If you think the Instapot is instant, an eyesore or unnecessary, you’re not alone. But here’s a look at these and other common misconceptions about the Instapot–as well as why you still might want one.

Misconception #1: The Instapot is instant.

Smart marketing is what’s gotten most consumers interested in the Instapot to begin with–who doesn’t want instant dinner!–but that smart marketing is also, essentially, a lie. Nothing about the Instapot is instant. You don’t throw ingredients in the pot, wait 15 minutes and have dinner on the table. In most cases, you’ll still have to prep ingredients (time). Then, the machine will take a good 5 to 30 minutes to pressurize before your cooking time begins (more time). Then, unless you’re using the “quick pressure release button” to speed up the finish, you’ll wait another 20 minutes after the cooking time before you can get to your food.

Misconception #2: An Instapot means more clutter.

The Instapot is big, there’s no denying that, and that’s whether you go with the average or the 8qt size. One qualifier, however: Because the Instapot can do everything a slow cooker can do, you could theoretically use it instead of a crockpot. In other words, if you have room for a crockpot, you have room for an Instapot to replace it.

Misconception #3: An Instapot makes dinner faster.

Yes and no. The Instapot isn’t necessarily about speed. While, sure, it’s marketed as a time-saving device, that is more about the convenience of saving you hands-on time than it is about saving you time in total. The idea with the Instapot is kind of like a fast slow-cooker, a crockpot with turbocharge. You still “set it and forget it,” but for a half hour, give or take, instead of half a day or more.

Misconception #4: It’s hard to clean.

Thanks to its streamlined product design, the Instapot leaves you with one and only one stainless steel bowl to clean–one that’s far lighter and easier to manage than a traditional crockpot container. The only exception is for recipes that use a dish (say a six-inch springform pan for cheesecake or a 1.5-quart baking dish for a molten lava cake) inside the container, in which cases you’ll also have those to clean.

However: Why You Still Might Want One

• You don’t have to thaw food before putting it in the Instapot.
• Cooking with the Instapot is largely hands off, buying you more time to do something you’d enjoy more than standing by the stove.
• Cleanup is easy. Kind of like the Vitamix, the Instapot gives you only one essential item to clean after you’re done.

So could Instapot be the answer to getting dinner on the table after a long day at work? It depends. If you’re the type of person who values a home-cooked meal and is willing to plan and prep each night, you may love the lighter work load of letting the Instapot take it from there. If, on the other hand, you’re looking for dinner as fast as takeout, you’d be better off with convenience foods or 30-minute-meal recipes you can find online.

To read more about my week testing an Instapot 6qt model, check out One Week with an Instapot 6qt Multi-Cooker. Or, to find a model that might be right for you, check out the Amazon affiliate links* below:

*This site uses Amazon affiliate links, through which we may receive a small commission on purchases made.