Instant pot is it worth it?

leftatthetrafficlights

I've got one which includes the airfyer and I love it!

I use it all the time - wouldn't be without it now! I cook pretty much everything in it and use every function other than the sous vide.

@PollyWollyDoodle - if you press the saute button twice it goes to a low heat 😉 took me a while to work that one out and almost gave up on using that function!! 😂

ariarnia

@Brambling @PollyWollyDoodle @CJRyder any chance of biriani and curry recipes? i struggle much past opening a jar and some tried and tested quick meals would be great. 

LunaCatty

We love ours. I do large batches of beans and then freeze into portions (a lot cheaper than buying tins), quick meals when I've forgot to prep anything, slow cooker function too which I prefer for some meats, I've used it for yoghurt making when too much milk, it's a well worn appliance for us. I have a separate air fryer at the moment, but when the two eventually die I plan to get the instant pot with air fryer lid.

If you are buying purely to save money fast it will take quite a while to earn back any energy saving costs, but as an appliance I feel is a great benefit for many. The only thing I would say is if older or have weak wrists it can be heavy to lift.

NoobSolar

Thanks for these very informative contributions. My question is this: I am considering a multi cooker or instant pot pro type purchase. Do these air fry? The Ninja 9 in 1 says it 'air crisps' but seems very unclear about whether it air fries!

MrsFarmer19

NoobSolar said:

Thanks for these very informative contributions. My question is this: I am considering a multi cooker or instant pot pro type purchase. Do these air fry? The Ninja 9 in 1 says it 'air crisps' but seems very unclear about whether it air fries!

My InstantPot arrived today at 4.30pm.  I cooked a gammon in the pressure cooker setting then glazed and roasted for 5 mins - took 25 mins in total.  Then I made chips which took 20 mins in the air fryer and they were really nice, my partner insisted he wouldn't like air fryer chips but he really enjoyed them.  So far I'd defo recommend an InstantPot! (mine is the duo crisp model which has the air fryer lid)

Longwalker

I recently bought a Dual air fryer which I totally love, got on with it straight away, use it at least once daily, if not twice. Then I bought the 15 in 1 and thats a whole new ball park

If you car comfortable with pressure cooking/steaming, then its a worth while buy. The only way its going to make savings is with the cooking speed ( roast chicken in 40 mins for example ) because I think ( and I might be well wrong, that the wattage isnt much less then a cooker and you can steam and pressure cook on a hob anyways )

However the ease of use, the safety features and the programable features make it an attractive buy
 

pamsdish

MrsFarmer19 said:

NoobSolar said:

Thanks for these very informative contributions. My question is this: I am considering a multi cooker or instant pot pro type purchase. Do these air fry? The Ninja 9 in 1 says it 'air crisps' but seems very unclear about whether it air fries!

My InstantPot arrived today at 4.30pm.  I cooked a gammon in the pressure cooker setting then glazed and roasted for 5 mins - took 25 mins in total.  Then I made chips which took 20 mins in the air fryer and they were really nice, my partner insisted he wouldn't like air fryer chips but he really enjoyed them.  So far I'd defo recommend an InstantPot! (mine is the duo crisp model which has the air fryer lid)

An instantpot is an electric pressure cooker, you cannot air fry in them, an air frier, such as a ninja, air fries and pressure cooks, slow cooks etc, I have an instantpot and a Ninja health grill, between the two I cook most things, I do not belong to the " I have a, whatever, and cannot cook any other way" brigade, if I want a fried egg, I fry it in a frying pan on the gas hob. I have not used my oven since Christmas, when I got the Ninja, and as they cook so quickly find it uses less energy.

leftatthetrafficlights

pamsdish said:

MrsFarmer19 said:

NoobSolar said:

Thanks for these very informative contributions. My question is this: I am considering a multi cooker or instant pot pro type purchase. Do these air fry? The Ninja 9 in 1 says it 'air crisps' but seems very unclear about whether it air fries!

My InstantPot arrived today at 4.30pm.  I cooked a gammon in the pressure cooker setting then glazed and roasted for 5 mins - took 25 mins in total.  Then I made chips which took 20 mins in the air fryer and they were really nice, my partner insisted he wouldn't like air fryer chips but he really enjoyed them.  So far I'd defo recommend an InstantPot! (mine is the duo crisp model which has the air fryer lid)

An instantpot is an electric pressure cooker, you cannot air fry in them, an air frier, such as a ninja, air fries and pressure cooks, slow cooks etc, I have an instantpot and a Ninja health grill, between the two I cook most things, I do not belong to the " I have a, whatever, and cannot cook any other way" brigade, if I want a fried egg, I fry it in a frying pan on the gas hob. I have not used my oven since Christmas, when I got the Ninja, and as they cook so quickly find it uses less energy.

Depends on your instant pot- mine is the duo crisp +air fryer so does it all.

DullGreyGuy

sammyjammy said:

Sorry but whats an instant pot?  

Its a brand monica for an electric pressure cooker. They also make multi cookers that may combine a pressure cooker with other functions like frying or air fryer.

Julie79 said:

Instant pots are half price right now and I'm tempted but also worrying about whether it will be worth the initial outlay to save energy costs when cooking? 
Does anyone have one? 
What types of things do you cook n it? 

Dont explicitly have this brand but do have and use a pressure cooker. Personally I've always thought they get 80% of the success for about 30% of the energy. Return on investment certainly stacks up but sometimes taste wins out.

We use it for beans/pulses which are much cheaper to cook from dried than canned but also tough cuts of meat like short ribs. I do think many hours in the oven/slow cooker ultimately gives a deeper depth of flavour but 80% of it can be achieved in a fraction of the time with a pressure cooker. 

MoneyMission

@PollyWollyDoodle - if you press the saute button twice it goes to a low heat 😉 took me a while to work that one out and almost gave up on using that function!! 😂

Top tip about the saute button.  I'm new to IP but loving it so far, was thinking the saute function was a tad hot but now you've told me how to get it to low heat - thank you !