Instant Pot 112-0170-01 Rice Cooker: Full Review

The Instant Pot IP-DUO60 is a 7-in-1 multi-functional pressure cooker that's hugely popular due to its ability to cook foods up to 70% faster while maintaining flavors and nutrients. This review will be focusing on the 6 Quart 7-in-1 version also known as the Instant Pot IP-DUO60.

The Instant Pot combines the functions of a pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, saute pan, steamer, and warmer all into one convenient countertop appliance. It utilizes the latest 3rd generation microprocessor technology and has 14 built-in smart programs for cooking a wide variety of recipes quickly and easily. With its stainless steel inner pot, fingerprint resistant exterior, and large easy-to-use control panel, the IP-DUO60 aims to be the ultimate kitchen appliance for busy home cooks.

Design

The Rice Cooker Instant Pot 112-0170-01 has a sleek and modern design perfect for any kitchen. It features a stainless steel exterior with black accents and a large blue LCD screen.

At 12.6 x 12.2 x 13.1 inches, it has a medium footprint but can still fit well on most countertops. The outer housing is made from brushed stainless steel which gives it a premium look and feel while being easy to clean and fingerprint resistant.

The lid and inner cooking pot are also constructed from stainless steel. The inner pot has a heavy-duty 3-ply bottom for even heat distribution. The exterior housing has a gently curved shape and the top lid lies nearly flush when closed.

There are also several rear vent holes which help with steam release and prevent too much pressure from building up. Despite the many features packed inside, the Instant Pot maintains a streamlined and simplistic appearance.

The Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 is another excellent rice cooker worth considering. Known for its advanced fuzzy logic technology, this model adjusts cooking parameters to ensure perfect rice every time. Its compact size makes it suitable for smaller kitchens, and the retractable power cord adds convenience. For more details, visit the Zojirushi NS-ZCC10 product page.

Settings & Programs

The Rice Cooker Instant Pot 112-0170-01 comes with several settings and preset cooking programs that make it easy to prepare a variety of dishes. Some of the main settings include:

Pressure Cook - The pressure cooking function allows you to cook ingredients quickly by raising the boiling point of water. You can adjust the pressure level based on what you're cooking.

Slow Cook - The slow cook setting is perfect for making stews, roasts, and other dishes that benefit from long, slow cooking. Just add your ingredients in the morning and they'll be ready when you get home.

Saute/Sear - The saute function lets you brown and caramelize ingredients before pressure cooking. This adds a ton of flavor. You can also use it just to saute foods regularly.

Yogurt - This setting lets you easily make homemade yogurt. Just add milk and yogurt starter culture and the Instant Pot will maintain the proper temperature.

Keep Warm - After cooking is complete, the Keep Warm mode kicks in to hold your dish at an ideal serving temperature.

Some of the pre-programmed options include recipes for soups, beans, rice, ribs, multigrain, and more. Each program is optimized with the right times and pressure levels. You just add your ingredients and press start. The presets make complex dishes like risotto, cheesecake, and more foolproof.

The Aroma Housewares ARC-914SBD is another excellent rice cooker option worth considering. It features simple digital controls for various cooking functions, including white rice, brown rice, steam, and a 15-hour delay timer for flexible meal planning. Its compact size makes it ideal for smaller kitchens, and the inner cooking pot is nonstick and easy to clean, providing convenience alongside efficient cooking.

Performance

The Instant Pot's performance for cooking rice is excellent. The pot comes with settings specifically for cooking different types of rice, including white rice, porridge, and multigrain rice. These pre-programmed settings make cooking rice incredibly easy - just add rice and water, select the rice function, and let the pot do the work.

The cooking times are very fast, especially compared to stove-top cooking. White rice takes only 10-12 minutes once pressure is reached. The rice also turns out perfectly cooked with a texture that is soft and fluffy on the inside yet still maintains the integrity of the grains. The pot does an impressive job cooking the rice evenly with no crunchy or mushy bits.

Operating the Instant Pot is straightforward for even novice cookers. The control panel is simple with easy to read buttons. Following the water ratios provided in the recipe booklet results in perfect rice every time. The pot also switches to keep warm mode automatically after cooking is complete, so there's no need to monitor it closely or worry about over or under cooking. Overall, the Instant Pot delivers fast, convenient, and consistent rice cooking results.

Accessories

The Instant Pot IP-DUO60 comes with several handy accessories to help you get the most out of this versatile appliance.

• The stainless steel steam rack allows you to elevate foods out of the cooking liquid for steaming. You can steam vegetables, seafood, dumplings and more.

• A non-stick rice paddle is included to help scoop and serve rice without sticking. The soft edges are gentle on cookware.

