Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Smart Cooker, 5.7L – Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté Pan, Yoghurt Maker, Steamer and Food Warmer
| Weight: | 6.8 kg |
| Dimensions: | 33 x 32 x 31 cm; 6.8 Kilograms |
| Brand: | Instant Pot |
| Model: | IP-DUO60-220 |
| Colour: | Brushed Stainless Steel |
| Colour: | Brushed Stainless Steel |
Purchased a multi cooker for my brother in law (different make with less options) and decided to treat myself. Something not too big but with a few additional functions. This Duo-mini seemed to fit the bill. Word to the wise you will need a steaming basket if you intend to use the steam function. Can’t think for the life of me why Instant Pot do not include one. You have to purchase as a separate item. Also I tried a stuffed pepper recipe and it wouldn’t hold two large peppers at the same time. Did one at a time and kept hot in oven until needed. Sort of defeated the object but it is advertised as a mini multi cooker. Had to purchase couple of recipe books to give me some idea of timings and pressure required. One of the books gave tip to wipe stainless steel bowl wipe round with white vinegar after washing to keep it looking nice.
All in all I am pleased with it. Made chicken stock in fraction of time it would normally take on the hob. Didn’t need extractor running either so well pleased with that. Have made tomato sauce very successfully as well. Pork chops using saute then pressure were very tough and I had to finish off slow cook in oven. Might have been the cook though. Sauteed and pressure cooked onion for hot dogs-excellent results. Probably wish I had gone for size up. There are only two of us but I feel this is probably a one person pot.
Downsides. If you buy the silicon accessories be aware that like all silicon they will absorb strong odours. My garlic potatoes were great but the odour clung to the pan and trivet. I have read that some users have two sets, one savoury and one sweet so I will probably do the same. The seal ring likewise absorbs odour but much much less. A short steam programme with vinegar and water removes most smells. The stainless pot isn’t non stick so take care when using the saut programme as food will stick quickly. I bought a second pot which makes cooking an entire meal easier.
Initially the time to get to pressure and start cooking took some time to get used to but as it is just around 3 minutes that’s easily dealt with.
Robust, easy to use and clean. Brilliant. If you cook a lot this is a real kitchen asset.
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This is a fantastic piece of equipment to have in the kitchen. It is so versatile and can be used for all sorts, from proving bread, to making yoghurt, and perfecting a good joint of beef or pork. I personally like making soups and currys with it as its super quick, and I also like to make deserts with it also.
The instructions are very easy to read and understand, and if your wanting any more help there is a dedicated group on Facebook if you search ‘Instant Pot UK Community’ where you will discover so many recipes and ways to use your IP to its full potential.
This is great value for money, and I would reccomend everyone get one of these. My only gripe is that there isn’t many accessories that come with it, and need to be purchased as extra. Other than that perfect.
Having had numerous stove top pressure cookers, over the years, I decided to take my friend’s advice and try an automatic pressure cooker. I joined a Facebook group for advice after a disastrous attempt at risotto. The minimum liquid amount stated in the instructions book was simply too much for my requirements. Further research, and responses, reveal that.that smaller amounts are fine. Risotto is now up to standard and as a rice cooker it is amazing. I just had to get my head around the automatic function, which is a real advantage. Set and forget while you focus on sauces etc. Soups are also easily made. In warm summer weather I have used it relatively little as I live on salad. Therefore it is difficult to review all features. Have rated with four stars as I had hoped for a small recipe leaflet, at the least.. i simply felt a bit overwhelmed by getting to know it and began to wonder if I shouldn’t have bought a stove top version again. Advice from a FB member was very helpful . It’s not so much about speed as convenience. That is important to keep in mind. The bowl is easily cleaned in the dishwasher. Stainless steel gets a thumbs up, as many other brands have non stick bowls, which I avoid. There are numerous functions which I have yet to try. It does free up hob space, which is also a plus.
Got this a while ago now and I love it. The slow cooker never comes out as I use this instead, pressure cooking takes a bit to get used to – as not as instant as you think it is from people saying “0 minute chicken” as it (obviously) takes time to get up to pressure. I use this to make dairy free yogurt for my daughter too. My husband prefers the chillis and curries cooked on this under pressure more than the slow cooker and on the hob. The saute ability is great before you put it onto pressure cook – I could never be bothered with browning meat before putting in the slow cooker as it involved more pans etc. I can highly recommend this product, and it is nothing to be scared of 😀
I have avoided pressure cooking due to childhood memories of the dreadful, hissing thing my mother used to use on the gas hob. In the drive to reduce energy consumption I thought I’d give an electric one a go. We are a household of two so I chose this one for it’s small capacity. It seemed to have good reviews and ticked all the boxes on my list of criteria. I have given it four stars overall as I was very surprised that absolutely no recipes at all, to get a novice started, seemed to be included in the accompanying booklet. I spent another 8 on a kindle version of ‘Cooking with your Instant Pot mini’ which has the flag ‘authorised by Instant Pot’ across the cover, only to find that all the recipes seemed to be for four or six servings with no hint as to whether scaling down affects the cooking time – probably not but, as a complete novice, I don’t know for sure. As a selling point of the instant pot mini was that it was suited to smaller households, couples and singletons I am left wondering where the recipes for such households can be found. So far I have only used it as a slow cooker which worked very well though the silicon sealing ring has absorbed the smell of the Moroccan spices so I have ordered more rings so that I can use different seals for sweet and savoury dishes, to avoid taint.
I’m sure it will be great when I find out how to use it but I would have appreciated more help from the Instant Pot booklet that accompanied my purchase.
The instant pot is a life saver – it’s VERY easy to use and cook a variety of things!
I very much like the fact that it has a Sautee mode, a pressure cook mode, and more! The buttons are all clear and with readable print font. There are also small lights which tell you if the pot is on, which setting is being used, etc.
It is also very space friendly – especially with the instant pot duo mini – all you really need is the pot to be plugged into a socket via the wire the company provides.
The instant pot even helps while cooking by providing signs like ‘BURN’ if your food is burning. It also does things like allow you to have the option of keeping your food warm after it’s been cooked, and times how long your pressure in the pot has been naturally releasing for.
DOWNSIDE: The steel pot provided with the instant pot which you cook your food in, as expected, does stain up. In mine I can notice some stains even after rigorous washing but that is not a huge issue. Also, I had to get a replacement for this item, which Amazon did very quickly. My original pot suddenly stopped working after just two weeks of buying – possibly the circuit board had self-inflicted damage/a fuse issue? The replacement pot has been great with no problems!
I must have been one of the first adopters when they came over to the UK from the States . The Instant pot has been a cult object in the USA for years and I bought one soon after they came over to the UK and have not regretted it . “Which” recommended another brand bigger cheaper and ” better at steaming ” However I have no need for another steamer , I poke and taste and catch things just done and an Instant pot is not instant you have to bring it up to pressure and then cannot see inside .
The 6 l. Instant Pot Duo has plenty of volume for me and I usually cook everything “Pot in Pot ” (see below) an exception is processing apples in the autumn I get through them at least four times as quickly with two huge stockpots .
There is a wide choice of spares and extras for the Instant Pot some of the other brands of electric pressure cooker will I imagine leave you on your own . Put a query about Instant Pot into U tube &c&c and you find plenty of solutions and recipes .
The Instant Pot has 24 ( mostly multi functional ) control buttons and a steep learning curve I have found U tube very useful .
The U.S.P. for me is the Yogurt function where , undocumented but see U tube , you can also prove bread .
Pot in pot . You MUST have a cupful of water or you trigger BURN and auto switch off . I nearly always have plenty of water but stand a pot on a trivet and cook in that with its own juices or what little extra I might need . I think this may have saved me from much trouble .
The instant pot is a big seller for a reason – I didn’t realise just how much of a difference pressure cooking makes to flavour. The potato and leek soup I made tasted like it had been simmered for hours – ready in just 35 minutes. It makes things taste restaurant-quality, even with very simple seasoning. Fine for caramelising onions too, although the heat is quite high on ‘saute’.
The 3l mini instant pot is a great size for 2 people. I’m glad I chose this one, as the larger one would have been way too big for our needs and small kitchen. You can get 3-4 portions out of it – 2 to eat now and some for leftovers. It’s also a great size for cooking rice, although you will want to get the ceramic inner for that as it’s more non-stick.
