The 6 Best Multicookers of 2024

The Best Multicookers combine multiple appliances into one easy-to-use electric pot that you can prep, set, and forget. Multicookers will often include presets including pressure cook, slow cook, steam, sear, brown, rice and more.

They save energy, keep my kitchen cool (no oven!), and cut back on how many dishes I need when I’m cooking.

When it comes to choosing the right multicooker, you’ll want to consider size, capacity, and cooking modes to ensure the appliance meets your needs. I’m a big fan of my Hamilton Beach 9-in-1 Multicooker, but there are other great options available too!

Whether you’re on a budget or looking to invest, I’ve taken all of these factors into consideration. Below, you can check out my top picks for the best multicookers so you can create delicious, healthy meals for your family.

My Top Picks

• What I Own and Love: Hamilton Beach 6-Quart 9-in-1 Multicooker – This slow cooker can everything! Everything can cook in one pot.

• Also In My Kitchen: GreenPan Elite 6-Quart Slow Cooker – The Perfect Slow Cooker to make Crock Pot Chicken Thighs and Rice.

• Best Budget Multicooker: Crock Pot Express 6-Quart Oval Max Pressure Cooker – If you are looking for a kitchen appliance that slow cooks and is an instant pot, this is the one to buy.

• Best Instant Pot Multicooker: Instant Pot Rio 6-Quart 7-in-1 Electric Multicooker – I love the many functions this Multicooker has!

• Best Smart Multicooker: Chef iQ 6-Quart Smart Cooker – Use your phone to control your Multicooker!

• Best Air Fryer Pressure Cooker: Ninja 6.5-Quart 11-in-1 Pro Multicooker – $179.99 on Amazon

Reviews of The Best Multicookers 

1. What I Own and Love: Hamilton Beach 6-Quart 9-in-1 Multicooker

If you’re looking for a versatile appliance that will help you get a tasty meal on the table for family dinner, the Hamilton Beach 6-Quart 9-in-1 Multicooker is a great, affordable choice. 

I’ve owned this Hamilton Beach multicooker for a year (and counting!), and I regularly use the sear and sauté features before roasting and slow cooking to lock flavor in. It’s like an extended version of a slow cooker with lots of programmable cooking settings, but it doesn’t pressure cook (you’ll want an Instant Pot for that). 

This multicooker quickly gets to your desired temperature, cooking up hearty meals like my Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese. Plus, I love that the pot is non-stick and super easy to clean. Sometimes this model goes on sale, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for price drops. I’ve seen this dip below $100!

My Tips

I recommend using silicone utensils to prevent scratching the pot while cooking. I also make sure the pot has completely cooled before cleaning it.

The Specs

• Cooking Modes: Slow cook, roast, rice and grains, steam, sear, brown, sauté, keep warm
• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Components: Base unit, removable pot, glass lid, roasting/steaming rack
• Dimensions: 11 x 12.25 x 10.5 inches
• Weight: 14.82 pounds

The Pros

• Tons of preset cooking modes
• Easy to use
• Removable, non-stick, and dishwasher-safe aluminum pot
• LED countdown and delay timer

The Cons

• Doesn’t pressure cook
• Easy to scratch the pot

Buy the Hamilton Beach 6-Quart 9-in-1 Multicooker

2. Also In My Kitchen: GreenPan Elite 6-Quart Slow Cooker

This is a new addition to my kitchen! The GreenPan Elite line of slow cookers makes it easy to sear or brown your food, easily finishing by locking in flavor from tender meats.

The Elite features an extra-large backlit display and 8 different cooking options with one-touch presets, like slow cook, sauté, steam, and reheat, taking all of the guesswork out of cooking. 

I also appreciate the silicone side handles on the insert, so there’s no need for potholders when removing it. It’s the most expensive multicooker on this list, but the cooking performance, versatility, and good looks (you can choose from a ton of fun colors to match your kitchen décor!) make it worth the investment.

The Specs

• Cooking Modes: Slow cook, roast, brown, sauté, steam, simmer, keep warm
• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Components: Base unit, removable pot, glass lid, steaming rack
• Dimensions: 18.98 x 13.43 x 10.94 inches
• Weight: 13.69 pounds

The Pros

• Non-toxic ceramic pot
• Non-stick and dishwasher-safe pot and tempered-glass lid
• Silicone handles on the pot for easy transfer to the table
• Available in both standout or neutral colors

The Cons

• Doesn’t pressure cook
• More expensive than others on this list

Buy the GreenPan Elite 6-Quart Multicooker

3. Best Budget Multicooker: Crock Pot Express 6-Quart Max Pressure Cooker

Crock Pot is known for its line of slow cookers (fun fact: a lot of people call their slow cooker a Crock Pot, even if it’s not from the brand!), but did you know that they sell a great array of multicookers, too?

