? Instant Pot Questions

We opted for the Instant Pot and are happy with the decision. Friends have an off-brand and have been successful with it. One benefit to the Instant Pot is not having to adjust information and recipes for the other brands (cooking times and settings can differ). There's a wealth of info out there for the IP.

We cook for a family of 4 in our 6qt Instant Pot. We often have left overs. I imagine a 3 qt. would be just fine for a couple.

Sometimes it's nice to have extra room, say for a small roast or full chicken.
You can always put less in a big pot but you can never put more in a small pot.

Peggy insisted on the "real thing" and she bought the 6 quart I think. It looks pretty big anyway.

Personally I didn't see the need to pay more for the "original", it's a pressure cooker. How hard is that to make? My mom used one when I was a kid.

For DW and I, the small Instant Pot works just fine. It can make enough for three meals for the two of us. Also, it fits into one of my overhead compartments.

I can't comment on the knockoffs, but we LOVE our InstantPot. We have made everything from mashed potatoes to ribs to yogurt (yes!) to cheesecake to shrimp pasta to you-name-it. Being able to program it and add delay start is awesome. Set it for later and it does its thing - you come back and food is ready.

I just bought a Gourmia 6qt on a Best Buy blowout- $39,95, or $100 off list, half of normal street price. So far it’s great, seems well built.

I had a Cuisinart electric pressure cooker before I got a Instant Pot.

I dropped the lid and broke it.

My one complaint about the IP is I used to put a bag of frozen meatballs, a pack of mozzarella cut up and two jars of sauce and box of Penne in the Cuisinart and it was fine.

I did it in the IP for the recommended nine minutes and it was burned on the bottom.

I have one of the "Knockoffs" (Chefman) .

THe ORIGINAL has several features mine lacks. Not a problem as I'm adaptable but if I'm using a "Genuine instat pot" cookbook I have to modify a few things from time to time.. Not a big deal.

Also the Insta Pot comes with some "Accessories" my Chefman did not come with..

I primarally use it as a steamer (Insta pot comes with a steamer basket. Mine did not) to re-heat made ahead meals.. But it also makes some of them.

We have the Gourmia also, but to make it easier to travel with got the 4 qt. It's a couple of inches shorter than the 6 so it fits the trailers cabinets fine. Has been a great size choice for us too much for two and is plenty for 4 on stews and such where the entire meal is in the one pot.

We have the original 6 qt and never use it. It takes up the same amount of space as if we had purchased the knockoff, but more space than a smaller unit. Before you buy one, decide if you really need it.