Instant-release is worrying at first, but now I find it fun. I always use a wooden spoon and make sure the steam doesn’t hit the underside of the cupboard. I make sauces, soups and curry bases in mine and then add blanched veg at the end, as we prefer a bit of freshness and crunch. Very easy to use, and feels very safe.
This is absolutely fantastic. I have cooked roast chicken, roast beef, boiled eggs, cheesecake. Everything has turned out amazingly well.
The meat has been super juicy, tender, fall off the bone. Just wow. I like to think I’m a pretty competent cook, but this takes it to a whole new level.
Easy to use, easy to clean and convenient.
Definitely reccomend this to anyone who wants amazong foods.
My concerns were that it would produce food that tasted like food cooked in a slow cooker, which is ok but occasionally samey.
The Instant pot is different – I have been blown away by the speed at which dishes can be cooked and so tasty, for example:
Lamb with flageolets beans (the beans used dry without pre-soaking); takes around 40 mins.
Three beans salad: flageolets, cannellini and haricot beans (dry, not pre-soaked) takes around 42 mins to cook plus rest time and the result are delicious meaty tasting beans, not like the tinned ones. Butter (Lima) beans are cooked within 40 mins too. Red kidney beans too can be cooked from dry in around 40 mins for chilli con carne.
Jacket potatoes can be cooked in around 30 – 40 mins depending on size.
The beauty is you can use cheaper (more flavoursome), tougher cuts of meat, like shin of beef, brisket and skirt to create delicious beef stews like ‘Daube’ – with red wine.
I am a beginner still with this electric pressure cooker but there is so much potential.
No, You wont be able to cook a whole chicken in the Duo Mini because it ain’t big enough, but chicken portions, yes. ; however it is perfectly big enough for meals for two people or one and one extra for the fridge or freezer.
This product has ‘cult’ following worldwide, justifiably, and there are thousands of recipes out there for anything.
With this pot you can: pressure cook/steam pressure cook, slow cook, steam, saute, delay start time, keep warm after cooking and more; all perfectly controllable. I love i
“It’s not going to replace your cooker” – It has a laughably bad “saute” setting designed to replicate an open-topped pan. It’s slow to heat and doesn’t get very hot – so if you were say wanting to brown some meat, you’re going to be disappointed. However if you ignore the “x in 1” promises and just treat it as a pressure cooker, then it’s the best pressure cooker (oh and if you hate cleaning, you can just stick the metal pot on the hob to brown meat, and then drop the pot into the pressure cooker).
Where it excels (for me) is where you want to cook tough meat (say a pot roast) to melting deliciousness or a stew with your leftover veggies. Can genuinely (after browning meat) just tip everything into the pot, hit a few buttons and walk away and ignore it. Fast cooking, no need to adjust temperatures to ensure pressure is enough (but so much is spewing steam everywhere).
Maybe the thing I use it most for is making stock. You’ve roasted a chicken, and normally you want to go off and “eat chicken”. Well if you can spare 30 seconds to chuck the carcass in, with some herbs and veggies, a slug of water and press a button, it’ll make stock as you eat.
This machine has changed the way we cook! While we originally bought it to slow cook ribs (excellent by the way), we now use it for curry, chilli, stews (with dumplings) and even to cook Christmas Pudding!
The keep warm function is especially great for cooking while at work and coming home to a hot dinner.
Several members of the family now want one, and I have recommended it to them.
I’d been after an Instant Pot for a while ,I was put off by the large 100:outlay …HOWEVER I scrolled down into the “used ” section,I found this one for almost half the price do I ordered it ,it came 3 days later ,I was enormously and pleasantly surprised to see that it was a new product complete with all accessories ,you get a metal trivet ,2 utensils and a measuring cup ,also a booklet.
This took a little but if time to familiarise with, Pinterest is a massive source of recipes and tips well recommended to get the most out of your Instant Pot !!
Took it all out if the box ,10:minutes later I’d discovered how easy it is to use , there are things you need to know ,like – obvious ones this is a pressurised pot don’t try to open it until it’s let off steam , it’s a big unit ( I got the 8 liter model) so you’ll need a space where it’s free to vent .
It’s a vocal little lady this pot , it speaks and jingles away ,does a marvellous little jingle when you open and close the lid (*_*) even half deaf ears here can hear it bleeping away so that’s good !
I cooked a joint ( not that kind ) it was a raw gammon as opposed to a cooked ham so took 90 mins as opposed to just 15 mins for a large 1.8kg ham cooked . I put 1 cup of apple juice , 12 cup honey and 12 cup of brown sugar with the raw gammon ,set it to “pressure” setting and “manual “+ for 90 mins ,yes, it does take more time to come up to steam and vent ……but …..the end product !!!!! Soft tender melt in your mouth gammon juicy and full of flavour ,I’m gobsmacked truthfully ,
Dairy free yoghurt is my next goal it has a yoghurt setting ,I’m told cinnamon buns work too – weight watchers move along I’ve serious buns to attend lol
First of all – quality, you can see everything is made really well, moves and looks with a solid, positive feel and materials are great, solid and thick.
Pot is very easy to use too, though I would recommend some Instant Pot cooking book with it, makes it a lot easier to get into a routine while using it.
I’ve beeing using it for 2 months now and noticed that our energy bills dropped, this pot is defenitely more energy efficient than gas cooking/steaming – and it makes sense as there’s a lot less heat escaping during cooking vs. gas hob.
It has to be said too, it is so much easier to get excellent steamed vegetables – for example we’ve not had better cooked kale than from it, and it is the same case fo other products.
Soup cooking is very good too, and quick, but the main thing is this pot saves time looking after cooked dish and constant stirring etc., not to mention you can put your dish to cook and pick up kids in the meantime without risking your house burned.
All in all, if you do cook, especially with loads of vegetables (steamed, soups etc.), I can highly recommend it as a great time and energy saving appliance, quite often ending up with better quality of food too.
I’ve been looking at buying a pressure cooker for quite a while. But had been put off by my mother’s tales of dinners ending up on the ceiling, in the 1970s.
The instant pot is so easy to use, I particularly like the fact that I can just set it to cook…. And then walk away, leaving it to do everything. So far I’ve made soups; cooked vegetables; steamed salmon and broccoli; Spaghetti Bolognese; and cooked a couple of lemon cheesecakes. I’m starting to use this instead of the cooker.
The mini design is ideal for a couple, and sits neatly on the work top. The smaller accessories can be a little tricky to find, but that are here on Amazon.
Overall, I’m impressed with the device and am pleased that the smaller 3L version is now available.
I’ve spent a long time trying to choose the right pressure cooker – reading reviews and specifications of all the most economical ones. I really wanted the Instant Pot one as it has everything that I wanted in one. So when there was a promotion over Christmas with money off I was on it. I’m pleased to say that it hasn’t let me down – also there are so many recipes just for the instant pot online that it’s proved a dream.
As with any pressure cooker it can be a bit of a faff to do all the stages before you actually bung in everything and turn it on (ie, saut and brown things) but it’s worth the effort. My advice would be prepare all your ingredients first from chopping to getting the herbs ready – as with everything preparation is key and makes it a pleasant experience. When I first got it I just wanted to use it immediately and didn’t prepare things first and as a result everything was a bit frantic. I know you all are more organised than me and I tend to learn from my mistakes haha
It makes beautifully fluffy rice even though my husband says it takes longer with all the decompression time etc – but it’s only a few mi it’s and well worth the extra time. I’ve roasted a whole chicken (sauting to brown first) made chilli con carne, roast beef, carrot and suede mash (so much quicker) soups and all sorts. Yet to try the yogurt function but looking forward to that. Cleaning is easy too.
No steam, no noise, and very efficient. One of the most useful things I’ve bought for a while.
There is an instruction book, but no cookery book. You have high and low settings on the pressure cooker, but it doesn’t tell you how to use them, which I thought was weird. But most people will probably know how to use it. High for pulses, rice and beans, and low for everything else.
