Last updated on December 26th, 2018 at 12:56 pm
The Instant Pot is more than a “craze” now. Everywhere you turn, you see talk-show hosts and news anchors doing segments on this “new device” that’s “sweeping the nation!” And with good reason.
People are just now starting to hear about the benefits of pressure-cooking as a way to cook delicious and healthy meals without having to stand over a stove. You’ve probably heard from more than one friend about how much they love their “Instapot.”
But the truth is, the Instant Pot has been around a few years, and pressure cooking for ages. But this ain’t your grandma’s pressure cooker! The Instant Pot is a safe, easy cooking method, and the company is constantly refining and improving the technology and releasing new models.
But that’s creating confusion for new customers shopping for an Instant Pot, and probably why you’re here to read this article!
There are several sizes and lots of variations in features among the different models, and even non-pressure cooker products now. So the question I see most often right now is, “I have a family of ____, which Instant Pot should I get?”
The answer really comes down to two simple questions.
- What do you want to make?
- Who do you want to make it for?
So let’s break this down as simply as possible. We’ll ignore sizes right now and just discuss features.
Part 1 – The Models
The LUX
The least expensive Instant Pot is the LUX model. I don’t generally recommend this model, but if price is the ultimate consideration, go for it! There are two missing features that could be important for you to have:
- No Yogurt function. You may not plan to ever make your own yogurt, but you can also sprout grains and proof bread dough in this mode. If you really, truly, absolutely know you’ll never do any of these things, then perhaps the LUX is the model for you.
- No Low Pressure mode. This is the biggest reason I suggest avoiding the LUX. There are a few recipes where I suggest Low Pressure mode, and the LUX doesn’t have it.
My personal recommendation is that considering the small price difference between them, these extra features are worth opting for the DUO models.
The DUO
The DUO is otherwise known as the 7 in 1. The DUO moniker comes from having 2 pressure modes. This is the workhorse of the line. The 7 modes are:
- Pressure Cooker
- Slow Cooker
- Rice Cooker
- Steamer
- Sauté
- Yogurt Maker
- Warmer
There is also a DUO Plus 9 in 1 introduced in 2017 that has an updated display and adds an Egg mode, a Cake button, and a Sterilizer cycle. It’s important to note that these are just pre-programmed functions that the regular DUO is perfectly capable of, just not with a single button push necessarily.
If you find a great deal on a DUO, grab it with confidence. If you find a great deal on a DUO Plus, then definitely get it. But you can’t go wrong with either variation.
The Ultra
The Ultra takes the main functions of a DUO and adds an updated interface and control dial to simplify programming the cooking cycle. It adds an Egg button, a Sterilize cycle, and a Cake program. You can also set an exact temperature that you want to cook at, helpful in some recipes and in Sous Vide style cooking.
They also changed the way the pressure valve functions. The lid on the Ultra will automatically seal when you close it, so you don’t have to remember to close it every time. This is something I occasionally did, so I appreciate the convenience.
The Max
The Max is the newest Top-of-the-Line Instant Pot pressure cooker. It has many significant differences from the other models. The most important one is that it can cook at 15 psi under pressure, rather than the 12 psi of their previous models. What this means is even faster cook times, as well as the potential to do pressure canning.
There are differences in how it operates as well. The Max has a touch screen interface instead of only buttons or a knob. And the pressure release valve is now automatic! If you want a quick release of steam at the end of the cooking cycle, the Max will open the valve for you.
They’ve also added a function called NutriBoost that essentially “stirs” your food. The company claims this adds flavor to things like soups and broths. I’ve not tested this, but it seems valid in theory. While under pressure, the Max will release quick spurts of pressure. This change in pressure in the pot will agitate the food inside.
If these extra features seem like what you’re looking for, or if you’re one who likes the best, the Max is the way to go. It’s only available in a 6 quart model at this time.
