One of the most balanced reviews I've seen on any product. I have two instant pots and one of them (my original 7 in 1) has finally given up after one too many overflows down into the mechanism, so you've helped me decided which new pot to get. I really wanted that wide shallow bowl, so more's the pity that it seems to have the worrisome faults you've highlighted. I guess I'll get another Duo Crisp!
Thanks Amanda - they have started offering spare parts at least since I did this review, but I'm still hearing about lid jams and the inner tab thing . Such a shame as it's a lovely thing.
I absolutely agree with your review. I did the exact same thing returned to the duo crisp for the deeper pot for pot in pot cooking and I also have 2 inner pots. Soo cool that we shared this experience 😀
I had thought about buying this model of Instant Pot, but I read about the issue of the plastic tab breaking off on the lid. When I saw it took 6 hours to open it in the video I i knew I wouldn't buy it. My Instant Pot Duo Crisp died recently. I used it almost every week for two years. All the little blue lights came on and I try to do some troubleshooting. I gave up. I just bought the Instant Pot Pro Crisp that also has two separate lids. The first meal I cooked in yesterday was Mississippi pot roast. If you never tried it you'll love it. I bought a different model Instant Pot because it was cheaper on Amazon. The design is different but it does the same thing. I love both Crisp models. Your videos are great. 😁
If you decide to go for the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, you can see loads of my recipes on this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLm6fPlrI_KbKUtFP9w0InGzJ4RMmN2q0c.html PS: Hi everyone, just to let you know that since I made this video, Instant Pot have now released spare stainless steel bowls for the Ultimate for purchase and you can also buy a replacement inner lid in order to replace the seals (if you can get hold of one). Rumour has it that the plastic tab has been replaced by a metal one on the replacement but I can't confirm that as I don't have mine anymore. If any of you have got a replacement and can confirm please do share here. Thanks all.
I just received my ultimate and the tab is still plastic. I also noted that the air fryer basket that you show is not included, and instead just a single solid reversable trivet/grate.
Thank you for this, I'm a fairly new Instant Pot owner, I bought my Instant Pot Duo Crisp last year when we were having our kitchen renovated. I love its versatility and speed but when I saw you had got a more up to date version, I was wondering if I'd bought in haste! I'm pleased that I resisted the temptation to upgrade so soon after my initial purchase and decided to see how you got on with yours. Not being able to unlock the lid for six hours is a terrible fault, and I hope you're able to return yours and get your money back!
Ahhh! The timing of this video you’ve made, comparing the two- has been a blessing! I read up on both & waited 24 hours because you know how sometimes things become clearer when you step away & come back later! So I’m pretty sure I will buy the Duo Crisp. I am such a novice in the kitchen, so I’ve subscribed to get your expert help! Thank you so much!! 🫶⭐️🙏
You're so welcome - there's no perfect one but (other than my problems with the Ultimate Lid), I've found them to be fantastic pressure cookers and it makes such a difference to energy use and ability to batch cook quick and save time later. I hope you enjoy, whichever you decide on.
Excellent and detailed video on the differences! I went to the initial air fryer duo video because I never quite understood how to use the roast function and now know that it's just a preset temperature along with the other ones that use the air fryer lid so thank you. 😀
Great to hear that was useful - yes the presets are puzzling aren't they. The Instant Pot websites have the manuals and they tend to explain it a bit better (why they don't put the manual in the box, I do not know! It would save people a lot of difficulty)
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid, 13-in-1 Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker Combo review was very interesting. I am now cooking for one and am moving into a tiny home so I wanted a 13-in-1 appliance. I've been using slow cookers, convection ovens, and pressure cookers for years, so I found this to be quite useful. I will probably most frequently use my duo-air fryer (a Ninja) for air frying. However, I will cut down on the quantity of contents I put in the Instant Pot so that it does not overflow and stick. Oddly enough, my 10-quart PressurePro occasionally gets a stuck lid (but not for 6 hours), so when I wait a while it eventually unsticks. You didn't tell us your "solution" so it is difficult to judge the cause. Thanks for the review. I won't return my 13-in-1 but I will be much more aware of how I use it based on your tips and observations. I am in the U.S.A.
Hi Judy and thanks so much for your thoughts. I'm hoping mine was part of a bad batch as it wasn't clear what caused it (wasn't starchy food or anything like that) . I'm sure it would invalidate the warranty but in the end I gave mine a sharp drop on the worktop and then the click finally occurred. Yes I can see you are an experienced pressure cook, so absolutely keep it less filled , especially on starchy food as the depth is quite low. Otherwise, it's happened to so many people that I think there must have been a quality control issue for some of us. I hope yours keeps on keeping on as they're lovely devices in so many ways and good luck with the move - amazing to be going tiny 🏡 😊
I found your video. I had just asked you a question about this model. I saw you bought a new instant pot after this on this Thanksgiving 2023. Hope you like it better. This model was a dream to me. You h well moving on. Thank you so much.
Thank you for your honesty! There are so many pluses to this model with yogurt, sous vide and steam functions that I use on a consistent basis that attracted me to it. I also was wowed by the footprint, being able to put a whole chicken, bringing it to pressure and then being able to brown the skin in one pot easily had me excited to do a Sunday dinner. I absolutely needed to see your review to help me. I am pretty much an IP person here, so with you on how much the IP is a central part of the kitchen, it needs to work. Can’t have your dish locked up for six hours. I also think they need to be able to create sealing rings that can be taken off and washed. I have seen other pressure cooker brands with that type of pressure seal that pulls out and the ring comes off. Hope you were able to return and get the model that works for you! ❤
You are welcome and yes the shop refunded me for it, thank goodness 😊. Yes I agree re seal and stand by that - they started having a replacement inner lid to effectively replace the seal is now possible via that, but it seems hugely wasteful to me to replace the whole thing rather than a bit of silicon so I think I made the right decision. I do plenty of 'Sunday dinner' style chicken in the Duo Crisp (and now the Pro Crisp) so don't give up on that but it does mean having the two lids. Good to meet you :)
as a trucker with limited space i found the instant pot duo crisp is great i do have a dedicated airfryer but i like being able to crisp up my roasts/chicken in the same pot. I started with the ninja foodi pro (tendercrisp) though it had a fixed hinged airfryer lid plus a separate pressure cooker lid. My main use for the system was for pressure cooking and with the hinged design the lid would be vertical making the appliance too tall for my desk in the truck. So having it separate is fantastic. I love the instant pot so much. I think everyone should have the instant pot. From college students to professional chef's
Thanks for an honest and open video. I first found your excellent channel when I was researching the Ultimate lid but I ended up going with the Pro Crisp for many of the reasons you highlight.
Glad I could help Joseph and yes, that is an honest review. Hoping Instant Pot can do better on that type of model one day but in the meantime the Duo Crisp is a great model and I bet the Pro is even better! I gather it comes to pressure quicker and cooks to higher temperature which sounds great. I hope you enjoy cooking with it
Great review and comparison. Thank you. I partly slow cooked some casserole steaks yesterday and got them out to finish them for tonight's dinner. I lifted the bowl out to bring it closer and proceeded to pour everything into the bowl-less pot. I'm so cross with myself for being so careless! l even took the bottom off in the hopes that it would be miraculously waterproof but, sadly, there was gravy through most of the wiring so, not really worth the risk. Anyway, long story but, that's how l come to be back in the market for an instant pot and looking at both those options. I think l'm just going to go with the simple option and repurchase an instant pot duo without any of the fancy lids as, storage and weight are definitely issues for me. 😊
Hi Niki, oh what a pain. Poor you. These things happen and thanks for sharing. We are all just doing our best. I have been looking at that new Instant Pot Duo Plus and it really looks like a great Instant Pot - similar to Pro but without the fancy inner pot, just in case that helps
Loved this video, thank you!!! You saved me loads of money by not getting the 'Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid' to replace my current InstantPot xxx
I FELT THE SAME! I loved my duo crisp but it was heavy & a pain in the butt with the 2 lids. THEN I FOUND THE NINJA SPEEDI !!! It weighs 7 pounds less, and it has a large, square, compartment. It has great baking, steam, saute, and air frying capacity. It also does dehydrating, dough proofing, and sous vive. IT ALSO HAS NO GASKETS!!!
@@CookingandCalm No pressure cooking, it's kind of like the 15-in-1 Ninja without the pressure cooking function. The only thing that puts me off the Speedi is that it looks like the inner lid gets very dirty a lot of the time (because it's pretty low down), whereas in the IP Duo Crisp and Ninja SmartLid I find the bottom of the lids rarely get that dirty since there is a little bit more distance from the cooking most of the time! Also, you can do three level cooking plus use the temperature probe in SmartLid's Combi-steam mode (equivalent to the Speedi's rapid cook mode). The SmartLid is far more bulky than the Speedi though so I definitely see the advantage that way if you aren't bothered about pressure cooking!
@@photopuppet yes...I love the steam/ roast function. So far no trouble cleaning the lid/under the element. I just run steam mode a few minutes & wipe it down.
@@allentowngal4769 I guess it would be fine with a steam clean! Instant Pot really needs to come up with something similar to the Steam Roast and Steam Air-Fry modes in their next product as they are quite a game changer for some amazing cooking results (fast too!)
I loved my new 8 Qt Duo Crisp and used it for about 2 months. I got to where I didn't mind the heavy air fryer lid so much and bought a small air fryer to do most normal jobs. I kept the Duo Crisp Air Fryer on standby for doing baby back ribs and chicken which is too messy for a small air fryer. Well I was in the honeymoon phase when all of a sudden one day the normal pressure cooker lid wouldn't come to pressure. I tried EVERYTHING I replaced the seal, made sure all was in perfect order but it just kept releasing steam and wouldn't push the little button up. Finally after sending me a new weight the customer service gave up and gifted me with a brand new model of the Duo Crisp it had handles that were attached to the pot which meant I couldn't use my extra one I'd bought for the other model, it had too many bells and whistles and my daughter who really wanted the 8qt became the new owner of it and I bought a 3 Qt. Actually the 3 Qt. has handled most everything I've needed it for since I'm single BUT I kept the old original 8 qt. thinking it would allow me to cook larger volumes of sous vide and I could still use for barbecuing my ribs and chicken (I could pre cook if needed in my 3 qt. and transfer for the 8 qt. air fryer) But now I'm really wanting the larger volume for some of the things I've run up against so am going to see if I can buy a "new" replacement lid from whoever does the refurbs and hope against hope that gives me back my original 8 qt. I loved your whole video on this one. I think for some things they need to stick with what works in this case our original Duo Crisp 8 qt. LOL!! Best wishes
Thank you for your detailed reviews. I didn't like the tall lid so much in the Duo but having a hinged lid that's not as easy to clean and the entire pot gets hefty since the lid isn't removable breaks the deal.
You are so welcome and thanks for sharing that. I got a Ninja all in one to test out in a sale and honestly, it's so heavy that I struggle to even move it on the counter top so it's gone back in the box for now
I have been fan-girling over the instantpot duo crisp range for a while now. I'm getting my own place soon and thought it would be good to get one of them as a good all rounder appliance. I have been using a ninja Air fryer for the past couple of years and I'm obsessed with it. I also have a separate slow cooker. After pondering this morning, I thought I may be better off sticking to a classic air fryer and getting the regular instantpot duo. I did a quick search on UA-cam, this video popped up and has been really helpful.
