Simplify food preparation with this multifunction Insignia pressure cooker. Its 6-quart capacity lets you make generous portions for your family. The automatic keep-warm function and 24-hour delay timer of this stainless steel Insignia pressure cooker accommodate busy schedules and provide flexibility in meal times.
I compared this to a 6qt Instant pot and saw it was very similar with almost identical controls. The only significant differences were the lack of a yogurt-making setting and the use of a non-stick coated aluminum pot instead of the stainless steel pot with the Instant Pot.
I'm not sure how the Instant pot makes yogurt--I usually use a 2-step method that involves heating the milk to near boiling before cooling to the culturing temperature--so I'm not sure if I wold have used the multi-ccoker for this.
A stainless pot would be preferable as it will last indefinitely. However I use a non-stick aluminum pot in another rice cooker, and it has been going strong for a long time.
If you do not do a lot of high temperature searing in the Insignia cooker, and don't use metal utensils to scrape the bottom of the pot, it should last a long time as well.
The non-stick surface will also help with cleaning, though as soem have pointed out, if you want food to develop a flavor ful "fond" from searing prior to pressure cooking, this will probably be difficult to do with non-stick versus the stainless pot.
Since this pot was bought on sale near Christmas 2018 for about $30, it did not seem worth it to spend another $20 to get the stainless steel pot available for this model, though if the non-stick aluminum pot eventually wears out after several years, you can buy that stainless pot.
The instructions are a bit hazy, as some have pointed out, though it's not difficult to put together and get started. The thing I missed was putting the plastic drip container onto the back. I didn't notice it and when I did, I had already started cooking. It's easy enough to slide on, but the instructions weren't clear how to do this.
Likewise, the venting/cooking valve on top was a bit strange to fugure out as it lossely flopped from one side to another and I wasn't sure if it was set correctly. It seemed rather loose, but that's the way it is designed. It took a while for the pressure to develop so the first time using it, I was not quite sure if that vent/cook valve was set right.
I would recommend this to a friend
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Noor
Verified Purchase
Member
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5
Took a chance
Posted
Noor
Verified Purchase
Member
I cook everyday, so I have seen these pressure cooker all over the internet and I was like, what's that about, so I decide to try this instead of the instant pot because everyone seems to buy only that brand. I said to myself, I am pretty sure there are others just as good. I took a chance on this so when I saw it was on sale, I ordered in online and asked my husband to pick it up.
So far, I have made bolognese, shrimp biryani, ramen noodles with turkey meatballs, chickpeas curry, asian red bean soup. Easy cleaning and fast. The only thing I have slight complaint is that the searing temperature is a little high so keep an eye on it as this does not have the low, medium and high saute function and that it.
Overall, I am very pleased with my purchase ad I will buy it again & again!
I would recommend this to a friend
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cinnamonroll72
Elite Member
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5
A great new kitchen gadget
Posted
cinnamonroll72
Elite Member
My older sister is the cooking expert in our family, and years ago she encouraged me to get a slow cooker. The slow cooker has been in regular rotation for years. I saw that Best Buy started putting pressure cookers on sale, so I went ahead and got one after doing a little research online about how they work and their benefits. I came to the conclusion that it's the same potential cooking outcomes of a slow cooker, just in a fraction of the time because of the pressurized cooking process. Best Buy's return policy would allow me to try the pressure cooker out and return it if need be if I wasn't satisfied. I initially purchased a 4-quart pressure cooker on sale from Best Buy, but then this 6-quart pressure cooker went on sale for an even better price. I decided to send my sister one of these too. Despite her being the culinary expert, she said she had never tried a pressure cooker because of various reservations she had about them. Thankfully, she went ahead and tried hers out before I had to try mine out. Well, she's officially hooked! I think these digital pressure cookers are a great value when they're on sale, and they offer enough versatility to prepare a wide variety of meals. The overall cooking time (prep, pressurizing, cooking, depressurizing) is well worth it. I encourage you to go ahead and take a chance. Hope this helps. Thanks. Matthew 7:12
I would recommend this to a friend
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Brand response
InsigniaCustomerSupport
Hi cinnamonroll72! Thank you so much for taking the time to share your insights about this pressure cooker. It is always great to read our customer's reviews to know more about their needs and expectations. I hope you keep enjoying your unit! Viri E. Insignia Support
Teach
Member
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5
Use the Money you Save to buy More Accessories!
Posted
Teach
Member
I want to thank all the reviewers who helped me make the decision of purchasing this pressure cooker instead of the name brand. It is extremely well made. The lid makes the same melody as the name brand to let you know that it is secure. It does not have a low pressure feature, which doesn’t bother me because I wasn’t going to make yogurt anyway.
The price tag makes up for anything you don’t see on this. I paid under $40, which allowed me to invest in the many helpful accessories that make a pressure cooker such a time-saver.
The non stick pot is very easy to clean. I bought the stainless steel insert pot as well—made a second batch of Mac & Cheese in it and it was a lot harder to clean than the non stick pot.
I’ve made 3 meals so far. They came out well. I highly recommend reading bloggers like Pressure Luck and Six Sisters to help you get started. There is also a Facebook Instant Pot Community with over 1.7 million members who are very helpful. Just don’t tell them you are using the Insignia instead and you will blend right in.
I would recommend this to a friend
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smeltn
Verified Purchase
Member
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5
Works just like the Name brand models!
Posted
smeltn
Verified Purchase
Member
So, my wife and I have been hearing all about the Instant Pot craze and wanted to try it out, but we didn't want to invest a $100 or more into this thing because we didn't know if we would even like it. They had this one sale for a great price during black friday so I picked one up for us. We LOVE IT!! Have been using it 4 days a week each week since the holiday's and its been great. Use the exact same settings and recipes you see showing for the "name brands" and it works great. Has the manual setting which is what you will see used in 99% of the recipes online for these types of pots which is all you need!!
We ended up purchasing 3 more to give as presents this Christmas just because we loved ours so much! Now I see Best Buy even sales the extra lids, pots and seals for these things which is even better.
I would recommend this to a friend
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jafu
Member
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5
Virtually the same as Instant Pot
Posted
jafu
Member
I bought this the last time it was on sale for $29.99 and couldn't be happier. I had a 3qt Instant Pot previously but needed something a bit larger, so except for the size I can say that these pots are almost identical in build quality and function. The main difference in the many brands of these cookers is the faceplate and layout of the function buttons. Most expert cooks say all these setings are just bells and whistles as they generally just use the manual button and set pressure level and time. The non-stick inner pot is a plus for me as I mainly make a lot of soups and oatmeal (in which I use a steamer rack and put the oatmeal in a bowl). Cleanup of the ip is a breeze, just a simple rinse and wipe. The price of $29.99 is a steal. Grab one before the price goes back up.
I would recommend this to a friend
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Brand response
InsigniaCustomerSupport
Hi jafu, I am glad to read your experience with this unit and I would like to thank you for taking the time to share it with us. If you ever need our assistance, please know that we are here for you 24/7 at 877-467-4289 Viri E. Insignia Support.
millz
Verified Purchase
Member
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5
Love it
Posted
millz
Verified Purchase
Member
I was out Christmas shopping and saw these on mega sale so I ended up getting 1 for everyone in my family, plus 1 for myself. I have never used the actual instant pot so I can't compare it to that, however, I have been following recipes made for it and they have all came out great. I love how quickly a meal can be made and in just 1 pot. Please note that it does take some time for it to come to pressure so if a recipe says 20 mins factor in time for it to come to pressure and to release (maybe closer to 40 mins). One thing that surprised me was how long the pot stays hot so just be careful when you're ready to clean up. I saw someone mention buying a stainless steel pot for better meat searing and I'm considering it. I can't wait to keep experimenting!
I would recommend this to a friend
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Brand response
InsigniaCustomerSupport
Hi millz, Thank you for letting us know your experience with this unit, I hope your family is also enjoying this pressure cooker. If in the future you need our assistance, give us a call at 877-467-4289 and we will try our best to assist you with it. Viri E. Insignia Support.
Kodapuppymom
Verified Purchase
Member
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
5
Great for roasts
Posted
Kodapuppymom
Verified Purchase
Member
I bought this on the Deal of the Day so great price made me take a chance. I have used it 4 times within a few weeks. Pot roast fell apart after 1 hour very tasty using packet seasoning mix for slow cookers adding potatoes and carrots. Pork roast took about 2 hours using seasoning packet for pulled pork for Super Bowl Sunday and it was delicious. The 6 quart is perfect size for large roasts. The inner pot comes out, is nonstick and easy to clean. I read reviews of others that said to read instructions which I always do and it will help you understand all the features. I have a pressure cooker but this is so much easier than watching a cooker on the stovetop. No recipe book but internet has loads of them. Would definitely recommend. Insignia is a great brand with lower price.
I would recommend this to a friend
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Best answer: Since it doesn't come with a cookbook there are recipe apps you can download onto your smartphone or Ipad (but not specifically for this brand of cooker) but you can still use it.
For example this one is for the Instant Pot.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instantpot.app&hl=en
Recipe Apps
https://play.google.com/store/search?q=instant+pot+recipe+app&c=apps