breville pressure cooker vs instant pot: Which is better in 2024? Trial & Tested Best guide!

Breville Pressure Cooker vs Instant Pot

Breville Pressure Cooker vs Instant Pot

When it comes to convenient cooking, both the Breville pressure cooker and the Instant Pot stand out for their functionality and ease of use.

Let’s examine their key features and provide an overview of both appliances to help you decide which might be the best fit for your kitchen.

Key Features Overview

Breville Fast Slow Pro: Intuitive Controls

The Breville Fast Slow Pro is designed for those who desire precision in their cooking.

Here are some of its key features:

• Dual Sensors: This cooker features sensors at the top and bottom, offering accurate temperature and pressure readings. This ensures even cooking and allows you to achieve the desired results.
• Variable Temperature Control: It allows you to adjust cooking temperatures, which is great for simmering sauces or sautéing vegetables.
• Easy to Use Interface: The LCD screen displays cooking times and settings in a user-friendly format. The intuitive dial allows for quick adjustments.

Example: If you’re preparing a beef stew, the Fast Slow Pro lets you sauté the onions and garlic, then switch to pressure cooking to ensure the meat becomes tender in a fraction of the time traditionally needed.

Instant Pot Pro Plus: Robust Functionality

The Instant Pot Pro Plus is known for its versatility and integrated smart technology.

Here are some of its distinguishing features:

• Smart Cooking Programs: This model comes with multiple one-touch programs, making it simple to cook grains, meats, and legumes with just a press of a button.
• Connectivity: The Pro Plus model features Wi-Fi connectivity and app integration, allowing you to control cooking remotely and access a library of recipes.
• Customizable Settings: With adjustable pressure levels and cooking times, users can take control of their culinary creations and tailor recipes to their preferences.

Example: While making risotto, you can select the rice setting, which automatically adjusts the cooking time and pressure to ensure perfectly creamy rice without the need for constant stirring.

Conclusion

Both the Breville Fast Slow Pro and the Instant Pot Pro Plus are exceptional pressure cookers that simplify cooking tasks while delivering delicious results.

The choice between the two may ultimately come down to your cooking style.

If you prefer intuitive controls and precise settings, the Breville Fast Slow Pro may be your best bet.

However, if you value connectivity and robust functionality with customizable options, the Instant Pot Pro Plus could be the ideal fit for your kitchen.

Each appliance offers unique features that can help elevate your cooking experience.

Cooking Methods Comparison: breville pressure cooker vs instant pot

breville pressure cooker

The Breville pressure cooker, particularly the Fast Slow Pro model, is known for its versatility in the kitchen.

It offers a range of cooking methods that can cater to various recipes and preferences.

Here’s a step-by-step guide that highlights its multiple cooking functionalities with examples for each.

Pressure Cooking

Step-by-Step:

• Select Ingredients: Choose meats, vegetables, or grains.
• Add Liquid: Pour in your broth or cooking sauce to create steam.
• Set the Pressure: Use the intuitive dial to select high or low pressure.
• Set Cooking Time: Adjust the timer based on your recipe.

Example: To prepare a hearty chicken soup, add chopped carrots, celery, chicken pieces, and broth. Set to pressure cooking on high for 15 minutes. Release the pressure after cooking for a quick and delicious meal.

Slow Cooking

Step-by-Step:

• Prepare Ingredients: Chop and blend your choice of ingredients.
• Use the Slow Cook Function: Choose the slow cook setting on the LCD interface.
• Select Temperature: Pick low or high heat depending on how long you want to cook.
• Set Timer: Adjust the time, typically ranging from 4 to 10 hours.

Example: For a flavorful beef stew, sear the meat using the sauté function, then add potatoes, carrots, and seasonings. Set to slow cook on low for 8 hours, allowing the flavors to meld beautifully.

Sautéing

Step-by-Step:

• Turn on the Sauté Function: Use the dedicated sauté setting on the control panel.
• Add Oil or Butter: Heat your chosen fat in the pot.
• Sauté Ingredients: Toss in onions, garlic, or meat to brown.

