Features Of The Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooker
The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker is a must-have for every busy home chef. With a simple press of a button, you can instantly steam vegetables, cook meat, stews, and casseroles, or even treat yourself to homemade yogurt! You can also delay cooking up to 24-hours with the programmable timer for added convenience. With so many features and capabilities, the hardest part is deciding what to make first. Be sure to download the Instant Pot app to access over 1,000 recipes that help solve the “what’s for dinner?” dilemma.
What To Consider When Buying An Instant Pot
With such a wide array of models available when it comes to Instant Pots and multi-cookers, choosing the right one for you can be confusing.
Start by considering the different cooking methods offered by the best Instant Pots and multi-cookers, and the dishes you prepare most. While some offer a handful of cooking modes including pressure cooking and slow cooking, others including the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus have as many as 48 different ways of cooking and can do everything including proving bread and making yogurt.
Next look at the capacity the Instant Pot can hold and whether it’s sufficient for the number of people you have to cook for. Multi-cookers with a 6 quart / 5.7-liter capacity and above are ideal for those with a large family to feed, or those that want to batch-cook, while a smaller Instant Pot can hold around 3.2 quarts / 3 liters should suffice for an individual or couple.
On top of that, look out for Instant Pots and multi-cookers that have inner pots that can be used on the stove, when browning meat before slow cooking and are dishwasher safe to make sure you have as few utensils to wash up as possible.
Instant Pot 6 Quart Vortex Plus 6
Courtesy Best Buy
Normally $130, Now $100 at Wayfair
Instant Pot doesnt just make slow cookers and pressure cookers. This multi-function air fryer delivers a whole world of lower-fat flavor at the touch of a button. Pre-set smart buttons allow you to air fry, roast, broil, bake re-heat or dehydrate anything from chicken wings or fries, to carrots and apples. In addition to 9 built in smart programs, you can create custom settings, all in a small, easy-to-clean package.
$90 is the lowest price we’ve seen on this item.
Normally $105, Now $70 at Amazon and Best Buy
Ideal for apartments, or cooking just a few meals, this full-function 3-quart pressure cooker also functions as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, warmer and sauté pot.
The lowest price we’ve seen on this item is $59.
Read Also: How Long Do You Cook Chicken In The Instant Pot
Why I Dig This Deal:
On November 7 at Walmart, you can purchase an Instant Pot Duo 6-quart 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker for $50. Compare this deal to Sams Clubs price of $89.98 and save $39.98!
The Instant Pot 6-quart 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker has 13 customizable Smart Programs for pressure cooking ribs, beans, soups, rice, poultry, yogurt, desserts and more! Pressure cook meals up to 70% faster than traditional cooking methods or you can slow cook your favorite recipes. Its made with finger-print resistant, food-grade stainless steel and includes 10 safety features and has a dishwasher-safe, safe-locking lid. This pressure cooker also comes with a steaming rack, rice paddle, souple ladle and a rice measuring cup.
Shipping is free. This deal will be available starting on November 7.
Performance: Precise And Reliable
The Instant Pot Duo is proud to proclaim its a 7-in-1 appliance, featuring the following functions: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, and Warmer. The device has its temperature and pressure sensors dialed in, resulting in precise results when cooking. We tested the yogurt function on several occasions, and the pot always stopped its initial heating phase when the milk temperature reached exactly 180 degrees. We never had to click on the sauté button to get it to reach the optimal temperature.
We also tested its ability to slow cook, making chili with dried pinto beans and beef chuck, and soup with a ham hock and dried cannellini beans. It always produced tender beans and meat in four hours on high.
The steamer function on most multi-cookers isnt really steaming as much as pressure-cooking. The Instant Pot website says the program is designed so that the heating intensity is fast and steep, likely so that the contents of the pot get under pressure as quickly as possible so they dont overcook while the pot preheats.
This Instant Pot has its temperature and pressure sensors dialed in, resulting in precise results when cooking.
When sautéing, we loved how the Instant Pot had three temperatures to choose from: less, normal, and more.
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What’s The Best Size Instant Pot
Instant Pots and other multi-cookers come in an array of different capacities ranging from 3 quart / 3 liters right up to 8 quart / 7.5 liters, so knowing which size Instant Pot is best for you can be confusing.
For most people, the 6 quart / 5.7-liter size Instant Pot will prove to be the most useful. Instant say this capacity is enough to feed between three and size people depending upon your appetite, so will be ideal for families or those looking to batch cook meals for a handful of people.
The larger 8 quart / 7.5-liter size will be a better fit for bigger families, or anyone cooking on a large scale, such as creating chilies, stews, or curries for a party. Meanwhile, for one or two-person households the smaller 3-quart / 3 liter, Instant Pot will ensure you’re not using additional energy by cooking a small quantity in an Instant Pot that’s just too large for your needs.
