The Best Instant Pot Alternatives
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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The “Instant Pot” is to the multicooker as the “Crock Pot” is to the slow cooker: a brand name that is so ubiquitous that it is used interchangeably as the generic name for an appliance.
What is a multicooker exactly? There is no formal definition. In fact, the term “multicooker” has been used to describe various types of cookware and appliances for more than a century. The name finally stuck when the Instant Pot became one of the best-selling appliances of 2017 (and it hasn’t relented since). “Multi-cookers are not a fad,” says Joe Derochowski, executive director and home industry analyst at NPD Group, a market research company.
For the purposes of this article, a multicooker is a single, programmable appliance that contains multiple cooking modes. Multicookers aren’t magic. Anyone who wants to eat healthy without doing any work in the kitchen is bound to have a mediocre meal (the same is true for air fryers and sous vide cookers). That said, Instant Pot publishes thousands of health-and diet-conscious recipes, many of which have a “prep time” of five minutes of less.
There are more than 10 kinds of Instant Pots, but the 6-quart models that sell for less than $100 are the right size and price for most people.
How Much Does a Good Multicooker Cost?
A good multicooker (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $94, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same Instant Pot alternatives cost around $36 while on sale: an average discount of 36%. This data also suggests that Amazon and Best Buy are the best places to buy a multicooker online (on the other hand, department stores have the worst prices).
The Instant Pot is one of those rare cases where the “name brand” appliance costs about the same as its competitors (and imitators). Here are the best Instant Pot alternatives and brand-name multicookers for the money:
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find multicookers with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any appliance with a price above the mid-point.
To find multicookers with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Models with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, fewer than 15% of the analyzed products remain.
Crock Pot 6-Quart Multi Use Express
Good Value: $63 | Great Deal: $42
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Functions: Pressure Cooker; Slow Cooker; Sauté Pan; Steamer; Rice Cooker; Yogurt Maker; Soup Maker; Warmer
This Crock Pot multicooker makes good, quick meals and is an affordable alternative to higher priced Instant Pots, according to several online customers. Many reviewers complain that the non-stick pot has an easy-to-scratch coating (and wish that this unit had a stainless steel pot); others wish this pot had a manual setting.
Black+Decker 11-in-1 Cooking Pot, 6-Quart
Good Value: $63 | Great Deal: $46
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Functions: Pressure Cooker; Slow Cooker; Sauté Pan; Steamer; Rice Cooker; Soup Maker; Warmer
This Black+Decker model is an excellent pressure cooker and a reliable source of one-pot meals, according to several online customers who also say this multicooker is easy to use and clean. Some reviewers complain that this model takes a long time to heat up and cool down; others caution that it has aluminum parts.
Ninja OP101 Foodi 7-in-1 Multicooker, 5-Quart
Good Value: $130 | Great Deal: $86
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Functions: Pressure Cooker; Air Fryer; Steamer; Slow Cooker; Yogurt Maker; Roasting Pan; Sauté Pan
Ninja’s Foodi cooker is an easy-to-use appliance that’s capable of cooking just about anything, according to several online customers. Many reviewers say that this cooker is big, heavy and an electricity hog*.
*To put this unit’s 1,460 watts into perspective, this appliance would use the full electrical capacity of many of the bestselling inverter generators!
Insignia 8-Quart Digital Multi Cooker (NS-MC80SS9)
Good Value: $70 | Great Deal: $40
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Functions: Slow Cooker; Soup Maker; Steamer; Saute Pan; Cake Maker; Rice Cooker
Insignia’s budget multicooker is good for the money but lacks the features of higher-end models, according to several online customers. Many reviewers wish the instruction booklet included recipes and cook times; others warn that this multicooker has a large footprint and takes a while to cool off (as long as an hour).
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Cyber Monday.
Mueller UltraPot 6Q Pressure Cooker (MU-ULTPOT2)
Good Value: $77 | Great Deal: $51
Functions: Pressure Cooker; Slow Cooker; Rice Cooker; Yogurt Maker; Cake Maker; Egg Cooker; Sauté Pan; Steamer; Warmer; Sterilizer
Mueller’s all-in-one cooker is an easy-to-clean, versatile timesaver, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say this model runs hot and feels cheaply made; others say that the instructions are poor.
Cosori 6-Quart 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Programmable Cooker
Good Value: $57 | Great Deal: $24
Functions: Pressure Cooker; Slow Cooker; Rice Cooker; Yogurt Maker; Sauté Pan; Steamer; Warmer
The Cosorsi multicooker gets more praise for its pressure cooker functions than as a slow cooker. Several online customers complained that the instruction manual and recipe booklet were useless, but many customers were thrilled to find free accessories like a vented glass lid and a spare silicone ring.
Instant Pot 6QT Duo Evo Plus Multicooker
Good Value: $111 | Great Deal: $70
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Functions: Pressure Cooker; Sous Vide; Sauté Pan; Slow Cooker; Rice Cooker; Food Warmer; Yogurt Maker; Cake Maker; Stock Pot; Steamer
Instant Pot’s Duo Evo Plus is a versatile and capable multicooker, according to several online customers. Many reviewers were disappointed with this Instant Pot’s app and WiFi connectivity; others warn that this pot has a steep learning curve, limited instructions and that it takes a long time to pressurize before cooking.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Cyber Monday.
Instant Pot (LUX60V3 V3) 6-Quart 6-in-1 Multicooker
Good Value: $71 | Great Deal: $39
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Functions: Pressure Cooker: Rice Cooker: Sauté Pan; Steamer; Cake Maker; Warmer
The Instant Pot has an almost cult-like following. You’ll find thousands of reviews that say things like “this is the best thing I ever bought” or “this is my most used appliance.” The most common criticisms and complaints online are that the instruction manual and recipe book are disappointing.
Instant Pot Ultra 60 (6 Quart Multicooker)
Good Value: $118 | Great Deal: $79
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Functions: Pressure Cooker; Slow Cooker; Rice Cooker; Yogurt Maker; Cake Maker; Egg Cooker; Sauté Pan; Steamer; Warmer; Sterilizer
The Instant Pot Ultra makes great meals, but it has a steep learning curve, according to several online customers. Some reviewers who upgraded from an Instant Pot “Duo” say the LCD screen makes it easier to time a meal (from pre-heating to completion), but the controls are more confusing than older models.
About the Author: John DeFeo specializes in the analysis of online customer reviews. He was formerly the head of editorial insights for Tom’s Guide.
