Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker vs Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 6QT

For most people the plain Instant Pot Duo does the one thing a multi-cooker is actually for - fast, reliable pressure cooking - at the lowest price, which is why it's still our pick. Spend up for the Duo Crisp only if you truly want the air-fry finish, or the Chef iQ if you want the app to walk you through every step. The Wolf Gourmet is beautiful and the clear skip: it costs about seven times as much and can't even pressure cook.

Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker

Buy it

The boring, reliable one that just works - and still the best value in the category.

• Fast, consistent pressure cooking for beans, stews, and rice
• Dead-simple controls, and parts and accessories are everywhere

• Mediocre slow cooker - chili can stay thin even after hours
• Takes 10-15 minutes to come up to pressure before the timer starts

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Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 6QT

It depends

A pressure cooker that also crisps - handy, if you can live with two bulky lids.

• Pressure-cook then air-crisp for genuinely crispy skin and finishes
• One appliance stands in for a pressure cooker and a small air fryer

• Two separate lids to wrangle and store; it eats real counter space
• Air-fry basket is smallish and it's only a so-so standalone air fryer

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Side by side

The bottom line

Our overall pick is the Instant Pot Duo 6QT Multi-Use Pressure Cooker - The boring, reliable one that just works - and still the best value in the category. Choose the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 6QT instead if small kitchens that want pressure cooking plus a crisp finish in one box.

Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Multi-Cookers & Electric Pressure Cookers, Honestly Ranked.