Instant Pot Easy Review & Get-Started Guide
The Instant Pot Easy is a stripped-down, ultra easy model that offers the very basic features for a bargain. Read our full review to find out if it’ll be a good fit for your kitchen.
Curious if the Instant Pot Easy really lives up to its name?
We’ve been cooking in it for a couple of months now, including slow cooking, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know before you buy as well as how to get started cooking in it!
DO YOU RECOMMEND THE INSTANT POT EASY?
The Instant Pot Easy is my new favorite budget model. It is a great fit for anyone who is new to pressure cooking or is overwhelmed by all the buttons. I particularly like it for college students, seniors, and for anyone who’s crazy about slow cooking.
Purchase the Instant Pot Easy. As far as we can tell, it’s exclusive to Walmart.
Everything you need to know about the Instant Pot Easy
These posts can get quite long, so I’ve included links to the main headings below. Feel free to read it in order or jump right to what you’re most excited to know!
And, as always, leave us a comment below if you have any questions we haven’t already covered!
If you’re a visual learner, you can check out our How to Use the Instant Pot Easy video on YouTube.
In this video, we break down how to clean, assemble, and start cooking in the new Instant Pot Easy.
What is the Instant Pot Easy?
The Easy is a stripped-down combination of a pressure cooker and a slow cooker that totally eliminates all other buttons and presets.
- Pressure cook at high pressure
- Slow cook on low
- Slow cook on high
- Sear/sauté
That’s it! No worrying about buttons or presets, just what you need to start and finish a meal in the same pot you cook it in.
🟢 PROS
- Intuitive, easy-to-read knob and button controls, which features a simple Start/Cancel button in the center and a dial that you spin to adjust the cook time.
- Stainless exterior housing that cleans up easily.
- Includes a glass lid for more convenient slow cooking.
- No exposed metal on the lid. I really love this when having kids use the Instant Pot. (And, truth be told, I’ve burned myself on other Instant Pot lids when I’m reaching for something, so this is always something I look for.)
- Removable power cord. I like to store my cord inside the pot so it doesn’t go missing.
- I love that the float valve is visible and accessible from the outside of the lid.
🔴 CONS
- It only cooks at high pressure, not high and low pressure like most other Instant Pot models.
- No sous vide or yogurt settings.
- Nonstick pot instead of a shiny stainless steel.
- No lid fins to rest the lid in after pressure cooking.
- The smaller cook time display isn’t as detailed or as easy to read at a glance as other models (like the Pro or the Duo Plus). There are no lights or bars to let you know where it is in the cooking process.
- Does not come with a trivet and only one single sealing ring, unlike other models.
Detailed Breakdown of the Instant Pot Easy’s Features
While the most obvious changes are cosmetic, the Easy has been thoughtfully stripped down to eliminate all but the most important pressure cooking features.
Simplified Control Knob
I honestly love this change! It doesn’t look nearly as intimidating to newbies, and I feel like it’s pretty intuitive.
You can make nearly any recipe on our site with this model of pressure cooker, and there’s much less confusion about which button to use. Simply turn the knob, just like you would on an older crockpot, and you’ve chosen your cook setting.
Then silver spin dial around the Start/Cancel button to adjust the cook time. Then press start! (For more details check out the how-to section.)
Improved Slow Cook Function
First off, a disclaimer: I do not slow cook very often, so it’s been several models since I’ve taken the slow cook function for a spin.
Older Instant Pot models were notorious for their poor slow-cooking abilities. However, I tossed some chicken in, popped on the glass lid, and slow cooked it on Low according to my recipe.
I didn’t check it, babysit it, or anything, but when I came back 6 hours later, all of my chicken was cooked to a tender, shreddable temperature—including the ones on top! (This was not the case the last time I tried slow cooking in an Instant Pot.)
It still has the guts of a pressure cooker, which means the heating element is on the bottom and not all around the sides. Still, I was pretty happy with its performance.
Nonstick Pot
This model comes with a nonstick pot, which is nice for cooking rice and oats. It’s also a nice first Instant Pot cooking pot because meats and other items are less likely to stick to the bottom of the pot. (And you’re less likely to get the burn notice.