Example: To prepare a pasta sauce, sauté minced garlic and onions until translucent. Add tomatoes and herbs to create a rich sauce base before pressure cooking for the final touch.

Steaming

Step-by-Step:

• Insert Steaming Basket: Add a steamer basket into the pot.
• Add Water: Pour water into the base, ensuring it doesn’t touch the steaming basket.
• Select Steaming Time: Choose how long to steam based on what you’re cooking.

Example: To steam fresh vegetables, add broccoli to the basket, then set to steam for 5 minutes for crisp-tender veggies. This method retains vitamins and flavor.

Rice Cooking

Step-by-Step:

• Measure Rice and Water: Use the recommended ratio (typically 1:1 for white rice).
• Select the Rice Function: Choose the rice setting on the display.
• Start Cooking: Press start and let the cooker handle the rest.

Example: For fluffy jasmine rice, rinse the rice, add it to the pot with the right amount of water, and select the rice function. In about 10 minutes, you’ll have perfect rice to accompany your meals.

Conclusion

The Breville pressure cooker not only speeds up meal preparation but also offers various methods to enhance your culinary experience.

Whether you’re pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming, or cooking rice, this versatile appliance can help you create an array of delicious dishes easily.

Each function allows you to explore new recipes and refine your cooking skills, making it an invaluable addition to any kitchen.

Instant Pot: Multi-Functionality Across Cooking Techniques

The Instant Pot is renowned for its ability to perform multiple cooking methods effortlessly.

Below, we’ll break down each technique with simple, step-by-step instructions and examples for better understanding.

Pressure Cooking

How to Use it:

• Step 1: Add your ingredients to the pot and secure the lid.
• Step 2: Select the “Pressure Cook” mode.
• Step 3: Set the cooking time based on the recipe.
• Step 4: Once cooking is complete, allow natural or quick release of steam.

Example: Cooking chicken breast.

• Add 1 cup of water and season the chicken in the pot.
• Set to pressure cook for 10 minutes.
• Release the pressure quickly, and enjoy tender, juicy chicken.

Slow Cooking

How to Use it:

• Step 1: Prepare your ingredients and place them in the pot.
• Step 2: Close the lid and ensure it’s sealed.
• Step 3: Select the “Slow Cook” mode and adjust the time (4 hours for high, 8 hours for low).
• Step 4: Once time is up, serve your dish.

Example: Making beef stew.

• Combine diced beef, carrots, potatoes, and broth in the pot.
• Set slow cook on low for 8 hours.
• Come dinner time, you’ll have a hearty stew ready to go.

Sautéing

How to Use it:

• Step 1: Select the “Sauté” function on your Instant Pot.
• Step 2: Add oil and let it heat up.
• Step 3: Add ingredients like onions and garlic to sauté until they are fragrant or golden.
• Step 4: Once sautéed, you can switch to another function like pressure cooking.

Example: Sautéing onions for a soup.

• Press sauté, add olive oil, and toss in chopped onions.
• Cook until they’re translucent and aromatic.
• Add necessary broth and switch to pressure cook mode.

Steaming

How to Use it:

• Step 1: Add water to the bottom of the pot (usually 1 cup).
• Step 2: Place the steaming rack in the pot and arrange your vegetables or fish on top.
• Step 3: Close the lid and select the “Steam” function.
• Step 4: Set the timer based on what you’re steaming.

Example: Steaming broccoli.

• Put 1 cup of water in the pot.
• Place the broccoli on the rack above.
• Steam for 3 minutes, and you’ll get perfectly cooked, vibrant green broccoli.

Rice Cooking

How to Use it:

• Step 1: Rinse and measure your rice.
• Step 2: Add the rice to the pot and use the appropriate water ratio (usually 1:1 for white rice).
• Step 3: Select the “Rice” function, which automatically sets the pressure and time.
• Step 4: Once done, allow the steam to release naturally for better texture.

