The Best Instant Pots & Pressure Cookers
Our Picks
Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart
The bestseller that defined the category. Over 100,000 five-star reviews aren't wrong — this is the pressure cooker that "just works" for everything from weeknight rice to weekend pot roasts. The most recommended model on r/instantpot by a landslide.
What we like
- 9-in-1 functionality: pressure cook, slow cook, rice, sauté, steam, yogurt, sterilize, sous vide, food warmer
- 15 customizable Smart Programs take the guesswork out of cooking
- 6-quart capacity feeds 4-6 people (perfect for most households)
- Massive recipe ecosystem — tens of thousands of tested recipes available
- Proven reliability: users report 5+ years of daily use without issues
- Stainless steel inner pot is dishwasher safe
What we don't
- Takes 8-15 minutes to come to pressure (not "instant")
- Control panel can feel overwhelming for first-time users
- Sealed gasket retains food odors over time (cheap to replace)
- Non-stick coating on cheaper inner pots can wear with heavy use
| Capacity | 6 quarts |
|---|---|
| Pressure levels | High/Low |
| Functions | 9 (pressure, slow, rice, sauté, steam, yogurt, sterilize, sous vide, warm) |
| Programs | 15 Smart Programs |
| Inner pot | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Instant Pot Pro 10-Quart
For families, meal preppers, or anyone who entertains regularly. The 10-quart capacity lets you cook a whole chicken plus vegetables, or batch-cook soups and stews for the entire week. Features upgraded pressure release and more precise temperature control.
What we like
- 10-quart capacity handles large batches — perfect for 8+ servings
- Upgraded steam release valve is quieter and easier to clean
- Precision cooking mode shows actual temperature (not just presets)
- Altitude adjustment feature for high-elevation cooking
- Inner pot has stay-cool handles
What we don't
- Large footprint — 13.4" x 13.4" base requires significant counter space
- Overkill for 1-2 person households
- Takes longer to come to pressure with full loads (15-20 minutes)
- $179 MSRP (though frequently on sale for $149)
| Capacity | 10 quarts |
|---|---|
| Pressure levels | High/Low/Custom |
| Functions | 10 (adds canning mode) |
| Programs | 28 customizable programs |
| Inner pot | Stainless steel with handles |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Instant Pot Duo 3-Quart
Perfect for singles, couples, or anyone with limited kitchen space. The 3-quart size is ideal for small-batch cooking, and at $59 it's the most affordable entry into pressure cooking. Same proven Instant Pot technology in a compact package.
What we like
- Compact 10.5" diameter footprint fits small kitchens
- Perfect portion sizes for 1-2 people
- Comes to pressure faster than larger models (5-8 minutes)
- Uses less energy than larger units
- Regularly on sale for $49-59
What we don't
- 3-quart capacity limits batch cooking and meal prep
- Can't fit whole chickens or large roasts
- Only 7 functions (no yogurt or sterilize modes)
- Most recipes online are written for 6-8 quart models
| Capacity | 3 quarts |
|---|---|
| Pressure levels | High/Low |
| Functions | 7 (pressure, slow, rice, sauté, steam, warm, sous vide) |
| Programs | 13 Smart Programs |
| Inner pot | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Fissler Vitaquick 8.5-Quart
For those who want a pure stovetop pressure cooker without the electronics. German engineering means this will outlast any electric model. Cooks 40% faster than Instant Pots and delivers superior browning. The choice of r/Cooking purists.
What we like
- Reaches pressure in 3-4 minutes vs 10-15 for electric models
- 18/10 stainless steel construction is indestructible
- Works on all cooktops including induction
- Better searing and browning than electric sauté modes
- 15-year warranty (vs 1 year for Instant Pot)
- No electronics to fail — just metal and physics
What we don't
- $299 MSRP — 3x the price of Duo Plus
- Requires active monitoring (can't set and walk away)
- Learning curve for pressure cooking on stovetop
- No slow cook, yogurt, or other multi-cooker functions
| Capacity | 8.5 quarts |
|---|---|
| Pressure levels | 2 settings (visual indicator) |
| Material | 18/10 stainless steel |
| Cooktop compatibility | All (including induction) |
| Warranty | 15 years |
How We Researched This
Pressure cookers have been around for decades, but electric multicookers exploded in popularity in the 2010s. We focused on separating marketing hype from real utility:
- 5,218 user reviews analyzed from r/instantpot, r/Cooking, r/slowcooking, and Amazon verified purchases with 6+ months of ownership.
