Instant Pot

Last updated

Instant Pot
Type Multicooker
InventorRobert Wang
Inception2010;14 years ago (2010)
ManufacturerInstant Pot Brands
AvailableYes
Current supplier Midea Group [1]
Models made
  • Accu
  • Vortex Air Fryer
  • Vortex Oven
  • Ace
  • Omni
  • Duo Crisp
  • RIO
  • RIO Wide
  • RIO Chef
  • Superior Cooker
  • Pro Crisp
  • Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid
  • Dual Pod Plus Coffee Maker
  • Stand Mixer Pro
Website instantpot.com

Instant Pot is a brand of multicookers manufactured by Instant Pot Brands. The multicookers are electronically controlled, combined pressure cookers and slow cookers.

Contents

The original cookers were marketed as 6-in-1 appliances designed to consolidate the cooking and preparing of food to one device. The brand later expanded to include non-pressure slow cookers which can be left on for 8 hours or more, sous-vide immersion circulators, blenders, air fryers and rice cookers.

History

In 2009, Robert Wang and two partners, both former colleagues at Nortel in Ottawa, Canada, started what would become Instant Pot. Both partners left, but he was soon joined by friends Yi Qin and Dongjun Wang, who had also previously worked in the region's tech sector, both at BlackBerry (RIM). [2] [ failed verification ] [3] Robert Wang is credited as the inventor of the Instant Pot. The first model was marketed as a "6-in-1" device and operated as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice or porridge cooker, yogurt maker, sauté/searing pan, steamer, and food warmer. [4]

In April 2019 Instant Pot merged with Corelle Brands, owned by a private equity firm Cornell Capital, which owns kitchen brands such as Pyrex, Corelle, Corningware and SnapWare, for an undisclosed amount of money. [5] The Spoon says "(The deal) makes the company the first kitchen tech unicorn of this generation". [6] The merged company was later renamed to Instant Brands.

Bankruptcy

On June 12, 2023, Instant Brands filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after high interest rates and waning access to credit hit its cash position and made its debts unsustainable. [7] In February of 2024, the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas approved the restructuring plan.

In November of 2023, private equity firm Centre Lane Partners acquired the appliance division of Instant Brands, restructuring it to emerge from bankruptcy in March of 2024 as a stand-alone company called Instant Pot Brands.

Viral marketing

The Instant Pot was an unconventional viral marketing success story, with owners often describing themselves as "addicts" or "cult members." [8] The brand was never advertised on TV or in newspapers, but the word-of-mouth publicity and fanatic fans spawned a near-religious devotion. [9] In Nov. 2017, Instant Pot's Facebook group had over 750,000 members. The group gained more than 10,000 members in 30 days from mid-October through mid-November, and had as many as 7,000 posts each day. [10] Robert Wang says that from the beginning the intention was to let the product speak for itself. He called this the "build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door" marketing strategy. [11]

Family Guy Season 17, Episode 15 depicted how Instant Pot fans persuade people to buy an Instant Pot. [12]

On 2016 Amazon Prime Day, Instant Pot was the No.1 bestselling non-Amazon product in the US. "Members purchased over 215,000 Instant Pot 7-in-1 Multi-Functional Pressure Cookers". [13] On 2017 Amazon Prime Day, Instant Pot was the No.1 bestseller in the US and Canada. [14] On 2018 Amazon Prime Day, again Instant Pot was No.1 in the US and Canada, "Members purchased more than 300,000 Instant Pot". [15] Instant Pot is the only 3rd party product which dominated Amazon Prime Day for three consecutive years.

