Latest Model Of Instant Pot

Must Try

Are Pressure Cookers Safe

Review: How To Use Your UPGRADED Instant Pot Duo Plus

Yes, electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot are generally safe and easy to use. The Instant Pot has so many safety mechanisms built in that its hard to make a catastrophic mistake. As we found in our research and reporting in 2019, the lid has two safety catches: a float valve with a pin mechanism and a lock . If for some reason the steam-release valve doesnt do its job, the appliance has another sensor, which shuts off the heating element if excess pressure builds inside the pot. As an added safety measure, starting in 2021 all Instant Pot lids have an easy-to-use steam-release switch, so you can release pressure after cooking without getting too close to the valve.

In general, if you follow the safety instructions, you should be good. But, as with any method of cooking, using an Instant Pot isnt entirely risk free, and accidents can happen. In 2021, a woman filed a lawsuit against Instant Pot and Target because she opened the cooker, thinking it was depressurized, and the hot contents spewed out and burned her toddler. Instant Pot told us: While we are unable to comment on ongoing litigation, please understand that the Company takes consumer complaints and products claims seriously.

How Does The Mini Duo Vs Mini Duo Nova Compare Whats New With This Model

If you already have an Instant Pot Mini Duo and thinking about purchasing a Mini Duo Nova, or are looking to buy your first Instant Pot mini, lets take a quick look at the differences.

Both models are very similar in terms of the smart programs included. For the new Duo Nova Mini, it has the auto seal lid as an added safety feature. The Duo Mini has a manual close steam release value.

The auto sealing lid is a feature I love in the 3 quart Ultra so its great to see it here.

The new Instant Pot Mini Duo Nova also has a backlit display like youll see in the Duo Plus and Ultra.

Also with the new model, they changed the accessories slightly by including two sealing rings. If you havent started cooking in an electric pressure cooker yet, make sure you have more than one sealing ring to avoid having your cheesecake taste like chicken or another savory disk you make.

Both models are similar in price since they have similar smart programs and features. Keep an eye out for flash sales and deals to help you save money when you decide to buy an Instant Pot.

Instant Omni Plus Air Fryer

Right now on Amazon, you can save money on this higher-end Instant Pot model.

As you can see from the picture above, the Instant Omni Plus is not exactly a pot. In fact, no, it isn’t a pot. The Instant Omni Plus is a countertop convection oven that, in true Instant Pot fashion, has a bunch of tricks up its sleeves. This 10-in-1 appliance can be used to air fry, broil, bake, roast, dehydrate, reheat, toast and warm. And, as noted, it works as a convection oven and a rotisserie.

Recommended Reading: How Long To Cook Stew In Instant Pot

Best Instant Pot 202: Our Top Picks

Why you can trust Homes & Gardens Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

It’s the most expensive Instant Pot in our guide, but the Instant Pot Pro Crisp does everything you could wish for. It has an air fryer lid, 14 presets, and a digital display to track your cooking process.

Why we love it

When we tried the Instant Pot Pro Crisp for ourselves, it was able to pressure cook a chicken in just 20 minutes. We then turned it onto air fry mode, and crisped up the skin perfectly.

Most parts of the Instant Pot Pro Crisp can go in the dishwasher, including the pressure cooker lid. It has a removable air fryer basket that we found made takeout-worthy fries, and the handles allowed us to shake up the wedges for even cooking results.

Features

You can put the pot in the dishwasher, and because it has silicone-coated handles, it’s easy to lift out even when your meal has recently finished cooking. The pot can also go on the stove, although with the sear setting, you might not need it.

Our Instant Pot Pro Crisp review has more details

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is an upgrade on the classic Instant Pot Duo, with added safety features and a smarter display. When it comes down to it though, this Instant Pot has all the features you’re looking for when you want to get started with a multi-cooker.

