The Best Instant Pot to Buy In 2024

When you hear the words "Instant Pot," you automatically think of an "electric pressure cooker with a silver body and a black lid".

The first Instant Pot model, released in 2010, embodies that description. Though many current multicookers share that aesthetic, Instant has released more than twenty-five new models since then, all with unique strengths and weaknesses. Some of them even stray from their traditional look.

So, after 14 years on the market, which is the best Instant Pot to buy in 2024? Stick with me to find out!

Jump to:

• What is an Instant Pot?
• What To Look For in an Instant Pot
• What Size Instant Pot Do I Need?
• What's the Difference Between Functions & Smart Programmes?
• Best Instant Pots To Buy in 2024
• The Best Overall Instant Pot
• Budget-Friendly Instant Pot
• Smart Instant Pot
• Large Instant Pot
• Air Frying Instant Pot
• User-Friendly Instant Pot
• My Favourite Instant Pot - Instant Pot Duo Crisp
• Tricks & Tips to Get The Most From Your Instant Pot
• Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Instant Pot?

Instant Pots (I'm continuing to use that term!) are electric pressure cookers that the boffins at Instant Brands have tinkered with to create something special.

These large-brained engineers took what was considered to be a perfectly functional small kitchen appliance and added a bunch of other cooking functions to it to create some kind of super-cooking Voltron (younger readers, ask your moms and dads!) that can conquer all kitchens and save people from cooking-related emergencies.

Equipped with the special abilities to pressure cook, slow cook, saute, rice cooker, and steamer, the humble Instant Pot quickly became a favorite in kitchens across the world.

The surge in popularity forced the Instant engineers to revisit the pressure cookers time and again to tweak, perfect, and diversify the product range to ensure there's an Instant Pot for everyone.

What To Look For in an Instant Pot

Your choice of Instant Pot depends entirely on your culinary needs and what you intend to use it for. Here are a bunch of questions you need to answer before making your choice. Feel free to grab your favorite pen and notebook to jot down these and other considerations that are important to you.

• What's your budget?
• What are your cooking habits?
• What are your favorite meals to cook?
• Do you value aesthetics as much as practicality?
• Are you a fan of accessories and gadgets?
• Do you need an air fryer?

Size is also a significant factor to consider when choosing your appliance. What size multi-cooker do you need? I'm glad you asked.

What Size Instant Pot Do I Need?

While Instant Pots provide excellent value for money (and will eventually pay for themselves with the money you save on your bills), your initial outlay for your new appliance can still be considered a sizeable chunk of change.

So, making the right choice right out of the gate is crucial to getting the biggest bang for your buck.

The first thing you need to figure out is the size of the Instant Pot you need. You'll need to consider the following factors before jumping in feet first to test the water, they are:

• How many people do I cook for?
• Do I cook large meals or small meals?
• Do I want to cook full meals in my Instant Pot?
• Do I want to batch cook and/or meal prep?
• How much kitchen top space do I have?
• Do I have enough cupboard space for the Instant Pot when it's not in use?
• Will the Instant Pot fit under my kitchen cabinets?

Fortunately for you lucky people, I've already written an exhaustive guide on choosing the right size Instant Pot to meet your needs and help you hit the ground running.

What's the Difference Between Functions & Smart Programmes?

Cooking functions and smart programs are two distinct features of the Instant Pot. Cooking functions refer to the appliance's core operational modes, such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing, and making yogurt.

These functions provide the fundamental methods by which food can be prepared, offering users manual control over their cooking processes. Each function sets the appropriate temperature and pressure levels needed for different cooking techniques.

On the other hand, smart programs are pre-set cooking settings designed for specific recipes or types of food. These programs automate cooking by adjusting time, pressure, and temperature to ensure consistent and optimal results.

Examples include settings like "Soup/Broth," "Meat/Stew," "Rice," and "Multigrain." Smart programs make cooking easier by removing the need to guess the correct settings, thus helping users achieve their desired results with less effort.

Best Instant Pots To Buy in 2024

Over the last five years, I've weirdly dedicated a large portion of my life to testing and writing about pressure cookers, air fryers, and multi-cookers. I am by no means the world's leading Instant Pot expert, I know my way around these appliances like Garfield knows his way around a lasagne.