Hi Monique, yes it's so hard to get the 'perfect set up' even now with these multi-cookers but it does make for some fun cooking whichever way you go. Dedicated air fryers are so handy to have alongside if you have the space/resources. Yes I think the Instant Pot Duo could replace your slow cooker as you will probably find you move to the pressure cooking setting (which has delay timer) for a lot of slow cook recipes. So much quicker and holds in the flavour better. But if you are big on slow cooking, and have the money, the Duo Evo Plus is meant to be a better slow cooker than the main Duo and has a few extra features like handles on the lid and a flat bottom so you can also use the inner pot on the hob/stovetop. Here's a good video on it from @america's test kitchen in case of help : ua-cam.com/video/dGLX40ge4zQ/v-deo.html They are all great machines (other than the probs I've had with Ultimate) so in some ways you can't go far wrong - once you have one, you'll work out what feature are most important to you.
@Cooking and Calm oooh, thanks so much for your response and suggestion. I was this 👌 close to ordering the duo yesterday as I don't think I'd heard of the duo evo plus (I might have but forgot since there are so many versions now). I've just watched a video on it and it seems like the perfect model for me. I'm going to watch a few more before I make a decision.
Great video, one small tip for those who have the ultimate lid version, if it does get stuck in an endless cycle when pressure cooking just turn it off and on and choose Sauté, it'll ask you to open the lid, i started tapping the lid until it started releasing steam at each tap until the screen lit up with different steam release setting I chose quick release and the steam started coming out ( not as fast as i wanted it to) i kept interchanging between settings until I got it to open finally, a nightmare
This is a really great tip! I didn't try that and it might have helped. I'm going to pin your comment in the hope others see it right when they need it. So many thanks to you and thanks for sharing
Really happy with my smallest basic IP and a separate 2Ltr air fryer - I can still be so creative without all that bulk for 1-3 people. Its all personal preferences and the size of kitchen space, but all appliances offer their own merits and shortfalls as you have experienced 👍
Hi - thanks for the run down, the lid does lock on keep warm for 10 mins, I think, the cancel should cancel, but does not. I am asking Instant Pot about that. I find it releases after 10 mins, had the same issue, ended up turning it off, but then found if I wait, it will open, I think on cancel.
Yes it does stay locked while under pressure, but this was a more serious fault on mine and for some other people. I hope you get some help from Instant Pot.
The seal on on the pressure cover IS replaceable. You just have to take it apart at the screws. Kind of a pain but you don’t have to do it often. The tab breaking was my issue. It should’ve been made of metal. I travel with mine so I move it around a lot. It broke in travel
Oh that's a shame, I'm sorry to hear that. So annoying that it is plastic. Thanks for sharing that tip- for me I am often swapping those seals as I cook a lot of spicy food and the seal can take on the flavour so I have 2 on the go- I prefer not to have curry flavour yogurt :) I hope you managed to get a refund and have found something that suits you
On my Instant Pot Ultra I bought a PVC elbow for steam release direction of steam in a way that goes away from directly above if my Instant Pot is under a cabinet. No need for a towel over the steam release valve anymore.
I got an Ultimate in the Black Friday sale, looked up videos and manuals for cleaning as I couldn’t seem to get the seal off for cleaning. Turns out I can’t, so now I just have an orange, stew-scented lid. I wish I’d watched this video 3 days ago!
Oh no you poor thing. You've seen what I think about the design so I'll try not to rant. I had just assumed it would be like the others too so you're not alone. I would contact Instant Pot and ask them as a first go. They must get this all the time. From memory I don't think there is anything in the product handbook for that one on how to clear smells but maybe do double check if you haven't already in the manual for your country's version. In the manual for another model it says "add 250ml white vinegar to inner cooking pot, and run Pressure Cook for 5-10 minutes, then use Quick Steam Release" to clean a seal. Re-doing the 'water test' with the minimum amount of water a couple of times might help. I've also seen people talking about putting in a split lemon instead of vinegar. The orange colour won't lift immediately but will likely fade over time. I might also try cooking a batch of white rice which might absorb it too. Of course it might just mean it smells of lemon or vinegar so see if you can get some official advice first . Good luck with it.
@@CookingandCalm Thanks for your detailed reply! I love the vinegar/lemon idea, I'll give this a go for sure. I found it so frustrating that it has a sort of 'lip' that traps water underneath, that I have to manually wipe clean with some paper towel or something. It's a bit of a pain, but I suppose there are worse things in life.
Yes, it’s trying to do everything in one model which is hard. The 2 things to watch out for are that plastic tab as lots of people had it break - be gentle with it when siting the lid. Then me and quite a few others had problem with lid jam on pressure cooking - don’t overfill for pressure cooking. if that jam happens to you get onto Instant Pot and if all else fails come back here and read comments as some ways to get it open. It doesn’t happen to everyone so some of us may have had a ‘bad batch’. Keeping my fingers crossed that you will have better luck. 🍀🤞
I am glad I chanced upon this. I was about to buy this one. I do have the instant pot duo crisp, but thought that the one lid would be easier to use. I had considered buying one of the ninja one lids, but was put off, owing to the element being exposed during pressure cooking. I imagined it would be hard to clean. As the instant pot one lid element is covered, thought that this would be better. Not so sure now. Thanks for this👍
Hi! Thanks for sharing your opinions on the new model. I have a Lux and just bought the Ultimate as an upgrade. I find that I still want to keep the Lux around for some recipes. Some of your lessons are things I've also learned the hard way, but I think it's still worth keeping around. The yogurt setting, like you said, makes it much easier for large batch yogurt. I have not experienced the "jam" *knock on wood* and I hope I don't. I cook starchy foods with mine all the time and have learned you really have to pay attention to those fill lines on the inside of the pot in order to avoid a nasty inner lid. Additionally there are a lot better accessories from 3rd party manufacturers that will make air frying easier. And I am really hoping IP produces replacement seals soon, because there are no replacement seals available anywhere for the ultimate lid. That alone can be a make or break soon. Bottom line is it's a great but flawed product. There are work arounds for a lot... But not everything... And I hope IP makes replacement parts available soon. Bottom line is l
That's a great summing up - great but flawed. Perfect. Good news, I'm not sure where you're based but at least in the uk they are starting to sell an inner lid as replace my seal. Bit ott but I've seen photos suggesting that plastic tab may go metal which would solve a lot of problems.
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been on the fence about this new “improved” IP Some of your irritations were in my list of concerns and some I hadn’t thought of. Almost all of them are deal breakers for me. I am particularly leery of handing over so much control to electronics. And your experience has pushed me off the fence. No new IP for me. 🙂
thanks for this I've been going backwards and forwards over which to buy for so long between mulit cookers and air fryers, I already have a couple of very well used crockpots. This has really helped, think I'll get a multi cooker and separate air fryer
Oh it's just so hard to decide isn't it? I don't think there is a perfect device out there yet so it's just about how you cook and what features most important . I love the Crisp for the browning with ease, but wouldn't be without a standalone air-fryer for the more general air-frying and oven replacement stuff so I totally agree with you.
Makes me glad I ordered the older Duo Crisp a while back. It's still at my in-laws house waiting for me to come get it. We're moving to the UK and the Instant Pot was the one thing that I absolutely wanted to have pretty much on day one of arrival. (We can't take our current IP because it runs on 110v and won't work with the UK mains voltage.
Really awesome info, thanks! No sponsored bullships but simply the facts 👍🏻 That the seal can't be replaced is my main reason to not buy this and go look for something else. Because it will shorten the lifespan of the pot drastically. Cheap lip and food being taken hostage is also not ideal.
I love my duo crisp with separate lids, but I have the 6qt that was exclusive to Wal-Mart. I assume the 8qt would be too big and heavy for my needs. The 6qt works fine with a whole chicken or cornish hens. I don't need anything bigger. I used to have both an instant pot and an air fryer taking up double the counter space, so it's nice now to have both features in a single unit.
I hope instant pot is listening. All your concerns are extremely valid and have talked me out of this product. I know this took a long time to produce this video. Thank you for being a great consumer advocate. I'm now subscribed.
Thank you so much. Yes this youtube stuff is way more time consuming than it seems, especially for amateurs like me, but I love learning so all good. I do really appreciate your taking the time to say that and welcome:) And yes, I was kind of expecting a product recall on the Ultimate as I get so many people contacting me with the same issue. Such a shame as I really did love it. I hope you find what you're looking for. We're all on an endless search for the perfect multi cooker I think :)
I love my IP Duo Crisp. Yes, even if the additional heavy lid. It my workhorse! ! Thanks for your honest review of pros/cons of Ultimate. Lid not opening is certainly an issue - wow! Be well.
I am with you about the lid. I like manual tools. In case the electric fails, the project can still going on. The precise pressure and temperature controller is a game changer for this type of device. Microwave can cook rices, steam vegetables and thaw meat. User can’t tell the heat to calculate how much time needed to cook their food, therefore the machine must be able to indicate the temperature and the intensity of the pressure while keeping the users informed.
I have bought 2 separate duo crisp with ultimate lid cookers. They both broke and wouldn't hold pressure. I tried cleaning everything. The first one also had the little tab break off as well. It's also super heavy and it's hard to use it on a countertop that has upper cabinets because the lid hits the cabinets when you try to open it up. I hate the model!
I see you have an air fryer basket. I got the trivet. Tha is what I miss from my old duo crisp. I am guessing the accessories are different for your part of the world. Thanks for the info. Very helpful
I unfortunately bought this before watching your review. I am not able to recall if you mentioned this in the video or not but there are NO accessories for this model. The non-replaceable seals are a deal breaker for me also. I don't like the lid either, its not a good design. I bought the IP Pro Plus. Hoping it will fulfill my needs more!
Thanks for this, what a shame about the lid. I bought the IP Duo Crisp with separate lid a few months ago after watching some of your recipes & have been so impressed with it. My main cooker is rarely used nowadays.
I have loved my duo crisp which is on its way out, literally, it keeps cutting out during cooking. I bought a ninja 11-in-one with the attached lid, when on sale because of a lack of kitchen space but it is so loud it gives me migraines, making it unusable ( I contacted them and they replaced it with another just as loud) What is the sound/volume difference between the old Duo Crisp and the new Ultimate lid? Day to day I use the bake, airfry and roast settings. I'd prefer the attached lid to save kitchen cupboard space as my pressure lid gets rarely used (I batch cook for the freezer only when I need to restock), but can't afford to make another big purchasing error.
oh that must be so disappointing. As you've seen on my video, I returned the Ultimate as I had problems with it so I can't test it for you, but I don't remember it being any louder than the Duo Crisp. And just as a wildcard idea, I recently spent some months with just the Instant Pot Pro and then using a standalone air fryer to brown things off and it worked pretty well as a combo. Those drawer style air fryers are really good if that's your main cooking method. Might not help your storage problems but if you go that way I know I watched a youtube vid comparing the loudness of various air -fryers and will try and find it for you so come back to me. Good luck with it all
Hi thanks for your explanation, very helpful. The instant duo is my first one pot. I am still learning my way around it . can I remove the pressure cook lid, when I am slow cooking? So that some of the steam goes out? Last time I slow cooked on low for 9 hours and it hardly had lost any liquid, all the steam was trapped in the pressure cook lid. And the stew hasn’t concentrated.
Hi Sabri, not in the Ultimate but in the other Duo models I've had , you can use a saucepan lid that fits (or the official glass lid) when slow cooking and that helps you see what is going on more. The Duo models are not the highest of temperatures for slow cooking. ( the Evo Plus is meant to be the best at that) so if you're having issues, many people use the 'high' setting rather that low for slow cooking which is more like 'keep warm' . I've also heard people say they heat the mixture up a little on sauté before moving to slow cooker function sometimes. I hope that helps.
