Duo Plus

The Instant Pot® Duo Plus is available on amazon.com – April 2017 and Williams Sonoma – July 2017.

Currently, the Duo Plus is available in a 6 Quart.

1000W

Stainless Steel and Black

The weight is 14.6 lbs.

The dimensions are 12.2 x 12.6 x 13 inches.

The specifications can be found at : Product Comparison Chart

The Duo Plus is a 9-in-1, whereas, the Duo is a 7-in-1.  The Duo Plus kitchen appliance combines the functions of a Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Porridge Cooker, Cake Maker, Yogurt Maker, Sauté/Searing, Steamer, Warmer and Sterilizer.

A new, large, blue LCD display panel and 4 new cooking icons: Heating, indicates preheating or cooking in progress, Pressure Cook, confirms pressure cooking has been selected, Keep Warm and Sound confirms if it is ON or OFF.

•  Heat – advises the cooker is now in preheating or cooking mode
•  Pressure Cook – confirms a pressure cooking program has been selected
•  Keep Warm – confirms if the feature is ON or OFF
•  Sound – confirms if the feature is ON or OFF

The Duo does not have the Sterilize, Cake and Egg programs. The Duo Plus does not have the Poultry program as the Duo.
In addition, the ‘Adjust’ key on the Duo was removed on the Duo Plus.  On the Duo Plus, the repeated pressing on the program keys will allow the user to select between ‘Less’, ‘Normal’ and ‘More’.

For additional technical details on the Instant Pot® cookers go to: The Comparison Chart

The Duo Plus is a 9-in-1 as it has 9 commonly used kitchen appliances in 1, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice/Porridge Cooker, Cake Maker, Yogurt Maker, Sauté/Searing, Steamer, Warmer and Sterilizer.

The 15 Smart programs are: Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Cake, Egg, Slow Cook, Sauté/Searing, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Sterilize, Yogurt, Keep Warm, and Pressure Cook.

Instant Pot® is built with an embedded microprocessor. The microprocessor carefully runs lab-tested algorithms to control the time, cooking pressure and temperature to ensure consistent cooking results. Users can customize these settings with the operations keys to control pressure level, +/- to adjust cooking time and a cancel button, allowing one to achieve their preferred cooking results.

With the ‘Sterilize’ program one can pasteurize dairy products; sterilize baby bottles, jars, utensils, and certain types of canning much more conveniently. (Note: Refer to the ‘USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning’ for details)

With the Duo Plus you can Pressure Cook for a maximum of 6 hours.

Dual Pressure Settings provides one the ability to cook with high pressure reducing cooking time by up to 70% and low pressure to avoid overcooking delicate food.

High Pressure is from 10.2 – 11.6 psi and Low Pressure is from 5.8 – 7.2 psi.

The Duo Plus remembers 3 sets of customizations in “Less”, “Normal” and “More” on all cooking programs.

The Initial Test Run helps one become familiar with the Instant Pot® and to ensure the cooker is working properly before you start preparing those amazing dishes.

10 seconds after selecting your settings, the cooking process will start.  The cooker will beep 3 times and the LCD displays ON.

The Delay Start can be set for a maximum of 24 hours.

The ‘Keep Warm’ has 3 temperature settings to maintain food at different serving temperatures.

Select the ‘Sound’ ON/OFF the status is displayed on the LCD display with the sound icon lite.  The ‘Sound’ indicates if it is ON/OFF when selecting a program, cooking starts or is completed.

The specification can be found at http://instantpot.com/portfolio-item/duo-plus/

The inner pot is made from food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, 3-ply bottom, no chemical coating, compliant with FDA food safety standards. Instant Pot’s inner cooking pot is dishwasher safe.

For all pressure-cooking programs the total amount of pre-cooked food and liquid in the inner pot should not pass the 2/3 line.  When preparing food that expands during cooking such as rice, beans or vegetables, the inner pot should not pass the ½ line.  Over filling the inner pot may risk clogging the steam release and developing excess pressure.  This may cause leakage, personal injuries, or damage to the cooker.

Note: Fill level warnings do not apply to non-pressure cooking programs.

No, one cannot.  Instant Pot® recommends to only use the inner pot which came with your cooker or, a suitable Instant Pot® replacement for the size of your cooker.  Using an inner pot not designed for the cooker may not only damage the cooker, it may not provide the best cooking results.

Yes, the 6 Quart inner pots are interchangeable.

