Skip to main content
Smart Home Explorer Logo

Is the Instant Pot Duo Plus worth it?

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is a top pick with a 8.7/10 consensus score across 14 expert reviews. Experts highlight 9-in-1 multicooker replaces pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and sauté pan and alexa voice control for cooking status monitoring and doneness alerts. CNET says: "Best 9-in-1 multicooker — if you want one appliance that replaces five, this is ..." Best for: Appliance consolidation, Smart home integration, Batch cooking.

Instant Pot Duo Plus — Must Buy per expert consensus
Must Buy14 Expert Reviews
Price Range
$150–$170
$150-$170 list9-in-1 multicooker14 expert sources
Check price →

Affiliate link — we earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Instant Pot Duo Plus

NM
Nicholas Miles · Editor-in-Chief & Methodology Owner

Multicookers

Expert consensus

How we score
08.7/1010

14 expert sources · 2 quoted

2 quoted sources with published scores

  • Wirecutter 8.5/10
  • CNET 8.8/10

Expert Consensus across 14 sources

Updated:
“Best 9-in-1 multicooker — if you want one appliance that replaces five, this is it. Rice results are good but not best-in-class.”
— CNET8.8/10

Key Features

  • ✓ 9-in-1 multicooker
  • ✓ Alexa voice control
  • ✓ Stainless steel pot
  • ✓ Instant Pot app

Best For

Appliance consolidationSmart home integrationBatch cooking

What Experts Agree On

What Experts Love

  • ✓ 9-in-1 multicooker replaces pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and sauté pan
  • ✓ Alexa voice control for cooking status monitoring and doneness alerts
  • ✓ Stainless steel inner pot — more durable than non-stick for high-heat sautéing
  • ✓ Most ecosystem-connected kitchen appliance at this price
  • ✓ 800+ built-in recipes via Instant Pot app

Common Criticisms

  • ✗ Rice is a secondary function — dedicated rice cookers produce more consistent rice texture
  • ✗ 15-button interface requires learning time vs. simpler rice cookers
  • ✗ Larger 6-quart footprint than rice-only cookers

What The Experts Say

WI
“The Instant Pot Pro Plus is the most useful smart kitchen gadget we tested — WiFi scheduling alone justifies the price.”
Wirecutter8.5/10

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Instant Pot Duo Plus worth it?

The Instant Pot Duo Plus earns a 8.7/10 consensus score across 14 expert sources and is rated "Must Buy". At $150-$170, it is best for Appliance consolidation. CNET is among the named sources behind that consensus.

How much does the Instant Pot Duo Plus cost?

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is priced at $150-$170. With a 8.7/10 score from 14 expert reviews and a "Must Buy" rating, that price represents strong value relative to the ~7.5/10 average for Kitchen products. Prices shift often, so check the live figure before buying.

Who is the Instant Pot Duo Plus best for?

The Instant Pot Duo Plus is best for Appliance consolidation, Smart home integration, Batch cooking. Experts rate it "Must Buy" with a 8.7/10 consensus across 14 sources.

How does the Instant Pot Duo Plus compare to other Kitchen options?

Among the Kitchen products we have aggregated, the Instant Pot Duo Plus ranks above average with a 8.7/10 score. Wirecutter adds: "The Instant Pot Pro Plus is the most useful smart kitchen gadget we tested — WiFi scheduling alone justifies the price."

What smart home systems does the Instant Pot Duo Plus work with?

The Instant Pot Duo Plus works with Amazon Alexa. Check the compatibility notes above for any hub dependencies or setup requirements before you buy.

What are the best alternatives to the Instant Pot Duo Plus?

If the Instant Pot Duo Plus ($150-$170, 8.7/10) is not the right fit, the closest alternatives in Kitchen are Zojirushi Neuro Fuzzy NS-ZCC10, Cuckoo CRP-P0609S. Compare them on price, ecosystem support, and expert consensus to find your match.

What are the pros and cons of the Instant Pot Duo Plus?

The main strengths of the Instant Pot Duo Plus are 9-in-1 multicooker replaces pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, and sauté pan and alexa voice control for cooking status monitoring and doneness alerts. The most-cited downside is rice is a secondary function — dedicated rice cookers produce more consistent rice texture. Overall, 14 expert sources rate it "Must Buy" with a 8.7/10 consensus score.

Decided on the Instant Pot Duo Plus?

$150-$170 list9-in-1 multicooker14 expert sources
Check price →

Affiliate link — we earn a commission at no extra cost to you

Featured in these buying guides

See how the Instant Pot Duo Plus ranks against the full field in our Kitchen buying guides.

Sources & Methodology

This review aggregates 2 independent expert reviews into a single consensus score. See how we build consensus scores.

Expert review sources cited on this page:

Affiliate disclosure: SmartHomeExplorer.com participates in the Amazon Associates program. We earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.This consensus review is based on 14 independent expert reviews — we did not test this product ourselves. Always verify current prices and availability before purchasing.

Independence notice: Smart Home Explorer is an independent publication. Instant Pot and other product names, logos, and brands referenced on this page are the property of their respective owners and are used for identification purposes only. This review is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Instant Pot or any other manufacturer named in this article.