A multicooker is an electronic appliance that offers multiple cooking options. You prepare sautéed food in frying
pans, stocks and soups in pots, pulled pork in slow cooker, and steamed rice in pressure cooker. A multicooker gives you the freedom of freeing up your kitchen countertops and display shelf because this single utensil offers plenty of food preparation choices. It can boil, steam, roast, simmer, fry, deep fry, and grill food items. We have also written a complete guide about best convection ovens to change your cooking experience more than you can imagine!.
Is Multicooker better than Stovetop and Electric Pressure Cookers?
The electric pressure cookers have long got past their stovetop counterparts. They are cheaper and versatile. You can cook, steam, and slow cook in them and enjoy the advantage of presetting the time and pressure.
However, the multicookers can certainly dethrone them both because of convenience-of-use and versatility. Faster than other cooker types, these are a blessing in the life of people following a hectic schedule.
The electric cookers keep ticking up your utility bills, and the stovetop models demand plenty of time for the food preparation. A multicooker frees you from these problems with a power saving system and fast cooking option. Some also come with a programmable feature that allows cooking without supervision. You just have to put all the ingredients and select the right program to get the job done.
10 Benefits of Using a Multicooker
When you have a multicooker, there’s no point in cluttering your kitchen with multiple cooking tools and gizmos. It also allows you prepare the dinner within a few minutes and plan ahead with the slow cooker option. Let’s find out some of its other benefits:
Cost-efficient
A multicooker can perform several cooking functions. How much would it cost if you have to purchase all these cooking tools separately? So, it’s a cost-saving option that also saves lots of your time.
Well-designed
The gadget is multifunctional, but it does not mean to take up the space of multiple devices. In fact, most of the cookers are so well-designed that they are not bigger than a small vacuum cleaner.
The compact size makes it suitable for any countertop and tabletop. You can also use it in dorm rooms, boats, and RV vans.
Mess-cleaner
It works as an alternative to so many appliances. You can use it as a steamer, fryer, yogurt maker, and more. So, there’s no need to hob for many dishes when you have a multicooker.
Similarly, it creates less mess at the time of cooking because of its unique design. The lid design of the steamer keeps the steam inside and does not spread it throughout the kitchen. The deep design of the fryer does not let splatter oil or grease everywhere.
Ease of use
You can use it anywhere, and it is ideal for a single person to catering a crowd! Most of the models are highly programmable, which allows you leave them unattended.
Power-saving
Unlike many other cooking pots and pans, multicookers heat all around the pot, which takes less power to cook the food. Besides, heat is trapped within the machine instead of spreading around the kitchen to turn it hot.
Easy-cleaning
Due to even heat distribution, the food does not burn and get stuck in the cooker. Besides, the non-stick coating also helps with easy clean-up.
The Characteristics of High-Quality Multi-Cookers
It’s necessary to check out certain features at the time of purchasing a multicooker. Why? It is because you want an appliance that is dependable, efficient, and long-lasting. The presence of these aspects will ensure that you get such one:
The Design
The design does not mean howgood looking the device is but what its capacity is and how its interface looks.
The capacity of multicookers ranges between one and eight quarts. A one-quart model is enough for cooking meals for a person or two while an eight-quart cooker suits the need of a large family. A bigger one is also perfect for those who love to host guests often. A family of four won’t require anything bigger than a four to six-quart model.
The size will depend on how many people you cook for daily. Also, a bigger one will be perfect if you enjoy having leftovers.
Depending on the functions, the cooker will have several switches and knobs on the exterior panels. An LCD display should also be there to show the pressure, temperature, and timing.
Cooking Performance
A multicooker will have various cooking functions. The number of options will depend on its size and price. Most models are capable of doing cooking, frying, boiling, searing, and a couple more things.
Many models have built-in programs like soup, risotto, oatmeal, etc. Your job is to put the ingredients and select the right button, the appliance will take care of the rest of the cooking.
