Instant Pot Mini Seasalt White Review

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One piece of kitchen equipment that has revolutionised kitchens is the new electric pressure cooker and multi-cooker. It is one of the most popular kitchen appliances in the US and the UK. The most talked about in this category is the Instant Pot. It was so well-marketed and almost everyone I know bought one.

I have had a couple of multi-cookers from other brands, the Ninja Foodi and Bosch multi-cookers. There are comparable in price and function but both of these are quite big and take up a lot of counter space in a London kitchen. If you have a bigger country kitchen, this is a piece of kit that can stay on your kitchen counter an used frequently.

But the new Instant Pot Mini, is smaller, lighter and cooks faster. Perfect for couple or students who don’t need to cook for big groups. And the footprint is smaller and takes up less space on the kitchen counter.

You can check out the latest price for the Instant Pot Mini on Amazon.

What Is the Instant Pot Mini?

Recently, Instant Pot launched their cute new Instant Pot Mini, which is smaller, cooks up to 4 portions or 3.8L capacity. This size suits me perfectly as I only cook about 1- 2 portions normally and it doesn’t take up much space on the countertop.

My rice cooker is about the same size and I usually only use that to cook rice, even though it can do other things. I decided to use this new mini Instant Pot like a rice cooker in addition to the pressure cooker function. From my testing, it works really well as a rice cooker and is quite quick too, about 20 minutes in the pressure cooker. My rice cooker used to take about 45 minutes.

Cooking rice in the Instant Pot

Most Asian households have a rice cooker, the staple carb for most people. The Instant Pot can be a good replacement if you use it to cook other things like soups and stews too.

Instant Pot for home-made Chinese Hot Pot or steamboat

Using the pressure cooker function to make the soup broth and then using the saute function and the lid open for a hot pot meal. (A hot pot or steamboat is a meal where you cook your meat and veg in boiling hot broth, sometimes called Chinese fondue. It is an interactive and fun way to eat and very popular in the newer Northern Chinese restaurants today.)

The Instant Pot Mini Features

This new mini Instant Pot comes in 3 colours, seasalt white (sort of cream), daydream blue and black pepper.
7 in 1 functions including pressure cooker, slow cooker, saute, steam, egg cooker, yoghurt,
Hands-off cooking – you just select your function, set the time and simply press Start.
Worry-free and easy to use pressure cooker – easy auto-sealing lid and safe steam release switch.
Easy to clean – The mini’s stainless steel inner pot, lid and accessories are dishwasher-safe.

An interesting advantage of the Mini: it often comes to pressure faster than larger models because there’s less volume to heat. For small portions, this can shave 2-3 minutes off your total cooking time. However, the cooking time under pressure remains the same regardless of pot size, chicken breasts take the same 8-10 minutes whether you’re cooking two or six.

Instant Pot Mini vs Original: Key Differences Explained

Size and Capacity

The most obvious difference is capacity. The Instant Pot Mini holds 3.8 L, whilst the standard Duo holds 5.7L. The Mini cooks enough for 4 people for certain dishes and the bigger model feeds 4-6 people.

Mini capacity: Perfect for 2-3 cups of uncooked rice, 500g of meat, small whole chickens (under 1.5kg), or 3-4 servings of soup or stew.

Standard capacity: Handles 4-6 cups of rice, whole chickens up to 2.5kg, large batches for freezing, and entertaining-sized portions.

An interesting advantage of the Mini: it often comes to pressure faster than larger models because there’s less volume to heat. For small portions, this can shave 2-3 minutes off your total cooking time. However, the cooking time under pressure remains the same regardless of pot size, chicken breasts take the same 8-10 minutes whether you’re cooking two or six. You can get the full product details on the official website here.

Ideal For:

• Singles and couples who cook for 1-2 people daily
• Students in halls or shared houses with limited kitchen space
• Small households that rarely batch cook or entertain
• Caravan and motorhome owners needing compact, versatile cooking equipment
• Older adults downsizing their kitchens or finding large appliances too heavy

You can check out the latest price for the Instant Pot Mini on Amazon.

Asian Recipes Perfect for the Mini

The Instant Pot Mini is particularly brilliant for Asian dishes, which often rely on rice, noodles, and flavourful broths, perfect for 1-2 servings.

