10 Best Instant Pots 2025 in the United States

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is a versatile kitchen appliance that brings 9 cooking functions into one compact unit, making it an excellent choice for busy individuals or families looking to simplify meal preparation. With its ability to pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, and even make yogurt, it caters well to a variety of cooking styles and preferences. This model boasts a 6-quart capacity, ideal for feeding up to 6 people, which is particularly beneficial for growing families or anyone who enjoys meal prepping.

One of the standout features is its improved stress-free venting system, which simplifies the steam release process, enhancing user safety and convenience. The easy-to-read display with a full cooking progress bar is a thoughtful addition, providing real-time feedback during cooking. The inclusion of 15 customizable Smart Programs allows users to quickly prepare diverse dishes, from hearty soups to desserts, essentially offering a cooking solution for all occasions.

Cleaning is also a breeze, thanks to the fingerprint-resistant stainless steel exterior and dishwasher-safe inner pot and accessories. Safety is prioritized with over 10 safety features, including overheat protection and a safe-locking lid, making it a trustworthy option for new and experienced cooks alike. While the Instant Pot Duo Plus is user-friendly, some beginners may still find the multitude of features overwhelming at first, necessitating a bit of a learning curve. Additionally, although it is designed to cook meals up to 70% faster than traditional methods, some dishes may require adjustments and experimentation to achieve the best results.

The Instant Pot RIO Wide Base is a versatile 7.5-quart multi-cooker suitable for families or anyone preparing large meals. Its standout feature is the wide sauté area, offering more cooking space than a typical 12-inch skillet, which makes browning meats or cooking bigger dishes like a 5-pound chicken or ribs easier. The 7-in-1 functionality includes pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, yogurt making, and warming, providing flexibility for many meal types.

It includes 13 smart recipes that adjust cooking automatically, helping beginners start without guesswork. The whisper-quiet steam release contributes to a less noisy kitchen experience, and safety is enhanced by controlled steam release via a remote button, reducing burn risks. The cooking progress indicator and guided assistant on the display simplify monitoring and following recipes step-by-step, which benefits users seeking a more hands-off approach. Cleaning is convenient thanks to a dishwasher-safe cooking pot and lid, while the heavy-duty stainless steel pot with a tri-ply bottom supports good heat distribution and durability.

On the downside, the Instant Pot RIO is relatively heavy and bulky, which might be difficult for small kitchens or frequent moving. It is not stovetop or oven safe, so some cooking techniques requiring those methods are not possible. Additionally, while the guided display is helpful, users wanting very simple button controls might initially find it a bit more complex. This Instant Pot is ideal for those looking for a large, feature-rich multi-cooker with smart cooking guidance and quiet operation, especially useful for preparing family-sized meals with less hassle.

The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker is a versatile kitchen appliance that combines seven cooking functions, making it suitable for both quick meals and slow-cooked favorites. One of its standout features is the 13 customizable Smart Programs, allowing you to easily prepare a variety of dishes like ribs, soups, and desserts with just one touch. The ability to pressure cook meals up to 70% faster than traditional methods can be a real time-saver for busy households, while the slow cooking option is perfect for traditional recipes that require longer cooking times.

The 6-quart capacity is ideal for families or for meal prepping, making it convenient for batch cooking. Its safety features, including overheat protection and a safe-locking lid, give users peace of mind during use. Cleaning is also straightforward, with stainless-steel sides that resist fingerprints and parts that are dishwasher safe.

This Instant Pot excels in many areas, but it might pose a learning curve for first-time users not familiar with pressure cooking. The 6-quart size may be limiting for larger families or gatherings. Some users might find the interface a bit overwhelming at first, given the number of options available.