I love your voice. You are so calming and motivating. You helped me decide not to get the newer instant pot. I will need your help once my instant pot comes. I do have a problem with my left hand and am having surgery on it. It has nerve damage so is not quite as strong. Will I be able to change the lids?Some people say it is very hard to attach them.
Hi Jeanette and thank you so much. I also have nerve damage in my wrist and hand. For putting on the lid it's fine once you get used to it - for the pressure cooker lid it's about lining up a (faint) arrow then short turn. You could stick a bit of tape on til you get used to it if you need to - it soon becomes second nature. It's a heavy device overall so best to leave out on countertop and put 2nd lid somewhere where you don't have to bend too low (The Airfryer lid is the heavy one - pressure cooker one fine) . Putting the Airfryer lid on its little stand is still way too fiddly for me all these years on, but it doesn't really bother me as not essential and I put tape on to help me line up or am just careful Wien I put it away. I hope that helps and you enjoy your instant pot adventures - yes come ask me any questions. Happy to help if I can. Good luck with the operation & take care of you.
So how did you end up getting the food out?! I found your review too late. Just purchased this from Amazon and first use, before my food even started to cook the lid WILL NOT OPEN. I have raw ingredients in there right now. I've tried everything for 4 hours now and no luck! 😭
Oh no! Is it sorted? I tried reset in case it was the chip , left it off for hours, eventually sharp 'drop' on bench did it but that might invalidate your warranty so I'd get straight into InstantPot and get a return code ( or Amazon) . I know how stressful it is and really hope it's sorted itself in the time before I saw this
I can’t even get my lid to lock, tried to do the start up test, all I’m seeing is loose lid!!! I purchased it from a discount centre, hopefully they’ll take it back.
I loved mine too - lots of people don't have the problem I had and you can buy a replacement seal (it's the whole insert lid) now so fingers crossed you will be fine. I do miss that lovely wide pan 😊
oh sorry - it's such a hard decision. Not everyone has the problems I had but if you look in the comments it will give you some good info from people to help you decide. Good luck with it and happy (almost) new year to you
I bought this new model before I saw your review and sure as eggs the lid got stuck, what a pain! I was catering for 10 people and we nearly ended up with no food. Its clearly a fault and its disgusting after all this time they have clearly not bothered to rectify it. They should issue a recall.
Oh you poor thing, that must have been awful. 100% agree with you - it's happened to so many people, there is definitely a problem.I've never had a problem with any of their other models, but this one is on my 'don't buy' list. It's a list of one!
Thank you, this is really useful. I have a Evo Duo Plus - can see the benefits of the Air Fryer model. I've been looking at the Duo Crisp or the older Pro Crisp model with the detachable lid. I use the Saute function on my IP a lot. You say that on your Duo Crisp, you can only Saute on low on very high. Does this mean you can't use the plus and minus temperature buttons to adjust the Saute temperature? Maybe the older Pro Crisp model with detachable lid would suit you better. Thanks again🌹
Glad it was helpful. Yes on the older Crisp there is only 'high' and low' with nothing in between. Yes I think that one might suit me better next time I get a new one. Thank you for sharing that.
@@CookingandCalm Thank you so much for kindly clarifying my question, that's so helpful to know and maybe is a deal breaker. I have subscibed to your brilliant channel ❤
Hi there and thank you. Yes I can - I'm sure it would invalidate the warranty but in the end I gave mine a sharp drop on the worktop and then the click finally occurred.Nothing else worked.
Thank you for the review. Quick Question - Is the air fryer insert a part of the packaging? I am speaking about the little basket in which you showed potatoes. I don't seem to see it as one of the items in the box when I look up this product. Thank you!
Yes, if that’s the black air fryer basket with roast potatoes it came with the Ultimate version here in the uk. I’ve heard it might be different in other countries which is strange but seems to be one of those Instant Pot things. I hope that helps
Hi, I found your video about your ‘instant pot with the ultimate lid’ really helpful. I really haven’t got on with the pressure cooker function at all. It seems to burn the food, as I can’t open the lid. I have had to just turn it off from the plug, to try and open it. I was wondering how you got on taking yours back? I bought ours quite a few months ago now, from Argos. I would like to return it, but not sure if I could?
Hi Debbie, oh that's awful. I think you will be able to return as it's not functioning as it should . If it's helpful, drop me an email via my contact form and I'll explain what happened with mine 👍
Thank you for the great video - I was excited about the Ultimate when it was first announced but I saw warning signs starting to appear on Reddit and which ended up putting me off buying in the end. I ended up getting a Ninja 7.5L SmartLid (the OL750UK) and that has been fantastic! The only real complaint about that seems to be the ceramic non-stick wearing easily (which appears to be true) but there is an answer for this with an available stainless steel pot. I still use my IP Duo Crisp which I love using as well! There's just a lot about the Ultimate where they have missed the ball - I wonder if Ninja pipped them to the post with a patent for a proper integrated lid meaning IP can't do similar for the moment. Having the lid hinge back was a bad idea as it caused problems with many people in the UK who tend to have counter space with cupboards above. I have seen the Ultimate in person and it also doesn't have that feeling of being as well built or reliable as the Duo Crisp (your points about the plastic tab and also lid jam). I wouldn't be surprised if the Ultimate failed long before our Duo Crisp models did. Just my thoughts! I love IP and hope they get back on track as Ninja does need a strong competitor to balance things out and provide an alternative.
Thank you for sharing that. Yes non stick just doesn't last on anything really, so glad to hear they have stainless steel too. Must look at that more closely. I agree - let's hope IP learn and move forward to something better
I considered the Ninja but one relative has one and the non stick coating really put me off. I’m sure you can get a stainless steel replacement but isn’t it like £40? I have an old instant pot that’s still going strong so I am partial to the brand. The only reason why I want to upgrade is for the air fryer feature honestly.
Yes, me too. I've had such good experience of Instant Pot and although I often see in reviews that non stick is easier to clean, stainless steel just goes in dishwasher for me. I'm sticking (😊) with instant pot for now and hopefully next generation when it comes will be better on the combi Airfryer front
@@CookingandCalm 100% the coating will wear off eventually. I did my homework and gather as much information as I could to narrow down my search and a lot of ninja owners reported the coating wearing off pretty fast. What worries me the most is the non stick coating going into the food when it starts peeling. Another thing I didn't consider but is worth noting: the vent at the back of the Foodi emits hot steam. It was measured at 300 Fahrenheit by some southern guy named Saunders on UA-cam whereas the instapot was half of that. I don't want to heat up my kitchen in summer and it's not good if it blows hot steam against your wall and cabinets.
I've heard enough. I'm not getting the ultimate, but should I get the duo or pro crisp? I think the duo comes in even larger sizes? And they have both sufficient accessories?
I've never had the Pro Crisp but I can vouch for the Duo Crisp and rarely hear anyone having problems with it. In the Uk the Pro Crisp is 7.6L , the Duo Crisp comes in 5,7L and 8L. Those big sizes will be very similar in practice. The Pro Crisp has the silicon handles on the inner pot which some people love. I kind of like the way my Duo Crisp spins myself :) The inner pots on the Pro models are flat bottomed and that makes them better for searing and you can put the pot on the hob or in the oven on that one. (not sure why you'd need to when you've got the air fryer lid mind you) I have just bought the IP Pro (no air fryer on mine) as it was on offer and the main differences with that one aren't game changing but as it was the same price in a sale, I went for it. It's a more modern large panel digital display and quicker to pre-heat & cook but not massively. It also has more programmable buttons for 'favourites'. I suspect that's the same on the Pro Crisp and I think someone said it goes to slightly higher heat too. They are both good models from all I hear so I think you'll be happy with whichever one you choose. No easy answer but I hope that helps
I hope you don't mind me asking a question - for one person and to cook bulky things like baked potatoes, what size of Duo Crisp (without Ultimate lid) would you recommend? Thank you in advance 😊
I haven't actually used it but I think if it were me I would go for the smaller one unless you intend to do masses of big batch cooking and freezing. It's still big ( I think 6 litres ish) Easily big enough for baked potatoes etc and if things are too big for the air fryer basket itself, you can just use the entire pot with a trivet to give you a few more centimetres around. It's always hard to advise on this so if you have any chance to see them in a shop, I'd really recommend it as it can be surprising - it was for me! Good luck
@@CookingandCalm Thank you so much for kindly answering my question 💐 I've seen from one of your other videos that you have the 8 ltr IP but I think you're right in that the smaller one, 5.7 ltrs, would likely be okay for one person. I won't be doing batch cooking. Thank you again 😊
By the way I've just went to paperchase yesterday and heard that it's unfortunately got into liquidation. Which is really sad because I used to get my art supplies in the large one in Tottenham Court Road. Knowing how much you like your pads and pens, he might want to get down to your local one because they have 40% off everything at the moment
Thank you Susan,really helpful. I'm looking to purchase/ update my current instant pot...looked at the ultimate,but was too big. Purchased the instant pot air fryer( the one you sent your dister) instead.... I liked the instant pot with the inner pot with handles....have you used one of those,sorry forgot the model.
Hi there, very glad it was helpful. Yes I think you might mean the Evo Plus? I had a 6L one of those and really liked that one but because I had the Crisp, I passed on to my sis. The Evo is very well reviewed and you can see a really good vid about it here on @americastestkitchen ua-cam.com/video/dGLX40ge4zQ/v-deo.html . It has a lot of functions so sometimes I missed the simplicity of just pressing a button but the display is easy to read, handles and flat bottomed pot are big improvements and you spin through a dial to select various settings so it's easy to learn. If you are in the UK I can see it's on sale on the IP website at the moment and it might be price matches elsewhere. The other one with handles is the Pro (one of the black ones) - I've not had one of those but I gather it cooks faster and has pre-sets for your favourite settings but a fair bit more expensive. There are so many it's getting really confusing isn't it? You can click 'compare' on the Instant Pot website and see them against each other somewhat though not everything is there. I hope that helps and you find one that's a good fit
If you don't mine me asking, did you try the sous vide function on either of the instant pots and if so is it any good or does the temperature swing more than say 1C ? I'm wondering if either of these would be any good to replace both my ninja 9 in 1 and my sous vide supreme water bath.
No problem at all. I've used the sous vide only a couple of times but this channel did a side by side review on a couple of instant pots and from memory I think he did cover temperature variation so hopefully this might help. ua-cam.com/video/IDQP8uspQH0/v-deo.html
How did you end up opening it after the 6 hours? Is there a trick to it or did it release the lid on its own after the time (like an issue with the internal clock of the cooker)?
No I did a lot of resetting etc with the electronics but in the end what worked was a sharp drop on the kitchen worktop and something clicked. Bit risky but felt like I had little to lose by then 🙄. Hope you don't ever need to use it
@@CookingandCalm it was really looking like the one I was going to buy, that sucks. I might still buy one and see if I have any issues, they have them at Costco for £150 and they accept any returns within 90 days
What a bargain. Just this week in uk instant Pot have started selling a replacement inner lid with a metal tab rather than the black plastic one people keep finding snapping off so that's good news. They are sold out here already but it's good to know they've recognised that as a problem.
