Instant Pot has become increasingly popular in recent years as a multifunction electric pressure cooker that can be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and more. Many people find Instant Pot to be a convenient ‘set it and forget it’ appliance for cooking dishes that would normally take hours in a regular oven or stovetop. But is using an Instant Pot truly better and more effective than cooking in a traditional oven?
Below we examine the key differences between using an Instant Pot and oven, looking at cooking time, convenience, versatility, flavor, health benefits, safety, ease of cleaning, energy efficiency, and price to help you decide which is the better option for your needs.
Cooking Time
One of the biggest advantages of using an Instant Pot is the significant reduction in cooking time for many dishes. While oven-baked recipes can take hours, Instant Pot can cook food much quicker thanks to the built-in pressure cooker function. For example:
- Pot roast: Oven – 3-4 hours, Instant Pot – 1 hour
- Chili: Oven – 4-5 hours, Instant Pot – 30 minutes
- Ribs: Oven – 3-4 hours, Instant Pot – 1 hour
The pressurized environment allows liquid to reach temperatures above the normal boiling point, so food cooks faster. This makes Instant Pot ideal for cooking tougher cuts of meat and dishes that traditionally require long simmering.
Convenience
Another major advantage of Instant Pot is the convenience factor. With an Instant Pot, you simply add ingredients, set the timer, and walk away. The pot does the work for you with minimal monitoring required. The automated pressure and temperature controls ensure your dish cooks properly and evenly every time.
In contrast, cooking in the oven requires more active prep work upfront like browning meat or pre-boiling liquids. And you need to monitor the food and check for doneness occasionally. Instant Pot streamlines the hands-on time and oversight needed.
Versatility
While a standard oven has limited functions, Instant Pot serves as an all-in-one cooker. It can pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, make yogurt, cook rice, and more. This versatility allows you to create a wide variety of dishes with just one appliance.
An oven is far less versatile. While you can certainly bake, roast, broil, and reheat food in an oven, it does not offer near the flexibility and breadth of cooking options. Instant Pot expands the possibilities of what you can cook at home.
Flavor
In terms of flavor, results can vary between Instant Pot and oven depending on the specific recipes and ingredients used. Here are some general differences:
- Tenderizing tough meats: The pressurized environment of Instant Pot tenderizes connective tissues in meats better than oven braising.
- Browning and caramelization: Oven often produces better browned and caramelized flavors on the surface of meats and vegetables.
- Vegetable flavors: Pressure cooking tends to retain more flavor and nutrients in vegetables compared to oven roasting which can mute flavors.
- Deep flavors: Oven simmering for hours melds flavors deeper in dishes like stocks, stews and chili.
For most recipes, both Instant Pot and oven can produce very flavorful results using the right techniques. Instant Pot may infuse more flavors into the interior portions while oven can brown and caramelize better.
Health Benefits
Several studies have found greater retention of vitamins and nutrients when cooking with Instant Pot versus oven. The combination of shorter cook times and steam environment helps reduce the degradation of heat-sensitive vitamins like vitamin C and B vitamins compared to longer oven cooking.
For example, one study found carrots retained 25% more vitamin C and had higher polyphenol levels when cooked sous vide style in an Instant Pot compared to oven roasting. The quicker cooking helps lock in nutrition better.
Instant Pot also minimizes the need for adding cooking oils or liquids compared to oven recipes, allowing for healthier low-fat cooking. Overall, Instant Pot offers some advantageous for nutrient retention and low-calorie cooking.
Safety
Both Instant Pot and standard ovens have certain safety precautions to keep in mind:
- Burns: Ovens have hot surfaces and require handling hot trays. Instant Pot minimizes direct handling risks.
- Steam release: Improperly releasing pressure from Instant Pot can cause steam burns.
- Unattended cooking: Both carry risks if left cooking unmonitored for long periods.
If used properly by following safety guides, Instant Pot is generally regarded as the safer option since the cooking process is so automated and hands-off. But user error with either appliance can lead to accidents.
Ease of Cleaning
Instant Pot offers easier and faster cleanup compared to ovens. The inner pot and accessories are dishwasher safe. The lid and housing only require a quick wipe down. The sealed environment contains most spills and splatters.
Ovens tend to require more scrubbing to remove spills from multiple racks, trays, and the interior walls. Food particles and grease often get baked on. However, ovens don’t have small crevices and gaskets to clean like Instant Pot.
Overall, the self-contained nature of Instant Pot makes it simpler and less tedious to clean after cooking.
Energy Efficiency
Instant Pot uses less energy than an oven due to the shorter cook times and smaller heating chamber. An Instant Pot averages around 1000-1200 watts while a standard oven can use 2000-5000 watts depending on its size and if heating the broiler.
The precise temperature control of Instant Pot also minimizes energy wasted from oil overheating. However, for small meals, the oven will likely be more efficient than heating up the entire Instant Pot cooker.
Below is a comparison of the average energy costs to cook common dishes in each appliance:
| Dish | Instant Pot | Oven |
|---|---|---|
| Soup (4 servings) | $0.18 | $0.36 |
| Chicken (whole 3 lbs) | $0.27 | $0.58 |
| Rice (3 cups) | $0.15 | $0.27 |
Based on standard electric rates, Instant Pot consumes around 50% less electricity for most cooking tasks. This can add up to significant energy savings over time.
Price
An entry-level Instant Pot typically costs $70-$120 depending on size and features while a basic new oven ranges from $400 to over $2000. However, most kitchens already have an oven so the existing appliance doesn’t factor into the cost comparison.
When it comes to price per use, a higher-end Instant Pot model that you use frequently for meal prep is likely to save money long-term over firing up the energy-intensive oven. But for occasional use, a cheaper basic Instant Pot may not offset the sunk cost of the oven.
Conclusion
Instant Pot offers clear advantages when it comes to shorter cook times, set-it-and-forget-it convenience, cooking versatility, ease of cleaning, and energy efficiency. The ability to quickly pressure cook or slow cook dishes with minimal monitoring needed makes it a useful modern kitchen tool.
However, for certain cooking tasks like broiling meats or achieving crispy brown surfaces, a traditional oven still reigns supreme. And some may prefer the deeper flavor development of low and slow oven braising. Many home cooks find benefits in using both Instant Pot and oven strategically based on the recipe and desired results.
For most households, having both an Instant Pot and a standard oven can provide the best of both worlds. The Instant Pot serves as an easy weekday dinner problem-solver while the oven tackles more intricate baking and roasting tasks. Picking a single winner ultimately depends on your specific cooking needs and preferences.