One of my earliest memories is my mother cooking for our family of 9 with a pressure cooker. When the pressure cooker started whistling everyone would take a step back – just in case it blew! It didn’t by the way, but it did have us worried at the time (in the 1970s) as there were stories about the lids coming off while under pressure.
Well, that was a long time ago, and now we have the instant pot slow cooker to replace the old pressure cookers. Made with safety in mind, they do so much more than than just pressure cook. Some of the instant pots now have up to 14 different safety features.
Old pressure cookers look like the one shown below.
The instant pot was created back in 2008, and there is a wide range of models available and so many different functions. It’s a device that can replace up to 10 other household appliances, depending on which instant pot you choose.
When you are cooking for a large family or entertaining friends, using an Instant Pot, can save you so much time. Compared to roasting lamb in the oven or slow cooker, the pressure cooker function is around 70% faster. Some dishes such as lamb shanks always seem to taste best when cooked in an instant pot.
Replace At Lease 7 Kitchen Appliances
If you are interested in saving space and making the most of your kitchen appliances, most instant pots or electric pressure cookers should be able to replace your:
- Slow cooker
- Rice maker
- Pressure cooker
- Yogurt maker
- Steamer
- Saute
- Warmer
Some of the newer models also include an air-fryer which means there is pretty much nothing you can’t cook in it. But how do you know which one to choose? Well it does depend on how many people you are cooking for and the particular features you will be using. When you see an instant pot size like 6, that means 6 quarts.
Instant Pot Makes Great Bone Broth
Making bone broth in the instant pot demonstrates just how versatile the instant pot is. First, use the sear setting to brown the bones, then add your other ingredients to the pot and let them soak, then use the pressure cooker setting, and finally, slow cook to finish it off.
All this is done in one pot, just by changing the settings, saving you a ton of dishes to wash. Using a pressure cooker also saves time – in fact, if it saves up to 70% of the time as compared to slow cooking. Using bone broth as an example, a batch can be finished within 3 hours instead of 48.
We’ve reviewed TEN of the best instant pot slow cookers, and can’t wait to reveal all of the new features these instant pots have. As the instant pot is a brand but people often are referring to electric pressure cookers, we have included a few other special multi-cookers in this review.
Instant Pot Slow Cooker Reviews
#1. Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
With a name like Duo Mini, you would expect this Instant Pot to be compact. With 14 one-touch cooking presets for quicker cooking: soup or broth, meat or stew, beans or chili, poultry, sauté or searing, steam, rice, porridge, steam, slow cook, keep warm, yogurt, manual, and pressure cook. Having a manual function ensures you can find the exact duration you need for your favorite recipes.
This best selling model can monitor pressure, temperature while keeping time and adjusting heating intensity and duration. If you like the features but it is too small, there are larger sizes available for this model.
Pros:
- 14 one-touch cooking presets
- Fingerprint resistant
- Dishwasher safe components
Cons:
- May not be large enough for bigger families or entertainers
#2. Ninja Foodi 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker
The Ninja Foodi can do everything other instant pots do, but it also includes an air fryer and tender crisper, which is why this model is so popular amongst Amazon reviewers. When air frying it uses up to 70% less fat as compared to pan-frying. Being able to crisp up certain dishes certainly does make this pressure cooker combo an appealing choice.
With 14 safety features and has passed rigorous safety certification tests, this is a pressure cooker that should give you peace of mind. French fries anyone? How about crispy chicken?
Pros:
- Holds up to 4 pounds of chicken
- 14 safety features for extra peace of mind
Cons:
- One of the more expensive models
#3. Instant Pot Ultra Mini 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
The Ultra is a recent addition to the Instant Pot family. 16 microprocessor controlled programs take the guesswork out of your cooking. Replaces 10 common kitchen Appliances pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice/porridge cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, egg cooker, saute/searing, steamer, warmer, sterilizer, and ultra. Developed with the latest 3rd generation technology with an embedded microprocessor
Pros:
- Highly energy efficient
- Replaces the most kitchen appliances (ten of them)
- 11 safety mechanisms
Cons:
- None that we could see
#4. Instant Pot Lux 6-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
The Lux 6 can continuously cook up to 240 minutes pressure-cooking up to 24 hours delay start, automatic keep-warm up to 10 hours. It has 3 temperatures in sauté & slow cook. Stainless steel (18/8) inner cooking pot, food grade 304, with no chemical coating. This may be the best instant pot for the super health-conscious buyer, with the inner pot being made of food-grade stainless steel.
Accessories include a stainless steel steam rack, inner pot, rice spoon, and soup spoon. While this may not be the biggest range of accessories, it is probably all you need in the kitchen. Is this the best instant pot of 2020?