The discoloration on the stainless steel cooking pot is called “rainbowing” which can be caused by exposure to high heat, cooking starchy food (e.g. rice, pasta) or even detergent staining after hand or machine wash.  This is common and normal in all stainless steel cookware.

The steam release handle must be in the Sealing position for pressure-cooking.

To turn the Duo Plus OFF, press CANCEL and remove the plug from the wall outlet.
Note: Unplug from the power outlet when not in use and prior to cleaning.

Instant Pot® is a programmed smart cooker that has preset cooking instructions for food ingredients and cooking methods. For the Duo Plus, it remembers the last 3 sets of customizations in “Less”, “Normal”, and “More” on all cooking programs for a more personalized cooking experience.

Note: To return to the factory default setting for a specific cooking program, return the cooker to Standby mode displaying OFF, then press and hold the cooking program key until the cooker beeps.

For a full reset of all cooking programs and other system settings, return the cooker to Standby mode displaying OFF, then press and hold the Cancel key until the cooker beeps.

The maximum time is 30 minutes as a safety precaution.
Note: Never have the lid on when Sautéing.

One may select ‘Normal’ for regular browning/searing, ‘Less’ for simmering or thickening a sauce or ‘More’ for stir-frying or blackening meat.  To change the cooking temperature, press Sauté repeatedly to select between the different settings.

No, do not use the Instant Pot® lid with the Sauté function as the cooker requires sufficient venting to prevent overheating.

The Slow Cook can be set from 0.5 – 20 hours.

There are 3 temperature settings

The Instant Pot® Slow Cooking function controls the slow cooker with 3 different temperature settings.  For instance, medium is 194~205°F/90~96°C; whereas, most conventional slow cookers do not actually control the temperature levels, they only apply different heating intervals or intensity. The difference between the High and Low settings of most conventional slow cookers is only in the time it take to reach 212°F or 100°C.

The 3 temperature ranges in the Instant Pot® are:

• Less: 82-87.8°C/180-190°F (low setting in a slow cooker)
• Normal:8~93°C/190-200°F (medium setting in a slow cooker)
• More: 93~99°C/200~210°F (high setting in a slow cooker)

Note: For non-pressure cooking one may use the Instant Pot® glass lid.

The Duo Plus allows one to easily adjust settings even after the cooking is in progress.

Fermentation is up to 99.5 hours at 2 temperatures.

The Delay Start sets the total time delay prior to the cooking program starting the cooking process.

Note: When using the Delay Start allow sufficient cooling down time prior to serving.

The Delay Start is not recommended for porridge, oatmeal, or any other foamy and thick liquids.  When preparing foods that foam or splatter, the cooking progress should be monitored.

Up to 24 hours.

The cancel function ends a cooking program at any time or returns the cooker to the standby mode displaying OFF.  It can also be used to reset the cooker to full factory default

No, the Pressure Level is only for pressure-cooking.

10 seconds after pressing the settings, the cooker will beep 3 times and will display ON to indicate that the cooker has entered the preheating cycle.  Depending on the amount of food and its temperature, the preheating cycle can take a few minutes to 40 minutes or more.  As the cooker heats up and pressure builds, the float valve rises.  When working pressure is reached, the cooker enters the cooking cycle and displays the remaining cooking time in minutes.  When the cooking cycle is completed, the cooker will beep and switches to the Keep Warm mode  (Note: Only if the Keep Warm function is turned on).
On the Duo Plus, once you select Pressure Cook, the Pressure Cook icon will be lite.

There are (2) pressure levels, low and high.

To build pressure it requires at least 1.5 – 2 cups (355 – 473 ml) of water or liquid.

Note: The amount of liquid is dependent on the quart size.

Not setting the steam release valve to the Sealing position for pressure-cooking and steaming.  If it is not sealed, pressure will not build.  For additional troubleshooting, please refer to the troubleshooting steps here.

Please verify the manual provided with the Duo Plus.  If working with an Instant Pot® recipe please follow the instructions indicated.

Yes, the Steam Release handle should not lock tightly into the lid, it must fit loosely.

The condensation collector traps any excess liquid to prevent it from spilling onto the counter.

The Anti-Block Shield is the round component with 6 holes under the lid.  The Anti-Block Shield prevents food particles from blocking the steam release valve.

Yes, the Anti-Block Shield must be removed and cleaned after each use, especially following the preparation of foods that may splatter. To remove: Using your thumb, push the side of the Anti-Block Shield towards the lid rim and lift up with some effort. The anti-block shield should pop out.  To install: Position the Anti-Block Shield in place and push down.

The Steam Rack is used on the bottom of the inner pot when steaming vegetables or to elevate dishes outside of the liquid in the inner pot.

Yes, it is made from food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, compliant to FDA food safety standards.

Once the cooking process has started, you can press Cancel at any time to end the program.  The cooker will then go into the Standby mode.

The maximum time in Keep Warm is 24 hours. After 24 hours the cooker will automatically turn OFF. The Keep Warm ON/OFF function can be used at any time during the cooking process.
Note:  For Rice it is not recommended to have the Keep Warm on for more than 2 hours

The Keep Warm will automatically shut off after 24 hours for safety and energy consumption reasons.

For Duo Plus, the Keep Warm icon will be lite (Note: If the Keep Warm function is turned ON). When the cooking cycle is completed, the cooker beeps and enters the Keep Warmmode; the Keep Warm icon will be lite (Note: If the Keep Warm function is turned ON).  The LCD displays the elapsed time.

On the Duo Plus there is no ‘Warm’ function, there is only ‘Keep Warm’. ‘Keep Warm’ is for maintaining the temperature of the food once the cooking process is completed.  ‘Warm’ is used mainly to preheat food.

There are 3 temperature settings available, low, medium and high.

Natural Release: Allows the cooker to cool down naturally until the float valve drops down.  This may take 10 to 40 minutes, or even longer, depending on the amount of food in the cooker.  Place a wet towel on the lid to speed up the cooling process (Note: Do not cover the steam release valve).  Once the cooking process is completed, turn OFF the Keep Warm mode if it is ON.

Quick Release: Turn the steam release handle to the venting position to let steam out until the float valve drops. Never pull out the steam release handle while it is releasing steam as escaping steam is extremely hot and can cause scalds. For food with large liquid volume or starch content, use the Natural Release as thick liquid may splatter out.

Start by referring to the recipe.  The Quick Release method is used for delicate dishes such as custards and fresh vegetables and the Natural Release method is used for meats, soups and grains.

Start by pressing ‘Cancel’. The LCD will display OFF.  Before opening the lid, make sure the float valve has dropped.  Do not open the lid if the float valve has not dropped. Do notopen the lid if it is locked and cannot be opened.  Do not force the lid open at any time.
Note: When opening the lid, the inner pot may adhere to the lid.  This is caused by vacuum due to cooling.  To release the vacuum, move the stream release handle to the Ventingposition.

Move the Steam Release valve to the Venting position.  Once all the steam is released, push the float valve down with a pen or long stick.

For pressure-cooking always add at least 1.5 – 2.5 cups / 355 – 473 ml (depending on quart size) of water or other liquids with a thin, watery consistency so enough steam can be generated to cook under pressure.  These liquids include cooking sauces, wine, beer, and stocks.
Note: Oils and oil-based sauces do not have sufficient water content and do not account for the required liquid volume.

The Instant Pot® sealing rings pass UL, FDA and LFGB tests for safety, including food safety.  The Instant Pot® sealing ring is an integral part of the Instant Pot® safety features.  The sealing rings have been designed, engineered, and built with the optimal material to achieve the hardness and strength required to withstand high-pressure force during electric pressure-cooking.

The Instant Pot® sealing ring is made from food grade silicone.  Silicone may pick up food odors during cooking. To remove the odor, try the following:

1. Steam Clean: add 2 cups of water or white vinegar and cut-up lemon rind, run the Steam program for 2 minutes with the sealing ring in position. Then, allow the sealing ring to air dry.
2. Place the sealing ring in the dishwasher.  High temperature and strong detergent will usually remove the majority of smells.
3. Soak the sealing ring overnight in white vinegar, lemon juice, tomato juice, or bleach. Then, run it through the dishwasher.
4. Store the sealing ring in a plastic bag with ground coffee or baking soda.

Or, you may wish to have one sealing ring for savory and another for sweet foods.

It is not necessary to remove the sealing ring after each use.  One should remove the sealing ring and clean the sealing ring following every 5-6 uses or if any food that splatters was prepared.

The sealing ring is made from food grade silicone and is extremely durable.  Under normal conditions it should be fine for 18 – 24 months.  If you notice cracks, leaking or deformation in the sealing ring, it should be replaced.  However, the sealing ring is porous and may absorb odors and become discolored.  To avoid discoloration and odors, one may wish to change the sealing ring every 6 – 12 months.