I do prefer to use a stainless steel pot when making Pot Roast or any time I’m browning meat, because that browning that sticks to the bottom of the stainless steel pots leads to more flavorful dishes. (There tends to be less browning in nonstick pots.)
(If you’re wondering, it’s a kind of ceramic that’s free of Teflon, PTFE, and PFFOA.)
Two Lid Options Included
If you do slow cook frequently, this model comes with the glass lid included. This is definitely not standard for other Instant Pot models, and it’s a really nice handy addition.
What Comes with the Instant Pot Easy?
The Instapot Easy comes with an aluminum non-stick ceramic coated inner cooking pot, one silicone gasket, and a glass lid.
It works with all standard 6-quart pressure cooking accessories, including Instant Pot 6-quart accessories.
I always recommend having multiple sealing rings (one for sweet and another for savory), so I would definitely buy another set to keep on hand.
I also would keep an eye out for a good sale to snag a stainless steel inner pot and a low trivet.
Instant Pot Easy Measurements & Specs
The 6-quart Instant Pot Easy measures 13.66 (L) x 12.60 (W) x 12.56 (H).
This model operates at 1000 watts and 120V-60 Hz. You can find your exact model number on the sticker on the back of the product.
User Manual Information
Overall, the manuals included with the newer Instant Pot models are so much easier to read than their manuals were a decade ago! The instructions walk you through the basic steps for all of the preset buttons as well as set up and cleaning.
How to turn the sound On and Off in an Instant Pot Easy: When the Easy is plugged in and turned on, press and hold the Start/Cancel button until you see the display change to SOFF or S On. (It feels like a while, but it’s about 10 seconds.)
The sound will remain off or on even after unplugging. (Note that safety alerts for things like the Burn Notice will still sound even if the other sounds are turned off.)
Warranty Information
Instant Brands currently offers a 1-year limited warranty on the Instant Pot Easy. Click here to view the Easy’s product registration page.
For product support or repairs, you can email support@instanthome.com. We’ve had really good customer service when we reached out by email in the past.
You can also visit their website to create a support ticket online.
How to Cook with the Instant Pot Easy
Do you already have an Instant Pot Easy and you’re looking to get started? We’ve broken down the entire cooking process in a step-by-step guide:
How to Cook with the Instant Pot Easy
Equipment
- [Instant Pot Easy]
Instructions
HOW TO PRESSURE COOK
- If you're cooking in the Easy for the first time, wipe the housing (inside and outside) with a damp cloth and wash the inner cooking pot and lid with dish soap and water.
- Secure the silicone ring onto the lid, making sure it's fully seated around the metal ring on the lid.
- Add food as directed in your recipe (including a clear liquid), then lock the pressure cooking lid in place. To lock the lid, find the little arrow on the center front of the lid, and align it with the little arrow on the housing. Place the lid down evenly, then use the lid handle to turn the lid to the left to lock it.
- Turn the upper knob to Pressure Cook, then use the silver dial around the Start/Cancel button to set the cook time to the time specified in the recipe.
- Press the Start button. The display will read "On." After the float valve has risen up to seal off the pressure cooker, it will need another minute or two for the unit to reach the correct cooking temperature. Once this happens, the display time will begin to count down.
- After your cook time ends, the Keep Warm indicator light will turn on and the display timer will automatically begin to count up from 0:00. At this point, your recipe will specify whether to use a quick or natural pressure release.If you're using a natural release, allow the unit to count up for the number of minutes specified in the recipe, then finish with a quick release. If you're using a quick release, turn the Instant Pot off and flip the steam release valve to Vent to release the pressure.
- After all of the pressure is released, the float valve will drop and you can unlock the lid by turning it to the right. When you remove the lid, make sure to open it away from your face to avoid the steam.
HOW TO SAUTÉ
- Note that the Sauté function will not work if the pressure cooking lid is on.
- Turn the selector knob to Sauté. If you wish to change the time use the lower dial to adjust the default saute time up or down. (I rarely adjust the time. and just press cancel when I'm done sautéing.)
