She is a mother of two boys, six and nine years old, wife of Andy Brown, a deputy in the York County Sheriff’s Office, and a Registered Nurse working in the Labor and Delivery units of Sentara hospital. Her lifestyle is a busy one.

But when her mother offered the use of her new Instant Pot (a brand name), Nicole Brown’s kitchen life became much smoother and easier. “We were to share it but I don’t think I’m going to give it up.”

Nicole finds the pot not only a great saver of time but also said, “Everything I have made with it is delicious. My first experience was cooking sweet potatoes. You know how long it takes in the oven, not mentioning how long it takes to heat the oven to 400°F. Well, with my Instant Pot it takes about 15 minutes.”

There are many excellent features to recommend the Instant Pot. Nicole can tell you in a second, “In one pot you can sauté, brown and then add ingredients to make up your recipe. You c...