How To Use Instant Pot Duo Plus

Must Try

How To Clean The Instant Duo Plus

Review: How To Use Your UPGRADED Instant Pot Duo Plus

Just like any Instant Pot, cleaning the IP Duo Plus is very straightforward.

Watch this quick video from the brand.

Technically, its from the Instant Pot Max. However, as I have mentioned, cleaning Instant Pot Multicookers is practically the same. So, all you have to worry about is not losing any of the tiny parts.

Using The Steam Function

  • 1Secure the lid on the Instant Pot. Place the lid over the top of the Instant Pot. Then, turn the lid clockwise until the lock clicks. Double check that the lid is secure by making sure the arrows on the lid and the pot line up.XResearch source
  • If the lid isnt sealed, the steam can escape. If this happens, your food wont cook correctly.
  • 2Turn the little handle near the vent to seal it off. Look on the top of the lid to find the vent switch. Shift it in either direction to close off the vent. This traps the pressure and steam inside the Instant Pot.XResearch source
  • If you dont put the vent in the sealing position, the steam escapes out of the vent and your food wont cook right.
  • 3Push the “steam” button to turn on the Instant Pot’s steam function. Check the lower right area of the control panel for the “steam” button. Watch for the screen to light up and a standard cook time to appear.XResearch source
  • If you cant find the right button, check the instructions that came with your Instant Pot or look up the online guide.
  • 4Set the cooking time using the plus or minus keys. Set the actual cook time without worrying about preheating. Times vary for each type of food, so double check the recommended time the first time you steam a food. Use the time listed in your recipe, if you have one, or use Instant Pot’s handy guide.XResearch source
  • You can find Instant Pots time guide here: .
  • See The Instant Pot 9

    Dont take my word for it, heres a short video demonstration of Instant Duo Plus.

    The Instant Pot Duo Plus v3 is an updated version of the already excellent Duo Plus with lots of new and improved features. It highlights 9 appliances in one, so it is indeed a versatile multi-cooker with 15 functions to make your kitchen work easier. Not to mention, it has 12.3 psi of pressure compared to other models 11.6.

    You May Like: C7 Instant Pot

    What Can Be Cooked With The Instant Pot

    With the Instant Pot, you can cook a hearty meal for a whole family in less than 30 minutes. Dishes like rice and chicken, beef stew, chili and even a whole-roasted chicken cook in 30 to 60 minutes, start to finish. And, yes, you can even bake bread with the Instant Pot.

    Paleo and ketogenic diet followers love the Instant Pot for its ability to “braise” meats in such a short amount of time, but it’s also loved by vegetarians and vegans who can quickly cook dishes like butternut squash soup, sweet potatoes, chili, steel cut oats and mac-and-cheese.

    Even dry beans that usually require overnight soaking can be cooked in about 30 minutes for dishes like chili and hummus.

    Want more ideas? Check out these 5 unexpected things you can cook in the Instant Pot and the best Instant Pot paleo recipes.

    How To Saute In The Instant Pot

    How To Use Instant Pot Duo

    is a non-pressure cooking program that can be used in place of a frying pan or flat-top grill. For recipes that call for browned onions or garlic, its important to sauté them before adding liquid to the pot as you will release a lot of flavor this way. Another reason to sauté first is for browning meat. Lastly, sautéeing before cooking is a great way to increase heat and reduce the amount of time your pot will take to come to pressure. Learn more about other smart program settings on Instant Pot here.

    Step 1. Star the Instant Pot. Insert the inner pot into the cooker base. Do not use the lid for the next step.

    Step 2. Press the button. After 10 seconds, the cooker displays ON to indicate that it has begun heating. When display switches from On to Hot, add ingredients you want to brown. Note: You can add ingredients before the Hot message appears if you do, it may not appear at all. This is normal.

    The default temperature setting for Sauté function is Normal. Press Sauté again to cycle through for Less and More temperature options. Use Normal for general pan searing or sautéing, Less for simmering, thickening and reducing liquids and More for Stir-frying or browning meat.

