Which Instant Pot is right for you?

Have you been on the fence about trying the Instant Pot? Are you intimidated by the different models, and wondering if it’s worth the investment? Friends, I’m here to help! Today I’m going to help you decide which Instant Pot is right for you. And then next week, I’ll share how to use your Instant Pot! Does it live up to all the hype? Stay tuned to find out!

First of all, here are some things the Instant Pot can do (see below for which models do what):

Make rice
Sauté
Pressure cook (my fave! I made chili in 30 minutes, and it tasted like it had been simmering all day!)
Slow cooks (no need for a slow cooker in addition to this)
Keeps warm (once your food is done cooking, it automatically clicks over to the “keep warm” setting)
Makes yogurt (certain models)
Steams

There are a few different versions of Instant Pot:

This is the one I have (The Lux):

Here are the deets:

6-In-1 multi-functional cooker (pressure cooker, sauté/browning, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer & warmer).
10 built-in smart programs: meat/stew, sauté, poultry, soup, bean/chili, congee, steam, multigrain, rice and slow cook with 3 adjustable modes
Delay cooking timer: up to 24-hour; Automatic keep-warm; Manual setting: up to 120 minute cook time; 3 temperatures for sauté/browning and slow cook

This is the lowest-priced model of Instant Pot, and typically sells for about $75.

Here’s the middle-of-the-road option (The Duo):

Here are the deets:

7-in-1 Multi-Functional Cooker–Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Saute/Browning, Yogurt Maker, Steamer & Warmer.
14 Micro-Processor controlled programs: Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Sauté, Steam, Rice, Porridge, Multigrain, Slow Cook, Keep-Warm, Yogurt, Pasteurize and Fermented Rice
Dual pressure settings (high and low) for fast and flexible cooking. Cooking with the high pressure reduces cooking time by up to 70% and the low pressure avoids overcooking delicate food.
Finger-print resistant brushed stainless steel exterior

The main differences between this model and the cheapest model are:

It has a yogurt maker
It has a few more options like pasteurize and fermented rice

This model typically sells for around $120, but goes on sale quite often on Amazon. You can read more about it HERE.

The Mercedes Benz Instant Pot (The Smart):

Here are the deets:

It has everything that the middle-of-the-road Instant Pot has, plus:

Program and monitor cooking with a free app from Android/iPhone/iPad; Expand functionality by upgrading the free app and adding other recipe apps
The Smart app lets you dictate specific temperatures and times in your recipes in unlimited sequences. You can control exactly what temperature it reaches, how long it’s held, and whether to turn off the pressure cooker or move on to the next temperature setting using “recipe scripts”. If you aren’t a techie person and need your kid to use your TV, this model may not be for you.

This model typically costs about $180, but again, often goes on sale on Amazon. Again, please note: If you aren’t a techie person and need your kid to use your TV, this model may not be for you. You can read more HERE.

In summary:

If you don’t care about ever making yogurt, the Lux is probably the best model for you. Want to experiment with making yogurt, and have the capability of changing the pressure setting from high to low? The Duo is probably your best bet. If you want all the bells & whistles, love utilizing technology, and aren’t intimidated by a bit of a learning curve, then the Smart is probably for you!

Keep an eye on Amazon, especially as we approach the holidays, and your model may go on sale, saving you even more money!

Stay tuned for another Instant Pot post coming up…”How to use your Instant Pot!”

Which Instant Pot is right for you?