Best Instant Pot 2021

Best Instant Pot iMore 2021

• Best Overall: Instant Pot Duo Nova 6QT
• Best Value: Instant Pot Lux 6QT
• Best for Power Users: Instant Pot Max
• Best Features: Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer
• Best for Techies: Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi

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Best Overall: Instant Pot Duo Nova 6QT

We truly believe that the best Instant Pot is the Duo Nova, which is an upgraded version of the highly popular Duo model of Instant Pot. The Duo Nova combines seven appliances into one: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and food warmer.

While the most commonly used button on an Instant Pot is the Manual/Pressure Cook button, there are 11 other preset program buttons to help you get the perfect timing and temperature for whatever it is you're cooking. The buttons are all big and easy-to-read, and the new LCD has a progress indicator to let you know when your pot is coming to pressure and when the cooking cycle begins.

Another improvement over the previous Duo models is the Smart Steam Release. With the new lid, it automatically seals to keep flavors, nutrients, and aromas inside. A new button makes it easier to release steam once the food is done cooking, and it's placed away from the actual release valve so you shouldn't experience burns from the hot steam coming out.

The 6-Quart size is usually good enough to feed a family of four, but it also comes in the 3QT or 8QT if you want to go smaller or bigger.

Best Value: Instant Pot Lux 6QT

The Lux model is Instant Pot's entry-level Instant Pot pressure cooker. It's the most inexpensive one, and if you just want to experience the hype, then this is a great starting point. The Lux does everything that the Duo series above it can do, except for two notable differences: it lacks the Yogurt program and only has High Pressure instead of an option for Low Pressure.

However, most recipes call for high pressure anyways, and if you don't care about making your own yogurt, then the Lux is a great value. Plus, there are workarounds for making yogurt in the Lux if you search around the Internet.

The Lux also comes in the 3, 6, or 8-quart sizes so you can pick the size that suits your needs.

Best for Power Users: Instant Pot Max

If you want the best Instant Pot that can do pretty much everything, then you need the Max version. This is the top-of-the-line Instant Pot, and while it does not come cheap, you'll eliminate the need for many other kitchen appliances with this bad boy.

The Max version does everything the Duo Nova does, plus: Pressure Canning and Sous Vide. The Pressure Canning functionality is possible since it sustains 15psi, which was not possible in other Instant Pots. The Sous Video feature also makes it possible to maintain a water bath at a specific temperature without the need for a separate Sous Vide immersion circulator.

Instant Pot Max also has a large touch screen panel so you can set the time, temperature, pressure level, delayed start, program automatic steam release, and more.

Unfortunately, the Max only comes in the 6-Quart size.

Best Features: Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer

If you want the best Instant Pot and also an air fryer, then you will love the Instant Pot Duo Crip + Air Fryer for its multitasking abilities, making it the ultimate kitchen countertop space-saver. In theory, this one appliance could replace your microwave, rice cooker, slow-cooker, dehydrator, air fryer, and more. It has a large 8-Quart capacity, which means you could make a meal for up to eight people, and the dishwasher-safe stainless-steel inner pot means clean-up is simple.

This has very useful one-touch cooking programs. You can "auto-pilot" pressure cooking, sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, warming, air frying, roasting, baking, broiling, and more—ideal if you're not a very confident cook. The air fryer lid can quickly air fry, roast, bake, broil anything from chicken wings to fries, and thanks to the powerful 1,500-watt heating element, can do so up to 70% faster than other cooking methods.

Best for Techies: Instant Pot Smart WiFi

For those of us who are connected to the Internet of Things, the Instant Pot Smart WiFi is a perfect addition and one of the best Instant Pots. With the Smart WiFi, you get eight appliances in one: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, sauté pan, steamer, and food warmer.

The thing that sets the Smart WiFi apart from the other models is the fact that you can control this one with your phone. As long as you have it set up on your Wi-Fi network at home, you can use your smartphone to turn it on, check cooking progress, and get alerts. Plus, the Smart WiFi model also works with Amazon Alexa so that you can control it with your voice.

The Smart WiFi model only comes in the 6-Quart size.

Bottom line

For most people, the Instant Pot Duo Nova is the best Instant Pot. It's an upgraded version of the most popular Duo mode that many people have, and it's at a great price. And trust me, once you get an Instant Pot, you won't want to go back to more tedious methods of cooking!

The Duo Nova will do pretty much everything you would need it to do, and the LCD has a progress indicator to let you know how your food is coming along. If you're a bit of a novice in the pressure cooking department, it's worth noting that this model comes with 11 preset program buttons to take the guesswork away.

While we think the 6-Quart Duo Nova is a good size for the average family, it does come in 3-Quart and 8-Quart sizes as well, in case you need to go bigger or smaller. The Duo Nova is a fantastic upgrade to one of Instant Pot's best-selling products and very affordable.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide