Should You Buy The Duo Plus
This pressure cooker is not only intuitive, but its versatility is impressive. Each feature is easy to use and performs well. It will happily take the place of your rice cooker, as long as you don’t mind slightly sticky rice, and yourfavorite slow cooker, clearing up space in your kitchen. The Duo Plus is truly a marvel, and its upgraded valve control leaves us with little to complain about. The Duo Plus is, without a doubt, a fantastic value. While it is still a bit of an investment, it is far less than the most expensive options in our test suite and outperforms many of them. It is a versatile kitchen tool that not only can get all the jobs done but it does each of them quite well.
The Best Stovetop Pressure Cooker: The Kuhn Rikon Duromatic
The Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Pressure Cooker is as pretty to look at as it is effective. It’s a second-generation cooker, which means improved safety features and a spring-loaded pressure gauge rather than a jiggler.
Some stovetop cookers have various switches, levers, or valves to toggle between low pressure, high pressure, and release settings. The Kuhn Rikon combines them all into one elegant solution. The valve is in the center of the conical lid. As pressure builds up inside, an indicator rod slowly rises up in the center, revealing red lines. One red line means you’re at low pressure, while two red lines mean you’re at high. Let it keep heating and, eventually, it will start venting steam to prevent an explosion.
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
To release pressure, you use the exact same rod. Just push it down, and steam gets released evenly around from under a shield, reducing the chances of a burn. The valves and rods are also easy enough to remove and clean, which is important to maintain proper function. I like the fact that the valve is an all-metal construction. It gives me peace of mind that the moving parts here are designed to last.
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
Kuhn Rikon offers a range of Duromatic models in a variety of shapes and sizes, all with the same basic features and build. We think the 6.3-quart model is the best size for most families, making meals that can feed about 4 to 6 people.
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
Straight To The Point
The best Instant Pot is the Instant Pot Pro. It performs well and has nice features like a steam release switch and handles on its cooking pot. Our budget-friendly pick is the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1.
Instant Pot has become synonymous with a type of electric appliance more correctly known as a “multi-cooker” . Similar to how Xerox has become the de facto term for copy machines, Instant Pot has become the most well-known electric multi-cooker, even though plenty of other companies make electric multi-cookers, too. While we don’t think Instant Pots should be considered in a vacuum , the fact of the matter is there are so many Instant Pot models that we think it’s worthwhile to sort through them. This review, then, is our look at everything Instant Pot offers to help you weigh those options, but it’s only part of the larger question of what kind of pressure or multi-cooker you should buy, which we answer in a separate review.
You May Like: Consumer Reports On Instant Pots
Instant Pot Pro Review
The Instant Pot Pro is new for 2021 and is a great high-end pressure cooker. It is a worthy replacement to the discontinued Duo Evo Plus, packed with user-favorite features that make it worth the cost.
Weve taken the new Instant Pot Pro for a spin, and were here to tell you everything you need to know about the successor to the Duo Evo Plus!
This ended up being our longest review yet! Click the links below to jump to the sections youre interested in:
To compare the Instant Pot Pro with other models, check out my Instant Pot buying-guide, then go in-depth with my other Instant Pot Reviews.
Bottom Line: The Instant Pot Pro is now my first-choice recommendation for a high-end pressure cooker, thanks to the flat-bottom cooking pot with handles, redesigned lid, large display, and favorite buttons.
Why Trust Good Housekeeping
Nicole Papantoniou, the director of the Good Housekeeping Kitchen Appliances & Innovation Lab, has been testing kitchen appliances professionally since 2013. She originally wrote this story and oversaw GH’s most recent round of testing of multicooker testing in August 2022. Brigitt Earley most recently updated the copy on this story in addition to having over a decade of experience testing and writing about consumer products, she holds a degree in Professional Culinary Arts from the French Culinary Institute .
Read Also: How To Cook Duck In An Instant Pot
How We Test Instant Pots
When the experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab assess multi-cookers, including Instant Pots, we put each to the test in a variety of ways. We check overall functionality by filling the device with water to capacity, then activate the high setting and set a timer. We watch and listen once the cooker comes to pressure, we note the time. Then, we maintain pressure for 15 minutes and release the pressure, timing how long it takes for the pressure to drop. Next, our pros get cooking. We mix all of the ingredients for beef stew in the pressure cooker, cover, record how long the pot takes to come to pressure, cook for 20 minutes and record how long the pot takes to release pressure. Then, we evaluate the final product: Is the beef tender? How were the veggies cooked? Whats the overall flavor like? Finally, our pros cook a batch of rice in each device, combining all of the ingredients in the multicooker and cooking according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We then evaluate the rice: Whats the texture like? Is any rice stuck to the bottom of the cooker?
Our testers also consider ease of use, evaluating each product for how intuitive and clear the controls are, how many settings are offered, how simple cleaning is and the clarity of the owner’s manual.