Hi there Alana. That's an instant pot official one - it was included with mine, but you might be able to see them under 'spares and accessories' on the Instant Pot website
@@CookingandCalm wow! really? i will have to look at their website to order separately. It did NOT come with my machine in Canada. The instructions say to turn the broiling tray upside down for an air frying tray.... no basket of any kind! very disappointing. so i ordered a basker off Amazon that says it fits any 6 or 8 qt instant pot... but it was just a smidge too tall and I can't close the lid! bah!😖😞 thanks for your tip!
oh how annoying. I don't know why they're so different in different countries. Is it the Ultimate you've got or the original Duo Crisp? The original definitely has spare baskets here. The Ultimate not so much though they are rumoured -that one is much shallower which was one of my problems with my existing accessories so I do really sympathise. Good luck with it and I hope you can source one.
@@CookingandCalm does the air fryer basket bottom sit flat against bottom of metal insert? or does basket have feet to keep basket bottom lifted above metal insert for airflow underneath? ty!
They have a little stand with tiny feet to raise them - if you look at the 5m point on the video above , you'll see the one that comes with the ultimate - duo crisp is similar. Hope that helps 😊
Thank you for such a detailed and entertaining, review. I did have the IP Duo Crisp a while ago but sold it as having two separate lids was not convenient for me (small kitchen/lack of space) so bought, dare I mention it here, the Ninja Foodi. However, what drives me insane with the NF is the enamal bowl - it's a pain in the proverbial to clean and I think the stainless steel bowls in the IPs are so much better for this reason - and, I suspect, better at holding heat? I was seriously contemplating switching to the IP for this very reason but having seen your video, I think I will swerve this one - at least the one with the smart lid and will stick to what I already have and additionally the Thermomix - a great pairing! Thanks again for such a great video review - and so nice to have one from 'this side of the pond' ................ and before anyone jumps down my throat, that is NOT meant to offend any of my lovely American cousins - it's simply that one finds so few UK reviews about most things on UA-cam and living in the UK as I do, this is more relevant to me 🙂
Hi Toria and thank you so much for those kind comments. Well it's funny that you should mention that, as I also looked at the Ninja as it was recommended to me here but I've decided not to get one based on exactly the same thing- there's no stainless steel pot and I love them! I did actually write to ninja to see if they had one I could buy separately but they don't do them. It puts me off as I saw a lot of people on their website, complaining that the nonstick peels and it's hard to get hold of replacement bowls so for now, I'll keep hulking the lid around and hope new models might come along with better design 😊 . Thanks again for taking the time to say hello 👋
Thanks for such a lovely reply. I think I may have to go for the pro crisp - the updated one with the two lids - the inner pot in the ninjas really trouble me! please keep the videos coming - it's so nice to have British reviews - and that is no offence to our American cousins at all, it is just more relevant to us!
Toria, I had a great tip from member of our community here. On Amazon you can buy a non brand stainless steel bowl for ninja and works really well. Just in case it helps
Hi there, to be honest I've never actually used it as a slow cooker as I don't tend to do much of that kind of cooking. Maybe I should get my Duo crisp out and try out the same recipe as I did for the Instant Pot Pro for slow cooking. I don't hold out much hope as I understand they aren't great slow cookers. I remember America's Test Kitchen doing a video on the Instant Pot duo Evo plus and they said that one works for slow cooking. let me see if I can find the link for you.
I scored one of these for $22 at Goodwill. At first i thought i t was broken bc time would not change but realized there is a time button. I also have ninja foodi steam crisp. Comparing the two i would say i like Ninja better. It does not have automatic release for pressure cooking but it does not get stuck like this one doing quick release. Also i feel like air frying works better on Ninja as the heating element covers the whole lid. There are no inserts on Ninja that you have to remove from the lid when you switch between PC and Air Frying. That said Instant pot ultimate lid is still neat. As a former owner of Duo Crisp I definitely like it better than duo crisp with its heavy air fryer lid that never worked all that great.
I purchased an Instant pot with ultimate lid about 3 weeks ago and had been loving it but yesterday when i came to use it the lid was jammed, I was wondering how you actually managed to open yours in the end? thanks.
Oh I'm sorry to hear it happened to you too Kaz. It's so disappointing. I tried all the different things around electronic resetting and stuff from Reddit forums etcetera. In the end, I gave it a sharp drop on the worktop and whatever it was clicked and activate the release. Probably not advised by instant pot but I was desperate! I hope yours sorts itself out. It's so upsetting when it happens.
I tried to open it that way, but still cannot get it open, I have also do a program again, but still cannot open it. How can I send it back with a pot full of soup ?! Maybe it was been better when I would had bought the Ninja Instant cooker. The program cooking times of the recipe's is also totally different. If it wasn't so expensive, I would have thrown it in the garbage bag !!!
Hello just seen ur video on instant pot cooker an I was wondering if you ever seen ninja foodi pressure cooker one lid with steam n crisp feature o I just love mine I cook so many things an best part is the one lid feature pls try it out I'm sure you'll like it but I enjoyed ur video on the instant pot so thxs so much looking forward to seeing more 😊😊
Thanks so much Kevin. I'm I gather it's amazing and you are not the first person to recommend it to me. I have been looking at them, but I am a big fan of stainless steel inner bowls and the ninja doesn't do one of those (I went as far as speaking to the customer service to see if I could buy one separately, but they don't do them for now at least). I would still love to try one I must admit. Maybe one day when the channel gets bigger, I can review all the things.😊 thanks so much for sharing your experiences and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.👍
Thxs for ur comment but I bought a stainless steel one from Amazon that way I'd have two to choose from not sure when u ask customer service but I didn't try to buy from ninja only the unit itself from ninja Accessories I bought from Amazon check with them thxs again for ur response 😉
Hi Berverlea, sorry to hear that. I've had problems getting a response too to be honest, though others have said customer service are responsive. It seems to be a bit of a lottery. There is a UK Instant Pot Facebook group which Instant Pot run and moderate and that could be an alternate way of getting in touch with them. Worth a try maybe? I got a good response when I returned my Ultimate to Argos. They asked me to ring Instant Pot from the shop to try and get a returns number but when the manager saw that I was still there trying to get IP to answer an hour later, they just refunded me. 5 stars to them from me! Good luck with it.
I bought this unit she is returning. Broke off both plastic knobs and have a not working unit. The silicone lid is also not possibly to change so eventually you have to by a new lid. There are so many excellent pressure cookers out there but you should awoid this dual crisp model and choose another one.
Thanks Judith. I tried all the different things around electronic resetting and stuff from Reddit forums etcetera. In the end, I gave it a sharp drop on the worktop and whatever it was clicked and activate the release. Probably not advisable but I was desperate as it had meat struck in there.
@@CookingandCalm thx. 2nd IPDC arrived today: 1st had to be sent back cos a packer had trapped one of the inner bit's polythene wrapping under the lid - that was enough to make it *impossible* to open! Keep up the good work!
Not being able to open the lid for 6 hours with your food stuck inside is traumatic 😢 and I'm not exaggerating I wished they'd tested this new pot over and over cause they're other pots and products are phenomenal 👍
I'm not sure which one, but these were both the basic baskets that came with the Instant Pots - I have heard this can be different in different countries, so if you didn't get one with yours, it could be worth checking the Instant Pot website to see if they have one for your model. Hope that helps :)
Isn't it! It's usually cheapest direct from Cobb Grill - the links to that and Amazon are in the description of this video 👍 ua-cam.com/video/njIruM9CMmE/v-deo.html
I've spent too many hours comparing and trying to decide on a model. You saved me more time and money. Thank you!
Glad I could help Robin :)
I feel your pain :) So did I.
@@Rorobins same!!
I love your calm, concise demeanor. Very well done review. Definitely subscribing!
Yay, thank you and welcome 👋
Thank God that I've found this video right before I buy the ultimate lid. Thank you so much.
Glad I could help!
One of the most balanced reviews I've seen on any product. I have two instant pots and one of them (my original 7 in 1) has finally given up after one too many overflows down into the mechanism, so you've helped me decided which new pot to get. I really wanted that wide shallow bowl, so more's the pity that it seems to have the worrisome faults you've highlighted. I guess I'll get another Duo Crisp!
Thanks Amanda - they have started offering spare parts at least since I did this review, but I'm still hearing about lid jams and the inner tab thing . Such a shame as it's a lovely thing.
I absolutely agree with your review. I did the exact same thing returned to the duo crisp for the deeper pot for pot in pot cooking and I also have 2 inner pots. Soo cool that we shared this experience 😀
Ah thank you! Yes it's good to know we're not alone!
Καλημέρα σας❤
Χαίρομαι που ανακάλυψα το βίντεο σας....
Θα ήθελα να μου προτείνετε για οικογενεια με πέντε άτομα Ποιο είναι το πιο καλό να αγοράσω ;
I had thought about buying this model of Instant Pot, but I read about the issue of the plastic tab breaking off on the lid. When I saw it took 6 hours to open it in the video I i knew I wouldn't buy it. My Instant Pot Duo Crisp died recently. I used it almost every week for two years. All the little blue lights came on and I try to do some troubleshooting. I gave up. I just bought the Instant Pot Pro Crisp that also has two separate lids. The first meal I cooked in yesterday was Mississippi pot roast. If you never tried it you'll love it. I bought a different model Instant Pot because it was cheaper on Amazon. The design is different but it does the same thing. I love both Crisp models. Your videos are great. 😁
Thank you so much Michael and that pot roast sounds good! I'm now using the Pro Crisp and loving that one too
If you decide to go for the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, you can see loads of my recipes on this playlist: ua-cam.com/play/PLm6fPlrI_KbKUtFP9w0InGzJ4RMmN2q0c.html
PS: Hi everyone, just to let you know that since I made this video, Instant Pot have now released spare stainless steel bowls for the Ultimate for purchase and you can also buy a replacement inner lid in order to replace the seals (if you can get hold of one). Rumour has it that the plastic tab has been replaced by a metal one on the replacement but I can't confirm that as I don't have mine anymore. If any of you have got a replacement and can confirm please do share here. Thanks all.
I just received my ultimate and the tab is still plastic. I also noted that the air fryer basket that you show is not included, and instead just a single solid reversable trivet/grate.
Thank you for this, I'm a fairly new Instant Pot owner, I bought my Instant Pot Duo Crisp last year when we were having our kitchen renovated. I love its versatility and speed but when I saw you had got a more up to date version, I was wondering if I'd bought in haste! I'm pleased that I resisted the temptation to upgrade so soon after my initial purchase and decided to see how you got on with yours. Not being able to unlock the lid for six hours is a terrible fault, and I hope you're able to return yours and get your money back!
thanks so much - yes I think you did the right thing. I love my Duo Crisp, even with all it's foibles!
I really liked your explanation of the differences of the two models. Awesome video. Thank you!❤
You are so welcome! Thank you 😊
Ahhh! The timing of this video you’ve made, comparing the two- has been a blessing! I read up on both & waited 24 hours because you know how sometimes things become clearer when you step away & come back later!
So I’m pretty sure I will buy the Duo Crisp. I am such a novice in the kitchen, so I’ve subscribed to get your expert help! Thank you so much!! 🫶⭐️🙏
You're so welcome - there's no perfect one but (other than my problems with the Ultimate Lid), I've found them to be fantastic pressure cookers and it makes such a difference to energy use and ability to batch cook quick and save time later. I hope you enjoy, whichever you decide on.
@@CookingandCalm my Duo Crisp arrived! I look forward to trying new recipes from your channel! Here’s to ‘no-pressure’ pressure cooking! 🙋♀️🫶🇦🇺
love it! 💛
Excellent and detailed video on the differences!
