Use this multiple times during the week

I have tried this and the Instant Pot brand and they both work the same, use mine for meals in the evening when I am too tired from work to stand over a stove. Has cooked hard-boiled eggs for Easter eggs in 7 minutes and the shells easily peel off. Easy clean-up.

A must-have gadget!

I’ve used slow cookers before, but this was my first experience with this style of all-in-one express cooker. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but having used several times now I can say that I’m impressed, and I finally understand why owners of these types of cookers are always talking them up. Being able to use a single device for almost everything I need in the kitchen is really handy both as a way to save time and space, and also as a way to improve how many recipes I make and the diversity of meals I cook for myself.

Right out of the box, I was a little overwhelmed with how much information there was to take in. The multi-cooker comes with a recipe booklet and an instruction book, both of which are pretty hefty. The instruction book covers a lot of topics, from how to use each of the pre-set functions to how to clean it properly to several pages on how the pressure cooker function works. It’s a lot to take in at first, but it’s very helpful. I found that really going through it carefully paid off, because there’s a lot to learn here if you’re not familiar with this kind of device. The pressure cooker functions in particular are helpful to have a lot of information on, because I was nervous about using them before I read through the instructions.

Speaking of the pressure cooker function, I was nervous about how it would work and whether or not it was totally safe to use, so using it for the first time here was an interesting experience. First of all, as was made clear to me in the instructions, the multi-cooker has built-in safety features that prevent you from doing something stupid and dangerous, such as opening it while it’s pressurized. The instruction book also lays out everything you need to know to use the pressure cooker for the first time, in a way that is easy to follow. I ended up using it with potatoes for the first time, and found it cooked them very quickly and to just the right level of softness. One thing that I did not see in the booklet, but which I would have liked to know, is the fact that some steam will escape out while it’s pressurizing and that is normal. The first time I assumed I had done something wrong and shut the whole thing down, only to find my answer after looking it up online. I should also say that the small knob near the back of the cooker which controls whether or not you are releasing or storing pressure is marked with symbols that aren’t very clear. Every time I use it I doubt myself and need to look it up again to know which symbol is which. On top of that, the knob is very loose, and comes right off with even a light pull, so it can feel like it’s broken even when you are using it correctly.

Aside from the pressure cooking features, this multi-cooker also allows you to do things like slow cook, sauté and steam. I got the most use out of those first two, and found that the non-stick pot makes for a great slow cooker and a great pan to sauté things. Being able to cook everything in a single pot, either at the same time or one after the other, made most of my cooking much faster and the cleanup much easier. The pot’s non-stick properties work exactly as you’d expect, so as long you take care not to use metal on it or scrub it with a harsh sponge it should be very easy to clean off after each meal.

There are also a variety of pre-set cooking buttons for things like Meat/Stew, Beans/Chili, Poultry, and so on, but I’m rarely very comfortable using those kinds of pre-selected options, similar to using the popcorn setting on your microwave. I tried them out and found they work well, but I haven’t totally incorporated them yet into my cooking habits. I plan to use them more now that I’m comfortable with the multi-cooker’s other functions, as they seem like a convenient shortcut and a time-saver.

Another feature that I enjoy with this multi-cooker is the Keep Warm function, which is a very basic setting you can find on most devices of this type these days. It’s not complicated, it just turns on when you’re done cooking in order to keep your meals warm for up to a few hours without burning or drying them out.

Overall, I’m very impressed with this multi-cooker. I see the appeal of these devices now that I have one of my own. It takes up very little counterspace, is light enough to move around as needed, but can accomplish a wide variety of tasks and covers almost all of my cooking needs.

One thing people mention around other multi-cookers is that the sealing ring can pick up smells or tastes, so if you then want to use it for sweet, some people suggest having two rings. I haven't experienced this problem yet, and I don't often make sweet things, but I did read a handy tip online about cleaning it in vinegar when you switch from one to the other or find it smelly.

The only other thing I'd say, is be careful how you use the pressure function. It's billed as a 'fast way' to cook food, but that's not true for everything, it only really applies if something takes more than an hour to cook. Since it takes ten minutes to 'pressurise' and ten to 'de-pressurise', the pressure setting isn't always the best choice for most things, so it can definitely be stressful trying to figure it out. But luckily there are plenty of specific multi-cooker recipes floating around on the internet.

Bon appetit!