I love this. I probably won’t bother with a lot of the functions; some things are just as easy to do the old way like on the stove (e.g. white rice) and I already have a slow cooker** (crockpot saut) but as an electric pressure cooker it’s ace. I like being able to set a timer to delay start and the keep warm function and it’s very easy to programme. The beauty of pressure cooking is the speed and the ability to use very cheap cuts of meat that would require very long slow oven cooking to be tender, so if I have forgotten, or not had time, to put something in the slow cooker in the morning I can still cook it for dinner using the pressure cooker. The ability to ‘fry’ using the saut function is very useful for browning meat and starting your onions and spices off etc. basically one pot cooking. I did some homework and bought a few accessories (one of the multi packs off amazon) like different trivets and steam baskets which I have yet to use but I have used the egg bites mould out of curiosity to cook muffin shaped omelettes., they were ok but my version didn’t look very appetising. I have yet to try something really ambitious like a whole dinner in it but will give it a go in the future.
** I have read that it’s not as good as a dedicated slow cooker because it’s a bottom heat but I won’t be checking this out so can’t really comme
I was lucky enough to get this Instant Pot in a lightning deal; however after using it I’d still have been happy if I’d paid full price. After getting past my initial ‘where’s the start button?’ confusion, the front display panel is easy to set to your preferred method of cooking and inputting the time is just a case of pressing the ‘+’ or ‘-‘ buttons.
This isn’t a small gadget, plus you need to position it somewhere that won’t be hit by the heavy burst of steam when you use it as a pressure cooker. I think the pressure release valve feels very wobbly, but my other half assures me that it is exactly as it should be. I’ve sauted but used this Instant Pot predominantly as a pressure cooker and it has inspired me to try out a range of recipes available on line. My successes include a beef goulash, a cheesy ham and potato casserole, a Mongolian stew and an Irish stew. You can cook meat from frozen but I’ve found that minced beef is left with an odd consistency so I tend to defrost and saut it first. It’s also easy to clean as you just remove the inner bowl. This is a big item and it has a bit of weight to it. You also have to be careful where you position it because of the steam element; however it’s worth a move around to accommodate this multipurpose cooker in your kitchen.
Approx. dimensions:
Height 24cm
Diameter 34cm
I have had an Instant Pot for 5 years and use it 3-4 times a week, mainly for mashed potatoes. I decided to make some soup using the pot, part way through it stopped working. Tried changing the fuse nothing worked., I instantly went onto Amazon to order a new one as I can’t be without it.
I had just missed Black Friday when I had noticed the Instant Pot was reduced by 30 to 59, now back to full price ( although annoying I still feel they are worth every penny). When I was adding to xart I looked on the new and used part, a like new from Amazon Warehouse was 69, so I added to cart at checkout I received a further discount and actually paid 58. What a bargain, and I am delighted with the updated version, I would recommend this to everybody. Invaluable at Xmas, both my daughters have one each, we use all 3 for Xmas lunch, so quick and the vegetables are delicious.
Don’t get carried away with the almost evengelical zeal that some fans seem to have for their Instant Pot – there are users out there who seem proud to tell you how many they have! But the fact remains, that combining pressure cooking with electric heat and control is a clever & effective idea. In one unit you get to saute, pressure cook, steam and slow cook, quietly and safely – what’s not to like!?
I have had this instant pot for a while now but have been eyeing it for over a year! My husband wouldn’t allow me to park another white elephant in the kitchen as I keep buying things I don’t use! I’m glad I managed to convince him and he is now the biggest advocate for the IP! My time in the kitchen has drastically been reduced and it’s made my life so much easier! I’ve tried loads of Indian recipes and besides the first two items I made where I needed online recipes I have kind of guestimated and tried so many new things! Perfect for one pot cooking, less to clean up and more healthy as most of the things I make now are steamed and not fried although you can lost definitely saute in it too. I haven’t used all of its functionality yet and can’t comment on the yoghurt making or the slow cooking but looking forward to that in the new year.
My only quibble is at times well thrice to be precise it would display a burn message while cooking in high pressure and then it’s been difficult to complete cooking the dish unless you switch if off empty contents wash and reload – maybe I’m doing something wrong. This has happened once when I sauteed before I pressure cooked and once without.
Also bear in mind that there is no steamer insert for vegetables , you have to buy that separately. Which since that is supposed to be one of its functions is bad . They are trying to keep the cost down i suppose . Mrs. K. L
Also bear in mind that there is no steamer insert for vegetables , you have to buy that separately. Which since that is supposed to be one of its functions is bad . They are trying to keep the cost down i suppose . Mrs. K. L
I have severe mobility issues and problems with a nerve-messaging related chronic condition, so I can’t stand at the stove and stir things for hours. Risotto in the IP in 12 minutes – I’m sold.
So far it’s not failed me with anything I’ve cooked in it. It’s so easy to use and the safety features mean I’m happy to leave it doing its thing in the kitchen.
I’ve attached a few images of just some of the things I’ve made in it. Do excuse the presentation of the food, I wasn’t planning on uploading them other than my own Instagram!
Cooks food really well & a lot faster, also keeps the food warm. A lot more to it than just a pressure cooker. Thanks
I usually wait longer to leave reviews, but this cooker is amazing!
It’s fantastic for slow cooking (I also purchased the glass lid) and compared to previous slow cookers I’ve used over the years, the food tastes better. Maybe because of the stainless steel pot, rather than the coated pots you tend to get in slow cookers.
The pressure cooker has been fantastically useful for quicker meals. And the fact you can saut straight in the pot is a real boon on the washing up.
My only slight criticism would be the lowest saut setting is a bit too low and the medium is a bit too high… you can’t turn your back on sauteing onions, for example, and have to keep stirring… But you soon learn to adapt your cooking style.
It also makes amazing yoghurt – better than my Lakeland yoghurt maker (which I already didn’t like because it’s plastic). And it takes a lot of the work out of heating the milk up over a stove – and less washing up, as it’s all done in the same pot. Photo is of some Greek yoghurt (- with apologies for the lack of Instagram type presentation!).
I mean, how fun is it to cook for only 1 person?
This saves me money since I won’t buy fastfood like I did before.
Saut function is so convenient, no need to first fry stuff in a pan, everything is done right in the IP.
Less stuff to dishwash.
I bought an extra pot so I don’t have to empty and wash the pot if I want to make rice with the stew.
Also bought silicone lids so that I can store the whole pot in the fridge and eat throughout the week.
So happy with this that I’ve bought one for my mom and one for my brother.
Been waiting for ages for this 8l version to be restocked and when it did I bought it right away.
Have no idea why people by the smaller ones since it’s always nice to have space and you only can fill the pot to 2/3 of it’s size.
I live in Sweden and a EU plug is provided alongside the UK plug.
The plug is detachable and the same as the ones you have for your computer (C-13).
I live alone, so having the 8lTR for everyday use and taking up space on my small kitchen worktop is a bit of a pain. Now that I have the 3ltr version, I keep the 8lt (and 8ltr accessories) in a srorgae box in the spare bedroom, getting it out just for batch cooking, or if I have more than 3 vistors for supper.
The 3ltr is so cute, nestled on my worktop, and so easy to handle (because of its small size), I find I am using it, on a day to day basis, much more then I did when the 8ltr was on the worktop.
I am so very pleased I took the plunge……..now I am waiting for the Instant Pot Air fryer oven to arrive in the UK (do hope it not a long wait!)
I have not recived anything free or reduced – I have purchased all of my Instant Pots and accessories direct via my account on Amazon.
As someone who follows a predominantly plant-based diet, it can be very time-consuming preparing meals, especially when it comes to cooking beans and grains. Enter the Instant Pot. While it doesn’t necessarily reduce the overall cooking time from start to finish (as it takes time to come up to pressure before the cook time commences), once the lid is on you can feel safe to walk away and get on with other things. Watch TV, read a book, wash up, study, shower, whatever.
Since I got it, I haven’t used my hob even once. I use it to cook grains and beans as a base for salads, curries, dal, steaming vegetables, chilli, banana bread, and a LOT of soup.
You get the next-day curry flavour without having to wait a day! I use the 6 Quart as I tend to batch-cook bigger meals and eat leftovers for a few days or freeze them.
