Multicooker Guide: Everything You Need to Know About Multicookers

A multicooker is an electric kitchen appliance that combines several cooking methods in one appliance. Depending on the model, it can perform the functions of an electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer or rice cooker, for example.

One of its main advantages is that you can carry out several steps of a recipe directly in the same inner pot. For example, you can start by sautéing ingredients and then continue pressure cooking or slow cooking them without changing pans.

The available functions depend on the model.

A multicooker has an electric heating element and electronic controls. Simply add the ingredients to the inner pot, select the appropriate cooking programme and, depending on the recipe and model, set the cooking time, temperature or pressure.

With Pressure Cook, liquid is heated inside the sealed inner pot. The resulting steam creates pressure and increases the temperature inside, allowing many foods to cook more quickly than with conventional cooking methods.

With Slow Cook, food is cooked for a longer period at a lower temperature.

With Sauté, you can brown ingredients directly in the inner pot, which is particularly useful for recipes where onions, vegetables or meat need to be browned first.

The available cooking programmes and functions vary depending on the Instant Pot model. Common functions include:

• Pressure Cook - for soups, stews, meat, pulses and many other dishes
• Slow Cook - for cooking slowly over several hours
• Sauté - for sautéing and browning ingredients directly in the inner pot
• Steam - for vegetables, for example
• Rice - for preparing rice and certain grains
• Keep Warm - keeps food warm after cooking
• Yogurt - on models that include this function
• Sous Vide - on selected models

Some Instant Pot models also combine a multicooker with an air fryer, offering additional functions such as Air Fry, Bake, Roast or Grill.

A multicooker can combine several kitchen appliances and cooking methods in one appliance. This can save space and simplify the preparation of many recipes.

Less cookware

Many recipes can be prepared entirely in the inner pot. For example, you can start by sautéing ingredients using Sauté and then move directly to pressure cooking or slow cooking.

This means fewer pots and pans and, therefore, less washing up afterwards.

Faster cooking

Pressure cooking, in particular, can significantly reduce the time needed to prepare many dishes. It is especially useful for soups, stews, pulses and meat dishes that would otherwise require longer cooking times.

Different ways to cook

From breakfast and side dishes to soups, main courses and desserts, a multicooker can be used to prepare a wide variety of recipes.

Practical for meal prep

If you like to prepare several portions at once, a larger-capacity multicooker can be useful for making curries, soups, chilli, rice dishes or pulses for several meals.

The possibilities are varied. Some examples of dishes and foods you can prepare include:

• Soups and stews
• Curries and chilli
• Rice and other grains
• Beans, lentils and chickpeas
• Potatoes
• Vegetables
• Pulled pork and shredded chicken
• Braised dishes
• Porridge
• Yogurt
• Desserts

Models with an integrated air fryer function can also prepare crispy foods such as chips, chicken wings or roasted vegetables.

A multicooker can function as a pressure cooker, but it generally offers many more possibilities.

A traditional pressure cooker focuses on cooking food under pressure. An Instant Pot multicooker with the Pressure Cook function also uses pressure, but combines this with other cooking methods such as slow cooking, sautéing and steaming.

A multicooker is therefore much more than an electric pressure cooker.

A slow cooker is specifically designed to cook food slowly over long periods.

Many Instant Pot multicookers also include the Slow Cook function, but offer other options such as pressure cooking, sautéing and steaming.

If you almost exclusively prepare dishes that need to cook slowly for several hours, a dedicated slow cooker may be an interesting option. If you want to combine different cooking methods in one appliance, a multicooker offers greater versatility.

A multicooker and an air fryer work in different ways.

A multicooker is particularly suitable for:

• Pressure cooking
• Slow cooking
• Steaming
• Soups and stews
• Rice and grains

An air fryer, on the other hand, rapidly circulates hot air around food, making it particularly suitable for achieving crispy and browned results.

Want both options? Combination appliances such as Instant Pot Crisp models bring multicooker and air fryer functions together in one appliance.

It depends on the model.

A conventional multicooker without an air fryer function cannot make chips with the same crispy result as an air fryer.

With a Crisp model that includes the Air Fry function, however, you can prepare chips and other crispy foods.

Important: an Instant Pot multicooker is not designed for deep frying using large quantities of hot oil.

Yes. Rice is one of the classic foods you can prepare in an Instant Pot.

