Magic Chef vs Instant Pot
The Magic Chef multi-function pressure cooker looks like a suitable quality kitchen appliance. It is available in 6 qt size – the most popular pressure cooker size, and it seems to do everything that you would expect. It can be used as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, for sautéing and searing, and it has a keep-warm function. These seven functions are the basis for all Instant Pot pressure cookers, so it does look very similar. Hence, between the 2 cookers, Magic Chef vs Instant Pot pressure cooker, which one should you opt for? Let’s have a look.
Magic Chef Pressure Cooker
The construction is stainless steel with a black plastic lid (we think!), and although the inner pot is described as dishwasher-safe, it is unclear whether this is made from stainless steel or whether it is coated with aluminum. The fact that it is not advertised as stainless steel leads us to suspect it is probably the latter, so this could cause an issue with flaking materials coming off in the food.
There is not much information available regarding the safety functions, although the advertising claims there are nine safety functions, including pressure limit function. Then again, there is very little information about this appliance.
Customer reviews on Amazon are overwhelmingly bad. Out of only 16 customer reviews, there are 35% 1-star reviews compared with only 32% 5-star reviews. Many people have experienced technical issues such as the pressure valve falling off, the timer not working, and the lid sticking. The customer service department is unhelpful, and the Magic Chef pressure cooker is not covered by a guarantee.
Some customers have mentioned that you can use Instant Pot recipes with some tweaking but that the Magic Chef manual is challenging to understand and essentially useless.
There is also some weird pricing going on with the Magic Chef. Although it is on sale generally for much cheaper than Instant Pot – it was on sale from Home Depot for around $30, sellers on Amazon are obviously trying to cash in on its appearance and trying to sell it for anything from between $92 and $119.00
Pros
- It is hard to think of any advantages to this pressure cooker
Cons
- Dreadful customer feedback
- High risk of malfunction
- Can be very expensive
Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is a well-known brand that has sold hundreds of thousands across the USA and the world. This company is the market leader, and all their product range is well thought out and innovative. The most popular Instant Pot is the Duo, which carries out seven functions; pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, for sautéing and searing, and keep warm features.
Other models such as the Ultra, the Duo Evo, or the Nova may do more such as sous vide or canning. Safety is paramount, and when you buy the Instant Pot, you have the assurance that all models come with plenty of safety functions, including an EasySeal lid, pressure cut-offs, temperature control, and more.
When it comes to customer satisfaction, the Instant Pot scores very highly – thousands of customers use this brand, and customer opinion is overwhelmingly positive. There can be technical issues in some cases, but these are in a minority when compared with the sheer volume of satisfied customers.
One of the best points about Instant Pot is that this brand is effortless to use. You don’t have to make any calculations, and you can cook a wide variety of meals by merely using the preset options. You have thousands of recipes available via the Instant Pot App and website.
Price-wise, the Instant Pot is not overly expensive when you consider its many functions. The 6 qt Instant Pot Duo costs around $79.00, cheaper than the price of the Magic Chef on Amazon.
Pros
- Reputable brand
- Thousands of satisfied customers
- Easy to use and reliable
Cons
- There are occasional malfunctions
- The customer service department is not very helpful
In conclusion
The Magic Chef Pressure cooker is not a reliable appliance. We have never seen such poor customer feedback for a pressure cooker, and this is of grave concern.
Customer feedback aside, there is very little information about the Magic Chef pressure cooker. There is no explanation about the 9 safety features, and there is no proof that this appliance has ever undergone proper safety checks. Does it comply with safety regulations? There is no explanation, so we guess that it does not because this is not mentioned.
Also, there is very little information regarding construction. The inner pot is advertised as dishwasher-friendly, but the material is unknown. Is it manufactured from stainless steel, or is it coated aluminum? This critical information should be passed on to the customer but is omitted.
By contrast, everyone knows what they are getting when they buy the Instant Pot. You see that it conforms to safety, and the materials and specifications are provided. The Instant Pot comes with a proven track record, and with a fantastic online resource of recipes and cooking tips via the App or website, you can access thousands of recipes and cook them easily via the one-touch settings.
The Magic Chef may originally have provided a cheaper alternative to the Instant Pot, but if you buy online via Amazon, it is a lot more expensive. Many dissatisfied Magic Chef customers have described this pressure cooker as “junk” or “trash,” and although there is some positive opinion, this is in the minority.
This comparison, Magic Chef vs Instant Pot, is overall a no-brainer. The Instant Pot is a far better deal and a far better multi-function appliance than the Magic Chef, so it is an easy decision. The Instant Pot wins hands down every time.
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