Instant Pot Max 6 Quart Multi-use Electric Pressure Cooker with 15psi Pressure Cooking, Sous Vide, Auto Steam Release Control and Touch Screen

My Instant Pot Max is over five years old and still works like brand new. Anything I throw in it cooks perfectly. It will always be one of the most valuable tools in my kitchen. So glad I purchased this!!

What I like about it: small batch canning, easy set-up registering elevation (an important factor in canning), doesn’t heat up the house like a stovetop canner, Doesn’t take up too much more room than my regular Instant Pot, easy to clean, holds the temperature.What I wish it had included but didn’t: tested pressure canning recipes to the amounts four pint jars would hold, specific amount of water to use for the pressure canning function, a separate booklet for the canning function with listed different requirements for pressure canning vs water-bath canning vs steam canning…when to use venting and when to use no-venting. Most pressure canners that I’ve heard of include these things.This IP MAX should come with its own jar lifter as the one I bought doesn’t work because it’s too tight of a fit. I used my Cuisinart silicone gloves and glad I owned them.I sort of wish this wasn’t as versatile of an appliance as it isn’t just another Instant Pot, the canning aspect of this one makes this very different and although some may like that this does so very many things, the fact that it does so increases the possibility of user errors.I would recommend the product to potential buyers. I would also recommend that Instant Pot make a few tweaks to make this an easier go-to for small batch canning. And better yet, wish they would come up with a canning only model that has a better manual, recipes, etc.Good day to y’all.

I wanted to empty out my freezer as I always worried about what might happen in the event of an extended power outage. The best way to do that was canning. But, like many, I had PTSD for decades after my mother's pressure cooker blew up in the kitchen, leaving me leery of pressure cooking PERIOD. I finally bought this IP with a canning cycle. Once I got past the fear it would blow up, I have really put it to work. The most you can put in it is 4 pints. I'm fine with that amount at a time. The instructions tell you how to preset everything. You load your jars, hit CANNING, double-check your settings, hit START, come back 4 hours later and unload your jars. You don't have to baby sit it like manual canners. You load, start, unload. I do one to two loads a day and the freezer is slowly emptying out.

I have had a the Wifi version of one of these for 9 months, used it twice. When I decided it was a good time to start using it more, I found that the Wifi didn't work anymore due to their changing things around. I figured I would rather have a better display anyway.I don't do most of the things these are capable of, I simply do occasional slow cooking when I can do that with a smaller pot (I have a normal larger slow cooker for normal use) or for pressure cooking. Since I didn't need all the other bells and whistles, I found what I DID want was a good screen, with usable details. My Wifi model left me guessing if it was even working or not. I love how this one shows me the warm up, the pressure, the release, all the states as they happen.I don't have any issues with the interface, it's easy to set what I want, program or change programs, and see at a glance just what is happening right now.It IS odd not having the normal steam release but I'm getting used to that.It's worked well, handled what I've done with it easily. These really do offer so many better options for families for ways to cook, and shorter cook times. Mine will start getting much more use as I become more familiar with the things I can cook with it.

I have used and owned the ultra, the duo evo plus , the new IP pro, and hands I down prefer this model. I do not use anything but pressure cook and sauté as I prefer to program my times based on the recipe I use and prior experience. The yogurt and sous vide are present should I need them. What I like is the constant feedback as to process in the cycle (heating/under pressure/ post warming cycle with display of minutes.). It also displays actual temperature achieved, and allows you to change your venting from “no venting,” to intermediate, to rapid, before, during, after you have finished cooking. Since they have not yet elected to program a timed pressure release in, this works well. I love the intermittent release vs rapid release of pressure at that point in time, particularly when cooking something like a pea/bean soup or cheesecake.I love that the inner lining is stainless steel.I have never used the higher pressure obtainable and did not buy it for this purpose. I have a canner for canning. I would trust the unit for canning pint jars at the higher pressure.I bought this unit initially for $149. I bought a back up to use concurrent with my prior as I love sautéing and gently cooking vegetables as I’m cooking other portions of my meal. The current offer is a steal. With gas prices high and escalating, utilizing an efficient unit like this as an extra burner may be under consideration.My only complaint is that they don’t have an 8 quart version.