CATEGORY TO STUDY: Multi-Cookers

Overview

Multi-cookers are countertop appliances that can "do it all." No more need for aseparate slow,

pressure, rice, or steam cooker or sauté pan--this appliance handles all these tasks. It frees up

space on your countertop as well as your time. Sales of multi-cookers have skyrocketed over

the past several years as families have learned about this appliance's versatility. Some models

are pressure cookers, all have a slow-cook function. Additional appliance functions could

include air-frying, crisping, dehydrating, and sous vide.

Additional convenience factors could include clarity of the touch controls, multi-cooker

programming ease, and cooking surface durability.

A Brief History of Multi-Cookers

While multi-cookers have several functions, they are well known for their pressurized cooking

and slow cooking features. The first pressurized cooking pot was believed to have been made in

the 17

century by Denis Papin, a French physicist. Alfred Vischer advanced pressurized cooking

by introducing his Flex-Seal Speed Cooker in 1938--the first pressure cooker designed for home

use on a stove. Electric rice cookers, another form of pressurized cooking, were developed in

Japan in the 1950s and moved pressurized cooking from the stovetop to the countertop.

Interestingly, the first electric pressure cooker patent wasn't until Chinese scientist, Yong-

Guang, obtained it in 1991.

The first slow cooker was created in 1936 by Chicago-based inventor Irving Naxon. However, it

wasn't until the 1950s when Naxon introduced his invention to the marketplace as the Naxon

Beanery. However, this small appliance did not become popular in home kitchens until the

1970s after Rival Manufacturing bought the rights to the Nixon Beanery, updated it, and

rebranded it "Crock-Pot." While it continued to be a common kitchen appliance, the slow

cooker's popularity experienced a resurgence in 2005 when a new generation of cooks looked

for ways to serve "from scratch" meals that didn't take time away from other family activities.

The electric multi-cooker for home use was first introduced in 2010 via Amazon as the Instant

Pot®. Robert Wang was credited with inventing this hybrid of slow and pressurized cooking.

Initial units were marketed as a cooking powerhouse that had functions of six appliances. The

multi-cooker popularity has brought other companies into the mix, with units now being

produced by companies other than Instant Pot®. Functionality has continued to advance, with

some models touting ten or more different cooking functions – with many performed in half

the time it traditionally takes -- making this appliance one of the most prized appliances in

today's kitchen. In fact, these multi-function wonders are now the tops of wedding registry gift

lists, with a Facebook following of 1.3 million members in the Instant Pot® Community alone.

Selection Factors

Due to the nature of the appliance, there are several factors to examine when

deciding which multi-cooker to purchase.

Cooking Methods:

Pressure Cooking: High-temperature steam and pressure results in cooking

times up to 50% faster while retaining nutrients. Pressure cooking also

tenderizes cheaper cuts of meat. This function is typically considered the

most important, with a Cook's Illustrated survey indicating that 93% of

respondents reporting pressure cooking was their primary use of this

appliance.

Slow Cooking: Slow-cooking involves searing meat well in oil or butter at a

relatively high temperature before the cooking process is finished off

slowly and gently in the oven at a lower temperature. Slow cooking helps to

tenderize less expensive cuts of meat, which saves money.

Rice Cooking: Multi-cookers use pressure to cook rice in a fraction of the

time it takes to cook in a covered pot on the stove.

Sautéing: Instead of dirtying another pan on the stove, recipes that call for

browning meat or sautéing vegetables before cooking can be done directly

in the multi-cooker. Some multi-cookers may use the terms searing or

browning for this function. Different temperature levels such as low,

medium, or high may be included, with some models indicating an exact

temperature (i.e., 350F).

Steaming: Gentle heat prevents foods from drying out and minimizes the

risk of burning or scorching food. Steam-cooked foods retain more flavor,

texture, and color with less vitamin, minerals, and nutrient loss.

Other food preparation methods: Some multi-cookers have additional food

preparation functions such as sous vide, ferment, air-fry, baking, yogurt-making,

and more.

Size: Models are available in 3-, 6-, and 8-quart sizes. The 8-quart model provides

more surface area for functions such as sautéing, but the tradeoff is a

comparatively heavier, larger unit.

Convenience: In addition to offering multiple cooking methods, additional

convenience features include a delay start timer that allows food to be put into

the multi-cooker in advance and selecting a later time to start cooking the meal.

Some multi-cookers have buttons for specific dishes such as meat, fish, or rice.

The keep-warm function automatically kicks in after the food is cooked and keeps

it warm until it is ready to be served. Some multi-cookers may also include

accommodating cooking adjustments for high-altitude locations such as Colorado.

Manufacturers have also introduced units with "Smart WiFi" to control the

appliance from a smart device (i.e., phone or tablet).

Alerts: Alert systems "beep" or provide a sound to alert the user when the unit is

ready to perform certain functions.

Pots: Pots may be non-stick or stainless steel. While non-stick is easier to clean,

stainless steel provides more even cooking.

Dishwasher Safe Insert and Lid

Accessories: Could include a stainless steel steam basket, trivet, temperature

probe, and/or condensation collector.

Appliance Specifications: Including weight (ease of picking up/moving), height,

width, and depth (for countertop placement).

Warranty: Length of time the product is covered for product defects.

