Top-Rated Instant Pot for Making Soups & Stews: An Actionable Guide

When it comes to creating hearty, comforting soups and stews, the Instant Pot has quickly become one of the most favored kitchen appliances. It's not only perfect for cooking these dishes in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods, but it also enhances flavors, improves textures, and gives you more control over the cooking process. In this guide, we'll explore how to use the Instant Pot for making soups and stews, and we'll dive into the top-rated models that excel in this area.

Why the Instant Pot is Ideal for Soups & Stews

1. Speed and Efficiency

One of the standout features of the Instant Pot is its ability to significantly reduce cooking time, which is particularly valuable for soups and stews. Traditional stovetop methods often require hours of simmering to develop rich flavors and tender meats. With an Instant Pot, pressure cooking can turn a long-simmering dish into a quick meal, without sacrificing the depth of flavor.

For instance, a beef stew that would usually need to cook for 2-3 hours can be made in just 35 minutes in the Instant Pot. This speed is a game-changer for busy cooks who still want to enjoy the satisfaction of a long-simmered dish in a fraction of the time.

2. Flavor Enhancement

The sealed environment of the Instant Pot traps all the flavors and aromas inside, allowing ingredients to infuse each other more quickly and deeply than on a traditional stovetop. This means your soups and stews will develop richer, more complex flavors in less time. The high-pressure cooking process intensifies the flavors of meats, vegetables, herbs, and spices, resulting in dishes that taste like they've been simmering all day.

3. Tender Results

Pressure cooking is particularly beneficial for tougher cuts of meat, which are often used in soups and stews. In a regular pot, these meats might need hours of slow cooking to become tender. With an Instant Pot, they can become incredibly tender in a fraction of the time, making it an excellent choice for beef brisket, pork shoulder, or chicken thighs.

4. Hands-Off Cooking

Once you've prepped your ingredients and placed them in the Instant Pot, you can simply set it and walk away. This hands-off cooking is ideal for busy home cooks who want to multitask or relax while their meal is cooking. You won't need to babysit your soup or stew, and the Instant Pot will handle the rest.

5. Versatility in Cooking Techniques

The Instant Pot offers multiple cooking functions such as pressure cooking, sautéing, slow cooking, and steaming, all of which can be used for different stages of making soups and stews. For example, you can sauté onions, garlic, and spices before pressure cooking your main ingredients, or you can use the slow-cook function to prepare a simmered soup overnight.

Key Features to Look for in an Instant Pot for Soups & Stews

1. Pressure Cooking Function

Pressure cooking is essential for making soups and stews in an Instant Pot. This function allows for high-speed cooking that yields tender meats and flavorful broths. When choosing an Instant Pot for soups and stews, ensure that it has a reliable pressure cooking function with a range of preset times to suit different types of recipes.

2. Sauté Function

Many soup and stew recipes require sautéing ingredients like onions, garlic, or spices before adding liquid and cooking. The sauté function allows you to do this directly in the pot, which saves time and minimizes cleanup. Models with adjustable heat levels offer more control over how quickly you sauté ingredients, which is particularly useful for developing deep, caramelized flavors.

3. Slow Cooking Function

Some recipes, particularly stews, benefit from the slower cooking process that mimics traditional stovetop simmering. While the Instant Pot's pressure cooking feature is great for fast results, the slow cook function allows you to make soups and stews with the same gentle cooking method you would use in a slow cooker. This function is especially useful for dishes that require hours to develop flavors.

4. Keep Warm Function

The "Keep Warm" function is essential for soups and stews, as it helps maintain the temperature of your dish once it's finished cooking. This is particularly useful if you're serving a large group and want to keep the food warm until ready to serve.

5. Large Capacity

Soups and stews often involve cooking large batches to ensure everyone gets a satisfying serving. For this reason, it's important to choose an Instant Pot with enough capacity to handle your desired portions. A 6-quart model is sufficient for most families, but if you regularly cook for larger groups or want to batch-cook meals, an 8-quart model will give you more room.

Top-Rated Instant Pots for Making Soups & Stews

1. Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 6-Quart

Overview:

The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 6-Quart is one of the most popular models, offering excellent value for money. With its 7-in-1 functionality, it includes everything you need to make soups and stews, such as pressure cooking, sautéing, and slow cooking. The 6-quart size is perfect for most families, and it's incredibly easy to use.

Key Features:

• 6-quart capacity: Ideal for small to medium portions of soups and stews.
• 7-in-1 functionality: Includes pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, and more.
• Sauté function: Perfect for browning meat or sautéing vegetables before pressure cooking.
• Keep Warm feature: Keeps your soup or stew warm until serving.

Best For:

Home cooks who want a reliable, versatile Instant Pot that can handle everyday soup and stew recipes with ease.

2. Instant Pot Duo Nova 10-in-1 8-Quart

Overview:

The Instant Pot Duo Nova 8-quart model is an excellent choice for larger batches of soups and stews, making it perfect for families, parties, or meal prepping. It offers 10-in-1 functionality, adding yogurt making and sterilizing to the standard pressure cooking and slow cooking options. The easy-seal lid ensures a hassle-free cooking experience.

Key Features:

• 8-quart capacity: Great for larger batches of soup or stew.
• 10-in-1 functionality: Includes everything from pressure cooking to yogurt making.
• Easy-seal lid: Makes sealing the pot easier and more secure.
• Sauté and slow cook options: Provides flexibility for different cooking methods.

Best For:

Larger families or anyone who needs to cook large quantities of soup or stew at once.

3. Instant Pot Pro 10-in-1 8-Quart

Overview:

The Instant Pot Pro is a premium model designed for serious home cooks. It provides more precise temperature control, higher sauté temperatures, and customizable cooking programs. If you want to make soups and stews with more control over the cooking process, the Instant Pot Pro offers advanced features like adjustable pressure and time settings for the perfect results.

Key Features:

• 8-quart capacity: Large enough for family-sized meals.
• 10-in-1 functionality: Adds precise cooking options for different recipes.
• Higher sauté temperature: Perfect for caramelizing and browning before cooking.
• Customizable settings: Adjust pressure and cooking time for more control over your dish.

Best For:

Serious cooks who want to fine-tune their soup and stew recipes and need additional control over their cooking process.

4. Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 8-Quart

Overview:

The Instant Pot Ultra is the most advanced model in the Instant Pot lineup, featuring a sleek design, precise temperature control, and a customizable interface. It's perfect for making complex soups and stews that require specific settings and adjustments for pressure and cooking times.

Key Features:

• 8-quart capacity: Perfect for larger portions of soup or stew.
• 10-in-1 functionality: Offers everything you need, plus additional sterilizing and sous vide capabilities.
• Precise temperature control: Ideal for making delicate soups or stews that require precise cooking times.
• Customizable settings: Fine-tune pressure and time for the perfect texture and flavor.

Best For:

Experienced home cooks who want complete control over their cooking and the ability to make sophisticated soups and stews with exact specifications.

Conclusion

The Instant Pot has transformed the way we cook soups and stews, offering an unbeatable combination of speed, flavor enhancement, and hands-off convenience. By considering the specific features that suit your cooking style---such as pressure cooking, sautéing, and slow cooking---you can select the ideal Instant Pot model for your needs. Whether you're looking for a simple, reliable model or a more advanced one with precise controls, there's an Instant Pot that can take your soup and stew game to the next level.