The Nova Plus
The Nova Plus is essentially a Duo Plus (minus some unimportant presets), but available exclusively at Costco. If you’re a Costco member in the market for an Instant Pot, you’ll likely be pleased with this model.
The Viva
The Viva is a QVC exclusive model (although I recently saw it at Sam’s Club). It’s pretty much the same as the DUO, but it adds the “Cake” and “Egg” preset programs. They also offer it in some fun colors that you can’t get anywhere else. Personally, I rarely use the preset programs. I mostly just use the “Manual” mode (some models call it “Pressure Cook”) so I wouldn’t make my decision based on this model having those programs.
But if you were in the market for a DUO and like the colors and price, go for it!
The Smart
The Smart model takes the main DUO functions and adds a slew of customizability. It has a control app for smartphones and connects via Bluetooth. This is the ultimate tinkerer’s model.
It is infinitely programmable using scripts, so you can actually write a program where the food might pressure cook on high for one hour, then slow cook for 3 hours, and then pressure cook again on low for another 30 minutes. If you need this level of control, you want the Smart. Personally, it’s overkill for me.
The Gem, Aura and Aura Pro
These are not pressure cookers. They are very good multi-cookers, but be aware they do not do what the Instant Pot name has become famous for.
They were meant to be a nice replacement for a slow-cooker or roaster. You get the Instant Pot micro-processor control in a different form-factor, so you can set a timer delay for your cooking program. The Gem and the Aura have a non-stick insert instead of the stainless steel that the pressure cookers use. You can also sauté right in the non-stick insert. The Aura Pro is larger and has a stainless steel insert.
The Aura and Aura Pro have more advanced features than the Gem. They can do just about everything the pressure cooker models can do except pressure cook. If I were looking to purchase a slow-cooker with some extra features, I would definitely consider one of these models.
But if you’re looking for an “Instant Pot” because you’ve heard everyone raving about it, these are not the models to get.
Part 2 – The Sizes
This is where the “I have a family of ______” question comes in. Depending on the model, the primary sizes available are:
- 3 Quart (LUX, DUO, Plus, Ultra)
- 6 Quart (LUX, DUO, Plus, Ultra, Max, Smart, Viva Plus, Nova)
- 8 Quart (LUX, DUO, Plus, Ultra)
The most important consideration in determining which size you need is that with pressure cooking, you can only add food to 2/3 full. So the pressure cooking capacity is actually a good deal smaller than the actual size of the pot.
For instance, the maximum amount of food you can pressure cook in a 6 quart pot is 4 quarts. If you go for the 8 quart, the capacity to pressure cook is 5 1/3 quarts. And likewise, the 3 quart size would only hold 2 quarts of food for pressure cooking.
The second most important consideration in determining size is cook time. With pressure cooking, all models will cook the food in the same amount of time, but the larger the model, the longer it will take to reach pressure and also to release pressure. It’s not a terribly long time, but when I’m behind schedule on starting dinner, I’ll reach for my 6 Quart every time.
The first model I got was the 6 Quart DUO. I later got the Ultra and most recently added the 8 Quart DUO. Most of the time, I’m using one of my 6 Quart models. I do have a large family of 9, so when I cook a meal in the 6 Quart, we pretty much polish it off. When we use the 8 Quart, we’ll have leftovers (until I have more teenagers in the house).
Here are some of the things you can cook in a 6 Quart model:
- A whole chicken
- Two pounds of dry beans into a huge pot of soup
- Almost 4 dozen eggs hard-boiled
- 4 cups of steel cut oats comfortably
- One Pot Pasta with 1 lb of pasta, 1 lb of sausage, and plenty of sauce
- Bone Broth, about 3 quarts per batch
Summary
As you can see, there are a lot of variables, but I think most people fall into the DUO or Duo Plus 6 Quart model.
If, on occasion, you like to batch cook for freezing or serve a large group of people, I would recommend the 8 Quart. I love having one for just this purpose!
