Use these Guidelines from Erin Chase to Choose Which Instant Pot Size is Right for You
When choosing your Instant Pot size, it’s important to consider a few variables like family size, frequency of cooking, and what kind of bulk cooking strategies you utilize regularly.
The most common question that I get is “which size and model should I buy for my kitchen and family?!?”
I love my instant pot. Yes, enough to hug it. (See below.)
I have 2 of them, with multiple inserts and all kinds of accessories.
So here’s a quick breakdown and recommendations for you:
What are the Instant Pot size differences?
The 2 main size options for the Instant Pot brand of electric pressure cooker are 6 Qt. and 8 Qt. There are other brands with different options, but the most typical are 6 qt. and 8 qt.
The 6 Qt. can easily hold a whole chicken, cook a pound of dried beans, “hard boil” 9-10 eggs, and cook 8 chicken breasts for shredded chicken.
The 8 Qt. is slightly larger and can cook more of all of the items listed above.
See recommendations below based on family size.
What does Instant Pot DUO vs. Instant Pot LUX mean?
DUO vs. LUX
These funny letters have to do with the “tier” and cooking complexity of the model.
The LUX only cooks in High Pressure mode, meaning it doesn’t have a low pressure option. It doesn’t make ice cream and it doesn’t connect with the smartphone app. It’s considering the economy model of the bunch.
The DUO has a high and low pressure function and
The 9-in-1 DUO also includes the cake and egg cooking function/settings.
What does Instant Pot 6 in 1, 7 in 1, 9 in 1 mean?
The 6-1 to 9-1 numbers indicate the number of cooking functions that the Instant Pot model has.
Here they are based on number:
- 6-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Saute/Browning, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer & Warmer
- 7-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer
- 9-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, Sterilizer (plus cake setting)
Erin’s Recommendations
DUO. Get a DUO. Just skip the LUX.
3 Qt., 5 Qt. 6 Qt. or 8 Qt.:
- If you already use your Instant Pot OFTEN and want something for smaller amounts of food (side dishes) so you can cook in 2 IPs at once, OR you are cooking for yourself or 2 people, you are good with the 3 Qt. or 5 Qt. size.
- If your family size is 5 or smaller and you are not feeding active teenagers, you are good to go with the 6 Qt. size.
- If your family size is 6 or larger and/or you are feeding active teenagers, I would get the 8 Qt. size.
Skip the LUX and the 6-in-1. Go for the 7-in-1.
If you can afford it and consider yourself and adventurous cook, then get the 9-in-1 model!
The 7-in-1 DUO is the most popular model. So go with that and pick the size based on the family size recommendation above.
And now, here are the links for for the different models:
Instant Pot LUX, 6 qt
Regular Price: $79
Instant Pot DUO 3 Qt.
Regular Price: $69
Instant Pot DUO 7-in-1, 6 qt.
Regular Price: $99
Instant Pot DUO 9-in-1, 6 qt.
Regular Price: $120
Instant Pot DUO, 6 qt. with Bluetooth
Regular Price: $160
Instant Pot LUX 6-in-1, 8 qt.
Regular Price: $110
Instant Pot DUO 7-in-1, 8 qt.
Regular Price: $130
Instant Pot ULTRA – 10-in-1
Regular Price: $149
I hope this helps you find the right Instant Pot size for your family!
Electric Pressure Cooking 101
If you do hop on the Instant Pot Train and need help getting started using it and making a part of your regular cooking routine, you’re definitely want to going to sign up for my Electric Pressure Cooking 101 online class. It’s self-paced and you can go throgh the lessons at your own convenience online! Learn more and register here!
Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate, I earn commissions on qualifying purchases. Reviews, opinions are my own.
FAQs
The Bottom Line. The 3 quart is right for you If you're short on space and only cooking for 1 or 2 people or you want an extra Instant Pot. The 6 quart is best if you're cooking for 5 people or fewer or you want to be able to follow online recipes without having to modify them too much.
