7 best multi-cookers to take the pressure out of cooking

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 saute, steam, bake, roast and slow-cook your food. Your Sunday roast dinner will be a breeze, and you can take the pressure off cooking for large gatherings. If you need to make food in a hurry, the air fryer function can cook chips from raw potatoes in under 20 minutes. What are reviews saying?

Customers like the quality, ease of use and versatility of this pressure cooker. It's said to be a solid piece of kit and easy to clean - what a relief. One customer commented that it's "excellent value for money" and loves that it's dishwasher friendly. Another says it's the perfect size and the timer control is super easy to set. 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.

Instant Pots provide healthy cooking with consistent results. With cooking modes such as pressure cook, slow cook, steam, saute, reheat and yoghurt, feeding the family has never been easier. This Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker has all the essential cooking modes you need to make one-pot wonders. Budget-friendly, versatile and seamless, this speedy cooker delivers home-cooked meals 70% quicker than on the hob and is an energy-saving alternative to bulky appliances. Mess-free and spacious, it's another great pick - complete with 13 programmes.

Amazon reviewers love this product - scoring it an average 4.7/5 star rating. Many agree that the ease of use is a strong point. One customer appreciates that it cooks rice beautifully - which is a relief. Not only is it said to be versatile and efficient but super sleek and perfect for the time-conscious; one customer calls its ability to cook lentils a "revelation." As for negatives, some felt the slow cooking was the weakest setting from this multi-cooker - and tricky to store.

If you’re not hot on cooking or unable to stand prepping meals for long periods, the ProCook Electric Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer means you have less time in the kitchen and more time for yourself. Featuring eight cooking modes - air fry, pressure cook, slow cook, and more - it cooks faster than conventional methods while preserving nutrients. It includes three lids, essential accessories, adjustable controls, and convenient timer functions. What did our tester, Piper, think?

"The ProCook was introduced into my kitchen back in April and continues to inspire me. It’s primarily been used to make a variety of soups, stews, risottos, jams, grains and rice – in a two-person household. But it’s definitely made for a large household with many hungry mouths to feed.

Quickly, I found that the ProCook appliance became integral to our meals. Not only is it fairly easy to program and clean, but it also saves some space on the hob. I've found that results have been consistent, and once you get the hang of timings, you're set. It's perfect for main meals (such as paella or risottos) and provides great sides (e.g. quinoa, buckwheat and steamed rice).

By far, pressure cooking is the coolest feature to master – and the most versatile. With various settings available, you can steam the rice until it’s fluffy and stew down soups until they’re ready for blending. You can even tackle quinoa, barley, various meats, veggies and potatoes. I'd recommend the pre-set programs for accuracy and guaranteed best results.

Overall, it's a great pressure and slow cooker – however, the air fryer is a little lacklustre."

Full review incoming to our sister site, A Modern Kitchen.

This Drew&Cole CleverChef 14-in-1 Intelligent Digital Multi Cooker comes with many presets, including steam, stew, soup, roast, poach, bread rise, bake, fish, sautee, brown, rice, pasta, slow cook, and yoghurt making. This makes it a great appliance for more adventurous home cooks on a tight 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 in the dishwasher. We took a peek at the customer reviews.

Reviewers love this Drew & Cole CleverChef Cooker for its ease of use, quality, and cooking options. With an average star rating of 4.4/5, customers specifically love how energy-efficient this pick is, as well as its stylish appearance. Despite having the capacity for family-style meals, it's rather compact. Customers reported consistent and delicious results, especially when cooking rice and casseroles. However, accessories (not included) would have made the product more convenient.

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. Roast dinners will have never tasted so good. It features multiple cooking functions (thanks to touchscreen controls), such as pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, steam, sear, bake and grill. What did the reviews think?

With an average rating of 4.7/5 stars, the Ninja Foodi MINI Multi-Cooker 4.7L is perfect for smaller households, with many agreeing that its functionality is its top feature. One customer has tried everything from beef stroganoff to spinach puff pastry and finds it "very versatile" once you understand how it works. Several reviewers reassure us that you won't use the hob or oven again, saving you a little money on bills. Customers agree that it's great value and is brilliant for everyday cooking. Another says it's "really easy to clean" with some parts able to be popped into the dishwasher. However, the cable is said to be too short and the lid needs a firm hand when coming off.

This Crockpot Express Multi Pressure Cooker is affordable and effective, and it has most of the same functions as a more expensive model. It features a large 5.6-litre capacity and can 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.

95% of reviewers at Very recommend this product - with an average of 4.8/5 stars. One customer commented that it was a "game changer," whilst another said it was "ideal for all sorts of recipes." Not only is it said to be versatile, but it's also simple to use. Customers have made soups, curries, and stews, and all are cooking well using the pre-sets. Pre-set programmes are the best way to make the perfect meal.

Another review claims it's far superior to the previous model, complete with plenty of new features. The sauté is said to be a great programme, and thanks to the non-stick interior, clean-up is not a nightmare. However, one reviewer says it's not as versatile as they'd hoped.

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 and 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 and single-serve portions. We think we've seen this on TikTok.

Customers like this Lakeland cooker - granting it 4.4/5 stars from reviews. Many agree that the cooking time, design and ease of use are its strongest features. It's super fast, easy to use and clean, space-saving, versatile, and promises consistently good results. One customer commented that it's "incredibly user-friendly." Another says the slow cooker function is perfect for smaller families. It's said to make rice, stews, porridge, yoghurt and pasta sauces to perfection - which is quite a mixture. However, there is no steamer basket included and it's not the pick for larger households.