The recipe book that comes with it is rubbish, I recommend the Vegan Under Pressure cookbook as a great way to help you get acquainted with the IP and lots of recipe ideas.
This is the Rolls Royce compared to the Ford’s out there.
Bought Pressure King from John Lewis and returned it. Bought Instant Pot and VERY pleased.
I made bone broth in each on a slow cook 24 hour setting with the pressure valve in the not sealed position. My findings =
Pressure King a) it leaked everywhere in the middle of the night b) it sputtered and spat out the vent most of the time c) filled the condensation tank over and over d) the house smelled e) it disconnected 3-4x at the slightest movement of the machine f) it did make bone broth g) teflon coated or something that will leech into the food h) returned it
Instant Pot a) did not leak b) did not make a noise, sputter or anything c) condensation tank never filled once d) house didn’t smell e) stayed connected f) best slow cooked bone broth in 20 hours g) stainless steel h) keeping it
Overall Instant Pot just feels better and higher quality build. Even the contents after 20 hours were more what you’d find after a good long slow cook with the bones, celery, carrot just exhausted from the cook. With Pressure King the vegetables still retained their color. For 20/30 more it’s worth buying Instant Pot.
In the first week, I have cooked chicken, veg and lentil curry (3 portions), hidden veg tomato sauce for pasta (5 portions), slow cooked rice pudding (4 portions), boiled eggs, turmeric rice (2 cups dry rice), veg-packed savoury rice (3 portions) and steamed chicken breasts.
Capacity is great, pot comes to pressure quickly and quietly and it’s quick and easy to release pressure after cooking.
I am a firm fan of Instant Pot, already owning a 6l and an 8l pot, which I would never be without. The mini is a perfect addition to my kitchen and I would highly recommend to any prospective purchaser, looking to prepare healthy meals for their family.
My original instant pot is still producing great results after 4 years of constant use, so I have full confidence in the brand.
Update: I’ve had the instant pot for two years and noticed rusting on the locking points on the main pot. I can only imagine this is from wear and tear. Bit disappointing as I’ve been using it without issues since I got it and for a piece of equipment that was quite expensive, I would have thought this would have been more durable. It seems other people have has issues with the lid rusting, which I haven’t noticed however.
What isn’t there to like about the instant pot? So versatile, so easy to clean. I was so worried this would be an expensive mistake. I researched for hours, reading all the reviews, checking all the features were good. This is one of the most expensive bits of kit I’ve ever bought but I’m so glad I did.
Takes up barely any space on my work top. I’ve managed to get rid of my steamer, pressure cooker, slow cooker, my casserole pot and most of my pans. I just throw everything in this now so only have one pot to clean! It makes the best chillis, grains, vegetables. I’ll never go back. The flavours are more intense and cooking takes minutes whereas could sometimes take hours. I’ve never had beans that tasted so good. I can’t think of buying tinned ever again. Worth every penny.
It’s great for pretty much everything! I brown meat and onions straight in the pot so no need for extra washing, and although some dishes aren’t quicker than stove top cooking due to the time it takes to come to pressure, once it is in the pot you don’t have to think about it until the beeper goes off. It also has a handy delay timer so you can get everything ready and set it to start cooking at a time that suits your schedule, and it keeps food warm until you are ready to eat.
To date I have made stews, risottos, all-in-one pasta dishes, curries, chillies, steamed fish and vegetables, and I make home-made yoghurt at least once a week. I even made a key lime pie which tastes a damn sight better than anything I’ve bought 🙂
Now I have two of these I can make main meals and desserts, or have yoghurt on the go in one and dinner in another. Add my halogen oven to the mix (which are super easy to use ands clean) and I haven’t looked at my cooker for months.
Anyway, very useful. Size comes in very handy for steaming whole (smallish) fish or whole veg. But when cooking rice, the size is ridiculous unless you have 12 kids. Slow cooking… not as good as a slowcooker, only heating from the bottom… which means stirring while slow cooking is pretty essential really.
Haven’t tried their recipe book yet… nothing to write home about.
Worth it… but if you’re only one or two people, maybe a smaller size would be just fine. Good value and build.
ONE WEEK LATER. I have cooked three further dishes and all were very tasty, easy and quick. This machine is a game changer as I had hoped. So despite the initial hitch – have upped stars to 5!
This pot will save you time & money and open up your cooking to things you never thought possible. I just did my first chicken satay curry yesterday and it was divine!
There are a few things to bear in mind though:
1. Do your homework – pressure cooking is certainly awesome however leave the food in for 1 minute longer than it needs and it could be overcooked (especially steamed veggies – be careful with these). Luckily there’s a whole community behind the Instant Pot with recipes all over the internet – plenty of new avenues of cooking to explore.
2. If you buy it you will probably (like me) become nerdily obsessed with it… you have been warned!
10/10 would buy again and will probably be getting one for my mum for Christmas as well.
If you’re reading this, and in doubt about purchasing just do it! The Facebook Instant Pot groups are so helpful and a great source of information when you’re starting out, as is Google and YouTube! Love my instant pot!!! Happy cooking!
This is the sort of thing my pot does 365 days a year. I also use the saut function to make things like porridge and pasta.
If you allow the pressure to release naturally there’s almost no steam at all. This helps to conserve water as well as reducing condensation in the kitchen. If you are doing a ‘quick release’ of the steam do be sure to make sure you are safely out of the way. I use a wooden spoon to adjust the vent.
I have not had to replace the seal at any point in the 2 years and 3 months I have been using it.
It is bulky and heavy, but same can be said about my old slow cooker. I do like that I can take the lid off completely, so it makes it easier to clean. Comes with 2 ladles, a measuring cup and a steam rack. There are a lot of buttons – so had to refer to the manual a few times just to make sure I get it right. The power cord seem to be a bit loose to me, but it did stay on.
I went with hard boiled eggs as an easy experiment. Am very impressed by the perfect hard-boiled egg quality I got – not overcooked and easy to peel to boot. I don’t think I’ve ever cooked a perfect hard-boiled egg before! Then got some game meat as ’tis the season so decided for a venison stew recipe which I got from the internet but mixed it up to my own taste. Put on the meat/stew programme and was a bit doubtful about the 35 minute cook time. Peeled and chopped up my root veggies, and the stew is done by the time I finished washing up. The quick release scared the heck out of me and bits of stew came spurting out near the end. Checked the venison – which was falling off the bone and surprisingly tender. I added my chunky root veggies and put on another 10 minutes. This time, I did a natural release for about 10 minute then quick release. Stopped the scary steam and bits of stew coming out. Perfect tender venison with no chewiness and cooked veggies. WIth my slow cooker, the stew takes hours to cook and even then, you get some chewy meat – and the veggies either turn out to either be undercooked or turned too mush. Am super pleased with my purchase so far!
Am going to try the steam function next as never get it quite right steaming fish in the microwave. Do wish I can buy a spare pot by Amazon Prime though, as it would be nice to cook rice than use the second pot for the dish. At time to checking can only order from Global Shopping. Even the Instant Pot UK website does not offer it.
I use it for everything I possibly can now. It is so much cheaper than my range cooker and so much more versatile.
The only niggle I have is the version I have doesn’t have a ‘manual’ button which makes trying to do a lot of the recipe is a little tricky, also the timer is alittle remiss (but I think thats my fault and requires more instruction reading )
Cookbook is very informative.
It comes with a steamer tray although it’s on two spindly legs so trying to balance eggs on them isnt the easiest, although there are accessories you can buy specifically for this.
Best brisket I have ever made!
My partner is very envious and wants to get one themselves.
We’ll be trying chocolate fondants in them, pictures to follow.
If you get one I recommend Amy and Jack on Facebook – their recipes for the IP are perfect every time.
Just days after arrival I realized it makes cooking much easier. I did use a pressure cooker on my stove fairly regular though.
The pot comes with an EU-plug and a UK-plug.
The manual gives step by step advise on how to use it for the first time, how to prepare each different dish and if you cannot find it in the manual the internet is full of great ideas.
The downside is that you can only make one pot dishes, by buying a second inner pot this problem sort of goes away. For example, I now prepare my stew in one inner pot, when it’s ready I set it aside and cook either the rice or the potatoes.