How to know what size Instant Pot to buy? ›
Generally, a meal cooked in a 6-quart model feeds three to six people. Benefits of an 8-quart Instant Pot: The 8-quart models, on the other hand, are ideal when you're feeding a large family, cooking for a party, or cooking in batches for your weekly meal prep.
What is the difference between a 6 quart and 8-quart Instant Pot? ›
The 6 quart Instant Pot serves about 4 to 6 people. The 8-quart model has a capacity of 8 quarts, but you can only fill it up to the max fill line which is about 6 quarts of liquid. The larger pot allows you to cook more food and serves about 6 to 8 people.
Is 5.7 l Instant Pot big enough? ›
FEED UP TO 6 PEOPLE WITH ITS SPECIOUS 6-PORTION CAPACITY – perfect for easy weekday meals, family dinners, entertaining and even batch cooking. AND IF YOU'RE INTERESTED… with 20% higher power for a faster preheating time and 15 psi suitable for canning, this is the most powerful Instant Pot yet.
Is a bigger Instant Pot better? ›
Other Instant Pots We Tested
The 6-quart Ultra performed well in our cooking tests. However, while it offers 10 presets, the size made it less versatile; we would recommend an 8-quart model for large cuts of meat like roast.
Is a 6 qt Instant Pot too big for one person? ›
The Bottom Line
The 3 quart is right for you If you're short on space and only cooking for 1 or 2 people or you want an extra Instant Pot. The 6 quart is best if you're cooking for 5 people or fewer or you want to be able to follow online recipes without having to modify them too much.
How do I choose an Instant Pot? ›
Size truly does matter when it comes to choosing the best Instant Pot. The most popular size is the 6-quart option, but some models offer 3-quart, 5-quart and even 8-quart options. Smaller sizes are more budget-friendly and take up less space on the counter, but larger sizes are great for cooking a family meal.
Is an 8 qt pot too big? ›
We think you need a large stockpot, but not too large. We believe that for the average home, eight quarts is the perfect size. Go smaller and you teeter into normal pot territory, only able to make a small amount of broth.
How much food fits in a 6 quart Instant Pot? ›
For a 6 quart you could probably fit a 4-5 lb roast easily inside, if you like a lot of potatoes and carrots to go with your roast or want to cook a larger size Instant Pot, I recommend buying the 8-quart size. The 6 quart is great for this! It can fit one 5-6 lb chicken in it.
Is a 5 quart pot big enough? ›
Five Quart: A five quart saucepan is a larger size that's perfect for cooking batches of soup, sauce, or chili. It's also great for cooking pasta or steaming vegetables. Six Quart: A six quart saucepan is a great size for cooking a large batch of soup, sauce, or stew.
The Instant Pot is incredibly versatile, frees up time, cooks great food, etc, etc. If you want much more info about Instant Pots, look through the zillions of customer reviews for my model for example, at Amazon. Absolutely, an excellent kitchen appliance!
What is the most popular Instant Pot size? ›
The 6-quart Instant Pot (in any series) is the most popular size by far, and it's the one we recommend for most folks. It offers plenty of capacity for weeknight dinners, soups and stews, a pot of beans, or even a whole chicken, yet it doesn't take up a crazy amount of counter or shelf space.
What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›
Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.
What size Instant Pot for family of 4? ›
Either capacity will accommodate (most) any recipe you want to cook and will easily serve four to six people. However, bigger can handle less, but smaller can't take on more. So, if you're on the fence go with an 8-quart Instant Pot.
What size pressure pot do I need? ›
Whole meal recipes for one or two persons can usually be accommodated in a 4-quart pressure cooker. 6-QUART: The most popular size for many families with two or more persons. 8-QUART: Popular for larger families.
What is the difference between Instant Pot 7 in 1 and 9-in-1? ›
7-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer. 9-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, Sterilizer (plus cake setting)
Can I use a 3 qt inner pot in a 6 qt Instant Pot? ›
3 QT Instant Pot Stainless Steel Inner Pot: The best container for Pot in Pot in the 6 Quart or 8 Quart Instant Pot.
