Air Fryer/ Insta Pot/ Pressure Cooker - So Confused!

[_19disnA]

I use my slow cooker about once a week, but agree on the issues with texture on meats. It's not bad if you're going for pulled pork or chicken, or something similar where your goal is to have falling-apart meat. I absolutely HATE foods with bones and/or skin cooked in a slow cooker--this may be a personal issue. I love my baked beans from it. I could make chili in it, but usually just simmer it on the stove versus dirtying another pot. I'm home all day, anyway, so it's not a problem.

I agree, most things made in a crock pot/slow cooker taste the same, have a similar texture and how many times can you have beef stew each week? Around the holiday season there are always a few new cooking gadgets. I am old enough to remember when the microwave oven was advertised as a complete replacement for your standard oven........think most would now agree that it isn't and is best for reheating certain foods, making popcorn or things made in boiling water. Certainly not a replacement for the standard oven.

Probably best to look at what/how you cook to determine if any of the latest cooking appliances will be of benefit to you or simply an item you use a few times then get pushed to the back of your cupboard.

 

[rosiebean]

I have an instant pot and love it for steaming eggs, making beans, chili, soup, etc. When our microwave went out a few years ago, I invested in a microwave/convection oven combo that I LOVE. I can air fry things in it, warm up stuff using the microwave function, and there’s also a grill function to make garlic bread, etc. I could do the same in my larger oven, but the combo microwave is easier to use for small batches and doesn’t heat up the kitchen. I find that I use but the Instant pot and my combo microwave all the time...And using both, I have a hard time seeing how one appliance to do the work of both because they are such different ways of cooking

 

[mckennarose]

I have an instant pot, which I use quite a bit as the weather gets cooler and we eat more "homey" type foods: soups, stews, roasts, etc. I used to use the crockpot for those things, but found that I can do them in the pressure cooker much quicker and I don't need to set aside the entire day for it to cook, like in the crockpot. If I decide on a stew or roast later in the day, I know it will be done in less than 2 hours, which is a huge help....especially if you don't get to thaw something until the last minute.

I also have an air fryer that I love. I put off buying one for years because we don't eat fried foods but I got it on sale at Sam's and I have found there are many, many things you can make in it that are not the traditional fried foods like french fries, breaded chicken, etc. We don't eat processed food and I'm gluten free so we make everything from scratch and I like the air fryer for chicken breasts, london broil, boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken wings, etc. I do have a convection oven feature on my stove, but I don't like to heat the whole thing up for just a small amount of food for DH, myself and our youngest who is still at home.

Probably best to look at what/how you cook to determine if any of the latest cooking appliances will be of benefit to you or simply an item you use a few times then get pushed to the back of your cupboard.

I agree with this! I bought my mother an instant pot a few years ago, but all she's ever tried to make in it is chicken broth. She wanted one after seeing how much I use mine, but it didn't fit the way she likes to cook and she's not really adventurous to try new things in it.

 

[Southernmiss]

I have an instant pot, which I use quite a bit as the weather gets cooler and we eat more "homey" type foods: soups, stews, roasts, etc. I used to use the crockpot for those things, but found that I can do them in the pressure cooker much quicker and I don't need to set aside the entire day for it to cook, like in the crockpot. If I decide on a stew or roast later in the day, I know it will be done in less than 2 hours, which is a huge help....especially if you don't get the thaw something until the last minute.

I also have an air fryer that I love. I put off buying one for years because we don't eat fried foods but I got it on sale at Sam's and I have found there are many, many things you can make in it that are not the traditional fried foods like french fries, breaded chicken, etc. We don't eat processed food and I'm gluten free so we make everything from scratch and I like the air fryer for chicken breasts, london broil, boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken wings, etc. I do have a confection oven feature on my stove, but I don't like to heat the whole thing up for just a small amount of food for DH, myself and our youngest who is still at home.



I agree with this! I bought my mother an instant pot a few years ago, but all she's ever tried to make in it is chicken broth. She wanted one after seeing how much I use mine, but it didn't fit the way she likes to cook and she's not really adventurous to try new things in it.

Your post is very helpful to me.

Sounds like we cook similarly and we watch our diets because of autoimmune issues and try to cook from scratch mostly proteins and vegetables .

 

[Disneyfan754321]

At first i was upset that i have separate air fryer and pressure cooker. But as i thought about ot im glad they are separate sometimes i wish i had more than one so i could make things at the same time... bbq chicken in one and rice in the other
As of the air fryer we use it more than any appliance it heats up leftovers or xhicken nuggets in mins its amazing i stongly recommend one.
I paid 45 for the air fryer at walmart last black friday
I have pressure cooker xl paidway too much off tv

 

[mckennarose]

we watch our diets because of autoimmune issues and try to cook from scratch mostly proteins and vegetables .

That’s exactly why I cook the way I do! I have a few AI diseases and can’t eat anything processed, gluten or too many carbs.
If you get the chance, visit the website skinnytaste. I love her recipes and a lot of them are gluten free, low fat, low carb and she utilized the pressure cooker and air fryer a lot.

