Who is this for?

Solo or couple soup cooks short on space

You usually make one or two servings and need a cooker you can put away rather than leave on a shared worktop.

Batch cooks who keep leftovers

You make several servings to share, refrigerate or freeze. What matters is the quantity permitted by the cooker’s fill instructions, not just its stated capacity.

Housemates planning where and how to cook

You need a clear place to operate, vent and clean the cooker without crowding sockets or leaving hot parts in a busy communal area.

What matters when choosing?

Start with the amount of soup you intend to make and the space you can use safely; then compare controls and cleaning requirements for the exact model.

Concern What to check Who this matters to
Usable capacity and steam release Read the model’s fill limit for expanding foods and its pressure-release instructions. Instant Pot’s Duo manual sets a half-capacity limit for expanding foods. If I make lentil soup under pressure, I need enough permitted room for my portions and a release process I can follow safely; roughly 31% of consumers put this need first.
Space and portions Compare your usual batch with the permitted fill level, then measure the intended worktop and storage space. When I cook one or two portions, I want a pot I can store without giving up room needed by housemates; around 25% of consumers prioritise that balance.
One-pot workflow Check whether the exact model offers both sauté and pressure cooking, and read how its controls and release settings work. If the hob is in demand, I want to prepare the soup base and cook the lentils in one appliance; roughly 25% of consumers make that their primary concern.
Cleaning and shared use Check which removable parts can go in the dishwasher and where the hot inner pot can be set down. After cooking, I need to clear the communal sink and worktop promptly; for around 19% of consumers, ease of cleaning comes first.

Buying pitfalls

  • Planning portions from the headline capacity

    The stated litre figure describes the pot, not necessarily how much lentil soup you can pressure-cook. Instant Pot’s Duo manual limits expanding foods to half capacity.

    Check the exact cooker’s manual and work out portions using its applicable fill limit.

  • Assuming any spare counter and socket will do

    A cooker needs a stable position with clear vents and a steam-release path away from people. NICEIC advises against running several high-power appliances on the same circuit; Home Office guidance for shared or rented accommodation in England warns against overloaded sockets.

    Agree where the cooker can operate, keep its release path clear and check the electrical arrangement before use.

  • Choosing extra functions for soup alone

    A pressure-and-air-fry model with two lids needs more shared storage and cleaning space than a cooker selected primarily for soup.

    Consider that format if your household will use and store both functions; otherwise compare pressure-cooking models against your usual soup portions.

  • Assuming replacement parts are universal

    Inner pots and seals need model-specific compatibility checks. Instant Pot identifies its 3L replacement inner pot as suitable for the Duo 3L, not for every Instant Pot model.

    Keep the full model and capacity details when checking a replacement part with its manufacturer.

Brands to consider for this kitchen

Instant Pot

Its UK range includes a 3.8L Classic Mini and several 5.7L multicookers, giving you different pot sizes to assess against shared storage and usual portions.

  • The Instant Pot Duo manual gives explicit fill limits, including half capacity for expanding foods.
  • Check accessory fit by model and capacity; the listed 3L spare inner pot is specified for the Duo 3L.

Ninja

Ninja Kitchen UK describes its 4.7L OP100UK Mini as a multicooker for up to two people and also lists a 6L OP300UK.

  • The two stated capacities give smaller-portion and larger-batch options to compare.
  • Use the chosen model’s manual to check its fill, release and cleaning instructions before planning lentil portions.

Tefal

Tefal UK lists a 4.8L dial-operated Turbo Cuisine CY754840 and a 7.6L Turbo Cuisine & Fry CY778840 with separate pressure-cooking and air-frying lids.

  • Tefal lists dishwasher-safe accessories for the 4.8L model.
  • The two-lid 7.6L format calls for enough storage and a plan for cleaning both functions.

Joybuy product choices

These choices cover two different portion needs: a 5.7L pressure multicooker to consider for several servings and a 1.8L cooker to assess for smaller batches. For either one, check the exact manual’s lentil fill limit before deciding how much soup it can make.

COSORI 5.7L 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Multi-Cooker

COSORI 5.7L 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Multi-Cooker

Consider this 5.7L format if you regularly make several portions of soup. Its listed functions include pressure cooking and sautéing, and the listing describes a ceramic non-stick inner pot and dishwasher-safe inner pot and accessories.

Check the exact manual’s fill limit for lentils, along with the appliance’s dimensions and electrical requirements for your shared kitchen.

View on Joybuy
ochama Mini Green Pot 1.8L Electric Pressure Cooker

ochama Mini Green Pot 1.8L Electric Pressure Cooker

Consider this smaller cooker if you usually make soup for one or two people and need to store the appliance between uses. The listing identifies a 1.8L capacity and a soup function.

Check its exact lentil fill limit against your usual portions, and measure the intended counter and storage space.

View on Joybuy

Common questions

Can I fill the pot to its stated capacity for lentil soup?

Not when the cooker’s instructions set a lower limit for expanding foods. Instant Pot’s Duo manual specifies no more than half capacity for such foods, so use your exact model’s fill instructions rather than its headline litre figure to plan portions.

Where should I put a pressure cooker in a shared kitchen?

Use a stable, level surface with clear vents and a steam-release path away from people. Follow the model’s placement instructions, keep it away from water and heat sources, and arrange a heat-resistant place for hot removable parts.

Can it run while someone uses the kettle or toaster?

Check the electrical arrangement before running high-power appliances together. NICEIC advises against using several on the same circuit simultaneously, while Home Office guidance for shared or rented accommodation in England warns against overloaded sockets and advises one plug per socket.

Will an inner pot or seal fit a different pressure cooker?

Do not assume it will: check the full model and capacity against the manufacturer’s compatibility information. For example, Instant Pot specifies its 3L stainless-steel replacement inner pot for the Duo 3L.