What Is a Multi-Cooker and Is It Worth the Counter Space?
Multi-cookers are countertop appliances that combine the functions of multiple kitchen devices in a single unit. The most popular multi-cookers combine pressure cooking, slow cooking, sauteing, steaming and rice cooking. This guide explains what multi-cookers can do, the best models in Australia and whether one is worth adding to your kitchen.
What Can a Multi-Cooker Do?
The core functions of most multi-cookers:
- Pressure cooking: Cooks food up to 70% faster than stovetop methods by raising the boiling point of water under pressure
- Slow cooking: Low-and-slow cooking over 4–10 hours, equivalent to a dedicated slow cooker
- Sauté/browning: High-heat direct cooking in the pot, eliminating the need to use a separate pan for browning before slow or pressure cooking
- Steaming: Uses the steam from cooking liquid to steam vegetables, seafood and dumplings
- Rice cooking: Automated rice cooking with keep-warm function
- Yoghurt making: Fermentation at precise temperature (selected models)
Who Makes the Best Multi-Cookers in Australia?
Instant Pot
The original multi-cooker brand and still the market leader. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is the most popular multi-cooker in Australia. It combines pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, rice, yoghurt and warm functions in a 6-litre capacity. Excellent value and a proven track record.
Breville the Fast Slow Pro
Breville’s premium multi-cooker is the Australian market’s best-regarded domestic unit. It features precise pressure and temperature control, an easy-seal lid (a significant safety and usability improvement over Instant Pot’s twist-lock lid) and a broad cooking range. More expensive than Instant Pot but meaningfully better build quality.
Ninja Foodi
Ninja’s Foodi range adds air frying to multi-cooker functionality — allowing the same pot used for pressure cooking to also crisp and air-fry, further consolidating countertop appliances.
Is a Multi-Cooker Worth It?
Yes — for the following households: families who cook significant quantities of meat (pressure cooking large cuts in 30–60 minutes rather than hours); meal-preppers who want a set-and-forget slow cooker option; households with limited stovetop burners who want a separate unit for a simultaneous cooking function; and anyone who currently owns both a pressure cooker and a slow cooker and wants to consolidate them.
The counter space argument: a multi-cooker replaces at minimum 2–3 appliances (pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker) and uses similar or less space. For most households the consolidation is a net gain.
Shop Small Kitchen Appliances at Oceania Appliances
We carry Breville multi-cookers and a range of small kitchen appliances at our Wetherill Park showroom. Free delivery across Sydney. Call or WhatsApp 0422 489 492, email support@oceaniaappliances.com.au or visit 2/14 Centre Place, Wetherill Park. Open 7 days, 10am–8pm.