1. Perfect Rice -Jasmine, Basmati Sushi or Sticky Rice – 1-2 cups of fluffy, perfectly cooked rice in 12 minutes
2. Vietnamese Pho Broth – aromatic beef or chicken stock base
3. Chinese Steamed Whole Fish – delicate, perfectly cooked fish with ginger and spring onions
4. Chinese Congee (Rice Porridge) – comforting breakfast or light meal
5. Japanese Chicken Curry – rich, mildly spiced curry with vegetables
6. Thai Red Curry – fragrant coconut-based curry with chicken or prawns
7. Korean Soft Tofu Stew (Soondubu-jjigae) – spicy, silky comfort food
8. Hainanese Chicken Rice – poached chicken with flavourful rice (use chicken legs or thighs for better fit)
9. Taiwanese Braised Pork Belly (Lu Rou Fan) – melt-in-your-mouth pork belly in soy-based sauce
10. Chinese Tea Eggs – marbled soy-sauce eggs, perfect for snacks
11. Korean Beef Short Ribs (Galbi-jjim) – tender, sweet-savoury braised ribs
12. Japanese Curry Rice – mild, slightly sweet curry with carrots and potatoes
13. Thai Massaman Curry – rich, peanutty curry with beef or chicken
14. Chinese Steamed Egg Custard – silky, savoury comfort food
15. Congee with Century Egg and Pork – traditional Chinese breakfast porridge
16. Malaysian Rendang – intensely flavoured slow-cooked beef curry
17. Miso Soup with Tofu – quick, warming Japanese soup

Western and International Recipes

The Instant Pot Mini handles international cuisines really well too, from comfort food classics to Mediterranean-inspired dishes.

1. Risotto – creamy, perfectly cooked risotto without constant stirring (mushroom, asparagus, or butternut squash)
2. Mac and Cheese – indulgent, creamy pasta dish for two
3. Beef Stew – tender chunks of beef with root vegetables
4. Chicken Soup – classic comfort food with vegetables and noodles
5. Bolognese Sauce – rich meat sauce for pasta night
6. Pulled Pork – tender shredded pork for sandwiches or tacos
7. Steel-Cut Oats – perfectly creamy porridge for breakfast
8. Poached Eggs – easy breakfast eggs cooked in ramekins
9. Vegetarian Chilli – hearty bean-based chilli with plenty of flavour
10. Lentil Soup – warming, nutritious soup with vegetables
11. Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes – bright, herbaceous one-pot meal
12. Lamb Tagine – Moroccan-spiced stew with apricots and almonds
13. Cheesecake – small 6-inch cheesecake using pot-in-pot method
14. Apple Compote or Apple Butter – easy fruit dessert or breakfast topping
15. Yoghurt – homemade yoghurt in small batches
16. Bone Broth – nutrient-rich stock (though limited volume)

The mini size is not good for those who regularly entertain or cook for gatherings, often do batch cooking or those who want to cook whole large chickens, big joints of meat, or large pots of stock.

Can I cook rice and a main dish simultaneously?

With the pot-in-pot method (using a separate container inside), space is limited. You can cook rice in the main pot with a smaller dish of vegetables or protein steaming above, though portion size is limited to the space available.

You can check out the latest price for the Instant Pot Mini on Amazon.

Tips for Cooking Successfully in the Instant Pot Mini

• Respect the minimum and maximum fill lines: Never fill above the two-thirds line for most foods, or the half-line for foods that expand like rice, grains, or beans. The Mini needs space for pressure to build safely.
• Adjust recipes thoughtfully: When halving recipes, keep the liquid requirements similar—pressure cookers need a minimum amount of liquid to function (usually around 250ml).
• Use the pot-in-pot method: Invest in small, oven-safe dishes that fit inside the Mini. This allows you to cook rice below with a separate dish steaming above, maximising your cooking space.
• Consider batch cooking strategically: Make 2-3 portions and refrigerate or freeze extras rather than trying to cram in larger quantities.

Is the Instant Pot Mini Worth It?

The Instant Pot Mini is a great piece of kit if you often cook for just one or two people and you have limited kitchen space. It is also energy efficient, faster time to pressure and easier to store.

Having it readily available on the kitchen counter, I found it so convenient that I used it more than my bigger multicookers. Being only 4kg in weight, I can move it around easily and can bring it to a friend’s house for a potluck if needed.

You can check out the latest price for the Instant Pot Mini on Amazon.

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