Smithsonian National Museum of American History exhibition "FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950–2000" features Instant Pot as multicookers for multitaskers. [16]

Recalls

In July 2015 the Instant Pot Smart-60 cooker was recalled, affecting about 1,140 units in Canada and the United States. The defect caused electric current to leak, which could potentially shock the product's user. There were four reported instances of this shock before it was recalled. [17]

In February 2018, five production runs of Instant Pot Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicookers were recalled because they were overheating and subsequently melting due to a manufacturing defect. [18]

Models

Several different models of the Instant Pot have been sold. [19]

ModelDescription
Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus10-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker
Instant Pot Duo7-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker
Instant Pot Duo Crisp11-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker and air fryer
Instant Pot Duo Nova7-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker
Instant Pot Duo Plus9-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker
Instant Pot Smart WifiMulti-use programmable pressure cooker with control over WiFi
Instant Pot Ultra10-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker
Instant Pot Lux6-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker
Instant Pot Max15psi pressure cooker
Instant Pot Aura10-in-1 multi-use programmable slow cooker
Instant Pot Aura Pro10-in-1 multi-use programmable slow cooker
Instant Pot Gem8-in-1 multicooker
Instant Pot Viva9-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker
Instant Pot RIO7-in-1 multi-use programmable pressure cooker

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pressure cooker</span> Device for preparing food

A pressure cooker is a sealed vessel for cooking food with the use of high pressure steam and water or a water-based liquid, a process called pressure cooking. The high pressure limits boiling and creates higher temperatures not possible at lower pressures, allowing food to be cooked faster than at normal pressure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyrex</span> Trademark for borosilicate glass

Pyrex is a brand introduced by Corning Inc. in 1915, initially for a line of clear, low-thermal-expansion borosilicate glass used for laboratory glassware and kitchenware. It was later expanded in the 1930s to include kitchenware products made of soda–lime glass and other materials.

Caloric is a brand of kitchen appliances, which dates back to 1903.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kitchen stove</span> Kitchen appliance designed for the purpose of cooking food

A kitchen stove, often called simply a stove or a cooker, is a kitchen appliance designed for the purpose of cooking food. Kitchen stoves rely on the application of direct heat for the cooking process and may also contain an oven, used for baking. "Cookstoves" are heated by burning wood or charcoal; "gas stoves" are heated by gas; and "electric stoves" by electricity. A stove with a built-in cooktop is also called a range.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Slow cooker</span> Countertop electrical cooking appliance used to simmer food

A slow cooker, also known as a crock-pot, is a countertop electrical cooking appliance used to simmer at a lower temperature than other cooking methods, such as baking, boiling, and frying. This facilitates unattended cooking for many hours of dishes that would otherwise be boiled: pot roast, soups, stews and other dishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Induction cooking</span> Direct induction heating of cooking vessels

Induction cooking is a cooking process using direct electrical induction heating of cooking vessels, rather than relying on indirect radiation, convection, or thermal conduction. Induction cooking allows high power and very rapid increases in temperature to be achieved: changes in heat settings are instantaneous.

Corelle Brands Kitchenware products maker and distributor

Corelle Brands, LLC is an American kitchenware products maker and distributor based in Downers Grove, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pulled pork</span> Pork barbecue dish of the Southern United States

Pulled pork is an American barbecue dish, more specifically a dish of the Southern U.S., based on shredded barbecued pork shoulder. It is typically slow-smoked over wood ; indoor variations use a slow cooker. The meat is then shredded manually and mixed with a sauce. It may be served on bread as a sandwich, or eaten on its own.

The Chambers stove is a generic name for several different kitchen cooking appliances sold under the Chambers brand name from 1912 to approximately 1988. Their ranges and stand-alone ovens were known for their patented insulation methods, which enabled them to cook on retained heat with the fuel turned off.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emeril Lagasse</span> American celebrity chef and restaurateur (born 1959)

Emeril John Lagasse III is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur, television personality, cookbook author, and National Best Recipe award winner for his "Turkey and Hot Sausage Chili" recipe in 2003. He is a regional James Beard Award winner, known for his mastery of Creole and Cajun cuisine and his self-developed "New New Orleans" style. He is of Portuguese descent on his mother's side, while being of French heritage through his father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cooker</span> Index of articles associated with the same name

Cooker may refer to several types of cooking appliances and devices used for cooking foods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food steamer</span> Kitchen appliance

A food steamer or steam cooker is a small kitchen appliance used to cook or prepare various foods with steam heat by means of holding the food in a closed vessel reducing steam escape. This manner of cooking is called steaming.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenmore (brand)</span> Brand of household appliances

