The Best Instant Pots of 2025, Tested by Experts

When many think of Instant Pot, they correlate the brand with electric pressure cookers in general. Turns out Instant Pot offers well over a dozen intuitive products that do more than just pressure cooking. They can steam, slow-cook and some can even air-fry, which is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to these cookers' abilities. What’s so attractive about the appliance is that you can make complex and labor-intensive meals in a fraction of the time with minimal effort. But with so many different models available on the market, many wonder which is the best Instant Pot.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we’ve been testing Instant Pots since 2010. We've tested over 53 multi-cookers, pressure cookers and slow cookers, with several of those being from Instant Pot. During testing, we evaluate how long each comes to pressure and how tender it makes meat and vegetables when cooking beef stew. We also test each machine's ability to make rice as well as evenly brown meats. Most importantly, we evaluate the ease of use and programming to see how simple it will be for at-home cooks.

Other Instant Pots we tested

Instant Pot Electric Precision Dutch Oven: This cooker looks different from the other models we’ve tested and that’s because it is. Instant Brands took a new approach to the slow cooker with the Instant Electric Precision Dutch Oven. Instead of the traditional stainless steel pot, this version uses an enamel cast iron Dutch oven. This model has five functions: slow cook, braise, sear and sauté, manual and a food warming setting.

During testing, we were impressed with how well it browned the meat when making beef stew. While the browned meat did help add flavor, we did notice that the cooker didn’t perform as well when reducing liquid, which helps add depth and flavor to stews. The brand also claims that the Dutch oven can be used on the stove and in the oven, but it was only used in the base during our test.

Instant Pot Rio: One of the most recent models from Instant Pot is the Rio, a slimmer version of the Rio Wide which was named our best large Instant Pot. The sleek shape and updated design stood out among all the cookers we tested. The all-black pressure cooker has a narrow bottom, unlike the other models that we’ve tested from the brand. We found the presets to be convenient and user-friendly. The pre-programmed settings include soup, broth, chili, eggs and more. Of course, you can find the traditional pressure cooker settings for rice, steaming and slow cooking.

During the testing process, we found the meat to be tender but the vegetables were slightly overcooked and mushy. When testing the rice function, we were impressed with just how quickly the rice took to cook, in under nine minutes. The rice wasn’t overcooked but we did note that it was slightly sticky before fluffing and there was some staining on the bottom of the bowl.

What is an Instant Pot?

An Instant Pot is a multi-cooker from the Instant Brands company. The company sells over a dozen models with varying capabilities, but the main function of them all is pressure cooking. The air-tight environment of a pressure cooker subjects food to high-temperature steam, which cooks almost everything in significantly less time than stovetop or oven-based methods. For example, pork shoulder cooks in 40 minutes instead of four hours, chicken soup can be made in about 30 minutes and dried beans can be prepared from start to finish on a weeknight (no soaking required!). An Instant Pot also makes pressure cooking much easier and safer: They're a huge improvement over the hissing stovetop pots of centuries past. Simply plug them in, click a few buttons and you're cooking.

How we test the best Instant Pots

When the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab assess multi-cookers, including Instant Pots, we check overall functionality by filling the device with water to ⅔ capacity, then activating the high setting and setting a timer. We watch and listen — once the cooker comes to pressure, we note the time. Then, we maintain pressure for 15 minutes and release the pressure, timing how long it takes for the pressure to drop.

Next, we get cooking. We mix all of the ingredients for beef stew in the pressure cooker, record how long the pot takes to come to pressure, cook for 20 minutes and record how long the pot takes to release pressure. Then, we evaluate the final product: Is the beef tender? How were the veggies cooked? What’s the overall flavor like?

Finally, we prepare a batch of rice in each device, cooking via the rice setting or according to the manufacturer's instructions. We then evaluate the rice: What’s the texture like? Did any rice stick to the bottom of the cooker?

We also consider ease of use, evaluating each product for how intuitive and clear the controls are, how many settings are offered, how simple cleaning is and the clarity of the owner's manual. If applicable, we assess the smartphone app for ease of use and capabilities.

What to consider when shopping for an Instant Pot

✔️ Control panel: All Instant Pots have relatively large control panels, which is helpful given how multi-functional these appliances are. But while they’re all rather comprehensive, the more sophisticated models offer sleeker control panels that include features like a dial to click through varying cooking functions and added guidance like “OK to open lid.”

✔️ Cooking pot: Though all Instant Pots have a stainless-steel (18/8) inner pot with a tri-ply bottom for sautéing, more advanced models have additional benefits. The Instant Pot Pro comes with an added layer of extra-thick 3.5 millimeter aluminum for faster, more efficient heating, while the Instant Pot Pro Plus has an inner pot that includes handles and is stovetop-safe and induction-compatible.

✔️ Pressure levels: Some models have only one pressure option: high. Others have two settings to choose from: high and low. And still others have a “max” pressure level. High is perfectly suitable for most recipes, while low is good for slower cooking or foods you want to make more tender over a longer period, like beef stew, or delicate items, like rice, fish and even cakes. Machines with the extra-high pressure level will yield the fastest results and also excel at making a delicious, concentrated bone broth.

✔️ Functions: While all Instant Pots are multi-cookers with impressive functionality, the breadth of function depends on which model you select. Some do the more basic tasks — pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sauté, etc. — while others have even more impressive cooking prowess doubling as sous vide, air fry and/or dehydrating machines.

✔️ Size: There are three different sizes of Instant Pot: 3-quart, 6-quart and 8-quart. The most popular — and the one favored by our Lab and test kitchen pros — is the 6-quart option. It’s big enough for a decently-sized batch of stew or protein, but it won’t overtake your counter.

Which Instant Pot is the best?

The best Instant Pot is the one that has all of the features you need. The brand currently manufactures many models with three different lines with varying features and functionality: the Duo, the Rio and the Pro. In general, the Instant Pot Duo seems to be the most popular, because it offers excellent value — it’s the most affordable model but still cooks seven ways and has basic, intuitive controls. The Duo also offers the Duo Crisp model that can also air fry.

The Instant Pot Rio is the newest model, featuring a modern design and more cooking area compared to the Duo Plus. We were pleased with the Wide model from the Rio line. The Pro models tend to be more advanced, including the Plus, with a smartphone app.

What's the best size Instant Pot?

Our Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab evaluates 6-quart models because we think it's the most practical option. It’s big enough for a decent-size batch of chicken soup or chili, but it doesn’t hog too much counter space. That being said, an 8-quart model is great for large families or for those who love to meal prep.

How do you clean an Instant Pot?

Wash all removable parts, such as the inner cooking pot (which is usually dishwasher-safe), steam release valve and sealing ring, with soap and warm water. Use a soft-bristled brush to get into all the crevices. If your Instant Pot has a condensation collector, empty and rinse it after every use. Clean the exterior and control panel with a soft, barely damp cloth, then wipe down the power cord.

Looking for a deep clean? Check out our comprehensive guide on how to clean an Instant Pot.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Nicole Papantoniou, the director of the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, has been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013. She originally wrote this story and oversaw GH's most recent round of testing of multi-cooker testing.

Sarah Gregory is a deputy editor at the Good Housekeeping Institute. She has done some of the most recent testing on Instant Pots and slow cookers alongside Papantoniou. Over the years, she has tested many other products including carbon steel pans, immersion blenders and more. Gregory is a graduate of the International Culinary Center and has been cooking professionally since 2017.

Samantha MacAvoy is the assistant food editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she has tested and tasted dozens of Instant Pot recipes and conducted several kitchen appliance reviews, including latte machines, knife sharpeners, dinnerware sets and more.