-heating by 20% when compared to other Instant Pots. 

Which Instant Pot is the best for beginners? 

Instant Pot first-timers may want to keep it simple at first, with clear and easy-to-use presets front and center. We recommend the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus for beginners. It's got an amped-up design to make steam release even safer, which is ideal for those who are intimidated by the thought of pressure cooking. The new plastic cover will prevent any splatters of steam from leaving the lid, and it also makes the process less noisy. 

Even for beginners, you'll want an Instant Pot that will allow you to experiment once you get to grips with it. The Duo Evo Plus is great for this. It has the classic settings such as Slow Cook, Sous Vide, and Pressure Cook available with buttons that line the display, so you won't have to get involved with the more specific presets for rice, stews, and even cheesecakes until you're comfortable. 

The Duo Evo Plus has 48 settings in total, and the digital display will keep you up-to-date with how your recipe is coming along. If you do want to get more experimental, there's also the Instant Pot app, although we did miss the inclusion of a recipe book when we tried it hands-on. 

Which Instant Pot should I buy on a budget? 

If you do want a more budget-friendly model, the Instant Pot Duo V2 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker is usually the best bet. It's got 14 cooking modes, which will be a little less complicated for Instant Pot beginners, and it's also a little lighter, which makes it perfect for lifting in and out of storage. 

There is no backlit display or touchscreen controls with this Instant Pot. It has buttons either side of the display for soup, beans, poultry, meat, rice, multigrain, porridge, and steam. The other programs include slow cook, pressure cook, yoghurt, and sauté. 

You can choose between a range of capacities when shopping: either three quarts, six quarts, or eight quarts. The price will go up with the size, but when we tested the six-quart model, it was the perfect size for batch-cooking. 

It's a cheaper model, but the Duo V2 7-in-1 will still let you master the art of one-pot cooking. You can sauté your onions and then add in meat and vegetables to pressure cook, locking in flavor in a short time. 

Which Instant Pot should I buy for air frying? 

The new generation of Instant Pots come with a second lid for air frying. This takes up some extra space, but will transform the way you use your air fryer. We love it for pressure cooking whole chickens and then switching them onto air fry, resulting in crispy skin and tender meat. 

For an Instant Pot that can also air fry, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Air Fryer is a great option. The air fry lid can also be used to bake and roast, meaning you could also use it to get a crispy top on a mac and cheese. 

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Air Fryer has a digital display, but it is more basic than other Instant Pots such as the Duo Evo Plus. Time and temperature can be adjusted with buttons either side of the display, and underneath, you will find modes to air fry, dehydrate, sauté, steam and more. The modes that need the air fry lid are grouped in one line to make it easy to pick the right lid for your preferred mode. 

Which Instant Pot alternative should I buy? 

If you're not dedicated to the idea of an Instant Pot, the Ninja Foodi Max 9-in-1 Multi-Cooker is a great alternative. While Instant Pots have become synonymous with multi-cooking, the Ninja Foodi multi-cooker is just as mighty. It will also be easier for some to use, too, with a less fussy display and very clear controls.

You can pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, grill, steam, sear, sauté, bake, and roast in the Foodi Max. It has an air fryer lid built onto the machine, so you need to lift it out of the way on the side hinge to use the pressure cooker. If you think you'll get more use out of the air fryer lid than the pressure cooker lid, you will enjoy being able to tuck it away when not in use. 

However, if you plan on pressure cooking and slow cooking predominantly, having to leave the air fryer lid up on its hinge will be a nuisance. 

• Check out even more great Instant Pot deals

The best Instant Pots offer a multitude of cooking methods in one appliance, enabling you to prepare a wide variety of dishes quickly and easily. However, they can be a pricey purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome.

In the UK, Amazon has slashed 35% off the price of the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker reducing it to £58.12 from £89.99. This is the lowest price we've seen for this Instant Pot, which has a 5.7-litre capacity, even beating the offers we saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.)  

Today’s best Instant Pot deal in the UK

The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is an electric pressure cooker, which as we’ve mentioned offers a host of different cooking methods. Unlike traditional pressure cookers, which are noisy and fiddly when it comes to releasing the pressure, the Instant Pot Duo 7-in1 has a quick-release button that provides a simple, safe way to release the pressure with minimal noise and mess. 

