Every kitchen needs an Instant Pot. From slow cooking to sautéing, these multi-cookers can do it all. Spend a little more on an advanced model, and your Instant Pot could cook rice, broil meat and fish, and even make yogurt.
As an eCommerce Editor, I spend my days window-shopping the best home retailers in search of iconic kitchenware. I learned to shop the Instant Pot sales to get more functionality for less. I want to share my hard-won wisdom with you.
First, I'll drop a few quick links to the best places to buy the best Instant Pot. Then, I'll outline the best times of year to buy an Instant Pot on a budget and explain a little more about what constitutes a good deal.
Where to shop the Instant Pot sales
- Amazon: deep discounts across the entire Instant Pot range
- Best Buy: $$$ off Instant Pot (and other multi-cookers)
- Instant Pot: scoop out savings, straight from the source
- Sears: deep discounts on already-affordable Instant Pots
- Target: save on best-selling Instant Pots
- Walmart: make the most of rollback prices on Instant Pots
- Wayfair: Instant Pot multi-cookers, air fryers, coffee makers, and more
When is the best time to get a deal on Instant Pot?
Instant Pot Amazon Prime Day sales
Prime Day comes twice a year. The exact dates won't be released until nearer the time, but judging by previous years, we'll see a summer Prime Day in July and a fall Prime Day in October.
Prime Day is the best time for Prime members to score deep discounts on everything at Amazon, including an enviable range of Instant Pots at prices that rival Black Friday discounts.
Instant Pot Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales
If you aren't a Prime member, and you don't want to become one, then it's time to expand your search beyond Amazon Prime Day. When you shop over the Black Friday weekend, you can make major savings, as stores compete to offer the lowest prices.
This year, Black Friday falls on November 28. I'd expect Instant Pot deals to start dropping the week in advance and run through Cyber Monday on December 1.
How can you tell if you've got a good deal on Instant Pot?
Sign up for the Instant Pot newsletter
When you join the Instant Pot mailing list, you get early access to exclusive offers and first dibs on new products, plus recipe round-ups.
Make the most of bundle deals
Instant Pot often package products together to create bundle deals: a cold brewer and a milk frother, for instance, or an air fryer with a grill pan and skewer set.
If you're only shopping for one specific product, then don't be fooled into spending more on items you don't need. However, if you're keen to kit out your kitchen cabinets, then bundle deals could help you to save a little money on additional appliances.
See if you're eligible for special discounts
Instant Pot offers discounts for seniors, students, and apprentices. Explore the Instant Pot promotional offers to see if you're eligible.
FAQs
Which Instant Pot should I buy?
Our appliance experts have ranked an reviewed the best Instant Pots to help you find your ideal kitchen companion.
According to their tests, the best Instant Pot is the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid. It's super versatile, with 13 cooking functions, ranging from broiling and baking to air frying and slow cooking. It's easy and intuitive to use, with automatic pressure release and an alert system that tells you when it's safe to open the lid. If only the cooking pot were non-stick, we would give the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid the full five stars.
Are Instant Pot and Crock-Pot the same?
No, Instant Pot and Crock-Pot are different brands. Instant Pot makes pressure cookers from stainless steel, whereas Crock-Pot specializes in slow cookers made from stoneware.
Slow cooking is great for people who like to plan ahead: you can add all your ingredients first thing in the morning, set it to cook, and safely go about your business inside and outside the house. Pressure cooking is better for last minute meal prep: you throw in all your ingredients and lock them into steam in a high-pressure pot to cook in a fraction of the time.
There is some overlap between the brands. Crock-Pot have started making multi-cookers that can pressure cook, much like Instant Pot, and Instant Pot now offer slow cookers.
If you're shopping for multifunctional cookware, you could also consider the Le Creuset sales. You can cook almost everything in a Dutch oven and shop Le Creuset tableware to serve alongside.
