Yes, an Instant Pot is worth it for two people if you cook at home three or four nights a week. The 6 quart size is not too big for a pair, and it makes enough for dinner plus leftovers.
It is a poor buy if you mostly reheat, order in or cook quick meals in a pan. A pressure cooker saves time on slow foods. It does not help much with food that was already fast.
Is the 6 quart too big for two?
No. Most cooks pick the 6 quart because it is the common size and it covers most recipes. Pressure cooker recipes are written for it, so you will not have to scale anything down.
The extra room is useful for two people. A pot of chili, a whole chicken or a batch of dried beans makes a few meals. You cook once and eat for days.
A 3 quart model exists and takes less counter space. It suits one person or a very small kitchen. For two, it leaves little room for a roast or a full pot of soup.
What it replaces
The Duo is a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer and warmer in one pot. For a two person home, the useful swaps are:
- Slow cooker. It can do the same job, so a separate one is not needed.
- Rice cooker. It makes rice well enough for most people.
- Stovetop pressure cooker. It is easier to use, with a lid that locks and a timer.
- A large pot for beans and stock. Dried beans and bone broth cook in a fraction of the usual time.
It does not replace your oven, your skillet or a good saucepan. It also does not brown food as well as a hot pan, so many recipes ask you to sear first.
What it does best
Pressure cooking shines on tough cuts and dry beans. Pot roast, pulled pork, short ribs and chicken thighs go from hard to tender in well under half the usual time. Dried beans need no overnight soak for many recipes.
It is also hands off. You set it, walk away and come back to a finished pot. That helps on weeknights when two people are tired.
When a Dutch oven is better
A Dutch oven is the better pick in a few cases.
- You like to brown food and build a sauce in one pot, then braise it in the oven.
- You bake no-knead bread. A pressure cooker cannot make a crust.
- You do not want another plug in appliance on the counter. A Dutch oven lives on the stove and goes in the oven.
- You cook small amounts. A pot of two servings can scorch or cook unevenly in a big pressure cooker.
A Dutch oven also lasts for decades and has no seal to replace. The trade is time. A braise in a Dutch oven takes hours, and the pressure cooker takes much less.
If you want one tool for slow food and only one, the pressure cooker saves more time. If you care most about flavor and bread, buy the Dutch oven first.
Who should skip it
Skip the Instant Pot if your counter is already full, if you rarely cook beans or tough meat, or if you dislike learning a new gadget. The sealing ring also holds smells, and it needs washing and an occasional replacement.
A pot to start with
For two people, the 6 quart Duo is the safe size. It covers rice, soup, beans and a roast.
