Best Instant Pot to buy

GoldenQ · July 2018

Wife thinks we need to get an Instant Pot. I know almost nothing about them. What should I consider and what is the best one to buy.

Hub · July 2018

Get the biggest one you can find. Don't wait. Don't hesitate. It will be one of the best purchases of your life.

SonVolt · July 2018

The Breville Fast Slow Pro

GoldenQ · July 2018

have any of you used the Mealthy multicooker

MJG · July 2018

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Instant-Pot-LUX60-V3-6-Qt-6-in-1-Multi-Use-Programmable-Pressure-Cooker-Slow-Cooker-Rice-Cooker-Saute-Steamer-and-Warmer/54316362?u1=kinjadeals-breakout%20&oid=589058.1&wmlspartner=xzXATABADTI&sourceid=06678564932516525096&affillinktype=10&veh=aff

I hate Walmart but they are running a pretty good deal now.

SGH · July 2018

MJG said:

I hate Walmart

I hate them too. They started out great and once they took over they turned to $hit. Not hardly a single American made product in their stores any more. And ironically selling American made products is what initially attracted everyone to them.
And another thing I hate about them, I have been in hundreds of Walmart’s and not a single one of them had the Muhle R41. Not one. This is unforgivable.

RichH · July 2018

I have the 6qt LUX. Looks like it's only $50 on Amazon right now. They have newer models. They all pretty much do the same thing. So it's up to how much you want to spend. Either way, you can't go wrong.

buzd504 · July 2018

GoldenQ said:

have any of you used the Mealthy multicooker

That's the one I want, but I'm waiting for a sale.

Cornholio · July 2018

We received an 8qt ‘Power Cooker Plus’ for Christmas and have enjoyed some good meals from it including pulled pork, baby backs and whole chickens. I haven’t done any research but Instant Pot seems to be the most popular and the one we have seems to be a knock off of it sold on QVC and big box stores.

Super easy to use and good for weeknight cooks. Key is to get one that has a sauté setting to brown your meat before the cook. While they have a slow cooker setting I find the trusty old crockpot to be easier for that stuff still since cleanup is easier (ours has a rubber ring and valve to clean where a crockpot is simpler).

Edit with pics (resized pics this time!):

Stubby · July 2018

We have 2. The 8 qt for sure is awesome the 3qt i think maybe 4 anyway we use it for rice.. they work great.

Carolina Q · July 2018

Best? I don't know which is "best". I only have the one.

But I like it!

https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Plus-60-Programmable/dp/B01NBKTPTS/ref=sr_1_2?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1532435298&sr=1-2&keywords=Instant+Pot+DUO60+6+Qt+7-in-1

Cornholio said:

While they have a slow cooker setting I find the trusty old crockpot to be easier for that stuff still since cleanup is easier (ours has a rubber ring and valve to clean where a crockpot is simpler).

@Cornholio, you don't need the pressure lid for slow cooking. Don't know about the PowerCooker, but Instant Pot sells a vented glass lid separately for use when you need a lid, but don't want to pressurize. You may already have a lid that would do the job, maybe even the one on your slow cooker. I haven't used my IP as a slow cooker yet, but I did buy the lid.

Cornholio · July 2018

@Cornholio, you don't need the pressure lid for slow cooking. Don't know about the PowerCooker, but Instant Pot sells a vented glass lid separately for use when you need a lid, but don't want to pressurize. You may already have a lid that would do the job, maybe even the one on your slow cooker. I haven't used my IP as a slow cooker yet, but I did buy the lid.

They do sell one but mine did not come with the glass lid and the crockpot is a simple dial for high, low, warm.. You’re right I wouldn’t have to wash the pressure lid if I had the glass one but I do prefer the crockpot for my slow cook still. My crockpot lid did not fit nor any of my other glass lids and the directions said to use the regular lid with the pressure valve open so in that case I would have more to clean.

LetsEat · July 2018

Purchase the one your wife likes

onedbguru · July 2018

The ULTRA has more features. We have a 6qt, then bought the 8qt. The 6qt is going to our daughter.

