7 Best Multi-Cookers For Stress-Free Mealtimes

Our pick of the best multi-cookers could be a 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). We swear by a multi-cooker which can take the hassle out of cooking.

What is a multi-cooker? A multi-cooker is essentially the kitchen bestie you didn’t know you needed. It’s a great way of combining every bulky kitchen appliance into one bit of kit. Most multi-cookers can bake, steam, boil, simmer, deep fry, grill, roast, and sometimes even slow cook your food as well. You can save time and space in the kitchen – this appliance combines many cooking methods into one handy device.

Best multi-cookers at a glance

• Best overall multi cooker: Instant Pot Pro Crisp – view on Amazon UK
• Best for pressure cooking: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker – view on Amazon UK
• Premium pick: ProCook Electric Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer – view at ProCook
• Budget pick: Drew&Cole CleverChef 14-in-1 Intelligent Digital Multi Cooker – view on Amazon UK

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 return to standard cooking. We’ve listed the best multicookers below.

How we chose the best multicookers

Closer chose the best multicookers based on key factors such as budget, versatility, ease of use and overall performance. We looked at customer reviews, their array of cooking functions and practical features, from timers to keep-warm settings. This way, we were able to find the very best multicookers (at the very best price) for every kitchen size, diet, and household need.

SHOP: Best multicooker for your family mealtimes

Best overall multi cooker

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.

Pros & ConsSpecifications

Pros

• Air fryer and pressure cooking helps save money on bills
• Large capacity – ideal for growing families and meal prep
• One-touch cooking programs from slow cook to steamer

Cons

• Bulkier than some expected!

Dimensions	37.5 x 36.2 x 39cm
Capacity	5.7 L
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Number of pre-sets	11 including air fryer setting
Accessories	Air fryer basket

Best multi cooker for pressure cooking

Rrp: £89.99

Price: £74.93

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.

Pros & ConsSpecifications

Pros

• 13 one-touch smart programmes – with lots of recipes!
• Spacious, convenient and customisable programming
• 70% faster than other methods and consistent results

Cons

• Said to be tricky to store

Dimensions	31 x 34 x 31.7cm
Capacity	5.7 L
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Number of pre-sets	11
Accessories	Soup spoon, rice paddle, measuring cup

Rrp: £89.99

Price: £74.93

Tried and tested by Homes writer, Piper Huxley

Premium multicooker

Piper / Closer

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.

Pros & ConsSpecifications

Pros

• Eight cooking settings including air fry, slow cook and pressure cooking
• Keep warm and delay timer for easy cooking around busy schedules
• Adjustable time and temperature controls for precise cooking

Cons

• The air fryer function takes some time to get the hang of!

Dimensions	35.5cm/14in x 30cm/12in x 36cm/14in
Capacity	4.5 L
Dishwasher safe	Rack, basket, rice spoon, ladle, measuring cup and glass lid only
Number of pre-sets	Eight – air fry, slow cook, pressure cook, sous vide, steam, sauté, canning and yoghurt making.
Accessories	Glass lid, stainless steel basket with handle, rack, rice spoon, ladle, measuring cup, condensation collector

Best budget multi-cooker

Rrp: £69.99

Price: £59.99

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.

Pros & ConsSpecifications

Pros

• Flavour-lock technology keeps food tasting great
• 17 pre-sets for a variety of mealtime options
• Large five-litre ideal for a family meal or meal prep

Cons

• Lack of accessories – would have made the product more convenient.

Dimensions	31 x 24 x 23cm
Capacity	5 L
Dishwasher safe	Yes
Number of pre-sets	17
Accessories

Rrp: £69.99

Price: £59.99

Best multicooker for smaller portions

Amazon / Ninja

Rrp: £179.99

Price: £169.00

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.

Pros & ConsSpecifications

Pros

• Compact – perfectly designed for smaller households and kitchens
• Six versatile functions for you to choose from – from pressure to air frying
• We love the TenderCrisp tech – which is super quick

Cons

• The cable is said to be too short – make space near an outlet

Dimensions	32 x 35 x 38 cm
Capacity	4.7 L
Dishwasher safe	Yes – some!
Number of pre-sets	Six
Accessories	Cook and crisp plate, rack

Rrp: £179.99

Price: £169.00

Our favourite Instant Pot dupe

Very / Crockpot

Price: £70

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.

Pros & ConsSpecifications

Pros

• Versatile cooking, thanks to the various programmes
• Large capacity pot is perfect for family meals and hosting
• Non-stick, dishwasher-safe parts make for easy cleaning

Cons

• One review says it’s not as versatile as they’d hoped

Dimensions	34 x 30.8 x 34.4cm
Capacity	5.6 L
Dishwasher safe	Some parts
Number of pre-sets	12
Accessories	Unspecified.

Best for single portions

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.

Pros & ConsSpecifications

Pros

• Eight one-touch programmes cover rice, soups, and more
• Small capacity is ideal for smaller households or solo meals
• Non-stick pot and removable internal lid make cleaning simple

Cons

• Not the pick for larger households

Dimensions	23.5 x 28 x 20cm
Capacity	1.4 L
Dishwasher safe	Unsure.
Number of pre-sets	Eight
Accessories	Rice spoon and measuring cup

Are multi-cookers worth it?

Yes, we think so. Though there hasn’t been too much hype around them (unlike an air fryer), a multi-cooker is a super investment that more people should be taking advantage of. It can replace quite a few appliances and compress them into one nifty, versatile gadget. You can cook about anything in them.

We love multicookers for their versatility and convenience, as well as time and energy-saving benefits.

Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

Are multi-cookers energy-efficient?

Yes – multi-cookers use 70-80% less energy than an oven, says Instant Pot. Not only do they replace multiple appliances, but they cook quickly and efficiently, which can help save money on bills.

How does a multi-cooker work?

Simply place food inside the cooker pot and choose a pre-set mode to cook your meal or dish. All you need to do is leave your cooker and let it work away. 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 remotely, or after work and put your feet up until dinner is ready.

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 food steamer and comes with pre-set options for rice and multigrain cooking, as well as soups, stews, poultry, beans, chilli, and other dishes. Some multi-cookers even have a setting for making yoghurt and bread and sometimes can double as an air fryer. Cooking really has never been easier.

Can I cook frozen food in a multi-cooker?

Yes – you can cook frozen food in one of these bad boys without defrosting it first.

Don’t worry; it’s super safe. Pressure cooking ensures your frozen meat doesn’t rise to an unsafe temperature to become bacteria and toxin-friendly. We suggest adding liquid, cutting meat into smaller pieces, and using the saute settings for the best (and safest) results.

These cheeky tips will help you save money, for sure. We love to see it.

Ellen Kinsey was a Senior Health and Wellness Product Writer and has been a part of Bauer Media since 2020. She has left to study Ayurveda in India to expand her knowledge and skills in the health and wellness field, where she plans to continue making journalistic contributions.

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