Instant Pot Duo Plus

9.5
9.5 score
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Instant Pot Duo Plus Review Facts

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is a multi-use, programmable pressure cooker that offers convenience. It replaces nine kitchen appliances. The pressure cooker has 15 smart programs that ensure favorite dishes are prepared perfectly by pushing a button.

Programs include Pressure Cook, Yogurt, Keep Warm, Slow Cook, Steam, Porridge, Multigrain Rice, Saute, Cake, Sterilize, Egg, Poultry, Bean/Chili, and Meat/Stew. It provides space in the kitchen and cooking versatility.

Over a million and a half Facebook members have shared recipes and tips. More than 1000 Amazon customer reviews have a rating of 4.6 out of five stars. The Instant Pot Duo Plus was ranked number one in the Kitchen Appliance Category, USA for 52 weeks in 2018.

One touch controls eliminate guessing. Flavors are sealed in, making meals more nutritious and tasty. Users can spend time with friends and family while the cooker performs its magic. It is a dependable and time-saving appliance.

Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
  • 9-in-1 functionality
  • 12 preset temperatures
  • 15 smart programs
  • Available in 3-, 6-, and 8-quart capacity
  • Intuitive buttons
  • Space saving
Cons
  • Some quality control issues

Features

There are support resource items available that include customer service support, over 250 video tutorials, and recipes, website resources that answer frequently asked questions, Getting Started Manuals, Cleaning and Care, and more.

Inside the package are a condensation collector, rice measuring cup, soup scoop, rice paddle, steam rack, recipe book, a quick reference guide, and newly designed manual. The inner pot markings now have Quarts, Liters, and the Pressure cook safety limit.

Accessories

The Instant Pot Duo Plus comes with an inner pot made of 18/8 stainless steel, exterior, built-in lid holder, rice paddles, soup spoon, steam rack, and sealing ring. All the accessories are dishwasher safe. Other accessories are available that take pressure cooking to the next level. A versatile set of accessories is available that is designed specifically for pressure cookers. The set includes Nordic Ware Springform Cake Pan, OXO Silicone Lifter, OXO Silicone Rack and a Silicone Egg Rack.

The racks are made of silicone. They elevate vegetables, poultry, and meat or keep eggs upright and steady during a hard boil. The egg rack is heat-resistant, flexible silicone. It can hold nine eggs upright and steady while cooking. It is possible to stack the eggs to do 18 at a time.

The silicone rack elevates food above the pressure cooker base. It is ideal for roasting vegetables, poultry, and meat. The lifter has built-in handles that make the tool indispensable for lifting pans that are hot from the pressure cooker.

The springform cake pan has fully removable sides. The nonstick cake pan is used for baking cakes inside the Instant Pot. The easy to clean, silicone food-grade racks are BPA-free. A commercial-grade aluminum cake pan evenly and quickly conducts heat for consistent browning and baking. All the accessories are dishwasher safe. Interested consumers want to know what accessories are needed.

Each Instant Pot comes with a Silicone Sealing Ring. It is critical to the process of pressure cooking. It undergoes wear and tear. A damaged ring allows steam to leak from the lid. A new sealing ring is needed before the cooker can be used.

Silicone rings tend to absorb the odor of food as it cooks. There are silicone rings in two colors available. Some users use them separately for sweet and savory foods. The separate colors prevent getting them mixed up. An extra inner pot is a wise idea.

Style

The cooking pot is made of food-grade durable 18/8 stainless steel having no chemical coatings. It has clearly marked measurements. The exterior is brushed stainless steel. There are lid handles for both right- and left-handed users.

The same lid is used as with the previous models, but attached to the vent know is a new warning tag to prevent the use of the Instant Pot for facial steaming. The cooker has an off/on sound option. Recipes are included. It is made in China but is intended for use in Canada and the US. The cooker is built to electrical standards of the US.

Settings

Three new cooking programs have been added. They are the Egg Program,Cake Program, and Sterilize Program. Each has three pressure modes - Less Mode, Normal Mode, and More Mode. The difference is the amount of time food is placed under high pressure for the egg and cake program. For the sterilize program, the difference in modes is no pressure, low pressure, or high pressure.

Durability

A common reason people choose an Instant Pot is the 100 percent stainless steel. It is a rare feature among multi-cookers. Many are nonstick or aluminum pots. Stainless steel is long-lasting. There are not potential dangers to health like that of nonstick coatings or in aluminum. Consumers have peace of mind about kitchen appliance safety because the UL standard has been met. Temperature monitoring is one of the safety components that helps avoid burning anything.

Capacity

Not every version comes in the three sizes. The Duo Plus does have a 3-, 6-, and 8-quart size. A 3-quart Instant Pot is used for cooking meals for one to two people, as long as there is no interest in batch cooking. Small families of four people or people want to cook a batch for one or two people will likely use the 6-quart Instant Pot. The 8-quart Instant Pot is big enough for meals prepared for five or more.

A significant benefit is the 8-quart capacity cooker will feed six or more people. A meal can be made at one time instead of cooking in installments with a smaller capacity cooker. The model dictates the cost of an Instant Pot.

Price varies based on capacity. A 6-quart Instant Pot Duo Plus sells for about $120. For less than $200, sometimes under $100, the Instant Pot performs functions beyond pressure cooking like yogurt making and sauteing In choosing a pressure cooker, consider the capacity needed, the number of available settings, and its versatility, durability, user-friendliness, and heaviness.

