Considering buying an "Insta-Pot", are they any good?

[verizonbear]

Greetings! Aldi has their version of an insta-pot for 39.99. That seems to be a good price. I have already have a crockpot and a stove top pressure cooker. Do any members have a insta-pot and what do you think of them ?

 

[appnut]

My only comment is make sure the cooking vessel of the "insta-pot" is not nonstick, but only stainless steel.  That's why I'd only select the real thing.  I want one, but still have other financial needs first.  I miss my PC since I got my induction range.  

 

[revvinkevin]

Instant-Pot with a “T”

Since Instant-Pot started catching everyone’s attention, numerous companies have created their own version of the countertop electric pressure cooker. At least here on the West coast, Best Buy had different brand/model of these on sale for a week at a time and up to 50-60% off, just check their website.

The Instant-Pot brand has a few different models with varying features and cooking programs, that come in 4 qt, 6 qt & 8 qt sizes. We have a 6 qt model with “Wi-Fi” (personally I don’t see the benefit of the Wi-Fi connection and have NOT been able to get it to connect to the phone app, but it was a gift). Some great things about the Instant-Pot is it has a “sauté” setting to brown things before you pressure cook, or to reduce liquids after cooking is complete. It also has the ability to cook at low or high pressure and when cooking it complete, it automatically changes to a “keep warm” setting. The other nice thing is I can throw everything in the dishwasher, the lid, the seal and the inner pot!

Aside from the silly Wi-Fi, we really love it! It’s very easy to use and things cook in 40-60% less time. I cooked 2 racks of pork ribs in 45 mins and a 3 lb roast in an hour.

The only thing I can suggest for this “Aldi brand” of electric pressure cooker is see if you can find any online reviews on this product. Or if you look at other brands at Best Buy or anywhere else, do some research and read the reviews first.

FYI, for $40 I am guessing it may be a 3 or 4 quart model, but then again at Aldi who knows. Keep in
mind whatever capacity it is, you can only fill it 2/3 fill, but since you already have a stove top pressure cooker, you already know this.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Kevin

EDIT: I just did a quick search of the ALDI brand pressure cooker (Ambiano) and it looks like the inner pot has a non-stick coating. Everything I’ve read has said it’s better to have a stainless inner pot for these electric pressure cooker‘s, not one with non-stick, specifically because of the high temperatures reached while sautéing or cooking. I did also see a review, but only quickly skimmed it, I did not read it

 

[rp2813]

A friend of mine was intrigued by pressure cooking but was scared to death of the device required for it even after I offered him one of my Prestos and gave him a demo using plain water.

 

A local ACE Hardware was closing and I found a discounted instant pot there, so bought it for him as a birthday gift.  That was over a year ago and he and his partner have been using it regularly ever since.  They love it.   Do be advised that the instant pots I've read about tend to cook at a maximum of 12 lbs. of pressure rather than 15, so some cook times will be a little longer.

 

That Aldi price sounds like an excellent deal.  I can't speak to non-stick vs. stainless or really anything else about instant pots.  I like my vintage Presto and Mirro cookers too much and don't see myself owning anything else.

 

[thomasortega]

I have two, a huge one and a tiny one.

Being from a country where slow cookers are literally nonexistent and people have no idea what is a slow cooker and everybody (i mean, even people that live alone) has 2 or 3 pressure cookers, I definitely say go for it.

 

[labboy]

Love it!

I’ve had mine for a few years and love it. Easy to use, easy to clean. Food comes out fast and very tasty.

Bob

 

[xraytech]

I personally don’t see the appeal of the instant-pot, but then again I’m not a fan of pressure cooking, I prefer a slow cooker

 

[twintubdexter]

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">If it's anything like my inexpensive older electric pressure cooker, then buy it. I'd never use my two stove-top cookers unless I needed another pot for something, although I know people love them.</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 14pt; color: #008000;">Kinda confusing digital control, but the price was right. Online seller (Overstock.com) sent me red instead of white, so they refunded my money and said "just keep it".</span>

 

[kimball455]

Hi everyone ....

Prior to the instant pot, I used a stovetop pressure cooker. The instant pot type of appliance makes pressure cooking easy and safe. I use it for soup, stew, pulled pork, hard-boiled eggs. It has sous vide capability but I have not used it for that. All in all, I am very happy with the appliance. It has a stainless steel pot so just about everything can go in the dishwasher.

