Instant Pot appliance craze heats up

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - All Jessica Thomas wants for Christmas is... a pressure cooker? 

"It's very high on my list," Thomas said while browsing Williams Sonoma in Columbus Circle.

She isn't after just any pressure cooker, but the Instant Pot.

"It's a pressure cooker, it's a slow cooker," said the Upper West Side resident. "It solves all your problems."

The 9-in-1 programmable appliance is apparently one of the season's most coveted gifts. It's already out of stock at some retailers and various versions of it make up four of Amazon's top-selling kitchen appliances. Slate.com says the Instant Pot is "its own economy and religion."

"These things absolutely fly off shelf," said James Loney, who runs the gift registry at Williams Sonoma Columbus Circle.

Lili Bard was among those buying into the craze, and taking advantage of a Cyber Monday special. 

"I need a one-stop, easy, cooker meal," she said. "Living in New York, you just want efficiency, small, compact, fast."

While Instant Pot seems to be generating the most buzz, slow cookers and pressure cookers in general are seeing a surge in popularity and sales.

Barbara Blair is a Crock Pot devotee.

"It's the help, it's like having a cook," Blair said. "You come home and dinner is ready. It's great."