Beyond manual pressure cooking, the Crock Pot Express has 15 (!) handy cooking presets including boil, steam, beans/chili, slow cook, and dessert. I especially love the quick clean mode that can refresh the pot and gasket.

The intuitive and user-friendly design is great, too, with the one-hand easy-fit lid being one of my favorite features. Best of all, it’s a budget-friendly pick that usually sells for less than $100.

The Specs

• Cooking Modes: Slow cook, pressure cook, brown, sear, sauté, simmer, boil, yogurt, steam, keep warm, meat/poultry, beans/chili, soup/broth, rice/grains, dessert
• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Components: Base, pot, lid, steaming rack, serving spoon
• Size: 17.1 x 12.6 x 11.8 inches
• Weight: 16.8 pounds

The Pros

• Quick-clean function refreshes pot and gasket
• Oval design fits large cuts of meat without slicing or stacking
• Easy-fit lid makes it easy to align for locking
• Easy-release dial protects hands from depressurizing steam

The Cons

• Cooking pot is dishwasher safe but hand washing protects non-stick coating
• A little heavy 

Buy the Crock Pot Express 6-Qt Oval Max Pressure Cooker

4. Best Instant Pot Multicooker: Instant Pot Rio 6-Quart 7-in-1 Electric Multicooker

Instant Pot is a super popular brand of some of the best electric pressure cookers on the market. Pressure cookers have been around for a while, but electric pressure cookers gained popularity more recently. 

People love them because of the self-regulating safety features that monitor the unit’s temperature and pressure, making them less intimidating than the stovetop alternative. They are also just as easy to use as a Crock-Pot (and, yes, you can even slow cook with them too!).

The Instant Pot Rio 6-Quart is the updated version of the Duo 6-Quart. This powerful appliance can make meals up to 70% faster than other cooking methods. I love the refreshed design because it features an anti-spin pot making it easy to stir things, and it’s finally fingerprint-resistant, so it’s much easier to keep it clean!

The Specs

• Cooking Modes: Pressure cook, slow cook, rice, yogurt, steam, sauté, keep warm
• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Components: Base, pot, lid, steaming rack
• Dimensions: 13.2 x 12.2 x 12.5 inches
• Weight: 12 pounds

The Pros

• Locking lid with steam release
• Dishwasher-safe stainless steel cooking pot

The Cons

• It can take a while to come to pressure
• Requires some trial and error to perfect the timing

What Others Are Saying

The Instant Pot Rio has 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon with more than 160,000 reviews. Wirecutter found the Instant Pot Rio to be the best electric pressure cooker they tested. 

Buy the Instant Pot RIO 6-Quart 7-in-1 Electric Multicooker

5. Best Smart Multicooker: CHEF iQ 6-Quart Smart Cooker

The CHEF iQ 6-Quart Smart Cooker features a ton of really neat technology to make cooking super easy. There’s a full screen that gives you intel on what’s happening inside and a built-in scale to measure ingredients as you add them. 

The CHEF iQ App (connected via WiFi or Bluetooth to smartphones) gives you access to more than 600 guided recipes and lets you control and monitor progress from another room. There are three pressure release modes (rapid, pulse or natural) that you can use depending on what you’re cooking. It’s like having a sous chef built right into the cooker!

The Specs

• Cooking Modes: Pressure cook, sear, sauté, steam, slow cook, sous vide, keep warm
• Capacity: 6 quart
• Components: Base, pot, lid, silicone lid, extra gaskets, steam basket, steam rack
• Size: 13 x 13 x 13 inches
• Weight: 10.4 pounds

The Pros

• Pressure builds fairly quickly
• Guided recipes are updated regularly
• Lightweight
• Can control it using the app

The Cons

• Some inaccurate cooking times on the app

Buy the Chef iQ 6-quart Smart Cooker

6. Best Air Fryer Pressure Cooker: Ninja 6.5-Quart 11-in-1 Pro Multicooker

If you’re like me and have a collection of small kitchen appliances, the Ninja 6.5-Quart Pro Multicooker might be the one that helps you consolidate and reduce the clutter. I love the Ninja Pro because you can pressure cook, slow cook, and air fry perfect meals with sides. 

