The best Instant Pot multi-cookers are wonderful things. We use ours constantly, because whether you go for an OG Instant Pot or a similar model from the likes of Ninja or Breville they'll save you time, space and energy. They also mean less mess and considerably less washing up. But most importantly of all, the food they make tastes fantastic.
The best Instant Pot multi-cookers excel at more than one kind of cooking. You can use them as slow cookers and as pressure cookers, as soup makers and rice cookers, as yogurt makers and steamers. Some can even do ultra-slow sous vide cooking, and others have smart lids that mean you can use them as air fryers too. That means you don't need to devote extra countertop space for one of the best air fryers – which is handy if, like us, you don't have a lot of room for more appliances.
If you haven't already experienced the wonders of Instant Pot eggs – we reckon they're the best boiled eggs you'll ever taste – here's how to cook hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot. It's a great example of how fast, clean and easy Instant Pot cooking is: for example, you can get all the flavors of low'n'slow slow cooking in a fraction of the time, and they can handle all the stages of cooking including sautéing, browning and simmering. Oh, and they also make the most incredible hard-boiled eggs. And when you're done, clean-up takes no time at all. As you'll see in our guide showing how to clean an Instant Pot, you can chuck it in the dishwasher or just clean it with hot water and dish soap.
We often see the best Instant Pot deals during big sale events such as Black Friday. That means it's a really good time to buy, and we can help you find the best one to bag a bargain on. We'll help you discover which brand is right for you, what size of Instant Pot you need, and which functions will make the kind of meals you want to cook. Whether it's the hottest chili or a warming winter soup, a really lazy lasagne or a sumptuous slow-cooked stew, steamed veggies or delicate sous vide salmon, these are the best Instant Pots for everyone.
The best Instant Pot and multi-cookers 2022
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What to consider when buying an Instant Pot
With such a wide array of models available when it comes to Instant Pots and multi-cookers, choosing the right one for you can be confusing.
Start by considering the different cooking methods offered by the best Instant Pots and multi-cookers, and the dishes you prepare most. While some offer a handful of cooking modes including pressure cooking and slow cooking, others including the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus have as many as 48 different ways of cooking and can do everything including proving bread and making yogurt.
Next look at the capacity the 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.
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.
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.
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.
Instant Pot vs Ninja Foodi
Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are two of the biggest names in the multi-cooker world and are regularly compared to see which is best. Both brands create a wide number of appliances including everything from air fryers to blenders.
As you might expect, the larger and more feature-heavy appliances from Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are more expensive, but generally speaking, Ninja models are normally more expensive.
It’s also worth comparing how easy these machines are to clean. Ninja Foodi machines feature a cooking pot with a non-stick coating so you shouldn’t need to scrub for hours to get rid of any food. Instant Pots have stainless steel pots but both of the brands’ pots can be placed in a dishwasher.
We’ve compared these brands in detail, to find out which came out on top, read our Ninja Foodi vs Instant Pot feature.
