Is The 8 Quart Instant Pot Too Big?

I recently jumped on the Prime Day/Instant Pot bandwagon and bought myself an 8 Quart Instant Pot Ultra.

Yes, after years of wondering if I should get an Instant Pot I did it! I know, I am late to this game. The Instant Pot has had a cult following for years now. I knew I wanted one but wondering if I really needed one held me back for awhile.

I hate adding to my kitchen and having appliances take up space and sit unused. I use my slow cooker a lot though, and I figured anything I could make in the slow cooker I could also make in the Instant Pot and I wouldn’t even need a slow cooker anymore.

In case you have somehow not heard of the Instant Pot or do not know much about it here is some information from the manufacturer:

For large families, 6+ people. Item dimensions is 14.88 x 13.90 x 10.39 in inches
Instant Pot Ultra electric pressure cooker is the next generation in kitchen Appliances. A central dial with a simple turn and press provides added precision in program selection and adjustment
New features: altitude adjustment, cooking indicator, and a steam release reset button. The Ultra button provides custom programming. The new features include sterilize, cake and egg programs
Replaces 10 common kitchen Appliances – pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice/porridge cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, egg cooker, sauté/searing, steamer, warmer, and sterilizer
Developed with the latest 3rd generation technology with an embedded microprocessor. The microprocessor monitors the pressure and temperature, keeps time, and adjusts heating intensity and duration. Power supply: 120V – 60Hz, Power Supply Cord length: 35 inches
UL certified with 11 safety features to provide peace of mind. New steam release reset button for safer handling. All components in contact with food are food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel

The 6 Quart was what I would have bought if I didn’t know better, and if I had gotten it in time. But, it sold out quickly and then there was a new Prime Day deal on an 8 quart Ultra Instant Pot.

I spent a lot of time vacillating if I wanted an 8 quart or if it was too big? I seriously did not want some monstrosity sitting on my counter.

I ordered the 8 Quart so I could get the deal but then I immediately started worrying about whether it would be too big and started researching.

My research led me to a few conclusions:

The 6 quart and the 8 quart are not too different. The 6 quart says it’s good for four to six people and the 8 quart is for six plus or if you like to have leftovers.

Most people who already have an Instant Pot say they would prefer a bigger instant pot if they could get it. I read many quotes of “you can always make less food but if your pot is too small you cannot make more”. Better to have the bigger pot and not need it, then to have the smaller pot and need to make more food.

This attitude kind of sold me on the larger size and made me realize maybe I would not regret my purchase after all.

If you ever like to have leftovers or make freezer meals the bigger size makes more sense.

So, after reading these thoughts I was less concerned and waited to get my 8 quart Instant Pot.

Once I got it I decided it definitely is not too big for me. I have a family of five and while my children do not always eat what I make, it is nice to be able to make a large quantity of food if needed. One of my concerns was how much space the Instant Pot would take on the counter but it turns out I store it when it’s not in use, and then use it on my island so the steam is not hitting my cabinets. This works out well and it’s not much bigger than my old slow cooker.

At the time, the only deal on the Ultra Instant Pot was on the 8 quart and I really love the Ultra model. This is the nicest Instant Pot and the key feature that I love is that it tells you how far along the cooking process is on the display. It lets you know whether the pot is preheating, cooking, or done cooking and keeping warm. From what I understand the other models do not tell you this.

Conclusion:

I hope this helps anyone who is trying to decide between the 6 Quart Instant Pot and the 8 Quart Instant Pot. I think if I had ended up with the 6 Quart I would have been happy as well but the 8 Quart is definitely not too big. If you have the room and want to cook large quantities of food you cannot go wrong with the 8 Quart!

Please let me know if you have any questions about the Instant Pot, the models, or the size at all.