The pressure settings allow cooking under high or low pressure. It is particularly helpful when you are following a recipe that requires the pressure to be set at a specific point. Similarly, the timer allows set up a duration for a preparation, and the cooker will switch itself off after that period. It is excellent for cooking without supervision. It will also show you how much time is left before the preparation is done.
Additional Features
The number of extra features varies from brand to brand and model to model. For example, you won’t find the delayed-start function in all the models available in the market.
What is a delayed-start option? It’s a godsend to those who like to have their meal ready and piping hot when they are home. You can put the ingredients into it and set a timing to start the cooking sometimes later. This function allows you prepare the meal even when you are not at home.
Another feature that you should look in your multicooker is a good locking system and a well-designed lid. The food will explode and spread everywhere if the cooker gets opened while it’s still under pressure. A poor lid design can lead to such accidents.
It really takes time to get used to all the settings of the appliance. You need trial runs to figure out the perfect timing and pressure for steaming beans or slow-cooking pulled lambs. If you don’t want to make mistakes or don’t have time for experiments, pick up a reputable brand or a popular model.
There’s a reason why the Breville Fast Slow Pro is the first pick on this list. It is almost the Cadillac of cookers. It is tough to find any close contender to this model because of its high-performance, feature-packed design. The price might seem high, but you won’t regret a moment!
The Design
The interior is roomy, with the capacity of holding maximum 4.5-quart and minimum 1-quart cooking inserts. The cooker is perfect for feeding a couple to a family of six.
The Fast Slow Pro has an intuitive interface with knobs and buttons for a number of preset options. In fact, there are eleven pressure cook settings in addition to a custom setting, which is great for showing your cooking creativity.
Unlike other pressure cookers, it gauges internal pressure via dual sensors instead of a temperature probe attached to the base. It helps with providing more accurate readings.
It also has acolor-changing LCD that shows pressure, timing, and temperature. It also displays the preset cooking menus so that you can select the one you need.
Cooking Performance
The Fast Slow Pro provides you complete control over your cooking with the manually adjustable pressure and timer. It is just turning-a-knob away to choosing from some presets or adjusting the way you want.
It has eleven pre-set cooking options including soup, stew, rice, meat, and more. It will automatically adjust the timer, temperature, and pressure when you choose one.
The pressure cooker does heating and searing better than most of its competitors. It offers slow simmering at various temperature ranges so that there is no splatter or unnecessary flavor loss.
The slow cooker function is a bit underperforming since it cannot evaporate quickly, leaving lots of gravy in the food item. Changing the lid or cooking without a lid could be the solution.
Additional Features
The Fast Slow Pro comes with an automatic steam release function, allowing you to set and forget! You can even choose not to release the pressure at all if that’s necessary for the preparation. The Keep Warm function is another blessing that keeps the food warm until you open the cover for serving.
A ceramic non-stick coating (free of harmful elements like PFOA and PTFE) inside makes cooking and cleaning a breeze. The removable cooking bowl and the wide lip under the top gasket make it easier to clean under the lid locks with a sponge.
It is completely safe to use the cooker because of the safety valve and 3-way safety locking lid.
Made in Japan, the Panasonic SR-HZ106 is a great choice if you like Japanese style food, which means lots of rice and steamed items. It can comfortably cook for five to six people and keep everything warm until serving. The pre-programmed functions are easy-to-use and work efficiently. Some people will find the price expensive if compared to the Breville model listed above.
The Design
The cooker is large enough to hold 5 cups of rice that will become 10 cups after getting cooked. The control panel featuring several command buttons and an LCD is on the top.
The screen shows the timer and your chosen cooking function. The downside is there’s no option to customize. You have to choose from any of the 13 pre-set programs.
Cooking Performance
The cooker allows you cooking different types of rice items. If you love eating Japanese-style rice preparations including sticky, rinse-free, quinoa, brown rice, or sushi, this is the appliance you should spend your money on. The enhanced Umami feature controls the internal heat to circulate the rice’s natural flavors and enhances its savory taste.
