As much as we love the Instant Pot, it currently has two strikes against it: It's been going in and out of stock at major retailers like Target and Amazon, and some people say they're intimidated by the dizzying array of settings and options.

If you're looking for something similar for yourself or someone who's yet to be crossed off your holiday shopping list, we'd like to suggest this Cuisinart 6-Quart Multi-Cooker.

While it doesn't have the endless functionalities the Instant Pot has, it has the three that really matter: slow cooking technology (replacing that ancient Crock-Pot hand-me-down), a steaming option (for those healthy days), and sautéing (for everything else).

It's essentially the Lite Instant Pot — a useful gadget that's not too gadget-y.