It’s a bit frustrating that Instant still doesn’t provide much guidance in the box, as I do think this makes some of the functions a bit daunting for multi cooker newbies, but the sheer quality of the appliance and the results it serves up are impossible to fault. These took a few minutes longer than they would have in a typical solo air fryer but came out looking great with a crispy crust and juicy insides. Condensation on the inner lid flows down into the condensation cup when you open the lid, so you need to wash it every time.

Note: Unlike other Instant Pot models, this Ultimate Lid model does not have the ability to push the function button more than once to remember your favorite cook times.A heal Even for a multi-cooker, this is a chunky piece of kit, and we know it means business from the moment we remove it from the box. This One (1) Year Limited Warranty applies to purchases made from authorized retailers of Instant Brands Inc.

That said, once it was ready to cook, this machine air-fried, broiled and roasted with the best of 'em. lamb shoulder took one hour and 45 minutes – far quicker and more energy-efficient than having the oven on for six or seven hours. Chicken soup: Using the slow cook setting, we prepared a chicken soup utilizing a whole chicken and chopped vegetables.

To use the air fryer function, you open the lid, which is attached to the body of the Instant Pot by a hinge, and remove the inner lid cover by pressing a red button (the cover actually falls off, so you have to be sure to catch it). With Protect Plus for your small appliance, you'll get 2 years of protection against accidental damage alongside your guarantee.

Other Instant Pot models require you to switch out the lid for a special air fry lid or offer no air fry capability at all. If you're in the market for an appliance with many functions, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid could be a good choice. However, the duo crisp with ultimate lid offers six different temperature levels, so you can adjust accordingly. However, stirring the thin fries and quartered Brussels sprouts resulted in them falling off of the perforated air fryer cooking rack and into the bottom of the cooking pot. During one of my first sessions using the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, an essential piece of the pressure cooker lid that helps fasten it to the main lid snapped off, rendering it unusable as a pressure cooker or slow cooker.For an air frying session at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, it took about five minutes to preheat plus the actual cook time. The latest Instant Pot release, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, sports built-in convection and air fryer lid along with a slim pressure cooker insert so you can use it as you would a traditional multicooker: Slow cook, pressure cook, steam, sauté and more. The Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid is a good choice for someone who uses a multicooker often but also wants to air fry on occasion. Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations.

With this model, the lid can be swapped in or out with a standard Instant Pot lid, turning the multi-cooker into an air fryer with a simple lid switch. Unlike some other models of Instant Pot, this one doesn't come with a dedicated rice setting, so we cooked brown basmati rice using the pressure cooker function. Once you open the Ultimate Lid when air frying, the heating element is directly pointed at you, and your hand gets fairly close to it when you go to stir the food. In the US, the model comes with an air fry/cooking rack instead; but they both essentially serve the same purpose.

And with 13 different cooking functions means you will never be stuck for something to cook – air frying for the perfect crisp, or pressure cooking for fast, healthy meals or slow cooking for deep flavour – the possibilities are endless with 100s of recipes to try.