    Step 4. Add any other ingredients and liquids. Stir if needed or leave layered and continue with the manual or program settings to pressure cook the food.

    Also Check: How Long To Cook Ribs In Instant Pot Before Grilling

    Is This Thing Safe

    Instant Pots are safer than stovetop pressure cooking. Everyone has heard stories about old-time pressure cookers exploding. Your Instant Pot wont do that because the temperature and pressure inside the pot is carefully monitored and regulated through its programming.

    Remember: Its your trusty cooking robot.

    How To Cook With The Instant Pot

    How you use your Instant Pot depends on what you’re cooking. But, many recipes — especially those involving meat — tend to follow this formula:

  • Set the Insant Pot to Saute mode. Add oil and brown your protein, like beef or chicken. Aromatics, like garlic and onion, are browned in this step, too.
  • Hit the Cancel button. Now tap Manual, followed by Pressure. Tap it again to go into High Pressure mode Use the plus and minus buttons to set the cook time.
  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it into place. You should hear a lovely little sound letting you know it’s locked.
  • Make sure the valve built into the lid is in the Sealing position.
  • When the Instant Pot builds enough pressure, the red button will pop up. Now the cook time will officially begin.
  • The above steps can vary quite a bit, depending on the recipe, but most of what I cook in my Instant Pot follows that sequence.

    Here, the Instant Pot’s valve is in Sealing position.

    Don’t Miss: How To Cook Garbanzo Beans In Instant Pot

    What Foods Are Best For A Pressure Cooker

    Pressure cooking uses wet heat. You gotta have liquid in the cookerthe steam creates the pressure. No liquid, no steam, no pressure.

    Pressure cooking is for boiling, steaming, and braising. For example, you couldnt cook French fries from start to finish by pressure cooking.

    But anything boiled or steamed or simmered is ace in a pressure cooker.

    Coco Morante

    How To Saut In An Instant Pot

    Review: How To Use Your Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus

    The basic steps to using Instant Pot sauté to brown meat, vegetables, etc. are:

  • Press the Sauté button on your Instant Pot. The pot will first display the default sauté time of 30 minutes and then the display will say On. Do not worry about trying to change the amount of time, as you can press Cancel at any time to turn sauté off.
  • Add cooking oil as needed/directed in the recipe.
  • Wait for the pot to display that it is Hot.
  • Add your veggies, meat, etc. to the pot and sauté or brown as directed in the recipe.
  • Press the Cancel button to turn off sauté mode.
  • Deglaze the pot before pressure cooking by pouring in some of your cooking liquid and scraping up any bits from the bottom of the pot. Be sure to follow the directions in your recipe, as you will sometimes need to remove browned meat before doing this step.
  • Recommended Reading: Frozen Hamburgers In Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Porridge Setting: What Is It Which Models Have It

    Instant Pots include smart programs to help you cook conveniently and efficiently. Were you looking at the front panel of the electric pressure cooks and want to know more about the Instant Pot Porridge setting? Here is a preview of the buttons features and which models include the setting.

    The Instant Pot electric pressure cookers include smart programs that were created based on extensive testing. Smart programs control multiple aspects of the cooking process including temperature, pressure, heat intensity, and duration all at the push of a button. The Instant Pot Porridge button controls one specific smart program.

    One thing to note: Not all of the Instant Pot models and sizes within a series have the same set of smart programs. Always double check the Instant Pot you are thinking of buying to make sure it has the smart programs important to you.

    And one more note: this post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you buy through my link. You wont pay any more if you use this link.

    You May Like: Cook Frozen Meatballs In Instant Pot

    Check Other Parts On Lid

    The following 3 Instant Pot parts are critical for the Instant Pot to function properly. Make sure theyre all properly in place, clean, and clear of any obstructions during the Instant Pot Setup & every time before using.

    a. Instant Pot Venting Knob ensure its fully attached to the lid and pushed down all the way. Its perfectly normal and necessary for it to be loose. You should be able to remove it for washing by pulling it straight out.

    b. Instant Pot Floating Valve test & make sure it can easily pop up and down .

    c. Instant Pot Anti-Block Shield push it on the side to lift it up and press it down in position to install it back in.

