The Best Pot-shaped Multi-cookers Compared

So here’s a riddle for you…what amazing device will allow you to pressure cook, slow cook, pressure and non-pressure steam, make porridge, yoghurt and cook rice – not all at once of course?

It’s pretty hard to imagine a kitchen utensil that can actually achieve that range of versatility, so I was pretty amazed to find out that there are actually one pot cookers that are capable of this.

I would imagine that these would be god-send for the busy working mum or when you’re having a kitchen re-model and can’t cook normally.

The Different Types of Multi-Cookers

Multi-cookers can be broadly be divided in to 2 categories – one type consists of the deep pot variation – ranging from 2 – 6 L; while the other is a stir-fry, sauce pan style multi-cooker.

• Deep pot multi-cooker
• Pan based multi-cooker [featured in our other post]

The Best Deep Pot Multi-Cooker

Here we look at the deep pot versions. At the top of the range are the Instant Pots. There are currently two versions of the Instant Pot the only difference between them is that 7-in-1 has the additional Yoghurt maker. Here is a quick look at our line-up:

1. Instant Pot LUX60 6-in-1 Programmable Electric Multi-Cooker
2. Instant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 Programmable Electric Multi-Cooker
3. Tefal Cook4Me Electric Multi-Cooker
4. Tefal Rk302e15 8-in-1 Multi-Cooker (2012 Model)

Now for the details.

Instant Pot LUX60 6-in-1 Programmable Electric Multi-Cooker

With a 6L stainless steel cooking pot, the Instant Pot has a large enough volume to cater to most mid-sized families, but it is really the timer that comes in to it’s own. With the juggling of modern life, the ability to delay cooking time for up to 24 hours or keep your food warm for up to 10 hours, allows working mum’s the option of having a meal freshly cooked waiting as soon as one gets home in the afternoon or evening; or the treat of having warm porridge in the morning.

There’s also a range of presets that will allow you to simply bung in the ingredients and walk away for it to do it’s magic.

• Fully automatic 6-in-1 multi functional cooker (pressure cooker, saute/browning, slow cooker, rice coker, steamer and warmer)
• Power: 1000W Output
• Capacity: 6 Litres – BIG CAPACITY
• Delay Timer: up to 24 hours delay start
• Cooking Timer: manually set up to 2 hours of cooking time and automatically keep warm for up to 10 hours after cooking
• 10 Cooking Programmes with 3 temperature controls for saute or browning and slow cooking
• Includes 3 ply bottom stainless steel cooking pot safe for use on hob (except induction), stainless steel steam rack, instructions, recipe book and cooking time tables.

• Save

Instant Pot IP-DUO60 7-in-1 Programmable Electric Multi-Cooker

Here is the other Instant Pot, one up from the IP60 is the IP-DUO60 which has 7 instead of 6 cooking functions with the last one as we mentioned earlier, the yogurt maker. It also has more cooking programs.

• Fully automatic 7-in-1 multi functional cooker (pressure cooker, saute/browning, slow cooker, rice coker, steamer, warmer, yogurt maker)
• Power: 1000W Output
• Capacity: 6 Litres – BIG CAPACITY
• Delay Timer: up to 24 hours delay start
• Cooking Timer: up to 2 hrs (pressure cooker) or up to 20 hours (slow cooker) automatically keep warm for up to 10 hours after cooking
• 14 cooking programmes with 3 temperature setting for saute/browning and slow cooking.
• Includes stainless steel cooking pot that can be used on the hob (except induction) or oven, stainless steel long handled steam rack, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup, instructions, recipe book, cooking time tables and quick start guide.

• Save

Here is a quick comparison table between the Instant Pot Lux and Instant Pot Duo:

Tefal Cook4Me Electric Multi-Cooker

And then there’s the Tefal Cook4Me Electic Multi Cooker. This 6L ceramic-coated bowl multi-cooker comes with 50 pre-programmed savoury and sweet dishes with a maximum of 6 ingredients. It has a keep warm function for up to 90 minutes after cooking.

Slightly different in focus from the InstantPots, the Tefal Multi-cooker’s aim is literally in it’s name Cook4Me. It has to ability to cook a variety of dishes based on the ingredients that you have put in. The number of pre-programmed options also allow it to ‘suggest’ a dish based on the ingredients that you put in.

• Fully automatic multi functional cooker
• Power: 1200W Output
• Capacity: 6 Litres ceramic coated cooking bowl – BIG CAPACITY
• Delay Timer: up to 15 hours delay start
• Cooking Timer: automatically set cooking time and temperature with keep warm for up to 90 minutes after cooking
• 50 pre-programmed recipes for savourty and sweet dishes
• Easy to clean – the ceramic- coated bowl is non-stick, removable and dishwasher safe

• Save

Tefal Rk302e15 8-in-1 Multi-Cooker (2012 Model)

As a multi-cooker the Tefal 8-in-1 Cooker does the most common basic functions required – cooking rice, soups and porridge, slow cooking, steaming and making cakes. Compared to the Instant Pot – it does not have a pressure cooking option. It’s key features are:

• Multi-cooking options – cooking rice, soups and porridge, slow cooking, steaming and making cakes.
• Power: 700W Output – LOWEST POWER RATING
• Capacity: 2.2 L non-stick removable cooking bowl – SMALLEST CAPACITY
• Delay Timer: delayed start
• Cooking Timer: Automatic keep warm function

• Save

Pan-based Multi-Cooker

So these generally are the most common choices for one-pot multi-cookers. Take a look at the pan-based multi-cookers here.