Best Instant Pots
Updated How we research
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker, 6 Quart
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 multicooker in 6 Quart, a feature-rich size for couples and small families.
Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid 14-in-1
Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt pressure cooker steam fryer with SmartLid and 14-in-1 functions for all-in-one cooking.
An Instant Pot is a meal prepper's shortcut to big batches of beans, shredded chicken, grains, and stews in a fraction of the usual time. One appliance pressure cooks, sautés, and slow cooks, which means you can build the protein and base for a week of meals without babysitting the stove. For hands-off batch cooking, it is hard to beat. The decisions come down to capacity, the number of built-in programs, and whether extras like an air-fry lid are worth it. Below we compare sizes for singles versus families, models with simpler controls, and feature-packed units so you can match the cooker to how much you prep each week.
The short version
We compared 8 picks. Our scores range from 8.4 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker, 6 Quart. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart, Stainless Steel. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Solid build:Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid 14-in-1. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.7/10.
- Feature-rich:Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 8 Quart. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.6/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker, 6 Quart8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid 14-in-18.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 6 Quart, Stainless Steel8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 8 Quart8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-Quart Whisper Quiet 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 8 Quart8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 6 Quart, 15 Programs, Ceramic Non-Stick Inner Pot8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 8.Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate 6.5 Qt 13-in-1 Pressure Cooker + Air Fryer | Roasts, dehydrates, bakes, proofs dough, steams, slow cooks and sautés.8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 multicooker in 6 Quart, a feature-rich size for couples and small families.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 6 Quart size suits most batch cooking without being bulky
- + 9-in-1 functions cover pressure, slow, steam, rice and more
- + Popular size means plenty of compatible accessories
- - Costs more than the basic Duo for modes some cooks will skip
- - Still needs a separate appliance for crisping and browning big batches
#2Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt pressure cooker steam fryer with SmartLid and 14-in-1 functions for all-in-one cooking.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 10/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + SmartLid switches between pressure cooking and air frying in one unit
- + 14-in-1 functions replace several appliances for meal prep
- + 8 Qt capacity handles large batches with crisping on top
- - Bulky, heavy unit needs dedicated counter space
- - More functions mean a steeper learning curve than simple cookers
#3Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker in 6 Quart stainless steel, the classic batch cooking workhorse.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 6 Quart size cooks beans, grains and stews for a week of meals
- + 7-in-1 functions include pressure cooking, slow cooking and rice
- + Stainless steel inner pot avoids nonstick coating wear
- - Learning pressure release and timing takes a few practice runs
- - No air fryer lid, so crisping requires another appliance
#4Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 electric pressure cooker in 8 Quart for families who want extra cooking modes.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 9-in-1 functions add modes like sterilizing and yogurt making
- + 8 Quart pot handles large batches of soup, rice and pulled meats
- + Duo Plus display gives clearer progress info while cooking
- - Extra functions go unused if you mainly pressure cook
- - Heavy and bulky to move when the pot is full
#5Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-Quart Whisper Quiet 9-in-1 electric pressure cooker with a quieter steam release.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Whisper Quiet release makes venting less startling in the kitchen
- + 8-Quart capacity suits large family meals and batch prep
- + 9-in-1 functions cover nearly every one-pot meal prep method
- - Large size is more than solo cooks need for daily meals
- - Quieter venting is a nice-to-have that adds to the price
#6Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker in 8 Quart size for larger families and big batch prep.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 8 Quart capacity handles whole chickens and big bone broth batches
- + Same trusted Duo controls as the popular smaller model
- + Larger pot is ideal for doubling meal prep recipes
- - Takes longer to come to pressure than smaller models
- - Big footprint needs counter or cupboard space to store
#7Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 6 Quart with 15 Programs and a ceramic non-stick inner pot for easier cleanup.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Ceramic non-stick inner pot releases rice and sauces more easily
- + 15 Programs offer presets for common meal prep staples
- + 6 Quart size is the sweet spot for most households
- - Ceramic coating needs gentle utensils to avoid scratches
- - Non-stick finish wears over time, unlike a stainless pot
#8Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate 6.5 qt 13-in-1 pressure cooker and air fryer, with one lid that pressure cooks and air fries, plus roast, bake, dehydrate and sous vide.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 13 functions include pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, steam, sauté, roast, bake, dehydrate and sous vide.
- + One lid switches between pressure cooking and air frying, so no attachments are needed.
- + Dishwasher-safe pressure cooking cover, air frying rack and cooking pot, with a clear steam release prompt.
- - At about $220 it is a premium pick and costs well above basic Instant Pot models.
- - A 6.5 qt pot is smaller than the 8 qt Ninja combo it replaces, which matters for large batch cooking.
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Costs more than the basic Duo for modes some cooks will skip (Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker, 6 Quart)
- Bulky, heavy unit needs dedicated counter space (Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker...)
- Learning pressure release and timing takes a few practice runs (Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure...)
- Extra functions go unused if you mainly pressure cook (Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Electric Pressure...)
- Large size is more than solo cooks need for daily meals (Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-Quart Whisper Quiet...)
- Takes longer to come to pressure than smaller models (Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among instant pots?
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker, 6 Quart is our top overall pick. Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 multicooker in 6 Quart, a feature-rich size for couples and small families. It earns our score of 8.8/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt. Pressure Cooker Steam Fryer with SmartLid 14-in-1 is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Ninja OL601 Foodi XL 8 Qt pressure cooker steam fryer with SmartLid and 14-in-1 functions for all-in-one cooking.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Meal Prep Gear Hub independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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