Kenmore is an American brand of household appliances, cookware, floorcare, grills, HVAC equipment and other home items owned and licensed by Transformco, an affiliate of ESL Investments. Previously they were a subsidiary brand of Sears Holdings, but after Sears Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 15, 2018 they were acquired by Transformco, formed in 2019 after acquiring the assets of Sears Holdings Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Multicooker</span> Automated cooking appliance

A multicooker is an electric kitchen appliance for automated cooking using a timer. A typical multicooker is able to boil, simmer, bake, fry, deep fry, grill roast, stew, steam and brown food.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anova Culinary</span> Smart kitchen appliances

Anova Culinary, officially known as Anova Applied Electronics, Inc., is a company headquartered in San Francisco that specializes in smart kitchen appliances designed for home cooking. Their product range includes devices such as sous-vide cookers, combination ovens, and vacuum sealers. In 2014, Anova introduced the Anova Precision Cooker, the first sous-vide cooking device with Bluetooth connectivity, followed by a Wi-Fi-enabled version in 2015.

Visions is a brand of transparent stove top cookware created by Corning France and introduced to Europe during the late 1970s. In 1983, it was introduced in the United States and became the number one selling cookware set for a number of years. Visions is made of a transparent material belonging to the Pyroceram family of glass-ceramics. It is one of the few cookware lines that can be used on the range, in the oven, and under a broiler. It will withstand heat up to 850 °C (1,560 °F) with thermal traits similar to Corning Ware plus improved resistance to staining and the detrimental effects of acids and detergents. Visions is sold worldwide by Corelle Brands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food warmer</span>

A food warmer is typically a table-top device used to maintain the serving temperature of prepared food. It is used both in homes and restaurants.

Instant Brands Inc. is a company selling a range of kitchen appliances. The company was founded by Robert Wang, Yi Qin, and three other Canadian partners in 2009. They are the distributor and designers of the Instant Pot and other products sold under the Instant Brands name.

References

  1. "Double Insight Inc. recalls Instant Pot Smart Pressure Cooker". healthycanadians.gc.ca. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  2. "Ottawa entrepreneur's Instant Pot has attracted a devoted following of home cooks". Archived from the original on 25 November 2017. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  3. Jr, Tom Huddleston (26 November 2018). "How Instant Pot became a kitchen appliance with a cult following and a best-seller on Amazon". CNBC. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  4. "Fired From His Own Startup, This Founder Invented Amazon's Hit Product of 2016". Inc.com . 15 May 2017. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  5. Lucas, Amelia (4 March 2019). "Instant Pot is merging with the owner of Pyrex". CNBC. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  6. The Spoon (5 March 2019). "How Becoming The First Uniquely Millennial Cooking Appliance Made Instant Pot a Kitchen Tech Unicorn".
  7. Pollard, Amelia (12 June 2023). "Instant Pot and Pyrex Maker Instant Brands Files for Bankruptcy". Yahoo Finance. Archived from the original on 13 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  8. NPR. "Not Just A Crock: The Viral Word-Of-Mouth Success Of Instant Pot". NPR .
  9. New York Times (17 December 2017). "Inside the Home of Instant Pot, the Kitchen Gadget That Spawned a Religion". The New York Times.
  10. CNBC (24 November 2017). "The Instant Pot is selling like crazy on Amazon—and its PhD inventor says he's read all 39,000 reviews". CNBC .
  11. BBC (6 March 2017). "How the Instant Pot cooker developed a cult following". BBC News.
  12. Youtube. "Family Guy Instant Pot". YouTube .
  13. "Amazon's Prime Day is the Biggest Day Ever" (Press release). 13 July 2016.
  14. "Prime Members Enjoyed Biggest Global Shopping Event in Amazon History" (Press release). 12 July 2017.
  15. "Prime Members Again Enjoyed the Biggest Global Shopping Event in Amazon History this Prime Day" (Press release). 18 July 2018.
  16. Smithsonian. "FOOD: Transforming the American Table: New Materials, New Tools".
  17. "Instant Pot Pressure Cookers Recalled by Double Insight". Consumer Product Safety Commission. 23 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 20 December 2017.
  18. Bennett, Brian (23 February 2018). "An Instant Pot multicooker is melting -- but not the one you think". CNET. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  19. "Kochmodi beim Instant Pot" (in German).