I went to the initial air fryer duo video because I never quite understood how to use the roast function and now know that it's just a preset temperature along with the other ones that use the air fryer lid so thank you. 😀
Great to hear that was useful - yes the presets are puzzling aren't they. The Instant Pot websites have the manuals and they tend to explain it a bit better (why they don't put the manual in the box, I do not know! It would save people a lot of difficulty)
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate Lid, 13-in-1 Air Fryer and Pressure Cooker Combo review was very interesting. I am now cooking for one and am moving into a tiny home so I wanted a 13-in-1 appliance. I've been using slow cookers, convection ovens, and pressure cookers for years, so I found this to be quite useful. I will probably most frequently use my duo-air fryer (a Ninja) for air frying. However, I will cut down on the quantity of contents I put in the Instant Pot so that it does not overflow and stick. Oddly enough, my 10-quart PressurePro occasionally gets a stuck lid (but not for 6 hours), so when I wait a while it eventually unsticks. You didn't tell us your "solution" so it is difficult to judge the cause. Thanks for the review. I won't return my 13-in-1 but I will be much more aware of how I use it based on your tips and observations. I am in the U.S.A.
Hi Judy and thanks so much for your thoughts. I'm hoping mine was part of a bad batch as it wasn't clear what caused it (wasn't starchy food or anything like that) . I'm sure it would invalidate the warranty but in the end I gave mine a sharp drop on the worktop and then the click finally occurred. Yes I can see you are an experienced pressure cook, so absolutely keep it less filled , especially on starchy food as the depth is quite low. Otherwise, it's happened to so many people that I think there must have been a quality control issue for some of us. I hope yours keeps on keeping on as they're lovely devices in so many ways and good luck with the move - amazing to be going tiny 🏡 😊
I found your video. I had just asked you a question about this model. I saw you bought a new instant pot after this on this Thanksgiving 2023. Hope you like it better. This model was a dream to me. You h well moving on.
Thank you so much.
Thank you for your honesty!
There are so many pluses to this model with yogurt, sous vide and steam functions that I use on a consistent basis that attracted me to it. I also was wowed by the footprint, being able to put a whole chicken, bringing it to pressure and then being able to brown the skin in one pot easily had me excited to do a Sunday dinner.
I absolutely needed to see your review to help me.
I am pretty much an IP person here, so with you on how much the IP is a central part of the kitchen, it needs to work. Can’t have your dish locked up for six hours.
I also think they need to be able to create sealing rings that can be taken off and washed. I have seen other pressure cooker brands with that type of pressure seal that pulls out and the ring comes off.
Hope you were able to return and get the model that works for you! ❤
You are welcome and yes the shop refunded me for it, thank goodness 😊. Yes I agree re seal and stand by that - they started having a replacement inner lid to effectively replace the seal is now possible via that, but it seems hugely wasteful to me to replace the whole thing rather than a bit of silicon so I think I made the right decision. I do plenty of 'Sunday dinner' style chicken in the Duo Crisp (and now the Pro Crisp) so don't give up on that but it does mean having the two lids.
Good to meet you :)
@@CookingandCalm I agree re: seal THAT right there would have prevented me from even trying this unit.
as a trucker with limited space i found the instant pot duo crisp is great i do have a dedicated airfryer but i like being able to crisp up my roasts/chicken in the same pot. I started with the ninja foodi pro (tendercrisp) though it had a fixed hinged airfryer lid plus a separate pressure cooker lid. My main use for the system was for pressure cooking and with the hinged design the lid would be vertical making the appliance too tall for my desk in the truck. So having it separate is fantastic. I love the instant pot so much. I think everyone should have the instant pot. From college students to professional chef's
Thanks for sharing that - amazing! They really are brilliant
Thanks for an honest and open video. I first found your excellent channel when I was researching the Ultimate lid but I ended up going with the Pro Crisp for many of the reasons you highlight.
Glad I could help Joseph and yes, that is an honest review. Hoping Instant Pot can do better on that type of model one day but in the meantime the Duo Crisp is a great model and I bet the Pro is even better! I gather it comes to pressure quicker and cooks to higher temperature which sounds great. I hope you enjoy cooking with it
Great review and comparison. Thank you. I partly slow cooked some casserole steaks yesterday and got them out to finish them for tonight's dinner. I lifted the bowl out to bring it closer and proceeded to pour everything into the bowl-less pot. I'm so cross with myself for being so careless! l even took the bottom off in the hopes that it would be miraculously waterproof but, sadly, there was gravy through most of the wiring so, not really worth the risk. Anyway, long story but, that's how l come to be back in the market for an instant pot and looking at both those options. I think l'm just going to go with the simple option and repurchase an instant pot duo without any of the fancy lids as, storage and weight are definitely issues for me. 😊
Hi Niki, oh what a pain. Poor you. These things happen and thanks for sharing. We are all just doing our best.
I have been looking at that new Instant Pot Duo Plus and it really looks like a great Instant Pot - similar to Pro but without the fancy inner pot, just in case that helps
Loved this video, thank you!!! You saved me loads of money by not getting the 'Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid' to replace my current InstantPot xxx
Glad to help. Such a shame there are so many problems with that model 👍
I FELT THE SAME! I loved my duo crisp but it was heavy & a pain in the butt with the 2 lids. THEN I FOUND THE NINJA SPEEDI !!! It weighs 7 pounds less, and it has a large, square, compartment. It has great baking, steam, saute, and air frying capacity. It also does dehydrating, dough proofing, and sous vive. IT ALSO HAS NO GASKETS!!!
Thank you- does that one do pressure cooking?
@@CookingandCalm No pressure cooking, it's kind of like the 15-in-1 Ninja without the pressure cooking function. The only thing that puts me off the Speedi is that it looks like the inner lid gets very dirty a lot of the time (because it's pretty low down), whereas in the IP Duo Crisp and Ninja SmartLid I find the bottom of the lids rarely get that dirty since there is a little bit more distance from the cooking most of the time! Also, you can do three level cooking plus use the temperature probe in SmartLid's Combi-steam mode (equivalent to the Speedi's rapid cook mode). The SmartLid is far more bulky than the Speedi though so I definitely see the advantage that way if you aren't bothered about pressure cooking!
@@photopuppet yes...I love the steam/ roast function. So far no trouble cleaning the lid/under the element. I just run steam mode a few minutes & wipe it down.
@@allentowngal4769 I guess it would be fine with a steam clean! Instant Pot really needs to come up with something similar to the Steam Roast and Steam Air-Fry modes in their next product as they are quite a game changer for some amazing cooking results (fast too!)
Ah that's so helpful - thank you. I am a major pressure cooking gal so that one's not a fit for me , but very interesting
This is such a thorough and well-done video, Instant Pot should have paid you for it.
Ah thank you , that's very kind. Glad it was helpful.👍
I loved my new 8 Qt Duo Crisp and used it for about 2 months. I got to where I didn't mind the heavy air fryer lid so much and bought a small air fryer to do most normal jobs. I kept the Duo Crisp Air Fryer on standby for doing baby back ribs and chicken which is too messy for a small air fryer. Well I was in the honeymoon phase when all of a sudden one day the normal pressure cooker lid wouldn't come to pressure. I tried EVERYTHING I replaced the seal, made sure all was in perfect order but it just kept releasing steam and wouldn't push the little button up. Finally after sending me a new weight the customer service gave up and gifted me with a brand new model of the Duo Crisp it had handles that were attached to the pot which meant I couldn't use my extra one I'd bought for the other model, it had too many bells and whistles and my daughter who really wanted the 8qt became the new owner of it and I bought a 3 Qt. Actually the 3 Qt. has handled most everything I've needed it for since I'm single BUT I kept the old original 8 qt. thinking it would allow me to cook larger volumes of sous vide and I could still use for barbecuing my ribs and chicken (I could pre cook if needed in my 3 qt. and transfer for the 8 qt. air fryer) But now I'm really wanting the larger volume for some of the things I've run up against so am going to see if I can buy a "new" replacement lid from whoever does the refurbs and hope against hope that gives me back my original 8 qt. I loved your whole video on this one. I think for some things they need to stick with what works in this case our original Duo Crisp 8 qt. LOL!! Best wishes
Totally agree! Thanks for sharing that - I hope you find your new lid 👍
Thank you for your detailed reviews. I didn't like the tall lid so much in the Duo but having a hinged lid that's not as easy to clean and the entire pot gets hefty since the lid isn't removable breaks the deal.
You are so welcome and thanks for sharing that. I got a Ninja all in one to test out in a sale and honestly, it's so heavy that I struggle to even move it on the counter top so it's gone back in the box for now
I have been fan-girling over the instantpot duo crisp range for a while now. I'm getting my own place soon and thought it would be good to get one of them as a good all rounder appliance.
I have been using a ninja Air fryer for the past couple of years and I'm obsessed with it. I also have a separate slow cooker. After pondering this morning, I thought I may be better off sticking to a classic air fryer and getting the regular instantpot duo.
I did a quick search on UA-cam, this video popped up and has been really helpful.
Hi Monique, yes it's so hard to get the 'perfect set up' even now with these multi-cookers but it does make for some fun cooking whichever way you go. Dedicated air fryers are so handy to have alongside if you have the space/resources. Yes I think the Instant Pot Duo could replace your slow cooker as you will probably find you move to the pressure cooking setting (which has delay timer) for a lot of slow cook recipes. So much quicker and holds in the flavour better. But if you are big on slow cooking, and have the money, the Duo Evo Plus is meant to be a better slow cooker than the main Duo and has a few extra features like handles on the lid and a flat bottom so you can also use the inner pot on the hob/stovetop. Here's a good video on it from @america's test kitchen in case of help : ua-cam.com/video/dGLX40ge4zQ/v-deo.html They are all great machines (other than the probs I've had with Ultimate) so in some ways you can't go far wrong - once you have one, you'll work out what feature are most important to you.
@Cooking and Calm oooh, thanks so much for your response and suggestion. I was this 👌 close to ordering the duo yesterday as I don't think I'd heard of the duo evo plus (I might have but forgot since there are so many versions now).
I've just watched a video on it and it seems like the perfect model for me. I'm going to watch a few more before I make a decision.
You're welcome. It's a really hard call - too much choice 🙃😊
Great video, one small tip for those who have the ultimate lid version, if it does get stuck in an endless cycle when pressure cooking just turn it off and on and choose Sauté, it'll ask you to open the lid, i started tapping the lid until it started releasing steam at each tap until the screen lit up with different steam release setting I chose quick release and the steam started coming out ( not as fast as i wanted it to) i kept interchanging between settings until I got it to open finally, a nightmare
This is a really great tip! I didn't try that and it might have helped. I'm going to pin your comment in the hope others see it right when they need it. So many thanks to you and thanks for sharing
Really happy with my smallest basic IP and a separate 2Ltr air fryer - I can still be so creative without all that bulk for 1-3 people. Its all personal preferences and the size of kitchen space, but all appliances offer their own merits and shortfalls as you have experienced 👍
Absolutely Terry - horses for courses and instant pots for individuals! We’re all so different
Hi - thanks for the run down, the lid does lock on keep warm for 10 mins, I think, the cancel should cancel, but does not. I am asking Instant Pot about that. I find it releases after 10 mins, had the same issue, ended up turning it off, but then found if I wait, it will open, I think on cancel.