Harry

 

[petek]

Love mine. it's a 6qt.. I've had stove top pc's for years and an older electronic bravetti but it wasn't as controllable as the instant pot. I use it for stews and soups.. toss in a couple of cups of dried navy beans, or any type and they're cooked in 50 minutes... and you can also make rice in it. I'd say get one.

 

[rp2813]

OK, sous vide has attracted my attention.  My surrogate/frequent housemate has raved about sous vide, although I don't recall what the dish was.  I may have to cave, even if it means dealing with an annoying electronic touchpad.  His birthday is coming up.  Maybe I'll buy it for him so he can assume the role of sous videur in chief.

 

[verizonbear]

Thank You for the feedback and reviews

Thank you for the feed back and reviews!! I am picking up 2 of these at Aldi tonight one for me and one for a Christmas present. I plan to donate my crock pot and stove top pressure cooker as they are both around 15 years old now.

 

[dermacie]

I was a die hard stove top pressure cooker user until I got my Instant Pot. I love it and use it often. It is wonderful and keeps things warm too. The only learning curve is that every once in a while it will say Burn if it feels there isn't enough liquid in it.

 

[chachp]

Electric PC.....

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">I have had mine for years, on my second one actually.  My first one was smaller and I wanted one that was bigger so I can make a big pot of soup at one time.  I use it mostly for soup and have tried a couple of other things but we didn't grow up using one so I never really had foods cooked in them.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva;">My niece has the Insta-Pot and she raves about it but she never had the Electric PC.  Are they that much different?  </span>

 

[iheartmaytag]

Have to add: I love mine.

I have several stove top PCs but I really like the Insta-Pot for the delay and keep warm functions.

You can "set and forget" it. 

Typical usage:  I come home at 3:30 to get my daughter off the bus.  Realize I forgot to put a roast in the crock pot that morning.  Put the roast, potatoes etc in the Insta-Pot, set it for 90 minutes and go back to work.   When I get home at 5:00, I release any remaining pressure, check for doneness.  If not quite tender, put it back up to pressure for desired time.  Bringing back to pressure doesn't take long because everything is already hot.    In worst case, still serving dinner by 6:30.  If we aren't ready for dinner due to working outside etc.  It will automatically keep everything warm.

 

I do have a stainless steel insert, but hand wash because it takes up so much room in the dishwasher.  In any case, usually just that insert/pot to wash up afterwards.

 

[petek]

I bought the add on non stick pot (it's not Teflon) and actually prefer it to the stainless steel one . I wouldn't have bothered but I was in Walmart one day and saw it sitting on a shelf no where near the appliances with a $10 sticker on it.. sold.

 

[petek]

I make spaghetti sauce in mine.. turns out really good and quick.. If I make a lot I'll scoop some out for freezing. Then with the remaining still in the pot you break up spaghetti noodles in half over top of the sauce, laying horizontally.. Then add just enough water to barely cover them.. Put the lid back on, pressure cook for about 8 minutes..The spaghetti cooks in the water and it's all absorbed into the sauce.. stir,, I love it like that.. sort of like your own home made Chef Boy R Dee.

 

[parunner58]

I have had my Instant Pot for over a year now and love it. I have made roasts, soups, corned beef and cabbage, meat loaf. I still kept my crock pots as I use them also. I have the 6qt, with the stainless steel insert and just put it and the lid in the dishwasher and it comes out spotless. I have read so man stories of users saying the gasket always smells of what ever they cooked in it. I have not had that problem. Another thing that makes me laugh are all the people that have melted their Instant Pots by using them on the smooth top stoves and somehow they accidently turn on the burners and ruin their Instant Pots.

 

[sudsmaster]

About a year ago I got an Instant Pot Nova Plus, 6qt, at Costco somewhat discounted. I think it was $89. I like it. I've used it to make brown rice, and to prepare bone broth. I think I also used it to slow cook a pork roast. If not, I will. LOL.

I already had a Cuisinart electric PC, which worked OK, but the big advantage of the Instant Pot is its brain. It has far better control over the results - everything from fast PC to slow cooking.