I like kitchen appliances that can do more than one job, especially when they can save me from dirtying several pots just to make one meal. That was basically what attracted me to the Midea 12-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker. It looked like the kind of appliance that could handle everything from rice and beans to soups, stews, steaming and slow cooking without taking over my entire kitchen.
After using it, I can see why these multi-cookers are so convenient. It is not perfect, and there is definitely a little learning curve with some of the settings, but once I got comfortable with it, I found myself reaching for it more often than I expected.
Key Takeaways
- The 12-in-1 design makes it useful for everyday cooking.
- The pressure-cooking function saves a lot of time with foods that normally take much longer.
- I like having sauté, slow cook, steam and rice functions in the same appliance.
- The stainless steel inner pot is sturdy and easy to clean.
- The controls took me a little time to get used to.
- It is a fairly large appliance, so counter and storage space matter.
- I think it is a good option if you actually plan to use several of the cooking functions.
What Is the Midea 12-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker?
The Midea 12-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker is essentially a pressure cooker and multi-cooker rolled into one appliance. It can pressure cook, sauté, steam, slow cook, make rice, oatmeal, soup, bean chili, yogurt, pasta and more, depending on the specific model and preset.
The version I looked at is the larger 8-quart model, which is particularly useful when I want to make a decent amount of food at once instead of cooking several small batches.
It also has a digital control panel, keep-warm function, delay timer and a stainless steel inner pot, so it is designed to handle much more than just pressure cooking.
Why I Bought It
I bought this because I wanted something that could simplify cooking without having to buy a separate appliance for every single thing. I can appreciate a good slow cooker, rice cooker and steamer, but eventually you end up with half the kitchen counter covered in appliances that only come out when you need that one particular function. I liked the idea of having one machine that could handle most of those jobs.
The pressure-cooking function was another major reason I wanted it. There are certain foods I enjoy making but do not always feel like waiting around for, especially beans and tougher cuts of meat. Being able to put everything in one pot and let the cooker handle the pressure seemed much more convenient.
My Experience Using the Midea 12-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker
The first thing I noticed was that this is not a tiny appliance. The 8-quart version takes up a respectable amount of counter space, so I would not buy it thinking it is going to disappear neatly into a cupboard after every use. It has some weight to it as well, which actually made it feel more substantial and less like a flimsy countertop gadget.
Once I got past that, using it was fairly straightforward. I started with some of the simpler functions because I wanted to get familiar with the controls before doing anything that involved pressure. The sauté function was particularly useful because I could brown ingredients directly in the pot before adding the rest of the ingredients. That meant I was not browning meat or onions in one pan and then transferring everything into another pot.
That might sound like a small thing, but I really appreciated not having another dirty pan sitting in the sink. The pressure-cooking function is where I found the appliance most useful. It is especially convenient for foods that normally require a long cooking time because I can basically load everything into the pot, choose the appropriate setting and let it do its thing.
Beans were one of the things I enjoyed making in it because pressure cooking takes away a lot of the waiting around. Instead of treating the kitchen like a full-time job, I can get everything started and move on to something else.
Rice also came out well once I figured out the amount of water I personally preferred. That part did require a little experimenting because I do not like my rice too soft, and I quickly learned that following a preset blindly does not necessarily mean I am going to get the exact texture I personally want.
That is probably my biggest criticism of the cooker in general. The presets are convenient, but they are not a substitute for knowing how you actually like your food cooked. The slow-cook function was another pleasant surprise. I tend to associate pressure cookers with fast cooking, so having the option to use the same appliance for something that needs to cook slowly makes it much more versatile.
I also like the keep-warm function. If I finish cooking before I am ready to eat, I do not have to immediately transfer everything to another pot just to keep it warm.
The stainless steel inner pot deserves some credit too. I prefer stainless steel for this kind of appliance because I do not have to worry about being overly precious with a delicate coating. After cooking, I can clean the pot without feeling like I need to treat it like glass.
