The Instant Pot Duo makes delicious home-cooked meals a cinch, even when you have to work late. It's a great option for pressure-cooking beginners, and the 8-quart version is ideal for feeding large families.
The Instant Pot Duo gives you a fast and easy way to prepare wholesome meals. All you need to do is load the ingredients in the pot, cover it, and start cooking. This multicooker can have juicy pulled pork or falling-off-the-bone ribs ready for you in less than an hour.
Not only does it reduce cooking time by up to 75%, but it also helps the food retain all of the important water-soluble vitamins and minerals. Plus, it is not just a pressure cooker: You can also use it as a steamer, rice cooker, warmer, and slow cooker. You can brown and sauté with it, as well as make yogurt (although that isn't a very popular function, nor is it that great at it).
The USDA and Instant Pot's maker say it's safe to use a pressure cooker for canning select items, but the National Center for Home Food Preservation advises against it. We don't know many people who have used an Instant Pot for canning, nor is it a popular function, so it's not something we would recommend. However, it doesn't make this appliance any less useful.
Pressure cookers, specifically the stove-top variety, have a history of being dangerous, but the Instant Pot Duo has passed strict ULC and UL certification. Clean-up is also simple since the removable, non-stick pot and sealing ring are all dishwasher safe. The lid also comes off entirely, although we recommend hand-washing it. This electric pressure cooker also comes with a soup spoon, rack, measuring cup, recipe book, and a rice paddle.
The Instant Pot Duo comes in three sizes: 8 Quart, 6 Quart, and 3 Quart (affectionately known as Duo Mini). They are all essentially the same except in capacity, but the 6 Quart is one of the most popular. Because it's no longer the newest model, it's now much more affordable, coming in at less than $100 for the 3 and 6 Quart versions.
But don't think the lower price means the Duo series is inferior: Compared with the newer Instant Pots, there are definitely improvements that justify their premium price, like a better control panel and adjustable pressure. But in terms of actual cooking capability, the Duo is still a terrific entry-point into electric pressure cooking or as a gift. The nice balance of price, features, and performance make this Instant Pot the overall best multicooker you can buy.
When Insider Picks first reviewed the Instant Pot Duo, the appliance was the latest rage in cooking, taking the internet by storm. By the end of our testing, our reviewer wrote, "If you're looking to add an appliance to your kitchen, I can think of few that would be of more use than the Instant Pot." He also mentioned that people who want to see their food actually cooking, won't be able to do this since the entire unit is sealed during the pressure-cooking period.
Guides Editor Les Shu is an avid user of the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo. He loves the ease of use and the many recipes available in cookbooks and on the internet, from which he has made many delicious meals: chicken tikka masala, Chinese porridge, sweet corn chowder, Hainanese chicken rice, and the best potato salad ever. But usually, the meals aren't fancy: poached chicken breasts (from frozen), chili, and simple soups, to name a few. It's also fantastic for boiling eggs. The Instant Pot is also ideal for making a large batch of food, either for a family or meal prep. Because everything is cooked in one pot (usually), there's less mess and scrubbing the inner pot is no chore, although the lid can be annoying to clean.
Despite being an older Instant Pot series, the Duo is still the most highly recommended among expert reviewers and users alike. The Instant Pot Duo is still Wirecutter's top pick, and has favorable reviews from The Kitchn, Pressure Cooking Today, CNET, and many others. More than 33,000 Amazon reviewers have given the Instant Pot Duo an average of 4.6 (out of 5) stars.
Pros: Easy to clean, safe, stainless steel pot that's easy to clean, versatile
Cons: The gasket tends to retain odors, there is a bit of a learning curve, lid can be annoying to clean
Read our full review of the Instant Pot Duo
Buy the Instant Pot Duo Mini 7-in-1 Multi- Use Programmable Pressure Cooker on Amazon for $59.99 (3 Quart), $59.99 (6 Quart), or $79.99 (8 Quart)