On test, we found the Instant Pot was simple to use, and produced stews and tagines with succulent and tender meat after just 20 minutes of cooking - a process with usually takes hours. However, the inner pot of the Instant Pot Duo can't be used on the hob, unlike other Instant Pot models, so you will need to sear meat and vegetables in another pan before using the appliance to cook meals. We think this compromise is worth making, considering how affordable this appliance is. 

This Instant Pot Duo has a 5.7-litre capacity – it’s also available in an 8-litre version, but this currently isn’t discounted and will set you back at £99.99.

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•  Browse even more of the latest Instant Pot deals

The best Instant Pots are versatile kitchen appliances that offer a multitude of cooking methods in one appliance, and also speed up cooking times too. However, they can be a costly purchase, so a good Instant Pot deal is always welcome.

In the UK, Amazon has slashed 35% off the price of the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1electric pressure cooker reducing it to £58.99 from £89.99. This is the lowest price we've seen for this Instant Pot, which can also slow-cook and even make yoghurt, beating the prices we saw on Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (Not in the UK? Scroll down for the best Instant Pot deals in your region.)  

 Today's best Instant Pot deal in the UK

The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1, unsurprisingly, offers seven different cooking functions including pressure cooking and slow cooking. During testing, the Instant Pot impressed us with its ability to ensure meat in tagines and chillies was soft and succulent after just 20 minutes of cooking – something that usually takes hours. 

We also found it simple to release the pressure, by pressing one button on the top of the Instant Pot. The appliance created very little steam or noise during pressure release too. 

This Instant Pot Duo has a 5.7-litre capacity – it’s also available in an 8-litre version, but this currently isn’t discounted and will set you back at £99.99. Unlike other Instant Pot models, the inner pot of the Instant Pot Duo can't be used on the hob, so you will need to sear meat and vegetables in another pan before cooking meals. That said, considering how affordable the Instant Pot Duo is compared to models that do offer this – for example, the Instant Pot Pro, which is priced at £149.99 – we think this compromise is worth making. 

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One-minute review

Ever since the first Instant Pot launched in 2010, this multi-cooker brand has continued to be a firm favorite with a loyal following, and with a varied range of easy-to-use models to choose from it’s easy to see why.

On the face of it, the Instant Pot Duo Nova is very similar to the Instant Pot Duo, with the same selection of one-touch programs, but it benefits from a steam release valve that automatically closes when you close the lid, making it even easier to use and securing it a place on our list of the best Instant Pots.

Additionally, the quick steam release switch is separate from the steam valve, and ensures you can force the pressure to be released in a safer way. There's also a progress bar on the LCD display screen to indicate the cooking status but these are minimal differences and this is reflected in the similar price tags. 

The Instant Pot Duo Nova has 15 one touch preset programs covering off the main foods you’re likely to cook in the multi-cooker, as well as various manual settings for the different functions. But it has far fewer preset programs than you’ll see on some other Instant Pots such as the more expensive Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus, which has 48 customizable presets.

The main functions available are pressure cook, steam, slow cook, saute and keep warm and it also doubles as a rice cooker and yogurt maker, ensuring the Instant Pot Duo Nova can replace several other kitchen appliances making it versatile and good value for money. With different sizes available, this is a useful multi-cooker no matter what size your family or household.

We found the Instant Pot Duo Nova very easy to use and we created some delicious meals using the pressure cook and slow cook functions, but for steaming and rice cooking we needed to experiment a bit with times and settings to get the best results. 

Although there are cook times and plenty of recipes available online, they don’t always work the same for all the Instant Pot models. They’re a good starting point but you’ll need to be comfortable with a bit of trial and error in the first few weeks of using any Instant Pot.

Instant Pot Duo Nova price and availability

•  List price: $99.99/ £119.99/ AUS $269 

The Instant Pot Duo Nova will set you back $119.99/ £119.99/ AUS $299 and is available on Amazon in the US and the UK. In Australia, it can be purchased through Corelle Brands.

This is the price for the 8-quart / 7.6-liter version. It's also available in a 6-quart/ 5.7-liter capacity for $89.99 / £99.99 / AU$269, while in the US and Australia you can pick up a 3-quart / 2.8-liter version for $79.99 / AUS189 (around £58) 

Depending on which size you buy, the Instant Pot Duo Nova is one of the most affordable Instant Pot available, aside from the Instant Pot Duo, but it still has all the main functions we’ve come to expect from an Instant Pot.

