Choosing between the Pressure Cooker XL VS Instant Pot can be confusing. All-in-one pots have become the hippest appliances in the kitchen. These gadgets combine all the best qualities of a slow cooker with updated technological features, like faster cooking times and multiple cooking settings.
The top two all-in-one cooking pots today are the Instant Pot and the Large Pressure Cooker XL. If you are confused on which to use, you have landed at the right place.
Some of the Best Pressure Cooker XL
Pressure cooking is very popular these days because it allows you to make slow-cooked meals within a few minutes. With so many uses, it is not surprising that an electric pressure cooker is so popular. With this appliance, you can cook almost any meal and also do it 70% faster than the usual time.
If you are a very busy person who can only give about 30 minutes of your time to make dinner, this would be the best appliance for you.
* Power Pressure Cooker XL
This cooker features one-touch controls that allow you to toss in all the ingredients and cook them all with just one touch. You will also see a setting for canning, which allows you to cook tasty home-made preserves and keep them fresh. Using the soup setting, you can make a delicious vegetable soup.
The device automatically enables the keep warm function when it is finished cooking, thereby stopping the food from getting cold. If you want to plan out your meals in advance, the delay timer will have your food cooked and ready for later on.
The pot inside the cooker is made from stainless steel (non-stick), which makes it very easy to wash because there will not be a lot of food clinging to the bottom. Additionally, the appliance is 100% dishwasher safe and can be cleaned with the rest of your dishes.
It does not really matter if you have a large or a small family; this power pressure cooker XL is the right cooker for you. You can also find several other variants like the 6-quart, 8-quart, and 10-quart sizes.
You will no longer have to worry about making enough food for potlucks. Every purchase of the device comes with a recipe book, access to an online library of recipes, and a canning guide.
In short, this pressure cooker is designed to replace the need for a canner, steamer, pressure cooker, rice cooker, and slow cooker, all at once.
Pros
Versatility
This cooker is a great asset to include in your kitchen. All you need to do is turn the power on, press the required functions, and let it be. Also, it is much safer and you do not have to sit through the cooking process. Some food items you can cook in this cooker are rice, meat, vegetables, seafood, canned food, casseroles, etc. It is also dishwasher-friendly.
Time and energy saving
The Power Pressure Cooker XL is a very handy appliance to have in your kitchen. According to the manufacturer, the gadget will cook almost 70% faster than other traditional cooking methods. The one-touch button makes it very easy to operate as well. The cooker uses less energy while offering better results than other cookers.
Great for high altitudes
The Power Pressure Cooker XL speeds up the process of cooking at high altitudes, where the boiling point of water is reduced due to low atmospheric pressure. Low water temperature reduces the effectiveness of preparing a hot drink or meal. With the help of a Power Pressure Cooker XL, you will have boiling water in a sealed environment to cook a meal.
Cons
Expensive
When compared to other conventional saucepans of the same size, the Power Pressure Cooker XL is considerably more expensive. Additionally, its shipping cost is very expensive and it has a very short warranty period.
Heavy lid
Cooking with the Power Pressure Cooker XL is not as easy as it might seem. The appliance is very heavy, thereby making it unsuitable for applications in which saving weight is the first priority, like camping. For purposes like these, you will need a small pressure cooker with a light weight.
* 10-in-1 Pressure Pro Pressure Cooker
PressurePro is one of the best brands for kitchen appliances. That being said, the 10-in-1 PressurePro Pressure Cooker highly maintains the reputation of the company. The appliance boasts of a lot of advanced features and great conveniences. It is also one of the highest rated cookers in several online stores.
This PressurePro Pressure Cooker can significantly speed up your cooking process, all thanks to its many advanced features. The appliance is also fitted with flavor-enhancing technology that will bring out the richness and the taste of the food that you are cooking.
It is also great for canning fruits and vegetables.
The PressurePro Pressure Cooker features a non-stick inner pot, a safety lock, a steam release design, digital display, and a single-touch preset button. You can easily cook ingredients like vegetables, rice, soup, beans, meat and fish here. The stainless steel looks great and allows you to store it at any corner of your house as well.
Pros
- The PressurePro Pressure Cooker is a very versatile kitchen appliance
- It is designed specifically to save time and energy
- Warm mode allows you to keep your food piping hot and ready to serve
Cons
- The one-year warranty is a very short period, especially for a pressure cooker
Some reviews stated that the shipping cost of the appliance is too high.
