What Size Instant Pot Should I Get
The Instant Pot comes in three sizes: 3 quarts, 6 quarts, and 8 quarts, making it a versatile countertop appliance for small kitchens and large families alike. The 6-quart Instant Pot is the most popular option for home cooks, as most recipes are written for that size. Generally, a meal cooked in a 6-quart model feeds three to six people. The 8-quart models, on the other hand, are ideal when youre feeding a large family, cooking for a party, or doing weekly meal prep. Last but not least is the 3-quart Instant Pot , which is perfect for cooking for one or two people or keeping in a small kitchen. While every model is available in the 6-quart size, not all models are available in the 3- and 8-quart sizes.
Making Rice In An Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is one of the most popular brands of electric pressure cookers. They are easy to use and your Instant Pot can help you create this delicious Rice! You can double or half this recipe without needing to change the cook time.
Though you can cook brown rice easily on the stove, using your Instant Pot means that you dont need to even keep an eye on it. You will also save 20 plus minutes in the process!
Yield:
- 2 cup brown rice
- 2 3/4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer
This standout 11-in-1 pressure cooker was the first Instant Pot model to offer an air-frying function by way of a second air fryer lid. When youre done frying, you can simply switch back to the standard lid for pressure cooking, steaming, sautéing, and more. Like all Instant Pot models, this one comes with advanced safety features and access to a digital library of more than 1,000 Instant Pot recipes. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp even lets you broil, and until the Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer came along, this model was the Ninja Foodis fiercest competitor.
Built-in smart programs: 11Functions: Pressure-cooking, slow-cooking, air-frying, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, roasting, baking, broiling, dehydratingSizes available: 6- and 8-quart Instant Pots
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Other Instapot Duo Gourmet Error Codes
The other error codes are quite rare:
C1, C2, C6, C6H, C6L: These five errors dont specify what exactly is wrong, just that your Instant Pot may have a faulty sensor and that youll need to contact customer support at 1-800-828-7280 or support @ instantpot.com.
C5 indicates that the cooking pot is not quite in place or that there is no water in the inner cooking pot.
C7 or NoPr indicates that the heat element has failed, there is not enough liquid, or the quick release switch is in the vent position. If you get the error, check the release valve and make sure there is the minimum amount of liquid required for pressure . If those arent the problem, contact Customer Support.
Lid indicates that the lid is not correctly positioned. Simply open the lid and replace it, ensuring it is properly placed. (Note: Dont use the lid with the saute setting.
PrSE indicates that pressure has accumulated during a non-pressure cooking program. You will want to use the quick release vent to reduce pressure in the pot.
Instant Pot Duo Gourmet Review
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The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet is a new, Costco-exclusive Instant Pot model released in 2020. The 6-quart Gourmet has some deluxe cooking modes, an upgraded auto-seal lid, and comes with basic accessoriesavailable for a budget price.
The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet combines many of my favorite features from the latest Instant Pot models at a competitive price point.
It has the a similar button layout to the updated Duo Plus, the display of the Duo, the push-button pressure release that I love from the Duo Nova.
Read my complete review for everything you need to know about the new Instant Pot Duo Gourmet! Or, jump to my How To Use The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet video.
Looking to Buy? The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet 6-quart is now available at Costco for $79. However, starting October 28th, theyre offering a $20 off coupon to bring it close to last years Black Friday prices for the classic Duo and Duo Nova.
Just Bought a New Gourmet? Read the review for the basics of your machine, then hop over to my Getting Started Guide to get cooking in your new Duo Gourmet! Ill walk you through everything!
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How To Use The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet
Disclosure: I purchased an Instant Pot Duo Gourmet to review. As always, my opinion is always my own.
FOR MORE FROM PRESSURE COOKING TODAYBrowse our collection of the best pressure cooker / Instant Pot recipes.Follow Pressure Cooking Today on and for the latest updates. Join our . Our positive community of pressure cooking fans use all brands of electric pressure cookers, so its a great resource if you have questions about your particular brand. If youre interested in more than just Instant Pot recipes, follow us at Barbara Bakes. There we post amazing breakfasts, breads, and the best dessert recipes!
Which Instant Pot Should You Buy All Of The Models Compared
Instant Pots are multifunctional pressure cookers with enhanced features and multiple settings to make an even better meal. The best Instant Pots not only offer faster cooking times but other handy features like preprogrammed settings, LCDs, smartphone apps, and customizable parameters. In this article, we compare the current Instant Pot models, examine their unique features, and explain how each products settings work.
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What Is An Instant Pot
The short answer: The Instant Pot is a convenient multi-cooking machine that lets you cook fast or slow.