Here are my top picks of Instant Pots to buy in 2024:

The Best Overall Instant Pot

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1

Benefits:

• Gorgeous to look at.
• Ten versatile cooking functions.
• 28 customizable cooking programs.
• Easy-to-use steam release switch.
• Programmable favorite settings.
• Advanced safety features.

Drawbacks:

• Searing function can be unreliable.

If you're looking for versatility, affordability, functionality, and sexy good looks rolled into one, The Instant Pot Pro 8-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker is your girl.

With ten functions, including pressure cooking, slow cooking, sous vide, sautéing, sterilizing, making yogurt, and steaming, it replaces several kitchen gadgets, saving space and time.

Its sleek black design resembles a little off-the-shoulder number, and its compact form only enhances its aesthetic appeal, fitting seamlessly into any modern kitchen setup.

One of the standout features of the Instant Pot Pro is its incredible customizable options, which include 28 cooking programs and five programmable favorite settings that let you test and save your best recipes so your food is cooked the way you like it, not how some software nerd says it should be.

This allows users to store their preferred cooking times and temperatures for frequently made dishes, adding a layer of convenience. The Instant Pot Pro also includes advanced safety features, such as the simple steam release switch and a steam valve cover, making operating safer and quieter than other models.

Performance-wise, the Instant Pot Pro excels with its efficient cooking capabilities. Its keep warm function and delay start timer ensure that meals are ready when you are, ideal for busy lifestyles or forgetful people, like me.

The appliance also comes with a steam rack and an extra sealing ring, but you can make this model even better with a few option extras (which would have been nice if they came in the box).

The only real criticism of this appliance is a slight uneven heating on the bottom of the cooking pot when using the saute function, which can be negated with a little tossing and stirring.

Budget-Friendly Instant Pot

Instant Pot Duo Mini

Benefits:

• Teeny tiny footprint.
• Perfect for small portions.
• Compact and lightweight.
• Easy-to-use control panel.
• Delay start and keep warm functions.
• Affordable price point.

Drawbacks:

• Not suitable for large families.
• Limited capacity for larger recipes.

The Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart is an excellent budget-friendly option for small households, dorm rooms, and singletons.

This compact model offers seven functions in one appliance: pressure cooking, sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, rice cooking, yogurt making, and food warming.

It is mainly designed for cooking smaller portions, making it ideal for singles or couples. Its small size doesn't compromise functionality, ensuring it can handle various cooking tasks efficiently.

One of the standout features of the Instant Pot Duo Mini is its user-friendly design; because it's so tiny and has fewer functions, it's incredibly easy to use. The large, easy-to-read LCD screen and intuitive push-button interface make it straightforward to use, even for beginners.

Additionally, it offers a delay start timer and an automatic keep-warm function, ensuring your meals are ready when you need them without any fuss.

The Duo Mini's compact and lightweight design makes it easy to use, store, and move around. I can imagine my nan having no problem using this pocket powerhouse. Despite its smaller capacity, it performs well in cooking a wide range of dishes, from perfectly fluffy rice to tender meats.

Its portability and ease of storage are significant advantages, especially for those living in small apartments or dorms or who need a reliable cooking appliance for camping or traveling.

Related: Are Air Fryers Allowed in Dorms? Dorm Cooking At Its Best!

Smart Instant Pot

Instant Pot Duo Crisp With Ultimate Lid

Benefits:

• 13 versatile cooking functions.
• Three automatic steam release options.
• User-friendly digital interface.
• Single lid design for ease of use.
• Dishwasher-safe parts.

Drawbacks:

• Heavy and large size.
• Limited user instructions included.

If you're a bit of a tech-head and love your gadgets and gizmos, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid should be right up your street.

This model combines 13 cooking functions: pressure cooking, air frying, sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, sous vide, yogurt making, roasting, broiling, baking, dehydrating, and proofing.

Each function has a dedicated button, making navigating and selecting the desired cooking mode simple, enhancing user convenience and efficiency.

Its innovative steam release system is one of the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid's standout smart features. It has three automatic steam release options: natural release, pulse release, and quick release, which reduce those toe-tingling nerves you usually get when opening the steamy portal to sweaty hell when opening regular steam release valves.

