Multicookers can steam, pressure cook, even make yogurt. (Gregory Rec/Getty Images)
As much as we love slow cookers, pressure cookers, yogurt makers, rice cookers and air fryers, we know not everyone has the counter or cabinet space for them all. Because it can accomplish these tasks and more, a multicooker is perfect for small kitchens — or if you just want to eliminate the need for lots of different appliances.
Instant Pot is arguably the biggest name in multicookers, and the brand makes some great ones. But other companies like Ninja and Breville also have offerings on the market that are worth checking out. To come up with this list of the best multicookers for 2025, we considered each device's functions, size and customer reviews. You’re sure to find one that'll make meal planning and weeknight cooking more efficient, whether you’re prepping chicken breasts, rice, hard-boiled eggs or stew.
Update, Sept. 5, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for the best multicooker remains unchanged.
Power consumption: 1,000 watts | Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 6 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, food warmer
This No. 1 bestselling model made the Instant Pot brand an internet darling. It’s easy to use and has all the basic functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté mode and yogurt maker.
The original Instant Pot Duo has over 84,000 five-star Amazon customer reviews, so you know this is a good one. One review said it’s a game changer: “If you haven’t used an Instant Pot before, you’re missing out. It’s probably the most versatile kitchen appliance I own, oven/range included. I use it to make everything from eggs and chili to chicken curry and pulled pork. You name it, I’ve probably made it. ... Overall I think the Instant Pot [is] probably one of the best purchases I’ve made in the last year. It’s actually made it easier and faster for me to cook healthy meals compared to getting takeout. This alone has paid for the Instant Pot 30 times over.”
Power consumption: 1,000 watts | Material: Stainless steel, chrome | Capacity: 6 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté, sous vide, sterilizer, warmer
The Duo Plus has many of the same features as the Duo, but it also can be used for sous vide (temperature-controlled cooking) and as a sterilizer (a shortcut for sterilizing items like baby bottles).
The Duo Plus has plenty of fans as well, with over 56,000 five-star reviews. “This product is my best friend and I would marry it and grow old with it if I could,” one review said. “I’ve put pork loins, potatoes, yellow bundt cakes from boxed cake, rice, corn on the cob (look up INSTANT POT MILK CORN ON THE COB and you will never eat it any other way again!!!) ... I’ve made pierogies, lasagna, apple dump cake, a whole chicken, bone broth, chicken noodle soup ... and more. This is all in less than a month. I’m eating healthier. Eating out less. Cleanup is easy. The food tastes awesome. The pork loin never dried out after it sat on the serving tray.”
Power consumption: 1,000 watts | Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 8 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cooker, slow cooker, sous vide, sauté pan, rice cooker, sterilizer, yogurt maker, food warmer, cake baker, steamer
The Instant Pot Pro is geared toward multicooker enthusiasts, with 28 customizable programs and five “favorites” buttons that you can assign to frequently cooked meals. The inner pot has handles and is stovetop-friendly.
“I waited a long time to finally get an Instant Pot, and I really like the Pro model,” said one five-star review. “I’ve used pressure cookers for many years, and the Instant Pot takes a lot of the work out of using the old-style pressure cookers. You don’t need to use a higher heat to get up to pressure and then turn down the burner; that’s all done in the Instant Pot heat stage. Nor do you have to set a timer for when to stop cooking, that’s done in the Instant Pot setup for ‘pressure.’ Being able to do a quick pressure release is very easy, not possible in the old-style pressure cooker. Basically, you just fill the inner pot, set up the menu, and walk away until it’s done.”
Power consumption: 1,500 watts | Material: Stainless steel, plastic | Capacity: 6 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, warmer, canning pot, sous vide, NutriBoost
The Pro Plus has many of the same features as the Pro, but with the addition of Wi-Fi connectivity. The companion app lets you release the steam remotely or program when you want to do it.
“I’ve loved all of my Instant Pots but I always like to upgrade when possible,” said a happy shopper. “This Pro Plus Smart Instant Pot is OUTSTANDING! It cooks the same as the last 2, but the WiFi functionality allows me to vent from my smart phone, turn the pot to warm, set the temperatures, etc. The wife thought that the WiFi thing was stupid so I blocked her smartphone MAC address from the router. I extorted a better review from her before I allowed her access. Don’t mess with the NERDS! If you are looking for an upgrade, this is it! As a sidebar, the guy from Pressure Luck cooking on YouTube is a genius. 90% of my recipes come from watching his videos.”
Power consumption: 1,500 watts | Material: Stainless steel, plastic | Capacity: 8 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cook, steam, slow cook, sous vide, warm, air fry, roast, bake, broil, dehydrate
Want an Instant Pot and an air fryer in one? Then get the Duo Crisp, which comes with an additional air fryer lid. It can also bake, broil and dehydrate.
