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The Best Instant Pots And Pressure Cookers

Updated May 2026·Experts: Good Housekeeping, CNET, Epicurious, seriouseats · Community: instantpot community member

Best Overall

Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart

$90-$110

If you're buying your first pressure cooker, stop overthinking it, get the Duo. It's the #1 bestseller for a reason, and every expert test confirms what real owners already know: it just works.

What holds up

  • 7-in-1 functions: pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steam, sauté, yogurt, and keep warm
  • Available in 3, 6, and 8-quart sizes to fit any household
  • Dishwasher-safe lid and inner pot for easy cleanup
  • Detachable cord for easy cabinet storage
  • High and low pressure settings for delicate foods

What to know

  • Natural pressure release is slower than competing models
  • Steam release valve must be turned by hand, which can expose fingers to hot steam
  • Lacks advanced features like cake, sterilize, egg, and canning programs
  • Inner pot lacks heat-safe handles found on pricier models
Expert verdict
This Instant Pot, the #1 Best Seller on Amazon, has a serious following with an average 4.7-star rating from over 100,000 reviews. It also aced our pressure-cooking and slow-cooking beef stew tests.
Good HousekeepingView source
Expert verdict
The Instant Pot Duo is the company's most popular series and for good reason. It's super simple to operate and offers seven versatile cooking functions.
CNETView source
From the community
I did my water test in the garage so I wouldn't hurt anything if I mangled things. Now, it's an absolute go-to cooking tool, i use it at least 3 times a week.
r/instantpot community memberView source
From the community
I hid from mine for almost a year, and now I use it constantly! And I already had a crock pot and a stove top pressure cooker. You will get there too!
r/instantpot community memberView source
View at Amazon
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Best for Advanced Users

Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 6-Quart

$120-$170

If you've outgrown the basic Duo or want a machine that can handle sous vide, sterilizing, and custom presets without jumping to a premium price, the Pro is the sweet spot, it pressurizes faster than any other model tested.

What holds up

  • Pressurized faster than any other model in Serious Eats testing
  • Silicone-handled inner pot is safe to remove when piping hot
  • WhisperQuiet steam release with diffusing cover for safe venting
  • Inner pot works on electric, ceramic, and induction cooktops
  • 5 programmable custom presets for your own recipes

What to know

  • Natural pressure release is slower than some competing models
  • No air fry, roast, or egg programs
  • Sous vide function less reliable than a dedicated immersion circulator
  • More expensive than the base Duo model
Expert verdict
We've recommended the Instant Pot Pro for years because it sears better than most electric multicookers and is easy to use. This pot pressurized faster than any other pot we tested.
Serious EatsView source
Expert verdict
The Instant Pot Pro is one of the more advanced models in the line. It's still easy to operate with just a few more features like adjustable custom cooking programs and a precision temperature dial.
CNETView source
View at Amazon
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Best Premium Pick

Breville Fast Slow Pro Multi-Cooker

$300-$330

If you're serious about cooking and want a machine that gives you real control over pressure and temperature, not just presets, the Breville is worth every extra dollar. It produced the most tender stew of any model tested.

What holds up

  • 8 pressure levels from 1.5 to 12 PSI for precise cooking of delicate or tough foods
  • Altitude-adjust feature fine-tunes settings to your boiling point
  • Produced the most tender pressure-cooked stew in Good Housekeeping testing
  • Auto steam-release setting with intuitive LCD screen and knob controls
  • Excellent at pressure cooking, slow cooking, and rice

What to know

  • No delay-start setting, unlike most competitors
  • Comes to pressure slower than other models tested
  • Significantly more expensive than Instant Pot alternatives ($300+)
  • Larger footprint may not suit small kitchens
Expert verdict
During testing, this produced the most tender pressure-cooked stew out of all the machines we tested, leaving the meat and veggies perfectly cooked and the broth rich in color and flavor.
Good HousekeepingView source
Expert verdict
Precision is the name of the game with this multi-cooker, which has 11 cook presets, customizable settings, and eight pressure levels ranging from 1.5 to 12 psi. Lower pressure is great for more delicate foods, such as eggs, or anything likely to foam a lot, like rice.
Good Housekeeping (multi-cooker guide)View source
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Best Air Fryer Combo

Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer

$160-$230

If you want both an Instant Pot and an air fryer but don't have room for two appliances, the Duo Crisp is the obvious answer, and it actually delivers on both fronts rather than being mediocre at each.

What holds up

  • Separate air fryer lid delivers superconvection results that rival standalone air fryers
  • 11 cooking functions including sous vide, dehydrate, broil, and bake
  • Sturdy stainless steel inner cooking pot
  • Available in 6- and 8-quart sizes
  • Saves counter space vs. owning two separate appliances

What to know

  • Two lids to store and manage (pressure lid + air fryer lid)
  • Missing canning, sterilize, poultry, and egg programs
  • More expensive than the base Duo at $160+
  • Larger footprint than standard Instant Pot models
Expert verdict
The big draw for this Instant Pot is that it doubles as an air fryer, and a good one at that. We've made several air-fried recipes in this versatile multicooker and the results rival even some of our favorite standalone air fryers.
CNETView source
Expert verdict
Switching between its two main functions is seamless, and the appliance even provides step-by-step cooking instructions on an LCD display to eliminate guesswork. While it's one of the most expensive models we tested, it's also the most versatile, and likely still cheaper than buying two separate appliances.
Good Housekeeping (Instant Pot guide)View source
View at Amazon
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Best Non-Instant Pot Alternative

Cuisinart High Pressure Electric Multicooker 6-Quart

$150-$190

Epicurious was shocked it beat the Instant Pot too, but the Cuisinart's consistently superior cooking results and attached lid (no awkward maneuvering) make a compelling case for anyone not brand-loyal to Instant Pot.

What holds up

  • Outperformed all Instant Pot models in chicken, beans, and rice tests per Epicurious
  • Attached lid eliminates awkward removal and storage
  • Button-press steam venting keeps hands away from hot steam
  • Nonstick inner pot is easy to clean
  • Evenly distributed heat on sauté function for consistent browning

What to know

  • Inner pot lacks heat-safe handles found on Instant Pot Pro models
  • Nonstick coating less durable long-term than stainless steel
  • Fewer smart programs than comparable Instant Pot models
  • Less brand recognition means fewer community recipes and tips online
Expert verdict
Shocked that an Instant Pot isn't our top pick? Us too. While Instant Pot models are certainly great, this Cuisinart machine consistently outperformed them on every cooking tasks we tried. Chicken thighs were rendered wonderfully tender with an excellent pull-apart texture; beans were soft and flavorful but still retained their shape; and rice fluffed up perfectly without a hint of gluiness.
EpicuriousView source
Expert verdict
We liked that the lid was attached to the body of the machine, which eliminated the need to awkwardly maneuver it on and off. The LCD interface is also wonderfully intuitive, and we liked that steam is vented at the touch of a button.
EpicuriousView source
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