Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker – Everything You Need to Know

Last Updated on October 14, 2021 by Boniface Muriuki

Instant pot vs pressure cooker? This is a common quagmire that faces cooking enthusiasts! It’s relatively challenging for many people to differentiate between these two cooking equipment.

We’ll save you the hassle by providing a highly detailed instant pot vs pressure cooker guide based on personal experiences, reviews, and a combination of many other factors . This will undoubtedly offer you the most reliable insights on instant pot vs pressure cooker purchase.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker: Crucial Details You Should Know

As its name suggests, an instant pot is the opposite of a slow cooker. In other words, it’s an electric pot with a steamer basket (optional) that uses high pressure to cook your favorite dishes.

On the contrary:

A pressure cooker is an enclosed pot that generates pressure to cook food in a short time. This cooker uses does not necessarily use electricity.

And by the way:

Modern-day instant pot and pressure cookers do not produce that screeching and high-pitched sound and are designed with safety measures to reduce excess pressure build-up.

They feature a significant improvement in terms of steam spitting, rattling pots, and noise that many households were familiar with.

Compared to other different cooking methods, like steaming, boiling, and baking, these appliances can reduce energy usage and your cook time by 70%. However, let’s have in-depth differences between the two.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cookers: What are the Key Differences  

It wouldn’t make any comparison sense if we fail to look at differences in specific features that matter for every cook. As such, we’ll start by analyzing their differences:

Slow Cooker 

Do you want to try out recipes that require slow cooking? Well, a majority of instant pots come with a slow cooker function that’ll certainly sort you out effectively.

On the contrary, regular pressure cookers don’t have the slow cooker function.

Control Panels

Normal-pressure cookers lack a control panel, but modern instant pots come with a control panel and make them easy to understand and straight forward. This feature will help you get the best out of the cooker.

You can choose whatever food you are cooking using an appropriately labeled button, set the cooking time, and voila! Everything will run as expected.

Also, you can turn the steam release knob located on the right position for guaranteed safety throughout the cooking session.

Cooking Functions 

Instant pot vs Pressure cooker, which cooks better? Well, modern instant pots take the lead on this.

What makes them incredibly desirable is their multiple features, multitasking abilities, and enhanced safety measures.

Delay Timer Function

This is a unique feature that comes in handy with a cooking pot to ensure that the food is always hot and ready to eat anytime you get home.

It gives you a proper plan. An instant pot comes with a delay timer, and that’s why they have taken the market by storm. With this feature on your pot, you can cook fast foods such as oatmeal.

Many regular pressure cookers lack the delay timer feature.

Top 5 Instant Pots for the Money

I. DUO 7-In-1 Instant Pot

This excellent cooking appliance comes with an updated third-generation microprocessor system that’s essential in regulating temperature, heat intensity, and pressure. These features will boost consistency and food quality.

It comes with a competitive price (without sacrificing essential functions and quality). It cooks fast as well as saving energy and features a multitude of features that distinguishes it from low-priced traditional picks.

Instant pot DUO has manual settings and comes with presets located on the control panel that you can use to slow cook and sauté. It has a stainless steel cooking pot that’s dishwasher safe, making this handy kitchen appliance stand above the nonstick rivals.

It does not matter what you cook, it’s an easy to clean product, and the good news is that there are no hazardous chances that will chip off and fall in your food. Some users love it as it reheats soups and cooks frozen meat. There’s no need for defrosting your diet first.

Pros 

• It has large and an easy-to-use control panel
• Has a durable body frame and material for longevity
• Has an excellent performance
• Sold at a pocket-friendly price

Cons 

• Not best for canning
• It’s fragile

 2. Instant Pot Bluetooth 7-in-1

With this smart instant pot that’s blue-tooth enabled, you’ll have your favorite food cooked according to your expectations. It keeps your food warm as it has an automatic keep-warm function.

The three temperature manual level settings (more, less, standard) it can withhold your food at a favorable temperature until serving time. Not only that, but it also has a 6-quart capacity that’s a definite boon, especially if you have a thanksgiving spread to prepare, and you lack a space to juggle all your meals.

Notably, it’s a third-generation model that comes with an in-built microprocessor that’s essential in making the cooking process 2-6 times shorter. It consumes 79% less energy and produces meals with consistent results.

Its Bluetooth app allows you to monitor the cooking process from your smartphone. Apart from using the Bluetooth app to track your food, you can add descriptions and serving ideas to the phone.

Smart cookers have ten safety mechanisms to detect and reduce dangerous errors. A big thanks to the three-ply stainless steel pot bottom. Any chances of nonstick coating are reduced.

