Introduction
Multicookers have carved out a real place in a lot of kitchens over the past several years, largely by replacing several separate appliances with one device that can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, and more. The Instant Pot Duo Plus is one of the more established names in that category, offering nine functions in a single 6-quart stainless steel unit, along with app-based recipe access. This article walks through what the Duo Plus actually does, how its various functions tend to get used, who it fits best, and what’s worth thinking through before it becomes a permanent fixture on your counter.
As with the other appliance breakdowns in this series, the goal isn’t to declare this the single best multicooker on the market — it’s to walk through the specifics clearly enough that you can weigh them against your own cooking habits and kitchen needs.
Key Features
9-in-1 functionality. The unit combines pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice making, steaming, sautéing, yogurt making, warming, and sterilizing into one appliance, covering a considerably broader range of cooking methods than a single-purpose device.
6-quart capacity. This size is generally suited to small to medium households, offering enough capacity for family-sized meals or batch cooking without being oversized for a typical kitchen counter.
Pressure cooking function. This is often considered the core feature of the Instant Pot line, using sealed, pressurized steam to cook food significantly faster than conventional boiling or simmering, which is particularly useful for foods that would otherwise take a long time, like dried beans or tougher cuts of meat.
Slow cook function. In addition to fast pressure cooking, the unit can operate in the opposite mode, allowing for long, low-temperature cooking similar to a traditional slow cooker, suited to dishes like stews or braises that benefit from extended cook times.
Rice maker function. A dedicated rice setting allows the unit to function similarly to a standalone rice cooker, adjusting time and pressure for consistent rice results without needing a separate appliance.
Steamer function. The unit can be used for steaming vegetables, seafood, or other foods, generally using an included or separately purchased steaming rack or basket insert.
Sauté function. This allows browning or sautéing directly in the pot before switching to pressure cooking or slow cooking, which is useful for recipes that call for browning meat or aromatics as an initial step.
Yogurt-making function. A dedicated yogurt setting maintains the specific low, consistent temperature needed for yogurt culturing, extending the appliance’s use into homemade dairy preparation.
Warmer and sterilizer functions. Beyond active cooking, the unit includes a warming setting for holding finished food at a safe temperature, along with a sterilizing function, generally used for sanitizing items like baby bottles or canning jars.
Companion app with 800+ recipes. The Duo Plus connects to a companion app offering access to a large recipe library, intended to help users get more out of the appliance’s various functions without needing to source recipes separately.
Stainless steel construction. The inner pot and exterior components use stainless steel, which is generally valued for durability and being free of the coatings found in some nonstick alternatives.
How It Can Be Used
The pressure cooking function is generally the most frequently used mode for many owners, relied on for meals that would otherwise take much longer through conventional cooking — dried beans without pre-soaking, tender pot roasts, or stews that would normally simmer for hours on a stovetop.
The slow cook function serves a different purpose, generally used for dishes where a longer, gentler cooking process is preferred, such as pulled pork, soups, or dishes meant to be started in the morning and finished by dinner.
The rice function is commonly used as a direct substitute for a standalone rice cooker, particularly convenient for households that would rather not own a separate rice-specific appliance in addition to the multicooker.
The sauté function is often used at the beginning of a recipe, allowing meat or vegetables to be browned directly in the pot before switching to pressure or slow cook mode, which streamlines many one-pot recipes by removing the need for a separate pan.
The steaming function is generally used with an insert to steam vegetables, dumplings, or seafood, either as a standalone task or as part of a larger meal being prepared in stages within the same pot.
The yogurt function is typically used by those interested in making homemade yogurt, maintaining the specific temperature range needed for culturing over an extended period, which is a less common feature among general-purpose multicookers.
The warmer function is generally used to hold finished food at serving temperature until mealtime, while the sterilizer function is often used by those with young children needing to sanitize bottles, or by anyone doing home canning who needs to sterilize jars before use.
The companion app is generally used to browse recipes tailored to the appliance’s specific functions, which can be particularly helpful for those newer to pressure cooking who want guided instructions rather than adapting traditional recipes on their own.
Who It May Be Suitable For
Households wanting to consolidate multiple kitchen appliances. Given the nine included functions, this unit may particularly appeal to those hoping to reduce the number of separate appliances — a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, and yogurt maker — taking up space in their kitchen.
People who value faster cooking times. The pressure cooking function is especially relevant for those wanting to cut down on the time needed for dishes that traditionally require long, slow cooking, like beans, tough cuts of meat, or bone broth.
Home cooks interested in trying new techniques. With features like yogurt making and sterilizing included, this unit may suit those interested in expanding beyond typical stovetop cooking into other kitchen projects.
