WhichOneToGet
Updated 3 Nov 2026

Is the Instant Pot Rio 7-in-1 worth it?

Yes — the easiest Instant Pot to start with.

It replaces the Duo with the same seven jobs: pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing, yoghurt, eggs and keep warm, plus a delay timer. The controls are a touch panel with icons, the 6-quart pot doesn't spin when you stir and goes in the dishwasher, and the black finish looks smarter than the old steel Duo. Testers got fluffy chickpeas from dry in 40 minutes, tender slow-cooked soup and easy-peel eggs. The icons take a while to learn, the timer doesn't count the warm-up, the pot has no handles and there's no proper rice setting.

Good to know

  • The buttons are icons only, so you'll need the manual at first.
  • Cooking times don't include the time it takes to heat up.
  • The inner pot has no handles.
  • There's no dedicated rice setting.
Instant Pot Rio 7-in-1 multi-cooker
  • Pressure, slow cook, steam and sauté
  • Pot that doesn't spin as you stir
  • Dishwasher-safe pot

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Get it if…

  • It's your first pressure cooker.
  • You want quick stews, beans and soups for little money.
  • You'd rather have a touch panel than a dial.

Skip it if…

  • You want air frying: get the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid or a Ninja Foodi.
  • You want a pot with handles: the Instant Pot Pro has them.

More on the Instant Pot Rio

How we reached this verdict

Tom's Guide made the Rio its best Instant Pot overall and an Editor's Choice, a perfect first pressure cooker that is easy to use and to clean, though the icons need learning and the pot has no handles. Homes & Gardens also ranks it its best Instant Pot overall: simple, versatile and good value. We haven't found enough verified owner reviews of it 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: Tom's Guide, Homes & Gardens, Instant (specs), TechRadar, Tom's Guide, manufacturer specifications.

Updated 3 Nov 2026How we decide