Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 11
Normally $225, Now $150 at Amazon
In case seven or nine functions wasnt enough, this 8-quart Instant Pot Duo adds two more options for you: air fry and dehydrate. You just have to switch out the pressure cooker lid for the air fryer lid, which contains a heater and fan, plus an air frying basket.
The lowest price we’ve seen for this item is $120.
The Spruce / Donna Currie
“I decided to cook a small portion of pork ribs using both the Pressure Cook and Air Fry functions. I placed the ribs on the broiler/dehydrator rack because I wanted to get the sauce bubbly after cooking without overcooking the ribs. It worked well and was great for a quick dinner.” Donna Currie, Product Tester
The Critiera: What We Look For In An Instant Pot
The most useful function of an Instant Pot is its ability to pressure cook, so you want to get a model that quickly comes to pressure. Since many pressure cooker recipes start with a searing or sautéing step, it can help to have an Instant Pot with inner pot stability, so the pot doesnt spin while youre cooking. You want to know whats going on inside your machine while youre cooking, so an easy-to-read progress bar is super helpful. Some additional functions, like being able to use your Instant Pot for not-very-precise sous vide cooking, are sometimes welcome, but others, like the cake-baking function included in some models, we don’t find particularly attractive. However, if the Instant Pot model advertises it can do those functions, it should do them passably well.
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Spaghetti In An Instant Pot
Reviews For Duo Plus 9
Customer Images
5
Made a bbq beef brisket…. high pressure for 90 mins and it was better than anything I have got from a restaurant!This cooker is amazing!
5
Made a bbq beef brisket…. high pressure for 90 mins and it was better than anything I have got from a restaurant!This cooker is amazing!
5
Made a bbq beef brisket…. high pressure for 90 mins and it was better than anything I have got from a restaurant!This cooker is amazing!
5
I just cooked pot roast for the very first time in my life, I always wanted to do this but was scared I might ruin it. Seared the meat ,took it out cooked onions put the pot roast and added liquid,then added vegetables ,but they came out a little soft but was ok for me , then one hour cooking time, and I couldnt believe it that meat was falling off so TENDER unbelievable!!! I love this Insta pot , cant wait to make more
5
A***
I’m not a cook, in fact, I hate cooking! I have 2 children under 2. I’m usually too tired to put in much effort into cooking. I heard great things about the instant pot and how it cuts cooking time in half of even more. Out of curiosity, I bought my IP and fell in love! It doesn’t take much time to cook a tasty meal! I’m happy with my IP and am looking into the other products they have.
5
M*******
55
B******
5
S******
5
R***
5
S******
5
S******
5
F******
5
F******
5
A*****
5
R******
5
R****
Why You Should Trust Us
Serious Eats has long promoted the benefits of stovetop and electric multi-cookers, but we are not Instant Pot evangelists. I personally have now been living with these five machines for over a monththey have taken up residence in my life, and we are currently in an intimate and complicated relationship, sprawling across every inch of my kitchen counter.
I am a seasoned cook and pretty darn familiar with following a recipe. I went to both culinary and pastry school and developed and tested recipes at Americas Test Kitchen for five years . I’m able to use my trained culinary background to recognize good outcomes and know what matters in the kitchen, and my Instant Pot agnosticism makes it easy to assess the usability of these machines.
You May Like: 6 Quart Instant Pot Ultra
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.
Instant Pot Duo Plus 3
Easy to use, easy to clean, fast, versatile, and convenient, the Instant Pot Duo Plus replaces 9 kitchen appliances: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, rice cooker, sterilizer & warmer. With 15 built-in smart programs, you can prepare your favorite dishes with the press of a button. Redefine cooking and enjoy quick and easy meals anywhere, any time. The Instant Pot Duo Plus offers the quality, convenience and versatility youve come to expect from Instant discover amazing.
Don’t Miss: How To Make Alfredo Pasta In Instant Pot
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.
Test : User Experience
Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik
The test: In reading reviews from Instant Pot users, a common user experience complaint is fear about the steam released when venting the pressure cooker. To find the least scary option, we added 3 cups of water to each pot, sealed the lid, and selected the pressure cook option for 5 minutes. Once the cooking ended, we released the pressure and waited for the float valve to drop before opening the lid.
Another common frustration is about how the inner pot spins uncontrollably while sautéing. We took note of this behavior while searing the meat and sautéing the onions for the chili test mentioned above.
Intuitive design is also a heavy hitter in affecting user experience. The control panels on each model vary some use buttons while others have dials for navigating options. Each model gives information about whats happening inside the pot through different status indicators.
Ease of cleaning, of course, is also important.
All of the pots spun while we was searing and sautéing except for one: the Duo Pro. We tested this pot both on the stovetop and in the machine and it was stable in both methods. It had handles that held it put in the cooker’s base.
The Duo Pro was the easiest to navigate, and the steam release felt safe and simple. The upgraded inner pot that doesnt spin when stirring and can be used on the stovetop is a true value-add.
Read Also: Does Walmart Sell Instant Pot
What Can You Make With The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9
Just like any multi-cookers in the market, the Instant Pot Plus has endless capabilities. Right off the bat, with the main functionsslow and pressure cookthere are already 1220 recipes available from the brands website . And thats not counting other recipe blogs.