The longer answer: Because the Instant Pot is a countertop electric pressure cooker and slow cooker wrapped up in one , its designed to help you remove the guesswork of figuring out the ideal amount of heat, pressure, and time your food needs. Its great for beginner cooking and simple meals, like stews and oatmeal. But once you get more comfortable with the machine, its excellent for tougher cuts of meat like baby back ribs or proteins that usually require a long cook time. With a willingness for some trial and error, many recipes can be adapted for the Instant Pot. Generally speaking, when adapting for pressure cooking, the liquid and cook time will need to be cut and adjusted from those of a manual pressure cooker. For slow-cooking, youll need to adjust for less liquid and more time.
What Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Do You Use
An Instant Pot is a brand of programmable electric pressure cookers. The concept is to cook foods at high pressure, which cuts down on cooking time and makes for even cooking. There are lots of brands of pressure cookers, including Instant Pot. The pressure cooker we use is this 6 quart Instant Pot. Weve been using it for years and highly recommend it!
Recommended Reading: How Long To Cook Stew Meat In Instant Pot
What Can You Cook With The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet
As a 9-in-1 machine, its no surprise that the 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo Gourmet is capable of cooking countless types of recipes. And of course, its not just cooking. For instance, you can even use this machine as a sterilizer for baby bottles, talk about versatility!
In addition, it features 6 quart capacity, so you can effortlessly make substantial portions or perhaps a faster meal prep.
Examples of what you can cook: pulled pork, beef stew, corned beef, shredded chicken, ribs, pasta, pork loin, etc.
Significant functions you can utilize with the 6-Qt Instant Duo Gourmet:
If youre wondering if its available in other sizes, sadly, theres no 3-quart, 8-quart, and 10-quart cooking capacity offered for the Instant Pot Gourmet.
Now, lets move on to its usability.
How To Cook A Whole Chicken In An Instant Pot
On sauté mode, drizzle in olive oil or oil of your choice.
Place your seasoned chicken breast side down, still on saute mode, into the Instant Pot. Let it cook for 6 minutes.
After 6 minutes, flip your chicken. This was pretty much the hardest part. It took a pair of tongs and a spatula to flip the whole chicken! Then put in a cup of water/chicken stock/broth.
Turn the valve to sealing and set to 24 minutes then let it natural pressure release before removing the chicken!
Bam! A whole cooked chicken in the Instant Pot! After removing it from the Instant Pot, to make the skin super crispy, I set it in the oven to be broiled for 5-6 minutes. Keep an eye on it!
RELATED: Got leftover chicken? Try this Chicken and Hummus Quesadilla for lunch the next day!
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Instant Pot Duo Plus Versus Pro
The Instant Pot Pro is a modest step up from the Duo Plus. The Pro enjoys a baking mode which gives it an edge, but an optional air fryer add-on is available for the Duo Plus. The Duo Plus is available in a 3-quart version if you need something with a smaller footprint, while the Pro has a whooping 28 one-touch smart cooking programs available, and an interface with lots of control available. Its a close call between these two.
Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart
The defining feature of the new Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart is that you can pair it with your iPhone or Android to automatically engage the cooking functions from more than 800 smart recipes on the Instant Brands Connect app. This doesnt mean you can press Start while youre at the office and come home to your Instant Pot braising ribs , but you can control almost everything through the appincluding the steam release! The Pro Plus Smart also features a premium inner pot with easy-grab handles and comes with NutriBoost, a function that mimics the motion of boiling by moving food in the pot to enhance the flavor and texture.
Built-in smart programs: Access 800+ smart recipes via the appFunctions: Pressure-cooking, rice-cooking, slow-cooking, yogurt-making, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, baking, sterilizing, NutriBoostSizes available: 6-quart Instant Pot
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How To Make Instant Pot Brown Rice
Cooking brown rice in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker is easy and a totally hands off method! We love that it frees up the stovetop for the main dish, like when were cooking a curry or stir fry. Using a pressure cooker also saves time! On the stovetop it can take up to 55 minutes to cook. How long does Instant Pot brown rice take? About 35 minutes including preheat and natural release time. The cooking portion is only 20 minutes!
Instant Pot Smart Programs Vs Functions
Instant Pots are beloved because of their ability to cook foods quickly using pressure. But theyre also wildly popular, in part, because theyre true multi-cookers that can be used to braise, sauté, steam, and so much more. But all Instant Pots are not created equaler, not every model can perform every function, and theyre billed accordingly . All Instant Pots can pressure-cook, slow-cook, sauté, and keep warm, and fancier models tack on additional cooking methods like yogurt-making, sous vide cooking, broiling, and air-frying. The functions are customizable, and while you cant air-fry or broil in a model that doesnt have an air-frying lid, people still manage to bake cake in models that dont offer mini oven functionality and make yogurt in models that arent officially marketed for yogurt-making.
The Instant Pot Smart Programs allow you to engage each cookers listed functionality with the touch of a button. Many models also have additional Smart Programs that take the guesswork out of specific items like cake, yogurt, eggs, brown rice, and more. The buying guide below details which and how many functions and Smart Programs are available with each model.