But if you are an average sized family that doesn’t care if you have leftovers, the 6 quart would probably serve you well. And if there’s only one or two of you, the 3 Quart may be the best option. But you’ll find most recipes are written for a 6 Quart so the Mini will take some recipe modification.
I hope this little guide helps you figure out which model you’ll be happiest with. The important thing is just to get one! There are so many great things about the Instant Pot! The Instant Pot has certainly changed how I feed my family, and I know it can help you too!
Creamy Ginger Butternut Squash Soup in the Instant Pot
Thank you for writing this wonderful article. I found it to be very informative and practical, exactly what I need to help me move forward in my search for the perfect IP for my family of 5.
Wonderful, Dinah! I’m glad it was helpful, thank you for reading!
Thanks so much for this! Exactly what I was looking for! Off to buy an Instant Pot!
I’m so happy to hear you found what you needed, Amanda! Be sure to come back here for some yummy recipes to make when it arrives!
I feel like an idiot. I read the article but I am still confused. I would like to purchase an instant pot but still not sure which one. I get a 6 qt is the best size. I understand a Duo is the best choice, but how many kinds of Duo are there? Please help. Thanks
Oh by the way I have to cook gluten free stuff because I have celiac disease. Do not know if that matters.🤔
You’re not an idiot, Mollie, it really is confusing! So there is only one kind of DUO out there. There is also a model called a DUO Plus. It’s a separate model from the DUO. It adds a couple of additional presets, and maybe they have plans for it to eventually replace the DUO and not sell those anymore. I’m not sure. The DUO Plus is a good model, it’s just a bit more expensive than the DUO. If you can swing it in your budget, you’ll be happy with the DUO Plus. If money is an issue (and you can find it) pick up a 6 qt DUO.
Does that help?
Great advice! I just purchased a Duo 6 qt for my family of 5 today. Looking forward to learning to use it!
Great Kristen, glad it helped! Congrats on your puchase, I know you’ll love it! Be sure to come back and check out our Recipes page when you’re ready to start using it. My kids help me cook and we’ve got video instructions on most of our recipes so you can follow along. Have fun!
I’ve read through the article and I think I know the best size for our family. But, on the other hand a little confused as well lol. We have a family of six. We were thinking the 6 qt was too small and looking for a bigger model. Am I wrong on thinking this? Maybe the 6 would be a better option rather than a 8 or 10 qt. What are your thoughts? Thanks!
Hi Chad, thanks for reading! It really depends on if you want leftovers. I think a 6 quart model will definitely give you plenty of space to feed your family of 6, but you may not have leftovers for later. If you like to freezer cook or always have leftovers, you would probably prefer the 8 quart. There is no 10 quart Instant Pot brand right now. Just be aware that a typical meal will probably take an average of 20 minutes longer than a 6 quart to come to pressure and release pressure.
Does that help?
Second time tonight using it- trying one pot pasta- we’ll see!
Last night i made a fall-apart shredded beef for french dip sandwiches- in under an hour and a half- game changer!!
How did the pasta turn out Annmarie?
I have the 8quart duo plus and tried to make rice but the “burn” came up on the display. I followed the recipe exactly. After reading your post and your replies to questions, it makes sense that most recipes are for the 6 quart. I was wondering since you have both the 6 and 8 quart how you adjust your liquid volume from one to the other? Thanks so much!
Hi Michelle, It’s really all about keeping the ratios the same. For rice, that’s 1 cup of rice to 1 cup of water, regardless of whether I’m using the 6 qt. or 8 qt. Tell me more about what recipe you were using. Did it tell you to use the Rice button on your IP? And are you using white rice?
I cook for two. Of course, when the friends are over there may be more. So, if I purchase the 6 qt model, I can still use it for two person recipes? Just want to be sure I read this correctly.
Absolutely, you can just as easily cook for 2. The only requirement is for at least 1 cup of liquids, but I usually suggest people have 1 and a half to 2 cups of liquid, for best results. Just depends on what you’re making.
