Yes, You Still Need an Instant Pot—and This Is the Best One

The Instant Pot craze may have come and gone, but there are many loyal fans out there, like myself. We’re still pressure-cooking beans one day and slow-cooking dinner the next. The only difference now is we’re doing this on more advanced machines, with safer steam releases, customizable heat levels, and way more stylish Instant Pots. And while the Instant Pot options have been trimmed down over the last couple of years, it can still be overwhelming to decide which one to buy. 

Many recommend the latest iteration of the Instant Pot Duo, but I maintain that there’s a better option for only a few more dollars. My favorite Instant Pot allows you to customize the heat levels when sauteing, has a silicone-handled inner pot, lets you make your own settings, and pre-heats faster than the Duo.

The Instant Pot Pro looks impressive out of the box. The sleek black multi-cooker has all the buttons we’ve come to expect on an Instant Pot, plus a digital interface to show all the settings. A big change for the current generation of Instant Pots is that safer steam release, whether it's a top button on the RIO or the front button release on the Pro Plus, which you can even do from your phone. No more finding a wooden spoon or spatula to open the release valve!

There’s also more information about what’s happening inside the pot. On my Pro, a 7-stage progress bar lets me know where in the cooking cycle I am, or if it can’t reach pressure. 

But what I truly love now is being able to saute without the inner pot spinning around and around, or getting so hot it burns my mushrooms and onions. There’s anti-spin technology, but the Pro’s inner pot additionally locks into the base with its silicone-covered handles. The handles also make it incredibly easy to lift a steaming hot pot with bare hands. And while I'm cooking, I have five levels of heat to choose from, and can toggle between them if I notice a bit too much browning (or not enough).

Other Instant Pots to Consider

Instant Pot has always had a great basic model perfect for beginners, and the RIO continues this tradition. Allstar Nicole Russell tested the 6-quart version, using it for her tried-and-true Instant Pot recipes, and gave it high marks. “What I liked most about this Instant Pot was the overall improved weight (or lack thereof),” she says. “I felt that it functioned just as good (if not better) than the original one I have.” 

The RIO’s seven cooking functions are ideal for a beginner since none require advanced cooking skills. It’s lighter than older Instant Pots, which makes it easy to store away when not in use. Also, unlike older models, this has a progression bar so you can quickly understand where you are in the cooking process, and the steam release button is located further away from the valve, making it much less scary for the newbie.

On the other end of the Instant Pot spectrum from the RIO is the Pro Plus. Here you’ll find every cooking function you could want from the basics to sous vide and canning. It also connects to your Wi-Fi and can be controlled via a smartphone app. I tested this against my Instant Pot Pro and enjoyed all the bells and whistles. Though it was tricky at first, I came to love the touchscreen interface. It gives the whole appliance a more modern feel than the standard Instant Pot buttons.

The Pro Plus also has an additional 300 watts of power—1500 watts versus the 1200 watts on the Pro—and that can be noticed while cooking. It pre-heats just a tad faster than other Instant Pots. When it comes to the steam release, this is the only model where the “button” is on the front. It can be programmed before cooking starts and includes a “pulse” option. 

Other Instant Pots We Tested

We know that having just one countertop appliance is the dream, and wish that the Instant Pot Duo Crisp was the solution. Alas, after testing, Nicole let us know that the search continues. She ran into issues with getting a tested recipe to pressure, which resulted in mushy risotto. When it came to the air frying function, Nicole, an air fryer expert, felt her recipes would’ve come out crispier in a dedicated air fryer. Lastly, this Instant Pot weighs significantly more than a regular model, a major hindrance for easy storage. 

Why Take Our Word For It?

Siobhan Wallace is the senior commerce editor for Allrecipes. Her Instant Pot Pro is used for everything from quick weeknight dinners to slow weekend cooking projects. She based her recommendation on 2.5 years of using the Instant Pot Pro, as well as insights from Allstar Nicole Russell.