Instant Pot Review

At this time of year, stews and slow cooker meals are on the menu, so I was more than happy to review the Instant Pot!

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There are lots of questions when it comes to buying a large kitchen gadget, such as the Instant Pot. I asked our Facebook Group members some of the things they wanted to know before buying one so I could (hopefully!) answer all of their questions!

 

I love being able to bung everything in one pot and forget about it, but I find slow cooking can be too, errrrm, slow!

I’m also pretty indecisive about what to have for dinner and so having to decide at breakfast time is generally impossible, which makes slow cooking a bit tricky for me!

What is an Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice/porridge maker, steamer, sauté/browning, yogurt maker and warmer all in one.

 

They’re so good that even Michel Roux jr has an Instant Pot in his kitchen!

It makes cooking delicious stews and whole joints of meat sooooo quick. You can cook an entire meal in one pot! I love any kitchen gadget which saves on washing up!

Is the Instant Pot difficult to use?

I’m not going to lie, there are quite a few settings and functions for the Instant Pot which involve different buttons. However, the settings are very straight forward and the instructions are clear.

 

There are several pre-programmed settings depending on what you are cooking, which work well and are easy to use, but using a manual setting when cooking at high pressure really couldn’t be easier.

Standard timings for lots and lots of food items are all in the booklet which comes with the Instant Pot, and all of our Instant Pot recipes will tell you which buttons to press and when!

The Instant Pot also has a sauté setting which means you can brown meat or veg in it first, rather than having to use a frying pan and transfer them over.

What size of Instant Pot should I buy?

There are 2 sizes of Instant Pot –  a 6 litre or 8 litre. I have the 6 litre which easily feeds a family of 4, normally with left overs!

You can even cook a 20 Minute Whole Chicken in a 6 litre Instant Pot, which would easily feed a whole family!

If you’ve got a large family, or you’re looking to batch cook (and perhaps double up our recipes) then it would be worth considering an 8 litre Instant Pot.

What can I cook in the Instant Pot?

I’m yet to find something you can’t cook in the Instant Pot! From meat and stews to pasta and rice – it is so versatile, and most importantly, reliable.

The Instant Pot is able to cook meat and food from frozen too, so those last minute decisions aren’t a problem!

There are certain foods which you have to be careful of when cooking in the Instant Pot – certain pulses, fruits and pasta.

It is recommended that you only fill the Instant Pot half full with these as they can splutter when cooking and clog up the steam release valve.

We’ve got loads of recipes which use the Instant Pot!

This Caribbean Jerk Stew is a dinner that’ll keep you warm, is super thrifty and takes under an hour to make in the Instant Pot!

Lamb Scouse is a hearty, warming, comforting stew to warm up those Autumn and Winter months. And all this deliciousness in around 50 minutes!!

You can also make quick soups in the Instant Pot too – like this Pea and Ham Soup, which only takes 30 minutes!

This Beef Ragu Fettuccine is a firm favourite – like a proper beefed up, meaty bolognese – rich and tender meat in only 30 minutes!

Find all of our Instant Pot recipes here.

How does the Instant Pot compare to a standard pressure cooker or slow cooker?

The Instant Pot is a very safe pressure cooker. Being that it is electric, the pressure is well controlled and there are automatic shut offs which avoid any potentially dangerous situations.

 

The Instant Pot has a slow cooker setting too.

This setting is more sophisticated than a standard slow cooker as there are 3 temperature settings which actually control the temperature – most slow cookers do not maintain an even temperature which can make cooking in them a little unpredictable.

The added bonus is, you only need one gadget, saving space and money!

How does the Instant Pot compare to other electric pressure cookers?

In my opinion, the Instant Pot is far superior to the other electric pressure cookers around.

The price for a 6 litre Instant Pot, is comparable to other makes in the same size, but the Instant Pot has more functions and, in my opinion, performs better.

The Instant Pot also has extra accessories available to purchase for it, where as other electric pressure cookers do not have these. This makes the Instant Pot more customisable, increases its usefulness and adds additional functions!

The Instant Pot only comes in the standard silver and black. Other electric pressure cookers are available in different colours.

Overall, I’ve found the Instant Pot to be a kitchen gadget which I cannot do without!

 

How much is the Instant Pot & where do I get one?

Considering the Instant Pot combines several kitchen gadgets the price isn’t that bad at all. They retail for £60-120 depending on where and when you buy one.

My number 1 tip would be to wait to Black Friday to buy one from Amazon!

Prices on Black Friday have been as low as £70 so it’s most certainly worth waiting.

Other pressure cookers, such as the Pressure King Pro, might be cheaper, but the after sales, and reviews for the Instant Pot are just FAR superior in my opinion.

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