Hi- We are a family unit of 2, who enjoys left overs, but at the moment I am alone. I want to purchase the Ultra IP, but as for what size this is where I am confused. I feel the 3qt is sufficient but we eat a lot of rice and I have read of rice sticking to bottom of pot and the PIP method is best used for rice, this is why I am leaning to a 6qt. Am I able to experiment & learn using the 6qt IP for 1 person meals? Would I have to use the PIP method each time I used the 6qt IP? My goal is to have the learning curve over and the recipes fine tuned for when my spouse returns later in the year. Thanks for the great review. So good I found your website. Take good care!
Hi! Thank you for your comment and question! In my experience, rice really does stick to the bottom. We’ve been able to mostly scrape it off, but PIP is likely your best bet if you cook it frequently.
That being said, the 6qt might be a little big for literally cooking one serving. Do you ever freeze your leftovers? Something else to think about is that a majority of recipes out there are written for the 6qt, so adjusting them down to just a serving may mess with your fine tuning process. I am a huge fan of having ready-made meals in the freezer, so making large batches and freezing them for another time is just a super bonus to me. If that is appealing to you, the 6qt might be great for you, especially with your rice cooking needs.
Another thing to look at–What size vessel do you usually cook in now? The pressure cooking capacity in the 3 qt. is 2 qts. If this is about the amount of food you usually make and want, then the 3 qt. may work well for you. But for me, I’ve never really cooked full meals in this capacity, even when it was just the two of us.
I hope this helps!
Happy cooking!
Holly
Hello holly
Thanks for the information, we are a family of 6 with 2 adults and 2 teens and 2 under 7 years old. I usually like to have some leftovers but the 8qt seems huge for my kitchen, some advice would be much appreciated. I make a lot of soups and pasta rice and stew. Thanks a lot
I answered Sofia’s question via Facebook, but I’ll add my response here for posterity. We decided that the 6 quart would be perfect for her, especially considering that she had space limitation concerns.
Hi Holly-
Thx so much.
You answered the one question I couldnt find answered in the many YouTube videos and written reviews- will a 3 qt. make a complete meal for two. And yes, meals in the freezer is a must when there are two of us- good point.
I cant believe I just discovered the Instant Pot movement 🙂
I appreciate your feedback and will order the 6 qt. Ultra IP- cant wait!! All the best!
Hi Holly!
Great article!!
We are a family of 3 ( my husband and toddler at this time) but we do like leftovers, therefore would you suggest an 8 qt or 6qt?
Thank you!
Ana Maria
Hi Ana,
Thank you for your question! A couple of things for you to think about:
If you just want a few occasional leftovers, I would think the 6 quart would be sufficient for a family of three. For your reference, it holds a gallon of food, so if you did a batch of soup and filled it up, that’s quite a bit. When we fill up the 6 qt with a batch of soup or stew, it feeds all 9 of our family for one meal. Mind you, those aren’t adult man-sized servings, but our kids are good eaters. I think the 6qt could give you 2 or 3 entire meals.
Another thing to ask yourself is how large a hunk of meat do you like to cook? I just did a 9 lb ham in my 8 quart yesterday, and I don’t think it would have fit in the 6qt. Also, pulled pork roasts are often very large–too big for a 6qt, especially if they’re bone-in. Other bulky food items that I cook in the 8qt are whole spaghetti and butternut squash. I abhor cutting those, so I just throw them in whole! Much easier to do in the 8. So those are some benefits of the 8 quart.
Benefits of the 6 quart are that it is just smaller and easier to store. It also heats up quicker and pressure releases quicker. I still go to my 6 quart a majority of the time, unless I need the larger size for a specific food or want to make a huge batch to freeze.
I live alone but am disabled. Can’t stand over a stove. Must cook at table. Don’t like cooking every day. Like lots of leftovers. Like to cook beans with smoked turkey,canned tomatoes & veggies. Do I need 6 or 8 qt? I got the 8 qt Duo Plus. Saw the ultra & love the pressure release system, looks safer. Need a response so I can exchange it in time. Please help. Thanks. Deborah.