You can also steam fish, meat, vegetables, and other items in the steamer basket. The 5-layer induction heat system facilitates uniform heat circulation for proper cooking without burning anything. The 7-layer inner pan with a diamond coating is another strong suit of this cooker. It ensures that you enjoy the rice dishes without a single grain of clumping and sticking.
Additional Features
The cooker keeps the food warm for 12 hours and has a 24-hour timer. So, you can leave it unsupervised and have the food warm at the time of serving.
The cleaning is cinch due to the stainless steel frame, detachable top panel, and removable heating elements for the lid.
It comes with some extra accessories including a measuring cup, cereal scoop, rice scoop, and a steaming basket.
Pros
Umami-enhancing taste catcher
Keeps food warm for 12 hours
7 layers of diamond coating for non-stick cooking
5-layerinduction heat system facilitates burn-free cooking
The KMC4244CA from KitchenAid is a versatile, energy-saving appliance that is a step up from a slow cooker. The 10 available recipes will inspire you to make everything from searing steaks on Sunday to yummy yogurt. It is large, supposed to take lots of space on a kitchen countertop. The price is lower than the Panasonic SR-HZ106, but many people will still find it expensive.
The Design
It comes with a 4-quart cooking pot and several knobs and buttons for programming commands. There’s a digital display that shows timer and temperature. It is helpful for novice cookers for guiding them through simple instructional steps.
Cooking Performance
It is a versatile cooker that will be your trusted companion whether you want to create a gourmet masterpiece or an everyday dish. The more than ten programs make preparing plenty of food items just a button-click away. Besides, the temperature and timer settings help you with having more control over your cooking.
The even heat technology is another blessing that circulates uniform heat to every part of the pot, saving from the hassle of dealing with burnt food.
Additional Features
The cooker keeps food warm for 24 hours, which is wonderful for enjoying piping hot meals a long time after the cooking is done. The 12-hour cooking time is amazing too, giving you the freedom of setting the timer for a later time to enjoy freshly prepared food when you are home from work.
The non-stick CeramaShield pot saves you from the cleaning nightmare. The food comes off pretty easily although the coating is prone to scratch.
It comes with a roasting rack, steam basket, and Stir Tower accessories including stir paddle, silicone flip, and silicone flex edge blade.
If you are fond of rice dishes, the best multicooker that you can buy at a reasonable price is Panasonic SR-AFM187. The made in Japan product leaves no doubt about the quality. The feature-packed appliance is the cooking pot that you want to have when preparing food for a big family or hosting a small party.
The Design
It is a family-size cooker that can cook 10 cups of rice (producing 20 cups of cooked rice). The touch-sensitive control panel on the top of the lid has all the functions for preparing the perfect meal. The LCD screen shows the timing and the cooking programs.
Cooking Performance
The family-size cooker comes with 16 pre-set programs that help you make not only tasty rice preparations but also soups, cereals, porridge, and cakes. There’s a steamer insert for steaming fish, vegetables, and other items.
The dual-layer of heat distribution system, the four-layer of diamond-coated, heat-absorbing inner pan, and the heat-control feature to enhance the umami flavor provide hassle-free, non-sticky, and flavorful cooking experiences.
Additional Features
The 24-hour timer is excellent for having hot meals ready no matter if you are outside for long hours. In addition, the ‘keep warm’ feature will keep food at serving temperature for up to 12 hours.
The accessories include a measuring cup, rice, scoop, porridge scoop, and an adjustable steaming basket. There’s a large loop handle for carrying from one room to another.
Whether you want to steam or stew or whip or flip, the stylish KMC4241SS multicooker from KitchenAid will fulfill
all of your cooking needs. With an attractive retro styling, this multi-talented appliance will also go easy on your wallet (priced at just less than $200).
The Design
Available in five attractive colors, the multicooker enhances the beauty of your kitchen. The more than ten cooking programs are perfect for the adventurous cooks who want to explore the nuances of the art of cookery.
