The Instant Pot Duo Plus earns its “game changer” reputation the practical way: 48,773 ratings average 4.6 stars, and 83% of raters gave it a full five. Owners keep circling back to the same result — soups, stews, and rice that used to take an hour on the stove finish in a fraction of the time, and the meat comes out tender enough that people mention it without being asked.
Why We Picked the Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 (6 Quart)
At $147.99, the Duo Plus sits squarely in the “one appliance instead of five” category: it pressure cooks, slow cooks, steams, makes rice, sautes, makes yogurt, sterilizes, and keeps food warm from one stainless-steel pot. That combination is why it shows up so often in kitchens that are short on counter space but still want to cook from scratch. The 6-quart size is the practical middle ground — big enough for a family meal, not so big it dominates a cabinet.
What Owners Actually Say
The most common theme in verified reviews is speed without sacrificing texture. One owner summed up why people keep reaching for it:
“This is a game changer! I use it almost every day. It makes cooking soups, stews, and rice incredibly fast and easy. The meat comes out so tender. The stainless steel inner pot is high quality and super easy to clean.”
Others point to how many single-purpose gadgets it lets them retire:
“It combines several functions in one appliance: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, saute function, sterilizer, and even sous vide cooking. This allows you to prepare a wide variety of recipes without needing multiple utensils.”
One Thing to Check
The built-in saute function is real, but it isn’t a full stovetop replacement. Several owners noted it works fine for browning a small batch before pressure cooking, but struggles once quantities get larger:
“This is not very good when you need to saute anything other than small quantities… it was easy enough to switch everything over to the stove-top.”
If you regularly saute large batches — searing several pounds of meat at once, for example — keep a stovetop pan in the rotation rather than expecting the Duo Plus to fully replace it.
Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Nine functions replace multiple single-purpose appliances | Saute function underpowered for large batches |
| Owners consistently report tender results on meat, soups, and rice | Product line has several confusingly similar size variants |
| Stainless-steel inner pot is easy to clean | Learning curve for first-time pressure cooker owners |
| Sterilize and yogurt modes add real utility beyond cooking | App/recipe library is a nice-to-have, not essential |
FAQ
Is the Instant Pot Duo Plus safe to use daily?
Yes — reviewers describe using it almost every day for months or years, and the sterilize and multiple safety-lock features are built specifically for frequent, repeated use.
Can it fully replace a rice cooker and a slow cooker?
For most households, yes. Owners specifically call out using it for rice and slow-cooked meals in place of dedicated appliances, though a few noted the saute mode still isn’t a full stovetop substitute (see “One Thing to Check” above).
Does it need special accessories to get started?
No — it ships ready to pressure cook, steam, and saute out of the box, though some owners mention buying extra sealing rings or a glass lid over time as they use more functions.
For Specific Needs
Is the saute function strong enough to skip the stovetop entirely?
Based on real owner feedback, not quite. It handles browning and searing in small quantities well, but multiple reviewers switched back to a stovetop pan when cooking larger batches. If your recipes usually call for searing more than a pound or two at once, plan to keep a skillet handy.
Which size should a family of four buy?
Instant Pot sells this line in several sizes, and reviewers who bought the smaller 3-quart version specifically called it too small for regular family cooking. The 6-quart size reviewed here is the size most owners describe as the right fit for a household of three to six.
Methodology
This recommendation is based on rigorous analysis of verified-purchase reviews and live Amazon listing data — cross-checked against the manufacturer’s own specs. We did not physically test this exact unit ourselves.
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
How We Built This Guide
Our process: this is a research-based pick, not a hands-on lab test. We aggregate verified-owner reviews, professional test data where available, and real discussion patterns from communities like Reddit, then flag every estimate as such in the guide above. We do not accept sponsored placements.
Last checked: August 11, 2026