Do you want an Instant Pot? This is what you should know | CNN

Many people may say that they like their food processor, coffee maker, or rice cooker.

But when it comes to the Instant Pot, the conversation has a different tone.

Many will admit, outright, being obsessed with this device.

Since its debut in 2010, Instant Pot has acquired cult status, with a Facebook community of more than two million members.

Instagram has over 90,000 Instant Pot recipes for everything from chili to cheesecake.

It was Walmart's best-selling product in 2019 and one of Amazon's best-sellers for three years in a row.

Over the past decade, there have been 10 iterations of this programmable kitchen, ranging from a Wi-Fi-enabled version that keeps you connected to your food through a companion app, to a mini design meant for one person.

There's a wide range of accessories to help you get better, and the Instant Pot recently introduced a programmable blender and electric kettle.

Clearly, the Instant Pot has fans - the device has nearly 50,000 customer ratings on Amazon alone, with an impressive 4.6 stars.

But should you buy one?

To help you decide, we'll take a look at one of the favorite versions among home cooks:

Instant Pot DUO 7-in-1 Multicooker ($ 79.00, originally $ 99.95; amazon.com)

The Instant Pot DUO comes in three sizes (starting at 3 quarts for small servings and up to 8 quarts for large and family meals). 

and is said to cook meals 70% faster than traditional methods.

The DUO is also frequently on sale during key shopping days like Prime Day and Black Friday.

If you are looking for an affordable entry into the world of the Instant Pot, this is probably the model to consider.

But even at a great price, it's still an investment of your counter or closet space, and no one wants to buy another appliance that collects dust.

The question remains: Is the Instant Pot DUO worth it?

It's the same question we asked ourselves over and over before splurging on the product.

At CNN Underscored we love cooking, so much so that we are happily enslaved on the stove for hours on end.

So, to begin with, the concept of fast and one-button cooking is not our thing.

A few months later this kitchen appliance has completely transformed our Monday through Friday cooking routine, making meal preparation much easier.

This is how the device beat us:

What makes the Instant Pot DUO so special?

Like most instant cookers, the DUO can replace a variety of common household products.

: skillet, rice cooker, pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer.

It has 14 intelligent one-touch programs that make cooking common dishes, such as rice, chicken, soups or desserts, run on autopilot.

Warning: It will take time and practice to fully understand all of the buttons and setting options available on the Instant Pot, so take time to read the instructions (and watch some videos) before diving in, especially if you've never used a pressure cooker before.

This pressure cooking technology means that many dishes (especially casseroles or roasts)

.

Save time

Remember when we said we like to spend time on the stove?

The truth is, our hectic schedule can get in the way at times.

By the time we get home from a long day at work, "hunger" hits, and we grab what's in the fridge, no matter how healthy it is.

That is where we have found the greatest Instant Pot value.

Now we can have

.

We opted for the 6-quart design, which, depending on the plate, provides leftovers for multiple lunches.

Plus, we've become huge fans of the idea of ​​cooking meals in the Instant Pot and then freezing individual servings of meals for later so we have dinners ready and don't need to order takeout as often.

Cleaning is very easy

Three words: dishwasher safe.

All parts in the Instant Pot (with the exception of the cooker base) are dishwasher safe, meaning the stainless steel inner pot, lid, sealing ring, and steam rack can be thrown into the dishwasher. after cooking.

This is one of the highlights.

Many accessories (and there are many, from a steamer basket to an adapter for cooking hard-boiled eggs) can simplify the need for additional pots and pans, making cleaning the device even easier.

We love this 28-piece set:

YXWIN Instant Pot 28-Piece Accessory Kit ($ 29.99; amazon.com)

The Instant Pot Duo is often on sale

The DUO is regularly discounted

during the main shopping days, such as Black Friday, Cyber ​​Monday or Prime Day.

And if you stay alert, sometimes you can discover deals on other days.

Right now, for example, all sizes of the Instant DUO (3, 6 and 8 quarts) are on sale at Amazon.

The 3 and 6 rooms are also on sale at Walmart:

Instant Pot DUO 1 qt ($ 59.99, originally $ 79.95; amazon.com)

The drawbacks

The Instant Pot takes some getting used to, especially for novice pressure cookers.

If you're cooking something that doesn't have a preset button, you'll need to enter the pressure and cook time settings on your own.

You should also be careful while the device is on to make sure your dishes are completely depressurized before opening the lid.

Sometimes this is done with a quick release method (great for foods like broccoli or fish that are prone to overcooking), and sometimes with the natural release method, which slowly lets steam out of the device.

(Instant Pot has a helpful guide here that you can refer to to know when to use which method.)

And contrary to popular belief, you can't just add all of your ingredients at once, for every dish you make, and everything comes out tasting incredible.

Instant Pot works wonders, but you can't magically cook a variety of different ingredients (each requiring its own specific cooking time and temperature) in one go.

To make sure you're not overcooking certain ingredients and leaving others raw, sometimes you will need to prepare certain steps individually.

You'll also want to make sure you have enough liquid in your Instant Pot while you cook.

If the liquid gets too low, the Instant Pot may stop cooking or give an error message.

conclusion

The Instant Pot DUO has a lot of potential as an alternative to a variety of cookware and small appliances and is a faster means of preparing dinner every night.

While it may take some getting used to, there is no shortage of reading material, video content, and food blog recipes to help you navigate the device.

Considering all of this and combined with its affordable price,

.

Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.