Winter cooking is all about soups, stews and one-pot meals, so it's prime time for grabbing an Instant Pot
. The brand is famous for its do-it-all multi-cookers
that boast a slew of functions, from braising to steaming. These things are beasts — they're made to replace multiple appliances. Instant Pot was founded in 2009 by Robert Wang, who told CNBC Make It
, “My hero is Steve Jobs. … He’s excellent on design. He’s excellent in understanding the needs of his customers.”
Millions of people adore the Instant Pot, and top chefs are fans too. Take Jacques Pepin
, who was an early adopter and praised its ease of use and set-it-and-forget-it functionality that traditional pressure cookers lack. Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond
was so impressed with the appliance's time-saving features that she partnered with the brand in 2018 to launch her own line of Instant Pots.
As Yahoo's resident cookware tester, I've tried hundreds of pans
, Dutch ovens
and slow cookers
— so I couldn't wait to see if the best Instant Pots were as useful as people say. I tried several of the brand's signature products in my very own home to find out how they perform in real kitchens. Later this year, I plan to test the Instant Duo Crisp Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker Combo
to see if its air fryer function compares to the best air fryers
on the market. Here's my honest take on what it's really like to cook with an Instant Pot.
In this story
Best Instant Pots for 2026
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Capacity:6 quarts | Dimensions:13.2"D x 12.2"W x 12.5"H | Cooking functions:Pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, make rice, yogurt and keep warm | Power:1,000 watts
How it works:The Instant Pot Rio features a taller and slimmer design compared to the original Duo, but it works the same way. I needed rice for dinner with my family and I am notoriously bad at cooking it on the stovetop, so I jumped at the chance to try out the Instant Pot. I added one cup of rice to one and a quarter cups of water and a pinch of salt, and brushed the bottom of the inner pot with a tiny bit of oil to prevent the rice from burning or sticking (a tip from the IP following on the internet). Once the pot is preheated (which took 10 minutes), it pressure cooks the rice for 3 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of steam release. The results were pretty good, but there was some rice glued to the bottom of the pot — at least it wasn't burned.
What I liked:The ability to set it and forget it is priceless on busy days when you're craving a homemade meal, but juggling 10 other things. I appreciate all the safety features, like the steam vent positioned at the back (away from the display), and the option to choose a gradual steam or a more aggressive one.
Minor criticisms:I found the display on the Rio to be hectic. There's a dizzying array of preset buttons for one-touch cooking — everything from soup/broth to eggs to chili/beans. But I prefer customizing the experience by using the pressure cook, steam or sauté button and setting my own timer and steam release.
- Dishwasher-safe lid and inner pot
- Slimmer footprint
- Comes up to pressure quickly
- Reasonably priced
- Display has a ton of buttons and feels overwhelming
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Capacity:4 quarts | Dimensions:12.52"D x 13.82"W x 10.08"H | Cooking functions:Pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, cook rice, make yogurt and keep warm | Power:800 watts
How it works:I placed 2 cups of dried black beans, 6 cups of water, plus some onion, garlic and seasoning in the inner pot and set it for 25 minutes on pressure cook. This would have taken 90 minutes on the stove in my favorite Dutch oven , and I would have had to soak the beans overnight to soften them. Generally, this size Instant Pot can accommodate recipes for 4-5 servings, so you may need to adapt larger Instant Pot recipes.
What I liked:This is the cutest Instant Pot ever! With a respectable four-quart capacity, the little guy comes in millennial colors aptly named sea salt (white), rosewater (the pale pink pictured above), and the traditional black. If you're not hosting crowds for game-day chili, tackling larger roasts or planning to cook double batches of soups and stews, this pressure cooker should suffice.
Minor criticisms:You'll need to cut most Instant Pot recipes in half for use in this 4-quart pot, which is far from a dealbreaker. It took 20 minutes to preheat when at capacity before pressure cooking began.
- Shorter stature for easier storage
- Display is easy to read and use
- Best for smaller-batch recipes
- Power cord is not detachable
- Most Instant Pot recipes are designed for 6-quart or larger capacity
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Capacity:6 quarts | Dimensions:13.98"D x 13.98"W x 12.8"H | Cooking functions:Pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, sous vide, bake, make rice, yogurt, NutriBoost and keep warm | Power:1,200 watts
How it works:The Instant Pot Pro Max with WiFi is a true powerhouse of a cooking appliance, which it should be for about twice the price of the Rio. The touchscreen display and dial are two major differences between this model and the others; it also has additional advanced cooking modes like sous vide, auto-stir and low-pressure cooking.
What I liked:I enjoyed using an app to control the cooking time or mode and to check on things if I'm in another room. And it includes 2,000+ recipes! The 20% higher power of this machine makes preheating times shorter. The heat-proof silicone handles on the inner pot were a real game-changer — no fumbling for oven mitts when you're ready to lift out the pot to serve a dish. As for safety, the way the steam gets released is gentler and quieter than other appliances and, honestly, a little less scary.
The pot comes with an extra sealing ring or gasket. From the reviews I've read, these gaskets typically last 18-24 months and may retain some cooking odors; consider designating one gasket for savory dishes and one for sweet. You'll also get the steamer insert that other models have.
Minor criticisms:For a top-of-the-line machine, I assumed the power cord would be detachable for easier storage, but it's not. And I wanted the inner pot to be a bit wider to accommodate larger cuts of meat — I had to halve the pot roast and brown it in two steps before pressure cooking it with the vegetables and broth.
