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We have all stood in the kitchen at 6:00 PM, staring into the fridge, paralyzed by the thought that dinner is going to take an hour to cook and another hour to clean up. The promise of the “one-pot meal” is the holy grail of weeknight cooking, but most appliances that claim to do it all usually end up doing nothing particularly well.
Enter the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker. It is the upgraded sibling of the classic Duo that took the world by storm a few years ago. But is the “Plus” actually worth the extra cash? Does it actually replace nine different appliances, or is it just a glorified rice cooker?
I spent some time testing the 6-quart model to see if the new easy-release steam valve, the sous-vide function, and the upgraded display actually make life easier, or if it’s just more buttons to press.
What Makes the “Plus” Different?
If you are familiar with the original Instant Pot, the Duo Plus looks similar, but the upgrades are significant once you start cooking. Here is what stands out:
- The Whisper-Quiet Steam Release: This is the biggest quality-of-life improvement. On older models, releasing the pressure involved manually turning a wobbly knob and hoping you didn’t burn your hand. The Duo Plus has a dedicated switch that is separate from the steam vent. It’s safer, quieter, and less scary for beginners.
- 9-in-1 Versatility: It covers the basics (Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Rice, Sauté, Steam, Yogurt, Warmer) but adds Sterilize and Sous Vide. The Sous Vide function alone usually requires a separate $100 stick, so having it built-in is a massive value add.
- Improved Interface: The display is blue, brighter, and easier to read. It also features a progress bar, so you actually know where you are in the cycle (Preheating, Cooking, or Keep Warm) rather than just guessing.
- Anti-Spin Pot: The stainless steel inner pot now secures inside the base. When you are stirring a thick stew or sautéing onions, the pot doesn’t spin around in circles.
Hands-On Experience
I put the Duo Plus through a few standard stress tests to see how it handled the different modes.
The Pressure Test: Beef Stew
The Sauté function is critical for a good stew. I was able to sear the beef cubes directly in the pot. The “Anti-Spin” technology works—I could stir the meat vigorously without the inner pot rotating, which was a huge annoyance with older models. Once the meat was browned, I dumped in the veggies and broth, hit the Pressure Cook button, and walked away. 35 minutes later, the meat was falling-apart tender. The flavor infusion you get from pressure cooking in under an hour is something a slow cooker takes 8 hours to achieve.
The Sous Vide Test: Salmon
This was the feature I was most skeptical about. Can a pressure cooker hold a precise temperature? I set it to 125°F for salmon. It took a little longer to heat the water than an immersion circulator would, but once it hit the temperature, it held it steady. The salmon came out buttery and perfectly cooked. If you are a steak or fish enthusiast, this function is a game changer.
The “Did I Ruin Dinner?” Test
One of the best features is the status bar. On older pressure cookers, the screen just says “On” while it pressurizes, which can take 10-20 minutes. You often wonder if it’s broken. The Duo Plus has a progress bar that clearly shows it is in the “Preheating” stage. It saves a lot of anxiety.
Pros and Cons
After living with it on my counter, here is the honest breakdown of the good and the bad.
| What I Loved | What Could Be Better |
|---|---|
| Easy Steam Switch: No more burnt fingers or using a wooden spoon to hit the valve. It is safe and simple. | Sealing Rings: The silicone ring absorbs odors. If you make spicy curry, your next batch of yogurt might smell like cumin unless you change the ring. |
| Display Clarity: The progress bar is excellent for timing your other sides. | Heavy Lid: The lid is robust, but it’s not hinged, so you need counter space to set it down when you open it. |
| Sous Vide: A legitimate replacement for a standalone sous vide stick for casual users. | Learning Curve: With 15 smart programs, it can be overwhelming for someone who just wants to cook rice. |
| Dishwasher Safe: The lid and the inner pot can both go in the dishwasher. |
Comparison: Which Pot is For You?
There are a lot of multicookers on the market. Here is how the Duo Plus stacks up against its siblings and competitors.
| Feature | Instant Pot Duo Plus (This Review) | Standard Instant Pot Duo | Ninja Foodi (Pressure + Air Fry) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Functions 🥘 | 9-in-1 (Includes Sous Vide) | 7-in-1 (Basic) | Pressure + Air Fryer |
| Steam Release 💨 | Switch (Easy/Safe) | Knob (Manual) | Knob/Valve |
| Air Fryer? 🍟 | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Display 📟 | Advanced Blue LCD | Basic Red LED | Digital Control Panel |
| Price 💰 | Mid-Range | Budget Friendly | Premium |
Verdict
The Instant Pot Duo Plus sits in the perfect “Goldilocks” zone of multicookers. It isn’t as expensive as the models that include air frying (like the Duo Crisp or Ninja Foodi), but it offers significant usability upgrades over the basic Duo.
If you already own the original Duo and it works fine, you probably don’t need to upgrade unless you really want to try Sous Vide. However, if you are buying your first pressure cooker, or if your old one is on its last legs, the Duo Plus is absolutely worth the investment. The improved steam release switch and the progress display remove the two biggest pain points of pressure cooking, making it much more approachable for daily use.
