BEST BUY
INSTANT POT DUO (6L) ABOUT R2199; INSTANTPOT.CO.ZA, YUPPIECHEF.COM
The popular Instant Pot is simple to use and turns out delicious meals in no time; it’s the best combination of superb performance, versatility and price. This multicooker features many preset programmes, and you can adjust the time and pressure level within the programmed functions for more control over your cooking.
In our tests, beef stew cooked beautifully, producing succulent, moist meat. Soup also cooked well without losing too much liquid. But when we slow-cooked meat according to the instructed time, it wasn’t completely tender and had to be pressurecooked for an extra 30 minutes. Seared meat also wasn’t as brown as expected, but still relatively good. The Instant Pot cooked rice perfectly in the quickest time in our tests compared to some other models. Porridge texture was also good: creamy and soft.
The multicooker has multiple safety mechanisms. The vents are situated on the far side of the control panel, so you can operate the panel without fear of being burnt by steam. It’s a well-designed machine that is simple to operate: the buttons are intuitive and the instructions really helpful. The Instant Pot comes with a comprehensive recipe booklet and user manual; accessories need to be purchased separately. Also available in 8L capacity.
Verdict: This was the most user-friendly multicooker to operate, and it produced excellent results. It also offers the best bang for your buck.
MEALTHY MULTIPOT (6L) ABOUT R2199; MEALTHY. CO.ZA, TAKEALOT.CO.ZA
This multifunctional machine is perfect for those busy evenings. In our tests it produced a tasty beef stew with robust flavours – we pressure-cooked the beef in the pre-programmed setting and within 45 minutes it was moist and tender. The warming function also kept the meat hot.
Slow-cooking produced superb results: rice was perfectly fluffy, and steamed veggies kept their colour and texture. The sauté function was effective – quick to heat up and meat browned well. The cooker reached full pressure quickly; the pressure/ steam release is programmable, so you can decide whether you want the pressure release to be auto, natural or quick. Once the cooking cycle is complete, the device releases pressure according to the setting.
The LCD panel comes with a progress indicator that shows the stages of cooking, although the markings on the pot for aligning the lid weren’t clear.
Verdict: A great appliance with lots of extras and useful accessories. Excellent value for money.
MORPHY RICHARDS MYPOT (4L)
ABOUT R3495; CREATIVEHOUSEWARES.CO.ZA
This spherically shaped machine offers a range of preset functions as well as a keep-warm and manual mode if you prefer more control over your cooking.
Performance was good: the cooker makes tasty food, but cooking times were slightly longer when compared to some of the other models tested. Cooking rice on the pre-programme took about 20 minutes; meat slow-cooked nicely and was soft and tender, though a bit more watery than we would have liked; soup needed a longer cooking time and extra liquid had to be added within the testing time.
Steam-venting was very messy, with droplets splattering all about. The vent and float are located on the arch of the handle and need to be used with caution. The controls are clearly labelled and the machine is simple to set up. Cleaning is relatively easy. There are also lots of recipes in the manual that cover various cuisines. Verdict: A model that looks great, performs well and is perfect for smaller spaces.