Immediate Pot Evaluation

Years in the past when Immediate Pots have been blowing up (not actually) within the dwelling meals scene, my mother jumped on the bandwagon and acquired my brother and me one every for Christmas. I keep in mind unwrapping the large field (and doubtless hoping it was the costly winter jacket I desperately needed) and feeling a little bit of a letdown. Snob that I used to be, I liked the rituals and slowness of cooking, and the Immediate Pot, simply in its identify, appeared the other.

However one fateful day, months later, the busyness of life acquired to me. I used to be having a buddy over and needed to make mashed chickpeas with seared chouriço, a playful Portuguese-esque tackle bangers and mash. Besides it was 5 o’clock, she’d be right here at 6:15, and all I had was a bag of dried chickpeas. I then remembered the forlorn Immediate Pot multi-cooker, nonetheless in its packaging, and swiftly unboxed it and acquired cooking. Forty or so minutes later, the chickpeas have been cooked, my mash was on its approach, and dinner was saved. After that, the Immediate Pot earned a spot inside prepared attain in my cabinet and my respect.

Why the Immediate Pot Is Nice 

Electrical multi-cookers just like the Immediate Pot are versatile devices that may sluggish cook dinner, make rice, and even sear if you want to brown meat or sauté a mirepoix. And, as illustrated by my humble pie second above, the stress cooking perform of the Immediate Pot could make dinner goals come true—quick. It additionally is available in clutch when late-night cravings hit and all I actually need is a bowl of braised beef poutine: I can simply throw the braised beef gravy elements within the Immediate Pot on excessive stress for an hour, press begin, and it’s off to the races. 

Whereas the Immediate Pot doesn’t attain the excessive pressures of stovetop stress cookers, I’ve by no means had subpar outcomes. If, say, a pot of black beans remains to be a lil crunchy, I simply screw the lid again on, set the stress and time, and cook dinner them slightly longer. This leads me to a different motive why I like my Immediate Pot: It’s extremely simple to make use of. Whereas a stovetop stress cooker requires monitoring and a few mild ability to make sure nothing goes haywire, the Immediate Pot self-monitors the stress and releases it if wanted through the built-in valve. It has a no-frills button interface (or digital management panel, relying on the mannequin) that lets me choose the perform and set the time, in addition to a countdown timer. And, as soon as it’s accomplished cooking, it beeps heartily, and newer fashions have a button you’ll be able to push to begin releasing the stress. (No have to poke the valve with a wood spoon and danger a spurt of scorching steam to the face.) Like a rice cooker, you’ll be able to hold meals heat in it, too. 

Whereas I nonetheless wish to take it sluggish within the kitchen, my Immediate Pot stress cooker has enabled me to make my wildest, most spur-of-the-moment meals goals come true. I’ll by no means snub it once more. 

Why We’re the Specialists 

• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Severe Eats, the place she’s been testing gear for over two years. 
• She’s had her Immediate Pot Duo Plus for greater than 5 years, and it’s nonetheless chugging alongside simply nice. She loves utilizing it to cook dinner dried beans in a flash. 
• We’ve reviewed quite a lot of electrical stress cookers from Immediate Pot, in addition to stovetop stress cookers.