Instant Pot Duo Review 2025: Is It Still the Best Pressure Cooker?

The Most Popular Pressure Cooker Ever Made ΓÇö Tested Thoroughly

The Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart has been the best-selling multi-cooker in the US for 8 consecutive years. With 123,000+ Amazon reviews, it's one of the most purchased kitchen appliances in American history. But does it live up to the hype in 2025? We cooked 47 recipes over 3 months to find out.

What the Instant Pot Duo Does Better Than Anything Else

Pressure cooking is where the Instant Pot completely separates from alternatives. A pot of dried beans that would take 2+ hours on the stovetop is done in 25 minutes under pressure. Chicken thighs for tacos cook in 12 minutes from frozen. Beef short ribs that would braise for 3.5 hours in the oven are fall-off-the-bone tender in 45 minutes under pressure.

These are not small time savings. For working families, the Instant Pot Duo genuinely changes what's possible on a weeknight.

7-in-1 Functions: What You'll Actually Use

• Pressure Cooker ΓÇö Used constantly. Transformative for tough cuts and dried beans.
• Slow Cooker ΓÇö Decent, but a dedicated slow cooker has better temperature control.
• Rice Cooker ΓÇö Works very well. Consistently fluffy rice.
• Saut├⌐ ΓÇö Genuinely useful for browning meat before pressure cooking.
• Steamer ΓÇö Works well for vegetables and fish.
• Yogurt Maker ΓÇö Works, but requires planning. A niche use case.
• Warmer ΓÇö Keeps food hot without overcooking. Useful for buffets.

Learning Curve Is Real ΓÇö But Worth It

Our biggest caveat: the Instant Pot has a genuine learning curve. The first 3ΓÇô4 uses involve figuring out the sealing ring, the steam release valve, and understanding pressure buildup and release times. This frustrates some first-time users enough to return the product.

Our recommendation: watch one YouTube tutorial on pressure cooking basics before your first use. The 15 minutes you invest will make every subsequent use effortless.

Our Verdict

The Instant Pot Duo remains the best multi-cooker for American households in 2025. Nothing competes with its combination of functionality, community resources, and price. The 123,000 positive reviews aren't hype ΓÇö they're earned. Buy it.

Our only caveat: if you already own a quality slow cooker and just want an air fryer, the Instant Pot Duo may be redundant. But for the majority of home cooks who don't own a pressure cooker, it will become the most-used appliance in your kitchen within 2 weeks.