Which Instant Pot to Buy? Price, Size, Model Comparison
Since you have landed on this page, I am going to assume that you have heard of the beauty of the Instant Pot. It cooks fast, it saves time and it comes with so many functions. You can use it to sear, fry, steam, poach and so much more! All these cool elements of the Instant Pot make it so tempting to buy, but with so many different models and sizes, which one fits your need? Which Instant Pot is the best?
Believe me, as an Instant Pot user, I had all those questions too. That’s why I want to give you an easy Instant Pot comparison guide to help you pick an Instant Pot that meets your needs.
What is Instant Pot and Why Consider Getting One?
Before we get into the maze of sizes, functions, and prices, let’s talk about what an Instant Pot can do for you and why you should consider getting one. First of all, many people have this question: is the Instant Pot same as a pressure cooker? Though they have a similar concept of using the pressure created by the heat sealed in the pot to cook food quicker, the Instant Pot is designed with a safer mechanism while traditional pressure cookers can have the risk of explosion.
In short, Instant Pot is a modern all-in-one electric multicooker that you can control on a digital panel. It can perform many functions such as pressure cook, slow cook, and sautee. You can use one Instant Pot to cook almost all the food you can think of rice, meat, soup, stew, and beyond. It’s designed to help you to save time in cooking as you can just set it and leave it. In fact, it can cook 70% faster than cooking on the stovetop!
Instant Pot Sizes and Models
Invented in 2010, the Instant Pot has evolved into several models that can suit diverse user needs and preferences, from the classic Duo model to the Instant Pot Pro model. In addition to the different model options, you can choose the size of the pot according to your need too. The Instant Pot comes with size options of 3, 6, 8, and 10 quart.
Whether you are cooking just for yourself and your partner, or you are an enthusiastic home chef who likes to cook for big parties, you can rely on the magic of the Instant Pot.
Best Instant Pot for Beginners – The Duo Model
From $79.95 Buy on Amazon
If you are just starting out with the Instant Pot and just want some of the most common cooking methods, the Duo model is a great option for cooking beginners. The Duo Plus model comes with 9 functions including Pressure Cook Slow Cook, Rice/Grain, Sauté, Steam, Yogurt, Warm, Sous Vide, and Sterilizer.
If you are just cooking for 1-2 people, the Duo model has a 3-quart option. This is the size a got to just cook for me and my wife. It’s not too big for a small apartment if you don’t have much counter space.
The Duo Model + Air Frier
From $124.99 Buy on Amazon
This new Instant Pot Duo Crisp model spices up the game even more with the air fry function. Air frying is a great way to make healthier deep-fried food with little to no oil. You can use an air fryer to make french fries, chicken wings, salmon, and so much more. With this Duo Crisp model, you can combine your instant pot with the air frier all in one efficient appliance saving your countertop space.
Best Instant Pot for Avid Home Chefs
From $119.95 Buy on Amazon
The Instant Pot Pro would be every enthusiastic home chef’s dream appliance. It has 10 cooking functions that can fit almost all your culinary needs! It is a flexible one-of-a-kind 10 in 1 kitchen appliance that can work as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous vide, sauté pan, rice/grain cooker, sterilizer, yogurt maker, food warmer, cake baker, and steamer.
Instant Pot Ultra 3-Quart From $99.99 Buy on Amazon
If you are looking for something even more advanced than the Instant Pot Pro, the Ultra model is what you are looking for. Similar to the Pro version, it comes with 10 cooking functions but the Ultra model is designed to be more customizable. The Ultra model can also be used as an air fryer if you buy an add-on while the Pro model cannot.
Best Instant Pot for Cooking for a Big Family
Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-Quart from $119.95 Buy on Amazon
Whether you decide to buy the Duo, the Pro, or the Ultra, you have different size options. If you cook for a big party, I would recommend getting the 6-quart or 8-quart size. The 6-quart option can serve 4 people and the 8-quart can serve more than 6 people.
For someone using instant pot for the first time, I would say the Duo Plus 8 quart is ideal. It’s got 9 cooking functions and comes with an extra sealing ring which gives you better safety. The 8-quart size is big and powerful for you to cook for the whole family.
What Other Accessories You Should Buy to Use with the Instant Pot?
When you buy an Instant Pot, it usually comes with a steaming rack which is very convenient for steaming fish, vegetables, and dumplings. Besides the complementary accessories, I found it helpful to also have some extra gadgets:
Bamboo Steamer
I bought this bamboo steamer from Amazon and I love it. You can use it to steam frozen dim sum, buns, edamame, or dumplings. The steamer baskets are 8 inches wide, they should fit in a 6 quart or 8 quart instant pot.
Cheesecake Pan
Wanna bake with your Instant Pot? Use this Cheesecake pan that fits 6 and 8 quart Instant Pot perfectly.
My Favorite Instant Pot Recipes
In the end, I would like to share some of my favorite Instant Pot recipes with you and you can start making them once you get your perfect instant pot!
I have to recommend this one! I made the beef short ribs for the family Christmas dinner and they won everyone over. It’s perfect for a big family meal as you just need to prep and set up the Instant Pot. It saves you so much time to just let Instant Pot do its job and you can enjoy your time with your friends and families. The Short Ribs cam right off the bones and are buttery. Just follow the recipe I think you will have no problem making this fancy-looking dish!
I love to made soup with Instant Pot because it’s so much faster than cooking on the stovetop. One of my favorites is the Cantonese Sweet Carrot and Corn Soup.
If you are a baking beginner like me, you will love this Instant Pot recipe for cheesecake. The difficulty level is easy and the instructions are pretty straightforward.
Buy the Instant Pot that Suits Your Needs
After reading this post I hope you get a better idea of what model and size of Instant Pot you want to buy. Whether it’s the Duo, Pro, or Ultra, they are going to be super helpful for you to cook dinner faster, easier, better, and yummier. Want more information about which Instant Pot you should buy? Take a look at the comparison chart or visit the Instant Pot online store!
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