It’s worth remembering that not all models of Instant Pot are available in all sizes, so do check before deciding on the best model for you.
Instant Pot Silicone Cover
Normally $20, Now $17 at Walmart
This cover creates an air- and water-tight seal on an Instant Pot stainless steel inner potso you can just pop the pot out of the Instant Pot and put it in the fridge without needing to transfer anything or dirty another vessel. When youre done with it, throw it in the dishwasher for quick cleaning.
Also Check: How To Slow Cook In The Instant Pot
Is An Instant Pot Really Worth It
Thereâs no denying an Instant Pot is a great kitchen appliance but you may be wondering if itâs really worth it? Or will it simply end up as another kitchen gadget that languishes on your countertop gathering dust?
Itâs important to remember that while Instant Pots offer a multitude of cooking methods, many of which means you no longer need to use an oven or a hob, they canât cook everything. For example, theyâre not an option if you regularly prepare pasta, noodles, or stir frys. And while some do come with lids that can air fry, we found making fries in an Instant Pot wasnât as good as using one of the best air fryers.
At the same time, you canât just pop the lid off and check the dish youâre cooking, as you would when using the hob, the oven, or a slow cooker. Youâll need to release the pressure, effectively stop cooking, and detach the lid. Then if the dish isnât ready, youâll need to start cooking again.
Similarly, an Instant Pot can certainly shave a few hours off cooking stews, ribs and other dishes that usually take the best part of a day to cook, however with dishes like rice or steaming vegetables the time saving is minimal, which may mean an Instant Pot isnât worth the investment.
Instant Pot Official 8
Courtesy Walmart
Normally $50, Now $32
One of the beauties of Instant Pot is its versatility, and the wide range of accessories, add ons and conveniences available. This cook and bake set allows you to multi-task, maximize and otherwise further enjoy your device. Features two round pans / pan stackers and two snap-fit silicone lids. $30 is the lowest we’ve seen.
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Instant Pot Vs Ninja Foodi
Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are two of the biggest names in the multi-cooker world and are regularly compared to see which is best. Both brands create a wide number of appliances including everything from air fryers to blenders.
As you might expect, the larger and more feature-heavy appliances from Instant Pot and Ninja Foodi are more expensive, but generally speaking, Ninja models are normally more expensive.
Itâs also worth comparing how easy these machines are to clean. Ninja Foodi machines feature a cooking pot with a non-stick coating so you shouldnât need to scrub for hours to get rid of any food. Instant Pots have stainless steel pots but both of the brandsâ pots can be placed in a dishwasher.
Weâve compared these brands in detail, to find out which came out on top, read our Ninja Foodi vs Instant Pot feature.
Price: Affordable And Often Discounted
According to the list price, the 6-quart Duo 60 7-in-1 retails for $99, but its frequently on sale for $69.99 to $79.99 instead. This puts it closer in price to budget-friendly brands like Crock-Pot, which sells a similar cooker for $69.99. And when this model of Instant Pot goes on deep discount thanks to events like Black Friday or Amazon Prime Day, its entirely possible to buy one for as low as $59.
Read Also: How To Set Up Instant Pot Duo Nova
Instant Pot Duo Plus 8
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.
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9
Normally $130, Now $89 at Walmart
This 9-in-1 Duo Plus model comes with everything you get in the Duo 7-in-1, but with two additional programs. The sous vide makes it easy to perfectly regulate the water and food temperature, and the sterilizer functions let you sterilize bottles and jars with zero effort. Like other Duo models, you can delay start for up to 24 hours.
The lowest price we’ve seen for this item is $59.
Normally $150, Now $100 at Walmart
Get the best of both worlds in a compact appliance. Two different lids open up a world of cooking options: the pressure cooker lid operates like your normal Instant Pot slow cooker / pressure cooker so you can steam, sauté, warm, slow cook, even dehydrate. Swap out for the Air Fryer lid and youre good to go with low-fat frying and baking of chicken, French fries and more.
$100 is the lowest price we’ve seen for this item.
Recommended Reading: Can I Cook Frozen Ground Beef In My Instant Pot
Accessories: Best Ones Sold Separately
Like most multi-cookers, the Instant Pot Duo 60 7-in-1 comes with a plastic rice paddle, small plastic ladle, condensation catcher, and a steamer rack. The rack has handles to make it easier to lift and lower it into the pot. However, its feet are so short that it can be a problem unless you have a small amount of liquid. One recipe we made required steaming sausages on the rack over a bed of lentils, and we noticed the rack nestled into the lentils rather than stood above. In the end, it didnt compromise the dish, but we wished the rack was a little higher.