Yes it does stay locked while under pressure, but this was a more serious fault on mine and for some other people. I hope you get some help from Instant Pot.
The seal on on the pressure cover IS replaceable. You just have to take it apart at the screws. Kind of a pain but you don’t have to do it often. The tab breaking was my issue. It should’ve been made of metal. I travel with mine so I move it around a lot. It broke in travel
Oh that's a shame, I'm sorry to hear that. So annoying that it is plastic. Thanks for sharing that tip- for me I am often swapping those seals as I cook a lot of spicy food and the seal can take on the flavour so I have 2 on the go- I prefer not to have curry flavour yogurt :) I hope you managed to get a refund and have found something that suits you
On my Instant Pot Ultra I bought a PVC elbow for steam release direction of steam in a way that goes away from directly above if my Instant Pot is under a cabinet. No need for a towel over the steam release valve anymore.
Ingenious!
Excellent information with pros and cons. So thorough. I was considering buying this, but I would have the same issues that you found. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful and thank you so much for taking the time feedback 👍😊
I got an Ultimate in the Black Friday sale, looked up videos and manuals for cleaning as I couldn’t seem to get the seal off for cleaning. Turns out I can’t, so now I just have an orange, stew-scented lid. I wish I’d watched this video 3 days ago!
Oh no you poor thing. You've seen what I think about the design so I'll try not to rant. I had just assumed it would be like the others too so you're not alone.
I would contact Instant Pot and ask them as a first go. They must get this all the time.
From memory I don't think there is anything in the product handbook for that one on how to clear smells but maybe do double check if you haven't already in the manual for your country's version. In the manual for another model it says "add 250ml white vinegar to inner cooking pot, and run Pressure Cook for 5-10 minutes, then use Quick Steam Release" to clean a seal. Re-doing the 'water test' with the minimum amount of water a couple of times might help. I've also seen people talking about putting in a split lemon instead of vinegar. The orange colour won't lift immediately but will likely fade over time. I might also try cooking a batch of white rice which might absorb it too.
Of course it might just mean it smells of lemon or vinegar so see if you can get some official advice first . Good luck with it.
@@CookingandCalm Thanks for your detailed reply! I love the vinegar/lemon idea, I'll give this a go for sure. I found it so frustrating that it has a sort of 'lip' that traps water underneath, that I have to manually wipe clean with some paper towel or something. It's a bit of a pain, but I suppose there are worse things in life.
Yes, it’s trying to do everything in one model which is hard. The 2 things to watch out for are that plastic tab as lots of people had it break - be gentle with it when siting the lid. Then me and quite a few others had problem with lid jam on pressure cooking - don’t overfill for pressure cooking. if that jam happens to you get onto Instant Pot and if all else fails come back here and read comments as some ways to get it open. It doesn’t happen to everyone so some of us may have had a ‘bad batch’. Keeping my fingers crossed that you will have better luck. 🍀🤞
Just the video I needed to reach a decision! So helpful, thank you for posting!!
You are so welcome!
Thanks for the guidance. Great review. I almost buy this model, greatfull i watched your review. Im getting the other model. Cheets.
You're welcome - glad it helped !
I am glad I chanced upon this.
I was about to buy this one.
I do have the instant pot duo crisp, but thought that the one lid would be easier to use.
I had considered buying one of the ninja one lids, but was put off, owing to the element being exposed during pressure cooking.
I imagined it would be hard to clean.
As the instant pot one lid element is covered, thought that this would be better.
Not so sure now.
Thanks for this👍
Thank you - yes they've all got some great functions but feels like no-ones got it quite right yet, at least for how I cook. The search continue 😊
@@CookingandCalm I have the ninja 4.7 ltr, the 6, and the 8 ltr.
Plus the instant pot.
I think that they are addictive ☺️
I'm with you! 😊
Hi! Thanks for sharing your opinions on the new model. I have a Lux and just bought the Ultimate as an upgrade. I find that I still want to keep the Lux around for some recipes. Some of your lessons are things I've also learned the hard way, but I think it's still worth keeping around. The yogurt setting, like you said, makes it much easier for large batch yogurt. I have not experienced the "jam" *knock on wood* and I hope I don't. I cook starchy foods with mine all the time and have learned you really have to pay attention to those fill lines on the inside of the pot in order to avoid a nasty inner lid. Additionally there are a lot better accessories from 3rd party manufacturers that will make air frying easier. And I am really hoping IP produces replacement seals soon, because there are no replacement seals available anywhere for the ultimate lid. That alone can be a make or break soon.
Bottom line is it's a great but flawed product. There are work arounds for a lot... But not everything... And I hope IP makes replacement parts available soon.
Bottom line is l
That's a great summing up - great but flawed. Perfect. Good news, I'm not sure where you're based but at least in the uk they are starting to sell an inner lid as replace my seal. Bit ott but I've seen photos suggesting that plastic tab may go metal which would solve a lot of problems.
Thanks for posting this.
I’ve been on the fence about this new “improved” IP
Some of your irritations were in my list of concerns and some I hadn’t thought of.
Almost all of them are deal breakers for me.
I am particularly leery of handing over so much control to electronics.
And your experience has pushed me off the fence.
No new IP for me. 🙂
Hi there, glad that helped - yes I had high hopes for it, but not for me. Hidden mechanisms and pressure cookers are not the best idea imo.
A thoroughly insightful, engaging and intertaining review. You helped me decide. Thanks so much.
Glad it was helpful and thank you for sharing. It's not easy deciding these things.
Just bought a duo crisp thanks to this video
I'm so excited!
Exciting - Hope you enjoy it!
thanks for this I've been going backwards and forwards over which to buy for so long between mulit cookers and air fryers, I already have a couple of very well used crockpots. This has really helped, think I'll get a multi cooker and separate air fryer
Oh it's just so hard to decide isn't it? I don't think there is a perfect device out there yet so it's just about how you cook and what features most important . I love the Crisp for the browning with ease, but wouldn't be without a standalone air-fryer for the more general air-frying and oven replacement stuff so I totally agree with you.
Makes me glad I ordered the older Duo Crisp a while back. It's still at my in-laws house waiting for me to come get it. We're moving to the UK and the Instant Pot was the one thing that I absolutely wanted to have pretty much on day one of arrival. (We can't take our current IP because it runs on 110v and won't work with the UK mains voltage.
I would feel absolutely the same 👍. Happy home moving !
Really awesome info, thanks! No sponsored bullships but simply the facts 👍🏻 That the seal can't be replaced is my main reason to not buy this and go look for something else. Because it will shorten the lifespan of the pot drastically. Cheap lip and food being taken hostage is also not ideal.
Glad to help! That would make a good tagline - Cooking and Calm, No Sponsored BullShips 🤣
I love my duo crisp with separate lids, but I have the 6qt that was exclusive to Wal-Mart. I assume the 8qt would be too big and heavy for my needs. The 6qt works fine with a whole chicken or cornish hens. I don't need anything bigger. I used to have both an instant pot and an air fryer taking up double the counter space, so it's nice now to have both features in a single unit.
That’s great ! We don’t have the 6q in the uk. Sounds perfect 👌
I hope instant pot is listening. All your concerns are extremely valid and have talked me out of this product. I know this took a long time to produce this video. Thank you for being a great consumer advocate. I'm now subscribed.
Thank you so much. Yes this youtube stuff is way more time consuming than it seems, especially for amateurs like me, but I love learning so all good. I do really appreciate your taking the time to say that and welcome:)
And yes, I was kind of expecting a product recall on the Ultimate as I get so many people contacting me with the same issue. Such a shame as I really did love it. I hope you find what you're looking for. We're all on an endless search for the perfect multi cooker I think :)
I love my IP Duo Crisp. Yes, even if the additional heavy lid. It my workhorse! ! Thanks for your honest review of pros/cons of Ultimate. Lid not opening is certainly an issue - wow! Be well.
Thank you- you too!
I am with you about the lid. I like manual tools. In case the electric fails, the project can still going on. The precise pressure and temperature controller is a game changer for this type of device. Microwave can cook rices, steam vegetables and thaw meat. User can’t tell the heat to calculate how much time needed to cook their food, therefore the machine must be able to indicate the temperature and the intensity of the pressure while keeping the users informed.
Good points! Thank you
Very informative. I’m just thinking between Ultimate Lid or Pro Crisp. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
I have bought 2 separate duo crisp with ultimate lid cookers. They both broke and wouldn't hold pressure. I tried cleaning everything. The first one also had the little tab break off as well. It's also super heavy and it's hard to use it on a countertop that has upper cabinets because the lid hits the cabinets when you try to open it up. I hate the model!
Oh I'm sorry to hear you also had trouble with that model. I love the idea but yes, in practice, it just didn't turn out well for me either
I see you have an air fryer basket. I got the trivet. Tha is what I miss from my old duo crisp. I am guessing the accessories are different for your part of the world.
Thanks for the info. Very helpful
Oh yes that's not good and I've heard that from others too - I wonder if the Ninja or a non brand from Amazon might fit. Thanks for connecting Vicky
What an excellent video - comprehensive review. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thank you 😊
I unfortunately bought this before watching your review. I am not able to recall if you mentioned this in the video or not but there are NO accessories for this model. The non-replaceable seals are a deal breaker for me also. I don't like the lid either, its not a good design. I bought the IP Pro Plus. Hoping it will fulfill my needs more!
Thanks for sharing. Yes it's disappointing for sure. I hope you enjoy the new one!
PLEASE everyone watch this before buying! I'm almost crying that I didn't know this before I wasted a pile of money on the Ultimate Lid food prison.
Oh I'm sorry to hear you're having problems too - hope you can get it sorted 👍
Mine is stuck and I want to cry .. now we’re stuck without dinner
Thanks so much for your really detailed and balanced review.
You're very welcome - glad it was helpful. Fab doggo 😊
Thanks for this, what a shame about the lid. I bought the IP Duo Crisp with separate lid a few months ago after watching some of your recipes & have been so impressed with it. My main cooker is rarely used nowadays.
Thank Sue - so pleased to hear you like it.
Thank you for your nuanced and detailed video. This was so helpful!
Glad it was helpful. Thanks so much for sharing that 👍😊
I have loved my duo crisp which is on its way out, literally, it keeps cutting out during cooking. I bought a ninja 11-in-one with the attached lid, when on sale because of a lack of kitchen space but it is so loud it gives me migraines, making it unusable ( I contacted them and they replaced it with another just as loud)
What is the sound/volume difference between the old Duo Crisp and the new Ultimate lid?
Day to day I use the bake, airfry and roast settings.
I'd prefer the attached lid to save kitchen cupboard space as my pressure lid gets rarely used (I batch cook for the freezer only when I need to restock), but can't afford to make another big purchasing error.
oh that must be so disappointing. As you've seen on my video, I returned the Ultimate as I had problems with it so I can't test it for you, but I don't remember it being any louder than the Duo Crisp. And just as a wildcard idea, I recently spent some months with just the Instant Pot Pro and then using a standalone air fryer to brown things off and it worked pretty well as a combo. Those drawer style air fryers are really good if that's your main cooking method. Might not help your storage problems but if you go that way I know I watched a youtube vid comparing the loudness of various air -fryers and will try and find it for you so come back to me. Good luck with it all
Thank you so much!! I am so glad I watched your video before buying
You are so welcome. Glad to be of help.😊
this is a brilliant video.. thank you so much as I am searching just now and this really helps me thank you
Thank you. You're very welcome!
Hi thanks for your explanation, very helpful.