The digital display shows time and temperature. It also displays the program you have set for cooking.
Cooking Performance
The more than 10 cooking settings allow you to cook everything from gourmet wonders to everyday simple dishes. The all-in-one appliance also stands out for producing consistent results for whatever you prepare. The precise time and temperature controls make sure that the food is cooked thoroughly without any burnt or uncooked portion.
The device also has a steam basket and dual-purpose roast rack. The tempered glass lid lets you check the condition of the dish without taking it out.
Additional Features
You can set the timer for up to 12 hours of cooking. The ‘keep warm’ option stays active for 24 hours. It means that you can switch the cooker on after putting the ingredients, set a timer, and come home the next day to have the dish ready at serving temperature.
The appliance is compatible with the KST4054 model with Stir Tower Accessory. But, you have to buy them separately.
Pros
Precise timing and temperature controls
Produces consistent cooking results every time
Looks attractive and available in multiple colors
Tempered glass lid
Cons
The interior has smaller room considering the large exterior
The ceramic coating inside the pot scratches easily
Instant Pot IP-LUX60 is your savior if you are tired of eating microwaved food in your busy life. Made of a three-ply food-grade stainless steel, the feature-packed multicooker guarantees serving of fresh, hot food whenever you want. The less than $150 price is also very reasonable.
The Design
It is a six-quart cooker that is enough for cooking for a family of five or six and small groups. The brushed stainless steel is solid and does not dent easily. The touch control pad is fingerprint resistant, so it won’t look murky even after using for numerous times. The large display panel shows accurate timing and temperatures.
Cooking Performance
The multicooker is versatile as it can replace 6 appliances with its multiple cooking options.You can steam vegetables, sauté food, pressure cook rice, make yogurt, prepare soups, and more. There are 10 built-in smart programs to eliminate the guesswork from cooking and making it easier for the rookies.
It draws on 1,000-watt power, so does not take much time to get hot and start cooking. The high-pressure setting also cuts the cooking time by 70%, saving time and energy. The interior of the pot has no chemical coating to ensure total food safety.
Additional Features
You can manually set up to 120-minute cook time, and there is also a delayed cooking function. Put the ingredients now and set the cooking start anytime in the next 24 hours. There’s also the automatic ‘keep warm’ feature that ensures that the food is hot enough to serve.
Its safety features are similar to other Instant Pot models. Apart from the food-grade stainless steel, it has 10-layer safety mechanism so there is no accident related to pressure release, leaky lid, and other common problems.
The cooker comes as a complete package as it includes recipes, instruction booklet, measuring cup, rice paddle, soup spoon, and steam rack.
Pros
Suitable for a medium family
10-layer safety mechanisms
Delay cook time feature
UCL and UL-certified design
Cons
Default slow-cook temperature is a bit high for slow cooking
The NP-NVC10 is a cute, little multicooker from the Japanese electronics company, Zojirushi. The hybrid of a slow cooker and a pressure cooker is the ideal cooking solution if you live alone or just with your partner. The over $200 price tag seems overkill for a one-liter cooker, but it has a list of functions that are really impressive.
The Design
It almost looks like the Panasonic models reviewed in this list. There are multiple buttons on the top panel along with a colored LCD. The screen is easy to read and gives clear readings of clock and delay timer.
The 1-quart cooker has many cooking functions, and you can even make gourmet rice dishes with it.
Cooking Performance
There are settings for cooking different types of rice dishes and porridge with this cooker. The induction heating system does not only heap up the base but turns the entire pot into a heat conductor. As a result, the rice preparations come out as they should be. You can also utilize the umami setting that releases the hidden flavors from the rice and makes a dish delicious.
The IH pressure system creates a sealed environment that does not let the pressure drop below the set level, making the really softer than traditional cooking methods. Also, the AI Fuzzy Logic Technology is brilliant as it learns from your previous cooking experiences and adjusts accordingly to cook the perfect dish.
