Looking to make cooking quicker and simpler? You might be eyeing the Instant Pot Duo and the Duo Plus.
Both are great, but they've got some differences that could sway your choice. Let's dig into what sets them apart and see which one might fit better in your kitchen.
Also known as DUO 60 and DUO Plus 60 (60 is for 6 quarts), these two electric pots are taking the U.S. by storm. They come with amazing features that make cooking pleasant and, more importantly, easy. With such a pot, you can slow cook, pressure cook, make rice and yogurt, but also sauté and more!
Honestly, I am a huge fan of both models because they feature the idea of one-pot cooking. With Instant Pot (regardless of version) you get to free up kitchen space but enrich culinary diversity!
Furthermore, it gives you the possibility to discover new recipes and cook using healthy ingredients. Due to their special functions (steaming, pressure and slow cooking, and others), you won’t need to use lots of oils and fats in your recipes. Also, you can walk away from the kitchen and cover other activities while the food is cooking.
Instant Pot has several different models: Duo crisp, Duo Nova, Smart, ultra and these are just the models I remember without looking on their website...
For now, the most popular models and the ones that stand out the most for regular kitchen work are the DUO and DUO Plus versions. Since they are somewhat similar, I decided to run a detailed comparison between the two, so you’ll know which works best for your kitchen.
Table of Contents
DUO vs DUO Plus Comparison Table
Instant Pot DUO Review
Also known as the DUO 60 model, this Instant Pot comes with seven different functions in one sleek and elegant design. It’s also one of the most affordable one-pot products on the market, which is why people love it so much.
The pot is available in three different sizes (3, 6, and 8qt) and comes with 14 smart pre-programmed cooking options, 12 pre-set temperatures, and 10 safety features.
I really love the front control panel, which comes with a large display and buttons that allow you to select the desired settings and monitor the cooking process. Also, the pot itself is equipped with a smart system that maintains constant temperature and checks and adjusts for any factors that may affect dish quality. As a result, the food is delicious each time and is cooked 70% faster than with any other products.
The materials used to build the Instant Pot Duo are high-quality and durable, which means you can fall in love from the very first meal together! This is a pot that will stick with you through thick and thin! Also, the inner pot (made of food-grade 304 stainless steel) has a polished surface to make cleaning easier.
I also like the fact that it comes with ULC certified safety features such as steam release, safety lid lock, and lid position detection, overheat protection, electrical and thermal fuse, and more. This shows the pot is safe to use under the proper circumstances, and you don’t need to worry about unpleasant accidents.
Overall, the Instant Pot Duo is perfect for small, mid-sized, and large families and can replace seven different appliances in your kitchen. This is a pressure and slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, and warmer.
Pros
- 7-in-1 kitchen appliances
- 10 safety measures
- High-quality and durable materials
- Easy to use and understand
- Ideal for cooking healthy meals
- Pre-programed settings so anyone can cook
- Great value for the money
Cons
- No cake baking program
- Doesn’t support WiFi (to monitor your food remotely)
- There is a bit of a learning curve
- The removable cord could have been longer
Instant Pot DUO Plus Review
The Pot DUO Plus is an improved version of the Pot Duo version. As such, it has similar functionalities but also comes with extra features that make it more attractive for certain people.
Starting with the similarities, this version also comes in 3, 6, and 8qt sizes and weighs 12 pounds. Just like the DUO 60, it has a large front control panel, but it is slightly larger and organized a bit differently. Also, there is an inner steel pot that’s easy to clean and prevents food from sticking to the surface.
Now, let’s have a look at the things that set the two apart. First, the Instant Pot Duo Plus can replace nine different appliances in your kitchen, as it is a 9-in-1 product. As such, when you buy it, you get a Pressure and Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Saute, Warmer, Steamer, Egg, Sous vide, Yogurt, and Cake Maker. In addition. Also, you can use it as a sterilizer, to keep utensils and other sensitive objects clean and safe.
The DUO Plus Instant Pot comes with 12 pre-set temperatures, 15 pre-programmed dishes, and 10 safety features. If these features look familiar, they are pretty much the same as with the DUO 60, with the added Cake Mode to the list of pre-programmed dishes.
Overall, the Instant Pot Duo Plus may be a bit more expensive than the first model, but it comes with new and interesting features that may be more to your liking.
Pros
- Quality materials
- Replaces nine different appliances
- Can be used as a sterilizer
- Cake Making module
- Three different sizes
- Large control panel
Cons
- It takes a bit to learn how to use it
- It’s a bit pricier than the DUO 60
- The outer rim is a bit difficult to clean
Which Model Is Better for Me?
At the end of the day, the decision belongs to you, since you should consider your needs and preferences. However, to make it a bit easier, here are a few tips that may be helpful.
Choose the Instant Pot Duo if...
- You don’t need fancy functions besides the slow, rice, and pressure cooker
- Your budget is limited
Choose the Instant Pot Duo Plus if...
- You have small children and need to sterilize their bottles
- The Cake module is important for you
- Sous vide function is important for you.
Both options will save you time spent slaying in the kitchen and will make cooking a more interesting experience. And, while it may take a bit to get the measurements and the ingredients right, once you learn how to use it, each dish will come out perfectly.
Furthermore, bot pots have the same size options (3, 6, and 8qt) and feature the same build. So, you can choose to go with the DUO 60 Plus for more features, but if you’re just looking to save space in the kitchen and cook healthier meals for the family, the DUO 60 should be enough.
Hi, we have the Instant Pot Duo & altho there is no egg setting, using the steamer rack I made 6 hardboiled eggs cooked to perfection. They were very easy to peel! I look up a lot of recipes on-line & often can tweek a recipe to work in the pot we have. Thanks for the great info.
I just purchased a 6 quart duo plus and the pictures on the control panel are different than what I actually have. I’ve been excited to use it to steam vegetables and potatoes and there is not a steam button on the Instant Pot I received. When I look it up all of the pictures have a button that says steam. How would I steam potatoes or vegetables without a steam button? Thank you!
Hi Corrie,
Your site says no sous vide, but Bed B & B, says:
Offers 15 smart built-in programs: Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Cake, Egg, Slow Cook, Cake preset, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Sous Vide function, Yogurt, Keep Warm and Pressure Cook
Model DUOPlus 30 (3 qt.); DUOPlus 60 (6 qt.)
What do you think?
Thanks.
Typing mistake.. Thanks for mentioning 🙂
Instant Pot Duo Plus has sous vide option.
I have the original instant pot but the saute function sautes at too high a temperature for some foods.
Does the newer Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart 9-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker have an adjustable function for the saute button?
Can't find this info anywhere! Thanks.
Hi Corrie, great info! I'm hoping you can help me. I keep seeing on other blogs how the IP duo plus mini (3 quart model) has a cake function, but I don't see it. It's still on its way to me. Does the IP Duo Plus Mini have a cake function? Thank you so much in advance!
Hmm... I'm not sure actually. Please let me know when it arrives, I hope it does! Or if not, you can still bake cakes with manual pressure cook mode.
Hello,
I have an IP DUO PLUS 60. If I find a replacement inner pot that says it would fit the IP DUO 60, would that fit the PLUS model?
Hey, the "manual" button was in the previous models of Instant Pot.
On newer models \ other brands, instead of pressing "manual", just press "pressure cook" and cook on high pressure.