Why we love it

Features

Why we love it

Features

What we love

Features

What we love

The Best Instant Pot For Most People

Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 9
  • Available in sizes: 3, 6, 8, and 10 quarts

With over 100,000Amazon reviews, the Duo Mini is by far Instant Pots most popular model. It comes in a range of sizes from 3 to 10 quarts, and the models functions only grow as it gets larger. This 6-quart model has a user-friendly LCD screen for manually setting it pressure cook, plus 14 one-touch settings for cooking methods including slow cook, pressure cook, steam, soup/broth, yogurt, and sauté. You can even customize your unit to remember your most commonly used cooking settings. The machine makes a sound confirming when the lid has been sealed for cooking, and the pressure valve itself is placed centrally on the lid for easy use .

When removed, the lid fits conveniently in one of the pots handles so you dont have to set it on your countertop. The Duo Mini can cook foods up to 70% faster than traditional methods, and the enclosed cooking chamber retains foods natural moisture. For cooking inspiration, customers can download the Instant Pot app that has over 1,000 recipes.

Editor’s note: I own the Instant Pot Duo Nova and love it for making all manner of meal soups, savory meats, lentils, you name it. I find, when cooking 3-4 servings of food, the 3-quart model is sufficient for my needs.

Recommended Reading: Is An Instant Pot Like An Air Fryer

You’ll Need Some Cookbooks

Multicooker cookbooks in North America can have a weird sameness to them: chicken soup, chili, mac and cheese, repeat. Ugh! Dig around a bit and you can find more diverse and just more interesting stuff out there.

Indian food is huge in this realmcheck out some of their and remember that if you already own a favorite slow-cooker cookbook and have a bit of ingenuity, you’ll be able to adapt most, if not all, of the recipes in it to work in your pressure cooker.

The top picks from my full list of recommended cookbooks are Multicooker Perfection from America’s Test Kitchen for the classics, Melissa Clark’s Dinner in an Instant for more exciting recipes, and Urvashi Pitre’s Indian Instant Pot for fast and very tasty food from the subcontinent. If you want to eat well and chill with the slow-cooker set, get Hugh Achesons The Chef and The Slow Cooker .

It Will Order Your Groceries

The Instant Pot MEGA is now Alexa-enabled. That means you tell the machine which recipes youre making, and then as you pour ingredients in , it keeps track of how much youre using. Once youve used up the last bit/drop of something, the machine will automatically update your shopping list. You can even order things as you think of them. Just say, MEGA, order a can of black beans, and itll show up in the mail a day or two later.

Don’t Miss: How Long To Cook Pot Roast In Instant Pot

Which One Should I Buy

Sure, if the price is the most important decision factor, you already have your answer. But, if you want a more in-depth analysis, here are my thoughts after having reviewed both cookers:

Choose the DUO 60 if…

  • You want to be able to make yogurt at home
  • You want the Delay Start functionality
  • The manually operated valve doesnt bother you
  • You like the larger control panel and interface with more buttons
  • You want access to a book of recipes
  • The lower price tag is appealing

Choose the Fast Slow Pro if…

  • You mostly use the pressure and slow cooking features
  • The simplified interface is appealing to you
  • You like the removable lid and ceramic-coated inner bowl
  • The lack of the yogurt-making feature is not a problem
  • You like the automatic steam release valve
  • The high price tag doesnt bother you

While both are great and have versatile functionality, the Fast Slow Pro is the cooker of choice for anyone who wants a sleek and simple interface. Furthermore, the pot solves the problem some users have with the manually operated steam release valve and has a wide range of settings to ensure a set-it and forget-it type of meal.

On the other hand, if you want a less expensive solution, and the ability to create yogurt at home, the Instant Pot IP-DUO Series is the better choice.

P.S. – You may noticed there are some more Instant Pot models, so you may wonder if there are better options than the DUO and which Instant Pot should you buy anyway.

The Best Instant Pot: Instant Pot Pro

New Instant Pot Models – The Best Instant pot Pressure cookers

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

Don’t Miss: Instant Pot Pot Replacement

What’s The Best Size Instant Pot

Our Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab evaluates 6-quart models because we think it’s the most practical option. Its big enough for a decent-size batch of chicken soup or chili, but it doesnt hog too much counter space. That being said, the 8-quart model is great for large families or for those who love to meal prep.

Best Budget Stovetop Pressure Cooker: T

The T-fal Clipso is a breeze to use. In our tests, the Clipso pressurized very quickly. As with all stovetop models, you bring up the heat to your desired setting, and once steam begins to release through the valve, its time to reduce the heat and set your timer. We quickly found the sweet spot and noted that the pot held its pressure nicely throughout the cooking time, with little need for turning the heat up or down.