These can be easily toggled via a button, ensuring safe and precise steam management. The device also provides clear on-screen instructions, such as "OK to open lid" or "Do not open the lid," which simplifies the pressure cooking process and makes it less intimidating for beginners.

The crazy innovation doesn't stop with steam valves and user interfaces. Oh no. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid is WiFI connective, so you can control it via your cell phone or connect it to Alexa or Siri.

That said, I wouldn't trust my Alexa to open a can of beans that was already open! So, tread lightly.

Large Instant Pot

Instant Pot Duo Rio Wide

Benefits:

• Large 7.5-quart capacity.
• 35% larger cooking surface.
• WhisperQuiet steam release.
• 9-in-1 multifunctionality.
• Enhanced user interface.

Drawbacks:

• Large and heavy, requiring ample counter space.
• Higher price point compared to smaller models.

Are you looking for a seriously sized cooking surface? The Instant Pot RIO Wide Plus 7.5-Quart is the best large Instant Pot, thanks to its girthy base.

Despite not having the largest cooking capacity, this model is designed with a 35% larger searing surface than standard models, making it ideal for searing large batches of meat more quickly.

Its broader base allows for better heat distribution and more even cooking, especially when preparing significant cuts of meat or big batches of food.

One of the key advantages of the Instant Pot RIO Wide Plus is its versatility. It includes 9-in-1 functions such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, yogurt making, sous vide, and cake baking, which makes it a comprehensive kitchen tool.

The wide design provides more cooking space and fits better in most kitchen cabinets due to its shorter height.

The RIO Wide Plus prioritizes user convenience. It features an intuitive control panel with a larger display, so you can still read it if you've lost your glasses. The WhisperQuiet steam is so effective it's like a little holiday for your ears.

And even though all Instant Pots are like miniature safety wardens in hi-viz vests, the Rio Wide Plus has over ten safety features, including overheat protection and a secure locking lid, making it a reliable choice for families.

Air Frying Instant Pot

Instant Pot Duo Crisp

Benefits:

• Dual lids for pressure cooking and air frying.
• Large 8-quart capacity.
• Multi-level air fryer basket for more cooking surface.
• Intuitive and user-friendly interface.
• Healthier frying with less oil.

Drawbacks:

• More storage space is needed for the extra lid
• Higher price point compared to single-function models.

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer is one of the quintessential Instant Pots on the market. This multicooker includes a multicooker lid to switch between pressure cooking and air frying, allowing it to perform functions that other Instant Pots cannot, such as roasting, baking, broiling, and dehydrating.

One of the key advantages of the Duo Crisp Air Fryer is its ability to cook large quantities efficiently. Its 8-quart capacity makes it suitable for family-sized meals, and the air fryer lid's multi-level basket increases the cooking surface area, enabling it to handle larger batches of food than standard air fryers.

Because this model has two separate lids, switching between pressure cooking and air frying is a little more faffy, and it requires more storage space when you're using one or the other.

In terms of user experience, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer is designed with an intuitive control panel, simplifying the cooking process. However, the push button control panel looks slightly more dated than the futuristic touchscreen models.

The new air fryer lid ensures food achieves a crispy texture with less oil, making it a healthier option for preparing fried foods.

Features like an automatic steam release button and a comprehensive digital interface enhance safety and usability, making it a top choice for those seeking a multifunctional kitchen appliance.

User-Friendly Instant Pot

Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1

Benefits:

• Large, easy-to-read LCD screen.
• Automatic EasySeal lid for safety.
• Simple steam release mechanism.
• Delay start and keep warm functions.
• Dishwasher-safe parts.

Drawbacks:

• Slightly higher price point.
• Larger size requires ample storage space.

If you're a bit of a technophobe but still want to be a part of the pressure cooker revolution, the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 is considered the best user-friendly Instant Pot model due to its intuitive design and ease of use.

This model features a large LCD screen with a dark mode, providing clear and easily readable information. The control panel includes dedicated buttons for each preset, such as pressure cooking, slow cooking, sous vide, yogurt making, sautéing, and more.

These buttons simplify selecting the desired cooking mode, making it accessible even for beginners.

One of the standout features of the Duo Plus is the EasySeal lid, which automatically seals the pot when the lid is closed, so even the most forgetful home chefs can't muck it up.