Hi Deborah, I would say a 6 quart would fit the bill for you pretty well. You’ll still get lots of leftovers, and the cooking cycle of coming to pressure and releasing pressure will be significantly quicker. If you’re not worried about the extra time that the 8 quart will take, then the 8 quart would be a good option for cooking larger batches. I think you will really like the Ultra pressure release valve, it’s one of my favorite features of that model. Hope that helps!
Dear Holly,
Hope you are well. I am a Bangladeshi and our main food is rice. We are a family of 5. Most of the time I have to cook 1 kg of rice per day. Would you please suggest me which size of Instant Pot I should buy.
Hi Feroza, thanks for checking in. That’s a lot of rice! I would definitely suggest an 8 quart Instant Pot Duo model. You will want the larger capacity, and you’ll want the low pressure setting that the Duo or Duo plus provide. You could also get an 8 quart Ultra if the budget allows. Hope that helps!
We are a family of 7. I have 5 kids, 11years and under. I’m excited to use an instapot, and found your article very helpful. If I get an 8 quart pot, can I cook regular potions for our family. Or should I just get the 6 quart? Hope this makes sense.
Hi Annette, It sounds like you have a wonderfully big family! Yes, you can cook anything in the 8 quart that you could in the 6 quart. It just has more capacity. The 6 quart will come to pressure faster, but the cook times will be the same. So if you see a recipe designed for the 6 quart, but you have an 8 quart, just follow the directions like normal. Of course, you could add more to the recipe, but the cook times will be the same. That’s the beauty of pressure cooking! Hope that answers your question. Let me know if you need anything else!
I end up using both sizes, and when I need extra capacity for things like big batches of beans or bone broth, I really enjoy having the 8 quart.
What is the best way to cook brown rice? I read all the posts and am not following what this PIP method is. I read that rice sticks to the bottom. Does it make the IP harder to clean? I just bought the duo 6 at today but am reading before I open the box. Thanks
Hi DJ,
Thank you so much for your question! Full disclosure–we cook most of our rice in a rice cooker, so I’ve only used the Instant Pot for rice a handful of times. However, when I make it in the Instant Pot, my kids love it! They say they prefer the texture and taste in the pressure cooker. We use the following Cooking Method:
Brown Rice (add salt and butter or oil for more flavor)
Pressure Cook or Manual/22 min/High Pressure/5 minutes Natural Release, then Quick Release
Water Ratio: 1.25 parts water or broth to 1 part rice
(24 minutes for Pot-in-Pot)
We do this directly in the pot. It sticks a little on the bottom of the pot, but not anything a little soak and light scrubbing doesn’t take care of.
The PIP method means “Pot-In-Pot.” The idea is like using a double-boiler. You pour water in the bottom of the Instant Pot, add a trivet, then place an inner pot of the food you are cooking on the trivet. This allows a person to make cheesecakes, breads, custards, dairy foods, and even rice without any sticking on the bottom.
A couple of other advantages to this method are that you can cook or heat up foods without adding water to the food, as regular pressure cooking requires at least one cup of liquid in order for the pot to come to pressure. PIP method also allows the cooking of dairy foods and thickened foods in the Instant Pot, because these cannot be cooked directly in the pot, as they will scorch and prevent the pot from coming to pressure.
If you want to cook rice using the Pot-in-Pot method, place a trivet in the stainless steel inner pot. Add 1 cup of water to the pot. Next, place an oven-proof inner pot on the trivet. I like to use a 1.5 qt. Corningware dish, like this one: https://amzn.to/2zDw0Dm , but any oven-proof dish will work, as long as there is enough space around it to allow steam to escape. I also use an aluminum foil sling–a long piece of heavy-duty foil, folded lengthwise in thirds–under the inner pot, on top of the trivet, so I will be able to lift the hot pot of rice out after it cooks. Put rice, water, salt and butter (if using) in inner pot. Set Instant Pot to pressure cook for 24 minutes at High Pressure. When time is up, do nothing for 5 minutes, then quick release the remaining pressure manually.
