Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-Quart Review: The Multi-Cooker That Changed My Kitchen

Remember the last time you stood in your kitchen at 6 PM, staring at frozen chicken and wondering how you’d get dinner on the table before your family staged a revolt? I’ve been there more times than I care to admit, which is exactly why the Instant Pot Duo Plus has become my kitchen’s MVP.

Quick Verdict: A Game-Changer for Busy Cooks

After six months of putting the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-quart through its paces, I can confidently say it’s earned its spot as one of the most versatile appliances in my kitchen. This 9-in-1 multi-cooker excels at pressure cooking, slow cooking, and rice making, though it’s not without its quirks. It’s perfect for busy families, meal preppers, and anyone who wants to simplify their cooking routine without sacrificing flavor. However, if you’re someone who prefers traditional cooking methods or has extremely limited counter space, this might not be your best bet.

Performance & Quality: Built to Last, Designed to Impress

The Duo Plus feels substantial right out of the box. The stainless steel construction gives it a premium feel, and after daily use for half a year, it still looks practically new. The device functions as 9 separate cooking appliances, including pressure cooker, slow cooker and sous vide, with 15 Smart Programs to help you get started quickly and easily.

What impressed me most was the consistency. Whether I’m cooking rice for two or a pot roast for eight, the results are reliably excellent. The pressure cooking function is where this unit truly shines – I can turn frozen chicken breasts into perfectly tender, juicy meat in just 12 minutes. That’s including the time to build pressure, which typically takes 8-10 minutes depending on what you’re cooking.

The build quality is solid, though I did notice the stainless steel inner pot requires a bit more attention during cleaning, especially after sautéing. The sauté feature offers three different settings: high, medium, and low. The stainless steel works great but requires a little extra care because sautéing often leaves residue.

User Experience: Intuitive Once You Get Past the Learning Curve

Let’s be honest – the first time you use an Instant Pot, it can feel a bit intimidating. The control panel looks complex with all those buttons and settings. But here’s the thing: You’ll find thousands of recipes and cooking tips available online, created by its community of followers to make these multi-cookers even more user friendly.

The Duo Plus addresses many usability concerns with its enhanced features. It builds on the Instant Pot Duo Nova, with a quick steam release button and the EasySeal lid which automatically seals the pot for pressure cooking. You’ll also get a clearer screen. The EasySeal lid is particularly brilliant – no more second-guessing whether you’ve properly sealed the pot.

The Smart Programs take the guesswork out of cooking. Want perfect rice? Hit the rice button. The learning curve is about two weeks of regular use, after which operating it becomes second nature.

One standout feature is the whisper-quiet steam release on newer models. The Duo Plus makes it easy with smart programs, step-by-step guides, and a steam release that knows how to shhh. If you’ve been startled by the aggressive hiss of older pressure cookers, you’ll appreciate this thoughtful upgrade.

Value Proposition: More Than Just a Pressure Cooker

At around $80-120 depending on sales, the Duo Plus 6-quart offers exceptional value. Consider that you’re replacing a pressure cooker ($50-80), slow cooker ($30-50), rice cooker ($25-40), steamer ($20-30). Even buying basic versions of these appliances would cost more than the Instant Pot, and they’d take up significantly more storage space.

The 6-quart size hits the sweet spot for most families. It’s large enough to cook for 4-6 people but not so massive that it dominates your counter. I can fit a whole 3-pound chicken with room for vegetables, or make enough chili to feed a crowd with leftovers for days.

Compared to competitors like the Ninja Foodi or Crock-Pot Express, the Instant Pot’s ecosystem is unmatched. The recipe community, accessories market, and brand reliability give it a significant edge over alternatives.

Real-World Testing: Where the Rubber Meets the Road

Here’s how the Duo Plus performed in my daily cooking routine:

Weeknight Dinners: Frozen chicken thighs to perfectly cooked dinner in 25 minutes total (including pressure build-up). Game-changer for busy weeknights.

Meal Prep: I can cook 3 pounds of chicken breast, 6 cups of rice, and steam vegetables all in separate sessions within an hour. Sunday meal prep has never been easier.

Comfort Foods: Pot roast that normally takes 4-5 hours in the oven is done in 90 minutes and tastes like it slow-cooked all day. The meat falls apart perfectly.

Rice Cooking: Consistently fluffy rice every time. I’ve actually stopped using my dedicated rice cooker entirely.

Pros & Cons

Genuine Pros:

Versatility: Truly replaces multiple appliances without compromise
Speed: Pressure cooking reduces cooking times by 50-70%
Consistency: Same great results every time once you learn the basics
Energy efficiency: Uses less energy than heating up your full-size oven
Safety features: Multiple safety mechanisms make it much safer than stovetop pressure cookers

Honest Cons:

Learning curve: Takes time to master timing and liquid ratios
Size considerations: Takes up significant counter space and storage
Cleaning: Multiple parts to wash, and the stainless steel pot shows water spots
Pressure release time: Natural pressure release can add 15-30 minutes to total cooking time
Not ideal for everything: Some foods (like crispy-skinned chicken) are better prepared using traditional methods

Bottom Line

The Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-quart has fundamentally changed how I approach weeknight cooking. After 3+ years of use, we can confidently say that the Instant Pot Duo is our favorite kitchen appliance. While it’s not perfect for every cooking scenario, it excels at the things most busy home cooks need most: quick, flavorful meals with minimal active cooking time.

If you’re on the fence about whether you need another kitchen appliance, consider this: when was the last time a single purchase eliminated the need for multiple other appliances while actually making your life easier? For most families cooking at home 4+ nights per week, the Duo Plus pays for itself within a few months through time savings and reduced food waste alone.

The current price on Amazon often includes deals on accessories or recipe books, making it an even better value. Whether you’re a new cook looking to build confidence or an experienced chef wanting to streamline your process, the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6-quart delivers on its promises with room to spare.