Pros 

• Delivers consistent results
• Comes with a modern technology
• Durable and elegant industrial design
• Easy touch controls

Cons

• It’s quite pricey
• Cleaning can be a challenge

3. Duo Plus Mini 9-in-1

DUO plus mini is meant for kitchen lovers looking for an excellent degree of control and customization for an even and precise cooking. With their small size, they can make themselves a tremendous low-key on the kitchen countertop.

And with this size, it will still deliver ten safety mechanisms as those of larger appliances. This will give you an easy time when you’re preparing your meals. Above all, it’s a perfect pick for the first time owners as it features a pocket-friendly price.

This mini version instant pot comes with three pongs, an electric cord as well as two pressure cooking levels. It’s a great pick that functions as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, egg cooker, sterilizer, and a warmer.

It has quality components such as the nonstick and the stainless bottle, which acts as a win-win for reliability, ease of clean up, and durability. If you make a comparison with other basic instant pots, this one is user-friendly and a big thanks to the readable LCD screen.

Pros 

• It’s an excellent cooker for shredded pork or chicken
• It’s budget-friendly
• Speeds up cooking

Cons 

• It may be hard to understand every feature
• The capacity is small

4. Instant pot Ultra 10-in-1 (multipurpose)

This versatile instant pot can do everything you may want to cook in the kitchen. And it does everything entirely stepping over the other cheap electric pressure cookers.

This cooker comes with a useful LED display that’s easy to read and bright. It helps in adjustability and ease of access. Additionally, the preheating, warmth, and cooking graph are essential prompts in this cooker. It comes with audio jingles that alert you on the status of the cooker lid.

Unlike other instant pots, this product comes with a vacuum and custom temperature capabilities. It features an auto sealing valve, extra cooking programs, a large screen, a steam reset button, and a cooking indicator, all to control the temperature of the cooking food.

It has the latest 3rd generation technology that has an embedded microprocessor that monitors the temperature and pressure as well as keeping time. The exterior part is brushed with a stainless steel fingerprint resistant and a lid folder if you are a right-handed user.

Pros 

• Comes with a large LCD
• Multiple uses
• Efficient energy consumption

Cons 

• Its programming instructions are not clear
• Doesn’t come with other unique features like flavor infusion technology

5. Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 9-in-1 

The best must even get better. This instant pot Evo Plus has the latest evolution. It has more than 20 enhancements and performs the best in the class. It’s easy to use a cooker for kitchen newbies. The good news is, if you live in a large family set up, then this is the best pick.

Evo plus saves your energy as it has a fast cooking time and can cook your food up to 70% faster compared to traditional pots. It features a new 1400w element that reduces the preheating time, thus preparing your food more quickly.

QuickCool technology is essential in shortening the pressure release time. The stainless steel inner pot is critical in durability purposes and comes with an easy-grip non-slip handle with the inner flat surface.

Its redesigned ideal sauté results, healthy to use, very easy to clean, and more so, it’s a dishwasher safe. The bright LED display is angled to make easy readability. Its cooking indicator shows you the cooking cycle, and the ergonomic lid remains out of the way when the cooker is stored in an upright manner on the base rim.

Pros 

· A portable instant pot

· High-quality material for durability

Cons 

· Can be dangerous if you don’t follow the safety precautions

Top 5 Pressure Cookers for The Money

1. T-fal P25107 

This is one of the fantastic pressure cookers that you will fall in love with. It comes with a durable stainless steel body for longevity. The riveted handles are best for securing grip and providing safety when handling and transporting it.

Nevertheless, it has a secure locking lid that makes it easy-to-use and safe to use in the kitchen. The steam release valve controls monitors the steam release for additional safety. This cooker will not open when under pressure or when in use.

Its patented BugLock Zipper comes with a secure seal to prevent bed bugs from getting inside when not in use. The miracle membrane surface also protects bedbugs from feeding across the fabric.

2. Presto 01781 23-Quart Pressure Canner and Cooker

If you hate the noisy sound produced by the traditional pressure cookers, then this is your best pick. It has an automated lid-locking mechanism with a safety release back up to give you the ultimate peace of mind.

It features a spring-loaded valve with a large knob marked with properly visible red lines to make you see at a glance whether the cooker has reached the desired pressure.

It comes with two pressure-release valves with a pressure indicator and an instruction book with recipes. Many love it as it saves up to 70% of the energy consumed when cooking.

3. Ninja FD401 Foodi 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker

Are you a flavor freak? Well, you are in the right place. This eye-catching pressure cooker comes with four cooking functions: stovetop, slow cook, bake, and steam. You can cook food in a better way than how a traditional slow cooker can.

It has a triple fusion heat that includes side heat, bottom heat, and steam. It’s easy to clean a 8-quart pot that can hold food enough for your family. Also, it comes with programmable temperature and time functions. This will help in precise cooking.

It’s a portable pressure and can also be used in outdoor cooking solutions.