Best Budget Pressure Cooker
If you’re looking for a basic, affordable multicooker from the top name in the industry, the Instant Pot Duo Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker is your best bet.
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Inner pot material: Nonstick
- Settings: pressure cook, sear/saute, steam, slow cook, sterilize, keep warm, ferment, plus 300+ preset programs in its menu
- Number of included recipes: 100s in the Instant Brands Connect App
- Extras: Extra sealing gasket, steam rack, steam basket, heat-resistant pad for the lid
Pros: Produced tender and juicy slow-cooked pork, builds pressure quickly, good browning, dishwasher-safe and metal utensil-safe stainless steel inner pot, Instant Pot app features 100s of recipes
Cons: Takes experimentation to get cooking times right, controls take some getting used to
The Instant Pot Duo Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker comes in three, six, and eight-quart sizes and features a stainless steel inner pot, which most Instant Pots have. The Duo did okay in each test but excelled in our slow cooker test. The slow cooker pulled pork shredded effortlessly and had an excellent, juicy flavor. The pressure build was quick for the pressure-cooked pulled pork, but the pork was hard to shred. It seemed like it could have used 10 more minutes of pressure cooking.
Also Check: How To Cook Whole Potatoes In Instant Pot
Other Multicooker Brands To Consider
There are options from other brands, too. We reviewed a great Wi-Fi multicooker from ChefIQ, for example. It does more than Instant Pot’s Wi-Fi model and comes with an integrated scale, nonstick pot and helpful iOS or Android app. It costs $200, so if you’re not ready to graduate to a high-end model, Instant Pot’s more affordable options are great for beginners. Ninja also makes several multicookers that have performed well in our testing. The Ninja Foodi 6.5-quart with SmartLid and is just one of several options from the brand’s expansive line.
Other Products I Tested
In total, I tested five products, two of which didnt make the cut:
Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker With Whisper-Quiet Steam Release, V4: In terms of both price and number of settings, this model falls somewhere in between the Duo and the Pro Plus. Its a slight upgrade from the original Duo, featuring a digital screen and a sleek silver finish. However, the selling point of this model was the whisper-quiet steam function. While I did find it to be a little quieter than the traditional steam release on other models, it wasnt quiet enough to justify spending an extra $30 for this feature alone.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp 6.5-Quart With Ultimate Lid Multi-Cooker And Air Fryer: The alleged appeal of this model is that its a true two-in-one pressure cooker and air fryer. Unlike the Pro Crisp, you dont need to use a separate lid for crisping food. I was surprised, then, to find the Duo Crisp to be clunky and somewhat inconvenient to use in its own rightits the heaviest model by far, it has a trigger lock that is difficult to figure out and the lid doesnt properly close unless you push down hard. Additionally, theres an inner cover that needs to be removed from the lid before air-frying. It was difficult to figure out exactly how to remove it, and it was nearly impossible to reinstall before pressure-cooking.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Boiled Eggs In The Instant Pot
What Are Todays Most Popular Best Instant Pot 8 Quart Models
There are many best instant pot 8 quart items accessible today for men and women seeking quality and reliability. Every best instant pot 8 quart model follows the same essential premise. But they appeal to various users.
Inevitably, certain products will only appeal to particular types of people. Which products are the most popular amongst customers as a whole, you could ask. If you’d want a list, we have one here. Check out our wide range of products that look to be appealing to people of various ages, genders, and places.
Detailed Features And Comparison Of Experts Recommended Best Air Fryer For Instant Pot 8 Quart Reviews
We understand how much of a hassle it can be to go through thousands of reviews when you have too many options. So, leave all your worries behind, check out this ultimate guide, and make a hassle-free purchase decision.
The research team offers their experience and accurate reviews of on the internet. They took into account quality, features, price, and more while conducting their thorough evaluation of each Air Fryer For Instant Pot 8 Quart. The research team noted which companies excelled and which failed based on their findings.
To offer the most accurate, unbiased reviews on the internet, we had used given below parameters,
- Consumer Ratings & many more
Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Comparison Chart
Instant Pot Max / Ultra
Sizes: 6 quart
Functions: In addition to the regular Instant Pot functions, the Max has a function for sous vide cooking and pressure canning. However, I have read some worrisome reviews that claim that the Max may not reach temperatures high enough to destroy potentially harmful bacteria during pressure canning.
- The Max is the most expensive Instant Pot.
- The Max is heavier than the Duo and Ultra by 2 pounds.
- It has a sleek design and an LCD display with a touch screen.
- You can control the steam venting using the touch screen, and even program the steam release before you start the cooking cycle.
- The Max has a higher wattage and can therefore achieve higher pressure . This does not mean that it can reach pressure faster, though. The higher pressure may affect the cook times, meaning that you might not be able to use the same cook times given for recipes tested in the most common Instant Pot, the Duo.