You can use the ULTRA function to hold water at a desired temp for Sous Vide. And it is the only model that is "self-sealing" meaning that when you start a pressure setting, it will automatically seal itself. The others, you have to set it to go into pressure mode. It also has a safety valve that won't allow you to open it until the pressure has sufficiently escaped (not sure about the others on that).

Botch · July 2018

According to Cook's Illustrated a whole chicken will fit in an 8-qrt, but not a 6-qrt. This is true for pressure cookers, although your results/chickens may vary.

Carolina Q · July 2018

Botch said:

According to Cook's Illustrated a whole chicken will fit in an 8-qrt, but not a 6-qrt. This is true for pressure cookers, although your results/chickens may vary.

Nope. I just checked with a 5 1/4 lb frozen bird. Fits in my 6 qt IP, no problem. I doubt it would take one much larger, but this one fit without issue. And if you defrosted it.... and/or cut it up.............

Botch · July 2018

^^^ Huh.
Well, they've been wrong before (albeit not often). Thanks for the info.

HeavyG · July 2018

Carolina Q said:

Botch said:

According to Cook's Illustrated a whole chicken will fit in an 8-qrt, but not a 6-qrt. This is true for pressure cookers, although your results/chickens may vary.

Nope. I just checked with a 5 1/4 lb frozen bird. Fits in my 6 qt IP, no problem. I doubt it would take one much larger, but this one fit without issue. And if you defrosted it.... and/or cut it up.............

With pressure cookers you really need to leave some headspace - a few inches above whatever is in the pot to avoid the chance of any foaming/bubbling vetting into the pressure valves. While a big whole chicken might physically fit in and allow the lid to close Cook's Illustrated might be making their judgement based on insufficient headspace.

CincyEgg · July 2018

Walmart just put one on sale that is 10 bucks cheaper than the amazon prime sale had it last week. Don’t have one but 50 bucks seems like a steal...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Instant-Pot-LUX60-V3-6-Qt-6-in-1-Multi-Use-Programmable-Pressure-Cooker-Slow-Cooker-Rice-Cooker-Saute-Steamer-and-Warmer/54316362?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228049678207&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=147341789757&wl4=aud-273067695102:pla-262470081824&wl5=1023721&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=54316362&wl13=&veh=sem

GoldenQ · July 2018

has anyone tried to sous vide using the manual settings on the IP Ultra

Carolina Q · July 2018

HeavyG said:

Carolina Q said:

Botch said:

According to Cook's Illustrated a whole chicken will fit in an 8-qrt, but not a 6-qrt. This is true for pressure cookers, although your results/chickens may vary.

Nope. I just checked with a 5 1/4 lb frozen bird. Fits in my 6 qt IP, no problem. I doubt it would take one much larger, but this one fit without issue. And if you defrosted it.... and/or cut it up.............

With pressure cookers you really need to leave some headspace - a few inches above whatever is in the pot to avoid the chance of any foaming/bubbling vetting into the pressure valves. While a big whole chicken might physically fit in and allow the lid to close Cook's Illustrated might be making their judgement based on insufficient headspace.

There was plenty of space. Book calls for no higher than the 2/3 fill line. I was below that, no problem.

RichH · July 2018

CincyEgg said:

Walmart just put one on sale that is 10 bucks cheaper than the amazon prime sale had it last week. Don’t have one but 50 bucks seems like a steal...

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Instant-Pot-LUX60-V3-6-Qt-6-in-1-Multi-Use-Programmable-Pressure-Cooker-Slow-Cooker-Rice-Cooker-Saute-Steamer-and-Warmer/54316362?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222228049678207&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=m&wl3=147341789757&wl4=aud-273067695102:pla-262470081824&wl5=1023721&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=54316362&wl13=&veh=sem

Amazon has matched that price too

paqman · July 2018

Go for any of the 8qt models. I use manual and steam 99% of the time. I’d say that yogurt function is the main difference between models.

Best Instant Pot to buy

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