Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Review: Worth the Upgrade from the Basic Duo?
The Instant Pot Duo Plus sits in the middle of Instant Pot's lineup — more capable than the entry-level Duo 7-in-1, but without the air fryer of the pricier Duo Crisp. At $139.99, it adds sous vide, sterilization, a redesigned steam release valve, and a larger LCD display over the base model. It's a genuinely solid appliance, but whether it's worth choosing over its cheaper sibling comes down to a handful of real questions about how you actually cook.
Product Overview
The Duo Plus is a 6-quart electric multicooker with nine cooking modes, 15 one-touch smart programs, and a stainless steel inner pot. It runs on 1,000 watts and carries UL and ULC safety certification. The same product comes in 3-quart and 8-quart versions, but the 6-quart is the default recommendation for most households.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Functions | 9: pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, sous vide, steam, sterilize, rice, yogurt, keep warm |
| Smart Programs | 15 one-touch presets |
| Capacity | 6-Quart (also 3-Qt and 8-Qt) |
| Inner Pot | 18/8 stainless steel, anti-spin tri-ply bottom |
| Power | 1,000 watts, 120V/60Hz |
| Safety | 10+ mechanisms (lid lock, overheat protection, pressure release valve) |
| Accessories | 2 sealing rings, stainless steel steam rack, detachable power cord |
| Price | ~$139.99 |
The three size options break down cleanly:
| Size | Best for |
|---|---|
| 3-Quart | 1-2 people, small kitchens |
| 6-Quart | Families up to 6; most versatile (default) |
| 8-Quart | Large families, batch cooking |
The Duo Plus uses a flip-style steam release switch in place of the twist dial on older models, and the control panel has a larger LCD with dedicated pressure, time, and temperature indicators. It ships with two sealing rings, a stainless steam rack, and access to the Instant Brands app with over 800 recipes.
Performance & Real-World Use
Pressure cooking is the machine's core strength, and it delivers consistently. Dried beans go from hard to creamy in roughly 30 minutes. Chuck roast becomes fork-tender in under an hour. White rice takes about 7 minutes on the preset, and the result is consistently well-cooked — the anti-spin tri-ply bottom distributes heat more evenly than the thin-walled pots on earlier Instant Pot models, and it performs noticeably better during sauté for building fond before pressure cooking begins.
The redesigned steam release is one of the Duo Plus's most practical improvements. Instead of a twist dial, it uses a flip switch that opens with one finger — eliminating the risk of brushing your palm across a superheated valve. Steam vents in roughly 2 minutes during a quick release, and the switch position (Sealing or Venting) is visible from across the kitchen. One real-world note: steam exits upward with force. Users who position the pot directly under a cabinet will get condensation buildup and possible staining above the vent; leave a few inches of open space above the switch.
Yogurt-making is largely hands-off but takes 8-10 hours in total — useful for households that go through a lot of plain yogurt, but not a quick-turnaround feature. The sous vide function works adequately for forgiving tasks (overnight egg pasteurization, gentle infusions) but lacks the water circulation of a dedicated immersion circulator. For precision cooking — especially steak — a standalone circulator is more reliable.
The most consistently misunderstood aspect of any Instant Pot is natural pressure release time. After the programmed cooking time ends, the pot can take 15 to 30 additional minutes to depressurize on its own before the lid unlocks. Many recipes and much of the marketing don't prominently disclose this. Budget that extra time into your planning, especially for weeknight meals.
The stainless steel inner pot is dishwasher-safe and generally easy to clean. Starchy foods like rice and potatoes cooked without oil can leave adhesion that requires a short soak and more scrubbing than a nonstick interior would need — that's the only significant day-to-day maintenance friction.
- Easy-Release flip valve makes steam venting safer and more intuitive than older Instant Pot dial designs
- Large LCD display shows pressure level, cook time, and temperature simultaneously — genuinely more informative than a basic readout
- Tri-ply, anti-spin inner pot delivers more even heat distribution and better sauté performance than earlier single-ply designs
- Consistent results across core pressure-cooking tasks: beans, grains, tough cuts, and eggs
- Dishwasher-safe inner pot and lid simplify cleanup
- Ships with two sealing rings (dedicated rings for savory and sweet prevent flavor cross-contamination)
- Built-in safety systems — sealed lid lock, overheat protection, excess pressure release — make unattended cooking genuinely safe
- Instant Brands app with 800+ curated recipes is a practical resource for getting the most out of nine functions
- Available in three sizes to match household scale
- Price premium over the basic Duo 7-in-1 is hard to justify unless you'll actively use yogurt, sous vide, or sterilization
- Natural pressure release adds 15-30 minutes to total cook time that recipes routinely understate
- Steam releases forcefully upward — can stain or wet cabinets directly above the vent if poorly positioned
- Stainless steel inner pot requires more scrubbing than nonstick for starchy foods cooked without fat
- Sealing ring absorbs odors over months of use; eventually needs replacement (roughly once a year with regular use)
- Large footprint (approximately 12 × 12 inches plus handles) requires committed counter or cabinet space
- Lid gets hot during operation and has no built-in lid rest — you need somewhere to set it
- Sous vide function lacks water circulation; adequate for casual use but not a substitute for a dedicated circulator
The Duo Plus earns its 4.6-star rating by doing its core job well: fast, reliable, set-it-and-leave-it cooking. The upgraded steam valve, better LCD, and tri-ply inner pot make it noticeably more pleasant to use than the entry-level Duo. The yogurt and sterilization modes are real features if your household uses them. What it isn't is a must-upgrade for someone with a working Instant Pot, and it isn't an air fryer. Buy it for pressure cooking, braising, yogurt, and sterilization — use it consistently — and it will pay for itself many times over.
