Instant Pot Duo: Get Started

Contents

• What's in the box
• Using your Duo
• Initial set up
• Pressure cooking
• Sautéing
• Slow cooking
• Yogurt making
• Keep warm
• Cleaning
• Learn more

What's in the Box

Your Instant Pot Duo includes:

• Lid (with Steam Release Valve, Lid Position Marker, Float Valve, Steam Release Switch)
• Stainless Steel Inner Cooking Pot
• Cooker Base (with Control Panel, Heating Element, Power Socket, Condensation Collector)
• Parts + accessories: Sealing Ring (installed in lid), Condensation Collector, Steam Rack with Handles

Remember to recycle packaging.

Using Your Duo

Control Panel

The control panel is designed for simplicity and ease of use. Key indicators include:

• 1. Time: Displays cooking time, delay start time, and keep warm time.
• 2. Status Messages: Indicates the current mode or status of the cooker.
• 3. Pressure: Indicates Low or High pressure.
• 4. Time/Temperature Options: For pressure cooking, offers 3 preset time options. For non-pressure cooking, offers 3 temperature levels.
• 5. Pressure Cooking Smart Programs: Lights indicate the active Smart Program.
• 6. Non-Pressure Cooking Smart Programs: Lights indicate the active Smart Program.
• 7. Smart Program Settings: Options to choose pressure level, Keep Warm, and Delay Start, or Cancel.

Status Messages

Understand the display messages:

• OFF: Standby mode
• On: Preheat mode
• Lid: Lid not properly secured or missing
• Time: Displays remaining cooking time, delay start time, or keep warm time.
• Auto boil: Rice Smart Program is running.
• Hot End: Yogurt Smart Program is in pasteurizing cycle.
• Food burn: Sauté Smart Program is ready to add food.
• Error: Indicates program ended (Keep Warm is off) or overheating. See Troubleshooting.

Using the Lid

The stainless steel lid is used for most cooking programs, especially pressure cooking.

• Open the Lid: Align the arrow symbol on the lid with the unlock symbol on the cooker base, lift the lid.
• Close the Lid: Align the arrow symbol with the unlock symbol, lower the lid, and turn clockwise to the lock symbol.

Turning the Sound On/Off

In Standby mode, press and hold the '+' button to turn sound ON (S On), or the '-' button to turn sound OFF (SOFF). Audible safety alerts cannot be turned off.

Delay the Start of Cooking

Set a Delay Start timer from 10 minutes to 24 hours. Select a Smart Program, adjust settings, press Delay Start, then use +/- buttons to set hours and minutes. Note: Delay Start is not available for Sauté or Yogurt programs.

Reset Smart Programs

• Individual Smart Programs: In Standby mode, press and hold a Smart Program button until the cooker returns to Standby and shows OFF.
• All Smart Programs: In Standby mode, press and hold Cancel until the cooker beeps.

Initial Set Up

Clean Before Use

1. Wash the inner cooking pot with hot water and soap, then dry. It can also be washed in the dishwasher.
2. Wipe the heating element inside the cooker base with a soft cloth.

Setting Up the Condensation Collector

The condensation collector gathers moisture. It attaches to the back of the cooker base.

• Remove: Pull away from the cooker base.
• Install: Align grooves with tabs on the cooker base and slide into place.

Plug In Cord (3QT and 6QT models)

Plug the electrical cord into the power socket on the back of the unit. (8QT models have a hardwired cord).

Test Run

A test run helps familiarize you with the unit before cooking a meal.

1. Follow pressure cooking instructions on page 9 using the Steam Smart Program.
2. Add water (no food) as shown in 'Using liquid to create steam' on page 10.
3. Set cooking time to 5 minutes.
4. After cooking, discard water and wash the inner pot.

Your Instant Pot Duo is now ready for cooking.

Pressure Cooking

Pressure cooking uses steam to cook food quickly and evenly.

How to Pressure Cook

1. Prep: Cut, chop, season, or marinate ingredients.
2. Preheat: Place inner pot, add ingredients, place lid and lock.
3. Select Program: Press a Smart Program button.
4. Adjust Settings: Use the program button again to cycle through Less, Normal, More time options. Use +/- to adjust time precisely. Use Pressure Level to select High or Low.
5. Keep Warm: ON by default. Press Keep Warm to turn off.
6. After 10 seconds, the display shows 'On' as the cooker builds pressure (10-15 minutes).
7. When ready, the cooker beeps and starts cooking.
8. When the timer reaches 00:00, the cooker beeps 5 times and stops.
9. Press Cancel to stop at any time.

Using Liquid to Create Steam

Pressure cooking requires liquid. Minimum amounts:

• 3 Quarts / 2.8 Litres: 1 cup (8 oz / 250 mL)
• 6 Quarts / 5.7 Litres: 1 1/2 cups (12 oz / 375 mL)
• 8 Quarts / 7.6 Litres: 2 cups (16 oz / 500 mL)

Use water-based liquids. Add water if using condensed soups.

How to Lock the Lid

Align the arrow symbol [▶️] on the lid with the [?] unlock symbol on the cooker base. Turn clockwise until the arrow symbol [▶️] aligns with the [?] lock symbol.

How to Release Steam

Choose a method based on your recipe:

• Natural Steam Release: Leave the steam release switch in the 'Sealing' position. Steam releases gradually (up to 40+ minutes). Best for foods that can simmer (stews, chili, pasta, oatmeal, beans, grains). Wait for the float valve to drop before removing the lid.
• Quick Steam Release: Move the steam release switch to 'Venting' position. Steam releases quickly. Best for foods that overcook easily (vegetables, seafood). Wait for the float valve to drop before removing the lid.

