When it comes to cooking appliances, everyone knows the Instant Pot brand.
If you enjoy pressure cooking, you know that the only thing that a pressure cooker cannot do is air fry. Instant Pot aimed to solve this with the Duo Crisp Air Fryer, which is both a pressure cooker and an air fryer.
This is a highly versatile kitchen appliance with multiple functions, like steaming, pressure cooking, slow cooking, sous vide, dehydration, air frying, sautéing, broiling, baking, roasting, and keeping foods warm. The list is definitely impressive but should you spend $180 on it?
Find out in this Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer review to learn everything you need to know about this kitchen appliance.
For other air fryers check out our list of the top air fryers available in 2020.
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The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
Brand: Instant Pot
Product: Duo Crisp + Air Fryer (8qt)
Overall Rating: 9/10
Price: Check Price On Amazon
Capacity: 8 Quarts
Power: 1500W
Weight: 22.7lbs (10.3 KG/1.62 Stone)
Warranty: 1 year
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ratings
| Total Rating | 9/10 |
|---|---|
| Air Frying | 8/10 |
| Pressure Cooking | 9.5/10 |
| Easy To Clean | 9.2/10 |
| Material Quality | 9/10 |
| Ease Of Use | 9/10 |
| Versatility | 9.4/10 |
| Durability | 9.2/10 |
| Warranty | 8.5/10 |
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Overview
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is an electric pressure cooker that functions as a 2-in-1 instant pot. It features 2 lids, each for a specific function:
- Pressure Cooker – Used to sauté, pressure cook, slow cook, sous vide or steam.
- Air Fryer Lid – Used to air fry, bake, dehydrate, broil or roast.
Based on what you want to cook, you can change the lids and use the appropriate settings.
2 Separate Lids
The lids are very easy to completely remove so you do not have to lift a lot of weight when you cook. The appliance automatically detects the lid so you can only use the appropriate functions in the control panel.
As opposed to other pressure cookers on the market, no power cord is linked to the air fryer lid. This is due to the design that creates a connection between the cooker’s base and the lid. There is a switch that stays in the locked position whenever a lid is detected.
8-Quart Size
The preferred size for the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is 8-quart. You can also opt for 6-quart or 3-quart models. For most families, the 6-quart unit is the suitable option. However, the 8-quart unit is better because, in a pressure cooker of 6-quarts, it is difficult to air fry larger foods, like a full chicken.
Control Panel
The control panel of the pressure cooker is very easy to use, with clear buttons added for every single available function. This is better than with other similar appliances that have air frying buttons placed separately on the appropriate lid.
There are no preset buttons on the Duo Crisp, thus you do not have to deal with buttons like “Rice” and “Chicken”. The control panel includes only must-use buttons like “Sauté” and “Pressure Cook”.
Accessories
The accessories included in the Instant Pot Duo Crips are created in a smart way. For instance, there is an improved trivet with handles that were re-designed so they swing around. This allows the trivet to turn into a tall rack you can use to rest your food on.
We should also mention the air fry basket. It is double-layered, with legs that quickly slide off. This makes the basket very easy to clean. Also, there are 2 holes in the stainless steel insert so you can quickly remove the insert from the pot.
Is The Instant Pot Duo Crisp For You?
The Duo Crisp is aimed to help you perform many different cooking tasks with the use of a single kitchen appliance. It does a great job at taking the pressure cooker to a whole new level. You should consider it when you want to use the following cooking methods:
Air Frying
You can choose a temperature range between 180 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit (82 and 204 degrees Celsius), with the default temperature being 400 degrees. You can use air frying between 1 minute and 1 hour, with the default being 18 minutes.
Pressure Cooking
Set the function to high or low, based on what you cook. The high setting is 12 PSI and the low setting is 6 PSI. The default time for pressure cooking is 35 minutes. However, you can set it at any value between 0 minutes and 4 hours.
With pressure cooking, you cook food faster than with conventional methods. This varies from one food to another but, generally, you can expect cooking time to be decreased by one-third of the regular time.
Slow Cooking
Similarly to the pressure cooking feature, the appliance can be set to use the slow cooking function at high or low settings. The default cooking time is 30 minutes but you can go as high as 24 hours.
Both settings use a cooking temperature of 208 degrees Fahrenheit (98 degrees Celsius). The difference between them is how long it takes for the appliance to reach the maximum temperature.
Sous Vide
Be careful when using this feature because water circulation is mandatory in sous vide. This does not happen with the Instant Pot Duo Crisp. Because of it, when you use water, the maximum temperature only reaches around 140 degrees Fahrenheit (60 degrees Celsius).
Steaming
Steaming happens at a lower heat than regular pressure cooking. This makes it a great feature for more delicate foods like fish or eggs. You can also use this to reheat food without drying it out, which is great for some foods like pasta.
Keeping Food Warm
After cooking time is over, the appliance enters the Keep Warm function. The addition of this feature was a smart choice because it allows you to keep your food warm after you pressure cook it until you are ready to eat. It is important to note that this feature does not activate with Sous Vide.
Roasting
The temperature range available is between 180 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, with the default being 380 degrees. You can roast foods for up to one hour at a time.
Baking
The best thing about baking is that the minimum temperature is 180 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for baking.
Broiling
When you broil food with the Duo Crisp, the default temperature is 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature for broiling cannot be changed.
