You’ve probably heard rave reviews from family and friends: “Instant Pots are so easy to use! Pressure cookers are a total time-saver!” And now you may be wondering how to choose the best Instant Pot or pressure cooker for your lifestyle. (Looking for easy and delicious Instant Pot recipes? Check out these eight meals the whole family will devour.)
But first, what is a pressure cooker, and how is it different from an Instant Pot?
- Pressure cooker: A sealed pot that uses steam pressure to cook food quickly. If it’s also a multi-cooker, it may have extra settings like slow cooking, air frying and dehydrating.
- Instant Pot: A brand of multi-cookers that allow you to cook fast (with the pressure-cooker setting) or slow (like a slow cooker), often with just the press of a button. Again, there may be additional settings for steaming, warming, cooking rice and more.
The perks of either style:
- Pressure cooking can reduce cook time by up to 70 percent[1]
- It removes the guesswork with pre-set cooking times and heat levels
- You can set it and go about your day
So, which pressure cooker or Instant Pot should you choose? We’ve sifted through the options to help you find the perfect match for your kitchen.
Capacity: 8 quarts
Cooking programs: 10 food presets
Cooking bowl material: Stainless steel
Lid type: Cookware
Warranty: 1 year limited
The automatic keep-warm function works for up to 10 hours.
Does not come with cooking accessories.
Capacity: 4.5 quarts
Cooking programs: 12 food presets
Cooking bowl material: Stainless steel
Lid type: Cookware
Warranty: 5-year limited warranty
Comes with a rice rinser/food steaming basket and a rice paddle.
May not be big enough to feed a larger crowd.
Capacity: 8 quarts
Cooking programs: 12 functions, 14 safety features, TenderCrisp technology
Cooking bowl material: Ceramic-coated pot
Lid type: Twist lock
Warranty: 1-year manufacturers warranty
The extra-large eight-quart pot allows you to cook for a crowd.
It’s pricier than some other large-quantity pressure cookers.
Capacity: 6 quarts
Cooking programs: 8 one-touch meal settings, 4 one-touch cook functions
Cooking bowl material: Non-stick
Lid type: Airtight locking lid
Warranty: 1 year limited
This six-quart non-stick Crock-Pot is dishwasher safe.
Learning and remembering how to use the different functions can be tricky.
Capacity: 6 quarts
Cooking programs: 15 food presets
Cooking bowl material: Stainless steel
Lid type: Airtight locking lid
Warranty: 1 year limited
The delay-start timer means you can get breakfast going the night before.
Does not come with a cookbook for Instant Pot cooking.
Capacity: 8.5 quarts
Cooking programs: 11 preset cooking functions
Cooking bowl material: Removable, non-stick pot
Lid type: Twist lock
Warranty: 1 year with proof of purchase
Has automatic and manual steam release.
Larger model may be hard to store in small kitchens.
- Capacity: 8 quarts
- Cooking programs: 10 food presets
- Cooking bowl material: Stainless steel
- Lid type: Cookware
- Warranty: 1 year limited
The eight-quart size is ideal for a big batch of chicken soup, but not so large that it cramps your counter space. Aside from its relatively small footprint, this programmable multi-cooker also replaces six small kitchen appliances by combining the functions of a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer and warmer—and it sautés, too. You’ll be whipping up everything from porridge to rice pilaf in no time.
- This Instant Pot also has a cake setting and an egg program.
- The automatic keep-warm function works for up to 10 hours for added convenience.
- It’s built for up to four hours of pressure-cooking, plus it has a start delay so you can fill the pot before bed or work and program it to start up to 24 hours later.
- While this pot comes with a variety of convenient one-press functions, it does not come with cooking accessories.
- Capacity: 4.5 quarts
- Cooking programs: 12 food presets
- Cooking bowl material: Stainless steel
- Lid type: Cookware
- Warranty: 5-year limited warranty
This pot is pint-sized at just four and a half quarts, but that actually makes it an ideal option for students and singles. Cooking for one (or two!) has never been easier. This hard-working multi-cooker has all the same smart features as its bigger counterparts, but it’s compact enough to slide easily into a cupboard when you want to tuck it away.
- It’s practically foolproof thanks to several built-in features, including a countdown timer and delay start, so you can prepare meals for cooking up to 15 hours in advance.
- It comes with many of the same accessories as the larger multicookers, including a rice rinser/food steaming basket, rice measuring cup and a rice paddle.
- This model can make up to 20 cups of rice at a time. If you need to feed a larger crowd, this may not be big enough.