Unapproved and unauthorized sealing rings are not manufactured, tested or certified by Instant Pot®; as such, we are unable to confirm if they meet Instant Pot’s established standards.  The use of third party sealing rings may have unexpected effects on your cooker, and will void the Instant Pot® warranty.  Instant Pot® recommends only using Instant Pot® branded sealing rings.

To return to the factory default setting for a specific cooking program, return the cooker to ‘Standby’ mode displaying OFF; then, press and hold the cooking program key until the cooker beeps.

For a full reset of all cooking programs and system settings, return the cooker to standby mode displaying OFF, then press and hold the Cancel key until the cooker beeps.

Do not place the cooker on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or in a heated-oven, as this will damage the cooker.
Note: Intended for countertop use only.

The clicking/cracking sounds in the Instant Pot® comes from the following possible sources:

1. Water or moisture on the bottom of the inner pot
2. Instant Pot® power switch turning on and off during operation
3. Friction between the lid and the housing created by expansion and contraction due to changing internal pressure and temperature
4. The flat flexible pressure board under the heating element bending under pressure (the board is designed to last over 100,000 uses)
5. Food such as dry beans popping open during cooking

It is normal to have some condensation of water in the groove on the top of the cooker, especially during the cooling down period.
If you have an excessive amount of water in the groove, there are two possibilities:

1. The sealing ring has not been installed properly
2. The sealing ring requires replacement

Prior to proceeding, inspect your sealing ring.

Instant Pot® is built with a burn-protection mechanism.  When a high temperature 140C/ 284F) is detected on the bottom of the inner pot, the burn-protection mechanism suspends heating to avoid food burning.

The only exception to the burn-protection mechanism is with food that has a very high starch content. For instance, if you add flour in your chili, the flour will sink to the bottom, solidifies at low temperatures and can block heat dissipation. In this situation, we suggest you add flour to the chili after initial cooking and perhaps cooking it for an additional one to five minutes to allow thickening of the chili.

Yes, we recommend caution with foods such as applesauce, cranberries, pearl barley, oatmeal or other cereals, split peas, noodles, pasta and rhubarb as they can foam, froth or sputter and can clog the steam release valve. When preparing these types of food the inner pot should not be more than ½ full.
Note:  Make sure the Steam Release Valve, Float Valve and Anti-Block Shield are clean and free from debris.

One cannot deep fry or pressure fry in the cooker with oil.

There are two types of canning: boiling-water canning at 100°C/212°F (for acid fruits, tomatoes, pickles and jellied products) and pressure canning at 115~121°C/240~250°F (for low acid vegetables, meat and poultry). Please refer to “USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning” for more details.

Instant Pot® can be used for boiling-water canning. The Instant Pot® current product line is regulated by a pressure sensor instead of a thermometer; the altitude of your location may affect the actual cooking temperature.  We recommend to not use Instant Pot® for pressure canning.

Accessories include – stainless steel (18/8) steam rack with handles to lower and lift food, condensation collector, rice paddle, soup spoon, and measuring cup.

Instant Pot® recommends to only cook in the Instant Pot® stainless steel or ceramic non-stick inner pots for best results. Other brands may not have the correct curvature to match the heating element. Accessories and parts not branded Instant Pot® or recommended by Instant Pot® may cause the cooker to malfunction.

Start by referring to the Troubleshooting section of your manual or click on the link below.  If the troubleshooting does not solve the issue, open a support ticket at http://support.instantpot.com/ or contact the customer service team at 1.800.828.7280 x2.

Click here to go to the Trouble Shooting section

10 Safety mechanisms

1. Pressure Regulator, ensures working pressure to be under the safety limit
2. Anti-Blockage Vent, prevents food debris from blocking the vent
3. Safety Lid Lock, prevents accidental opening of the cooker while it is pressurized
4. Designed with a sensor for lid position detection, monitors whether the lid is in an unsafe position for pressure-cooking
5. Automatic Temperature Control, regulates temperature based on the type of program being selected
6. High Temperature monitoring, avoids burning food
7. Automatic Pressure Controller, keeps pressure always in a safe range
8. Electrical current and temperature, fuse cuts off power if the current or internal temperature exceeds safety limits
9. Excess Pressure Protection, releases excess pressure into internal chamber in a dangerous situation
10. Smart detection of leaky lid (e.g. steam release is at open position)

No, the Duo Plus 6 Quart is currently not available in the UK or Europe.

Yes, go to www.instantpot.com/store/