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Key Points
- The Instant Pot Duo Plus has an improved lid and steam release that makes it much safer than previous models.
- You only have three temperature options for some functions, like sauté.
- Sterilize, Keep Warm, and Delay Start make the Instant Pot Duo Plus even more functional.
Table of Contents
- Minimalist design with easy-to-understand LCD screen
- 9-in-1 appliance
- Easy to use with 15 one-touch programs
- Programmable pressure, temperature, and duration
- Safer steam release
- Automatic sealing when the lid closes
- Both Fahrenheit and Celsius are available
- Delay start + keep warm
- Cooking progress indicator
- 3, 6, and 8 quarts capacity
- Durable stainless steel pot
- 6-quart model is compatible with the Instant Pot Air Fryer Attachment
- PFOA, PTFE, and BPA free
- Dishwasher safe lid and pot for easy cleaning
- Requires significant space on your countertop
- Sautéing in Instapot is not the most convenient (because of the height)
- Only a 1-year Warranty
Review at a Glance
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.
Juicing Journal Awards
- 2nd Best Instant Pot (Overall)
- The Best 3 Quart Instant Pot
- 2nd Best 6 Quart Instant Pot
- 2nd Best 8 Quart Instant Pot
- 2nd Best Instant Pot Air Fryer (Upgrade)
What I Like About the Instant Pot Duo Plus
The Instant Pot set a new standard for pressure multi-cookers a few years ago. And with all the awards you see above, there is a lot I love about this device.
Probably the World’s Best Rice Cooker
A lot of people struggle to cook perfect rice. While that’s never been a problem for me, my brother-in-law has always struggled with rice. That is, until he got one of the first Instant Pots on the market.
This newer, 9-in-1 version may be updated, but it still cooks rice to perfection like all the Instant Pot pressure cookers I’ve ever tested. Just follow the instructions and the rice comes out perfect and fluffy every single time!
Sterilize Feature
One feature that’s neat on this and other Instant Pot pressure cookers is the sterilize feature. Although I’m not much of a canner, the sterilize feature can be used to sterilize produce for canning. You can also use it to sterilize bottles and other items that are hard to clean thoroughly.
Improved Lid Design
The new lid design is so much safer previous Instant Pot designs. First off, there is no metal on this lid, which reduces burns if you forget and touch the top.
Second, the manufacturer moved the steam release to a safer spot on the top which reduces the chances of being burned. I like this upgrade because I no longer have to put my fingers close to where the hot steam is escaping the steam release valve!
Makes Cooking Faster & Easier
Pressure cookers have long been used to cook items faster. But Instant Pot has made it much easier and less intimidating to use pressure cookers. While the number of buttons intimidating me at first, I found myself not using most of them (more on that later). Once I figured out how to use the few core features I regularly use, it was a breeze to operate.
What I Don’t Like
Takes Up a Lot of Counter Space
This probably bothers me more than it does most people, but the unfortunate reality of a 6 or 8-quart pressure cooker is that it takes up a lot of countertop space. Although they do have a 3-quart version of this appliance, it isn’t large enough for my family.
The great thing about the old-fashioned pressure cookers like my grandmother used to use was that it was used on the stove. These new devices are all operated on your countertop, meaning you’ll have less prep area to work with and you oftentimes have to make space to use it.
Sauté is Impractical
You’ve head the saying, “just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should.” I’d say this applies this this Instant Pot Duo Plus. I tested sautéing vegetables and never liked it from the start. To begin with, the device is too deep and the cooking area is not wide enough to be practical. I suppose this would be practical only if you lived in a apartment with no stove and needed to save space.
Numerous Unused Presets
Have you ever made homemade yogurt? Me neither. But that didn’t stop Instant Pot from putting a yogurt preset on the Instant Pot Duo Plus. I’m also never going to use this appliance to make a cake.
All-in-all, I found the number to presets to be confusing at first. But as I mentioned previously, once I figured out the core features I needed, I just ignored the rest.
Other Considerations
Modest Price
It’s normal price of $129.95 isn’t expensive. For all the things this appliance can do and how easy it is to operate, I’d say it’s a fair price.
Accessories & Replacement Parts
You can do even more when you get the optional accessories for your Instant Pot Duo Plus. Having more than one inner pot can come in handy if you’re preparing food ahead of time.
Here are some of the accessories that you can upgrade to.
Inner Pot
Model # IP-POT-SS304-60
I highly recommend getting an extra inner pot. It’s quite handy when you’re making both the primary and side dishes in your electric pressure cooker. Instead washing your pot right away, you can cook your side dish with a different pot.
Extra Sealing Ring
Model # 211-0007-01
Some odors, especially from intense recipes, stick to the sealing ring. Consequently, milder recipes might pick up some of the odor/flavors if you use the same sealing ring. Therefore, it’s ideal for getting extra sealing ring(s) for different tastes (mild and strong).
Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid
Model # 140-3003-01
If you want to add 6 more cooking functions, you should undoubtedly consider Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid. By having so, you can quickly achieve crunchy skin after pressure cooking in the same pot. And of course, that’s just one of the many advantages of this attachment. This is only available for the 6-qt model.
*will only work with the 6-quart model
Size Options
You still have three capacity options, just like the original Instant Pot Duo.
Instant Pot Name | 3-Quart IP Duo Plus Mini | 6-Quart IP Duo Plus 60 | 8-Quart IP Duo Plus 80 |
Picture | |||
Price range | $ | $ | $$ |
Number of smart programs | 15 | 15 | 15 |
Wattage rating | 700 watts | 1000 watts | 1200 watts |
Air Fryer Attachment compatible | No | Yes | No |
Get at Amazon → | Get at Amazon → | Get at Amazon → |
Alternatives to the Instant Pot Duo Plus
Instant Pot Pro Plus | Instant Pot Max | Instant Pot Duo Plus (currently selected model) | |
Multi-Functionality | 10-in-1 | At least 9-in-1 | 9-in-1 |
Connectivity | Instant Brands Connect app (WiFi) | N/A | N/A |
Display & Controls | Easy-to-read display, touch controls | Large LCD touch screen | Angled control panel, large message display |
Steam Release | Wireless via app or one-touch button | Quietest steam release, remote button | Whisper-Quiet steam release, remote button |
Unique Features | Inner pot usable on stovetop/oven, NutriBoost | Sustained 15psi, NutriBoost | 25 smart programs, auto sealing lid, anti-spin |
Cleaning | Dishwasher safe pot & lid | Hand wash, spot/wipe clean (Not for dishwasher) | Dishwasher-safe lid and pot |
Material | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
Technical Specifications
Type | Pressure Cooker / Multi-Cooker / Slow Cooker |
Brand/Series | Instant Pot by Instant Brands |
Model # | Duo Plus Mini / Duo Plus 30 v3 (3-quart model), Duo Plus 60 v3 (6-quart model), Duo Plus 80 v3 (8-quart model) |
Price | $ |
Rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
Pressure | 12.3 psi |
Wattage | 3 qt: 700-watt 6 qt: 1000-watt 8 qt: 1200-watt |
Functions | 9 in 1: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté/searing pan, sous vide, sterilizer, and food warmer |
Pot | Stainless Steel |
Capacity | Duo Plus Mini: 3 quarts (946 mL) Duo Plus 60: 6 quarts (5.7 L) Duo Plus 80: 8 quarts (7.6 L) |
Dishwasher safe | Yes |
PFOA, PTFE, and BPA free | Yes |
Color | Stainless Steel/Black |
Dimensions (LxWxH) | Mini: 10.63 × 11.65 × 11.81 inches 60: 12.20 × 13.39 × 12.99 inches 80: 13.19 ×14.96 ×14.37 inches |
Cord Length | ~3 ft. (91.4 cm) |
Application | Home and Personal Use |
Warranty | 1 Year |
Related Products | Instant Pot Duo 80, Duo Crisp Air Fryer, Duo SV 60, Instant Nova, Instant Pot Gourmet, Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 60 |
How Does it Compare to Previous Versions?
The Instant Duo Plus has gone through multiple overhauls since it was first released back in 2012. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how the control panel evolved.
As you can see, the newer interface is much cleaner and user-friendly. It also has a progress indicator and better lighting. The company also added a sous vide button in lieu of 3 redundant functions.
The most significant upgrade of the Instant Pot IP Duo Plus can be found in/on the lid. It’s now auto sealing and releasing the pressure has been made a little safer than the original Duo model. Its older sibling will also have this upgrade soon, but I haven’t seen it yet.
Those are nice updates, but to answer the question directly, multicookers have a moderate learning curve. It’s intimidating at first, but you’ll get used to it the more you cook with it.
The Instant Pot app is a great help. Use those free recipes to get used to how to cook different types of foods in the Instant Pot Duo Plus. I don’t make very many of them anymore, but they were instrumental in learning how to use my first Instant Pot.
Preheating
There is some debate as to how long it takes for the Instant Pot Duo Plus to preheat. The bottom line is that it takes longer than you would think in any case, but it will preheat faster if you use hot water.
When I used cold water, the Instant Pot Duo Plus took 9 minutes to preheat on the normal rice setting. It took 14 minutes to preheat for the soup/broth setting and 20 minutes to preheat to the stew/meat setting. Using hot water with the Sous Vide setting, it took just 5 minutes to preheat the Instant Pot Duo Plus.
Is the Instant Pot Duo Plus worth it?
The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Pressure Cooker is beyond worth it. I mean, it’s an exceptional product with so many advantageous features, yet is modestly priced.
However, it’s one of those classic multicookers from the brand. If you’re looking for a pressure cooker with a touch interface, you might want to check the IP Pro Plus and the IP Max 60.