Pros:
- Stainless steel inner cooking pot
- Lots of accessories are included
- Has a 24-hour delay start
- 10 safety mechanisms
Cons:
- Nothing to report here
#5. Yedi 9-in-1 Total Package Instant Programmable Pressure Cooker
The Yedi can pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, make cakes, pasteurize, make yogurt, cook rice, and warm, all in one appliance. It’s a great looker in the kitchen and has the best range of included accessories, plus a great money-back guarantee if you have any issues with it.
Included is a tempered glass lid (perfect for slow cooking and sautéing) 2 egg racks/steaming trivets, ladle, rice paddle, cooking mitts, extra silicone sealing ring, stainless steel steaming basket, stainless steel inner cooking pot, and a measuring cup. This is a great value for the money.
Pros:
- Yedi mobile app has new recipes added each week
- Largest range of accessories
- 2-year money-back guarantee
Cons:
- If you are trying to save on space, you will need to find places to store all of the accessories.
#6. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
This is the most popular sized instant pot – it can serve up to six people. With 7 functions it’s a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute, yogurt maker, and warmer. Accessories include over 1000 recipes app, 250+ recipe and how-to online videos, 18/18 stainless steel inner pot, sealing ring, steam rack, soup spoon, rice paddle, and lid holder.
Over 1,800 people have reviewed this on Amazon, and given it a 4.8 (out of 5) star rating. This is the instant pot winner in the eyes of Amazon customers. It is worth considering with such a wide range of recipes included.
Pros:
- 10 safety mechanisms
- Good range of accessories which are dishwasher safe
- Excellent selection of recipes via the app
Cons:
- The color may not fit in with most kitchens
#7. Cuisinart CPC-600 6 Quart 1000 Watt Electric Pressure Cooker
The Cuisinart CPC-600 holds 6 quarts and is BPA free. As a multi-function cooker, it does everything you would expect, with settings for pressure cooking, browning, simmering, sauteing, and warming.
This is not as fancy as some of the other electric pressure cookers we have reviewed, but it does have a solid 3 year warranty period. This the best warranty period in our ten electric pressure cookers reviewed.
Pros:
- 3-year warranty
Cons:
- That
#8. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
This is a great size for most families, it serves up to 6 people and perfect for everyday meals. Replaces up to 7 appliances: combines 7 kitchen appliances in 1 to save you space, including pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute, yogurt maker, and warmer.
When opening the lid, the inner pot may adhere to the lid. This is caused by a vacuum due to cooling. To release the vacuum, move the steam release handle to the venting position
Accessories include – 1000+ recipe app, 250+ recipe and how-to online videos, 18/18 stainless steel inner pot, sealing ring, steam rack, Soup Spoon, rice paddle and lid holder. Accessories are dishwasher safe. Easy to clean: fingerprint-resistant stainless steel body
Pros:
- Easy to clean with fingerprint resistant stainless steel body
- Includes a good range of accessories
Cons:
- That
#9 Crock Pot 6 Quart 8 In 1 Multi-Use Express
If you have a big family or like to entertain, this 8-quart size feeds 10 plus people. The all in 1 appliance with additional functions like pressure cook, slow cook, brown, sauté, steam, as well as boil and simmer. It has a manual pressure function lets you set any cooking time at either high or low pressure, allowing you to customize recipes
Pros:
- Great value for a large family
- Non-stick cooking pot
- The cooking pot is dishwasher safe
Cons:
- Limited amount of accessories
#10. Crock-pot 8-Quart Multi-Use XL Express Crock
Another 8-quart size is the more recent model that we reviewed at #9. The claims made about both are very similar. Also as this is designed with an airtight locking lid that stays sealed under pressure for added safety, a delay start timer that offers you the flexibility to start at a later time, and a “warm” setting to keep your food at the ideal serving temperature.
Pros:
- Includes a keep warm option
Cons:
- This model is slightly more expensive as it is the most recent model
- Limited amount of accessories
Once you have purchased your Instant Pot, you may also require some additional accessories, and you may need some inspiration as to what to cook next. Here’s one of the best cookbooks with over 800 recipes to make the most of your new instant pot.
Is The Instant Pot Slow Cooker Safe To Use?
If you are still wondering whether instant pots are safe to use, they now have up to 14 different safety features. This was the biggest difference from the old pressure cookers to the new instant pots when they were designed over 12 years ago.
These pots might still whistle but their lids stay firmly on. The whistling only lasts about a minute until the seal takes hold.
When the cooking is complete, if you wait for the pressure to release naturally, there is no whistling or steam to be seen.
However, if you wish to, you can release the pressure, which will create a stream of steam for a minute or two while the steam build-up is released.
How Much Does An Instant Pot Cost?
The instant pots we reviewed varied from around $80 to $170. However, Amazon regularly applies discounts to instant pots as they are a top-selling item.
It pays to check the price on Amazon to see if you can grab yourself a discount. When compiling this review, some of these instant pot slow cookers were reduced by up to 50%.
Further Reviews:
We have more reviews for kitchen appliances right here: