I'm thinking about getting an instant pot

[Callalily]

Any pros? Any cons? I guess I'd have to rethink the way I cook. And sometimes it's cathartic to stand by the stove stirring a pot of yummy stuff and inhaling the aromas.

I'm torn!

[TruckFump]

1. Glad you posted this.

I have been thinking about this, too.

[madaboutharry]

2. It is a very nice thing to have.

I love mine. It is so easy and everything comes out great. I bought an additional insert that is coated and easy to clean.

It is nice to have when you don’t feel like doing anything labor intensive.

[SheltieLover]

3. Me too!

Ty for raising this topic!

[CincyDem]

4. Got one 6 months ago. Love it.

Great for one pot meals, soups, stews.

Get the 6qt. More accessories vs the 3 or the 8. We got the top version for flexibility in presets and things like sauté temp settings. I think it was 15 bucks more that the mid tier. Basic looked a little sparse on features.

Good luck.

[Dave in VA]

5. We enjoy ours

Have had one for about 2 years and use it about once a week.

Lots of YouTube videos that you can check out and see if it is something that could be useful for you. Neighbor purchased one when we did and used it once and then sold it to someone at her church. Its a tool and not everyone needs one.

Good luck!

[Dawgman49]

6. yes

i had an instant pot, then got a Ninja air fryer as a gift,,,,aside from the air fryer, it also has a pressure cooker option, same as the instant pot...have used the air fryer for many dishes & would recommend it over the instant pot...might be more expensive though

[Binkie The Clown]

7. From dry beans to finished chili in an hour.

I use my Instant Pot a couple times a week. It's the greatest cooking invention since fire.

Or maybe the air fryer is the greatest. I use that a couple times a week too.

Anyway, They're both great. Now that I have them I wouldn't be without them.

[Borchkins]

8. Yes!!

I love mine. It can also air fry, but I don't use that as much.

[hlthe2b]

9. Best purchase I've made in years. Use it at least twice weekly to make yogurt and

almost need a second one when soup/bean/stew season begins in earnest--but I solved that problem by buying a second interior pot when the yogurt is cooling in the refrigerator. The best way to cook beans, hard-boiled eggs, (definitely to make yogurt) and so much more--including all the things you use a slow-cooker for as well.

I had a very very nice and very expensive slow cooker I'd gotten from a high-end kitchen store--Sold it on Ebay within a week of getting the InstaPot for nearly what I paid for it--just didn't need another one use only appliance.

InstantPot Duo 7-in1. There are fancier ones, but this is a reliable workhorse that does everything I need it to do.

[Magoo48]

10. Love mine, too.

[Callalily]

11. Wow! Thanks for all of your responses.

Looks like everyone not only likes their instant pots, they use them regularly!

[woodsprite]

12. I love mine!

Just be really aware that you have the pot in, either 1) fill the inner pot up and then slide it into the outer electrical unit, or 2) put something into the electrical unit until the inner pot is cleaned and ready to be inserted (like a dishtowel or small dish), or 3) buy a spare pot. As soon as the one you're using comes out, put the clean one in.

I learned the hard way. The inner pot was in the dish drainer and I accidentally put 2 tbls oil in the electrical unit. It was not salvageable which is why I now have 2 pots. It was a gift from my son and his girlfriend. I scrambled to get another one to replace it. On another note: If you're looking for one, Best Buy has a price match guarantee. Target had it for $30 less than BB's price (not as part of a sale). I've had a bad experience ordering from Target, so I called BB customer service and they matched the price.

I've made awesome curry, ribs, roasts, pulled pork, chicken fajitas in there. My latest venture a couple of days ago was sauerbraten!

I never pre-planned enough to get the most out of a crock-pot, but the instapot is great!

[Callalily]

17. Great tip. Thanks.

[OregonBlue]

13. Love mine. Especially with winter coming on. I make soups and stews and beans of every kind

several times a week. Don't have to soak the beans overnight. So fast and it traps all the flavors.

[Laffy Kat]

14. I love mine! Everything I've prepared has turned out great it's a true time-saver.

My only regret: I wish I'd gotten the one with the air-fryer.

Look, you can still cook cathartically, but the IP will give you the option to prepare dishes quickly when needed.

[Dream Girl]

20. I Just bought the air fryer lid. Haven't used it yet.

[liberalmuse]

15. I love mine.

I have a 3 qt. Granted, there are some things you want to cook on the stove, but so far I've made a dozen cheesecakes that turned out perfectly, 5-5-5 hard boiled eggs that are absolutely perfect with firm, yellow yolks (5 minutes on pressure, release after 5, dunked in icewater for 5) and they peel like a dream. I've cooked 5 lb whole chickens for my dogs in a half hour that fall off the bone. Soups and chilis cook in less than 20 minutes (not counting pressurizing time, but you don't have to babysit). You can saute, steam and slow cook as well. It's a game changer for me since I'm into meal prep. I was able to get rid of my rice cooker and crockpot which were taking up a lot of room. I've made great yogurt as well, but am not ready to get rid of my standalone yogurt maker just yet because I like the instant pot freed up for other things.

[spinbaby]

16. I have one of the early ones

My InstantPot is over five years old and I still get it out two or three times a week. I use it most often to cook steel-cut oats. My only real complaint has been that the slow-cook function runs hot and is really more of a boil function.

[Retrograde]

18. You don't have to decide 2 days ago that you want beans for dinner tonight!

I still use my big stockpot to make stock from time to time: although the instant pot can't make as big a batch it has the advantage that I don't have to check it constantly to make sure it's at the right simmer. I like it for making yogurt, cooking beets, quick soups, and stews. You can also make polenta without having to deal with those annoying polenta volcanoes that you get when making it on the stovetop. Haven't tried it on rice yet - friends say it's not as good as a rice cooker for that.

I recommend getting a good Instant Pot cookbook to use with it. After checking out several from the library I settled on "How to Instant Pot" by Daniel Shumski as the one that best suited my cooking style.

Cons - not many. For some things the minimum amount you can make - like yogurt and polenta -seem to be too large for a small household.

[Dream Girl]

19. I love mine too. i used it for braising and making jambalaya. I just purchased the air fryer lid

But I haven’t used it yet. I already have an air fryer but I’m a sucker for kitchen gadgets. I probably used my air fryer more that the instant pot though. Another great thing it that they don’t get the kitchen hot.