Why I Finally Caved and Got This Thing
Look, I resisted the Instant Pot cult for years. My slow cooker worked fine, my regular pressure cooker was perfectly good, and I really didn’t need another gadget taking up counter space. But when my sister made fall-off-the-bone ribs AND crispy fries in the same device at Thanksgiving, I ordered one that night.
Three months later, here’s what I actually think.
The Pressure Cooking Side
I’ll be honest - if you already own a standalone pressure cooker, this isn’t going to change your life. It does the same job. Pot roasts, stews, dried beans in under an hour, all the usual stuff. Where it shines is the convenience of having everything in one base unit.
My favorite discovery was making yogurt in it. I had no idea that was even possible. The yogurt function just… works. Eight hours later, homemade yogurt that costs a fraction of store-bought.
The Air Fryer Lid - This Is Where It Gets Interesting
The air fryer lid is sold separately on some models, which annoyed me at first. But it does transform this thing into something more useful than a basic Instant Pot.
What actually works well:
- French fries come out genuinely crispy, not that sad soggy mess from my old conventional oven
- Chicken wings get that nice skin without deep frying
- Reheating pizza beats the microwave by miles
What disappointed me:
- The basket is smaller than I expected. Feeding a family of four means doing batches
- Anything with wet batter doesn’t work great. I tried onion rings and they were a mess
- It gets LOUD. Like, noticeably louder than a regular air fryer
Build Quality and Cleaning
The main pot is stainless steel and feels solid. I’ve thrown it in the dishwasher maybe fifty times now with no issues. The air fryer basket is a bit trickier - food tends to get stuck in the mesh bottom, and I usually have to soak it.
The outer housing is that shiny plastic that shows every fingerprint. Not a big deal, but my kitchen is definitely not Instagram-ready after I cook with this thing.
What Nobody Tells You
Counter space: This thing is bulky. Like, really bulky. And you need clearance above it for the steam vent. I had to reorganize my whole kitchen setup.
The learning curve: My first attempt at pressure cooking was a disaster. I didn’t realize you need enough liquid, and the burn notice kept going off. Took me a few tries to figure out the quirks.
Seal maintenance: The silicone seal ring absorbs smells. I made chili and then tried to make rice the next day… garlic rice isn’t always intentional. Some people buy multiple rings for different types of cooking.
Is It Worth Getting?
Here’s my honest take: if you don’t own a pressure cooker or an air fryer, this is a solid choice that saves counter space. If you already have both appliances and they work fine, you probably don’t need this.
For apartment kitchens or anyone trying to minimize gadgets, the combo approach makes sense. Just know that it doesn’t excel at air frying the way a dedicated air fryer does - it’s more of a jack-of-all-trades situation.
I use mine about three times a week now, mostly for quick weeknight dinners. Would I buy it again? Yeah, probably. But I’d wait for a sale.
Prices are subject to change without notice.