Pressure Cooking Caution: Allow all excess pressure and steam to release before opening the lid to prevent burns or injury.

Pressure Cooking Smart Programs

These programs are designed for specific foods. Adjust settings as needed.

Soup/Broth

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (20 min), Normal (35 min), More (4 hr)
• Best for: Soup without meat, soup with meat, bone broth/high fat content.
• Tip: Use Natural Release for soups with higher starch content.

Meat/Stew

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (20 min), Normal (35 min), More (45 min)
• Best for: Softer texture, very soft texture, fall-off-the-boat texture.
• Tip: Allow meat to rest for 5-30 minutes after cooking.

Beans/Chili

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (25 min), Normal (30 min), More (40 min)
• Best for: Firmer texture, soft texture, very soft texture.
• Tip: Use Natural Release for beans/legumes. Ensure beans are submerged in water.

Poultry

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (5 min), Normal (15 min), More (30 min)
• Best for: Softer texture, very soft texture, fall-off-the-boat texture.
• Tip: Allow meat to rest for 5-30 minutes.

Rice

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (8 min - Auto), Normal (12 min - Auto), More (15 min - Auto)
• Best for: Al dente/White Rice, Normal texture/White Rice, Softer texture/White Rice.
• Tip: Use a 10-minute timed steam release for fluffy rice.

Multigrain

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (20 min), Normal (40 min), More (1 hr 45 min with soaking)
• Best for: Al dente/Brown rice, Brown or wild rice, Tough grains/beans.
• Tip: The 'More' setting adds 45 minutes for soaking grains/beans.

Porridge

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (5 min), Normal (20 min), More (30 min)
• Best for: Oatmeal, Pudding/porridge/congee, Porridge/congee with various grains.
• Tip: Adjust time as recipe directs. Use Natural Steam Release for expanding foods.

Steam

• Pressure: Low / High
• Setting: Less (3 min), Normal (10 min), More (15 min)
• Best for: Vegetables, Fish/seafood, Meat.
• Tip: Use steam rack to elevate food. Use Quick Steam Release to avoid overcooking.

Sautéing

Use Sauté to brown foods, simmer, thicken, or reduce sauces.

How to Sauté

1. Prep: Cut, chop, season, or marinate ingredients.
2. Preheat: Place inner pot, press Sauté, select Less, Normal, or More temperature. Adjust time with +/-. Display shows 'On' after 10 seconds.
3. Cook: Add ingredients when 'Hot' is displayed. Display shows 'End' when timer finishes. Press Cancel to finish early.

Deglazing

Deglazing releases caramelized pieces from the bottom of the pot.

1. Remove food from inner pot.
2. Add liquid (water, broth, wine).
3. Use a spoon or spatula to loosen food stuck to the bottom.

You can deglaze before switching to Pressure Cook or Slow Cook.

Slow Cooking

Slow Cook is ideal for simmering and stewing recipes. It does not use pressure. Ensure the steam release is set to 'Venting' or use a glass lid with a vent.

How to Slow Cook

1. Prep: Cut, chop, season, or marinate ingredients.
2. Cook: Place inner pot, add ingredients, place lid and lock. Press Slow Cook, select Less, Normal, or More temperature. Adjust time with +/-. Keep Warm is ON by default. Display shows 'On' after 10 seconds.

Keep Warm

After cooking, the display shows 'End' if Keep Warm is off. If on, the timer counts up to 10 hours.

Yogurt Making

Make delicious fermented dairy and non-dairy yogurt.

How to Make Yogurt

1. Pasteurizing Milk: Insert inner pot, add milk, place and close lid. Press Yogurt, cycle through Less, Normal, More. Display shows 'boil', then 'End'. (Milk must reach 161°F / 72°C).
2. Adding Culture/Starter: Allow pasteurized milk to cool to 43°C / 110°F. Add starter culture per package instructions. Place and close lid.
3. Ferment: Press Yogurt, cycle to Normal (8 hours). Adjust time with +/-. Display shows timer counting up. After fermentation, display shows 'End'. A longer period yields tangier yogurt.
4. Allow yogurt to cool, then refrigerate for 12-24 hours.

How Much to Make?

Keep Warm

Keep Warm is automatic after most cooking programs (except Sauté and Yogurt). It can also be used to reheat food.

• Keep Warm After Cooking: Timer shows time passed, up to 10 hours. Press Keep Warm to turn off.
• Reheat and Keep Warm: In Standby mode, press Keep Warm. Cycle through Less, Normal, More temperature levels. Set timer up to 10 hours with +/- buttons.

Cleaning

Clean your Instant Pot Duo after each use. Unplug and let parts cool.

Cleaning Instructions

*Some discoloration may occur after machine washing, but this will not affect the cooker's safety or performance.

In the manual

For full details on lid parts and cleaning, refer to the User Manual available at instanthome.com.

Learn More

Find more Instant Air Fryer information and resources:

• Get the full User Manual: Instanthome.com
• Register your product: Instanthome.com/register
• Contact Consumer Care: Instanthome.com, support@instanthome.com
• Instant Recipe App: Instanthome.com, iOS and Android app stores
• Cooking charts and more recipes: Instanthome.com
• How-to videos, tips and more: Instanthome.com
• Replacement parts and accessories: Instanthome.com
• Join the community: Follow on social media platforms.

Product Specifications