Example: Cooking jasmine rice.

• Rinse 1 cup of jasmine rice and add to the pot with 1 cup of water.
• Select the “Rice” button; it will cook for about 12 minutes.
• Fluff and serve as a delightful side dish.

Conclusion

The Instant Pot excels with its multi-functionality, making meal prep easier and quicker.

Whether you want to pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, or cook rice, the Instant Pot can handle it all with convenience and efficiency.

This versatility allows for a wide array of culinary creations right in your kitchen!

User Interface and Controls: breville pressure cooker vs instant pot

Breville: Precision and Flexibility in Usage

The Breville Fast Slow Pro features a user-friendly interface with a clear LCD display that shows cooking settings and time.

It allows users to adjust pressure levels and cooking time easily, giving you the flexibility to customize your cooking experience.

For example, if you’re making a beef stew, you can select the pressure cooking option and then fine-tune the cooking time based on the meat’s thickness and tenderness preference.

Instant Pot: Simplicity and Ease of Understanding

On the other hand, the Instant Pot Pro Plus is designed for simplicity with its intuitive control panel.

It includes clearly labeled buttons for various cooking functions, such as rice, beans, and soup, making it easy for even beginners to use.

For instance, when preparing a pot of yogurt, you simply press the yogurt button, and the Instant Pot handles the rest, taking the guesswork out of the process.

Performance Consistency: breville pressure cooker vs instant pot

Breville Fast Slow Pro: Cooking Precision

Temperature Control:

• Comparison Point: The Breville Fast Slow Pro offers variable temperature control, allowing you to set specific temperatures for different types of dishes.
• Example: You can sauté vegetables at a lower temperature to avoid burning, or slow-cook a stew at a higher temperature for a quick meal.

Cooking Time Accuracy:

• Comparison Point: The dual-sensor technology in the Breville ensures that it adjusts cooking time based on the actual temperature and pressure inside.
• Example: If you’re making risotto, it will automatically adjust the time based on the real-time cooking environment, ensuring perfectly creamy rice.

Pressure Release Options:

• Comparison Point: The Breville allows both natural and quick pressure release, giving you control over how your dishes finish.
• Example: After cooking a tough cut of meat, you can opt for natural release to keep the juices intact.

Multi-functionality:

• Comparison Point: With its ability to pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, and more, the Breville serves various cooking styles.
• Example: Use it to pressure cook beans, then switch to slow cooking for a chili without needing additional pots.

Smart Cooking Programs:

• Comparison Point: This model features predefined settings for different dishes, which guide you through the process.
• Example: You can select the “poultry” setting for chicken, and the cooker adjusts time and pressure for optimal results.

Instant Pot Pro Plus: Reliable Results Across Dishes

User-Friendly Interface:

• Comparison Point: The Instant Pot Pro Plus is equipped with a digital and easy navigation through its settings.
• Example: Simply select from a menu of options like “rice” or “yogurt,” and the device sets the optimal cooking times automatically.

Smart Program Settings:

• Comparison Point: It comes with 12 pre-programmed settings for various foods, making it versatile for any meal.
• Example: The “soup” function ensures that your broth reaches the perfect consistency without constant monitoring.

Large Capacity:

• Comparison Point: The Instant Pot is available in larger sizes, making it ideal for families or meal prepping.
• Example: You can easily fit a whole chicken or multiple servings of chili, unlike smaller models that might require multiple batches.

Built-in Safety Features:

• Comparison Point: The Instant Pot includes multiple safety features, such as pressure protection, ensuring safer cooking experiences.
• Example: It will not allow you to open the lid until the pressure has safely released.

Quick Release Option:

• Comparison Point: The Instant Pot has a robust quick-release valve that enables instant steam release when you need to expedite cooking.
• Example: If you need to quickly resume cooking for sides like vegetables right after a long protein cook, the quick-release feature is a time-saver.