Dehydrating
Choose a temperature between 105 and 165 degrees Fahrenheit (40 and 74 degrees Celsius), with the minimum time being 1 hour and the maximum one being 72 hours. While the appliance is not suitable for doing bulk dehydrating, it is enough for those that sparingly use such features.
Sauté
Use this feature to sear meat before you use the pressure cooking feature or for making sauté vegetables. You can also make other dishes like homemade caramel. Watch the display when you use Sauté. It will show “Hot” after heating up so you know exactly when to add food.
The Benefits Of The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
If you do not know whether or not the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a good purchase, here are the main benefits this kitchen appliance provides.
Save Time Because Of Fast Cooking
The appliance cooks foods at very high temperatures so everything is faster than with conventional cooking. For instance, cooking ribs takes only 30 minutes and a whole chicken is ready in 6 minutes per pound. You can roast pork chops in 6 minutes and have cooked fish fillets in just 2 to 3 minutes.
You Can Make A Delicious Meal Even If You’re Not An Experienced Cook
The appliance is easy to use so making a tasty meal is a breeze even if you do not have a lot of cooking experience. The control panel allows you to quickly select the cooking method. Additionally, you can set the temperature and time manually by pressing the “Manual” button.
Healthier Diet
Pressure cooking and air frying are healthy cooking methods. For instance, pressure cooking manages to preserve up to 95% of the vitamins of the ingredients you use. You can flash-cook vegetables to retain more vitamins than with steaming and boiling.
Here is more information on how healthy an air fryer can be and what you should avoid in an air fryer.
Save Energy & Money
With pressure cooking, you use less electricity so utility bills will be lower. The savings can go as high as 70% when compared to conventional cooking methods.
Worry-Free Cooking
When compared to the older pressure cookers on the market, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is highly superior and safe to use. You do not have to worry about the appliance exploding because of the safety systems included. In fact, you have nothing to worry about during use.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Pros and Cons
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a very effective pressure cooker and air fryer. Even so, there are both pros and cons to consider when you decide whether or not to buy this kitchen appliance.
Pros
- Can easily switch between cooking methods
- Easy to use control panel
- 11 pre-determined cooking products
- Included broiling and dehydrating trays
- Stainless steel parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning
- Over 10 built-in safety features like Overheat Protection, EasySeal lid and Automatic Pressure Control
- 1500 W heating element to reduce cooking and preheating times
Cons
- Low broiling temperature
- The steam release valve design involves constant resetting so you can get burned by the steam when not careful
- Expensive extra accessories
- The start button is difficult to see
- Small display
- The included Getting Started Guide does not have much information
Instant Pot Duo Crisp FAQ
Can you crisp with the instant pot or is this just the name used?
With the use of the Air Fryer lid, you gain access to five crisp cooking options: air fry, bake, dehydrate, broil and roast so yes, you are able to crisp. You have to choose the right temperature and time for every ingredient you want to crisp, as not all foods get crunchy at the same temperature.
Can you use the appliance for baking?
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp can be used to make numerous baked goods and desserts. There are 4 settings available to make cheesecakes, loaves, puddings, and moist cakes.
What’s the difference between the Duo and the Duo Plus?
Most of the specifications are the same. The main difference is that the Instant Pot Duo Plus includes 2 extra programs:
- A double one you can use to cook eggs and have more control when baking cakes
- Sterilize mode
Also, the control panel is updated with the Duo Plus and includes an LCD screen.
How many kitchen appliances does the Instant Pot Duo Crisp replace?
With the use of this appliance, you can replace the pressure cooker, steamer, food warmer, sauté pan, and slow cooker. At the same time, you can use it as a roaster, air fryer, food dehydrator, broiler, and oven.
Can cooking settings be adjusted after operation starts?
It is possible to adjust pressure and temperature levels or time after the appliance starts cooking.
How do I know pressure cooking started?
You first press “Start” to begin the pressure cooking process. The display will then show “On”. This means that pre-heating started. After enough pressure is built up, the valve rises and the pressure cooker beeps. Cooking time starts to count down from when this happens.
What are the foods I should not use?
You have to be careful with the ingredients that have high sugar content as a burn warning may trigger.
Also, you have to be careful when you cook foods like cranberries, oatmeal, noodles, rhubarb or applesauce because these often foam, spatter or froth. This can lead to clogging. Whenever using the appliance to prepare these foods, the inner pot should only be filled up to the 1/2 line.
Also, you should follow a trusted recipe and you need to clean the pressure cooker parts and the lid after use.
Can I use third-party accessories?
It is highly recommended that you only buy accessories and spare parts that are authorized. This guarantees the highest possible safety level.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a really good combo kitchen appliance. You gain access to intuitive pre-set programs and you can easily navigate both air frying and pressure cooking as a beginner. The Duo Crisp is large and you can use it to stack a lot of food in the 8-quart model. Also, it properly circulates air, which many air fryers cannot do.
Those who want both an air fryer and a pressure cooker but do not have enough space available for two kitchen appliances will surely appreciate the combo. Newbie cooks will also appreciate the Duo Crisp because the appliance is easy to use for different cooking methods even by those who have little to no cooking experience.
If for whatever reason this air fryer doesn’t sound like what you need, try reading this review of the Ninja Foodi FD401 Air Fryer.