Instant Pots and Power Quick Pots are both electric pressure cookers that have become very popular in recent years. They offer an easy and fast way to cook food using the pressure cooking method. But are they actually the same product? Let’s take a closer look at how they compare.
What is an Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot is a multifunctional electric pressure cooker that was introduced in 2010 by a Canadian company called Double Insight. It has since become one of the most popular models of electric pressure cookers. The Instant Pot combines 7 kitchen appliances in one – it can work as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and warmer. The main benefits of using an Instant Pot include:
- Speed – Pressure cooking is much faster than regular stove top or oven cooking. It can reduce cooking time by up to 70%.
- Convenience – Being able to cook an entire meal in one pot with the touch of a button is very convenient.
- Consistent results – The pressurized environment locks in steam and heat to cook food evenly and thoroughly.
- Versatility – It can perform the work of multiple appliances, saving counter space.
- Safety features – New models have 10+ safety features to prevent accidents.
Instant Pots come in 3 main sizes – 3 qt, 6 qt, and 8 qt. The 6 qt size is the most popular as it can cook for 3-6 people. Popular Instant Pot models include the Duo, Duo Plus, Duo Nova, Duo Evo Plus, Ultra, and Pro.
Instant Pot Main Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pressure Cooking | Cooks food up to 70% faster by raising temperature above the boiling point of water |
| Slow Cooking | Cooks food slowly over low heat like a regular slow cooker |
| Sautéing | Browns and caramelizes ingredients before pressure cooking |
| Steaming | Steams food using a steaming rack |
| Yogurt Making | Turns milk into homemade yogurt |
| Warming | Keeps cooked food warm until ready to serve |
What is a Power Quick Pot?
The Power Quick Pot is another popular electric pressure cooker brand made by NuWave. It competes directly with the Instant Pot and claims to cook food even faster. The main features and benefits of the Power Quick Pot include:
- Speed – Touts that it cooks foods up to 50% faster than the Instant Pot.
- One-touch preset buttons – Comes with preset cooking programs.
- Triple pressure cooking – Goes to higher pressure of 11.6 psi compared to Instant Pot’s 10.2 psi.
- Stainless steel inner pot – Doesn’t react with foods and is dishwasher safe.
- Safety features – Has a safety locking lid, pressure and steam release regulators.
The Power Quick Pot comes in 6 qt and 8 qt sizes. Some of the popular models are the Power Quick Pot 6 Quart 9-in-1 and Power Quick Pot 8 Quart 10-in-1.
Power Quick Pot Main Features
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Pressure Cooking | Reaches higher pressure of 11.6 psi for faster cooking |
| Preset Buttons | Comes with preset programs like poultry, meat/stew, beans, rice, etc. |
| Searing | Sears and browns meat before pressure cooking |
| Slow Cooking | Functions as a regular slow cooker |
| Steaming | Steams vegetables and seafood |
| Sauteing | Saute ingredients at the start of cooking |
Detailed Feature Comparison
Now let’s dig deeper into how some of the main features and specifications compare between the Instant Pot and Power Quick Pot:
Pressure Levels
One of the biggest differences is that the Power Quick Pot cooks at a higher pressure level of 11.6 psi compared to the Instant Pot’s 10.2-11.6 psi. The max pressure of the Instant Pot Duo series is only 10.2 psi. Higher pressure allows the Power Quick Pot to cook foods faster.
Preset Cooking Buttons
The Power Quick Pot comes with more preset cooking buttons such as poultry, meat/stew, beans, rice, veggies, desserts, and more. The Instant Pot Duo has fewer presets. Presets provide one-touch cooking convenience.
Design
The Instant Pot has a stainless steel exterior and inner pot. The Power Quick Pot is available in both stainless steel and ceramic non-stick coated aluminum. The stainless steel inner pot allows safer high heat searing and is dishwasher safe.
Safety Features
Both pressure cookers have important safety mechanisms like lid close detection, pressure regulators, anti-block shields, safety lid locks, pressure and temperature sensors, automatic pressure release, and more. The Instant Pot may have a slight edge with their 10+ safety protections.
Size Options
Instant Pot offers 3 main sizes – 3 qt, 6 qt, 8 qt. Power Quick Pot has 6 qt and 8 qt options. For most families, 6 qt is ideal.
Price
The Instant Pot is generally cheaper, with most models priced between $80-150 USD depending on features and size. The Power Quick Pot costs more in the $130-180 USD range.
| Feature | Instant Pot | Power Quick Pot |
|---|---|---|
| Max Pressure | 10.2 psi | 11.6 psi |
| Preset Programs | Fewer | More |
| Inner Pot | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel or Non-Stick |
| Size Options | 3, 6, 8 qt | 6, 8 qt |
| Price Range | $80-150 USD | $130-180 USD |
Instant Pot vs Power Quick Pot: Cooking Results
Let’s now compare how the Instant Pot and Power Quick Pot actually perform when it comes to cooking food. Here are some key similarities and differences:
Cooking Speed
The Power Quick Pot lives up to its name and does cook meals faster thanks to its higher pressure. For dishes like ribs, stews and dried beans, it can finish cooking up to 50% faster based on some tests. The Instant Pot is no slouch though and still cooks foods up to 70% faster than conventional cooking.
Meat Dishes
Both pressure cookers excel at producing fall-off-the-bone tender and juicy meats like roasts, ribs and chicken. The Power Quick Pot yields slightly more tender meat in a shorter time. Instant Pot meats are still moist and flavorful.
Rice & Grains
Grains like rice, quinoa, farro, and oats turn out perfect in both. With rice, the Power Quick Pot is faster with its rice preset program. But the Instant Pot also makes fantastic rice with the manual settings.
Beans & Lentils
Dried beans come out creamy and tender in both cookers. The Power Quick Pot’s higher pressure means beans cook faster and save more of their texture. But Instant Pot beans are still far superior to stove top.
Vegetables & Steaming
Instant Pots and Power Quick Pots both steam vegetables perfectly and retain nutrients well. The higher Power Quick Pot pressure marginally reduces cooking time.
Yogurt Making
Only the Instant Pot has a yogurt making function, allowing you to make healthy homemade yogurt. Power Quick Pot cannot make yogurt.
Other Functions
Both function as slow cookers and sauté pans. The Instant Pot also doubles as a warmer. The Power Quick Pot lacks a keep warm function.
In summary, while the Power Quick Pot does cook faster, the Instant Pot also delivers excellent results, plus offers extras like yogurt making. The Instant Pot is also more affordable.
Conclusion
The Instant Pot and Power Quick Pot share many similarities – they are both quality electric pressure cookers that are convenient, safe, and user-friendly. But they also have some notable differences:
- The Power Quick Pot cooks faster thanks to its higher pressure level. It also has more preset cooking buttons.
- The Instant Pot offers greater versatility with extras like yogurt making and a keep warm function. It also comes in a 3 qt size.
- Instant Pots are generally cheaper across all sizes compared to the Power Quick Pot.
- Both make delicious meals with juicy, tender meat and perfectly cooked grains and beans.
- The Instant Pot line has more size options and models to choose from.
While the Power Quick Pot is certainly quicker, the Instant Pot remains the most popular for a reason – it is the original, available in more configurations, reliably easy to use, and more affordable. But the Power Quick Pot is also an excellent modern pressure cooker in its own right.
At the end of the day, you can’t go wrong with either the Instant Pot or the Power Quick Pot. Pick the features that are most important to you. Both make using an electric pressure cooker extremely convenient and will allow you to create delicious meals with minimal effort!