Compact kitchen appliances are definitely all the rage today. It goes along with the current trend of living small, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that people need to downsize their lifestyle as well. With a limited food preparation space, you can’t just buy every kitchen appliance that will make cooking a lot easier since there’ll be nowhere to put them.
Luckily, Instant Pot is here to save the day and your kitchen counter space. With its several multifunctional kitchen appliances, you won’t have to be limited in which culinary technique you can use at home because their products can help you enjoy various ways of cooking with just a single unit.
Take the Instant Pot IP-LUX50, for example. This unit is a 6-in-1 kitchen appliance that can serve as a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté/browning unit, and warmer.
With just a few button presses, you can instantly change the functionality of this unit, providing more ways to enjoy food in your tiny home.
For small homes, every furniture and item that will take space should be worth it. With the IP-LUX50’s six functionalities in one compact unit, it can definitely help make the most out of your home’s tiny space.
Features
If you’re already intrigued about what the IP-LUX50 can offer, here are its top features that might convince you to get one for your small home.
- Large LED control panel that will let you select a setting from the unit’s 10 built-in smart programs. This makes switching functionalities and controlling cooking settings a lot easier and simpler.
- Equipped with 10 safety mechanisms (Safety Lid Lock, Leaky Lid Smart Detection, Magnetic Sensor for Lid Position Detection, Pressure Regulator, Anti-Blockage Vent, Automatic Pressure Control, Excess Pressure Protection, Automatic Temperature Control, High Temperature Monitoring, and automatic fuse shut down), it is designed to keep users safe.
- It has a 5-quart, 3-ply bottom pot that is made from food grade, heavy stainless steel. It also comes with a stainless steel steaming rack.
- With an Automatic Keep Warm setting that will maintain the temperature of your food as if you’ve just finished cooking for up to ten hours, it ensures that you can always enjoy a piping hot meal every time.
- Schedule your cooking time in advance even while you’re not home yet with this unit’s delay timer that you can set up to 24 hours later.
Pros
- Its compact size makes it ideal for small homes, apartments, mobile homes, and even dorm rooms.
- It’s very easy to use as all you need to do is press a few buttons and you’re already good to go.
- You can schedule when to start cooking, so even if you’re going to use the slow cooker function, you can still be sure that you’ll come home to a hot meal.
- It can help you eat better and healthier as it makes cooking so much easier.
- You can now improve your cooking skills and experiment with various culinary methods without having to spend too much on tools and equipment.
- It comes with a recipe book, so you can be sure to never run out of options when it comes to what dishes to make. Electric pressure cooker recipes are also easily available online, making more options easily available to you.
- It’s a lot more affordable than other stand-alone units, so you can be sure that you’re saving a lot of money by opting for the IP-LUX50.
- It’s energy efficient since pressure cooking can cut down your cooking time to a fraction of what it will normally take if you want to tenderize your ingredients on a stove.
- You can make a wide range of dishes with just this single kitchen appliance.
Cons
- You’ll need to spend a relatively large amount upfront to get the unit, but since it is multifunctional, it’s definitely worth every penny.
- It doesn’t have a low pressure setting for pressure cooking.
Comparison
Those who are eyeing the IP-LUX50 might also find other units attractive and suitable to their needs. The Instant Pot IP-LUX60 and Instant Pot IP-DUO60 are usually the closest competitors of this unit as they offer nearly the same features and capabilities.
What sets the IP-LUX50 apart is that it’s the smallest in the bunch. This makes it the ideal size for those who are living alone and small households. If you only prepare food for two persons, a small appliance is always the best option to prevent wasting food and easier portioning.
The IP-LUX60 is largely the same with the IP-LUX50, except it has a 6-quart capacity. Everything else is the same.
As for the IP-DUO60, it’s definitely a step up from the IP-LUX50. Not only does it have a larger capacity with its 6-quart pot, but it can also function as a yogurt maker. There are also 14 built-in settings in this unit, making it capable of providing users more control on the appliance’s functionalities.
Verdict
Your small home may have limited floor area, but with an Instant Pot IP-LUX50, it won’t lack in functionality. Your kitchen will surely produce a wide range of dishes in a jiffy, making it the envy of many full-sized kitchens nearby.
This multifunctional appliance is a great addition to your kitchen without taking up too much space, extending your home’s capabilities despite its small size.