Instant Pot Zest 20 Cup Rice Cooker, Steamer, Cooks Rice, Grains, Quinoa and Oatmeal, No Pressure Cooking Functionality

Cleaning can be difficult. So far, I've only used it with rice and steel-cut oats. Even when cooking just 2 cups of dry rice, starchy water sputters out of the top vent and runs down the outside; the lid and gasket are not removable, making cleaning the gasket difficult and impossible; and the perforated metal baffle inside the lid is not removable, making cleaning under/behind it impossible. Furthermore, starchy water accumulates on the inside rim, necessitating perseverance and possibly a Q-tip. Cleaning out all of the small crevices is a good idea. The non- Rice does not stick because of the excellent stick coating. It cleans up well in the dishwasher. I have yet to use the steaming feature. I don't think this cooker will last long, but it's not bad for the price. So, for the time being, I suppose it'll suffice.

Iris DAVISON

| Jul 14, 2021

In the Insta Zest 8 cup, I just finished my first pot of rice. The rice turned out perfectly, but that's the extent of my compliments. br>br>According to the cooker's instruction manual, white rice takes 25 to 30 minutes to cook. Cooking time is 60 minutes. What? With that kind of range, how do you plan a meal? I understand that the Zest isn't a pressure cooker and that the amount of food you cook determines how long it takes to cook, but why can't the so-called pressure cooker do the same? Can you tell me how long it will take to cook using a program called smart program? The dumb display, instead of displaying a countdown timer, only reads "ON" until 10 minutes before the cycle ends. It only tells you how much time is left after the 10 minute mark. The guide's chart could easily include specific times based on how much rice you're cooking, but it doesn't. br>br>Zest includes a steamer basket, but no instructions on how to use it are included in the package. The lid does not come off for cleaning, and there are no cleaning instructions in the guide that comes with the cooker. br>br>Don't waste your time downloading the app as suggested in the guide; it has recipes for a few other Instant appliances, but NOT for the Zest. br>br>The lid does not come off for cleaning, and there are NO cleaning instructions in the guide that comes with the cooker. Although there is a more comprehensive guide available online, having to look up such basic information is simply unacceptable. br>br>While most low-cost rice cookers produce excellent rice, I had hoped for better documentation and a more practical display. I'm not going to tell anyone about the Zest. Instant Pot and Instant Zest's creators should hire a technical writer to create a helpful User's Manual for each of their products.

Myles Mitchell

| Sep 27, 2021

I was really looking forward to receiving this item, but when I tried it, the water bubbling over flowed into the vent, making a huge mess! This is my second item that I've returned, and it's the same as the first. I'm very disappointed in you.

Ian Lee

| Feb 20, 2021

This was purchased for use in my dorm room to prepare rice and oatmeal. It's been a few weeks since I got it, and it's fantastic. The user interface is simple to use, and the latching lid prevents spills. I also appreciate how simple it is to maintain: The cooking pot is easy to remove, and the nonstick interior coating means it can be cleaned in less than a minute (no soaking required). The only minor criticism I have is that the cooking suggestions for water/time appear to be a little off, but with a little trial and error, you can figure out what works best. It's also quite small, probably only holding two cups of dry rice or oatmeal at most, but that's not a big deal if you're only cooking for one or two people. br>br>If you only need to feed one or two (possibly three) people and need a rice cooker that is effective, easy to use/clean, and compact (good for dorms/small apartments), this is an easy 5/5.

Zain Lindsay

| Jan 05, 2021

I've used this cooker three times with excellent results, but the last two times I tried it, it didn't heat up and thus didn't cook the rice. My return window has now closed, so I'm in contact with the manufacturer; time will tell how they handle the situation. br>br>****UPDATE***
I've been in contact with the manufacturer, who requested some photos of the unit and promptly honored their warranty by sending me a replacement. They were responsive and responsible, which I appreciated. I will gladly do business with this company again because I believe they provided excellent service to me as a customer.

Madilynn Curtis

| Nov 03, 2021

It was well worth the money! I really wanted the large Instant Pot with the insert so I could make a whole steamed meal for the family. I looked up every steamer on the market. Almost all of them had flaws and poor reviews, but the Instant Pot received rave reviews from all corners, and the one I really wanted cost $80. And, despite the fact that that was a fantastic price for a steamer that had excellent reviews and was not made with hazardous chemicals, it was still out of my price range. Not to mention the tier insert, which cost more than $30. So I went with what I could afford: a small Instant Zest rice cooker from the same company. br>I love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love love My family can eat a lot of rice thanks to it. It's always perfect and fluffy, and unlike most rice cookers, it doesn't spew starchy water. There was absolutely no mess! On the side, there's a handy little moisture catcher, and I really like the rice spoon. The small steamer basket has yet to be used by me. I'm excited to use this pot to cook some healthy grains and oats. I'm going to put money aside for the large Instant Pot with tier insert, which will take a long time to arrive. This is a fantastic consolation prize in the meantime.

Everly Yu

| Nov 21, 2021