Design

• 15 smart one touch programs
• Stainless steel inner pot
• Quick release steam button

With a familiar design, the Duo Nova is instantly recognizable as an Instant Pot and as we’ve said in previous reviews, multi-cookers are not the most attractive of the kitchen counter appliances. Having said that, the stainless-steel finish gives it a reassuringly robust look.

We reviewed the 8-quart/ 7.6-liter model which measures 14.5 x 13.5 x 14.8 inches/ 36.8 x 34.3 x 37.6cm (h x w x d) and is a similar size to other large capacity multi-cookers we’ve reviewed, but as we've already mentioned it’s also available as a 6-quart/ 5.7-liter option, and in the US and Australia, there’s a smaller 3-quart/ 3-liter version available if you have a small family or you’re short on space.

Multi-cookers do take up a good chunk of counter space but on the flip side, this Instant Pot will replace lots of other appliances and therefore take up much less space than if you had a separate slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and pressure cooker.

It’s pretty simple to figure out the settings and get cooking shortly after removing it from the box and the preset programs are a good starting point for common foods and meals. There’s no recipe book or cooking charts included though, so you’ll have to head to the website or app for these. We found plenty of slow cook and pressure cook recipes but it can be tricky to find exact guidance for more simple tasks like steaming and cooking rice.

When pressure cooking, choose between low and high pressure and for all other programs there are three settings to choose from: less, normal or more - with a table in the instruction manual detailing what each setting is designed to achieve. It’s also simple enough to adjust cook times using the plus and minus buttons on the front so you can customize each setting to suit your requirements.

If you’re a fan of the ‘set it and forget it’ style of cooking, the handy keep warm function means your food won’t go cold if you do actually forget about it. The delay start button allows you to postpone cooking for up to 24 hours, but be sure not to leave anything perishable in the pot if you’re using this function. It comes with a steam rack, but this is only really useful for larger foods, smaller vegetables will fall straight through the rack into the water below which is frustrating.

Performance

• Large enough for 8 portion recipes
• Stainless steel exterior gets hot
• Steam release easy to use

We used the Instant Pot Duo Nova for several recipes to try out its performance across different functions. First up, slow cooked chili, the sauté function comes in handy here, allowing you to brown your meat and soften onions in the Instant Pot instead of having to use a separate pan or stove top. Despite the pot not having a non-stick coating there was no sticking during the sauté stage. We slow cooked our beef chili for six hours on the ‘more’ setting and the result was a delicious meaty chili with soft beef. The Instant Pot beeps to alert you that cooking has finished and the temperature of the chili at the end of cooking was 176 F/ 80 C. The chili wasn’t thickened to our liking but by switching back to saute it was easy to reduce it to the perfect consistency. During slow cooking the handles and sides all stayed cool, the lid reached 113 F/ 45 C which isn’t too warm to touch.

To cook brown basmati rice, the manual suggests the Multigrain preset, but we had to dig around on the website for some suggested rice to water ratios. In the end, we went with a 1:1 rice to water ratio but after cooking the rice was still a little al dente. The heat up process took 13 minutes and the cooking time was 20 minutes. After cooking we waited a further 10 minutes before using the quick-release pressure. The total time was 43 minutes from start to end which is a bit lengthy but as you’re not required to watch it like you would on the stove, it’s definitely more convenient. During the pressure release, our decibel meter registered 75db, which is equivalent to a toilet flushing, and one of the noisier Instant Pots we’ve tested.

The steam function uses pressure cooking to steam and again, we struggled to find a good recommendation for timings and plumped for four minutes with one cup of water in the bottom of the pot. The steam rack provided isn’t great for this purpose and some of the broccoli pieces fell through the gaps. Preheating took five minutes and after the four minute cook time we used the quick release pressure button so that we could get the broccoli out immediately. Some of the larger florets had a good texture but the smaller ones were overcooked.

For a speedy Thai red curry, the manual pressure cook function was our choice. As with the chili ,we used the saute function to brown chicken legs before adding all the other ingredients and pressure cooking on high for 20 minutes. Add to that the seven-and-a-half-minute heat up time and we were pleased with the fast cooking time which produced perfectly cooked chicken that fell off the bone with a temperature of 198 F/ 92 C. The pressure release was a slightly louder 79dB and while the sides of the pot and all the handles stayed cool, the metal part of the lid reached a high temperature of 187 F/ 86 C.

Should I buy the Instant Pot Duo Nova?

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Don't buy it if...

First reviewed: September 2021

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