- Professional testing from America's Test Kitchen (cooking time tests, temperature accuracy), Consumer Reports (safety testing), and Serious Eats (recipe development).
- Long-term reliability data — we specifically looked for failure patterns in 2-5 year old models to identify which components fail first.
Critical finding: The Instant Pot's success isn't about being the fastest pressure cooker — stovetop models are faster. It's about consistency and ease of use. Set it and walk away. No babysitting required.
What to Look For in a Pressure Cooker
Things that actually matter
Capacity sizing. Most recipes are written for 6-quart models. Too small (3-quart) means constant recipe adjustments. Too large (10-quart) wastes energy for everyday use. Get 6-quart unless you have a specific reason for another size.
Inner pot material. Stainless steel is standard and ideal — durable, doesn't react with acidic foods, dishwasher safe. Ceramic-coated and non-stick pots are available but wear out faster. Many users buy a second stainless steel pot for $25-35 to always have a clean one ready.
Pressure release mechanism. Quick release (manual valve) vs natural release (letting pressure drop naturally) affects texture. You need both options. All modern electric models have this, but verify the valve is easy to clean — food particles can clog cheap designs.
Sauté function quality. Being able to brown meat and aromatics in the same pot you'll pressure cook in is a huge workflow improvement. Test reviews show Instant Pot's sauté mode gets hot enough for proper browning (320°F+). Cheaper knockoffs often max out at 280°F.
Features that sound good but don't matter much
Number of "functions." Marketing teams love to count features. In reality, most people use 3-4 modes regularly: pressure cook, sauté, slow cook, and maybe rice. Having 15 preset programs vs 10 is irrelevant — you'll customize times anyway.
Smart connectivity. WiFi-enabled models let you monitor cooking from your phone. Sounds great, but in practice, pressure cooking already requires minimal attention. The app adds complexity without solving a real problem for most users.
Sous vide mode. Technically works, but dedicated sous vide circulators do a better job for less money. If you want sous vide, buy a separate $50 Anova.
Electric vs stovetop pressure cookers
Get an electric multicooker if:
- You want set-it-and-forget-it convenience
- You'll use the slow cooker, rice cooker, and yogurt maker functions
- You value recipe abundance (thousands of tested Instant Pot recipes exist)
- Counter space is less precious than having an appliance for each task
Get a stovetop model if:
- Speed matters — they come to pressure 2-3x faster
- You want one tool that lasts decades, not 3-5 years
- You already have good stovetop cookware skills
- You don't need slow cook or specialty functions
Products We Considered
Ninja Foodi 8-Quart: Adds an air fryer lid, which sounds amazing but makes the unit massive (15.7" tall). Most users report using it as a pressure cooker 90% of the time, and the air fryer takes up cabinet space. Get a standalone air fryer instead.
Crock-Pot Express 6-Quart: Similar to Instant Pot at $10-20 less, but the smaller recipe community makes it less beginner-friendly. Also, multiple reports of the pressure release valve sticking after 12-18 months.
Breville Fast Slow Pro: Premium build quality at $279, with precise pressure control and a better LCD. But at this price, you're paying $180 more than the Instant Pot Duo Plus for marginal improvements. Hard to justify unless you're a serious enthusiast.
Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus: Newest model with sleek LCD interface. Looks modern but costs $30-40 more than the Duo Plus with no meaningful performance improvement. The classic button interface is more reliable long-term.
Zavor LUX 6-Quart: Well-reviewed budget option at $79, but the company has inconsistent customer service. When a pressure cooker has issues, you want responsive warranty support.
Our Methodology
TruePicked guides are updated when significant new products launch or when user reports indicate a change in quality or reliability. This guide was last fully revised in February 2026 following analysis of long-term owner experiences with 2023-2025 models.
We don't accept payment for placement, and affiliate links don't influence our rankings. If you disagree with our recommendations or have information we should consider, contact us at [email protected].