 

[canadianjovigirl]

I have a Ninja foodi that i love and use a ton. Love the air fryer on it and the slow cooker part reminds me of the old style ones that didn't get as hot so actually took all day to cook - that took me a while to get used to as i was expecting it to be fast like my actual crock pot. I am still intimidated by the pressure cooker part but do use it for a few things especially when i forget to take something out. I have used the dehydrater on it as well, even just used the bake function and is way easier then heating up my normal oven. I actually love the Ninja so much that i bought the Ninja grill as well so i can use the air fryer in one and use the grill at the same time for the other.

 

[davedray]

I have a Crock Pot (branded) Slow cooker, I still use it more then any other small appliance I have in the kitchen, I just think it is the most versatile, and makes great tasting food. We have a standard instant pot. We use it, but like others have said, it is a little bland, but has its place (if you make hard boiled eggs, this thing makes them the best, almost fool proof). I am not sold on air fryers, they are mostly awkward over priced small convection ovens. if your oven doesn't have a convection feature, I would suggest getting a toaster oven (we have a black and decker) that has a convection feature. Just my 2 cents.

 

[crisi]

And *flame suit on* pressure cooked meat is pretty bland IMO and lacks the texture of roasted/baked/fried.

We used to make fun of people who pressure cooked their meat - which was a huge thing back in our grandmother's era because pressure cooking meat is one way to take a cheap bad cut of meat and tenderize it - and back in the dark ages, everyone HAD a pressure cooker for canning. It tastes rather institutional - and believe it or not - meat has gotten cheaper since then and has really increased in quality. Pressure cookers are great for canning, but I cannot believe they've gotten popular for actually making meals. InstaPot has an awesome marketing department.

 

[wenrob]

We used to make fun of people who pressure cooked their meat - which was a huge thing back in our grandmother's era because pressure cooking meat is one way to take a cheap bad cut of meat and tenderize it - and back in the dark ages, everyone HAD a pressure cooker for canning. It tastes rather institutional - and believe it or not - meat has gotten cheaper since then and has really increased in quality. Pressure cookers are great for canning, but I cannot believe they've gotten popular for actually making meals. InstaPot has an awesome marketing department.

It has a pretty big following for sure. People cook box Mac & Cheese in it and for the life of me I can’t figure out why, lol. There’s also some that will put very expensive cuts of meat like Prime Rib and Tri Tips in it. Makes me want to cry. What I have noticed is that a lot of the people (not all, I’m not saying everyone who uses them for meals) in the official FB group do not have a lot of cooking experience or claim to not have been able to cook before. I’ve been cooking since the cradle (dad and all his friends were chefs) so I have the patience and experience to build the flavors *I* want with traditional methods. I also have the time to do it. I get that others don’t and for them it’s great they have a tool to utilize.

 

[3threebabies]

I have had a Vitaclay smart multicooker for about 6 years. I spent months researching but kept coming back to Vitaclay over traditional slow cookers and the earlier Instant Pots. Vitaclay makes easy homemade yogurt and ridiculously good rice. I can cook a smaller roast in an hour from start to finish and one pot pasta in 30 minutes. It completely seals (hence rice and yogurt) but without pressure, so you do need to follow their recipes and instructions for liquid ratios to start. Large potatoes with a little bit of stock or water to cover the bottom of the pot cook in under an hour. They are now my husband’s favorite “baked” potatoes.

 

[rosiebean]

Maybe Instant Pot (or any electronic and programmable pressure cooker) is simply a good tool for cooking some things, including certain cuts of meat? Maybe some Instant Pot owners who have also "cooked from the cradle" and have the patience and experience to build flavors using a variety of methods also appreciate an Instant Pot's strengths and its convenience at times? Maybe...just maybe...they use the Instant Pot as a tool alongside all their other tools such as cooktop, oven, food processor, etc.?

You know, I recently had a conversation with a colleague who looks down on WDW becasue they see it as being nothing but a big marketing gimmick and think the people who go there just somehow are uncultured or lack the experience to understand how they're wasting time at Disney compared to "better" destinations. You could say that they view WDW as the Instant Pot of vacation destinations. I just think that my colleague has no idea what they're missing out on at WDW. It's possible to have a love affair with the Louvre or the Kinkakuji Temple and at the same time adore going to Disney and visiting the pavilions for France and Japan at Epcot...just like someone can appreciate taking time to make a demi glace and also find it acceptable to use a pressure cooker for some things.

 

[wenrob]

Maybe Instant Pot (or any electronic and programmable pressure cooker) is simply a good tool for cooking some things, including certain cuts of meat? Maybe some Instant Pot owners who have also "cooked from the cradle" and have the patience and experience to build flavors using a variety of methods also appreciate an Instant Pot's strengths and its convenience at times? Maybe...just maybe...they use the Instant Pot as a tool alongside all their other tools such as cooktop, oven, food processor, etc.?