Additional Features
The NP-NVC10 has plenty of extra functions. There are steam-reduce setting, reheat function, automated keep warm, and extended keep warm features. Also, use the scorched setting to make crispy rice for special occasions.
The cooking pan has a non-stick coating that brings out the sweetness of rice by alkalizing the water. It also makes cleaning easier as food does not stick to the surface.
If you need a family-size multicooker but don’t have the budget to go for anSR-AFM187, don’t worry. Panasonic brings this SR-ZG185 at less than $200, which appears to be a steal of a deal. The made-in-Japan product is large (can cook 10 cups of rice) and comes from a brand-name, guaranteeing to be your kitchen companion for years to come.
The Design
The multicooker is suitable for a big family or small group as it can cook 10 cups of rice (which will become 20 cups after being cooked). The design is almost similar to the other two Panasonic products listed here. The top panel features the control buttons and small screen that displays the time and the cooking programs.
Cooking Performance
The SR-ZG185 is ideal for preparing lots of rice dishes. Whether you want to cook quinoa, brown, sticky, or jasmine rice, the microcomputer and Fuzzy Logic technology will help you do it perfectly. They can adjust the cooking temperature and time depending on the type of rice and style of cooking.
You can also prepare soup, cereal, cake, and steam various items by using the steamer insert. The 6-layer of diamond fluorine and non-stick coating on the pan retains and transmits heat smoothly, resulting in non-sticky preparation of a better-testing dish.
Additional Features
The 24-hour timer option makes sure that you get a freshly cooked dish whenever you want. The 12-hour Keep Warm option keeps it warm for up to 12 hours after the cooking is done.
Perfect rice cooking mainly depends on the measurement. To make your job easier, this model comes with a measuring cup and rice scoop. The measuring lines in the pan are also clearly visible.
Pros
Suitable for large families
6-layer of coating retains heat and distributes it evenly
Perfect for cooking rice dishes
Reasonable price
Cons
Steaming basket is deep, leaving small room for the rice pan
Steaming timer starts at 10 minutes, which is too long for Asian noodles and vegetables
Cuisinart is a trusted household, and its MSC-600 is a popular budget-friendly multicooker. It has less cooking
options than some of its counterparts. However, it is cheap, and its one-touch mode-switching option is hard to beat!
The Design
The cooker has enough room to cook food for a medium-size family because it comes with a 6-quart aluminum cooking pot. The front panel has several buttons for various functions, and there are two small LCD screens for showing time and temperature.
Cooking Performance
It’s a 3-in-1 multicooker that you can use for steaming, browning/sautéing, and slow cooking. You can venture toprepare simple items like tomato soup or chicken stew to complicated dishes such as Belgian beef stew, Italian braised short ribs, or beef stroganoff. The truth is all the dishes will turn out perfect depending on whether you have used the right settings.
You can set your desired cooking time and temperature. However, it does not have any delay timer function. All you can do is to select the slow cook function at high, simmer, or low and set the cooking hours up to 24 hours. The cooking will be stopped automatically after that set period.
The cooking pot has a non-stick aluminum coating that spreads heat evenly to all parts of food. The film is BPA-free, so it is safe for your health.
Additional Features
The glass lid has a plastic handle that stays cool even when the lid is hot. The lid provides a clear view of what’s cooking inside and a comfortable handling.
The product has alimited 3-year warranty, giving you the peace of mind.
Pros
User-friendly, even for novice cooks
You can set the cooking time up to 24 hours
Limited 3-year warranty
Cons
The vents don’t have a drip line
The non-stick Teflon coating is prone to scratches
It’s hard to think up to12 cooking programs, let alone fit them all in one appliance. The CY505E from T-fal has done it! The multicooker makes you a masterchef because now you can prepare everything from roast chicken to risottos, pasta to pulled pork with just the press of a button! The price lists slightly more than $100, seems to be too good to be true.
The Design
The CY505E is huge because it’s a 6-quart cooker. The stainless steel body, in combination with the black lid and base, looks beautiful. There’s a touch control pad on the front panel that has numerous cooking functions. The LCD screen displays the time.
