Updated 3 Nov 2026
Is the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 worth it?
Yes — the best value multi-cooker.
It pressure cooks stews, curries, stocks and beans in a fraction of the time, makes very good rice, and also slow cooks, steams, sautés, makes yoghurt and keeps food warm. Presets cover the common dishes, a delay timer lets it start while you're out, and the stainless-steel pot goes in the dishwasher. It costs far less than a Ninja Foodi and, for pressure and slow cooking, does nearly as well. There's no air frying, the steel pot has no handles and food can stick when you sauté, little cooking guidance comes in the box, and once it's under pressure you can't open it to check or season until the pressure drops.
Good to know
- Little cooking guidance in the box: times and recipes are on Instant's app and website.
- The stainless-steel pot has no handles, and food can stick when you sauté.
- Once it's under pressure you can't open it to taste or add liquid until the pressure drops.
- The steaming rack is too open for small vegetables.
- Pressure, slow and rice cooker in one
- Very good rice
- A fraction of a Ninja's price
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Get it if…
- You want quick stews, curries, beans and rice for less than £100.
- You'd use it as a pressure and slow cooker, not an air fryer.
- You want the multi-cooker with the most recipes online.
Skip it if…
- You want air frying too: get the Ninja Foodi SmartLid.
- You want handles on the pot and an easier steam release: the Instant Pot Pro has both.
More on the Instant Pot Duo
How we reached this verdict
Expert Reviews names it the best multi-cooker under £100: very good as a pressure cooker, exceptional at rice and consistent across its other modes. TechRadar found it sped up long recipes as promised, with rich curries and velvety soups, and called it pound for pound the best multi-cooker it had tested, while noting the hands-off cooking takes getting used to. T3 includes it among the best multi-cookers. We haven't found enough verified owner reviews of the current Duo at the shops we read to give it a score yet.
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: Expert Reviews, TechRadar, T3, Instant (specs), TechRadar, Tom's Guide, Homes & Gardens, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 3 Nov 2026How we decide