Mealthy Electric Pressure Cooker An In-Depth Review

Welcome to our in-depth Mealthy Multipot review, designed to help you make an informed decision on your next kitchen appliance! In today’s bustling kitchens, multi-cookers have become indispensable tools, promising efficiency and versatility. But with so many options on the market, choosing the best pressure cooker can be a daunting task. This article will delve into what sets the Mealthy Multipot apart, its key features, and how it compares to other popular models, ensuring you have all the information you need to find the perfect fit for your culinary adventures.

mealthy multipot hero image

Are you new to the exciting world of pressure cooking and considering the Mealthy Multipot as your first foray? Or perhaps you’re an experienced chef looking to expand your arsenal with a second electric pressure cooker and wondering if the Mealthy is a worthy addition? Allow us to share our comprehensive insights into why this pot has quickly become a favorite in our kitchen. We’ll explore its impressive speed in cooking meals, its unique characteristics that differentiate it from competitors, and provide a candid assessment of its performance. We extend special thanks to Mealthy for providing us with this 8-quart unit, enabling us to conduct thorough testing and share our unbiased findings with you.

Mealthy MultiPot: An Unbiased Review

Having previously conducted a detailed Instant Pot vs. Ninja Foodi comparison, we’re well-versed in the nuances of electric multi-cookers. Now, we’re excited to evaluate the Mealthy Multipot, highlighting how this innovative appliance is both similar to and remarkably different from other leading brands on the market. Our aim is to provide a clear perspective on its capabilities and value proposition, helping you navigate the choices effectively.

Furthermore, we’ll be introducing you to the revolutionary NEW Mealthy CrispLid! This ingenious accessory, when paired with your Mealthy Multipot, transforms it into a versatile air fryer, opening up a world of culinary possibilities. Imagine effortlessly preparing easy air fryer dinner recipes alongside a plethora of cheap and easy Instant Pot recipes, all within the convenience of your Mealthy. The integration of these two devices truly unlocks unparalleled versatility in your kitchen. One of the most striking advantages of the Mealthy Multipot, especially for those new to pressure cooking or looking for maximum value, lies in what’s included right out of the box. Prepare to be impressed!

mealthy multipot accessories

Mealthy MultiPot: Unboxing and Unbeatable Value

One of the most appealing aspects of the Mealthy MultiPot is the incredible value it offers. You receive a comprehensive package of essential items right inside your box. While the 6-quart model is consistently available at an attractive price point, often under $100.00, we found the larger 8-quart unit to be an even better investment, especially if space allows.

  • Mealthy generously sent us the 8-quart MultiPot for review, which was a welcome upgrade given our other machines are smaller. This allowed us to truly appreciate the difference in cooking capacity and flexibility that a larger pot provides, particularly for family meals or batch cooking.
  • The price difference between the 6-quart and 8-quart models is often so slight that we wholeheartedly recommend opting for the larger version. The additional capacity significantly enhances its utility without a substantial increase in cost.

Both the 6-quart and 8-quart versions come equipped with a thoughtful array of accessories, ensuring you’re ready to cook from day one, without needing to purchase additional items:

  1. Trivet with Handles: Essential for steaming, cooking pot-in-pot, or keeping food elevated from liquids. The handles make it easy and safe to lift hot dishes.
  2. Mini Silicone Mitts: Perfect for handling the hot inner pot or removing items from the cooker safely. A small but incredibly useful addition.
  3. Stainless Steel Steamer Basket: Ideal for steaming vegetables, fish, or other delicate foods, retaining nutrients and flavor.
  4. Extra Silicone Gasket (Sealing Ring): This is a game-changer! Having an additional sealing ring is invaluable, as rings can absorb odors from strong-smelling foods. A spare allows you to dedicate one to savory dishes and one to sweet, preventing flavor transfer.
  5. Measuring Cup: A convenient tool for precise liquid measurements, ensuring your recipes turn out perfectly.
  6. Small Ladle: Handy for serving soups, stews, or chili directly from the pot.
  7. Rice Paddle: Designed specifically for scooping and serving rice without crushing the grains.