- Press the Start button, and the unit will begin to heat the bottom of the pressure cooking pot. (Again, remember that if you forget to press Start, your unit will revert to "Ready" and you'll need to repeat the steps.)
- The pot will read Hot when it's ready for you to add your ingredients. In most cases, when you sauté, wait until the pot heats to your desired temperature before adding the oil or other ingredients. (My exception is when sautéing with butter, I will generally let the pot preheat a bit and then add the butter so that it is fully melted by the time the pot comes to temperature.) Just like cooking on an electric stovetop, you can lift the nonstick cooking pot if the food is cooking faster than you'd like.
- Make sure to hit the Start/Cancel button when you've finished the sauté portion of your cooking.
HOW TO SLOW COOK (LOW & HIGH)
- Slow cook with the glass lid in place.
- Use the upper dial to select Slow Cook High or Slow Cook Low, as directed by your recipe. Use the lower dial to adjust the default time up or down.
- Add ingredients according to the recipe and place the glass lid on top.
- Press the Start button, and the unit will begin to heat the bottom of the pressure cooking pot. (Again, remember that if you forget to press Start, your unit will revert to "Ready" and you'll need to repeat the steps.)
- The display time will begin to count down
- After your cook time ends, the keep warm indicator light will turn on and the display timer will automatically begin to count up from 0:00.
Why did I get the Burn Notice on the InstaPot Easy?
⚠️ For more details, check out our in-depth discussion on the Instant Pot Burn Notice: What to Do and How to Avoid It in the Future.
When the Instant Pot Easy makes several quick beeps and alternates FOOD and BURN in the time display, you’ve gotten the Burn Notice.
If you’ve gotten the burn notice, the first thing to do is to remove the inner cooking pot from the base. (You may need to use a quick pressure release and use a hot pad to remove the cooking pot.)
Then, this is typically the list that I check.
- Check to see that you’ve set the inner pot inside the housing.
- If so, then check that the inner pot has enough liquid.
- If that’s in place, then check to see if there’s any food stuck to the bottom of the inner pot? (Keep in mind that the cooker will be hot, so you may need to let it cool to thoroughly check.)
- Check for debris inside the pressure cooker housing or on the outside of the stainless steel cooking pot.
If a lot of food has burned on, you’ll be able to taste the burnt taste throughout and, unfortunately, you may have to discard the meal. (If it’s just a little, you may be able to save it.) Transfer only what you think will be edible to another pan. Soak and scrub off the burned foods, taking care not to damage the nonstick coating.
In the future, be sure to add more liquid to the pot, avoid ingredients containing thickeners (like canned soups or prepackaged spaghetti sauces), and do not stir layered ingredients when specified in the recipe (check out our Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs as an example).
Still have Instant Pot questions?
Leave us a comment below or send us an email and we’ll get you the information you need!
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Can you do manual pressure release with this or is it somehow electronically controlled?
I had a Instant Pot Duo for a long time and it worked great. One thing led to another, it got long in tooth and we replace it with an Instant Pot Max, which somehow controls the pressure release electronically – I don’t like it. I’m constantly fighting with it.
I yearn for the days of something simpler with a manual pressure release.
Hi Nick – I don’t like the electronic release either. The steam release knob is similar to the original Duo models. I prefer the Pro release that automatically resets. https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/instant-pot-pro-review/
My comment concerns the non-stick pot I have one for both the 3 and 6 quart pots. I hope they have improved the quality. I never use the inserts any more because everything sticks. Other than that, I love my IPs, and the new edition looks great.
I read your write up on the Easy. You said it doesn’t have the stainless steel liner but then you list it has the stainless steel liner.
WHAT COMES WITH THE INSTANT POT EASY?
The Instapot Easy comes with a stainless steel inner cooking pot,
one silicone gasket, and a glass lid.
Thanks for the heads up Terri – I’ve correct it. It should read Easy comes with an aluminum non-stick ceramic coated inner cooking pot, one silicone gasket, and a glass lid.