A smart cooker connects to your phone so you can start, adjust and monitor a meal from another room or from the office. The category covers Wi-Fi multi-cookers, sous vide circulators and connected slow cookers. They suit cooks who like guided recipes, timers and alerts, and who want to start dinner before they get home. Because they run on apps, they reward cooks who enjoy precise timing and repeatable results.
The six cookers below cover pressure cooking, sous vide and slow cooking. We have not used these products ourselves, so confirm connectivity, app support and capacity on the current listing before buying. Smart features depend on an app and a home network, so check that the app is still supported and works with your phone.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth both work, but range and reliability differ |
| App support | Guided recipes and updates make the app more useful |
| Cooking method | Pressure, sous vide and slow cooking each suit different foods |
| Capacity | Match the size to your household |
| Safety | Remote start still needs sensible food and heat safety |
Specs at a Glance
| Product | Type | Size class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot Pro Plus | Multi-cooker | Medium | Wi-Fi app; many programs |
| CHEF iQ Smart Pressure Cooker | Pressure cooker | Medium | App recipes; check scale details |
| Anova Precision Cooker Nano | Sous vide | Compact | Bluetooth app; clip mount |
| Breville Joule Turbo | Sous vide | Compact | Wi-Fi app; magnetic base |
| Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker | Slow cooker | Medium | Wi-Fi app; check version |
| Instant Pot Smart WiFi | Pressure cooker | Medium | Wi-Fi app; 6 quart class |
The 6 Best Smart Cookers
1. Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart Multi-Cooker
A Wi-Fi connected multi-cooker with an app and a large range of cooking programs, including pressure cooking, sous vide and slow cooking. It is a flagship in the Instant Pot line.
Suits: cooks who want many modes. Strengths: an app and many functions. Weaknesses: more to learn than a basic pot. Skip it if you want a plain pot.
View Instant Pot Pro Plus on Amazon
2. CHEF iQ Smart Pressure Cooker
A pressure cooker with an app that offers step-by-step guided recipes and built-in scale support for ingredient weighing in some versions.
Suits: guided cooking. Strengths: app-led recipes. Weaknesses: app dependence. Skip it if you dislike following an app.
View CHEF iQ Smart Pressure Cooker on Amazon
3. Anova Precision Cooker Nano
A compact sous vide circulator that clips onto a pot and is controlled by Bluetooth. It is known for being approachable and small.
Suits: sous vide beginners. Strengths: a compact size and a simple app. Weaknesses: Bluetooth range only. Skip it if you want Wi-Fi remote control.
View Anova Precision Cooker Nano on Amazon
4. Breville Joule Turbo Sous Vide
A slim sous vide circulator that you control from an app, with a magnetic base and a compact design.
Suits: app-first cooks. Strengths: a slim body and strong control. Weaknesses: needs a phone for control. Skip it if you want buttons on the unit.
View Breville Joule Turbo on Amazon
5. Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker
A connected slow cooker from Crock-Pot, with app control for time and temperature in some versions.
Suits: slow cooking from afar. Strengths: app monitoring of a familiar cooker. Weaknesses: features vary by version. Skip it if you do not want a smart device.
View Crock-Pot Smart Slow Cooker on Amazon
6. Instant Pot Smart WiFi 6 Quart
A Wi-Fi enabled electric pressure cooker that connects to an app for recipes and cooking control.
Suits: families who want an app. Strengths: recipes and remote control. Weaknesses: older app support may change. Skip it if you need the newest model.
View Instant Pot Smart WiFi on Amazon
Care and Setup
- Set up the app and update the firmware before the first cook.
- Keep the cooker on a stable, heat-safe surface.
- Wipe sensors and heating areas as the manual says.
- Keep the home Wi-Fi strong near the appliance.
- Learn how to run each cooker manually in case the app fails.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Leaving a pressure cooker unattended for long periods.
- Relying on the app without checking the food.
- Ignoring food safety rules for remote starts.
- Buying a smart cooker without checking phone compatibility.
- Forgetting that sous vide still needs correct water levels.
Smart Cooker FAQ
Are smart cookers worth it?
They are helpful if you value remote control and guided recipes. A basic cooker is fine if you do not.
Can I start food from work?
You can often start or monitor remotely, but follow safety guidance about leaving raw food out and heat for long periods.
What if the Wi-Fi drops?
Most cookers continue the program already in progress, though you lose app control. Check each model’s guide.
Is sous vide a smart cooker?
Many circulators are app-controlled, so they fit the category, though they work differently from a pot.
The Short Version
For a flagship multi-cooker, the Instant Pot Pro Plus. For guided pressure cooking, the CHEF iQ. For compact sous vide, the Anova Nano. For app control, the Breville Joule Turbo. For slow cooking, the Crock-Pot Smart. For a familiar pressure cooker, the Instant Pot Smart WiFi.