Where I did need some patience was the control panel. There are a lot of buttons and functions, and the first few times I used it, I found myself checking the instructions more than I expected. Once I understood how the different programs worked, it became much easier, but I would not describe this as an appliance where I immediately knew exactly what every button did.
The pressure release is also something I took seriously. This is still a pressure cooker, so I do not treat it like an ordinary rice cooker where I can casually open the lid whenever I feel like checking dinner. Once I got into the habit of following the pressure-release process properly, it stopped feeling intimidating.
Does the 12-in-1 Functionality Actually Matter?
For me, yes, but only if I actually use the functions. I do not think having twelve buttons automatically makes a kitchen appliance better. If I only wanted a pressure cooker, I would not need twelve different programs.
What makes the Midea useful is being able to sauté, pressure cook, slow cook, steam and make rice without switching appliances. Those are functions I can realistically see myself using.
Some of the more specialised presets are nice to have, but I would not buy this specifically because I desperately need twelve different cooking modes. The value is really in having one large appliance that can cover several everyday cooking jobs.
What I Loved
- The pressure cooker is genuinely useful for foods that normally take a long time.
- I like being able to sauté directly in the pot.
- The large capacity is great for cooking bigger batches.
- The stainless steel inner pot feels durable and cleans up easily.
- The slow-cook and keep-warm functions make it more versatile.
- I like having several cooking methods available without needing separate appliances.
- Once I learned the controls, it became much easier to use.
What I Didn’t Love
- It takes up a fair amount of space.
- The controls are not completely intuitive at first.
- I had to experiment with cooking times and water ratios to get some foods exactly how I like them.
- There are more presets than I personally need.
- The size and weight make it less convenient to move around frequently.
Is the Midea 12-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker Worth the Price?
For me, yes, provided you actually want a multi-cooker rather than just a basic pressure cooker. I think the biggest advantage is the combination of functions. I can make a meal in one pot, sauté ingredients before pressure cooking, switch to slow cooking when I want a completely different approach, steam food and make rice without dragging several appliances out of storage.
It also feels like the kind of appliance that becomes more useful the longer you have it because you gradually figure out which settings work best for the foods you make regularly.
I would not buy it simply because the box says “12-in-1.” If you only plan to use pressure cooking once every few weeks, there are smaller and simpler options that would probably make more sense.
But if you cook regularly and like making soups, stews, beans, rice, meat and other one-pot meals, the versatility makes a lot more sense.
Who I Think Will Love It
I think this is a good fit if you:
- Cook regularly and want one appliance to handle several jobs.
- Make large batches of food.
- Like pressure cooking but also want slow-cooking and sauté functions.
- Want to reduce the number of separate kitchen appliances you use.
- Enjoy experimenting with different cooking methods.
Who Should Skip It
I would skip it if you:
- Have very limited counter or storage space.
- Only want a basic pressure cooker.
- Prefer appliances with extremely simple controls.
- Rarely cook meals that would benefit from pressure or slow cooking.
- Do not want to spend time learning different presets.
Alternatives
- Instant Pot RIO 8-Quart Multi-Cooker
- Instant Pot Pro 6-Quart
- Ninja Foodi 6.5-Quart
- Midea WideMax 6.5-Quart
Conclusion
I went into the Midea 12-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker expecting it to be useful, but I was not expecting to like the convenience quite as much as I did.
The pressure-cooking function is what initially attracted me, but the ability to sauté, slow cook, steam, make rice and keep food warm without pulling out several different appliances is what makes me keep using it. It is a little intimidating when you first see all the buttons, and I definitely needed some trial and error before I stopped reaching for the manual.
Once I got familiar with it, though, it became much less complicated.
It is not a tiny appliance, and I would not recommend it to someone who only wants a simple pressure cooker. But if you actually want a multi-cooker that can handle larger batches and replace several everyday cooking appliances, I think the Midea is a solid option.
Would I buy it again?
Yes. I like having one appliance that can handle so many of the things I normally use separate pots and appliances for.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, especially if you cook often and will actually use several of the functions. I would just make sure you have enough counter or storage space for it before buying.
Also read my similar review of the Rice Robot