It includes both a locking lid for pressure cooking and slow cooking, along with a crisping lid for air frying so you can make perfect French fries and vegetables in the steamer basket! The pot fits up to a 5-pound chicken or 6-pound roast for feeding large groups or tons of leftovers. You can also opt to use the broil rack to layer ingredients so you can cook a whole meal with protein and sides all at once.

The Specs

• Cooking Modes: Pressure cook, air fry, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear, sauté, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, sous vide, keep warm
• Capacity: 6.5 quarts
• Components: Base, cooking pot, crisping lid, pressure lid, cook and crisp plate, broil rack
• Size: 13.98 x 16.18 x 13.23 inches
• Weight: 22.05 pounds

The Pros

• Multiple lids for different cooking modes
• Cooks both moist and crispy meals
• Includes multiple accessories
• Easy to clean
• Can cook a meal and sides at the same time

The Cons

• Heavy

Buy the Ninja 6.5-Quart 11-in-1 Pro Multicooker

Other Multicookers I’ve Researched

Breville Fast Slow Pro

The Breville Fast Slow Pro is a 6-quart multicooker that can pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, cook rice, and more. It features a full-feedback LCD display that tells you what’s going on inside the pot. This cool feature includes a pressure indicator, temperature, and countdown timer, which definitely stands out from other models. However, the Fast Slow Pro is double the price – or more – of others I’ve researched with many of the same cooking modes, components, and capacity. The Breville Fast Slow Pro is available on Amazon.

Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central Multicooker

The Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central Multicooker is a standard slow cooker with a handful of additional cooking modes, including browning, sautéing, steaming, and warming. It’s easy to pick a preset cooking mode or adjust the time and temperature using the buttons and LCD display. It’s comparable to other multicookers, but for the price and lack of accessories, it just doesn’t rise above the rest. The Cuisinart 6-Quart 3-in-1 Cook Central multicooker is available on Amazon.

De’Longhi Livenza All-in-One Programmable Multicooker

The De’Longhi Livenza All-in-One Programmable Multicooker is similar to others that made my list as it has the abilities to slow cook, steam, brown, sauté, and keep warm, but it can also bake and cook rice. This model features an LCD panel and knobs to control the cooking mode, temperature, and time. It comes with a steaming basket, but otherwise, it’s similar to other slow-cooking multicookers only at a slightly higher price point. The De’Longhi Livenza All-in-One Programmable Multicooker is available at Walmart.

Zavor LUX LCD Multi-Cooker

Zavor has multiple multicookers that offer a variety of features at different price points. In particular, the Zavor LUX LCD Multicooker is at the top of their line, but with all of the functions, interactive LCD screen, and lid-lock alert, it’s still comparable to Instant Pots. This model can pressure cook, slow cook, cook rice, make yogurt and sous vide. However, some buyers found that the quality wasn’t worth the price point, noting that they experienced issues with the construction after a few months of use. The Zavor LUX LCD Multi-Cooker is available on Amazon.

COMFEE’ 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker

If you’re not in the market to spend a lot of money on a multicooker, the COMFEE 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker may fit the bill. It features all the same cooking modes as the Crock-Pot I dubbed as the best budget multicooker, but this one doesn’t include any accessories. The reviews also found that the power cord is too short, which can be frustrating depending on the layout of your kitchen. The COMFEE’ 6-Quart Electric Pressure Cooker is available on Amazon.

Why You Can Trust Me

I’m Carrie, the creator behind Eating on a Dime, mother to eight kids, and founder of Lazy Day Cooking Club, a membership designed to make dinner fast and easy for busy families!

I began my cooking journey more than 25 years ago, and as my family grew, I started to learn how to use my Crock Pot to save time in the kitchen and make tasty, family-friendly recipes. Fast forward to today, and I’ve created more than 400 easy slow cooker recipes, expanded into cooking with an Instant Pot and air fryer, and even have a cookbook to help save you time and money!

To make this list of the best multicookers, I began with the ones that I already use regularly, as well as the models I’m familiar with. I then researched top products from leading kitchen brands, keeping in mind all the things I love about my multicookers. I like the larger capacity, nonstick surfaces, saute features, and ease of cleaning. When making my selections, I also factored in customer reviews and whether the product offered a good value for the price. 