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Instant Pot Duo Plus 6
The perfect blend of price and features for first time Instant Pot® users, with an improved, easy-to-read control panel and 15 Smart Programs to make cooking simple and fast.
Also available in these sizes:
As a member of the bestselling Duo family, the Instant Pot® Duo Plus is simple-to-use, versatile and convenient. Taking the place of 9 separate cooking appliances, including pressure cooker, slow cooker and sous vide, it has 15 Smart Programs to help you get started quickly and easily. With a redesigned control panel, you see cooking status at-a-glance, and easily control every step.
So Whats An Instant Pot
I have the Duo Plus 9 in 1 Instant Pot and this is the one that this recipe has been tested in. The Duo Plus replaces 9 commonly used kitchen appliances Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Porridge Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Cake/Egg Maker, Sauté/Searing, Steam, Warm and Sterilize. Its quite the multi-use product! For more info on the Instant Pot, check out my What is an Instant Pot FAQ here!
RELATED: want more Instant Pot Recipes? Find all my Instant Pot Recipes here!
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Tips On Making The Perfect Instant Pot Chicken
- If you have time, season your whole raw chicken and refrigerate for an hour before cooking.
- Season the outside and inside of the chicken for maximum flavour.
- Do not quick release once the countdown is done, let it release the pressure naturally.
- Every pound of chicken should be cooked 6 minutes under pressure this chicken was 3.8lbs so to make it easy, I cooked the chicken in the Instant Pot for 24 minutes.
Instant Pot Pro Versus Max
The biggest claim to fame of the Instant Pot Max is its canning feature. The Instant Pot Pro Plus is the only other model that is able to do canning. The trade-off is that the Max doesnt do Sous Vide, while the Pro does. Youll need to weigh your priorities to figure out which feature is more important. The Instant Pot Pro also comes with 28 one-touch smart cooking programs, which blows the 15 of the Max out of the water. Its a close race between these two models, so it will definitely boil down to your priorities.
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Instant Pot Duo Gourmet
Exclusively available at Costco since its introduction in 2020, the Instant Pot Duo Gourmet is very similar to the Instant Pot Duo Plus. The Duo Gourmet has a slightly different control panel that includes a sous vide button and comes with more accessories . Oh, and theres that sweet Costco member pricing too. Unlike the Duo Plus which is available in three sizes, the Duo Gourmet is only available in the 6-quart size.
Built-in smart programs: 15Functions: Pressure-cooking, slow-cooking, steaming, sautéing, rice-cooking, yogurt-making, sous videcooking, food-warming, sterilizingSizes available: 6-quart Instant Pot
Easy Whole Juicy Chicken In An Instant Pot
So this whole chicken made inside an Instant Pot is one of my favourite Instant Pot recipes right now. Made inside the Instant Pot, there is no basting involved or worrying that the chicken will dry out if you take your eye off it for too long.
While I enjoy the crispy skin from baking a whole chicken traditionally, the Instant Pot version can have just as if not more crispy skin as I popped the chicken into the oven to broil for 5 minutes. Also, by making the whole chicken in an Instant Pot, the chicken is literally fall off the bone! Its so freaking tender and moist and so easy to take apart after its been cooked.
Note: you can even see one of the drumstick bones practically falling off the meat just from me moving the chicken to the rack!
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Research And Buying Tips
What is an Instant Pot?
An Instant Pot is a countertop appliance that plugs into a wall outlet. Instant Pots are pressure cookers, but they can also slow cook, steam, sauté, warm, and more . They have presets for certain food items like poultry, rice, and stew, so you can simply press a button to cook your meal.
Which Instant Pot size is right for me?
Before you purchase an Instant Pot, consider your specific needs and the average serving sizes youll be cooking. Families of four require at least a 6-quart pot, while larger families will probably prefer 8 quarts. Additionally, 3-quart pots are usually the best option for one or two people or for preparing side dishes.
How is an Instant Pot different from a pressure cooker?
A pressure cooker is a device that cooks food under pressure. Its either an electric device you plug into the wall or a stovetop device that uses the heat of your cooktop. An Instant Pot is a multifunctional pressure cooker, meaning it has additional cooking functions outside of pressure cooking.
What can you cook in an Instant Pot?
Can you can food in an Instant Pot?
If youre someone who loves to pressure can and you do it regularly, we advise purchasing the Instant Pot Max. This particular Instant Pot includes a unique canning feature thats bound to make all your canning dreams come true.
Are Instant Pots safe?
Editors’ Recommendations
Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer
The 8-quart Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer is the Duo Crisp turned up to 11. This pro model has all the same functionality of the Duo Crisp plus an upgraded lid with advanced heat protection, auto-sealing, and gentle pressure release. The sturdier stainless-steel inner pot is made to handle anything its stovetop friendly and oven safe up to 450ºF.
Built-in smart programs: 11Functions: Pressure-cooking, slow-cooking, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, air-frying, roasting, baking, broiling, dehydratingSizes available: 8-quart Instant Pot
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