While you can always explore additional pressure cooker accessories to further customize your cooking experience, the Mealthy MultiPot ensures you have all the fundamental tools right from the start, a testament to its exceptional value.

mealthy multipot cookbook

Mealthy Cookbook & Expanding Your Culinary Horizons

Every Mealthy MultiPot comes with a starter cookbook, filled with inspiring recipes to kickstart your pressure cooking journey. For our initial culinary experiment, we opted for a classic: chili. While we used a recipe from the Mealthy cookbook as a foundational guide, we always encourage personalizing dishes. In true kitchen fashion, we tweaked it slightly to incorporate ingredients already on hand in our fridge and pantry. This adaptability is one of the joys of cooking with a multi-cooker—it’s easy to make a recipe your own!

  • You truly can’t go wrong with a hearty Ninja Foodi chili recipe (which works perfectly in the Mealthy!) paired with fluffy pressure cooker baked potatoes for a comforting and satisfying dinner.

Mealthy Sauté Function: Efficiency Unleashed

The sauté function is a cornerstone of one-pot cooking with multi-cookers, allowing you to brown meats and sauté aromatics directly in the inner pot before pressure cooking. This eliminates the need for extra pans and makes cleanup a breeze. While similar buttons exist on the Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi (and the “brown/sauté” on the Crockpot Express), the Mealthy MultiPot’s sauté function truly stands out.

  • We observed that the Mealthy’s sauté function heated up noticeably quicker than its competitors, reducing pre-cooking time.
  • It also seemed to reach a higher, more consistent temperature, ensuring rapid and effective browning of ingredients. This meant the initial steps of many recipes were completed in no time at all.
  • Overall, we were extremely pleased with its performance, finding it robust and efficient for searing, browning, and caramelizing.
mealthy multipot cooking

Moving on to the core functionality, the pressure cooker feature on the Mealthy is intuitively designed for ease of use and versatility:

  • Simply select the “Pressure” button to activate this function.
  • A significant advantage is the ability to easily adjust the pressure from high to low. This flexibility is crucial for cooking a wide range of dishes, from delicate seafood that benefits from lower pressure to tougher cuts of meat requiring high pressure for tender results. Notably, some Instant Pot models do not offer this specific level of manual adjustment, making Mealthy a superior choice for tailored cooking. We truly appreciate the option to choose either setting depending on the recipe.
  • Another user-friendly feature we love is that the Mealthy automatically begins the cooking cycle once you’ve set the heat level and desired time. This might seem minor, but it’s a huge convenience. In contrast, both the Crockpot Express and Ninja Foodi pots require an additional “Start” button press, a step that can sometimes be forgotten (leading to unexpected delays in meal preparation!).

Multi-Cooker vs. Instant Pot: Understanding the Terms

The question “Is a multi-cooker the same as an Instant Pot?” is a common one. The answer is yes, essentially! “Instant Pot” has become a household name, often used generically to refer to any electric pressure cooker, much like “Kleenex” for tissues. However, a multi-cooker is a broader category of appliance, and Instant Pot is merely one brand within it. Functionally, these devices excel at performing multiple cooking tasks, consolidating several appliances into one compact unit.

  • Indeed, the Mealthy MultiPot epitomizes this versatility, acting as a single appliance that performs the job of 7-in-1 different kitchen tools. It seamlessly transitions between being a slow cooker for tender, all-day stews, an electric pressure cooker for lightning-fast meals, a precise rice cooker, an efficient steamer, a convenient yogurt maker, and a powerful sauté pan. This multi-functionality is what truly defines a modern multi-cooker, saving counter space and simplifying your cooking process.
mealthy multipot chili

Choosing the Best MultiPot: Factors to Consider

When searching for the “best multi pot,” the Mealthy MultiPot consistently emerges as a top contender, especially if you’re looking for an inexpensive pressure cooker that provides exceptional value from the outset. It manages to offer all the same core functions as other, often more expensive, models currently on the market. As we’ve emphasized, the primary differences among the four major brands—Mealthy, Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, and Crockpot Express—often boil down to specific design choices and bundled accessories, rather than fundamental cooking capabilities.