- Capacity: 8 quarts
- Cooking programs: 12 functions, 14 safety features, TenderCrisp technology
- Cooking bowl material: Ceramic-coated pot
- Lid type: Twist lock
- Warranty: 1-year manufacturers warranty
Meet the ultimate in do-it-all kitchen appliances. In addition to steaming, sautéing and pressure cooking, this impressive gadget slow cooks, dehydrates (hello, DIY fruit leathers), makes yogurt and broils food, for crispy, caramelized dishes. Did we mention that this Ninja air fries, too? Just imagine all of the air-fried chicken and veggies you’ll be able to make! We’ve rounded up 7 easy air fryer recipes for families to get you started.
- The extra-large eight-quart pot allows you to cook for a crowd.
- With 14 rigorously tested safety features in place, you can cook with peace of mind.
- The five-quart air fryer basket is non-stick, dishwasher safe and hefty enough to hold a seven-pound chicken.
- This is a large and heavy unit, weighing 26 lbs, which may make it challenging to store in your kitchen.
- It’s pricier than some other large-quantity pressure cookers.
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Cooking programs: 8 one-touch meal settings, 4 one-touch cook functions
- Cooking bowl material: Non-stick
- Lid type: Airtight locking lid
- Warranty: 1 year limited
Whether you’re one to prep a meal in the morning to cook all day—or the type who forgets about dinner, then realizes they need a healthy home-cooked meal ASAP—this multi-cooker has your back. Four cooking functions mean you can steam, slow cook, pressure cook or sauté with ease. Plus, it has eight pre-sets for meats and stews, beans and chili, rice and risotto, poultry, dessert, soups, yogurts and multi-grains. You can make pretty much whatever you want whenever you want.
- This six-quart non-stick Crock-Pot is dishwasher safe.
- The machine comes with a recipe book, serving spoon and steaming rack.
- A delay-start timer and keep-warm setting provide lots of flexibility when it comes to timing your meals just right.
- It can be tricky to learn and remember how to use all the different functions.
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Cooking programs: 15 food presets
- Cooking bowl material: Stainless steel
- Lid type: Airtight locking lid
- Warranty: 1 year limited
The most important meal of the day will be easier than ever to pull off with this smart multi-use pressure cooker. The egg cooking program preps soft, medium and even sous vide eggs to perfection. You can also make porridge in mere minutes and banana bread is yet another option. (Yes, we consider banana bread a breakfast food!) It’s the ideal size for a family of four.
- The delay-start timer means you can get breakfast going the night before, and the keep-warm function holds the temperature of the dish until you’re ready to serve it.
- With 15 smart built-in programs, you can make soups, stews and rice dishes in addition to breakfast favourites.
- The brushed stainless-steel exterior comes with a large, easy-to-read display panel.
- Some users wish it had clearer instructions included in the box, but there are plenty of resources on instantpot.com.
- Does not come with a cookbook for Instant Pot cooking.
- Capacity: 8.5 quarts
- Cooking programs: 11 preset cooking functions
- Cooking bowl material: Removable, non-stick pot
- Lid type: Twist lock
- Warranty: 1 year with proof of purchase
If you’re into batch cooking, this eight-and-a-half-quart model might be the pressure cooker for you! The hefty size is ideal for prepping several meals at once. It’s also perfect for a large family or for feeding a crowd. Best of all, there are 11 one-touch settings to choose from including beans, soup, fish and rice, plus the coveted yogurt function.
- You’ll never have to worry about whether you remembered to close the steam-release valve because this one does it automatically when you seal the lid.
- Comes with accessories including a rice spatula/server, steam tray and a measuring cup.
- The larger model may be hard to store in small kitchens.
Shop all pressure cookers and multi-pots at Walmart 
Simply put, we don’t recommend any products we wouldn’t buy ourselves. Our writers leverage a number of sources as a starting point, including reputable third-party reviews, Walmart.ca user reviews, and Walmart Canada’s category specialists. theHUB editorial staff has final say for all products included in this guide.
Any product claims noted are provided by the manufacturer, unless otherwise stated. Prices shown are subject to change. Please check Walmart.ca for the latest pricing. This article is intended as general information. To be sure a product is right for you, always be sure to read and follow the label(s)/instruction(s) that accompany your product(s). Walmart will not be responsible for any injury or damage caused by this activity.
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This article is intended as general information. Always be sure to read and follow the label(s)/instruction(s) that accompany your product(s). Walmart will not be responsible for any injury or damage caused by this activity.
