Best Instant Pot Ever for 2-4 People!

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

I got an Instant Pot RIO Mini last week and I am in love with it! I have never ever kept a slow cooker or instant pot on the counter until this one.

The best thing is that it is shallower and wider than the normal Instant pot, smaller and lighter. It holds 4 quarts (enough for 2 to four people for most things), and comes in sea salt (soft white), black, and a pretty rosewater (a soft pink/beige). It was $65 and does pressure cook, slow cook, saute, rice, yogurt, steam and keep warm!

I have pressure cooked, sauted, slow cooked, and steamed in it so far and all worked great. Rice was ok but the rice cooker I have is better and easier. The saute function works great too! I have not tried the yogurt function

It is the first of that kind of appliance that has earned a place on the counter. And I can forsee us using it a lot. The wider pot and smaller size, plus the attractive outside, make it perfect for the way we cook.

Got it at Amazon of course.

poregirl · ‎03-09-2010

Ive been wanting something like that. I got our 6 quart IP on sale for $49 at Walmart. I'll waiting for a cheaper price on the Rio.

KailaS · ‎03-09-2010

Thanks for your timely review. I have been thinking about ordering it.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@KailaS wrote:
Thanks for your timely review. I have been thinking about ordering it.

@KailaS I didn't know it existed until I saw it on Sept. 30 and ordered immediately. I love the size of it and especially the wider shallower pot. It's like a real pot! If that makes sense! Not that narrow deep one that is traditional. Saute in this one is so much easier! And the pot doesn't twirl.

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

@Sooner

Thanks for the description. I have been wondering what an "instant" pot is.

tansy · ‎01-02-2011

Have you made a pot roast in it, @Sooner?

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@tansy wrote:
Have you made a pot roast in it, @Sooner?

@tansy No. I'm sure it would be great for a not-huge one. It has done a great job with braised things, frozen chili today I put in frozen with a tiny bit of water of the bottom, let it slow cook for an hour or so, raised the slow cook to warm, and in another short while it was thawed. I then turned it to saute to come to a boil.

It worked out great and will be put to good use thawing and cooking soups and stews. I love the size--a big oval crock pot will not do well with smaller meats and like quart sizes of things. It just drips water back on the poor little things lost in the bottom. I was impressed with the slow cook function today.

gtx · ‎08-15-2010

@Sooner Thank you! I ordered one. I got the white. I have been thinking about making soup and dreaded bringing the Instant Pot in from the garage.

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

i have a 6qt Instantpot just for me. I like to make and freeze leftovers for future meals. This thing is just basically a pressure cooker with extra bells and whistles. I fed my family for years using a stove top pressure cooker, as did my mother.

I figurevi can cook less if I don't want a large quantity in a 6qt, but I am limited to just smaller amounts in a 4qt, so it's not as versatile.

Love my Instantpot.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

@gtx wrote:
@Sooner Thank you! I ordered one. I got the white. I have been thinking about making soup and dreaded bringing the Instant Pot in from the garage.

@gtx I hope you love it! The white is a nice soft white that goes will with most things. It was so tempting to get that rose one! But the white is lovely! Happy cooking!