  • One crucial differentiating factor, and often a matter of personal preference, is the type of inner pot material. This can significantly impact cooking and cleaning experiences.
    • If you prefer the durability and non-reactive properties of a stainless steel cooking pot, both the Mealthy MultiPot and many Instant Pot models offer this option. Stainless steel pots are excellent for browning and are generally very resilient.
    • Alternatively, if you appreciate the convenience of a non-stick pot for easier cleanup and less sticking, the Ninja Foodi and Crock Pot Express come equipped with a non-stick inner pot. It’s important to note that these are typically not Teflon, but rather a more durable and safer ceramic-based non-stick coating.
      • This ceramic coating ensures food releases easily, making it a great choice for dishes prone to sticking or for those who prioritize minimal scrubbing after cooking.

Ultimately, the choice is yours, guided by your specific cooking preferences and priorities. Our goal in sharing this detailed information is to illustrate how remarkably similar these appliances are in their core functionality, empowering you to choose the one that best suits your lifestyle and budget.

mealthy multipot control panel

Mealthy MultiPot: Intuitive Buttons for Effortless Cooking

The Mealthy MultiPot’s control panel features a user-friendly array of pre-set buttons, designed to simplify cooking various dishes with optimal results. While these buttons are incredibly handy, especially for beginners, experienced users often find themselves utilizing the manual pressure cook function for greater control and customization. Let’s break down the common functions:

  1. Poultry: Perfectly calibrated for cooking chicken, turkey, or other fowl, ensuring tender and juicy results. Excellent for preparing a pressure cooker whole chicken in a fraction of the time.
  2. Meat/Stew: Ideal for tougher cuts of meat, breaking down fibers to create succulent stews and roasts. Great when cooking beef stew meat to perfection.
  3. Beans/Chili: Specifically designed to cook dried beans without pre-soaking and to create rich, flavorful chili. Essential when starting with chili with dry beans.
  4. Soup/Broth: Offers a slower cooking profile, ideal for extracting maximum flavor from ingredients to make nourishing pressure cooker soups and homemade broths.
  5. Rice: This is our go-to method for cooking rice! It automatically sets the ideal time and pressure, guaranteeing that white rice comes out fluffy and perfect every single time.
  6. Multi-Grain: While we personally haven’t extensively used this function, it’s designed for cooking various grains like quinoa, barley, or farro.
  7. Porridge: A fantastic option for effortlessly preparing creamy breakfasts, such as pressure cooker oatmeal.
  8. Pressure Cook Function: This manual setting is used almost daily in our kitchen. It allows you to precisely set the pressure level (high or low) and the cooking time, offering ultimate control.
  9. Slow Cook: Although included, we haven’t found this function to replicate the performance of a traditional, dedicated Crockpot as effectively. For true slow cooking, we often revert to our “old fashioned” slow cooker.
  10. Sauté: As mentioned, this feature effectively replaces your stovetop for browning and searing, making it an indispensable part of one-pot meals.
  11. Steam: While useful for steaming vegetables or fish, we haven’t utilized it as much as other functions.
  12. Egg: A convenient automatic button for perfectly cooking hard-boiled eggs with consistent results.
  13. Cake: Designed for baking cakes or other desserts directly in the pressure cooker, a function we haven’t yet explored.
  14. Yogurt: For those who enjoy homemade dairy products, this button simplifies the process of making fresh pressure cooker yogurt.

