There is a not a sole doubt in my mind that the IP-DUO Pressure Cooker from Instant Pot is the best electric pressure cooker that you will ever find. However, the product description specifies that it’s a pressure cooker but it’s so much more than that. It also holds the functionality of a steamer and slow cooker.
On the interface of the cooker, you will see 14 Micro-Processor controlled programs that include Slow Cook, Poultry, Steam, Rice, Keep-Warm, Bean/Chili, Soup, Multigrain, Sauté, Porridge, Pasteurize and Fermented Rice, Meat/Stew, and Yogurt. So, you don’t have to worry about how to cook certain meals because the IP-DUO does all the work for you!
Probably my favorite feature of this Instant Pot Cooker is the “keep-warm” capability. For up to 10 long hours, your food will be kept warm inside this pressure cooker. If you are skeptical about the effectiveness of these programs, don’t be! Instant Pot’s built-in microprocessor will monitor the temperature and pressure when in operation, as well as adjusting the intensity of the heat. To top it all off, though, all of the programs have been lab-tested for the utmost safety.
Speaking of Safety
What’s so remarkable is that Instant Pot gave an extra emphasis on safety with their pressure cooker. I don’t think I have ever seen a cooking device with this many safety features. All of the models available (5 Quart, 6 Quart, and 8 Quart) pass UL and ULC certifications and have 10 proven safety mechanisms. Among the most noteworthy is the Magnetic Sensor that monitors when the lid is in an unsafe zone for use, the Safety Lid Lock that will prevent the lid from being accidentally opened during pressurization and the High-Temperature Monitoring that will prevent any food from burning. To be honest, you could probably let your youngest child operate this beast! Of course, that is your discretion and I am not accountable!
The Design is Eloquent
No matter how functional and safe a piece of equipment is, if the design is below-average then it can be a major turn-off. For most of you, this will not be an issue with the IP-DUO. I say “most of you” because as long as you like stainless steel you will enjoy the design. The inner pot is indeed designed out of finger-resistant brushed stainless steel. This is not only an eloquent design, but it’s also easy to clean. As a matter of fact, it is dishwasher safe (as well as the lid). The outer pot, while not stainless steel, is still comprised of steel and is actually coated with heat resistant paint.
A Little Overwhelming
The only slight drawback I can find (and trust me it is minor) is that at first, this can be a little overwhelming. It will take you a little while to get used to the number of features included. What doesn’t help is that the manual included is not as detailed as it should be. However, with that being said, I highly recommend adding this pressure cooker to your home.
First Runner-Up: The Cosori Pressure Cooker
For whatever reason, if you don’t think that the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker is for you then I have some suitable alternatives. Firstly, is the Multi-Functional Pressure Cooker from Cosori. This is also a piece of equipment that has multiple specialties: Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, etc. Much like the Instant Pot, there are also several programmable cooking modes. While not quite as many safety features as the IP-DUO, Cosori still includes enough to make their pressure cooker extremely safe for you to use.
You won’t have many complaints about this multi-functional cooker. The only ones that you may run into are the semi-slow time it takes to initially heat up and the time it takes to de-pressurize. However, this is still an excellent alternative.
Second Runner-Up: The Aobosi YBW60
Amazon.com – unavailable currently
I will say this about the Pressure Cooker from Aobosi, it may have the best design out of the entire bunch. However, that is because I have a soft spot for the combination of black and red! It’s also very functional, though. There are 12 built-in smart programs, as well as adjustable cook time and pressure time. There is also a built-in “keep warm” feature (much like the Instant Pot IP-DUO Pressure Cooker) that will keep your meal warm until you take it out of the cooker. ETL and CETL certification also ensure that you know safety is of the essence.
Compared to Instant Pot, the Aobosi Pressure Cooker is just simply not as advanced. Also, although I said the design was possibly my favorite (due to the color), the bulkiness of the build can be a possible downside.
Alternative: Presto 01362 Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker
The Aobosi YBW60 is temporarily unavailable, but this one is a great alternative. The Presto 01362 Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker is an absolute steal. It comes in 6-Quart, which is perfect for singles or couples, and it comes in 6-Quart, which is perfect for small families.
Third Runner-Up: BLACK+DECKER SCD1007
Amazon.com – unavailable currently
If you want a pressure cooker, but simply don’t care about the extra features then BLACK+DECKER has the perfect cooker for you. You can choose your intended heat (low, warm and high) and time with the digital controls. An added bonus to this particular cooker is that you can take it with you to parties. The built-in locking system will lock the lid so you don’t have to worry about it coming off.
You will notice right away from looking at the SCD1007 that it lacks the features of the Instant Pot Cooker. The former looks like a digital watch compared to the latter looking like a computer.
Alternative: Fissler Vitaquick 8.5-Quart
The BLACK+DECKER SCD1007 is temporarily unavailable, but this one is a great alternative. The Vitaquick Pressure Cooker is completely silent during cooking, and it is steam-free. It features an automatic lock on the handle, and you can hear the lock click into place, so you know it’s safely secured.
Instant Pot is What You Need
All the alternatives I mentioned are truly great, but they just can’t compare to the Instant Pot IP-DUO. The extremely durable stainless steel design, the 14 built-in smart programs, the unbelievable amount of safety features, the “keep warm” feature and how easy it is to clean make this the undisputed number one pressure cooker in the world today. At this point, I don’t even know why you are giving this a second thought. Trust me, cooking will never be easier and more enjoyable than it will be if you let the Instant Pot Cooker into your home! Head over to Amazon and make your dream a reality.