(This might just be a problem because I have a small kitchen and I cannot use my stove and my instant pot at the same time due to the size of the instant pot.)
I love how easy it is in use, after two times I got the feeling of how to use all the buttons without the manual.
The only thing I haven’t tried yet is making yoghurt.
Preparing rice the perfect way I find the hardest thing to do. Maybe I haven’t tried enough.
Making bean dishes has never been this easy without letting them presoak.
I highly recommend buying an extra inner pot and a glass top. It makes using the instant pot easier.
Sorry for any mistakes in writing. English is not my first language.
If you are looking for a slow cooker and pressure cooker all in one which is intuitive, easy to use and really good value for money this is it!
I cannot live without this pot now and it’s saving so much time to cook meals that took hours much quicker without losing taste.
I have used a standard hob based pressure cooker before but these provide a whole new level of cooking options. I am probably late to the party, but glad I got here in the end 🙂
Although the various models basically do the same thing, I have to say the IP for me, has the most flexability and seems to be very well built. I think it was the first to come out or has certainly been around a while. Here are few things that I found when I was looking to to buy one of these pressure cookers.
1. Are accessories easily available ?
2. When using a glass lid (assuming the model you buy has one available) will all the non pressure options be available ? The PKPs safety features will only allow the browning function with the stock lid off. This seems to be a function of the latest model and took an age to confirm from the maker.
3. Are there different heat settings for the saut/browning option ? PKP only has one, which is hot and I found quickly burnt. The IP has three.
4. What is support like from both manufactures and other pot users ?
The PKP is of course half the price but I found the IP to be of much better quality specifically the plastic handle, finish, and quality of the inner pot. The bowl/inner pot is also stainless steel rather than non stick (some non stick models have coatings that can flake off after a while) and having a 3-ply base can also be used on a hob unlike some of the other inner pots.
I have now purchased an additional inner pot and glass lid for the IP, which I would highly recommend!
Having said all that, I am sure either one will revolutionize and spur you on to more creative cooking, which is what the IP has done fo me. A highly recommended purchase, really glad I got one!
I’ve only had it a couple of weeks but so far I love it for its simplicity and speed of cooking. I agree with some people who’ve said some food tastes different to when you’ve slowly cooked something on the hob (I made lamb tomato stew in the pressure cooker bit of the machine and it tasted different – not bad at all – it was still yummy but, cooking slow and long injects food with a depth of flavour you are just not going to get any other way). You cannot beat the speed it cooks stews and meats meant for long slow cooking in this pressure cooker, it’s amazing.
I’ve yet to try the slow cooker bit but I’m sure that will solve the issue of real depth of flavour.
I’ve just bought some of the add-ons – the clear lid for slow cooking, and the non-stick pot which I will use for rice. My rice cooker has been with me for 22 years and still going strong but there is only so much countertop space and the versatility of the IP means it has usurped this piece of tech in my kitchen. I love the fact I can cook bone broths which usually take hours to extract the goodness in a tiny fraction of the time, saving time and energy. Other recipes that usually take a bit more time (Beef curries, stews, pulses) can also be cooked really quickly in the evening.
What i wish it would advertised a bit more is that it actually takes about 15 min for instant pot to warm up once you put ingredients in and seal it and put to work. so it is worth cooking with ingredients that normally takes 1h+ to cook because otherwise you pretty much and up waiting same time anyway. Great gadget in the kitchen though and it is great that you don’t have to be keep checking on it! definitely recommend to others!
It is dishwasher friendly as well so very easy to clean!
I’ve had my instant pot for two months and I’ve used it an average of three times per week: it’s been a great ally in the kitchen. The first thing I did was give away my rice cooker and my slow cooker: I can be 100% sure that I won’t be needing them: rice in the instantpot is perfect and takes less than half the time to cook. As for the slow cooker, I still haven’t used the slow cook function in the instant pot but all the recipes I’ve tried so far work perfectly with the pressure cook function and I don’t need to plan ahead as much which is kind of the whole point. Here’s a list of the things I’ve cooked so far and that I will never cook in any other pot ever again:
-hard boiled eggs (steamed 5min high pressure, come out perfect and v. Easy to peel)
-porridge (5min to get a perfect Pret style porridge)
-mashed potatoes
-rice (brown, white, risotto)
-beans of all kinds
-bolognaise (I will try the slow cook function for this one next)
-spareribs (I found a recipe online for Korean sticky ribs, it was amazing and in 18 minutes the meat was falling off the bone)
-chicken soup
-jacket potatoes in 12 minutes (finished them in the oven 15 minutes more to get a crispy skin)
It’s very easy to clean because the bowl is stainless steel and the lid I confess I only wash it when it’s visibly dirty which is not often. It somehow doesn’t get dirty!
One of my favourite things about the instant pot is that I can delay the start: this is great for the porridge which I prepare the night before and is ready when we wake up, but also for dinner if I’m good enough to plan ahead.
It is so versatile, makes the best risottos, chili’s, casseroles etc in a fraction of the time it would take on the hob or in the oven. It can even make cheesecake … yes cheesecake!
I’ve had mine for over a year now and I’ve never regretted buying it. After some initial nervousness I quickly became a fully fledged ‘potter’ and I can’t recommend it highly enough. Friends and family have purchased one on my recommendation and they are all happy too.
If you are thinking about it and not sure if you would get enough use out of it, believe me, you will. Buy it!
However, the one thing that prompted me to write this review was not the machine itself, but the amazing customer service I got from the IP UK branch. I wanted to order an extra pressure release valve and extra silicone caps for the float valve as backups, for just in case, but to my dismay the UK IP site didn’t allow for orders by continental European customers. So I contacted their UK-based customer service and three days later I got everything I wanted in the mail, straight from Britain, and they hadn’t even asked me for payment yet. I was flabbergasted (in a good way of course) and just based on that experience I wish I could dole out an extra star here.
However, the one thing that prompted me to write this review was not the machine itself, but the amazing customer service I got from the IP UK branch. I wanted to order an extra pressure release valve and extra silicone caps for the float valve as backups, for just in case, but to my dismay the UK IP site didn’t allow for orders by continental European customers. So I contacted their UK-based customer service and three days later I got everything I wanted in the mail, straight from Britain, and they hadn’t even asked me for payment yet. I was flabbergasted (in a good way of course) and just based on that experience I wish I could dole out an extra star here.
I never realised how much time I spent at my cooker, watching & stirring my pans… cooking with the instant pot is simple.. pop the ingredients in, lock the lid, set the timer & walk away!! The automatic keep warm facility is great for keeping your food hot until you’re ready to eat.
It’s fantastic if you like cooking from scratch or are following a whole food plant based diet as you can cook dried beans & lentils in minutes (often without soaking) & rice cooks in half the time stated on the packet.
I’ve made delicious vegan curries, meat casseroles, whole chicken & tender beef joints (for meat eating husband), steamed puddings – kids love spotted dick & custard, rice pudding, porridge & cheesecakes… all within a fraction of the time it takes to cook on/in the oven but more importantly, without having to watch the Pot at all!!
There are thousands of recipes available online and also a great instant pot uk Facebook page with loads of hints and tips.
Useful accessories: extra inner pot, very handy when cooking two dishes (a veggie one for me & the kids and a meat one for my other half).
A steamer basket. Instant Pot spring form cake tins. Bowls for when using pot in pot method.
I was so impressed with my pot that I purchased one for my son & daughter in law (who absolutely love it) and am hoping that Santa brings me a 6L pot for Christmas so I can cook veggie & meat dishes at the same time!! LOVE IT!
I have a pretty awful electric hob in my kitchen and i find that the instant pot is far, far better on saute mode when i need high heats (such as browning mince).
Now for the negative/considerations
– It is big. If you have a small kitchen (like mine), it seems to take the whole place over. I’ve had to find storage for it when i’m not using it (which is also at a premium). This isn’t the instant pots fault, i just wish i’d seen a review pointing this out before i bought it.
– There are a lot of options configurable but i’m not sure that’s necessarily a good thing. The way the user interface is designed doesn’t prioritise ease of use for a novice. Reading the manual is a must.
– There is a delay facility built in so that you can get the IP to start automatically. Great! I have to read the manual every time to find out how to do it because of the interface.
