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If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Best Instant Pots of 2022 Wondering which Instant Pot is best for a beginner? This handy guide will help you find the perfect multicooker. David lives in Brooklyn where he’s logged more than a decade writing about all things edible, including meal kits and meal delivery subscriptions, cooking, kitchen tech and commerce. Best Instant Pots of 2022″,”description”:”Wondering which Instant Pot is best for a beginner? While many thought it was a trend, the Instant Pot is obviously here to stay.
The popular line of multicookers started with one model, and now the brand has an entire fleet of Instant Pots: Over a dozen models exist. There are Instant Pots made especially for Star Wars fanatics. Most come in three sizes — 3, 6 and 8 quarts — each with distinct features, programs, cooking functions and price tags. In terms of size, the 6-quart models are the most popular for families and perfect if you’re cooking for three to five people. For a single person or even a couple, you could easily get away with a 3-quart and save a few bucks while you’re at it. If you’re making food for a large group on the regular, you might consider the larger 8-quart cooker. There are even Instant Pots made especially for Star Wars fanatics.
These handy kitchen cookers look similar on the outside, and they will all do the basic functions of pressure cooking, slow cooking, warming and sautéing. If you’re looking for an Instant Pot that performs specific food functions such as cooking eggs, making yogurt or even canning fruit, you’ll need to know which models can do that. Different models prove better for different kinds of cooking like precision programs, air frying, yogurt making and sous-vide cooking. We’re here to help you figure out the best Instant Pot for your culinary needs.
Here are our favorite Instant Pot models to help you find the perfect fit. Read more: Does the Instant Pot Kill Nutrients In Your Food? The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is the company’s most popular series and for good reason. It’s super simple to operate and comes with seven versatile cooking functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker and warmer. It’s also the most affordable model with yogurt and poultry programs as well as the option to pressure cook on high or low. The Ultra series offers upgrades from the previous models.
You can cook delicious dishes like Instant Pot chicken breasts, mac and cheese or mashed potatoes with high and low pressure for up to 6 hours, which is 2 hours more than the Lux and Duo series. It’s the best Instant Pot for slow cooking. The Ultra name comes from the added option to fine-tune parameters like temperature. You can specify temperature to a single degree from 104 to 208 degrees Fahrenheit. You can also dial in specific values for cooking time, pressure level and delay time. The Instant Pot Pro is one of the more advanced models in the line, so it might not be the best choice for a first-time pressure cooker. That said, it’s still easy to operate with just a few more features like adjustable custom cooking programs and a precision temperature dial.
The Pro also features a sous-vide cooking function — low and slow water bath — along with 28 other cooking programs. This model has easy-grip handles on the inner pot, a large LCD display, an upgraded steam-release valve and an auto-sealing lid. You may remember the first smart Instant Pot, the Instant Pot Smart, which was powered by Bluetooth. This tech-forward multicooker connects to your phone’s Instant Pot control panel app for remote monitoring of your cooker, Instant Pot recipe customization and notifications.