What to Know About Multicookers

What is a Multicooker?

There are different styles and types of multicookers, but essentially they are convenient electric devices that provide several different cooking methods. Some multicookers can pressure cook for a tasty, last-minute meal using frozen ingredients, or they can slow cook for melt-in-your-mouth cuts of meat and party-sized dips. Additional multicooker features include searing, sautéing, simmering, steaming, cooking rice, grains, and risotto, and some even have yogurt or dessert for even more flexibility.

Multicookers use an internal heating element in the base of the outer housing to heat the cooking pot for precise temperatures. They are easy to use thanks to a variety of pre-programmed settings and are ideal for people who want flexibility to cook while also reducing the number of appliances or dishes needed to make a great meal.

Multicookers excel at locking moisture into meats and cooking wet ingredients like stew and chili. In comparison, air fryers are different because they rely on circulated hot air to cook food for a perfect, crispy exterior. (See best cheap air fryers) However, some Ninja products, including the Ninja 6.5-Quart 11-in-1 Pro Multicooker mentioned above, are equipped with a smart lid and SteamCrisp technology that can steam lower layers and crisp top layers like an air fryer. 

Is a Multicooker the Same as an Instant Pot?

Instant Pot is a brand of kitchen appliances best known for their electric pressure cookers. Many of Instant Pot’s pressure cookers have additional cooking features, making them multicookers.

I love my Instant Pot because I can get the same tenderness from a slow cooker without having to cook all day. Didn’t take the meat out of the freezer? No worries! I have used thawed meat and frozen meat in the Instant Pot and they both cook super fast.

What to Consider Before Buying a Multicooker

Presets

Multicookers offer a variety of preset functions, including pressure cooking, slow cooking, roasting, rice and grains, yogurt, sous vide, browning, searing, steaming, and more. It’s worth noting that not all multicookers can pressure cook, so be sure to check the list for this function if it’s something you want.

Components

At the very least, a multicooker includes a base unit, a removable cooking pot, and a lid. Some feature a locking lid with a sealing gasket and steam release for pressure cooking, whereas others have a glass lid that doesn’t lock or provide pressure. A few of the multicookers I included on this list have steaming racks, spoons, and other handy accessories.

Multicooker pots can be made of ceramic, aluminum, or stainless steel. Some feature a non-stick coating. It’s important to keep this in mind when considering how you’d like to clean your cooking pot. While many pots are listed as dishwasher-safe, non-stick coatings last longer when hand-washed.

Capacity

When cooking for 3 to 5 people, a 6-quart pot is a good choice. If you’re cooking for 1 to 2, a 3-quart model may be a better fit, unless you like leftovers or freezing meals, while an 8-quart multicooker is great for larger families. 6-quart models can accommodate large cuts of meat and large stews or chilis, but an 8-quart will have more room to work and plenty of room for liquid and sauces.

Size and weight

Multicookers combine several appliances into one, but they still take up space on the counter or in the pantry. It’s important to consider the dimensions and weight, especially if you’re short on counter space or planning to move it between the counter, pantry, or cabinet on a regular basis.

Is a Multicooker Worth It?

With prices that can run into the hundreds, a multicooker is an investment, especially if you want to purchase a model with all the bells and whistles. However, because they can replace multiple countertop appliances, multicookers can be worth the money since you can save space with a single appliance.

Even if you mostly use your multicooker for delicious slow cooker recipes, it’s nice to have the other cooking modes ready when you need them!

Are Multicookers Energy Efficient?

Yes, multicookers are energy efficient! Multicookers use much less energy than the stove or oven to do many of the same functions. Plus, they’re great in the summer months because a multicooker won’t heat up your kitchen the way an oven does, so it’s easier to stay cool while cooking up an amazing meal for your family.

Some of My Favorite Multicooker Recipes

I have more than 400 slow-cooker recipes that you can use a multicooker for. Or, if you’re like me and a busy day made a last-minute dinner the only option, check out my Instant Pot recipes to get a hearty meal on the table when you’re short on time. Here are a few of my family’s favorites!

• Lazy Day Crock Pot Ravioli Lasagna
• Easy Crock Pot Spiral Ham
• Crock Pot Chicken and Rice
• Crock Pot Pepper Steak
• Instant Pot White Rice
• Pressure Cooker Mashed Potatoes
• Instant Pot Beef Stew
• Instant Pot Chicken & Rice
• Instant Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Prices were accurate at the time of publication.