Use

Dinner is ready in no time. The Instant Pot Duo Plus cooks as much as 70 percent faster. With the cooker, the user has access to Alexa guided cooking, over 100 recipes, video to help get started, a favorite recipe list, a personalized grocery list, and more.

A ‘Delay Start’ option allows meals to be planned ahead or waking up to a perfect breakfast. Instant Pots have a reputation for ease of use, durability, and producing excellent results. Press the digital button located on the front of the unit that corresponds to one of the 15 smart programs.

The fast cooking saves time in the kitchen for those living a busy modern lifestyle. Many online reviewers attest to the food tasting delicious. Cooking is easier now with the clearly labeled, large colorful buttons.

The cooker is more intuitive than the earlier version. A significant advantage is one device replacing nine appliances. It saves space which is particularly useful in small kitchens such as in apartments. A variety of meals can be easily prepared.

It is so much more than a pressure cooker. The Instant Pot Duo Plus is also a food warmer, cake maker, steamer, sterilizer, egg cooker, yogurt maker and slow cooker. The cooker is undoubtedly versatile. A recipe booklet provides new dishes to create. The user can pair with an app for videos on how to get started and more.

Cleaning

The stainless steel Instant Pot is removable and dishwasher safe. It is a breeze to clean. The steam rack, lid, and inner cooking pot are dishwasher safe. Clean the inner base rim, interior, and exterior by wiping with a damp sponge followed by drying with a clean cloth.

Performance

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is a culinary tool that performs a variety of cooking tasks. The nine-in- one model performs the following functions - Sterilize, Warm, Steam, Saute, Cook Eggs, Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Make Yogurt, and Cook Rice.

The handy device can slow cook a roast, saute vegetables, cook rice, and make yogurt. The Instant Pot Duo Plus makes slow-cooked meals fast. The versatile all-in-one device offers nine functions. It can handle everything from making preserves, cakes, and yogurt; to slow-cooking; to sauteing and pressure cooking.

If space is a concern, the device may quickly become the favorite appliance. The Duo is a couple of steps up from the Instant Pot Lux. It has an additional cooking function. It offers the option of cooking on either high or low pressure.

Owner reviews state it does everything necessary and more. There are 14 smart programs and an option to set pressure cooking time manually. The Instant Pot Duo Plus also adds a sterilize function that is ideal for sterilizing baby bottles.

The Instant Pot cooks at approximately 11 psi when set on high pressure. The average stovetop pressure cooker cooks at 15 psi. Cook time has to be increased by seven to 15 percent to accommodate the difference in pressure.

If enjoying cooking for guests, but hating the time it takes describes the food preparer, investing in a pressure cooker may be the answer. They use high-pressure steam to prepare tough meats in minutes.

It can also make chili, cook beans, and rice, make soup, and steam vegetables. Similar to braising, pressure cookers prepare food in a special sealed pot that uses steam. Wine, broth, stock, or water create the steam when heated in a sealed chamber.

The airtight seal creates pressure inside the pot that heats a liquid to a high temperature. When the lid is closed, the appropriate pressure, based on the recipe, is selected. The combination of pressure and steam speeds the cooking process while preserving essential vitamins and nutrients.. The result tastes great.

It is wise to pay a little more for a model that has added functions and features, particularly if the consumer may eventually regret not having them and will purchase an upgraded model. It should be pointed out that nearly anything can be cooked in pressure cookers. Some recipes and foods are easier than others.

A pot roast may require some prep work such as sauteing the vegetables and browning the meat. The result is worth the effort. A hearty dinner is ready in about 45 minutes. There is also advanced prep for chili that includes browning the meat and excess fat removal.

The cooker works quickly after the prep. A chili to remember takes about eight minutes. One touch press and go smart programs simplify cooking. With the special microprocessor-controlled programs, food is read in as much as 70 percent faster.

Key Features

* Three temperature levels, each programmable between 30 minutes to 20 hours
* Nine functions in one pot
* 15 smart programs built-in
* 24-hour delay start
* Browning and sauteing, three temperature levels for stir-frying, browning and simmering
* Easily adjustable settings
* Eggs and Cake settings prepare perfect eggs and moist cakes
* Keep Warm setting; three temperature levels keep food warm for as long as ten hours
* Large easy to read LED display
* Measuring cup, soup spoon, rice paddle, condensation collector, and handled stainless steel steam rack included
* Sterilize program ideal for sterilizing utensils, jars, and baby bottles and pasteurizing dairy products
* Yogurt making heats milk for fermentation and pasteurization

Bottom Line

The ‘Plus’ in the name indicates the Instant Pot is an upgrade. The Instant Pot Duo Plus is an updated version of the Instant Pot Duo 60. Improvements to the Instant Pot include a more polished product that refines some areas that cause typical user mistakes and confusion.

The display interface is user-friendly. There is no longer a confusing timer button. The manual is easier to read, and the packaging has been improved. The package has a new colorful design. Inner pot markings have also been improved. The Instant Pot Duo Plus is a product at a great price and value.

It is important to know that every Instant Pot model features minor improvements and tweaks. The models are typically not available alongside each other. When an old version sells out, the newer version replaces it.

Unless stated otherwise, the consumer receives the newest version when purchasing an Instant Pot. The variations are minor and do not make a significant difference in overall performance. The Instant Pot Duo Plus is among the best cookers money can buy. Pressure-cooked food is eaten by many people who believe it is easier and faster to prepare, tastier, and healthier.