Cooking Performance
This six-quart model offers 12 automatic cooking programs. You can choose to cook rice, porridge, soup, stew, and plenty of other preparations without knowing how to cook them! Learn the recipe from a cookbook, put the ingredients inside the pot, and select the proper functions. Voila! Your dish will be ready after the required time.
The options to fix each program at high, low, and medium level offer added control over the cooking. You can use it as a pressure cooker, steamer, slow cooker, and more for cooking everything from lamb stew to delicate fish.
Additional Features
You can set the timer for 5 minutes to up to 12 hours. It’s a great option as you put the meal ingredients in the morning and have the dish ready when you are at home in the evening. There’s also a 24-hour delay start option.
Pros
Clutter-free design
12 cooking programs
Plenty of functions
Options for setting time and delay start
Cons
You may need some time to get used to the controls
If you want to cook rice, lamb shanks, tomato sauce, and pudding in the same utensil, this JAX-T18U-K multicooker from Tiger is what you should have. Priced at less than $200, it combines the functions of four appliances into one. The 10-cup rice pot means you have to cook just once to feed the masses.
The Design
The cooker is large enough to cook 10 cups of rice at once. There are several control buttons on the top panel. A black-and-white display shows the timing and the menu options.
It has an attractive look featuring stainless steel finish combined with shiny, black plastic panels.
Cooking Performance
Featuring 4-in-1 functions and 10 cooking settings, this device can replace multiple of your cooking appliances. It operates as a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, and ‘tacook’ synchro-cooker.
You can cook several rice dishes, porridge, steam vegetables and fish, and slow cook plenty of preparations with minimal preparation and the press of a button. The automatic cooking logic system constantly supervises the temperature and adjusts if necessary to produce the perfect meal. The cooking plate does not have any harmful chemicals, so your food will have the natural flavors and textures.
Additional Features
There are Timer 1 and Timer 2 options that allow setting a specific period as the preparation time of the dish. You can even set the Timer 1 for breakfast and Timer 2 for lunch. There is also a warm feature that keeps your food hot for hours.
Cleaning up the cooker is easy because you can remove the steam cap, inner lid, and the pot.
The Cuisinart 7-quart multicooker is a trusted appliance for preparing decent home-cooked meals. The preparation is quick and does not require the endless stirring and pan-watching. You just have to put the ingredients in the pot, choose the settings, and it will serve you with piping hot food after the required time. What’s the price? Less than $200!
The Design
The cooker is quite big as it can hold up to 7-quart of food. The front panel has several functions, letting you set up time, temperature, and cooking programs. The backlit LCD screen shows the temperature and the time left for the dish to be prepared.
Cooking Performance
The cooker has four programmable options, steam, brown/sauté, roast, and slow cook at four levels – high, low, warm, and simmer. Even the novice cooks can use the appliance in so many different ways! In fact, you can sauté the vegetables or deep fry the meat right in the pot and then simply add other ingredients and switch into slow cooker. There’s no need to use an extra frying pan!
The aluminum cooking pot distributes heat evenly to every part, helping to have a burn-free cooking. The non-stick Teflon coating does not let the food stick and saves you from a cleaning nightmare.
Additional Features
The cooker includes a reversible steaming and roasting rack. So, you don’t need to buy it separately. The lid and cooking pot is dishwasher safe, but they are too large for any dishwasher. Besides, the detergent in the dishwasher can wear down the Teflon film.
The DUO50 from Instant Pot is one of the most popular multicookers around. What’s the reason? It provides the best value for money! It is not inexpensive, unlike its LUX60 and DUO Plus cousins, but its 3rd generation technology will provide consistent cooking results, every time!
The Design
The touch interface is easier than some other models. It could take some time to get the hang of it, though, especially if you are accustomed to the control-knob system.
The LCD screen is small, but it shows everything that you need for cooking an item perfectly. It shows the time, temperature, and pressure.