Like the electric pressure cookers, all the stovetop models performed well in our recipe tests, although some earned more points for better consistency, texture and faster cook time. So while the Kuhn Rikon beat out the T-fal when it came to making beans, risotto and stew, for about $155 less, the T-fal still did an admirable job.

The model comes with a steam basket and tripod and is dishwasher safe when you remove the gasket and pressure valve. It comes with a 10-year warranty against defects or premature deterioration and, for other parts, a one-year warranty is included. And we appreciate the side handles on the pot that allow for easy maneuvering. But what sets the T-fal apart from other models is its unique lid. Designed for one-hand use, the lid clamps down on the pot with jaws that lock into place with the press of a button. Once youre done cooking and the pressure is released , the lid opens by pressing the top of a large knob. As a safety feature, the lid will not open until all pressure is released.

Don’t Miss: How To Cook Ribs Instant Pot

Flaws But Not Dealbreakers

A few of the Instant Pots parts require extra effort to cleanbut this goes for every Instant Pot model, not just the Duo. The depression around the rim of the outer pot traps salt, crumbs, and gunk, but we clear it out with canned air and a damp rag. Though the lids silicone sealing ring can also retain smells, you can deodorize it or buy extras .

None of the pressure cookers we tested, including the Duo, cook rice as well as the Cuckoo CRP-G1015F electric pressure rice cooker . But the Duo is more all-purpose than a dedicated rice cooker, and it still makes fine rice that wed be happy to eat.

Weve never experienced an accident with hot steam on the Duo, and we think the new pressure-release switch is even safer to use. But you should still keep your face and hands away from the valve.

The electric heating element in the Instant Pot cant sear meat as well as stove-top techniques . For intense browning, sear meat in a separate pan on the stove, deglaze, and add the meat and drippings to the electric cooker. This process may kill your one-pot-dinner fantasies, but sometimes life is a compromise. If youre looking for more versatility, our upgrade picks inner pot is designed to work on most cooktops.

Where To Buy The Instant Pot Pro

Latest Model Instant Pot Ip

The 6-quart Instant Pot Pro is available from , Williams Sonoma, Target, and Kohls.

The 8-quart Instant Pot Pro is currently available from Williams Sonoma and .

A note if youre buying from Amazon: For some reason, the Pro is currently listed in the same listing as the Duo Plus. Be sure that you have the correct version selected and be aware that a lot of the reviewsespecially the negative onesare for the Duo Plus.

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!

You May Like: How Do I Know My Instant Pot Is Cooking

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.

Some Alternatives To The Duo Crisp

We think you should get the Duo Crisp only if youre set on using both the pressure-cooker and air-fryer functions to make one-pot meals. If you want one function or the other, here are our alternative recommendations:

  • To crisp up foods quickly, use a convection toaster oven, which will give you better results than an air fryer. We recommend the Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven. We tested it against a number of different air fryers and found that the toaster oven yielded crunchier, more evenly baked finger foods. Toaster ovens are also more versatile: A toaster oven fits larger batches and works better for tasks like toasting bread, making a cake or pizza, or even cooking a whole chicken. You can, of course, also use a regular oven for any of these tasks it will just take a little longer.
  • We recommend the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo if you just want a pressure cooker. Preset cooking programs make the Duo easier to use than the Duo Crisp, and the 6-quart version is a more reasonable size for most kitchens. You can also use this pot as a slow cooker, a rice cooker, or even a yogurt maker.

You May Like: How To Cook Pot Roast In The Instant Pot

Can You Make Bread In An Instant Pot

An Instant Pot doesnt have the hot, dry environment thats typically used for baking standard loaves of bread. However, there are specialty types of baked goods, like steamed buns, that can be cooked in an Instant Pot. Its also possible to bake cakes, but they will have a different exterior and texture since they will be steamed rather than baked. However, for the models of Instant Pot that can hold a precise low temperature of about 90 degrees, the Instant Pot can be used for proofing bread dough.

Latest Recipes

More Recipes Like This