Instant Pot Lux vs Duo vs Ultra
Multi-function pressure cookers are becoming increasingly popular with consumers and with a wide range of models and brands on the market it can be hard to decide which one to buy. The Instant Pot brand is the market leader in the USA and the brand offers plenty of choice of models. We take a look at three of the most popular models; the Instant Pot Lux vs Duo vs Ultra.
Instant Pot Lux
The Instant Pot Lux is available in three sizes; the 3qt, the 6qt and the 8qt. All sizes offer six functions. The Lux can work as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer and warmer. There are 12 one-touch smart programs that you can select in order to cook a wide variety of meals including ribs, soups, meat and poultry, beans and much more.
As with all Instant Pot models, the Lux is extremely easy to use. According to the advertising and the thousands of satisfied customers, you just add your food to the pot, select the correct pre-set and cook on autopilot. It is that easy.
All Instant Pot customers have a wide range of recipes and online resources that can be accessed from your smartphone (iOS or Android) so whether you are new to pressure cooking or running out of ideas, you can find some great recipes to liven up your menu.
As with all Instant Pot models, the Lux is a good-looking kitchen appliance that will sit well in any kitchen. In addition, the stainless steel inner pot is easy to remove and to clean and is suitable for dishwasher use.
The Instant Pot Lux comes with 10 built-in safety features such as an overheat protection function, safety lock, automatic pressure control and it fully conforms to US safety regulations.
Customer feedback for the Lux is overwhelmingly positive. 80% of customers on Amazon gave this multi-function pressure cooker 5-star reviews. However, there are some complaints. Customers have complained that the warranty is not fit for purpose. Customers with defective models have been asked to send photos but have all complained that they have never heard back from the company. That said most customers are positive and with the price range between $59 to $89.98 for the largest model, this model seems to offer good value.
Pros:
- Versatile and easy to use
- Comes in a choice of sizes
- Well-priced
Cons
- Customer service not very good
- Some complaints about the warranty
- Not as popular as the Duo
Instant Pot Duo
The Instant Pot Duo has generated over 44 000 customer reviews on Amazon alone and seems to be the most popular model in the Instant Pot range. There are 3 sizes available; 3qt, 6qt, and 8qt. You can also choose between the Duo and the Duo Evo Plus. There does not seem to be much difference between the two; the price is the same and as far as we can see it comes down to the color of the control panel. The Duo lights up with red lights on a black background, whereas the Evo features white lettering on a blue background which some customers will find more aesthetically pleasing.
As with the Lux, it is a good-looking kitchen multi appliance that offers the customer a vast range of cooking choices and possibilities. There are seven multi-functions; pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, sauté pan, warmer and yogurt maker so it does a little more than the Lux. In addition, there are 14 one-touch smart programs so you do have more choice with the presets on the Duo than with the Lux.
Customer feedback is impressive. 82% gave this Instant Pot a 5-star review. Customer complaints are mainly to do with the Instant Pot Duo becoming defective over time and the lack of adequate customer service but it is important to bear in mind that complaints are only a small percentage of what is otherwise glowing feedback. Price is the same as for the Lux at $79.00 for the 6qt model.
Pros
- Thousands of positive customer reviews
- More functions than the Lux
- Choice of interface display colors
Cons
- Inadequate customer service dept
- Some complaints about durability
- No proper warranty available
Instant Pot Ultra
The Instant Pot Ultra is newer on the market than the Duo so at the time of writing has only generated 5000+ customer reviews. It is more expensive than the Lux and the Duo but it does offer more functions. The Instant Pot Ultra has 10 multi-functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice/porridge cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, egg cooker, sauté, searing, steamer, warmer and sterilizer.
There are a couple of added safety features too, 11 in total, including a leaky lid detector and a quick-release button.
The Ultra is a good-looking kitchen appliance. The interface is an attractive blue background with white lettering and we love that there is a program for altitude adjustment which is ideal if you live high above sea level. It means you don’t have to make your own adjustments to your recipes because the Ultra does it all for you automatically.
As with the previous two models, the stainless steel inner pot is easily detachable and suitable for dishwashers. And as with the other models it comes with accessories including a steam rack and spoons and measuring cups, plus access to the vast range of recipes and support via your smartphone.
The Instant Pot Ultra is more expensive than the other models. The 6qt size is $119.00 with the 8qt size $179, 95. There is also a mini size which is $111.00
Customer feedback is positive. On Amazon, 81% gave the Ultra a 5-star review. Customer complaints are mainly to do with a lack of durability in some cases and the lack of customer service and warranty.
Pros
- Offers 10 multi functions
- Lots of added extras such as altitude control
- Easy to use as with all Instant Pot models
Cons
- More expensive than the Lux and the Duo
- Inadequate warranty and customer service
- Not as popular as the Duo.
In conclusion
We are great fans of the Instant Pot brand. We love the simplicity and versatility of these multi-function pressure cookers. We think that the Duo is probably the best buy for most customers but if you live at altitude or require added functions, you may find that it is worth paying a little more for an Ultra.
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