• It also includes a soup spoon for easy stirring and serving of soups and stews cooked in the Instant Pot. The deep bowl collects broth while the wide top helps with scraping the bottom of the pot.

• You get a measuring cup marked with both US and metric measurements to help with accuracy when following recipes.

• For protection, it comes with a condensation collector to trap excess moisture during cooking. This helps keep countertops dry.

• The accessories all nest for convenient storage and are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.

Cleanup

The Instant Pot Rice Cooker is designed for easy cleanup. The inner pot and lid are dishwasher safe. The inner pot has a non-stick ceramic coating that prevents rice from sticking and makes washing up effortless. Simply give the pot a quick rinse or pop it in the dishwasher after cooking.

The stainless steel exterior can be wiped clean with a damp cloth if any splatters or spills occur. The tempered glass lid also cleans up nicely and shouldn't retain stains or food residue with proper washing.

One handy cleanup feature is the condensation collector. This catches any excess moisture from the lid during cooking so it doesn't drip down the sides of the pot. The collector lifts out easily to be emptied and wiped clean after each use.

The included accessories like the rice paddle, soup spoon, and measuring cup are conveniently dishwasher safe as well. Overall, the simplicity of cleanup is a major plus for the Instant Pot Rice Cooker compared to some other models that can require more scrubbing. Just a quick wipe down or tossing parts in the dishwasher makes post-cooking cleanup a breeze.

Size & Capacity

The Instant Pot IP-DUO60 6-in-1 is a 6 quart multi-cooker, which gives a generous capacity for cooking rice and other grains. The 6 quart inner pot can hold up to 5.7 liters and is suitable for cooking rice for 3-4 people or making larger batches to meal prep.

The inner pot is made from food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel with an aluminum core on the bottom to help with even heat distribution. This makes it durable and safe for cooking. The dimensions of the inner pot are 7.6 inches in diameter by 9.5 inches high.

When cooking rice, the 6 quart capacity makes it easy to follow rice to water ratios. You can cook up to 3 cups of uncooked rice at a time, following a general ratio of 1 cup rice to 1.5 cups water. The 6 quart size gives flexibility to cook a variety of grains like quinoa, farro, and more using recommended liquid ratios. Overall the 6 quart capacity offers great versatility for individual or family meals.

Price

The Instant Pot IP-DUO60 is very reasonably priced for the value it provides. At the time of writing, it retails for around $99 on Amazon. This is an excellent price point for a versatile, high-quality multi-cooker with 7 functions built-in.

When you consider that this single appliance can replace a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and warmer, the IP-DUO60 offers outstanding value for money. Most other appliances that perform just one of these functions would cost nearly as much as the entire Instant Pot.

Given the huge range of cooking applications, excellent construction, and smart programming, the IP-DUO60 delivers impressive functionality and reliability. For under $100, it's hard to find another small kitchen appliance that can accomplish so much. The value for money is outstanding.

Pros & Cons

The Instant Pot IP-DUO60 has many advantages but also some drawbacks to consider:

Pros

• Versatile 7-in-1 functionality replaces a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker and warmer
• Large 6 quart capacity makes it great for cooking for families or meal prepping
• 14 built-in smart programs for hands-off cooking of soups, beans, rice, ribs etc
• Adjustable pressure levels for fast or gentle cooking
• 24-hour delay start timer for scheduling meals in advance
• Fingerprint-resistant stainless steel exterior
• Large easy-to-read control panel and LED display
• Numerous safety features like overheat protection and lid lock

Cons

• More expensive than basic single-function appliances
• Learning curve to operate the many features and functions
• Potential sealing issues if not properly cleaned and maintained
• Loud noises during cooking cycles
• No baking or air fryer capabilities

So in summary, the Instant Pot IP-DUO60 combines multiple appliances into one convenient electric pressure cooker with preset programs and good capacity, but requires an investment and some learning to master all its capabilities. It's a worthwhile upgrade for home cooks who regularly prepare beans, grains, meats and more.

Conclusion

The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker is an excellent multi-use appliance that can replace several other kitchen gadgets. With its ability to pressure cook, slow cook, rice cook, steam, sauté, warm and make yogurt, this model offers incredible versatility.

The user-friendly interface and preset programs make meal preparation simple even for beginners. Performance is consistently impressive with very fast pressure cooking and precise temperature control for sautéing and slow cooking. The stainless steel inner pot is durable and cleans up easily. Accessories like the steam rack and condensation collector add convenience.

In terms of size, the 6-quart capacity can feed most families but the pot itself isn't overly large, making storage manageable. While not the cheapest pressure cooker available, the quality and capabilities justify the moderate price tag.

Overall, the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 presents excellent value for money with all of its functions. It's a worthwhile investment for any home cook looking to expand their repertoire and spend less time in the kitchen without sacrificing delicious homemade meals.