A new and improved Instant Pot is coming soon

The Instant Pot juggernaut shows no signs of stopping, despite a recent recall over one of its models. Cooks everywhere have come to depend on the machine’s versatility and speedy cooking. If you like the current models of Instant Pot, such as the one shown above, just wait until you see what is coming next. Taste of Home gives us a preview of the new and improved Instant Pot, set to hit stores in the next couple of months.

Even though the current crop of Instant Pots speed up the process of making beans, stock, soups, and stews, the new model, called Instant Pot Max, will be even faster. It has a higher pressure (15 psi vs. 12), meaning that the temperature will be increased and cooking speeds will be about 15 percent faster. There’s also a new automatic pressure-venting function, making it easier (and safer) to perform a quick release. 

Because the new IP will approach the pressure of conventional stovetop pressure cookiers, its maker says you can use it for canning. However, the USDA and National Center for Home Food Preservation (NCHFP) warn users that it may not be suitable for all types of canning. For now, the NCHFP recommends it only for water-bath canning applications and not for pressure canning use, because it has not yet tested the appliance to see if it reaches temperatures hot enough to destory Clostridium botulinum bacteria. 

The exterior of the Instant Pot Max also sees improvements. The interface is a touchscreen, and a dial has also been added. The dial will make it easier to make adjustments to the programmed cooking modes. Although no firm release date has yet been set, there is a rumor that the IP Max might be offered in early May, just in time for Mother’s Day.