Those who prefer guided, recipe-based cooking. The companion app’s large recipe library may particularly appeal to newer multicooker users who want structured guidance for the appliance’s different functions rather than experimenting from scratch.
Small to medium households. The 6-quart capacity generally suits two to four people comfortably, with some flexibility for batch cooking or leftovers.
Larger households needing to cook very large batches regularly, or those specifically wanting a dedicated, single-purpose appliance for one task, such as only slow cooking, may find a bigger-capacity multicooker or a simpler single-function appliance better suited to their particular needs.
Important Things to Consider
Learning curve across nine functions. With this many distinct modes, understanding pressure cooking safety, timing, and the differences between functions generally takes some initial learning, particularly for anyone new to pressure cooking specifically.
Pressure cooking safety practices. As with any pressure cooker, understanding proper sealing, venting, and pressure release procedures is an important part of using the appliance safely, and following the included instructions closely is generally recommended, especially for new users.
Counter and storage space. A 6-quart multicooker is a reasonably sized appliance, and between the main unit and any additional accessories like steaming racks, some dedicated storage space is generally needed.
App dependency for full recipe access. While the unit can be used entirely without the app, accessing the full recipe library generally requires a smartphone and app setup, which may not appeal to everyone equally.
Not identical to a dedicated appliance for every function. While versatile, each individual function — rice making, slow cooking, yogurt making — generally won’t fully match the specialized performance or capacity of a dedicated single-purpose appliance built solely around that one task.
Sealing ring maintenance and odor retention. The rubber sealing ring used for pressure cooking can sometimes retain odors from strongly flavored dishes over time, which is a common consideration among multicooker owners and generally addressed through regular cleaning or having a second sealing ring for different types of cooking.
Comparison of General Categories
Multi-function electric pressure cookers, the category this model belongs to, generally aim to consolidate several individual kitchen appliances into one unit, trading some specialized performance for broader versatility and reduced kitchen clutter.
Dedicated stovetop pressure cookers offer pressure cooking without the electric multicooker’s additional functions, generally requiring more hands-on monitoring but sometimes reaching higher pressures more quickly than electric models.
Standalone slow cookers are built solely around long, low-temperature cooking, generally offering larger capacity for that specific purpose compared to the slow cook function on a multi-purpose device.
Standalone rice cookers are built specifically for rice and grains, often with more specialized settings for different rice types compared to the more general rice function on a multicooker.
Standalone yogurt makers are built solely around yogurt culturing, generally with more precise and consistent temperature control tailored to that one task compared to a secondary yogurt function.
The right choice generally depends on how many separate kitchen tasks a household wants consolidated into a single appliance, how much specialized performance is needed for any one function in particular, and how much value is placed on saving both counter space and the cost of buying multiple individual appliances.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 9-in-1 mean for this specific multicooker? It refers to the nine functions included: pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice making, steaming, sautéing, yogurt making, warming, and sterilizing.
Is pressure cooking safe for someone new to the method? Yes, when the manufacturer’s instructions are followed closely, electric pressure cookers like this one are generally designed with safety mechanisms in mind, though understanding proper use is still an important first step for new users.
Do I need the app to use the Instant Pot Duo Plus? No, the appliance can be operated using its built-in controls without the app, though the app provides access to a large recipe library that can be helpful, particularly for newer users.
Can it fully replace a dedicated rice cooker? For many households, the rice function serves as a practical substitute for a standalone rice cooker, though those wanting highly specialized rice cooking features may still prefer a dedicated unit.
How does the sterilizer function work? It’s generally used to sanitize items like baby bottles or canning jars using heat, providing an additional use case beyond the appliance’s primary cooking functions.
What is the sealing ring, and does it need special care? The sealing ring is a rubber component used for pressure cooking, and it can sometimes retain odors from strongly flavored foods, so regular cleaning or having a spare ring for different cooking types is a common practice among users.
Is the 6-quart size suitable for larger families? It generally suits small to medium households well, though larger families or those needing bigger batches regularly may want to consider a larger-capacity model.
Conclusion
The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 Multicooker combines pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice making, steaming, sautéing, yogurt making, warming, and sterilizing into a single 6-quart stainless steel appliance, supported by a companion app with a large recipe library. Its broad function range is aimed at consolidating multiple kitchen tools into one device, appealing to households wanting both faster cooking options and greater overall versatility.
Whether this specific model fits a given kitchen depends on how many of its nine functions a household expects to use regularly, available counter space, and how much value is placed on guided, app-based recipes versus building recipes independently. For those looking to reduce the number of separate appliances in their kitchen while gaining access to faster cooking methods, the Duo Plus offers a fairly comprehensive set of features built around everyday versatility.