Instant Pot – Top Models
This is a very popular 7-in-1 kitchen appliance that is capable of performing almost every task in the kitchen, thereby making it worth considering. Just like its counterpart, the Instant Pot comes with many different settings. You do not have to be a master chef to learn how to operate and use it.
Also, instead of having to dig for food scraps and scrub it down, you can just throw the inner pot into a dishwasher and wash it easily. Even if you are washing it by hand, the three-ply bottom of the pot can be washed within a few seconds.
The magic of the appliance is the preset programs, which are designed specifically to cook food to perfection, whether it is porridge, a stew or a cake.
The specific functions of an instant pot vary based on the model you purchase, but some of the most common programs that are present in most models include a slow cooker, pressure cooker, rice cooker, browner/sauté, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer.
Most models also come with additional programs like a sterilizer, cake maker, and egg maker. Depending on the type of your model and size, you can insert certain types of dishes directly into the appliance, including spring foam pans or cupcake molds.
You can also make use of an aluminum foil to separate certain ingredients in your instant pot. Instant pots also feature a timer and other settings, whether you want to keep your food warm or cook on low, medium or high.
Instant pot is not only capable of cooking the above listed, but can also prepare a great special meal. You need not worry about thawing vegetables or meat – the appliance is high-powered enough to defrost and cook.
You can bake potatoes within a span of a few minutes and your bone broth will be ready for consumption in just a few hours, as opposed to a couple of days if you stick to traditional cooking methods.
* Instant Pot DUO80
This Instant Pot DUO80 8is a programmable cooker that can complete all your needs like warming up food, preparing yogurt, slow cooking, steaming, cooking rice, sautéing, and as a pressure cooker. It also cooks six times faster than traditional cookers, saving up to 70% of total energy and money as well.
The Instant Pot DUO80 is based on sophisticated technology and allows you to take control of everything going on. You can adjust the heat levels and easily monitor the time, pressure and temperature. If you choose to, you can also change them. With the help of this feature, you can easily prepare different types of food.
The Instant Pot DUO80 is a safe and secure kitchen appliance to work with. It is made of stainless steel with a 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution. This means that the cooker is very sturdy and can handle high temperatures with relative ease. The appliance is also dishwasher-safe.
Pros
- With so many in-built functions, this appliance enhances productivity
- The Instant Pot DUO80 8 is robust, well-built, and designed to perfection
- Saves its users a lot of cooking time and energy
Cons
- The Instant Pot DUO80 is a bit on the costly side
- Some reviewers state that their products broke down after a few months of use
* Instant Pot DUO Plus
This Instant Pot DUO Plus is one of the most reliable and popular cookers in the IP-DUO series. This appliance is fitted with a large LCD screen that is very easy to read. It displays four icons – Sound On/Off, Keep Warm On/Off, Pressure Cook, and Heat. You can also see the pressure cook setting, heating levels, and time information here.
The Instant Pot DUO Plus has three new programs called Sterilize, Egg, and Cake. As the name suggests the Sterilize option sterilizes and can be used to pasteurize dairy products (or sterilize bottles, spoons, and jars), the Egg option makes hard-boiled eggs in a few minutes, and the Cake option cooks chocolate cake or cheesecake.
The appliance is made of stainless steel and comes with a steam rack, lid, and an inner cooking pot. It is also free from non-stick coating. The Instant Pot DUO Plus also comes with a recipe booklet so that you can learn all about what can potentially be cooked in your new cooker. It is also fitted with more than ten safety mechanisms to prevent a major disaster.
Pros
- The Instant Pot DUO Plus is capable of cooking way faster than other conventional cookers
- Fitted with the most advanced technology, the appliance brings out the real flavor in your food
- You will find a lot of different recipes online
Cons
- Since this appliance is a bit large, it will need some counter space
- Because the Instant Pot DUO Plus is a new appliance, there might be a learning curve here
Final Thoughts
In this instant pot and pressure cooker comparison, there is no clear-cut winner. Both have unique features and a lot of practical applications. They can both be used by people of any skill level and will provide you and your family with healthy and delicious cooked meals. Both also have the ability to make your life much easier.
But, if we indeed had to choose one, then we would vote for the Instant Pot, as it is everything that a Pressure Cooker XL is and much more. We think that while the appliance might cost a lot, it will also have a warranty period, something that its counterpart does not have. An Instant Pot is everything that an average family needs.
In the end, it all comes down to choice. Comparing the Instant Pot VS Pressure Cooker XL, both cookers can meet specific needs. Whichever works best for you, it is certain to give you good value for your money.