Depending on the model and type of rice, you can use the Rice programme or the Pressure Cook function.

Use the correct ratio of rice to liquid and follow the recommended cooking time for the type of rice you are preparing.

Yes. Eggs can, for example, be cooked under pressure.

The time required depends on several factors, including the desired consistency, the size of the eggs and the method used.

On models with Sauté, you can also prepare dishes such as scrambled eggs directly in the inner pot.

Partially.

A conventional multicooker does not completely replace an oven, but it can offer alternative cooking methods for certain dishes.

Models with an integrated air fryer function offer even more possibilities and can be used, for example, for Bake, Roast or preparing crispy foods.

However, for large baking tins, several trays or traditional oven recipes, a conventional oven is still useful.

Whether a meal is more or less healthy depends mainly on the ingredients used and the recipe itself.

However, a multicooker offers different cooking methods, such as steaming and pressure cooking, which often require little additional fat.

It can also make it easier to prepare vegetables, pulses, grains, soups and other home-cooked meals.

There is no single answer that applies to every dish.

With pressure cooking, shorter cooking times can be an advantage. In addition, a relatively compact and enclosed cooking space is heated.

Actual energy consumption depends on several factors:

• Model and capacity
• Selected cooking programme
• Cooking time
• Amount of food
• Appliance or cooking method used for comparison

Current Instant Pot communications mention significant time and energy savings for certain models and comparisons. However, these figures should always be considered in the context of the specific model and comparison method used.

Power varies depending on the size and model.

A higher wattage does not automatically mean that an appliance uses more energy per dish. Cooking time and the programme used also influence total energy consumption.

Wattage should therefore not be considered in isolation as an indicator of quality. It is better to compare the technical specifications of each model alongside its capacity and functions.

The right size depends on how many people you usually cook for and whether you regularly prepare larger portions or meal prep.

If you often cook in larger quantities, a larger-capacity model can also be useful for a smaller household.

When pressure cooking, always follow the maximum fill level indicated for your appliance.

Yes. Simple dishes are a good way to become familiar with the main functions.

To get started, you can try:

• Rice
• Potatoes
• Eggs
• Steamed vegetables
• Simple soups
• Chilli
• Lentils
• Simple one-pot recipes

Once you are familiar with pressure cooking, Sauté and pressure release, you can gradually start exploring the other functions.

Before choosing an appliance, there are four main things to consider.

Capacity: how many people do you usually cook for?

Functions: do you mainly need pressure cooking and slow cooking, or do you also want functions such as Sous Vide, WiFi or an air fryer?

Space: how much space do you have available on your worktop and for storing the appliance?

Cooking habits: do you usually prepare smaller everyday meals, or do you want to cook larger quantities for your family or meal prep?

Having more cooking functions does not automatically make an appliance better. What matters is choosing the functions you will actually use.

The current Instant Pot range includes different types of appliances, from classic multicookers and smart models to appliances that combine a multicooker and air fryer.

As a guide:

For a simple introduction:
Duo or Classic

For smaller households and kitchens:
compact Duo or Classic models

For families and meal prep:
larger-capacity models

For additional convenience and smart features:
Plus or Pro models and their corresponding WiFi versions

For a multicooker and air fryer in one appliance:
Crisp models

The most suitable version will depend on the capacity, functions and your cooking habits.

The price depends on the capacity, functions and model.

Compact multicookers with fewer additional functions are generally more affordable than larger-capacity appliances or models with additional features such as WiFi or an integrated air fryer.

As prices and promotions change regularly, we recommend checking current prices directly in our product range.

It depends on how you cook.

A multicooker can be particularly useful if:

• You want to use several cooking methods in one appliance
• You frequently prepare one-pot recipes
• You want to save time during the week
• You regularly meal prep
• You want to use fewer pots and pans
• You have limited space for several separate kitchen appliances

If you cook very infrequently or mainly use one cooking method, you may not need all the functions a multicooker offers.

Before deciding, three simple questions can help:

1. How many people do you usually cook for?
This will help determine the right capacity.

2. What do you mainly want to prepare?
Soups and stews, rice, meal prep, slow-cooked dishes – or also crispy foods prepared in an air fryer?

3. Which functions will you actually use?
Not everyone needs WiFi, Sous Vide or an integrated air fryer.

Once you have answered these three questions, it will be much easier to narrow down the options and find the appliance that suits you best.