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Best Instant Pot 2023: our top 6 multi-cookers

Find the best Instant Pot for your kitchen, with the help of our reviews of the Duo, Pro, Crisp, and even a few alternatives from Ninja

Best Instant Pot
(Image credit: Instant Pot)

Choosing the best Instant Pot can be overwhelming. After all, it's an expansive line, with a range of functions and capacities to choose between. That includes the Duo, Pro, and Crisp lines, all of which have various differences that will make them more suited to some users than others. So, which is the best Instant Pot for you? 

We've been busy reviewing all the best Instant Pots over the past few months to bring you our top picks, and we've also included a few alternatives from Ninja, which have in-built crisper lids as well as pressure cooking functions. A lot of Instant Pots come with crisper lids too, meaning they will double up as the best air fryers, as well as steaming or pressure cooking any food you could hope to make. 

One of the major perks of owning an Instant Pot, is you won't even have to turn on your oven, using much less energy, and of course, meals even faster. And when your meals are done, you can expect to put all removable parts in the dishwasher to take all the effort out of mealtimes. For our top picks of the six best Instant Pots, keep on reading. 

Best Instant Pot 2023: our top picks

Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Instant PotH&G gold badge

(Image credit: Instant Pot)
Best Instant Pot for modern features: the does-it-all option

Specifications

Dimensions: 15.35 x 12.57 x 14.78 inches
Capacity: 8 Quarts
Presets: 14
Cooking modes: Pressure Cook, Sauté, Slow Cook, Steam, Sous Vide, Warm, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate

Reasons to buy

+
Air fryer lid included
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Fully adjustable timing and temperature
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Stay-cool silicone handles
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Dishwasher-safe pot and pressure lid

Reasons to avoid

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Only comes in one size

It's the most expensive Instant Pot in our guide, but the Instant Pot Pro Crisp does everything you could wish for. It has an air fryer lid, 14 presets, and a digital display to track your cooking process. 

Why we love it
When we tried the Instant Pot Pro Crisp for ourselves, it was able to pressure cook a chicken in just 20 minutes. We then turned it onto air fry mode, and crisped up the skin perfectly. 

Most parts of the Instant Pot Pro Crisp can go in the dishwasher, including the pressure cooker lid. It has a removable air fryer basket that we found made takeout-worthy fries, and the handles allowed us to shake up the wedges for even cooking results. 

Features
You can put the pot in the dishwasher, and because it has silicone-coated handles, it's easy to lift out even when your meal has recently finished cooking. The pot can also go on the stove, although with the sear setting, you might not need it. 

Our Instant Pot Pro Crisp review has more details

Instant PotH&G gold badge

(Image credit: Instant Pot)
Best Instant Pot for beginners: safe to use, and in a range of sizes

Specifications

Dimensions: 14.8 x 13.5 x 14.5 inches
Capacity: 3, 6, and 8 Quarts
Presets: 13
Cooking modes: Pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, sterilizer and food warmer

Reasons to buy

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Added safety features
+
Comes in a range of sizes
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Display shows the cooking progress

Reasons to avoid

-
Can take a while to pressurize 

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is an upgrade on the classic Instant Pot Duo, with added safety features and a smarter display. When it comes down to it though, this Instant Pot has all the features you're looking for when you want to get started with a multi-cooker. 

Why we love it
The display shows a timer which makes it easy to know how far through your recipe is. That includes a bar for pre-heating or pressurizing, a cooking bar, and one for a keep-warm timer.

It also has more cooking presets than the standard Duo, including one to rival the best rice cookers, as well as one for soup, sterilizing, and even cake. Available in three sizes, it will also be possible to get one for families of any size. 

Features
If you're scared to get started with pressure cooking, you'll enjoy the added safety features with the Instant Pot Duo Plus. It has a safety-locking lid and a cover for the pressure vent that stops it from splattering when you're ready to release. 

Our Instant Pot Duo Plus review has more details.

Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt XL Multi CookerH&G gold badge

(Image credit: Ninja)
Best Ninja multi-cooker: an Instant Pot alternative we think you'll like

Specifications

Dimensions: 15.39" L X 14.21" W X 14.25" H
Capacity: 8 Quart
Settings: Pressure cook, Steam & Crisp, Steam & Bake, Air Fry, Broil, Bake/Roast, Dehydrate, Sear/Sauté, Steam, Sous Vide, Slow Cook, Yogurt, Keep Warm and Proof
Cooking modes: Pressure, Steamcrisp, Stovetop/Air Fry

Reasons to buy

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Just one lid with air frying included
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Can be used to prove bread 
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Steam cooking keeps meat juicy

Reasons to avoid

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Pre-heating takes a while

With 11 cooking modes under just one lid, we think the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt XL Multi Cooker is the newest wave in multi-cooking. If you do like to air fry in your Instant Pot, you'll typically have to accept the cumbersome second lid that comes with it. With the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt XL Multi Cooker it's all under one lid. 

Why we love it
There are some new features with the Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt XL Multi Cooker that we think will catch on. The first is steam cooking. Steam ovens and grills continue to dominate small appliance trends, and this air fryer combines steam with air frying to achieve juicy but crisp chicken and moist yet well-risen cakes. It's a winner. 

The lid simply slides across to switch cooking mode, but you'll still have to make use of the pressure valve. Adjust temperature and time using the controls to the right and left of the main cooking panel. For how much it can do, it's very straightforward to use.

Features
There are 14 cooking modes: Pressure Cook, Steam & Crisp, Steam & Bake, Air Fry, Broil, Bake/Roast, Dehydrate, Sear/Sauté, Steam, Sous Vide, Slow Cook, Yogurt, Keep Warm & Proof. You can even proof and then bake a loaf of bread in the one cooking pot. 

We did find that it took a long time to pre-heat when steam cooking: 15 minutes to be exact. This will have a knock-on effect on cooking times, so keep this in mind. 

Our full Ninja Foodi 14-in-1 8-qt XL Multi Cooker review has more details

Instant Pot Duo Crisp

(Image credit: Instant Pot)

4. Instant Pot Duo Crisp

Best Instant Pot for ease of use: its control panel is simple and minimal

Specifications

Dimensions: 14.76 x 13.58 x 15.28 inches
Capacity: 8-quart
Presets: 11
Cooking modes: Air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, sterilizer and food warmer

Reasons to buy

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Can be used to air fry
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Simple controls, front and center
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Generous capacity

Reasons to avoid

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There are models with more presets

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a top Instant Pot for those who want all the functions of an air fryer alongside their regular multi-cooker. 

What we love
For a start, while it is not the most complex of the Instant Pots on the market, the lack of countless digital controls can actually be a big win for those who find high-tech appliances a little overwhelming. 

You will need to find space to store the second lid when not in use, but it has both an air fryer lid and a pressure cooking lid. The control display makes it easy to choose the right lid for your recipe. That means you can air fry fries or chicken wings, and switch from pressure-cooking your chicken to roasting by simply switching the lid. 

Features
It comes with an eight-quart capacity, which is ideal for large families. Included is an air fryer basket, a steaming rack, and a broil and dehydrator tray. 

Instant Pot

(Image credit: Instant Pot)

5. Instant Pot Duo

Best Instant Pot under $100: a classic cooker at an entry-level price

Specifications

Dimensions: 13 x 12.15 x 12.14 inches
Capacity: 3, 6, and 8 quarts
Presets: 13
Cooking modes: Pressure cook, slow cook, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer

Reasons to buy

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Costs under $100
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Has 7 functions
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Comes in a range of sizes

Reasons to avoid

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The bowl will spin when you stir

Instant Pot's classic Duo comes in three sizes, meaning it will be suitable for kitchens of all sizes. The smaller the size, the lower the cost, but all three Instant Pots are under $100. 

What we love
Despite its lower cost you will still get to enjoy 13 presets, from porridge to poultry. The top cooking element will allow you to crisp up the top of your bakes or the skin of your chicken, and you can choose to adjust the pressure level, keep-warm timer, and delay start.

