Choose a multicooker whose steam or pressure-cook method suits your recipe and whose rack can support your covered pudding basin with the lid closed. A smaller cooker may be easier to store, while a larger bowl may give the basin more room; in a shared kitchen, check the actual fit, cleaning arrangements and a safe place to operate and release steam.
If you make occasional puddings and everyday meals but have little cupboard space, a smaller cooker may be easier to accommodate. Instant Pot lists its Classic Mini at 3.8L; check that your covered basin fits on a suitable rack before choosing it.
If several residents will use the cooker, consider how easily its removable parts can be washed, dried and put away. Tefal lists dishwasher-safe parts for its 5L SpheriCook, but cleaning arrangements still need to work for everyone sharing the kitchen.
If you make larger puddings or meals for several people, a larger bowl may be worth considering alongside its worktop and storage demands. Tefal lists a 5L SpheriCook, while Crock-Pot lists 5.6L Express models; neither capacity figure establishes that your basin will fit.
Start with the basin and its steaming method, then make sure the appliance has a safe place in the shared kitchen. Cleaning and other cooking functions matter most once those requirements are met.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Basin fit and support | Measure the covered basin and check that it stands securely on a suitable rack with the lid closed. Instant Pot’s published pudding method places the basin on a trivet or steam rack above the water. | I want to use my own pudding basin without finding that it catches the lid or cannot stand securely above the water. Around 31% of consumers put basin fit and support first. |
| Shared-kitchen safety | Check for a stable, level operating space and plan where hot steam can be released. GOV.UK guidance for shared or rented accommodation advises against overloaded sockets and says to use one plug per socket. | When other residents are cooking nearby, I need room to use the appliance and handle hot steam without crowding them. Shared-kitchen safety comes first for around 31% of consumers. |
| Cleaning and storage | Check which removable parts are dishwasher-safe and whether the cooker and its accessories have a cupboard space. Dishwasher-safe parts are listed for Tefal’s 5L SpheriCook. | If several of us use the same kitchen, I want a cooker we can clean, dry and put away between meals. Around 25% of consumers prioritise that handover. |
| Other cooking uses | Compare functions you will actually use beyond pudding making, and check the manual before using delayed-start or keep-warm settings for a particular recipe. | I would use the appliance regularly for shared meals as well as dessert, so its other functions affect my choice. That wider use is the main concern for around 13% of consumers. |
Bowl capacity does not tell you whether a covered pudding basin will fit on a rack beneath the lid.
Measure the basin, including its cover, and confirm the rack height and internal clearance for the exact cooker.
Instant Pot’s published pudding method specifies how the basin sits above the water. Cooking stages and pressure-release instructions may differ between recipes and models.
Follow instructions for your cooker and recipe rather than transferring water levels, timings or release settings from another model.
A busy shared worktop leaves less room to place the cooker and handle its hot pot, basin and steam. GOV.UK guidance for shared or rented accommodation warns against overloaded sockets.
Use a suitable socket and a clear, stable surface, and agree where the cooker can cool without obstructing housemates.
A larger cooker and its accessories need cupboard and worktop space even when you are making only a small pudding.
Compare the appliance and accessory dimensions with your available space as well as your usual basin and meal size.
Instant Pot’s UK range includes the 3.8L Classic Mini and larger multicookers. The brand also publishes a steamed-pudding method using a trivet or steam rack.
Tefal lists 5L multicookers with steam functions, including the SpheriCook and Multicook ranges.
Crock-Pot lists 5.6L Express multicookers with steaming among their cooking functions.
These multicookers offer stated capacities from 3.8L to 5.7L for smaller or shared cooking routines. Before choosing one for pudding, confirm that your covered basin fits on a suitable rack and that the model’s instructions support your intended method.
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Consider this model if you want a stated steam function alongside other cooking modes. Its name specifies a 5L capacity and lists steam and slow cook; confirm a suitable basin-supporting rack, lid clearance and pudding instructions before buying.
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Consider this model if you also want pressure cooking and other meal functions. Its name lists a 5.7L capacity, steaming, rice cooking and slow cooking; check basin support, internal clearance and external dimensions for your kitchen.
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Consider this 3.8L model if a smaller-capacity cooker suits your routine. Before choosing it for pudding, confirm the functions, supplied rack, covered-basin clearance and method for this Sea Salt variant rather than relying on instructions for another Instant Pot model.
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Consider this 5.7L model if you expect to use a larger-capacity multicooker for meals as well as puddings. Check its supplied accessories, basin clearance, cleaning instructions and model-specific pudding method before deciding whether it suits the shared space.
Yes, if the cooker and recipe support the method. Instant Pot’s UK pudding recipe places a covered basin on a trivet or steam rack above the water; follow the instructions for your particular cooker and recipe rather than copying timings or release settings from another model.
The capacity figure alone cannot establish whether it will fit. Measure the covered basin and check its diameter and height on the intended rack against the cooker’s internal clearance with the lid closed.
Do not assume an extension lead is suitable for your multicooker. GOV.UK guidance for shared or rented accommodation advises avoiding overloaded sockets and using one plug per socket; check the appliance instructions and accommodation rules, and do not use damaged electrical equipment.
Keep others clear of hot steam and follow your model’s pressure-release instructions before opening the lid. Instant Pot’s multicooker manual calls for care when handling the hot inner pot and accessories and for placing the appliance on a stable, level surface.