Eating is easy. Cooking? Well, let’s say it’s not a skill that everyone is blessed with from the get-go. Now, even if you do have a knack for burning every piece of food you cook on sight, it doesn’t mean you are resigned to a life of microwave meals or expensive takeaways.
Redeem yourself and impress your loved ones! Here are the 6 best multi cookers on the market that do everything from grilling, steaming to even making your favourite yoghurt - all with just a touch of a button. No stress, no hassle.
1. Instant Pot 7-in-1 Multifunctional Pressure Cooker
Source: Instant Pot
With so many multi cookers on the market, what makes Instant Pot a cult favourite online (and all over the world)? The simple fact that it covers everything a user needs. Ample capacity? Yes - the popular 6-quart (5.8L) model can comfortably serve portions for 4 - 6 people. Functionality? Yes too - it comes with 14 preset programmes that allow you to steam, warm, saute, slow cook, pressure cook, make soup, porridge and even yoghurt.
Source: Instant Pot UK
Don’t worry about leaving the cooker alone - the Instant Pot Duo is built with 10 safety mechanisms (including high temperature monitoring, safety lid lock, etc) to keep itself from exploding or overheating by accident. And the best part - a steam rack, rice paddle, pot and recipe book are thrown into the package, all for a pocket friendly price range of less than $200.
Pros:
- Value for money option, with many safety and cooking features
- Easy to use interface
- Large community of recipes available
- Comes with many accessories
Cons:
- More effective for cooking meats than vegetables, especially those that need to be quickly blanched.
Price: USD $149, Amazon
2. Breville Fast Slow Pro
Source: Wired.com
If you love tweaking with function or need to follow a recipe book word-for-word, the Breville Fast Slow Pro is your best bet. A more sophisticated, upgraded version of the 6-quart Instant Pot, this pressure cooker features a control panel that lets you control the temperature and pressure levels right down to the exact degree or psi.
Source: Ebay
With 11 presets that allow you to cook a whole range of dishes, from risotto, soup, vegetables, stew and dessert, the Breville Fast Slow Pro can also be used to sear, warm, steam, slow cook or reduce your food - all with a simple turn of a knob. No shortage of thoughtful features, its intuitive LCD screen changes colour to let you know when it’s cooking, on standby or releasing steam.
Pros:
- Highly customisable settings
- Easy to use control knobs
- Removable non-stick pot for easy cleaning
- Solid safety features (safety lock lid, hands-free steam release and safety valve)
Cons:
- Might retain an odour on rubber edges with frequent usage
- More expensive than other multi cookers.
Price: USD $ 234.95, Amazon
3. Tefal Versalio Deluxe 9 in 1 Multi Cooker and Deep Fryer
Source: Catch.au
Boasting a big capacity and squarish form, the Tefal Versalio Deluxe is here to make all your fried fantasies come true - along with a whole host of nifty cooking features. The Multi Cooker comes with a broad pot/bowl that can contain up to 2 litres of oil and a drainage basket - perfect for deep frying, pan frying or roasting.
Source: Mall.cz
Of course, it isn’t called a 9 in 1 multi cooker for nothing - the Tefal Versalio Deluxe includes 9 preset cooking modes for all sorts of delicacies. Sauté, slow cooking, boiling, braising, thawing and warming foods? It can do it all. And if you can’t stand hanging around the kitchen waiting for food to cook, the multi cooker has a viewing panel, plus a detachable timer you can bring with you to keep track of time.
Pros:
- Helpful accessories, like the fry basket, timer and see-through viewing panel
- Spacious, removable bowl that’s easy to clean
- Insulated exterior makes it safe to touch, even when the temperatures are hot
- Compact size
Cons:
- Heats up and cools down fairly quickly
- Some users have reported uneven cooking
Price: From $154, Lazada
4. Philips Viva Collection All-In-One Multi Cooker
Source: Big W Australia
Fancy making a cake? No more messy baking disasters, because turns out, the Philips Viva Collection Multi Cooker can double as a pretty good oven too! Highly underrated, this multi pressure cooker is on par with other popular or high end brands like Instant Pot and Breville. Highlights include an ample 6 litre capacity, 8 cooking presets (pressure cook, slow cook, saute, sear, warm up, steam, bake and yoghurt) and auto pressure release function (for faster times).
And if you’re worried about safety, the Viva Collection Multi Cooker doesn’t fall short, with 9 protection systems. It’s non-stick pot is also easily detachable, making it a breeze to keep clean.
Pros:
- A multi cooker that makes cakes? Desserts please.
- Useful 2-year warranty period
- Has a big capacity and extensive functions for all types of cooking
- Quiet operation
Cons:
- Food odours may linger after frequent use
Price: $298, Lazada
5. Fagor LUX Multi Cooker
Source: Wayfair
For busy bees who are short on time and can’t afford hours of cooking (seriously, anything more than 2 hours is a no-go), the Fagor LUX might be your best buddy. One of the fastest multi cookers around, it only takes up to a maximum of 99 minutes for pressure cooking. This, compared to other models which range from 2 to 6 hours.
Source: Home Depot
Alongside additional functions like warming, steaming, sauteing and simmering, the Fagor LUX doubles as an exceptional rice cooker, with three separate presets for white, brown and risotto rice. And if you fancy a cup of healthy, pasteurised greek yoghurt, the machine also comes with a yoghurt-making function!
Pros:
- Lighting fast when it comes to pressure cooking
- Easy to clean, non-stick pots
- Ample variety of cooking options to choose from
- Even cooking
Cons:
- Tends to overheat
Price: USD $139, Amazon
6. Cornell CMCE381 Multi Cooker 3.8L
Source: Lazada
This multi cooker may look like a steamboat, but it does more than hearty hot pots! A practical option that’s easy on the wallet, Cornell’s CMC E381 Multi Cooker also allows you to stew, steam, stir fry and deep fry. While it’s nothing as extensive as a Breville or Philips, what it lacks in fancy features is made up with powerful heat (1500 to 1780W) and quality materials. Case in point: It’s inner pot is made of non-stick Teflon that makes cleaning up an absolute breeze.
Pros:
- Budget friendly
- Easy to use controls
- Powerful heating
Cons:
- Not as comprehensive as other multi-cookers in terms of cooking styles.
Price: $57.40, Lazada
Hey there - just so you know, Qanvast receives a share of sales from all Lazada and Amazon links listed in this article.
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