The instant duo is my first one pot. I am still learning my way around it .
can I remove the pressure cook lid, when I am slow cooking? So that some of the steam goes out?
Last time I slow cooked on low for 9 hours and it hardly had lost any liquid, all the steam was trapped in the pressure cook lid. And the stew hasn’t concentrated.
Hi Sabri, not in the Ultimate but in the other Duo models I've had , you can use a saucepan lid that fits (or the official glass lid) when slow cooking and that helps you see what is going on more. The Duo models are not the highest of temperatures for slow cooking. ( the Evo Plus is meant to be the best at that) so if you're having issues, many people use the 'high' setting rather that low for slow cooking which is more like 'keep warm' . I've also heard people say they heat the mixture up a little on sauté before moving to slow cooker function sometimes. I hope that helps.
I love your voice. You are so calming and motivating. You helped me decide not to get the newer instant pot. I will need your help once my instant pot comes. I do have a problem with my left hand and am having surgery on it. It has nerve damage so is not quite as strong. Will I be able to change the lids?Some people say it is very hard to attach them.
Hi Jeanette and thank you so much. I also have nerve damage in my wrist and hand. For putting on the lid it's fine once you get used to it - for the pressure cooker lid it's about lining up a (faint) arrow then short turn. You could stick a bit of tape on til you get used to it if you need to - it soon becomes second nature. It's a heavy device overall so best to leave out on countertop and put 2nd lid somewhere where you don't have to bend too low (The Airfryer lid is the heavy one - pressure cooker one fine) . Putting the Airfryer lid on its little stand is still way too fiddly for me all these years on, but it doesn't really bother me as not essential and I put tape on to help me line up or am just careful Wien I put it away. I hope that helps and you enjoy your instant pot adventures - yes come ask me any questions. Happy to help if I can. Good luck with the operation & take care of you.
So how did you end up getting the food out?! I found your review too late. Just purchased this from Amazon and first use, before my food even started to cook the lid WILL NOT OPEN. I have raw ingredients in there right now. I've tried everything for 4 hours now and no luck! 😭
Oh no! Is it sorted? I tried reset in case it was the chip , left it off for hours, eventually sharp 'drop' on bench did it but that might invalidate your warranty so I'd get straight into InstantPot and get a return code ( or Amazon) . I know how stressful it is and really hope it's sorted itself in the time before I saw this
Ma'am, you explain very well. I'm watching you from Turkey
Thanks and welcome 😀
That’s a very good overview, thank you so much! I think I’ll get the older version then :)
you're welcome. I'm going to try out the Pro Crisp this year too
I can’t even get my lid to lock, tried to do the start up test, all I’m seeing is loose lid!!! I purchased it from a discount centre, hopefully they’ll take it back.
Oh no , I hope they'll return it for you
I love my ultimate kid version but I do have the same concerns about the seal and maintenance. I still use it most days tho. It’s a great product
I loved mine too - lots of people don't have the problem I had and you can buy a replacement seal (it's the whole insert lid) now so fingers crossed you will be fine. I do miss that lovely wide pan 😊
was very close to getting the with ultimate lid, now back to considering, tough choice
oh sorry - it's such a hard decision. Not everyone has the problems I had but if you look in the comments it will give you some good info from people to help you decide. Good luck with it and happy (almost) new year to you
I bought this new model before I saw your review and sure as eggs the lid got stuck, what a pain! I was catering for 10 people and we nearly ended up with no food. Its clearly a fault and its disgusting after all this time they have clearly not bothered to rectify it. They should issue a recall.
Oh you poor thing, that must have been awful. 100% agree with you - it's happened to so many people, there is definitely a problem.I've never had a problem with any of their other models, but this one is on my 'don't buy' list. It's a list of one!
This is an excellent review! Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks so much. Glad it was helpful.
Thank you, this is really useful. I have a Evo Duo Plus - can see the benefits of the Air Fryer model. I've been looking at the Duo Crisp or the older Pro Crisp model with the detachable lid. I use the Saute function on my IP a lot. You say that on your Duo Crisp, you can only Saute on low on very high. Does this mean you can't use the plus and minus temperature buttons to adjust the Saute temperature? Maybe the older Pro Crisp model with detachable lid would suit you better. Thanks again🌹
Glad it was helpful. Yes on the older Crisp there is only 'high' and low' with nothing in between. Yes I think that one might suit me better next time I get a new one. Thank you for sharing that.
@@CookingandCalm Thank you so much for kindly clarifying my question, that's so helpful to know and maybe is a deal breaker. I have subscibed to your brilliant channel ❤
Welcome 😊
Such a great review, so very very clear. THANK YOU!
You are so welcome!🤗
Hi I found this video really useful, do you mind sharing how you got the lid to open?
Hi there and thank you. Yes I can - I'm sure it would invalidate the warranty but in the end I gave mine a sharp drop on the worktop and then the click finally occurred.Nothing else worked.
Thank you for the review. Quick Question - Is the air fryer insert a part of the packaging? I am speaking about the little basket in which you showed potatoes. I don't seem to see it as one of the items in the box when I look up this product. Thank you!
Yes, if that’s the black air fryer basket with roast potatoes it came with the Ultimate version here in the uk. I’ve heard it might be different in other countries which is strange but seems to be one of those Instant Pot things. I hope that helps
Thank You for the information. Seems like you are right about the package being different in other countries.@@CookingandCalm
My food is going on 16 hours and I can not get the lid to open. Returned and super sad, because I think this such an upgrade to my old one
Oh no, it’s awful isn’t it.
I was so disappointed.
I just got the pro crisp. Will report back when proper testing done but pleased with it so far
Hi,
I found your video about your ‘instant pot with the ultimate lid’ really helpful.
I really haven’t got on with the pressure cooker function at all. It seems to burn the food, as I can’t open the lid. I have had to just turn it off from the plug, to try and open it.
I was wondering how you got on taking yours back? I bought ours quite a few months ago now, from Argos.
I would like to return it, but not sure if I could?
Hi Debbie, oh that's awful. I think you will be able to return as it's not functioning as it should . If it's helpful, drop me an email via my contact form and I'll explain what happened with mine 👍
Thank you for the great video - I was excited about the Ultimate when it was first announced but I saw warning signs starting to appear on Reddit and which ended up putting me off buying in the end. I ended up getting a Ninja 7.5L SmartLid (the OL750UK) and that has been fantastic! The only real complaint about that seems to be the ceramic non-stick wearing easily (which appears to be true) but there is an answer for this with an available stainless steel pot. I still use my IP Duo Crisp which I love using as well! There's just a lot about the Ultimate where they have missed the ball - I wonder if Ninja pipped them to the post with a patent for a proper integrated lid meaning IP can't do similar for the moment. Having the lid hinge back was a bad idea as it caused problems with many people in the UK who tend to have counter space with cupboards above. I have seen the Ultimate in person and it also doesn't have that feeling of being as well built or reliable as the Duo Crisp (your points about the plastic tab and also lid jam). I wouldn't be surprised if the Ultimate failed long before our Duo Crisp models did. Just my thoughts! I love IP and hope they get back on track as Ninja does need a strong competitor to balance things out and provide an alternative.
Thank you for sharing that. Yes non stick just doesn't last on anything really, so glad to hear they have stainless steel too. Must look at that more closely. I agree - let's hope IP learn and move forward to something better
I considered the Ninja but one relative has one and the non stick coating really put me off. I’m sure you can get a stainless steel replacement but isn’t it like £40? I have an old instant pot that’s still going strong so I am partial to the brand. The only reason why I want to upgrade is for the air fryer feature honestly.
Yes, me too. I've had such good experience of Instant Pot and although I often see in reviews that non stick is easier to clean, stainless steel just goes in dishwasher for me. I'm sticking (😊) with instant pot for now and hopefully next generation when it comes will be better on the combi Airfryer front
@@CookingandCalm 100% the coating will wear off eventually. I did my homework and gather as much information as I could to narrow down my search and a lot of ninja owners reported the coating wearing off pretty fast.
What worries me the most is the non stick coating going into the food when it starts peeling.
Another thing I didn't consider but is worth noting: the vent at the back of the Foodi emits hot steam. It was measured at 300 Fahrenheit by some southern guy named Saunders on UA-cam whereas the instapot was half of that. I don't want to heat up my kitchen in summer and it's not good if it blows hot steam against your wall and cabinets.
Good research!
I've heard enough. I'm not getting the ultimate, but should I get the duo or pro crisp? I think the duo comes in even larger sizes? And they have both sufficient accessories?
I've never had the Pro Crisp but I can vouch for the Duo Crisp and rarely hear anyone having problems with it. In the Uk the Pro Crisp is 7.6L , the Duo Crisp comes in 5,7L and 8L. Those big sizes will be very similar in practice. The Pro Crisp has the silicon handles on the inner pot which some people love. I kind of like the way my Duo Crisp spins myself :) The inner pots on the Pro models are flat bottomed and that makes them better for searing and you can put the pot on the hob or in the oven on that one. (not sure why you'd need to when you've got the air fryer lid mind you)
I have just bought the IP Pro (no air fryer on mine) as it was on offer and the main differences with that one aren't game changing but as it was the same price in a sale, I went for it. It's a more modern large panel digital display and quicker to pre-heat & cook but not massively. It also has more programmable buttons for 'favourites'. I suspect that's the same on the Pro Crisp and I think someone said it goes to slightly higher heat too. They are both good models from all I hear so I think you'll be happy with whichever one you choose. No easy answer but I hope that helps
I hope you don't mind me asking a question - for one person and to cook bulky things like baked potatoes, what size of Duo Crisp (without Ultimate lid) would you recommend? Thank you in advance 😊
I haven't actually used it but I think if it were me I would go for the smaller one unless you intend to do masses of big batch cooking and freezing. It's still big ( I think 6 litres ish) Easily big enough for baked potatoes etc and if things are too big for the air fryer basket itself, you can just use the entire pot with a trivet to give you a few more centimetres around. It's always hard to advise on this so if you have any chance to see them in a shop, I'd really recommend it as it can be surprising - it was for me! Good luck
@@CookingandCalm Thank you so much for kindly answering my question 💐 I've seen from one of your other videos that you have the 8 ltr IP but I think you're right in that the smaller one, 5.7 ltrs, would likely be okay for one person. I won't be doing batch cooking. Thank you again 😊
You're welcome ☺️
@@CookingandCalm 😊👍🙏
By the way I've just went to paperchase yesterday and heard that it's unfortunately got into liquidation. Which is really sad because I used to get my art supplies in the large one in Tottenham Court Road.
Knowing how much you like your pads and pens, he might want to get down to your local one because they have 40% off everything at the moment
Oh I do like that tip! Thank you and yes, that's really sad about Paperchase :(
Thank you Susan,really helpful.
I'm looking to purchase/ update my current instant pot...looked at the ultimate,but was too big.
Purchased the instant pot air fryer( the one you sent your dister) instead....
I liked the instant pot with the inner pot with handles....have you used one of those,sorry forgot the model.
