Instant Pot Duo 7 In 1 Electric Pressure Cooker

Design

Instant Pot’s most recognizable design is featured on this cooker. The large stainless steel pot with a black lid and a touchpad with a red LED display has been photographed numerous times over the years. While more advanced models feature sleeker blue LCD displays with progress charts and even a dial-in addition to buttons, this best-selling model stays true to its retro roots.

While this straightforward design is not the most attractive, it works. Nonetheless, we’ve noticed that brands with white type on black buttons are easier to read than those with black on silver buttons. Additionally, the color-coded outlines on the Pressure Level, Delay Start, Keep Warm and Cancel buttons add little value.

As is the case with most multi-cookers, the Instant Pot Duo 7 In 1 Electric Pressure Cooker comes equipped with a plastic rice paddle, a small plastic ladle, a condensation catcher, and a steamer rack. The rack is fitted with handles to make lifting and lowering it into the pot more effortless.

However, because its feet are so short (just 34 inches above the ground), it can be challenging to maneuver unless you have a small amount of liquid. We steamed sausages on the rack over a bed of lentils for one recipe, and we noticed the rack nestled into the lentils rather than stood above. In the end, it had no detrimental effect on the dish, but we wished the rack had been a little higher.

Performance

As a “7-in-1” appliance, the Instant Pot Duo boasts the following functions: pressure cooker, slow-cooker/slow-cooker/rice cooker/steamer/sauté/yogurt maker/warmer). Cooking results are precise thanks to the device’s temperature and pressure sensors, which have been fine-tuned. We tried the yogurt function on several occasions, and the pot stopped its heating phase at precisely 180 degrees. To get the temperature we wanted, we never had to press the sauté button at all.

To see if it could slow cook, we made chili with dried pinto beans and beef chuck and soup with dried cannellini beans and a ham hock. Both turned out delicious. In four hours on high, it consistently produced tender beans and meat.

Using a multi-steamer cooker’s function is not really “steaming” but rather pressure cooking. For this reason, the Instant Pot website states that the “heating intensity is fast and steep,” likely to ensure that food does not overcook while the pot heats up.

While these programs are innovative, they, like those in other multi-cookers we’ve tested, mostly feel gimmicky because manual pressure works just as well. For instance, we cooked brown rice in both the multigrain and manual pressure cook modes.

Both methods cooked the rice for 20 minutes at high pressure and produced nearly identical results. Still, the manual mode was significantly faster, reaching pressure in just over four minutes versus 16 minutes on the multigrain setting.

Additionally, the multigrain setting caused a large amount of steam to spew from the release valve during the first couple of minutes at pressure, possibly due to the program’s more complex calibrations.

One program, in particular, proved to be highly beneficial to us: the yogurt one. There is no need to alter the default times and temperatures since the process is always consistent. Default times and temperatures.

With a single touch, you can perform all simple tasks. Even the yogurt program has a 24-hour option for making Jiujiang, a Chinese fermented rice dessert, demonstrating how the Instant Pot aims to be helpful for all cuisines.

Cleaning

We already assumed that the stainless steel pot, steamer rack, plastic tools, and silicone ring were dishwasher safe, but we were pleasantly surprised to discover that the entire lid was dishwasher safe.

It doesn’t get any easier than that when it comes to cleanup. The base containing electrical components cannot be put in the dishwasher or submerged in water.

Should you buy Instant Pot Duo 7 In 1 Electric Pressure Cooker?

Instant Pot Duo 7 In 1 Electric Pressure Cooker is a reliable performer, combining impressive temperature control and intelligent functionality in a convenient package. You cannot go wrong with this model, which combines the legendary Instant Pot brand’s proven performance with an affordable price tag.