    *Pro Tip: there may be times when food or liquid gets stuck on or inside the anti-blocking shield. Be sure to remove it and wash it thoroughly from time to time.

    Recommended Reading: How To Cook Hamburger In Instant Pot

    Where Do I Find Recipes For The Instant Pot

    The instruction manual and recipe booklet in the box are a great place to start. The recipes there are limited, but we found the cooking time tables to be pretty helpful in the beginning. Hip Pressure Cooking lists recommended times and pressure levels for many foods. You can also try a recipe from NYT Cookings Instant Pot editors collection, or check out the super-simple recipes that Wirecutter staff members cook in their Instant Pots.

    There are hundreds of Instant Pot cookbooks out there, including many tailored to specific dietary concerns . Melissa Clark, food reporter for The New York Times and an Instant Pot enthusiast, has written her own cookbook, Dinner in an Instant. She told us that two of her favorites are Urvashi Pitres Indian Instant Pot Cookbook and Coco Morantes The Essential Instant Pot Cookbook.

    What To Use The Trivet For

    Instant Pot Duo Plus 9

    The trivet comes with the Instant Pot. This is a simple insert that allows you to get some space between the bottom of the pot and whatever food youre cooking. Generally speaking, any food that you might want to cook without having it come into direct contact with liquid can be made more easily with the trivet. You can place the food directly on top of the trivet or add it to a round heat-proof casserole dish or cake pan and place that on top of the trivet.

    Think of things like chicken breasts, lasagna, breads, meatloaf, and other things that wouldnt taste great if they were super soggy. Its also commonly used for eggs, veggies, potatoes, or pot-in-pot cooking. Using the trivet can prevent burning or overcooking and also ensure even cooking.

    Also Check: How To Cook Sirloin Tip Roast In Instant Pot

    Install Instant Pot Condensation Collector

    If your Instant Pot came with 2 plastic cups, the round plastic cup is a Rice Measuring Cup. The flat plastic cup is an instant pot condensation collector.

    How to Install Instant Pot Condensation Collector? Find the slot at the back of Instant Pot, then slide it right in .

    *Pro Tip: be sure to check & rinse the condensation cup once in a while.

    Loading Your Steam Basket

  • 1Add 1 to 2 cups of water to the Instant Pot. Measure out your water and pour it into the bottom of the Instant Pot. Use less water for a smaller quantity of food, but go ahead and add the full 2 cups if youre steaming a whole basket of veggies or seafood.XResearch source
  • You dont want the water to go up over the food, since it will boil your meal instead of steaming it.
  • 2Set the trivet on the bottom of the Instant Pot. The trivet is the short rack that came with your Instant Pot. Place it at the bottom of your pot to help hold the food up over the water.XResearch source
  • If the water comes up over the trivet, scoop a bit of it out to lower the level down below the top of the trivet.
  • 3Layer the food in the basket according to cooking time. Check the cooking times in your recipe or Instant Pot cooking guide before you load multiple foods into your steam basket. Place the foods that take longer to cook at the bottom, closer to the water. Top the basket with your quickest cooking food.XResearch source
  • Root vegetables take longer to steam than green veggies. Similarly, seafood also steams pretty quickly.
  • For instance, you might put potatoes on the bottom, carrots in the middle, and broccoli on top.
  • If your basket seems overly full, it may be best to cook your meal in 2 or more batches. Since your Instant Pot is so fast, dinner will still be ready soon.
  • You can use most steam baskets in an Instant Pot.
  • Recommended Reading: Water To Pinto Bean Ratio Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Duo Plus Review

    The Pot DUO Plus is an improved version of the Pot Duo version. As such, it has similar functionalities but also comes with extra features that make it more attractive for certain people.