4. HAWKIN Classic CL3T 3-Liter New Improved Aluminum Pressure Cooker

This is an excellent unit that has a smart timer that will alert you quickly with the sound. It has four cooking programs that are meant for cooking different recipes such as grains, vegetables, soups, seafood, and desserts as well.

It has an aluminum base with a critical induction that provides the warp-free energy with full compatibility. Moreover, it comes with five safety features that ideally fit the needs of every user.

Additionally, the three beeps mechanism will let you know anytime the lid needs to be lifted. It features an easy to follow heat management system.

5. Mirro 92122 92122A Polished Aluminum 5/10 / 15-PSI Pressure Cooker

This Mirro pressure cooker is built with a sturdy aluminum material to add longevity and follows the traditional way of cooking food but 50% faster. It has a convenient locking rim that accommodates the lid to keep it safe in any condition.

In addition to that, it has a one-touch flexible button that covers the locks at the same time, unlocking the system. Maintaining and cleaning this pressure cooker is simply a walk inside the park. It comes with a dishwasher safe.

It has a convenient indicator that shows you the exact cooking time. Also, this pressure cooker releases the maximum pressure needed using the valve and determine the proper setting as well for a delightful cooking experience.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker. Which Should I Buy?

Instant pot vs pressure cooker? Both are vital appliances for many kitchen folks. So far, both have two things in common: they cook nutritious meals with a reduced amount of effort. Both are very easy to clean and are compact in weight to match your kitchen decor.

With both featuring safety measures, they are straightforward to use, providing you with many years of reliable performance. Never be worried about the chances of fire disasters or explosions during the operation.

And that’s why both of these products have gained popularity. However, to make things clear, to make you understand which product you can go for, let’s first look at the features of each,

Pressure Cookers 

• Safe Lock Lids: The safety lids are lockable and help in reducing any chances of disaster. They cannot be opened, and thus, there are no chances of pressure escaping.
• Some pressure cooker brands come with a safety lid lock where you can push a button to allow for pressure build-up in the container. They can only release the lock when pressure levels go down, and then you can open the lid.
• Pressure Valves: Pressure cookers come with the most updated pressure valves, which makes them safe to use. These valves suppress unnecessary vibrations and noise while cooking.
• Construction: Aluminum containers are very reactive to food. Therefore, pressure cookers have a thick density stainless steel material that’s used to defy high pressure when cooking.
• Three-ply encapsulated base: They are designed with a feature to ensure that pressure is somewhat heated and distributed. Lowers any chances of developing hotspot inside the pot.

Instant Pot 

• Dual Pressure Settings: These are essential in cooking foods that require high pressure to reduce the cooking time to 70%. Also, the pressure settings can be adjusted and cut to minimize the overcooking of your delicate foods.
• Three Temperature Manual Level Settings: You can regulate the desired food temperature for perfect and delicious results.
• Ultra-Modern Developed: This is a 3rd generation technology that features an embedded microprocessor. When cooking, this feature will monitor the temperature and pressure, helps in keeping time, checks on the volume of food, and heat intensity.
• Bluetooth: Some models of instant pots come with a Bluetooth feature that you can connect to your smartphone and monitor your food from the phone.
• Safety Features: Instant pots come with ten safety mechanisms that help in detecting and reducing dangerous errors that might be incurred during the cooking process.
• Durable Finish: Their exterior parts are brushed with stainless steel material and are fingerprint resistant and rustproof to enhance longevity and adding more beauty to the pot.

They have a sterilize program that can help you sterilize baby products, utensils, jars, and pasteurize dairy products. You can as well perform some canning. The cake maker is essential in preparing moist and soft cakes.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker: Our Pick

Our pick is instant pot!

The best thing to consider is, how will you use the pressure cooker? But in our view, whether pressure cooker vs. instant hot comparison goes, our pick is the instant pot.

An instant pot has a control panel that makes it easy to use even by the newbies. It speeds your cooking time, a breeze to clean and performs. Additionally, it has a LED control panel, and the interior building is made of stainless steel material to add durability.

The instant pot takes the lead as they are ULC and UL certified and have ten safety components giving you peace of mind.

Instant Pot vs Pressure Cooker: The Final Verdict 

Phew! There lacks no doubt that instant pot cookers are great products. They function correctly and will perform well and make significant differences. If you value and convenience, and durability, then automatically instant pots are the way to go.

Believe it or not!

What you’ll receive from these kitchen appliances is tons of tasty foods that will remind you how your granny used to prepare dinners, sounds incredible!

On the other hand, our best instant pot pick in this guide is the Instant Pot Bluetooth 7-in-1. It’s an excellent and affordable kitchen appliance that’s easy to use and will boost your cooking experience. You can even control your food and check the progress using a smartphone.

It’s worth your penny.