The point is that there are so many things you can make with an Instapot.
To give you a more concrete idea, here are all the 15 smart cooking programs you can play with.
With all that cleared up, lets move on to the usability of the machine.
Instant Pot Duo Plus 6
With the quietest steam release, handy OK to open lid message, and step-by-step cooking guides, Duo Plus is the perfect all-in-one cooking appliance.
The Instant Pot® Duo Plus is designed to make cooking simple, easy and convenient. With 9 separate cooking functions, including pressure cooking, slow cooking and sous vide, this one appliance does it all in the kitchen. Pressure cooking is worry-free, with the quietest steam release available, a handy alert when its safe to open the lid, and a remote release button to keep your hands safe. 25 smart cooking programs are simple to follow, with step-by-step instructions on the large LCD display, and can be customized to fit your favorite recipes. Clean-up is simple with the dishwasher-safe cooking pot and lid. Duo Plus is the do-it-all countertop appliance that makes it easy to create one-pot meals with delicious results.
Read Also: How To Make Chicken Breast In Instant Pot
Instant Pot Duo Plus 8
Courtesy of Amazon
Normally $160, Now $120 at Amazon
Looking for a little more capacity in your Instant Pot? This 8-quart version of the Instant Pot Duo Plus does it allpressure cooks, sautés, steams, slow cooks, sous vides, and moreand also makes it easier to prepare a meal for a crowd without taking up much more space in your kitchen. The lowest price we’ve seen for this is $70 .
By swapping this lid for the one that came on your 6-quart Instant Pot, you can turn the appliance into an air fryer and dehydrator. The heater and fan are built into the lid , and it also comes with an air fryer basket and dehydrating/broiling tray.
The lowest price we’ve seen for this is $46.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
See The Instant Pot 9
Dont take my word for it, heres a short video demonstration of Duo Plus Instant Pot.
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: How To Cook Sweet Potatoes In Instant Pot
Test : Searing And Pressure Cooking
The test: To test how well the Instant Pots could sear and pressure cook, we made five batches of this recipe for chunky beef chili. We documented the sear on the beef from each model and timed how long each machine took to pressurize. We tasted each sample to evaluate the tenderness of the meat and overall flavor of each chili. One Instant Pot model, the Duo Pro, has a special inner pot that can be used on the stovetop, so we used this pot directly on the burner over medium-high heat to sear the beef. With the other four models, we used their sauté modes.
Heres what happened: The big reveal isno big reveal. Each chili tasted pretty much identical, which may be more of a testament to the quality of the testing of that recipe than the machines we used to make it. None of the five chili samples had bitter notes or off flavors. All of the meat was tender the meat cooked in the Ultra was almost too tender, losing its cube form and shredding a bit too much. There was, however, a clear winner for pressurizing timethe Duo Pro was remarkably fast, taking just over 5 minutes. The Duo Plus was the next quickest, taking about 6 minutes, and since it has a slightly larger inner pot, there was more surface area available for searing. The Duo 7-in-1, Ultra, and Max each took about 8 minutes.
The Best Instant Pot: Instant Pot Pro
Also available at Sur La Table, Williams Sonoma, and Walmart.
What we liked: This model pressurized the quickest and offered the best searing and sautéing experience, with a stable, non-spinning pot. The ability to use the stainless steel inner pot on an electric, induction, or ceramic stovetops was welcome, as it gives the user greater flexibility and control. Releasing the steam feels straightforward and safe because of its separate push-button release and the plastic cover around the steam valve. The control panel is easy to navigate with a mixture of buttons and a dial. We also liked the handles on its cooking pot, which made it easier to lift the pot up and out of the Instant Pot’s base.
What we didn’t like: Its pretty expensive, and while the sous vide function works, although it isn’t nearly as reliable as an immersion circulator.
Price at time of publish: $150
Read Also: Can You Use Instant Pot For Canning
Instant Pot 9 In 1 Vs 11 In : Conclusion
Instant pot 9 in 1 offers 9 cooking function and ease of use thanks to 15 preprogrammed cooking functions. On the other hand, Instant pot 11 in 1 features 11 cooking functions but it doesnt have any one touch smart cooking presets and thats what may bother novice cooks. One touch programs take the guesswork out of cooking which isnt the case with instant pot 11 in 1.
If you are looking for a comfortable and one touch cooking experience, Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker should be your first consideration. On the contrary, if more cooking functions, especially air frying is your consideration then Instant Pot Duo Crisp XL 8Qt 11-in-1 Air Fryer & Electric Pressure Cooker Combo is the one you should go for.
Which one are you choosing and why? Leave a comment in the section below, your feedback is important!
Instant Pot Duo Plus Review The 9
When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more »
The Instant Pot Duo Plus, a.k.a Instapot Duo Plus, Instant Duo Plus, Instant Pot 9-in-1, or simply the IP Duo Plus, has gone several upgrades since it was released almost a decade ago.
In fact, this model is already the third iteration featuring a more refined look and better control panel. It has more cooking functions than its predecessor, and sous vide is one of those.
Also Check: What Does Burn Food Mean On Instant Pot
How To Clean The Instant 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.
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: What Can You Make With An Instant Pot