In summary, the Breville Fast Slow Pro excels in precision and control, while the Instant Pot Pro Plus emphasizes convenience and versatility, making both excellent choices for modern kitchens, depending on your cooking preferences.

Size Capacity Considerations: breville pressure cooker vs instant pot

Breville: Ideal for Various Family Sizes

1. Capacity Options: The Breville Fast Slow Pro typically offers a 6-quart capacity, which is excellent for families of 4 to 6 people. For example, you can easily prepare a large pot of chili in one go.
2. Footprint: The unit has a compact design that fits neatly on kitchen countertops, making it a great choice for those with limited space.
3. Cooking Layers: With its steamer basket and other accessories, the Breville allows for multi-layer cooking, enabling you to prepare a full meal—like a protein and vegetables—simultaneously without needing extra pots.
4. Weight Consideration: Weighing around 12 pounds, the Breville is relatively portable, making it easy to move out for cleaning or storage.
5. Height for Storage: Standing at approximately 13 inches tall, the Breville can fit comfortably under most kitchen cabinets, which is particularly helpful for those looking to save vertical space.

Instant Pot: Multiple Size Options Available

1. Variety of Capacities: Instant Pot offers sizes ranging from 3-quart for small households to 8-quart for larger families or meal prepping, such as making big batches of soups or stews.
2. Compact Designs: Even the larger models are designed with a space-saving philosophy, allowing placement in any kitchen corner without causing clutter.
3. Stackable Cooking: With accessories like stackable steamers, the Instant Pot can accommodate multiple dishes at once, making it ideal for preparing meals for gatherings.
4. Lightweight: Weighing approximately 11 pounds, the Instant Pot is similarly easy to handle for storage or cleaning, despite its larger capacity options.
5. Height Variability: While most models are around 12 inches tall, there are also mini options available that are shorter, making them more adaptable to different storage situations.

In summary, both the Breville and Instant Pot can meet various cooking needs shaped by family size and kitchen capacity, making them versatile options for any home.

Maintenance and Cleaning: breville pressure cooker vs instant pot

When it comes to maintaining and cleaning your pressure cooker, both Breville and Instant Pot require some attention, but they each have their distinct processes.

Here are the top five comparisons in a straightforward manner:

Removable Parts

• Breville: The Breville’s inner pot, lid, and steam basket are all removable, making them easy to wash. You can simply pop them into the dishwasher for a hassle-free clean.
• Instant Pot: Similarly, the Instant Pot features a removable inner pot and lid. Most parts can go into the dishwasher as well, although the sealing ring often requires handwashing to maintain its quality.

Seal and Gasket Maintenance

• Breville: The silicone gasket in the Breville needs to be inspected regularly for any signs of wear or odors. It can be easily replaced if necessary.
• Instant Pot: Instant Pot also has a silicone sealing ring that could absorb flavors. It’s recommended to clean it after each use and replace it periodically to avoid any lingering smells.

Wipe Down

• Breville: After cooking, a quick wipe of the exterior and control panel can keep your Breville looking new. The stainless-steel surface is easy to clean with a damp cloth.
• Instant Pot: The Instant Pot’s exterior also requires a simple wipe down. Since it has a similar stainless-steel finish, it resists fingerprints and can be cleaned quickly.

Cleaning Cycle

• Breville: Breville features a self-cleaning cycle that can be handy for maintaining cleanliness without much effort.
• Instant Pot: Instant Pot doesn’t have a specific self-cleaning feature but does come with a sterilize function that can help with cleaning and sanitizing the inner pot.

Odor Management

• Breville: Users find that the Breville’s silicone gasket does a better job of sealing in odors, but it’s still a good idea to wash it regularly.
• Instant Pot: The Instant Pot’s gasket can retain odors more noticeably, so it’s crucial to clean it thoroughly after cooking pungent dishes.

In conclusion, both the Breville and Instant Pot are user-friendly when it comes to maintenance and cleaning. While they share many similarities, each has unique aspects that can cater to different cleaning preferences.