In some way, we all do dream our foods would be prepared in hardly a few seconds or minutes. Instant Pot is basically a multifunctional cooking appliance that can cook anything and it also takes less time to cook compared to other cooking appliances.
It is a smart electric pressure cooker that helps save time and energy when it comes to preparing meals. It includes built-in programs and applications that will guide your cooking process.
Uses of Instant Pot:
Let us talk about the uses of Instant Pot and what all food items can be cooked in this kitchen equipment in no time and also what sort of expectations you can have with this equipment. So, you can figure out if Instant Pot is worth purchasing or no. You can actually cook lots and lots of things in the Instant Pot. Let us list the points in detail.
1. Cook Rice
Instant Pot comes with a specific Rice button which lets you cook rice easily. Many people prefer to cook rice in Instant Pot as it is easy and quick.
2. Yogurt Maker
Uhmm, Yogurt? In an Instant Pot? Yes, you read it right. Now, who doesn’t like yogurt? The most amazing part about this instant pot is you can make your own yogurt. Well, it feels like it may take a very long time to make yogurt. But, guess what? It is basically effortless and also doesn’t take much of your time. Just add milk to the Instant Pot, select yogurt settings, and adjust the pressure to boil (This can take some time) stir occasionally, and whisk yogurt and milk together. Select the yogurt setting set automatically. Once you are done, transfer in a container and store.
3. Pressure Cooker
As we all know Pressure Cooker is important equipment in our kitchen. It can make lots of things like Rice, Meat, Vegetables, etc quickly. Instant Pot acts as a pressure cooker. All you need to do put the food ingredients in the instant pot and you don’t need to keep on watching over the food to get it done. That is the best part of the instant pot.
4. Keep food warm after cooking
There are times where we don’t get much time to cook food for ourselves or our family or we just eat anything that is left in the fridge. With this Instant Pot, you can actually prepare your lunch or dinner in the morning itself and not worry if the food will become cold, your food temperature will be warm even after it’s been some time you have cooked your food. You can set it on manual or automatic warm temperatures for up to a few hours.
Instant Pot Buying Guide:
So, you must have already read a lot about Instant Pot or have seen its advertisement somewhere and you might have already decided to purchase it for yourself. Well, let’s help you figure out the best one for you. Read below to learn which model, the size would be best for you.
When considering purchasing an Instant Pot, always keep in mind that there isn’t only one type of Instant Pot. But, there are plenty available in the market. Most of them are similar to each other in terms of size and voltage. They mostly differ in software, pressure level, and time.
Instant Pot Models:
The Instant Pot is available in the following models – Smart, Ultra, Duo, Max, Duo Nova, Duo Crisp, Duo Evo Plus, Duo Plus, Lux, Nova Plus, and Viva.
The difference between the models is how many cooking programs they have: the Ultra series has up to 16, the Duo Plus series has up to 15, the Duo series has up to 14, the Lux series has up to 12, etc.
What size Instant Pot should you purchase?
There are basically four sizes available. Those are 3-, 6-, 8- and 10-. The most famous and used one among these is 6- size Instant Pot. It can feed around 3 to 6 people. On the other hand, size 8- and 10- would be ideal to feed a large family or suppose you need to cook food for a party. Size 3- would be best for a couple as it can cook food for 1-2 people.
What parts and accessories should you buy for an instant pot?
Well, it is extremely important to go through the manual of the instant pot and also learn about the settings and features of the same.
Every model includes an outer body with buttons and display panel, a stainless steel, a sealing ring surrounding the lid, etc.
The need for extra accessories depends on your cooking type. You may purchase springform pan to make cheesecake or egg trivets to make boiled eggs.
Best Instant Pot Models With Pros & Cons:
1. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1
This Instant Pot is one of the most popular out of all. As the name says, it comes with seven different cooking functions like a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, sautés, warmer, and yogurt making. There are three different sizes available for the same which are 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart.
- Great rice cooker
- Saves time
- Can make yogurt at home
- Cooks food very quickly
CONS
2. Instant Pot Lux 6-in-1 (V3)
Lux 6-in-1 is the most basic Instant Point and also it is the most affordable. The sizes are 3-quart, 6-quart and 8-quart. There is no low pressure option available for this cooking model. The foods cooked in this model are mainly cooked under high pressure. You can keep the food warm for almost 10 hours. Also, it doesn’t have a lid holder. It is a very simple model and also it is useful for someone who doesn’t have much budget.
- The Lux series can be quite affordable as it doesn’t require much money to purchase.
- Cake making and egg making module
- 10 safety features.
- There aren’t many features available in this model
- Can’t make yogurt in this model
- The design is quite old.
3. Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1
The Ultra is the most updated model. It’s available in 3-quart, 6-quart and 8-quart sizes and is one of the best Instant Pot for slow cooking. It is called Ultra as it has Ultra Program which is basically a feature that sets the Ultra series apart from other InstaPots. With this, users get the controls of the settings to customize the conditions. Also, the parameters are widely available to be set.
- Overheat protection
- Safety lid lock
- Automatic temperature control
- More expensive
- No WiFi
- Due to new settings on the model, learning takes time.
4. Instant Pot Smart Wifi
This multicooker connects to your phone’s control panel app for remote monitoring of the cooker and notifications. It can also be controlled by voice command such as Alexa and Google Assistant. Also, this model is only available in 6-quart size. So, if you have a large family it may not be good enough for you.
- Cooks fast and saves time
- Advanced safety protection
- Accessories like stainless steel steam rack with handles, measuring cup and condensation collector, soup spoon, rice paddle are also included.
- The WiFi connectivity makes it internet dependent
- You can’t change a cooking mode in the app once it starts cooking
5. The Duo Mini
It is a 3-quart cooker that is marketed as a pot. It is quite handy and is also best for a small family or a couple. It basically has all the features like the other models. Despite the name, it is quite useful in the kitchen.
- It won’t take much space in your kitchen
- It is very handy
CONS
6. Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer Oven
This Instant Pot allows you to fry, bake, roast and toast without the oil. With this, you can make multiple meals at once without having to wait for one meal to get cooked and then preparing the next. There is no preheating time. So, you don’t need to add time to your plans. Also, it is very easy to clean.
- Easy to clean
- It does not use oil to fry your meal. So, you need not worry about your meal being too oily.
- The door surface gets hot
- The pans are Teflon coated.
7. Instant Pot GEM Multi-Cooker
The Gem is a multi-cooker which is more related to crockpot. It is a 8-in-1 cooker. It can slow cook, stew, cook rice, steam, bake, and roast. It cannot pressure cook. It is quite an advanced model.
- You can use it for baking
- The shape is pleasing
- Easy to use
- You can’t use it for pressure cooking
- Expensive
Conclusion:
As we all are looking for an easy way to cook our foods, Instant Pot may be very useful for the very same as it can be useful for multiple purposes and also you don’t need to keep an eye all the time on the food while cooking it as it is designed to do its work. Most of us purchase different kitchen equipment to roast, steam and bake the food items. But, with this Instapot you can use it to roast, bake, fry, and steam all in one.