– Slow Cooker: The temperatures of each option aren’t the same as others out there, which is a bit strange. When using a recipe that says “Low”, make sure you use the “Normal” setting on the instant pot – your food will come out basically raw if you use the “Less” option. Remember to set the valve position to “Venting”
– It beeps. A lot. It drives my flatmate up the wall!
All of the buttons and settings can seem overwhelming at first but the more you use it you will soon get used to it and not even need to refer to the booklet anymore.
It’s absolutely fantastic for steaming vegetables thus retaining much of their nutrients. Plus it only takes minutes to steam them! The IP comes with a steamer rack but you’ll need to purchase a separate steamer basket. I got this one: “Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Trio Separator Set 20 cm” which measures 18 cm but is designed to fit a pressure cooker of 20 cm. Any similar steamer basket will be fine.
I have cooked brown rice to perfection in my IP, along with some lovely lentil daals. All variety of meals have turned out beautifully.
The Saut setting is very useful too, although it does get extremely hot so I’ve only ever needed to use it on the lowest heat setting. (You need to leave the lid open when sauting, you can also purchase an optional tempered glass lid that has a steam-release vent).
The only bad experience I had when I first got the IP was with porridge!! I had followed the oats to water ratio that I found on their Facebook page but unfortunately the IP beeped incessantly and displayed what looked like the word “OUT” (which was actually “Ovht” – Overheat!) I switched it off as soon as I realised what was happening. The porridge had burnt in the bottom of the pan! The pan cleaned up absolutely fine though. Obviously more liquid is required than was recommended, so sometimes a little trial and error might be needed!
There are plenty of recipe ideas to be found on both their website and Facebook page, as well as on the Internet in general.
I haven’t even used half of the settings that it comes with! There are Slow cook (for which you can purchase an optional glass lid), Yoghurt, Bean/chili and several other buttons that I’ve yet to press! Guess I need to get a little more experimental.
But even just mainly using my three favourite settings – Soup, Saut and Steam, we have created many a delicious meal over these last 3 years and continue to do so to this day.
In and on my cupboards are many dust collecting cooking appliances I have bought that have failed to earn their keep.
This one will gather little dust.
Before I got an induction hob I used a pressure cooker for years. It’s great to have one back.
But the delight of this machine is that you can fry off the first ingredients before switching to slow or pressure cooking.
This earns it’s keep in my kitchen in no uncertain measure, BUT it has a PITA annoyance! Once you have input your settings you are locked out. You cannot change settings on the fly. So if you are slow cooking you cannot, mid-cooking, change from normal to low, or high. Nor from high pressure to low, nor from medium saut to high/low. So you have to start your settings from scratch to make your cooking adjustment.
This is the only negative I can offer.
Buyer’s regret? Hell no. But there is a huge amount of hype amongst buyers online. It is not the life changing cooker that will change your entire existence, but it IS most certainly worth buying IMHO.
I mainly cook for two and pondered the size to buy. Instead of the small one I bought the 6 lt one. I find it to be the bare minimum. If I could reset the clock I would have gone for the 8lt because I could then batch cook for the freezer rather better than in what I bought.
Small update.
Two months on – I would not now be without this. I use it at least once every week. I thought about buying the optional non-stick cooking bowl but actually the SS one cleans up very easily so no need. I will probably buy the glass lid for slow cooking/sauteing so I can see what is going on without letting heat out.
The other game changer is the saute function – instead of browning off your meat and onions or whatever before putting it into the slow cooker, it can all be done in one place, in one pot. You just add oil and press the saute button, then wait til the screen says ‘Hot’ – brown everything, add your other ingredients and switch to the pressure cooker setting.
So far, wins have included a beef stew that even my kids would eat, a couple of roasts, an amazing tagine, a couple of perfect risottos and, weirdly, a cheesecake, which my friend pronounced the best she had ever eaten.
The rice cooker is decent – I haven’t found it as good as my old rice cooker, and also the IP tends to be full of the thing I want to eat the rice with; and I haven’t tried the yoghurt or other functions yet. But there are a couple of brilliant Facebook feeds full of tips and recipes, so I am sure I will develop some tried and tested techniques in time.
To fully explain my experience with the Instant Pot I would like to put it into a short play
Setting – Before Instant pot.
Me: I am not a great cook and I really don’t enjoy cooking. In fact, I would rather tear out my own nails.
Family: Yes you are a terrible cook, lets eat out.
Setting – After Instant Pot.
Me: I am not a great cook and I LOVE using my instant pot! Lets see if it can cook THIS! *Proudly presents family with Quinoa and other random things I’ve never been game to cook with before*
Family: You are still a terrible cook, but actually that chicken is really crazy tender, might actually eat that.
The end.
In all honesty the instant pot has given me a new lease on kitchen life. In addition to trying curries, soups and meats in the pressure cooker, I have perfectly poached eggs for the first time ever! I bought a nifty bowl/loaf tin to bake my own bread (and did it)! Our fridge is teeming with healthy vegetables and they’re not sitting in the vegetable crisper of slow rot – They’re being USED! I’ve been making healthy kids snacks in and out of the instant pot for lunches and hubby is now presented with a plethora of left overs to take for lunch, saving us money.
I am pleased, hubby is ecstatic and the kids are still getting treats, but without the e-numbers!
The pot does come with a little booklet with a few recipes, but you have only to google to find just about any recipe for the instant pot. I have made some horrific mistakes and everything has still been pretty edible. So a massive win for this household.
We bought this because at the moment we are in between buying our house, so having to rent a room that does not have cooking facilities more than a microwave oven.
The item arrived within 2 days of ordering which was great. It came double boxed, as in the postal box on the outside and the product box within. Which meant it came perfect and undamaged.
Upon opening it for the first time I noticed that it contained both an English plug lead and a European plug lead which I thought was quite handy as I have property in Spain and after using the product I will definitely be buying another to take over there.
The settings are very straight forward and easy to figure out. The best function I believe is the soute function with allows you to first fry the onions or garlic or brown the meat before setting the pressure option. The great thing about this is that we can now cook proper meals from our room without having to order takeaways or microwave meals all the time.
The cooking is don’t perfectly every time and being a pressure cooker, broths and stews etc are done it a fraction of the time. Usually about 30 minutes. It also automatically sets the timer for the amount you are cooling. I believe by weight but maybe by magic. But you can set the timer manually if you require.
The locking mechanism makes it impossible to open when under pressure and also it has a chimer to let you know when the food is ready etc.
Another great thing about this is all the after market items you can buy for it. Including pretty much every part that might need replacing at any point. Rubber seals etc.
The price I thought was amazing for what it does and could easily imagine paying at least double for this and still be happy
I don’t know if you can tell but me and my wife are very pleased with this cooker and literally use it every day. And I can tell you honestly that when we do eventually move into our own place we will still be using this just as often.
I now buy most of my food frozen or freeze any leftover fresh food, get home from work and bung it in the Instant Pot straight from frozen
for 20 mins , and job done.
I make a wicked curry when it’s in slow cooker mode as well.
I’ve bought an extra three of these for family and friends, you won’t regret getting one, if you do , I’ll buy it off you.
The recipe book that comes with the instant pot isn’t great, but that’s down to personal taste – recipes are a bit too Eastern European for me. A quick google search was all that was required for tasty easy recipes. I got an extra seal so that I have one for sweet dishes and one for savoury as I didn’t really want my yogurt tasting of spicy chicken.
Unlike when I just used a slow cooker I would have to brown the meat and veg first before putting into the slow cooker – more pans to wash. The instant pot has a sear function that allows you to brown the meat and veg and then switch to slow cook or pressure cook mode – keeping all of the lovely flavours in the pot and reducing the washing up. The inner pot just goes into the dishwasher.
So far I have made a variety of savoury dishes, yoghurt – which was really thick and creamy without having to add milk powder and the best cheesecake EVER! I’m next going to try steamed puddings and a whole chicken.
The pot itself is really easy to use with one touch buttons and the option to manually set the timer, there is also a keep warm function which is really handy if you want to eat later or have second helpings!
If mine were to break or stop working would I replace it – yes I would, in an instant!
