Technology and Engineering Atlas

How Things Are Built
Sign In
Text size
100%
Theme
Invention

Instant Pot

Mechanical Engineering

The Instant Pot is a brand of electronically controlled multicookers that combine pressure cooking and slow cooking in one appliance; the original model was marketed as a six-in-one device, and the product line later expanded to include air fryers, blenders and rice cookers. It was invented in 2009 by Robert Wang, a former BlackBerry employee, working in Ottawa, Canada with colleagues Yi Qin and Dongjun Wang, and the first model launched in 2010. The Instant Pot became a cultural phenomenon that spread mainly through word of mouth rather than conventional advertising, topped Amazon Prime Day sales for three consecutive years from 2016 to 2018, sold more than 300,000 units in 2018 alone, and was featured in the Smithsonian's exhibition on the transformation of the American table.

Facts
Year
2009 1
Significance
The original Instant Pot consolidated six kitchen appliance functions, pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, saute pan and steamer, into a single electronically controlled device, driving its rapid commercial success. 1
Sources
1. Instant Pot (Wikipedia)
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
  • History section, first sentence
    In 2009, Robert Wang and two partners, both former colleagues at Nortel in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, started what would become Instant Pot.
  • History section, describing the first model
    and operated as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice or porridge cooker, yogurt maker, sauté/searing pan, steamer, and food warmer.
View the Source
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share a thought.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.