Multi-cookers are an absolute lifesaver in the kitchen. After a long day at work, sometimes all you want is a meal that can be cooked in one pot, with limited time and dishes used. The beauty of modern technology is that there is a device for everything - even to cook up a full Sunday roast (miracles do happen).
You can save time and space in the kitchen by investing in a multi-cooker that combines pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming and even air frying into one handy device. We've picked out the most popular and best multi-cookers on the market so you can put your feet up and have the convenience you deserve.
What is a multi-cooker?
A multi-cooker is an electric kitchen appliance for automated cooking using a timer that takes much of the work away from you. Most multi-cookers can bake, steam, boil, simmer, fry, deep fry, grill, roast, and sometimes even slow cook your food as well.
If you are looking for a device that can do it all, then a multi-cooker is an absolute lifesaver. Plus, it will save you from buying many clunky appliances for your kitchen. Once you get this appliance, you will never want to go back to standard cooking.
How does a multi-cooker work?
This device works by placing food inside the cooker pot and choosing a pre-set mode to cook your meal or dish. All you need to do is leave your cooker and let it work away until it has finished. Plus, you don't need to switch it off as many appliances have a self-timer.
They typically don't require any user intervention, so you can turn it on in the morning, while you're working from home, or after work and put your feet up until dinner is ready.
The best multi-cookers UK
Best overall multi cooker
Description
The Instant Pot Pro Crisp is the king of all multi-cookers. It is a pressure cooker and air fryer
in one with loads of functions and a huge capacity. You can also use the same pot to sautu00e9, steam, bake, roast and slow cook your food. Your Sunday roasts dinner will be a breeze, and you can take the pressure off cooking for large gatherings. This appliance has two lids for pressure cooking and the other as a heating element and fan. You can adjust the vent on the lid according to what you are using it for, from baking, and dehydrating to pressure cooking. If you need to make food in a hurry, the air fryer function can cook chips from raw potatoes in under 20 minutes. However, one thing to note is that it is quite a clunky piece of kit, so if you have a small kitchen, it may be worth looking at some of the smaller models listed.
Pros:
Air-fryer setting
Large capacity and many pre-sets
Cons:
High price
Large appliance
Key specifications:
Capacity: 5.7l
Dimensions: 37.5 x 36.2 x 39cm
Dishwasher-safe bowl: Yes
Number of pre-sets: 11 including air fryer setting
Accessories: Air fryer basket
The best multi cooker for pressure cooking
Description
Instant Pots provide healthy cooking with consistent results. With cooking modes such as pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sautu00e9, reheat and yoghurt meaning feeding the family has never been easier. This electric pressure cooker has all the essential cooking modes you need to feed one-pot wonders.
Pros:
Best-selling kitchen appliance brand
Reliable and good capacity
Cons:
Higher-end of market
Tricky to store
Key specifications:
Capacity: 5.7l
Dimensions: 31 x 34 x 31.7cm
Dishwasher-safe bowl: Yes
Number of pre-sets: 11
Best multi-cooker for making bread
AmazonDescription
This 11-preset appliance can make anything from a home-baked loaf of bread to a slow-cooked roast. With a generous five-litre capacity container, it is ideal for feeding the whole family. Plus, it's non-stick, so no need for any additional oil.
Pros:
Good design
Large capacity and an impressive 11 pre-sets
Cons:
High price
Will take up space
Key specifications:
Capacity: 5l
Dimensions: 39 x 26.5 x 23.5cm
Dishwasher-safe bowl: Yes
Number of pre-sets: 11
Accessories: Steamer basket, two spatulas, measuring cup
The best budget multi-cooker
Description
This multi-cooker from Drew & Cole comes with 17 presets, including steam, stew, soup, roast, poach, bread rise, bake, fish, sautee, brown, rice, pasta, slow cook and yoghurt making, making this a great appliance for more adventurous home cooks with a tighter budget. When it is done cooking, the food will stay warm with the 24-hour delay function. Not to mention it is easy to clean as the non-stick pot wipes clean and is dishwasher-safe.
Pros:
Compact
Impressive 17 pre-sets and 24-hour delay
Cons:
For this price, none
Key specifications:
Capacity: 5l
Dimensions: 31 x 24 x 23cm
Dishwasher-safe bowl: Yes
Number of pre-sets: 17
Recommended
AmazonDescription
Boasting an impressive 15 features, this multi-cooker has settings specifically for cooking meat, poultry, and vegetables and has settings for steaming, sauteeing, slow cooking and for making rice, beans, broth, curry, soup, multi-grains, congee, and yoghurt. It will also cook faster than conventional cooking, so it's a more energy-efficient option.
Pros:
Good for cooking Sunday roasts
15 pre-sets
Cons:
Internal pot is not dishwasher-safe
Clunky
Key specifications:
Capacity: 5.7l
Dimensions: 32 x 32 x 35cm
Dishwasher-safe bowl: No
Number of pre-sets: 15
The best Instant Pot Pro Crisp alternative for smaller portions
amazonwww.johnlewis.com
Description
Although the Ninja Foodi Electric Multi-Cooker is at the higher end of the market, it has all the necessities and air frying abilities you need from a multi-cooker. This appliance cooks to lock in juices, and then crisps food to perfection. Christmas dinners will have never tasted so good. It features multiple cooking functions such as pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, steam, sear, bake and grill, so no need to repurchase any other kitchen appliance.
Pros:
Reliable kitchenware brand
Air-fryer setting
Cons:
The highest price on the list
Large appliance
Key specifications:
Capacity: 6l
Dimensions: 36 x 32 x 43cm
Accessories: Pressure lid, crisp basket, reversible rack
Dishwasher-safe bowl: Yes
Number of pre-sets: 9
The best affordable Instant Pot alternative
www.johnlewis.com
Description
This multi-cooker is affordable, effective and has most of the same functions as a more expensive model. It features a large 5.6-litre capacity and has the ability to pressure cook, slow cook, steam, and sautee. There is also a delay timer to start the cooking process before you leave for work or directly after, and it will stay warm until you are ready to dig in.
Key specifications:
Capacity: 5.6l
Dimensions: 34 x 34 x 39cm
Dishwasher-safe bowl: Yes
Number of pre-sets: 12
The best multi cooker for small households
Description
If you are looking for a small multi-cooker for two people, this appliance is perfect for small households. It has a 1.8-litre capacity, eight different preset modes, and it is ideal for cooking rice and quinoa as well as making yoghurt or proving dough. It is also the smallest multi-cooker on this list, so it is perfect for small kitchens.
Pros:
Compact
Good for small households
Cons:
Not a classic design and small capacity
Internal bowl not dishwasher safe
Key specifications:
Capacity: 1.4l
Dimensions: 23.5 x 28 x 20cm
Accessories: Measuring cup, plastic spatula
Number of pre-sets: 9
Dishwasher-safe bowl: No
What can you cook in a multi-cooker?
Just as the name suggests, a multi-cooker is capable of many things. It can work as a rice cooker, slow cooker or pressure cooker and comes with pre-set options for rice and multigrain cooking as well as soups, stews, poultry, beans and chilli and other dishes. Some multi-cookers even have a setting for making your yoghurt, bread and sometimes can double as an air fryer. Cooking really has never been easier.