One reviewer called the Duo Crisp “amazing”: “Engineering perfection personified, this machine is incredible and does all it says it will do. ... Automatically seals when the lid is installed for the pressure cooking function and the push button steam release is a huge improvement from the older Instant Pots. Air Fry lid is sturdy and heats up within 2 minutes for about any heat setting, easy to merely lift off to check what you’re cooking then put back on and it immediately starts where it left off. Be sure to preheat before placing your food inside so you can get an accurate estimate as to the time it will take to cook. ... Would give 10 stars if it was an option!”
Power consumption: 1,760 watts | Material: Chrome, plastic | Capacity: 8 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cook, air fry, steam, slow cook, yogurt maker, sear/sauté, bake/roast, broil, dehydrate
This Ninja Foodi has an air fryer and pressure cooker bundled into one machine! It also comes with a deluxe reversible rack that will help you steam or broil your favorite cookbook recipes.
Power consumption: 1,100 watts | Material: Stainless steel | Capacity: 6 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cooker
A super-stylish pressure cooker, the Breville Fast Slow Pro is feature-rich to boot. It allows you to cook with accurate temperature and pressure control.
“This cooker has been in use for 2 1/2 years,” said a happy shopper. “What makes this so useful to me is that once you set it up and close the lid, you no longer need to be in the kitchen. It automatically comes up to pressure, cooks, releases pressure (three different ways), and then keeps food warm. We use it frequently during cooler months for soups and stews. That you can make black bean soup from dry beans without soaking in under two hours is fantastic. It also makes the best, easily peeled, hard-boiled eggs.”
Power consumption: 1,760 watts | Material: Chrome, plastic | Capacity: 8 quarts | Functionality: Pressure cook, air fry, steam, slow cook, yogurt maker, sear/sauté, bake/roast, broil, dehydrate
This Ninja Foodi has an air fryer and pressure cooker bundled into one machine! It also comes with a deluxe reversible rack that will help you steam or broil your favorite cookbook recipes.
One of the most popular multicookers that's not an Instant Pot, this Ninja Foodi has a lot of fans — with more than 4,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, if you're counting.
Depending on factors like the number of people you're cooking for, certain multicookers will be more suitable. Here's what else to consider:
Capacity: Multicookers come in different capacities, typically sized in quarts. For example, the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 comes in three size capacities: 3, 6 or 8 quarts. The capacity you need depends on how much food you need to make, but remember that you can't fill it up to the top. So, if you want to be able to put 6 quarts of food in your multicooker, choose one with an 8-quart capacity.
Pressure settingsWhen using your multicooker as a pressure cooker, you have different setting options, often referred to as pressure levels. A pressure cooker heats food quickly by changing the boiling point of the liquid. Basically, the cooker forces steam into the food, cooking it much quicker than you'd be able to otherwise. Multicookers tend to have two pressure level options: low and high. Low is typically about 10 pounds per square inch (psi) and high is usually about 15 psi. These levels can vary from one multicooker to the next. When using a pressure cooker recipe, check the recommended pressure level.
Cook times: Some companies claim their multicooker can cook meals up to 70% faster than traditional methods — a huge time-saver. If you like to slow cook, many multicookers also have that function too. One great thing about multicookers is that you don't need to soak dry beans, lentils or rice, or thaw meat, before cooking. Cooking times depend on food quantity, type and pressure level.
Cleaning: Certain multicookers come with dishwasher-safe inserts, lid and inner pots, while others require hand-washing. If you prefer using the dishwasher, double-check that the multicooker you buy has dishwasher-safe parts.
We published our first review of multicookers in 2022, and since then, we've researched dozens of models, looking at capacity, available functions and ease of use. We've done extensive reading on Instant Pot in particular and have updated this story numerous times as models get updated and go in and out of stock. We also checked customer reviews to make sure that the multicookers in this story performed well in real-life kitchens with home cooks of all levels.
You can snag one of these appliances for about $100, so if you're buying a mulitcooker in place of several appliances like a slow cooker and rice maker, it definitely makes sense. If you're buying a multicooker for only one or two specific functions like yogurt making or pressure cooking, make sure those are cooking tasks you do regularly, otherwise it may not be worth the price — or counter space.
First off, know that Crock-Pot is a brand name many people use to refer to the generic term for a slow cooker. (It's not unlike using the word Kleenex when referring to facial tissues.) Slow cookers, as their name suggests, are designed to cook food low and slow. Most have limited functions compared to a multicooker — for example, our top-tested slow cooker can cook food on low or high and keep it warm, but that's it. Others can also brown/sauté and steam, but a multicooker can do all these things as well as pressure cook, make yogurt, dehydrate foods, sous vide, bake, cook rice and well, the list goes on!
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