Cooking Performance
With 14 smart cooking programs, the 5-quart cooker can replace 7 appliances in your kitchen.It can sauté, steam, boil, and do the functions of a slow cooker, pressure cooker, yogurt maker, and more.
Its stainless steel triple-clad base facilitates more even heating than the Breville model listed as the top choice. However, it heats up slowly, at least slower than Breville because it draws 900 watts power compared to Breville’s 1,100 watts.
The cooker is food-grade stainless steel, so there’s no risk of health problems. However, the lack of coating may stick the food, making it harder to clean up. The lid seals nicely, creating a closed environment that makes the food tastier by trapping nutrients, flavors, and aromas.
The use of third-generation technology helps set up all the parameters precisely, guaranteeing to yield your desired result every time.
Additional Features
The 10-layer safety mechanism is UL and ULC certified. It eliminates many common safety errors, making the kitchen safe for even a novice cook.
The cooker comes with some accessories. You don’t have to buy a measuring cup, soup spoon, rice paddle, handled steam rack, and recipe booklet separately.
You will definitely become a fan after using this CP018-PC multicooker from COSORI. You can use this every day for sautéing, steaming, or cooking stew – all in one pot! You don’t have to be an expert cook to use it. Just put the ingredients and choose the right settings, it will turn everything into delicious meals.
The Design
The 8-quart cooker is enough for a large family. If it’s a family of four members, there will be lots of leftovers.
It has an interactive touch-sensitive control pad that features 17 smart programs, pressure, temperature, timer, keep warm, manual, and other options. There’s an LED screen that shows clear readings of various functions.
Cooking Performance
It comes with a bunch of presets that can turn everyone into a pro chef. It is just a press-the-button away whether you want to cook chicken curry, lamb soup, or brown rice!The cooking time is really fast as making a soft, moist cake takes only half the oven time!
Its temperature and pressure settings are highly impressive. You can take the advantage of three temperature options – less, normal, and more – to do sauté/brown, reheat, slow cook, and hot pot. The 6-level pressure settings come handy for cooking different types of food. For example, Level 1 is perfect for vegetables, Level 2 for seafood, while Level 6 keeps your beef tender.
Additional Features
The timer option allows program it in the morning and has the dinner ready in the evening. The ‘keep warm’ option keeps the food at serving temperature for up to 6 hours.
It comes with two lids – one is stainless steel and the other is tempered glass – that come handy for different preparations. The safety feature is also praiseworthy as the 9-layer mechanism reduces the chance of kitchen accidents
The cooker also has an extra silicone sealing ring, measuring cup, rice spoon, ladle, and a steam rack with handle.
Pros
Large enough for a big family
Impressive temperature and pressure settings
Comes with extra accessories
A 9-layer safety mechanism
Cons
Takes up a lot of counter space
De-pressurizing can take more time than a stovetop version
If you’ve got multiple hungry mouths to feed but don’t have enough bucks to fork out on multiple cooking items, this DUO Plus multicooker from Instant Pot will relieve you from the tension. It replaces nine kitchen appliances and has a 6-quart bowl capacity. The less than $150 price seems to be a steal of a deal for this device!
The Design
The DUO Plus has a fingerprint-resistant brushed stainless steel body. The lid holder is designed for the convenience of both right and left-handed users. It’s the improved version of its predecessors with more custom features and a user-friendly interface.
The touch control panel offers 15 smart programs and settings for controlling pressure, timer, and temperature. The blue LCD screen gives readings for temperature, pressure, time, keep warm, and sound options.
Cooking Performance
The 6-quart cooker comes with an advanced microprocessor technology and 15 cooking programs. You can use it like a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, boiler, sauté cooker, warmer, and more. It can also make desserts such as yogurt and cakes.
One great benefit of this DUO Plus model is its high-pressure setting. It makes cooking almost 70% quicker than its previous version.
The parts that will come in contact with the food are food-grade stainless steel. So, there is no possibility of leaching any toxic element into your food.