While the Mealthy MultiPot offers a wide array of specialized buttons, we primarily rely on the first five pre-sets or, more frequently, the manual “Pressure Cook” function. As you gain confidence, you’ll discover which settings work best for your favorite recipes. Initially, these pre-set buttons are incredibly handy for building familiarity and ensuring consistent results.

mealthy pressure cooker display

Maintaining Your Mealthy: How to Clean the Pot and Lid

Proper maintenance is key to the longevity and hygiene of any kitchen appliance, and the Mealthy MultiPot is no exception. Upon delivery or purchase, you’ll notice the sleek packaging, and often, an accompanying recipe app. It’s worth reiterating that all our pressure cooker Ninja Foodi recipes are perfectly adaptable for your Mealthy MultiPot, offering a vast library of culinary inspiration. Cleaning the lid, in particular, requires a bit of attention to ensure optimal performance and to prevent odors from lingering. Here’s a simple guide:

  • Always start by washing the lid thoroughly with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. Gentle cleaning helps preserve the components.
  • Carefully remove the steam release valve by simply lifting it off. This allows you to clean beneath it and ensure no food particles are trapped.
  • Next, take out the inner silicone sealing ring. This flexible ring is crucial for creating the airtight seal necessary for pressure cooking. Wash it separately, paying close attention to all its nooks and crannies, where food residue or odors can accumulate.
  • After washing, thoroughly rinse both the underside and outside of the lid to remove any soap residue. Allow all components to air dry completely before reassembling and storing.
  • For added convenience, the lid components (the main lid, steam valve, and sealing ring) are typically dishwasher safe. If you prefer machine washing, simply remove the steam valve and sealing ring and place all three pieces on the upper rack of your dishwasher.

If you find that your sealing ring still retains stubborn odors from strong-smelling foods, a natural remedy can help. Mix ½ a lemon, 1 cup of distilled vinegar, and 1 cup of water. Rub this solution onto the sealing ring, or for intense smells, you can submerge the ring in the liquid for a period. This method effectively neutralizes odors without harsh chemicals.

pressure cooker hoisin chicken recipe

Mealthy Recipes & Culinary Community

Embarking on your Mealthy MultiPot journey means access to an extensive world of recipes. As previously mentioned, our vast collection of Instant Pot recipes are perfectly transferable to your Mealthy, offering endless inspiration. There is literally no difference in how you’d follow them, ensuring a seamless cooking experience.

  • Many of our recipes come with detailed video tutorials, providing visual guidance to help you master your pot and achieve culinary perfection.
  • We share invaluable tips and tricks for each meal, ensuring you get perfect results every time, from ingredient preparation to serving suggestions.
  • You’ll find clear, step-by-step instructions and impressively short cook times for all our recipes. We promise that food cooks in absolutely no time at all when you harness the power of this fantastic new kitchen appliance.
  • And for those new to pressure cooking, there’s no need to be apprehensive about the steam release valve. As long as you maintain a safe distance and keep your fingers and skin away from the venting steam, you’ll operate it just fine!

Beyond our website, the free Mealthy App is an excellent resource, downloadable to your phone, and a handy companion to have in your kitchen. It provides quick access to a plethora of recipes and cooking guides.

  • Excitingly, Mealthy has also introduced an innovative air fryer lid specifically designed for your pressure cooker!
  • We have a dedicated guide on how to turn your Instant Pot into an air fryer, and the good news is that this revolutionary CrispLid fits on all 6 and 8-quart models, regardless of brand, expanding your cooking capabilities significantly.
instant crisp lid attachment

*** Are you seeking a single machine that combines the functionality of both a pressure cooker and an air fryer? Look no further! Mealthy is at the forefront with their innovative air fryer lid that fits on both the Mealthy MultiPot and Instant Pot models. We’ll be sharing more details and our personal experience with this game-changing accessory as soon as ours arrives, providing a comprehensive review of its performance and versatility. We can’t wait to show you how well it works! 😉

  • If you’re still contemplating whether pressure cooking is the right choice for you, allow us to offer a resounding YES! It utterly transforms meal prep, turning what could be hours in the kitchen into a quick, effortless process. In fact, we find ourselves rarely using our traditional oven or stovetop anymore, save for the occasional birthday cake. It truly is that life-changing! The efficiency, convenience, and delicious results make the Mealthy MultiPot an indispensable appliance for any modern kitchen.

And for those who appreciate kitchen appliances that offer diverse functionalities, you might also find great interest in the Multo CookingPal pot, another innovative multi-tasking device designed to simplify your culinary life.