Instant Pot 8qt Duo Crisp Combo Electric Pressure Cooker Air Fryer

Design

This machine resembles its Instant Pot siblings in appearance and operation. A small light above the button illuminates when a function is selected by pressing a button, indicating which function has been selected. The screen displays pertinent information without becoming clogged with details. At times, it’s as simple as “On.”

The two lids are clearly distinguishable, so selecting the incorrect one is no chance. The pressure cooker lid is low-slung, whereas the air fryer lid is more pointed, with a flip-up handle on top for easy lifting.

This is a model that features a Start button rather than starting automatically when settings are selected in terms of control buttons.

One minor quirk I discovered was that not all settings used the Temp controls. Setting the Pressure Cook function to high or low, for example, required pressing the Pressure Cook button directly. While I’ve grown accustomed to this, I first found myself punching the + and – buttons and wondering if there were no pressure options.

Keep Warm is enabled by default and must be disabled during setup. Once the cooking is complete, pressing Keep Warm has no effect; however, pressing the Cancel button turns the cooker off just as quickly.

Performance

As with most pressure cookers, it’s good to wash all components that will come into contact with food and perform a water test to ensure the machine is functional.

Following that, it’s simply a matter of selecting a cooking method, choosing the appropriate lid (the device detects the difference between pressure cooking and air frying), and programming the recipe’s temperature and time.

You can quickly cook beans, chickpeas, and other legumes from dry beans with this machine. They taste much better than canned and are significantly less expensive, which is a huge plus.

While the slow cook function works well, it lacks the versatility of a genuine slow cooker. I wouldn’t have both appliances, but it’s something to consider if you’re serious about slow cooking.

When it comes to air fryers, this feature is fantastic. It crisps food up beautifully. One criticism leveled at this is that the chamber is a little cramped. There is a double-decker feature, but it is somewhat cumbersome, especially when removing hot food. For example, it cannot accommodate more oversized items (like a slice of pizza).

Making stews, sauces, and the like, this thing is incredible. It significantly reduces cooking time and makes it foolproof. Simply search for instant-pot-specific recipes that have received positive reviews, and you’re ready to go.

Steaming, cooking eggs, and so on… are also quite good and save you from turning on the stove. In general, I recommend this if you can live with a few minor drawbacks.

Cleaning

Apart from the cooker and the fryer lid, all other components are dishwasher safe. According to the manual, some parts may discolor after being washed in a dishwasher, but this does not affect performance. While the stainless steel cooking pot is not as easy to clean as a nonstick vessel, it was still easy to clean by hand, even with my sticky oatmeal.

Should you buy Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker?

At approximately $180, this Instant Pot is more expensive than many of its less-functional competitors, but it is significantly cheaper than purchasing two separate appliances.

Like other Instant Pot pressure cookers, the Instant Pot 8qt Duo Crisp Combo Electric Pressure Cooker Air Fryer performs admirably. I like that its dual-purpose capabilities require less storage space and that, despite the lack of presets, its cooking options allow you to tailor a recipe to your exact specifications.