Additional Features
The cooker has a UL-certified 10-layer safety mechanism that leaves absolutely zero possibility of an accident. It also does not discharge any steam in the environment, keeping intact the flavors and aromas of the prepared dishes.
It comes with several accessories including recipe booklet, measuring cup, soup spoon, serving spoon, and a steam rack. In addition, you will get Alexa guided cooking and an app providing recipes, videos, and customized grocery lists.
Pros
High-pressure cooker function cooks pretty fast
A 10-layer safety mechanism
No toxic ingredient
Reasonable price
Cons
Steam may leak from the closed vent
Manual release of the steam pressure could get messy
Tips for Efficient Use of Multicookers
Many people will find using a multicooker confusing, mainly because a standard model has plenty of options. Follow these tips for cooking fast and efficiently:
Preheat the unit before pouring oil and other ingredients for sautéing.
Except for sautéing, you have to use a liquid such as water or stock for all types of preparations. Otherwise, the food will burn inside.
Add more seasoning and herbs when preparing a slow cooker meal because the long cooking period results in loss of flavors.
Don’t let the ingredients or liquid cross the max fill line. It will cause the food leak through the lid seal at the time of cooking.
The food residue can get into the pressure valve and block it, which may result in exploding the food everywhere. Check it regularly and keep it clean.
What Is the One Safety Feature that Every Multicooker Should Have?
This appliance performs the function of a pressure cooker too. So, the lid should have a good seal and a proper locking system. Otherwise, it could be exploded during high-pressure cooking.
also allows you prepare the dinner within a few minutes and plan ahead with the slow cooker option. Let’s find out some of its other benefits:
appliance that is dependable, efficient, and long-lasting. The presence of these aspects will ensure that you get such one:
delayed-start function in all the models available in the market.
tough to find any close contender to this model because of its high-performance, feature-packed design. The price might seem high, but you won’t regret a moment!
and steamed items. It can comfortably cook for five to six people and keep everything warm until serving. The pre-programmed functions are easy-to-use and work efficiently. Some people will find the price expensive if compared to the Breville model listed above.
available recipes will inspire you to make everything from searing steaks on Sunday to yummy yogurt. It is large, supposed to take lots of space on a kitchen countertop. The price is lower than the Panasonic SR-HZ106, but many people will still find it expensive.
The made in Japan product leaves no doubt about the quality. The feature-packed appliance is the cooking pot that you want to have when preparing food for a big family or hosting a small party.
food-grade stainless steel, the feature-packed multicooker guarantees serving of fresh, hot food whenever you want. The less than $150 price is also very reasonable.
cooker and a pressure cooker is the ideal cooking solution if you live alone or just with your partner. The over $200 price tag seems overkill for a one-liter cooker, but it has a list of functions that are really impressive.
brings this SR-ZG185 at less than $200, which appears to be a steal of a deal. The made-in-Japan product is large (can cook 10 cups of rice) and comes from a brand-name, guaranteeing to be your kitchen companion for years to come.
it! The multicooker makes you a masterchef because now you can prepare everything from roast chicken to risottos, pasta to pulled pork with just the press of a button! The price lists slightly more than $100, seems to be too good to be true.
from Tiger is what you should have. Priced at less than $200, it combines the functions of four appliances into one. The 10-cup rice pot means you have to cook just once to feed the masses.
is quick and does not require the endless stirring and pan-watching. You just have to put the ingredients in the pot, choose the settings, and it will serve you with piping hot food after the required time. What’s the price? Less than $200!
best value for money! It is not inexpensive, unlike its LUX60 and DUO Plus cousins, but its 3rd generation technology will provide consistent cooking results, every time!
sautéing, steaming, or cooking stew – all in one pot! You don’t have to be an expert cook to use it. Just put the ingredients and choose the right settings, it will turn everything into delicious meals.
DUO Plus multicooker from Instant Pot will relieve you from the tension. It replaces nine kitchen appliances and has a 6-quart bowl capacity. The less than $150 price seems to be a steal of a deal for this device!