The 1200 watts of power will pressure cook even large cuts of meat in record time, and it has ten safety features to lock the lid into place and stop the cooker from overheating. The lid can even be hinged into the side handle to keep it handy when stirring. 

Features
The inner stainless steel pot can go in the dishwasher, but because it has no handles to lock it into place, it might spin as you stir on the sauté setting.

Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 6.5 Qt Pro Best multi-cooker air fryerH&G gold badge

(Image credit: Ninja)

6. Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 6.5 Qt Pro

Best multi-cooker for air frying: two lids and plenty of cooking modes

Specifications

Dimensions: 16.18 x 13.98 x 13.23 inches
Capacity: 6.5 Quart
Presets: 11
Cooking modes: Pressure cook, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sous vide, air fry, bake/roast, sear/sauté, broil, dehydrate, keep warm

Reasons to buy

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11 modes in 1
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Great value for so many settings
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The air fryer lid is default

Reasons to avoid

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The hinged lid can be annoying 

The Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 6.5 Qt Pro can air fry, slow cook, pressure cook, roast, bake, and a lot more. It's one of our favorite multi-cookers, and while it's not an Instant Pot, it is the best alternative to an Instant Pot you can buy. 

Why we love it
We found that the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 6.5 Qt Pro was great at air frying, and the air fry basket has a large capacity when compared to the Duo. Its insert can go in the dishwasher, as can the non-stick pot, and while it has two lids the air fryer one is built onto the side. This hinges on the side of the multi-cooker and is easy to lift and close. A lot easier than the Instant Pot options, in fact. 

It's not the cheapest option, but it is comparable in price to some Instant Pots that come without air fryer attachments. The cooker is also available in a variety of sizes. 

Features
The air fryer lid needs to be upright when you're using the pressure cooking lid, which makes it harder to fit the Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 6.5 Qt Pro under kitchen cabinets. 

How we selected the best Instant Pot

We try our hardest to review all of the products we feature in our Small Appliance buying guides, and we are currently in the process of reviewing a number of the best Instant Pots in our guide. A few have already been extensively reviewed by our team of expert testers, and you can click through to find out how well they performed when we tried them out in our own homes. 

How to choose the best Instant Pot for you

The best Instant Pots now do so much more than pressure cook. The latest models on the market can air fry, steam bake, prove bread, and even dehydrate. In short, it would be easier to list the things you can't cook in one of these kitchen sidekicks. 

In fact, the best multicooker can replace appliances like rice cookers, pressure cookers, slow cookers, and even air fryers so you only need one appliance that can do it all. 

From the classic Instant Pot Duo to the latest Instant Pot Pro line, there is a selection of multi-cookers that you can rely on for flavor-packed meals each and every day. 

There are even a few Ninja Foodis in our guide, which may be cheating, but we loved them so much in testing that we just had to include them. Among the best multicookers, you may want to consider the conversation of Instant Pot vs Ninja Foodi. Our latest top pick from Ninja uses just one lid to air fry, steam crisp, and pressure cook, which is a game-changer if you hate having more than one Instant Pot lid cluttering up your kitchen. 

Whether it's a simple stew to a multi-layered meal of steamed greens and baked fish, you can use the best Instant Pot to cook all manner of meals. Cleaning up is easy, with dishwasher-safe pots and accessories that will keep your life simple.

Look out for a capacity that suits your family size best, and you should also get serious about budget. Instant Pots can get pretty expensive, but the entry level models can typically be found for well under $100, so there's a lot of room to find the right one for you. 

Millie Fender
Head of Reviews

Millie Fender is Head of Reviews on the Homes and Gardens Ecommerce team. She specializes in cooking appliances, such as the best kettles, and also reviews outdoor grills and pizza ovens. Millie loves to bake, so she will take any excuse to review stand mixers and other baking essentials. When she's not putting products through their paces in our dedicated testing kitchen, Millie's reviews are conducted at home, meaning she uses these products in her own day-to-day life.