    Starting with the similarities, this version also comes in 3, 6, and 8qt sizes and weighs 12 pounds. Just like the DUO 60, it has a large front control panel, but it is slightly larger and organized a bit differently. Also, there is an inner steel pot thats easy to clean and prevents food from sticking to the surface.

    Now, lets have a look at the things that set the two apart. First, the Instant Pot Duo Plus can replace nine different appliances in your kitchen, as it is a 9-in-1 product. As such, when you buy it, you get a Pressure and Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Saute, Warmer, Steamer, Egg, Sous vide, Yogurt, and Cake Maker. In addition. Also, you can use it as a sterilizer, to keep utensils and other sensitive objects clean and safe.

    The DUO Plus Instant Pot comes with 12 pre-set temperatures, 15 pre-programmed dishes, and 10 safety features. If these features look familiar, they are pretty much the same as with the DUO 60, with the added Cake Mode to the list of pre-programmed dishes.

    Overall, the Instant Pot Duo Plus may be a bit more expensive than the first model, but it comes with new and interesting features that may be more to your liking.

    Pros

    Learn How To Boil Water

    How to Use the Instant Pot Duo Plus

    Whichever electric pressure cooker you end up with, your first time using it should involve literally learning to boil water. You do this by adding a cup or so of water to the inner pot , sealing the lid, and selecting a short cook time. Within five minutes, the water should heat up and build pressure, at which point the pressure is released via the natural method, or you can use the quick-release method. .

    Donât Miss: How To Steam Frozen Tamales In Instant Pot

    Don’t Miss: How Many Quarts In An Instant Pot

    How To Start The Instant Pot

    Step 1. Place the Instant Pot on a sturdy countertop or a table close to a power socket. Make sure there is plenty of open space above the pot as you will have steam eject from the lid up in the air if you quick release the pressure.

    Step 2. Make sure the inner pot is inside the cooker base and is clean. Plug the power cord in. Instant Pot will switch on and the OFF status symbol will appear on the control panel. This is called a standby mode.

    Step 3. Decide on which cooking method you want to use from the below scenarios. This will depend on what you want to cook. Usually, recipe instructions will guide you along here.

    In general, your choices will come down to whether you want to Sauté food first and then whether you want to use a manual setting or one of the smart programs.

    Page 1: Pressure Cooking

  • Page 18 Pressure Cooking Optionally, personalize pressure cooking programs as follows: To do this ..Press this button Followed by these steps… Change the cooking time Cooking Program Select between three preset cooking times, Key of Your Choice Normal, Less and More by repeatedly pressing the cooking program you wish to adjust.
  • Page 19 Pressure Cooking Release the pressure using one of the following methods : Natural Release: Allow the cooker to cool down naturally until the oat valve drops down. This may take 10 to 40 minutes, or even more, depending on the amount of food in the cooker.
  • Recommended Reading: How To Cook Tamales In The Instant Pot

    Whats The Big Deal With Instant Pots Anyway

    Instant Pots are multifunction, programmable electric pressure cookers. Think of them as little cooking robots.

    If youre not familiar with pressure cooking, the entire point of an Instant Pot can be confusing.

    The big sell here is pressure cooking is up to 70 percent faster than other ways of cooking. Pressure cookers reach higher temperatures because their lids lock into place without steam escaping, which creates a pressurized environment inside the pot. In this environment, the cooker reaches 250°F .

    With pressure cooking on a stove, you have to keep a close eye on the cooker because you regulate the heat source. But with an electric Instant Pot, the cooker regulates its own heat via sensors. Thats the other win. Program the Instant Pot and once its going, youre free to go for a walk, vacuum the living roomyou get the idea.

    Instant Pots can do other things besides pressure cook, too. With the lid off, you can sauté ingredients before pressure cooking. You can also use it as a slow cooker or for making yogurt. Were not going to worry about doing those things here, though. This guide is all about pressure cooking.

    Coco Morante

    Latest Recipes

    More Recipes Like This