Hi there, very glad it was helpful. Yes I think you might mean the Evo Plus? I had a 6L one of those and really liked that one but because I had the Crisp, I passed on to my sis. The Evo is very well reviewed and you can see a really good vid about it here on @americastestkitchen ua-cam.com/video/dGLX40ge4zQ/v-deo.html . It has a lot of functions so sometimes I missed the simplicity of just pressing a button but the display is easy to read, handles and flat bottomed pot are big improvements and you spin through a dial to select various settings so it's easy to learn. If you are in the UK I can see it's on sale on the IP website at the moment and it might be price matches elsewhere. The other one with handles is the Pro (one of the black ones) - I've not had one of those but I gather it cooks faster and has pre-sets for your favourite settings but a fair bit more expensive. There are so many it's getting really confusing isn't it? You can click 'compare' on the Instant Pot website and see them against each other somewhat though not everything is there. I hope that helps and you find one that's a good fit
If you don't mine me asking, did you try the sous vide function on either of the instant pots and if so is it any good or does the temperature swing more than say 1C ? I'm wondering if either of these would be any good to replace both my ninja 9 in 1 and my sous vide supreme water bath.
No problem at all. I've used the sous vide only a couple of times but this channel did a side by side review on a couple of instant pots and from memory I think he did cover temperature variation so hopefully this might help. ua-cam.com/video/IDQP8uspQH0/v-deo.html
Thank you for this great review.
My pleasure Marie. Glad you liked it
Thank you so much for that video review.
You're very welcome
Mines didn’t come with the air fryer basket, only a rack that has handles that block the amount of space you have to fix items
They seem to be different in different countries and at different times. It's very weird. Any air fryer basket that fits will work.
Brilliant review 👏 😊
Thank you - glad it helped
How did you end up opening it after the 6 hours? Is there a trick to it or did it release the lid on its own after the time (like an issue with the internal clock of the cooker)?
No I did a lot of resetting etc with the electronics but in the end what worked was a sharp drop on the kitchen worktop and something clicked. Bit risky but felt like I had little to lose by then 🙄. Hope you don't ever need to use it
@@CookingandCalm it was really looking like the one I was going to buy, that sucks. I might still buy one and see if I have any issues, they have them at Costco for £150 and they accept any returns within 90 days
What a bargain. Just this week in uk instant Pot have started selling a replacement inner lid with a metal tab rather than the black plastic one people keep finding snapping off so that's good news. They are sold out here already but it's good to know they've recognised that as a problem.
who makes that black air fryer basket? so much better than the raised tray that the machine came with!!!
Hi there Alana. That's an instant pot official one - it was included with mine, but you might be able to see them under 'spares and accessories' on the Instant Pot website
@@CookingandCalm wow! really? i will have to look at their website to order separately. It did NOT come with my machine in Canada. The instructions say to turn the broiling tray upside down for an air frying tray.... no basket of any kind! very disappointing. so i ordered a basker off Amazon that says it fits any 6 or 8 qt instant pot... but it was just a smidge too tall and I can't close the lid! bah!😖😞 thanks for your tip!
oh how annoying. I don't know why they're so different in different countries. Is it the Ultimate you've got or the original Duo Crisp? The original definitely has spare baskets here. The Ultimate not so much though they are rumoured -that one is much shallower which was one of my problems with my existing accessories so I do really sympathise. Good luck with it and I hope you can source one.
@@CookingandCalm does the air fryer basket bottom sit flat against bottom of metal insert? or does basket have feet to keep basket bottom lifted above metal insert for airflow underneath? ty!
They have a little stand with tiny feet to raise them - if you look at the 5m point on the video above , you'll see the one that comes with the ultimate - duo crisp is similar. Hope that helps 😊
Fantastic insights, thank-you.
You’re very welcome 👍
Awesome review, covered exactly what I wanted to know. Thank you for helping me make a more informed decision!
Glad it was helpful Brian 👍
Thank you for such a detailed and entertaining, review. I did have the IP Duo Crisp a while ago but sold it as having two separate lids was not convenient for me (small kitchen/lack of space) so bought, dare I mention it here, the Ninja Foodi. However, what drives me insane with the NF is the enamal bowl - it's a pain in the proverbial to clean and I think the stainless steel bowls in the IPs are so much better for this reason - and, I suspect, better at holding heat? I was seriously contemplating switching to the IP for this very reason but having seen your video, I think I will swerve this one - at least the one with the smart lid and will stick to what I already have and additionally the Thermomix - a great pairing! Thanks again for such a great video review - and so nice to have one from 'this side of the pond' ................ and before anyone jumps down my throat, that is NOT meant to offend any of my lovely American cousins - it's simply that one finds so few UK reviews about most things on UA-cam and living in the UK as I do, this is more relevant to me 🙂
Hi Toria and thank you so much for those kind comments. Well it's funny that you should mention that, as I also looked at the Ninja as it was recommended to me here but I've decided not to get one based on exactly the same thing- there's no stainless steel pot and I love them! I did actually write to ninja to see if they had one I could buy separately but they don't do them. It puts me off as I saw a lot of people on their website, complaining that the nonstick peels and it's hard to get hold of replacement bowls so for now, I'll keep hulking the lid around and hope new models might come along with better design 😊 . Thanks again for taking the time to say hello 👋
Thanks for such a lovely reply. I think I may have to go for the pro crisp - the updated one with the two lids - the inner pot in the ninjas really trouble me! please keep the videos coming - it's so nice to have British reviews - and that is no offence to our American cousins at all, it is just more relevant to us!
Toria, I had a great tip from member of our community here. On Amazon you can buy a non brand stainless steel bowl for ninja and works really well. Just in case it helps
Not cheap but the one I was recommended if I ever get ninja was 'goldlion stainless steel inner pot"
Did you ever use the Slow cook feature? Does it perform just as good as a dedicated slow cooker?
Hi there, to be honest I've never actually used it as a slow cooker as I don't tend to do much of that kind of cooking. Maybe I should get my Duo crisp out and try out the same recipe as I did for the Instant Pot Pro for slow cooking. I don't hold out much hope as I understand they aren't great slow cookers. I remember America's Test Kitchen doing a video on the Instant Pot duo Evo plus and they said that one works for slow cooking. let me see if I can find the link for you.
This one might help: ua-cam.com/video/dGLX40ge4zQ/v-deo.htmlsi=-NIwD6DquLeRALra
@@CookingandCalm thank you .
I ended up buying the IP Pro multi off your review
Thank you
Thanks
you're welcome
I scored one of these for $22 at Goodwill. At first i thought i t was broken bc time would not change but realized there is a time button. I also have ninja foodi steam crisp. Comparing the two i would say i like Ninja better. It does not have automatic release for pressure cooking but it does not get stuck like this one doing quick release. Also i feel like air frying works better on Ninja as the heating element covers the whole lid. There are no inserts on Ninja that you have to remove from the lid when you switch between PC and Air Frying. That said Instant pot ultimate lid is still neat. As a former owner of Duo Crisp I definitely like it better than duo crisp with its heavy air fryer lid that never worked all that great.
wow what a bargain! Amazing. Thanks so much for sharing that with me - I hope I can try the Ninja one day
I purchased an Instant pot with ultimate lid about 3 weeks ago and had been loving it but yesterday when i came to use it the lid was jammed, I was wondering how you actually managed to open yours in the end? thanks.
Oh I'm sorry to hear it happened to you too Kaz. It's so disappointing. I tried all the different things around electronic resetting and stuff from Reddit forums etcetera. In the end, I gave it a sharp drop on the worktop and whatever it was clicked and activate the release. Probably not advised by instant pot but I was desperate! I hope yours sorts itself out. It's so upsetting when it happens.
I’m going to try this. I’m desperate to get mine open!! So disappointing
Have you tried dual level cooking/air frying in your duocrisp?
Hi Kim, yes I use the trivet for the stand. It’s tall (8litre) so plenty of room
I tried to open it that way, but still cannot get it open, I have also do a program again, but still cannot open it.
How can I send it back with a pot full of soup ?!
Maybe it was been better when I would had bought the Ninja Instant cooker.
The program cooking times of the recipe's is also totally different.
If it wasn't so expensive, I would have thrown it in the garbage bag !!!
Oh no that's terrible. So sorry it's happened to you too . I hope it gets sorted quickly.
Hi, did it get sorted out for you? I know that awful feeling so well and thinking of you
Hello just seen ur video on instant pot cooker an I was wondering if you ever seen ninja foodi pressure cooker one lid with steam n crisp feature o I just love mine I cook so many things an best part is the one lid feature pls try it out I'm sure you'll like it but I enjoyed ur video on the instant pot so thxs so much looking forward to seeing more 😊😊
Thanks so much Kevin. I'm I gather it's amazing and you are not the first person to recommend it to me. I have been looking at them, but I am a big fan of stainless steel inner bowls and the ninja doesn't do one of those (I went as far as speaking to the customer service to see if I could buy one separately, but they don't do them for now at least). I would still love to try one I must admit. Maybe one day when the channel gets bigger, I can review all the things.😊 thanks so much for sharing your experiences and I'm glad you enjoyed the video.👍
Thxs for ur comment but I bought a stainless steel one from Amazon that way I'd have two to choose from not sure when u ask customer service but I didn't try to buy from ninja only the unit itself from ninja Accessories I bought from Amazon check with them thxs again for ur response 😉
Oh that's very interesting! Thank you so much
My inner lid got damaged and I’ve emailed several times and never got a reply. Can you suggest who I contact please. I’m in the uk.
Hi Berverlea, sorry to hear that. I've had problems getting a response too to be honest, though others have said customer service are responsive. It seems to be a bit of a lottery. There is a UK Instant Pot Facebook group which Instant Pot run and moderate and that could be an alternate way of getting in touch with them. Worth a try maybe?
I got a good response when I returned my Ultimate to Argos. They asked me to ring Instant Pot from the shop to try and get a returns number but when the manager saw that I was still there trying to get IP to answer an hour later, they just refunded me. 5 stars to them from me! Good luck with it.
I bought this unit she is returning. Broke off both plastic knobs and have a not working unit. The silicone lid is also not possibly to change so eventually you have to by a new lid. There are so many excellent pressure cookers out there but you should awoid this dual crisp model and choose another one.
Thanks for sharing your experience - couldn't agree more
great video! how did you get the lid open in the end?
Thanks Judith. I tried all the different things around electronic resetting and stuff from Reddit forums etcetera. In the end, I gave it a sharp drop on the worktop and whatever it was clicked and activate the release. Probably not advisable but I was desperate as it had meat struck in there.
@@CookingandCalm thx. 2nd IPDC arrived today: 1st had to be sent back cos a packer had trapped one of the inner bit's polythene wrapping under the lid - that was enough to make it *impossible* to open!
Keep up the good work!
Oh dear! Testing our patience
Not being able to open the lid for 6 hours with your food stuck inside is traumatic 😢 and I'm not exaggerating I wished they'd tested this new pot over and over cause they're other pots and products are phenomenal 👍
I totally agree with all those points- I was imagining having to return it with rotten meat in the pot. It's very stressful
My lid won’t open either!!!!Ughh did you figure out how to open it?!
Where did you get that air fryer basket?
I'm not sure which one, but these were both the basic baskets that came with the Instant Pots - I have heard this can be different in different countries, so if you didn't get one with yours, it could be worth checking the Instant Pot website to see if they have one for your model. Hope that helps :)
@@CookingandCalm awesome! Thanks 😊
can you please put the model or name of the pot you are happy with? Thanks, so many were mentioned
I returned the one with 'Ultimate Lid' and went back to my Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8Q. Hope that helps.
Where can I find that pronged tool you used to lift out the tray please? It is a terrible design!
Isn't it! It's usually cheapest direct from Cobb Grill - the links to that and Amazon are in the description of this video 👍 ua-cam.com/video/njIruM9CMmE/v-deo.html
@@CookingandCalm Thank-you very much! No more burnt fingers!