Initially I found it quite daunting to use as there were 7 functions and numerous buttons that you can play with and I was worried that I could get things in the wrong order. Therefore I stuck with the recipes in Just One Cookbook for a few weeks. Once I got the hang of it, I then started using the Instant Pot Duo for my home dishes which I would normally use the stove or oven for. The User Manual and Quick Reference Card came in very handy then.
This product is now an indispensable part of my kitchen. The inner pot is made of a thick high quality stainless steel and any marks from saute-ing or residues from cooking do come off easily so no worries there about the quality. However only use hot soapy water and soft brushes or sponge, I avoid scrubbing as I think it will damage the surface.
It’s one star short of perfection for me because after a few uses, the lid and the plastic ladle retained the smell of savoury dishes I previously cooked, despite washing it with hot soapy water so if you are really fussy, then you may wish to avoid using this for say, cooking curry!
Overall I am very pleased with the Instant Pot’s quality, functions and effectiveness, and rather good value for what it is.
Well, nearly 2 years have passed and the machine is now broken. At first the Ovht (overheat) sign came up after searing the meat and then trying to use the pressure cooking facility. So tonight, I seared in a separate pan and then added all the ingredients to the pot, and then pressed Beans/Chili, it said 30 mins, great, within seconds the dreaded Ovht sign came up. I can only use it as a multicooker so dinner will be very late tonight and I am starving ! I must say I am very disappointed. This is the type of thing I would expect from a cheap pressure cooker (I had a few of those before I purchased the Instant Pot). I would appreciate some kind of remedial action from the Instant Pot team.
Positive points : # can adjust the time and pressure, manual button
# stainless steel inner pot of very good quality but neither too heavy nor light.
# start the cooking in instant pot by adding ingredients and forget it
#looks stylish and expensive
Negative point: burnt food on the bottom, burnt food smell, yogurt leaving its smell on the rubber
Received on Sunday and trying deserts and curry recipes since then.
UPDATE AFTER USE
STILL LOVE IT, used it for cooking rice pudding, different curries as of Indian origin, lentils, chick peas, yogurt and lots more. I never read recipes , if I do then just to get idea how to do it. some things are not clear in recipe manual but I do look online as there is lots of support available online. yogurt is my biggest win as I never get success in making it..
Also taught my husband how to cook chicken curry in it, so I don’t have to do that now. I will buy a new inner pot for myself soon.
UPDATE AFTER YEARS:
It was left unused in my kitchen cupboard for some years after the new kitchen gadget fever was over. I was thinking of recycling it, charity shop donation. The reason was my food was getting burnt on the bottom. An idea stuck my mind that why I am not decreasing the time of cooking instead of relying on auto thing. I did it and guess what, MAGIC ! No more burnt food, using it every other day for my cooking. LOVE IT AGAIN!
I made some space in the cupboard to store it when not needed, but I haven’t needed it so far. It’s just so convenient to use the instant pot instead of a normal pot and save lots of time and energy. A definitive plus is that the pot has a built-in count down and switches itself off, so no danger of overcooking when you are distracted.
In the three weeks I have the instant pot I used it for sauting, pressure cooking, steaming and making yoghurt. I wasn’t really happy with the yoghurt, but will try that again, it might have been an error on my part. The rest turned out exceptionally well, red cabbage in 11 minutes, chicken breast from frozen in 12 and irish stew in 15 – it’s really saving me time and preserves the vitamins far better than to cook the food for hours.
The recipe leaflet is a little bit too targeted to the american market, but the important thing, which is the table on cooking times is what I really needed. For the recipes, I do my own recipes anyway and just needed to know how long the food needs in a pressure cooker instead of cooking it in a conventional pot.
The silicone ring is a little tricky to get out and in again, but probably it will be easier when it has been done more often. That the silicone holds the smell of the meal is normal and has never been different in any pressure cooker – you are getting the smell of the dish via pressure into the ring. It helps just to use the steam function with a little lemon and a cup of water to neutralize the smell.
I’m really happy with the instant pot and I’m. Happy to have gone for the 7 in 1 even when the 6 in 1 was on offer elsewhere for half the price, i’ve used the yoghurt function in making mozzarella and curd cheese and wouldn’t miss it.
I was thinking about getting a Thermomix, but found out that i’m far happier with the instant pot and a blender because the amount you can make will be enough for a family which is not the case with the Thermomix.
We used to use a standard pressure cooker which made the whole place smell of bone stock every week. But from this, there’s no appreciable smell from at all. In fact nothing during cooking – only if you let it run on afterwards does a tiny, tiny bit of steam escape.I run it three times, back to back, on the two hour setting to get a six hour, bone melting stock. It works perfectly.
But the bonus feature, which we hadn’t actually bought it for originally, is the yogurt function. We use a good quality (from a carton) coconut milk instead of cow milk, and just add the contents of two caps of a good quality probiotic (anything with things like Lactobacillus and Bifodobacterium works perfectly).
Heat it up, let it cool for an hour and a half, then add the probio and seal it up for eight hours – delicious yogurty coconut milk for breakfast and smoothies!
And for guests that like rice – one button gives perfectly cooked rice. Very impressive – and handy since we have no practice at cooking rice!
Although we used the standard pressure cooker weekly, it was only for the batch of bone stock. We almost never made a meal in it. We’re tired in the evening and all the fiddling with temperature and pressure was just that bit too much to have to think about. But the Duo, being so automatic, is a no brainer. We’ve found the “saute” setting works great for lightly browning some meat and then having it cooked in no time by switching to pressure cooking.
We originally were wondering which kitchen cupboard we’d re-arrange to fit the Duo in – but it actually just lives on the counter next to the ketle!
The pot was well packed and arrived in perfect condition here. The Pot itself is reflects good quality. It feels sturdy and look like it will last many years. The finishing is stainless steel and easy to keep shiny and clean.
Last night I had the first opportunity to try it out at last. The instructions are straight forward. I do recommend to read them…. don’t do like I did and think you will figure it out as you go along. It WILL save you plenty of time, ask me. Once I’ve read the instructions, it was smooth sailing. I’ve sauted the onions and meat and then went on pressure cooking mode and we had a lovely stew 45 minutes later. The steam release works great, compare to my older pressure cooker. I also notice I do use a lot less water, in fact I did not add any additional water except what was already in the vegetables I’ve added – in this case onions, french beans and carrots to give you an idea.
I can see that it will really simplify my life in the kitchen. It is ideal for us, now we can go out and come back to a warm meal waiting for us. I can prepare it when I have time during the day and that is the end of it. No more running and scrambling around to try and have a dinner ready for the family in time.
There is plenty of other functions, which I will definitely try out soon and report on. About its footprint, I can’t say it cause a problem with space. Ideally it should be on the countertop (for me anyway) but I put it away after use. It is so easy to clean and not heavy to move around, which work better for me now due to lack of counter space in the kitchen.
Does it life up to its expectations so far, yes it definitely does. I can honestly recommend it to any busy mother or family or even single person. It will make you life so much easier, not to mention the health benefits cooking with pressure.
Now the Instant Pot comes into its own. The Saut setting allows you to bloom whole spices in hot oil to extract their aromatics and then to go on to fry your thickening agents such as onion or nuts, all in the same high-sided stainless steel pot. Splatter escape is thus kept to a minimum. Where browning of meat is required to develop yet more flavour, you can easily control temperature through low, medium or high settings.
The Instant Pot can then at last be used as a pressure cooker, not simply to shorten cooking time but also to carry fat and water-soluble flavourings from the sauce well beyond the surface of the meat/vegetable (which marinating achieves), into the core of the curry. This infusion method creates more intense flavours than conventional hob cooking can achieve.
Yes, there is an automated rice cooking setting too, which allows you to adjust the cooking time depending on the type of rice chosen.
The result: a deep flavourful curry, perfectly cooked by this one-stop-shop kitchen assistant.
In addition, the short “How To” videos on both the UK and US websites are great at familiarising you with Instant Pot’s very simple technology.
Could anything improve the Instant Pot IP-Duo60? Possibly. With all the electronics already built in, it would be nice to see a countdown timer to gauge the time between closing the lid and achievement of cooking pressure. This would undoubtedly help in estimating the overall cooking time required.
