Instant Pot vs Stovetop Pressure Cooker - Which should you buy!

Instant Pot vs Stovetop Pressure Cooker have been a big debate for a while. We’ve been using stovetop pressure cookers for over 20 years, and the Instant Pot for four. Here's an honest review and we are picking favourites!

The pressure cooker has been a constant in Indian kitchens since forever. But we think it's time for an upgrade and we are here to tell you why. Don't misunderstand us, we love our traditional pressure cookers and still use them. But the Instant Pot is a game changer and after using it for four years, we almost want to replace our stovetop PC's with it. Even if you aren't ready to do that, we definitely think you should get one of these in your kitchen! The Instant Pot is an all in one super savvy pressure cooker and multicooker. It can pretty much cook anything you’d like. Impressive, yes?However, lets see how it fares against the OG heavyweights of the kitchen - good ol’ pressure cookers.  

Safety

The most primary need in the kitchen is safety. Many little things may lead to an accident in the kitchen. With a pressure cooker, you never know when the valve has something stuck in it or when the pressure builds up way more than it should. Even a little dent on your pressure cooker can cause it to malfunction.

I breathe easier when I use the Instant Pot. It has a float valve that indicates when to unlock the lid. Also, if you need to quickly release the pressure, all you have to do is turn the pressure release valve. This silicone valve doesn't heat up easily and prevents annoying burns and bruises.

Weight

My mum always complained about how cumbersome it is to get the heavy pressure cooker out of the cabinet. This whole lot of unnecessary weight lifting can easily be avoided with the Instant Pot. She just keeps the InstantPot on her counter because it’s super light and portable. It's a welcome change from the normal pressure cookers that hog all the space in your kitchens. Instead of multiple pressure cookers, you can keep an extra stainless steel insert handy.

Ease of Use 

We love how easy the Instant Pot is to use. It comes with a stainless steel insert that can be removed from the main appliance. This insert is dishwasher friendly and if you have an extra insert, you can just go ahead and replace it and cook another dish. Just lift it, serve or pour out, wash, dry and put it back in. In addition to this, the various cooking modes really take the guesswork out of the pot. Combine this with the awesome saute function, and you can fix yourself some great one-pot meals! Anything to reduce the number of dishes to clean, am I right?

Fast and Efficient

The Instant Pot is incredibly efficient. It is up to six times faster than the traditional methods. The intelligence of the appliance is such that you have various options which can automatically decide the time setting based on the type of food in the pot. You can adjust it to your preference if you wish, but the Instant Pot really does it all.

Moreover, traditional cookers require some babysitting. Some recipes call for the food to be cooked on high flame initially, and then reduce the heat to a low. With an Instant Pot just adjust the settings and forget about it! It automatically switches to keep warm after cooking, while the pressure releases naturally.

Versatility

The Instant Pot is incredibly versatile. It can cook anything from - 

• Rice
• Soup 
• Poultry 
• Meats
• Yogurt 
• Dessert and more!

Along with the regular pressure cooking modes, it has a super cool slow cook function that can cook your meats to perfection. 

It also has customisable functions that allow you to prepare fermented foods such as yogurt, sour cream and even proof breads. And the ‘Keep Warm’ function to ensure food stays just right till you eat it!

There are so many more features that I could go on and on about, but you get the gist right? In almost all areas the Instant Pot blasts those heavy pressure cookers right out the water. When it comes to Instant Pot vs Stovetop Pressure Cooker, our vote is with the mighty pot! However, don't just take my word for it, buy one for yourself and make your life easier! 

Here's the Instant Pot we use: