Instant Pot Reviews - What Is It?

WARNING: DO NOT BUY Instant Pot Until You Read This Review!
Is it a Scam? Does It Really Work?

Instant Pot

Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker that can be programmed and features additional functionality. It can be used as a basic pressure cooker and a slow-cooker. According to the manufacturer, it is advertised as a single kitchen appliance that performs the functions of seven kitchen gadgets, including a yogurt-maker, rice-cooker, pressure cooker and steamer. But does it do this job well? We still have to answer this question. The Instant Pot is said to allow you cooking fast or slow. It is convenient to use and can save a lot of time. You can cook dinner with no need to keep an eye on the stove. The manufacturer says that the Instant Pot is more functional than both a rice cooker and slow cooker because it can also pressure-cook. Different things can be cooked fast in a pressure cooker including brisket and risotto. However, rice cooked in the Instant Pot is not as fluffy and light as it comes from a high-end rice cooker, according to the customer reviews.

This electric pressure cooker is considered to be generally safe and easy to use. There are many safety mechanisms built in the device, so you may potentially make a mistake. There are two safety catches in the lid: a valve to release unnecessary pressure and a lock to prevent you from opening the pot under pressure. If the steam-release valve isn't working properly, the appliance has another sensor that switches off the heating element if too much pressure is gathered inside the pot. However, there is still a risk of injury, for this reason you are advised to follow all the safety instructions carefully. There is one report of an injury which was the result of the user's error. The woman suffered burns after covering the steam valve with a towel when the pot was under pressure. When she removed the towel, hot soup sprayed onto her neck and arm. According to the Instant Pot manual, all venting valves should be free of debris. Let us take a look at what actual users are writing about their experience of using the product.

Customer Reviews - Does Instant Pot Really Work?

You can find a great number of real customers' reports about the product. While there is one official report of an injury caused by this pressure cooker, Instant Pot is linked to the number of other complaints. One reviewer writes that he bought this device for his wife a year ago. They also purchased four more cookers as gifts for their family members. Two of these units stopped working within five months. The manufacturer offers the warranty but does not stick to its rules. The customer had to send numerous electronic photos to prove that it was not his fault. It is clear that the company's strategy is to ignore you until you give up. Take just a few minutes to verify that there are numerous complaints regarding this company's refusal to honor warranties. Unethical companies continue selling their products on Amazon.

Another customer writes that she grew up with his mother who was always using a pressure cooker. She saw an infomercial for Instant Pot which picked her interest, since she had been looking for a way to cook food faster. The woman checked the reviews on Amazon and even though they were quite mixed she decided to give this cooker a try. This cooker had a stainless liner and many features, so she thought it would be an option to cook food faster. The product arrived in a good shape. She ran it through the water cycle, as recommended by the manual. Then she tried to cook chicken breasts but, unfortunately, after the allotted time, they were underdone, so the woman added more time. As a result, it took forever to cook them properly. Dinner was late at night. Then the woman tried rice and faced the same situation. It was underdone. As she added time, the rice got mushy. The third dish was corned beef and cabbage. To ensure that it will be well-done, the woman set it for six hours. The beef was done but the cabbage was only partially done, while the top layer of cabbage was not done at all. In her crock pot, it would have been more than done after six hours, according to the woman's words. All three attempts were disappointing, since all three dishes required extra cooking time. The device simply does not perform its functions. The silicone ring inside the top retains unpleasant odors after washing and air drying for a long period of time. The only positive thing that the customer found was the stainless liner that was much lighter to handle than the ceramic liner of her crock pot. The exterior of the pot does not get hot, so you will not burn your fingers if you touch it. There are many situations identical to this one. The woman was ready to send it back but she realized that a couple of weeks had passed already. It was an expensive mistake! Let us take a look at some actual users' reviews left online.

"I have had the InstantPot for almost half a year, using it regularly. Yesterday, I used it to saute vegetables. I was also going to make chile with the slow cooker function. So, I set the function to High / More, and it would never get above a "warm" temperature. It was switched on for six hours but without any results. I didn't eat the chili because it is underdone and may be unsafe to eat. I have sent my message to the company behind the product already - let's see what their response will be."

"So I opened my Instant Pot being very excited to try it out, but it was not new at all. It had watermarks on its surface and smelled like food. There were scrub marks, and the utensil was not new for sure. The accessories were in a beat up Ziploc bag. I was shocked and disappointed at the same time! I certainly returned it to them. I am waiting for my refund at present."

"I believe, my Instant pot was defective, it had no sealing. I called the customer service but they would not respond to my requests. This is the most terrible customer service I have ever encountered! I had only had my pot for two weeks. Amazon returned my money and I ordered a different brand. I have not had any problems with my new purchase. Do not but anything from this unreputable company!"

My Final Summary

Taking into account what we have learnt about the Instant Pot, this product has a lot of disadvantages. The first one is its high price. A medium model will cost you more than $100. The second concern is the safety. A pressure cooker may be unsafe and can easily burn your hands and face if you do anything wrong by accident. You are highly recommended to read the instruction manual before using the device for the first time. The next drawback is that the Instant Pot is unable to heat enough to be able to cook your foods properly. Many users complain of getting underdone dishes after six hours of cooking. You will have to spend a lot of money on electricity. Be careful with your pot especially if you have small kids running around. Place it on a study surface. Some customers complain that their purchases came not new and even without the sealing. When they tried to contact the customer service it was in vain. With all this in mind, unlike basic kitchen tools like pans and knives, the Instant Pot is not an absolute kitchen necessity. I would not recommend it to anyone.

Where To Buy Instant Pot In Stores?

The product can be ordered and bought from the official website of the manufacturer. There are different models of Instant Pot, so they are priced differently. Lux series costs $80, Duo series is priced at $100, Duo Plus series can be bought for $130, while Ultra series costs $150. Amazon sells Instant Pot Duo60 at the price of $99.95 plus free shipping with Amazon Prime.