A more comprehensive book of field-tested recipes designed to optimise the Instant Pots’ slightly lower working pressure than the industry standard of 15 p.s.i. would be useful. However, it is not too much trouble to adjust any off the shelf 15 p.s.i. recipe by adding 15% to the cooking time.
With silicone seals and sturdy stainless steel construction, the mechanical components of the Instant Pot should pass the test of time.
My only reservation is about the longevity of the electronics. With just a one year warranty on the product, I consider this relatively expensive piece of kit (129.00) to be a risk purchase. Here’s hoping the ongoing benefits will outweigh the risks…
So far excellent results, rice done quick under pressure in 10 mins, the stew I did as slow cook for 5 hours and the potato did not turn to mush and a lovely texture and kept its flavour. Very good results so far – went for the new Duo 7 in 1 as I liked the lid holder built in so you don’t have it on the side dripping condensation all over the work top. Sauted some beef without hardly any fat and it looked like it was sticking but once the stock went in it all came off and looks good as new – so far non stick seems good. My rice cooker used to burn the bottom of the rice and spit and drip everywhere and this is silent, non stick, doesn’t burn and doesn’t drip or spit everywhere.
I’m interested in the glass lid so you can view it in keep warm, saute and slow cook or even take the pot out and stick it in the oven (if you have a spare inner pot) so you can keep a curry warm whilst you do the rice in a second pot that only takes 10 mins. Mind you I still have a rice cooker so its an expense not yet warranted. (I think the glass lid is 15 and pot 25 or so)
Looking forward to doing more. The only con so far is it is large – shame they don’t do once that is smaller for couples/singles (that isn’t stupidly small – maybe 4L) – at the moment its fine as I make lots of rice to use over a couple of days or fry it up to make a nice fried rice the next day or do stew to last a few days and if you have a large family or entertaining its fabulous but if you wanted single portions eg porridge not sure if it would be just too big – I haven’t tried yet.
My family would all have one but they have all the individual rice cookers, slow cookers etc so watching mine closely to see if its worth replacing their current stock of gadgets…..
Four stars because the instructions are not comprehensive, and the recipe book has a rather odd list of recipes – turnip cake, some
thing with purple yams. The plastic spatulas are poor quality, you get better with a Breville rice cooker. And the silicon ring is said to discolour and take on the odour of previous meals. Which I believe, as my other silicon cookware does just that. Instant Pot have a reputation for taking on board users’ complaints, I wish they would fix this.
But I am very glad I bought this. Apart from chicken stock, I look forward to cooking the right kind of dried beans (have a feeling red kidney beans are problematic) and exploring pressure cooked stews, having been happily slow cooking them up to now. This slow cooks too, and hopefully has better temperature control than a standard slow cooker.
One thing you have to be aware of is that it takes time to heat up and according to manual it takes 10-40 minutes depending on the coldness of contents. Mine took about 15 minutes and then the meat/stew programme is 35 minutes which you can adjust if you want more or less cooking time. I cancelled the programme when it had 10 minutes left and let it stand a little. Then did a quick release of pressure. The sauce was a bit thing so I put it on saut and added some corn flour, 1 minute more the sauce had thickened and the dinner was ready.
I had no idea what to expect, but I certainly didn’t expect to have the meat that literally melted in your mouth. The whole family was very impressed with the speed and the quality of the final result.
I must also add that during cooking a lot of the time it was noiseless and odorless, only when I did the quick realise was the kitchen filled with an amazing aroma of the cooked food.
The pot itself looks very nice and sturdy. I can not comment on its durability as I have only had it for a week. All in all I would definitely recommend it and I can’t wait to try a lot more Instant pot dishes
The Instant Pot feels sturdy and well made. I’ve always been a bit wary of pressure cookers, my mum’s used to hiss and spit on the hob but this is silent once it reaches pressure and the float valve seals in place so that’s a real bonus for me. I’m looking forward to having a go a Heston’s chicken stock very soon!
Did a slow cooked beef casserole the day after it arrived and it was delicious. I love the keep warm facility too, it means I can leave it to do its thing while I’m at work and know I can come home to a perfectly cooked meal. I used the saute setting to add corn flour mixed with water to thicken the casserole once it was cooked and it worked well, heating very quickly and thickening beautifully. Once that was done I left it on ‘keep warm’ whilst the roasties were cooking, yum!
The inner stainless steel pot washed well in the dishwasher and came out perfectly with no rusty spots at all (unlike some of my ‘dishwasher-safe’ stainless steel cutlery (grrrr!) All in all I’m really pleased with my Instant Pot. It’s a well thought out and well made piece of kit which is going to save me money, time and hob and oven space. I also love the recipe sharing facility on the website and am looking forward to trying some of them out in future. Really, what’s not to like?
Next, porridge, which it cooked really well, but next time I’m going to use some other pot inside to make clean up earlier. Very creamy and tender result.
Yesterday was oxtail stew which I love and takes forever in a slow cooker or casserole in the oven. I cooked it for 40 minutes as per the recipe, but it was not fork tender by any means. Another 10 minutes and it was delicious, but I shall give it even longer next time. This evening will be risotto; I can’t wait to produce creamy risotto with absolutely no fuss on my part! If it work as well as I expect, this will be a once or twice weekly indulgence, rather once or twice a year!
It is the ease of use and the fact that I don’t have to do ANYTHING once it is set that so impresses – that, and the multi function aspect. I do, however, wish that it had the three individual separators, like little third of a saucepan things, which I remember my Mother’s old Prestige pressure cooker having. I am now searching for accessories!!
So far I have used the Instant Pot for cooking a whole chicken (suspended from the bottom of the Instant Pot using the supplied trivet) and grilling it in the oven afterwards(20 minutes of pressure cooking, about 10 minutes under a 200 degree Grill). The chicked turned out really well(although I still need to find out how to get it really crispy on the outside). I have made stews and broths which have turned up really good as well.
Steaming vegetables however still remains tricky for me. I have used a steam basket to cook them, but even at 2 minutes cooking time the veggies turn up a bit mushy, as the Instant Pot also first needs to pressurize which takes about 8-10 minutes cooking time as well.. I will try the low pressure setting next time, but if anyone has any tips for having my vegetables(like broccoli) still be green and not super soft, please let me know.
(UPDATE: Steaming veggies on the following settings works well: Low pressure, one(or a bit less) cup of water, 1 minute cooking time(after pressure buildup) and Quick Pressure release immediately when the 1 minute is up)
What was also unclear to me was how much water is needed to cook the different meals. Is adding water always necessary? If yes, how much to you need to add as a minimum? I would not like all my meals to be super moist.
The Instant Pot is easily cleaned(NOTE: Make sure to clean the bottom of the stainless steel pot as well to prevent stains on the cooking disc!!!!), and of high quality. I am happy I bought it, already use it a lot and I look forward to experimenting with it.
Looking forward to giving it a proper review.
Timely for me too because I was 2 weeks ago advised (as a vegetarian) to start eating bone broth. And want to do it pressure cooking rather then slow cooking stinking the kitchen out for 48 hours.
Anyone want a second hand Tefal 4-in-1 (which can’t slow cook bone broth for more than 9 hours)?
*** update – a couple of weeks later
I give it 5 stars. I like removable cord, lid support, steel pot.
I’d like the time to be rechargeable battery powered, so you can set the time more easily – and I’d like it if it was timed till ready, rather than until the beginning of cooking. The warm-up time is lengthy, so getting porridge right for the morning could be a little easier
I don’t like Facebook, so would prefer if the forum could be copied to the IP site. I would have preferred to buy directly from the IP people.
Buckwheat and stone-cut oat timings would be helpful. I found the pan-in-pot method somewhere, which is helpful, as I had a terrible time cleaning up after trying the tefal 4-in-1 for porridge, so was very nervous about trying it with the IP.
The silicon ring has absorbed the smell of the bone broth – anyone have an easy way to clean it? soap doesn’t work, nor does dishwasher
It was overpacked. The IP has a perfect couple of boxes, but then amazon put it in a much bigger box, with loads of paper – seemed very wasteful to me.
I have an induction cooker, and would have liked to have been able to put the steel pot on it – not sure why it says you can’t? Is there an induction-ready version? It would be helpful at least for reducung the warming-up time.