I hope you enjoy your new Instant Pot and your brown rice!
Holly
We grow our own chickens and they can be upwards of 7-8lbs do you know if the 8qt would hold that? we are really looking at one of these but are wary on whether or not our chickens would fit.
Hi James, I have put a 9 pound pork roast in mine with no problem. I feel pretty confident even a large chicken will fit fine in the 8 quart. The 6 quart model can hold a 7 lb chicken, depending on the shape, so I think the 8 quart will suit you well.
Now, if you have bow-legged chickens, you may have problems. 🙂
You said that the 6 qt model can hold a 7 lb chicken depending on its shape, but is that for the slow cooker mode or can the pressure cooker feature be used for a chicken that size in the 6qt?
Hi Danica,
Good question. The only capacity differences between slow cook and pressure cook will be related to liquids. Since a chicken doesn’t need to be submerged, your liquid will be well below the max fill line for pressure cooking. You chicken can extend above that line all the way to the lid without problems.
Thanks Holly, you really allayed me fears that the 6L/quart model had the same volume restrictions on slow cooking.
I’m in the UK and the 8L model has been & will remain out of stock unto the spring. While we’re a family of 2 I like to batch cook or plan meals to span 2-3 sittings so I really didn’t want to buy 2 instant pots, nor buy a sad 3rd choice to last the winter. As we don’t get meaningful sales here it needs to be a worthwhile investment.
Your post has been timely and reassuring, thanks.
Wonderful, Michelle! I hope you’re able to find a model and start using it soon!
I just read this and still don’t know what size to get! 3 teenagers, 2 younger children, my husband, myself. We don’t love leftovers… any help (just on size) would be great! THANK YOU!
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for reading, and thanks for your question! Do you ever make or plan to make large roasts like a pork shoulder (butt) for barbecue or carnitas? Does your family enjoy soups or beans? Would you ever cook two whole chickens? What about baked potatoes, sweet potatoes, or spaghetti squash? These are some of the foods we make in our 8qt that are harder to do in the six quart because we need to make so many and they’re just big foods! They can be done in the 6 quart, but I prefer making them in the 8 quart so I don’t have to cut them up first. They just fit in there whole!
We are a family of 9–7 kids, 2 adults. 2 of the kids are teenagers and I can’t believe how much they can eat! Our one pot pasta recipe barely feeds us all when we make it in the 6 quart with only one pound of pasta. If I make a soup in the 6 quart, it is usually just enough for one meal. Now, we are not really side dish/salad/bread people and that soup/pasta dish is our entire meal. So that would be another thing to consider. If you’re also having extra sides on your menu, then the main dish in a 6 quart may be plenty with those other supplementations.
The pressure cooking capacity of the 6 quart is 4 quarts or 1 gallon. In the 8 quart, that capacity is 5 1/3 quarts. You might also compare those amounts to the pots and slow cookers that you may be cooking in currently. Which one would fit the amount of foods you are already cooking?
I hope this helps give you insight and make your decision. Feel free to let me know if you have more questions.
Happy cooking!
Holly
Ok – thanks!
Thanks, read the article and all comments thus far, this is the best of all!
Hi I have a family of 7. 5 kids and 2 adults. i usually have to make a pound and half of pasta when I do spaghetti or something like that. Would a 6qt IP work for that? Thank you
Hi Tanya, a 6qt. should work. My rule of thumb is 1 Quart of Water per Pound of Pasta. So if you’re doing 1.5 pounds, you’ll have 1.5 quarts of water. The 6 quart IP can pressure cook up to 4 qts of liquids, so you should be good. I do still use my 6 quart quite a bit, although I find myself using the 8 quart more now that my kids are getting bigger.
Hope that helps!
Holly
Ok perfect Thank you.