Using a multi-cooker for your meals allows you to take a mostly hands-off approach to the cooking process. Once all ingredients are cut or trimmed to your liking, you can add them to your multi-cooker and set it to the correct cooking mode. Some models have built-in timers or even show you the current cooking progress so you’ll know when you expect your meal. Which one is right for you? Read on to find out.
Pros:
- Fourteen pre-programmed settings
- Automatic temperature and pressure adjustments
Cons:
- Pressure buildup takes a long time
When compared to other cooking methods, you can save up to 70 percent of energy by using this model of Instant Pot. The pressure and temperature are monitored during the cooking process and adjusted to provide the best-finished results. Choose from one of the seven cooking modes, or 14 one-touch programs, to get your culinary experience started.
Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 pressure cooker and air fryer
Cook up to 5 quarts of food
Add a crispy texture to your favorite dishes.
Pros:
- Nonstick interior pot
- Includes14 safety features
Cons:
- Top lid cannot be fully detached
Get perfectly crispy fries, cook an entire chicken, or make a traditional slow cooker recipe with the Foodi from Ninja. It has nine cooking modes, which include rare options like air frying and broiling, letting you add a crispy finish to any dish. You won’t have to worry about foods getting stuck on the nonstick pot, and cleanup will be a breeze, too.
Pros:
- Quick release for steam
- Includes extra sealing ring
Cons:
- No handles on inner pot
Keep a close eye on the entire cooking process with this Instant Pot's vibrant blue LCD screen. The graph at the bottom of the display couples with the timer to show exactly what's happening with your food. When cooking is finished, there is a quick-release button for steam on the top if you don't want to wait.
Pros:
- Glass lid included for slow cooking
- Cooking status icons keep you apprised of settings
Cons:
- Buttons are hard to read
A multi-cooker offers cooking methods beyond what you’ll find available in a slow cooker but may require the additional purchase of accessories. This option takes care of that by including a steaming rack for veggies or fish, an egg rack to make them in batches, a steaming basket, and utensils for serving. All surfaces inside are stainless steel and free of any chemicals that can sometimes appear in nonstick versions.
COMFEE all-in-one multi cooker
Offers a timer for 24-hour cooking delay
Lower profile fits under low shelves and cabinets
Pros:
- LCD timer
- Easy to store in cabinet
- Nonstick pot for cakes
Cons:
- Not as deep as other options
This option from COMFEE is ready to make your favorite stews, pasta, rice, yogurt, and cakes in the 5.2-quart nonstick interior. Instead of being tall like most multi-cookers, this option has a lower profile design to squeeze under the lowest cabinets. The control panel offers an LCD timer with digital settings and includes a 12-hour keep-warm setting.
Aroma Housewares rice and grain cooker
Easy-to-read controls for cooking
Two-quart capacity serves smaller families.
Pros:
- Basic controls that make sense
- Steamer basket for one-pot meals
Cons:
- No glass lid for slow cooker function
Some multi-cookers may offer more bells and whistles than you’ll ever need. This option from Aroma keeps things simple by sticking to the basic settings for rice, oatmeal, slow cooking, and risotto. Because of its smaller capacity, you won’t need to make huge servings each time, making this an ideal option for a small family or a single person who wants to take leftovers for lunch.
Easy cooking
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Choosing a multi-cooker can be tough when there are so many good options. Our top pick is the Instant Pot Duo because we think it will cover the needs of most people. This is primarily based on how it offers enough settings to cook almost anything to perfection, but also because the interface is easy to understand. After a few uses, you’ll become a pro at setting everything up for a hands-free cooking experience. You’ll also enjoy how much energy you’ll save when compared to stovetop or oven cooking.
For those who like to add crispy fries or veggies as a side to their dishes, consider the Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 pressure cooker and air fryer. When you're not pressure cooking, slow cooking, or simmering, you can be air frying! This method uses way less oil than deep frying, but still delivers the crunchy results of your food dreams. Now you can really make it all, without much mess, in your home kitchen.