Instant Pot Duo 6qt — Which of the 7 Functions Are Worth Using?
The Duo’s 7 functions: pressure cook, slow cook, rice cook, steam, sauté, warm, and yogurt. In practice, most households use 3: pressure cook, sauté, and slow cook. Here’s what each does well.
Pressure cook
The core function. Chicken thighs from frozen: 25 minutes at high pressure, 10-minute natural release. Dried chickpeas from unsoaked: 45 minutes at high pressure, fully tender. Beef stew (2 lb chuck): 35 minutes. Pressure cooking reduces stovetop time by 60–70% for braises and legumes.
Sauté
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The sauté function preheats the pot for browning aromatics before pressure cooking. It’s slower than a stove burner — expect 4 minutes to reach browning temperature vs. 90 seconds on medium-high gas. For deglazing and building fond, it works. For a full sear on a steak, use a cast iron skillet instead.
Cleaning
The sealing ring absorbs odors after cooking strong-smelling foods. Keep a second ring designated for sweet dishes. The stainless insert is dishwasher safe. The lid washes by hand only.