- Wi-fi enabled for control via an app on your phone
- Powerful model means faster preheating
- Auto-stir feature
- Comes with an extra sealing ring (gasket)
- Inner pot is flat on the bottom and can be used on stovetop
- Inner pot has heat-proof handles that can be lifted out without oven mitts
- Dishwasher-safe inner pot and lid
- Steam valve cover ensures quiet, controled steam release
- Expensive
- Power cord is not detachable
Another Instant Pot we tested
Lisa Schweitzer/Yahoo
Capacity:7.5 quarts | Dimensions:15.16"D x 14.02"W x 10.24"H | Cooking functions:Slow cook, sauté, steam and warm | Power:800 watts
How it works:This large-capacity slow cooker/multi-cooker has four functions: sear/sauté, slow cook/roast, steam and warm. But know this: It's not a traditional Instant Pot and doesn't have a pressure-cook feature. It works like most slow cookers, which braise (or steam) dishes for hours, then keep them warm while you tend to other things.
What I like:I want all my cooking appliances to serve multiple functions, so I was thrilled that this machine had a sear/sauté function, particularly in a wide vessel like this one. It offers more cooking surface area than a 12-inch skillet, so it can accommodate a good-sized chicken or beef roast. Slow-cooked dishes with proteins are infinitely better when you can sear the meat first, and this appliance makes that easy, as you can brown food right in the inner pot — no need for the stovetop.
Minor criticisms:The inner pot is too thin and doesn't get as hot as I would have liked for a hard sear on meat. It almost feels flimsy in its construction. And honestly, I'm missing the pressure cooking function and wish this model had it.
- Sear/sauté feature
- Inner pot and lid are oven-safe up to 350°F
- Inner pot and glass lid are dishwasher-safe
- Short, wide shape is ideal for larger roasts
- Inner pot is too thin for adequate searing
- No pressure cooking function
What I like: They're time-saving and multi-functional
There's so much that an Instant Pot can do! In addition to the more mainstream pressure-cooking, steaming, braising, and sautéing, there are a ton of lesser-known uses for it that I hadn't considered. Think making yogurt, baking cheesecake, canning jam and even popping popcorn. Pay attention to the functions on a model before purchasing, as not all units can perform everything.
What I don't like: They're bulky and the preheating and steam release time are hidden drawbacks
These pots are hefty, and their footprints are significant — so take a pass if you don't have a dedicated resting spot for it on the counter or in a cabinet. Let's face it: If you stow it in the basement or the garage, you're never going to use it.
And, I will caution you against using the Instant Pot to replace a good slow cooker, as this function is not where the Instant Pot shines. The settings vary from those of traditional slow cookers and food is often not heated all the way through.
The thing about Instant Pots that no one talks about? The time it takes to preheat them and release steam, which adds to the overall cooking time. So cooking a cup of rice, a task that would have taken roughly 25 minutes on the stovetop, took approximately 23 minutes in the Instant Pot. That didn't feel very "instant" to me, but I did enjoy not worrying at all about whether or not the rice was cooking at the right temperature or for the correct length of time. But if we're talking a tough cut of meat (that might cook low and slow for most of the day) or dried beans that require overnight soaking with a traditional cooking method, the Instant really delivers on its promise.
The bottom line: Is an Instant Pot multi-cooker worth the money?
Instant Pots can help save you time and effort in the kitchen when you want to cook dried beans, tough cuts of meat, some one-pot meals and more. At around $80 for the entry-level Instant Pot model, you are committing when you buy this multitasking appliance. However, if you think you'll use it weekly and you know it'll help get dinner on the table and make meal prep easier, it's worth it. Pressure cooking techniques can be applied to loads of recipes, and with an Instant Pot on hand, you're opening up a whole new world of set-it-and-forget-it dishes.
It's crucial to consider the size of your kitchen and your storage capacity. An Instant Pot has a large footprint, and you may not want to devote precious countertop real estate or cabinet space to it, unless you know you'll use it regularly.
Instant Pot models range in price from less than $100 to upwards of $200, and you can get the basic multitasking benefits from a multi-cooker at the bottom end of the range.
Best Instant Pot recipes
Pot roast, chili, dried beans, rice, hard-boiled eggs and chicken soup are among the most popular dishes to make, but there's so much to discover. You can even cook some proteins from frozen in the Instant Pot. It's great for casseroles and desserts too. You'll find cookbooks full of recipes and ideas to help you make use of all its features.
How we tested Instant Pots
After opening each package, I noted if setup was required and how easy the unit was to program. I gave the inner pots and lids a quick wash with soap and water before cooking various popular Instant Pot foods, such as dried beans, rice, boiled eggs and pot roast, depending on the size and features of the multi-cooker. I noted how each Instant Pot performed and whether it saved me any time compared to traditional cooking methods.
Best Instant Pots specs comparison chart
| Capacity |
Functions |
Dimensions |
Watts |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot Rio |
6 quarts |
7 |
13.2"D x 12.2"W x 12.5"H |
1,200 |
| Instant Pot Pro Max with Wifi |
6 quarts |
10 |
13.98"D x 13.98"W x 12.8"H |
1,000 |
| Instant Pot Rio Mini |
4 quarts |
7 |
12.52"D x 13.82"W x 10.08"H |
800 |
Instant Pot FAQs
Is an Instant Pot for you?
If you're looking for an appliance that combines the functionality of a slow cooker, a pressure cooker and a rice cooker in one, then the answer is yes. If you have the storage space for an Instant Pot and love the concept of hands-off cooking, you absolutely should give one of the many Instant Pot models a try.
Instant pot vs. pressure cooker: What's the difference?
A traditional pressure cooker is a pot that must be used on the stovetop. It's a manual appliance that you need to monitor, including releasing the pressure valve on the lid. An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that plugs into any outlet and offers multiple cooking modes for various dishes, like rice and yogurt.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