Although the Instant Pot Duo didnt come with a lot of accessories, the company sells a wide range of options online, including a ceramic nonstick cook pot, glass lid, silicone cake pan, loaf pan, steamer basket, pot grippers, yogurt cups, and color-coded gaskets.
Our Experience So Far
Well we pretty much use it for everything now. We make a lot a lot of stews. We saute the carrots, meat and onions then include everything else. Then seal, place it on high pressure for seven minutes, release naturally, and everytime, in such a short time we have a perfectly cooked delicious meal. Also this is enough for four or five servings.
If you’re in love with beans like we are, well the other day, I quick soaked some by covering with water, then hitting for five minutes, top pressure. I then let it release naturally and let them sit for a few hours. Stupendous.
We’ve even taken this away in our RV, and although bigger and heavier than desired for an RV, it’s just so useful. We’ve even made banana bread in it. And we power it up on our solar system and it only draws 67A. If I saute for four minutes, we can cook our leftovers.
We used to have a VitaClay that truly was great for making beans and excellent with bone broth, but took so much longer to cook with and so much heavier than the Instant Pot.
When you first get an Instant pot the instructions can be a little intimidating and you feel like you’ve got a lot to learn, as they’re fairly extensive. But actually I found a few things I wanted to know which weren’t in them.
I wanted to know how long was each programmed cooking cycle and also when sautering, what temperatures do the various settings heat too?
So, after now learning that, I can pass a few tips onto you.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Instant Pot Spaghetti
What Can I Cook In An Instant Pot
The best Instant Pots offer a range of different cooking methods, which means there are a plethora of different dishes that can be created in Instant Pots and multi-cookers. Slow cooking means you can use cheaper but tougher cuts of meat and cook them low and slow to make casseroles and stews, while pressure cooking speeds up cooking times, making it great for ribs and chicken wings. However, you can even bake cakes – in particular, we found making cheesecake in an Instant Pot was very good, air fry foods like fries, and even hard-boiled eggs. You can find an extensive variety of recipes at instantpot.com.
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Chloe Jeong / The Spruce Eats
Instant Pot has done an excellent job of taking the humble pressure cooker and turning it into a worldwide phenomenon. The electric cookers are all about getting more done in the kitchen in less time. With seven or more preset cooking features, you can make everything from rice to yogurt to chilis and stews in this tabletop appliance. Cleanup is quick and painlesssimply remove the metal bowl and place that, plus the lid, in the dishwasher.
Winter is a perfect time time to cook up stews, chilis, soups and large-format meals using Instant Pot. When shopping for an Instant Pot, youll want to consider two main things: which features youll use most often, and what size fits your family, cooking preferences, and, realistically, kitchen counter or storage space. Remember, also, that this simple device may replace two or three other appliances, actually clearing up space on your countertop or in your cabinet.
To help you find the best fit, we rounded up the best deals on Instant Pots right now.
We update these sales weekly, but products go fast! If something is out of stock or not on sale, check back next week for a batch of new deals.
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Cleaning: As Easy As It Gets
We already assumed the stainless steel pot, steamer rack, plastic tools, and silicone ring were all dishwasher safe, but we were pleasantly surprised to find out the entire lid can go in the dishwasher, too. Cleanup cant get any faster than that. The only thing that cant go in the dishwasher or get immersed in water is the base, since it contains electrical components.
Resources: Manual Cookbook And App
We were very impressed with the level of detail in the full-color user manual. It was very informative and even listed the psi for each pressure level and the temperatures equivalents for the less, normal, and more sauté functions. Of all the brands we tested, Instant Pot had the clearest explanation of how its pre-set programs work.
The recipe booklet, on the other hand, was a little less impressive. The photos accompanying the recipes werent very attractive, and it was clear the recipes werent designed for that particular Instant Pot . The Instant Pot app also has more than 1,000 recipes to choose from, but none seemed particularly appealing.
Recommended Reading: How To Let Instant Pot Naturally Release
How We Test Instant Pots
To see how Instant Pots and multi-cookers stack up, weâve spent hundreds of hours whipping up curries and chilies, preparing batches of rice, and even steaming portions of vegetables, comparing the end results. Weâre looking for meat that falls off the bone but is still tender and succulent, rice thatâs fluffy but still with some bite, and crisp vegetables. Weâve also compared how easy they are to use and just how much they speed up cooking.
We evaluate each model on how many different cooking methods it offers, how durable and easy to clean the body and parts are, how loud it is in use and when releasing pressure, and how hot the exterior casing gets. Weâre also assessing how simple each multi-cooker is to use and whether you need to read the instruction manual before cooking, whether recipe inspiration is provided and the useful accessories such as racks and trays it comes with.