- It has a feature called NutriBoost, which is essentially a self-stirring function to help with even cooking when cooking broth, rice and beans.
- The Max has a bigger learning curve, so it may not be ideal for beginners to Instant Pot cooking.
Instant Pot Duo Programmable Cooker
Uses: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steam, Sauté/Searing, Yogurt Maker, and Warmer | Built-In programs: 14
Instant Pot’s signature model, the Duo is a great pot for most people. It is a versatile cooker that can be used as either a pressure cooker or a slow cooker depending on what is needed, as well as a yogurt maker and rice cooker. Plus, it comes with 14 pre-programmed cooking modes for specific items like soup and porridge. Better yet, it’s one of the most affordable Instant Pot models. If the extra features of the Duo Plus or the Ultra seem unnecessary, then this is the pot for you.
It’s available in 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart editions.
You May Like: Instant Pot Egg Bite Mold Recipes
More Articles You Might Enjoy
Monica is Reviewed’s senior Kitchen & Cooking staff writer and an avid home cook. A graduate of Emerson College, she’s had her work published in The Boston Globe, Culture Cheese Magazine, Modern Luxury, and more. In her spare time, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen, practicing yoga, or falling down a TikTok rabbit hole.
Jenny Dorsey
Contributor
Jenny is a professional chef, author and speaker specializing in interdisciplinary storytelling fusing food with social good. She leads a nonprofit named Studio ATAO and runs her own culinary consulting business. Her food and work has been featured in outlets such as Food Network, Oxygen TV, Eater, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, among others. Her full biography, food portfolio, and bylines can be found here.
What Is An Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker, sometimes called a multi-cooker. You can use any electric pressure cooker recipe in these machinesyou don’t need a recipe formulated specifically for an Instant Pot. However, since it takes some time to figure out how to use and navigate the controls of each model, your success with any given recipe will depend on your familiarity with the model you own.
Electric multi-cookers usually come with low or high pressure cooking settings, but these aren’t regulated terms. Instant Pots, for example, reach slightly lower PSI compared to comparable “low” and “high” settings on many stovetop pressure cooker models this won’t always affect how a recipe turns out, but it can.
The appeal of electric multi-cookers is twofold. First, they self-regulate their pressure level, meaning you don’t have to babysit them and periodically adjust the level of heat produced by the burner, as you do with a stovetop pressure cooker . Second, as the name indicates, they have other functions: slow cook , sauté, steam, rice/grain, yogurt , and warm. Newer Instant Pot models claim to perform additional functions, like cake-making, air-frying, sous vide, sterilizing, and pressure canning . What an electric multi-cooker does really well is it allows even the novice home cook to set-it-and-forget-it and enjoy relatively hands-off cooking with confidence.
Also Check: How To Make Vanilla Yogurt In An Instant Pot
What We Dont Like
Used for either air frying or pressure cooking individually, the Duo Crisp does nothing exceptional. As an air fryer, it has a lot of the same shortcomings as the standalone air fryers weve tested. The fryer basket, although larger than some weve tested, is still cramped, which makes it difficult to cook food evenly. We found that the basket couldnt handle more than about 12 ounces of chicken tenderswhen we made a larger, 16-ounce batch, the results were slightly mushy in the middle. We were able to cook 1½ pounds of frozen fries in the Duo Crisp but had to toss them more often than Instant Pot suggests. And the resulting fries were classic air fryer quality: dryish on the outside, with mostly fluffy interiors. For more evenly cooked, crispier results, we prefer cooking finger foods in a toaster oven or regular oven.
As a pressure cooker, the Duo Crisp lacks a lot of the preprogrammed settings that make the Instant Pot Duo or Ultra so convenient to use. You cant simply press a button to cook rice, for example, or stewinstead you have to look up the correct time and pressure setting and program it manually. The Duo Crisp also doesnt have a setting for making yogurt, which is admittedly a bit niche but something that some people love about their Instant Pot.
Why Spend $300 On A Pressure Cooker When You Have An Instant Pot
Pressure cookers are generally made for large batches of food, like whole chickens or whole turkeys. But the Instant Pot is more significant than a whole chicken or turkey, so it can feed a crowd. It can also be used for smaller batches of food, like a salad for lunch, or some baked potatoes for dinner. And speaking of baked potatoes, you can make quick and easy dinner bag potatoes at home with the help of your Instant Pot. Put the potatoes in the pot, cover with water, and pressure cook for 6 hours on high pressure. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain and rinse the cooked potatoes. Put the potatoes in a bowl and pour over the boiling water and seasonings. Using a whisk or spoon, or your fingertips, if youre making this at home, you can stir the potatoes together to create a soupy base. Once the curry is finished, transfer the baked potatoes to a serving dish and serve.
Read Also: How To Bake In Instant Pot