The steam release is equally simple, requiring just a flick of a switch to transition from sealed to venting, significantly reducing the risk of accidental burns.

Notice I said 'reducing' and not 'eliminating'; you still have to be careful. These thoughtful design elements contribute to a stress-free cooking process, making the Duo Plus a favorite among users.

The Instant Pot Duo Plus also excels in versatility and convenience. It includes a delay start function, allowing you to program the pot to begin cooking later, which is perfect for ensuring meals are ready when you get home from work, the PTA meetings, or, y'know, the bar!

All the removable parts, including the stainless steel inner pot and accessories, are dishwasher safe, so they are perfect for slobs like me who hate cleaning up after themselves. The model also features an anti-spin design that keeps the pot steady during stirring and sautéing, further bringing out its user-friendly nature.

My Favourite Instant Pot - Instant Pot Duo Crisp

Though all of these fantastic Instant Pot models meet the needs of a gargantuan number of demographics, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is not only my favorite; it's the one I own and use regularly to feed my family.

As an avid air-frying fanatic, having a multi-cooker that air frys is non-negotiable. Members of my tribe have complex needs, so having an appliance that can quickly cook almost any kind of food at the drop of a hat is absolutely essential.

The Duo Crisp fell well with my budget, I'm blessed with the extra storage space for the dual-lid setup, and its excellent build quality means it can take a daily hammering without missing a beat.

This reliable, functional, pretty, and easy-to-use Instant Pot multi-cooker has been my culinary best friend since the day I got it, and it will continue to be my buddy for years to come.

Or, y'know, until Instant Pot releases their next top model with flashing lights and gizmos and gadgets.

Tricks & Tips to Get The Most From Your Instant Pot

If you've decided which Instant Pot you're going to buy, I've listed a few tricks and tips so you can hit the ground running once your Amazon driver drops your appliance off at your door.

The Water Test: Your First Step

If you're new to the Instant Pot, start with the water test. This simple test helps you understand how pressure builds and releases in the pot.

It's a safe way to practice before you start cooking actual meals.

Sealing and Pressure Levels: Getting It Right

Sealing your Instant Pot correctly is crucial for pressure cooking. Ensure the sealing ring is appropriately placed and the lid is locked.

Also, remember to set the pressure level according to your recipe. This ensures your meals are cooked perfectly every time.

Quick-Release vs. Natural Pressure Release

Understanding when to use quick-release or natural pressure release can better your Instant Pot experience. Quick-release is best for vegetables and seafood to prevent overcooking.

On the other hand, natural pressure release is ideal for meats and stews. It allows flavors to develop and prevents liquid from splattering.

Converting Recipes for Your Instant Pot

Adapting traditional recipes for the Instant Pot can be a lifesaver. Generally, you'll want to reduce cooking times by two-thirds when pressure cooking.

Remember, it's better to undercook and add time if needed. Overcooking can lead to mushy results, especially with vegetables and pasta.

Sautéing Before Pressure Cooking

The sauté function on your Instant Pot isn't just for browning meat. It also softens onions, garlic, and other aromatics before pressure cooking.

This step can add depth of flavor to your dishes. It's a trick often overlooked by many users.

Avoiding the Burn Notice

The dreaded "burn" notice can be a common issue for new Instant Pot users. It usually means that food is stuck to the bottom of the pot.

To avoid this, layer ingredients properly. Start with liquids, add solids, and finally, any thick sauces or pastes.

Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Keeping your Instant Pot clean is crucial for its performance. Pay special attention to the silicone ring, which can harbor smells and residues.

Regular maintenance extends the life of your Instant Pot. Always check the venting knob and sealing ring for any signs of wear or damage.

The Pot-in-Pot Method Explained

The pot-in-pot method is a different type of cooking for Instant Pot users. It allows you to cook multiple foods and dishes, saving time and energy.

To use this method, place a smaller pot inside your Instant Pot. It's perfect for recipes that don't require direct heat.

Utilizing the Trivet

The rack that comes with your multicooker is no mere accessory. It's a crucial tool for successful pressure cooking. Using the trivet can prevent food from sticking to the bottom of the pot, allowing for better heat distribution around your food and more even cooking.