You know, I recently had a conversation with a colleague who looks down on WDW becasue they see it as being nothing but a big marketing gimmick and think the people who go there just somehow are uncultured or lack the experience to understand how they're wasting time at Disney compared to "better" destinations. You could say that they view WDW as the Instant Pot of vacation destinations. I just think that my colleague has no idea what they're missing out on at WDW. It's possible to have a love affair with the Louvre or the Kinkakuji Temple and at the same time adore going to Disney and visiting the pavilions for France and Japan at Epcot...just like someone can appreciate taking time to make a demi glace and also find it acceptable to use a pressure cooker for some things.

I’m not putting down Instant Pot or people who use them frequently. As a matter of fact I own two of them. They have their place in my kitchen. Myself and others are advising to take a look at the way you cook to see if it will work for you. They are expensive and take up a lot of space. Getting other people’s experiences is a good way to gauge if you might use it or if it will sit in a corner collecting dust. My experience is not a judgement on the way you might use it.

 

[rosiebean]

I’m not putting down Instant Pot or people who use them frequently. As a matter of fact I own two of them. They have their place in my kitchen. Myself and others are advising to take a look at the way you cook to see if it will work for you. They are expensive and take up a lot of space. Getting other people’s experiences is a good way to gauge if you might use it or if it will sit in a corner collecting dust. My experience is not a judgement on the way you might use it.

I get that looking at the whole thread again, and I apologize for being a bit snarky, (and it wasn’t directed solely at you). I was responding to the most recent back-and-forth, however, which didn’t actually offer advice on how to use the tool. So, yeah, it came across as being a bit judgey to me, though I get that people’s MMV on that.

 

[Searc]

I have had a Vitaclay smart multicooker for about 6 years. I spent months researching but kept coming back to Vitaclay over traditional slow cookers and the earlier Instant Pots. Vitaclay makes easy homemade yogurt and ridiculously good rice. I can cook a smaller roast in an hour from start to finish and one pot pasta in 30 minutes. It completely seals (hence rice and yogurt) but without pressure, so you do need to follow their recipes and instructions for liquid ratios to start. Large potatoes with a little bit of stock or water to cover the bottom of the pot cook in under an hour. They are now my husband’s favorite “baked” potatoes.

You can make a roast and baked potatoes in the oven for the same amount of time with much better flavor. One pot pasta shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes on the stove. lol

 

[Searc]

Maybe Instant Pot (or any electronic and programmable pressure cooker) is simply a good tool for cooking some things, including certain cuts of meat? Maybe some Instant Pot owners who have also "cooked from the cradle" and have the patience and experience to build flavors using a variety of methods also appreciate an Instant Pot's strengths and its convenience at times? Maybe...just maybe...they use the Instant Pot as a tool alongside all their other tools such as cooktop, oven, food processor, etc.?

You know, I recently had a conversation with a colleague who looks down on WDW becasue they see it as being nothing but a big marketing gimmick and think the people who go there just somehow are uncultured or lack the experience to understand how they're wasting time at Disney compared to "better" destinations. You could say that they view WDW as the Instant Pot of vacation destinations. I just think that my colleague has no idea what they're missing out on at WDW. It's possible to have a love affair with the Louvre or the Kinkakuji Temple and at the same time adore going to Disney and visiting the pavilions for France and Japan at Epcot...just like someone can appreciate taking time to make a demi glace and also find it acceptable to use a pressure cooker for some things.

And some people buy into the hype of instapot 100% not knowing anything about real cooking.

 

[3threebabies]

You can make a roast and baked potatoes in the oven for the same amount of time with much better flavor. One pot pasta shouldn't take longer than 30 minutes on the stove. lol

Have you ever cooked in a clay pot? There is a reason earthenware has been a cooking container for millennia. As many other posters have stated, it is often more convenient and creates a lot less heat in the kitchen to use a slow cooker over a range (not to mention energy saving). The Vitaclay has a warming feature up to 12 hours with minimal reduction in food/recipe integrity if one so needs. While most cooking of any type can be accomplished in a traditional entry level electric range, it is not the best or preferred choice for many people or recipes.

 

[luvsJack]

I want a Ninja Foodi Grill for Christmas. Not sure what else it actually does.

But, I had an Air Fryer and gave it to Dd. She likes French fries, wings and chicken tenders cooked with it. I wasn’t using it.

I had a Instant Pot. Used it mainly for rice or pork roast. The pork roast was cooked with apple juice, whiskey and apple cider vinegar and was really good. The flavors really seemed to meld into the meat. Never found a recipe for beef roast that I liked in the thing. I did cook other stuff in it but those were the main things. Well it stopped keeping a seal and I just never felt I needed to replace it. I did buy a rice cooker but have stopped using it because it makes too much of a mess so went back to stove cooking.

I have a crock pot and find it does the pork roast just as well. And I use it for beef roast, chili, pasta sauce, etc. I do not use it for beans. We prefer beans cooked on the stove. The crock pot doesn’t give them the same consistency.

For me, the old fashioned way of cooking for a lot of things either does just as well or better.

Since the roast and most things I did in the instant pot could be done in the crock pot, it just works out better for me. On a cold winter day, I like to come home to the stew cooked and bread done in the bread machine. I don’t want to have to prepare it. But maybe I am more productive in the morning and for others they work better at night.

I would consider the way you cook and exactly what would you enjoy cooking in whatever appliance you buy.