References

BBC goodfood. (2021). 10 tips for using a pressure cooker. Retrieved June 1, 2021, from

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/10-tips-using-pressure-cooker

Betty Bossi. (2019). Slow-cooking: a quick guide ot cooking methods. Retrieved June 1, 2021, from

https://www.bettybossi.jp/en/blog/slow-cooking-quick-guide-cooking-methods

Bob Vila. (2021). The best multi-cookers for the kitchen. Retrieved June 1, 2021, from

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-multi-cooker/

Clark, M. (n.d.). How to use an Instant Pot. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from New York Times Cooking

website: https://cooking.nytimes.com/guides/46-how-to-use-an-instant-pot

Consumer Reports. (2021). Multi-cooker ratings and reviews. Retrieved May 25, 2021, from

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/multi-cookers.htm

Cook’s Illustrated. (2020, August). Multicookers. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from

https://www.cooksillustrated.com/equipment_reviews/2242-multicookers

Delgado, M. (2019, November 26). A brief history of the crock pot. Retrieved June 11, 2021, from

Smithsoniamag.com website: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/brief-history-crock-

pot-180973643/

High Sabatino. (2021). The benefits of steam cooking. Retrieved June 1, 2021, from

https://blog.highsabatino.com/blog/commercial-steam-cooking-101-the-benefits-of-steam-

cooking

Kristine’s Kitchen. (2020). Instant Pot saute -- How to saute in an Instant Pot. Retrieved June 1, 2021,

from https://kristineskitchenblog.com/instant-pot-saute/#comments

The Splendid Table. (2018, February 22). Is Instant Pot the best? America’s Test Kitchen reviews

multicookers. Retrieved from https://www.splendidtable.org/story/2018/02/22/is-instant-pot-the-

best-americas-test-kitchen-reviews-multicookers

Vogel, J. (2019, January 28). Easier, faster, better: Appealing to the Instant Pot customer. Retrieved June

11, 2021, from KerryDigest Blog website:

https://www.kerry.com/insights/kerrydigest/2019/easier-faster-better-appealing-to-the-instant-

pot-consumer

ZEN of Slow Cooking. (2019). Evolution of the multi-cooker. Retrieved May 25, 2021, from

https://www.thezenofslowcooking.com/pages/evolution-of-the-multi-cooker

SAMPLE CLASS MULTI-COOKERS:

Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus is the latest evolution of the all-time bestseller

Instant Pot Duo Series; With 20 plus enhancements, it is the fastest in the class, the easiest to use for

new users and the most customizable for experienced Instant Pot owners

Cooks fast & saves time: Cooks up to 70 % faster; New 1400w heating element reduces preheating

time allowing you to make meals faster; Pressure release time is shortened with our new QuickCool

technology

Consistently delicious as you like it: 48 customizable presets for soups, beans, rice, ribs and more;

Takes the guesswork out and makes cooking dishes everyone will love easy; Programs like sous vide

and bake make preparing chef quality entrees and desserts easy

Scenario

Monique's dad is finding he has less and less time to cook for dinner every night. Most weekday

afternoons are spent transporting Monique and her brothers to various after-school activities. By the

time they're ready to go home, everyone is tired and hungry, so they end up grabbing dinner from fast-

food restaurants. Dad knows that's not good for their budget or their health. He's been hearing about

these multi-cookers, where he has the option of either slow-cooking a meal to be ready when they get

home or pressure-cooking items in half the time of using an oven. He's decided it's time to invest in one

of these appliances, but he doesn't want to spend over $175. He loves having the slow cook/pressure

cook option as well as having the option to program the meal to be cooked by a certain time. The kids

are in charge of cleaning up after dinner, so ease of cleaning is important. Finally, Dad doesn't want to

leave this appliance on the countertop--it just adds to kitchen clutter. Therefore, it has to be easy to

move from cabinet to countertop and back.

STANDARDS

ALTERNATIVE

SOLUTIONS

COSTS $175

OR LESS

PROGRAMMABLE

EASY CLEAN

ABILITY TO

BE MOVED

1. Zavor LUX

LCD: ZSELL02

$160.00

☑



☑

2. Wolf Gourmet

Multi-Cooker

WGSC100S

$600.00

☑



3. Instant Pot

Duo Evo Plus

10-In-1 Multi-

Cooker

$131.00

☑

4. Black+Decker

PR100 11-In-1

Cooking Pot

Multi-Cooker

$75.00

☑



☑

Placement: 3-4-1-2

The Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus was ranked first because it meets all of the criteria. For easy

clean-up, the insert and lid are dishwasher safe. While the pot does not provide the easy-to-

clean non-stick pot, the pot may be stainless steel, which is a better cooking surface and still

relatively easy to clean. Monique's dad will want to confirm this before purchasing. Additional

information for the Instant Pot indicates it provides 70% faster cooking than previous models;

however, it is unclear how the Instant Pot's cooking speed compares to the other three models

evaluated. Since speed is an important factor for Monique's dad, he may want to check into this

before making a final decision. The price for #4 (Black+Decker PR100) is attractive, and it is 2

pounds lighter than the Instant Pot, making it a bit easier to move. However, clean-up may be a

greater challenge as only the insert is dishwasher safe and not the lid, plus the width is 18

inches (compared to 13 inches for the Instant Pot), meaning more counter space is needed. The

Zavor LUX LCD (#1) is still within budget, but the clean-up concern is similar to the

Black+Decker model. Weight and width for this brand are similar to the Instant Pot. The Wolf

Gourmet unit is not financially feasible as it exceeds the budget by $425. Also, it comes in as

the largest at 22 pounds with a width of 18 inches, making moving the unit a challenge and uses

more counter space than the Instant Pot.

Add information on the quality of brands can be obtained from Consumer Reports