Instant Pots have become one of the most popular kitchen appliances in recent years, known for their ability to quickly cook foods using pressure cooking. With models like the Duo and Lux, Instant Pots make cooking faster and easier. Given their popularity in places like the United States and Canada, many people wonder if they are also available in France.
Availability of Instant Pots in France
The short answer is yes, Instant Pots are sold in France. However, they may not be quite as ubiquitous as in some other countries. Instant Pots are a relatively recent arrival in the French market, having only become widely available in the last couple of years. While pressure cookers have long been popular in France, the specific Instant Pot brand is still gaining recognition compared to the USA where it dominates pressure cooker sales.
Instant Pots are sold through many major retailers in France, both in-person and online. Large retailers like Amazon, Cdiscount, Darty, Boulanger, and Fnac all carry a selection of different Instant Pot models. So French consumers looking to purchase an Instant Pot should have multiple purchasing options available. However, the selection may not be quite as wide as what is available in countries like the United States.
Popularity and Use of Instant Pots in France
While Instant Pots are readily available in France, they aren’t necessarily as widely-used as in some other markets yet. Pressure cookers have always been popular in French cooking, but the particular Instant Pot brand is still gaining awareness and market share. As more French consumers become familiar with Instant Pots, their popularity is likely to continue growing.
Instant Pots are often praised for their convenience and ability to quickly cook dishes that would normally take much longer using traditional preparation methods. These benefits appeal greatly to the busy, modern French lifestyle. The ability to cook meat stews, beans, soups, rice, and more in a fraction of the normal time makes Instant Pots a useful tool for quick weeknight meals.
Some well-known French dishes that can be made successfully in the Instant Pot include:
- Beef bourguignon
- Coq au vin
- Cassoulet
- Pot au feu
- Bouillabaisse
- Ratatouille
- Risotto
- Steel-cut oatmeal
The ability to quickly pressure cook traditionally slow-cooked French dishes makes the Instant Pot appeal to French cooks. And the fact that it can also sauté, steam, warm, and more in one device makes it very versatile.
Challenges and Drawbacks of the Instant Pot in France
However, there are some challenges and drawbacks that have prevented Instant Pots from becoming as hugely successful in France as in the US yet.
- Higher price – Instant Pots remain more expensive in France, with prices up to 100 EUR more than comparable models in the US.
- Smaller kitchens – French kitchens tend to be quite small, which can limit storage space for large appliances like Instant Pots.
- Established cooking traditions – France has long-established culinary traditions, meaning some chefs and cooks are less likely to try “new” devices like the Instant Pot.
- Less publicity and recipes – There are fewer French blogs, cookbooks, etc. promoting Instant Pot-specific recipes and techniques compared to the proliferation of these in the US.
However, if the price comes down and more French cooks discover the possibilities of the Instant Pot, it’s likely to gain steadily in popularity going forward as a useful modern kitchen tool.
Conclusion
In summary, Instant Pots are sold by major retailers throughout France and are readily available for purchase by French consumers. However, they have not yet achieved the same level of popularity, ubiquity and enthusiasm as in the US. While useful for quickly cooking traditional French dishes, higher prices and lack of awareness have limited how widely they are used. But with time, Instant Pots will likely gain French fans looking for easy and fast pressure cooking.