I'm a pressure cooker convert: I just spend two whole days with the Instant Pot Plus and made the tastiest dishes ever
Before trying the Instant Pot Plus (2025) I had never used a pressure cooker, and was a firm slow cooker stan, but now the Instant Pot is a non-negotiable in my kitchen.
This Wi-Fi enabled pressure cooker has 8 different cook settings, a quiet steam release, and can be controlled remotely by an app. Plus there is a keep warm function for days you're running a little late to plate up food. It also includes a sterilization setting for gently cleaning baby products, while the inner pot is dishwasher safe, making clean up easy.
It took me a little practice to get things right as a first-time user. And you do have to use the app to get the most out of the machine, but if that doesn't bother you this will be a great addition to anyone's kitchen.
You can find out more about how I got on with using a pressure cooker for the first time in my full Instant Pot Plus review.
Price
£149 (U.K. only)
Weight
8.04kg
Dimensions
33 x 35 x 32.5 cm
Colors
Black
Material
Stainless steel
Capacity
5.7L/6QT
Functions
9-in-1
Dishwasher safe
Inner pot and lid
The Instant Pot Plus 9-in-1 is available from Amazon U.K. for £149. It comes in black with brushed stainless steel on the sides of the barrel.
Unfortunately, this model isn't going to be available in the U.S., but you can get the Instant Pot Duo Plus with Whisper Quiet for $159 instead, which also has nine cooking settings.
There are many different Instant Pot models to choose from, we even have a guide for finding the best Instant Pot for every kitchen. If you don't need the settings like Sous Vide but still want the convenience of a multi-purpose pressure cooker, the Instant Pot Rio is a cheaper option at $99/£99, and is available in the U.S..
I love the look of the Instant Pot Plus. It fit right into my kitchen with its simple black and brushed stainless steel design — it didn't stand out or look garish next to my other appliances. The design is understated so is sure to fit in with any kitchen setup.
The 5.7L removable inner pot is brushed stainless steel with rubber handles that slot securely into the handles of the main appliance body. The rubber handles are a welcome addition to the pot as it meant I could remove the pot while it was still hot.
Having handles on the inner pot is a major upgrade from the Instant Pot Rio. With the Rio, you need to wait until it has cooled to remove it for cleaning. The inner pot of the Instant Pot Plus is dishwasher safe, which I loved as it made the one-pot cooking clean up even easier.
The lid twists on and locks firmly in place, using a rubber seal to create a vacuum for pressure cooking. This was really easy to use, and didn't take a lot of force. Make sure to be careful when twisting the lid on and off since hot steam may come out from the pot when opening. The cooker also comes with a spare rubber seal.
For easy release of pressure and steam there is a Whisper Quiet steam release switch at the top of the lid that toggles between slow and fast release. While I could hardly hear the Instant Pot as it slowly released steam throughout the cooking process, when the vent was fully open the steam release was pretty loud.
And for the condensation that collects during the cooking process, there is a collection tub at the back of the machine that needs to be emptied and cleaned after each use.
The machine can be controlled with the buttons on the front screen or through the Instant Connect app on mobile since it is Wi-Fi enabled. While the buttons on the machine are easy to use and understand with symbols, the app gave me far more control over my cooking.
In the app you get a variety of recipe guides for each function and you can also tailor the functions for whatever you are making. The recipes have guides that took me through step by step, and I could simply click 'Start' in the app and the Instant Pot followed the recipe cooking steps without me needing to alter anything myself.
The Instant Pot has nine preset functions to choose from, with eight different ways to cook. The cooking presets include Pressure cooker, Slow cooker, Rice cooker, Saute pan, Yogurt maker, Food warmer and Steam.
I found this was a great range of preset options and there wasn't anything I was missing. However, I am by no means a chef, so I don't think the Sous Vide setting is necessary for my everyday meals, but the option is nice to have.
The ninth setting is for sterilizing any jars you may be using and the user guide says it is a quick way to sterilize baby bottles and children's toys.
The Food warmer setting is on by default with all functions except Saute and Steralize, so this needs to be turned off before pressing start if you don't intend on using it. I found it useful that the setting is on automatically, but when making something I don't want overcooked, like cake, I think it could become a hassle.
There is a progress bar on the machine to track the stage of cooking from preheating to cooling. I mostly monitored the progress of my cooking using the mobile app, but found the progress bar to be a useful indicator, as it also let anyone else in the kitchen know what stage of cooking the pot was in.
There are eight different preset cooking modes to choose from with the Instant Pot Plus, and each of these can be customized to suit whatever you're cooking.
The user manual suggests carrying out a test run to get to grips with the machine. To do this I added three cups of water to the inner pot and selected 'pressure cook' for five minutes. When it was finished I let the steam out through the vent.
This gave me a bit more confidence to use the machine which, I'll admit, I found pretty daunting at first. Since I hadn't used a pressure cooker before, I was able to get a bit of experience first without ruining any food.
I try to get veggies in with every meal, so having a steam option for quick and easy veg-prep is essential for me.
I put some frozen broccoli on the steamer rack with a bath of water at the bottom and it was perfectly cooked to my liking in 10 minutes. The florets were soft but the stalks still had some bite to them.
You can alter the length of time of the steam setting depending on how you like your veggies and what you are making.
I followed instructions from the Instant Connect app to get fluffy white basmati rice in just 8 minutes.
I added 360g of washed rice to the inner pot and 710ml of water. I then cooked it on the rice preset for 8 minutes. I had to release the pressure through the latch on top before taking off the lid to check on the rice.
I usually cook my rice on the stove top but this was so much faster and easier! I (almost) always burn my rice when making it on a stove top, and the Instant Pot completely took away that worry. The large inner pot also meant I was able to make a big batch that could be reheated the following day.
Again, I followed a guide from the companion app to make oatmeal using the 'Sous vide' setting. This took me around 45 minutes, and although this is a lot longer than my usual oatmeal method, I was able to make a larger batch.
This method involved putting my oats mixture into a mason jar and cooking them in a water bath. This meant absolutely zero clean up except for the jar you cook and store oats in, while my usual method is a lot messier.
This is by no means my new go-to method for oatmeal, but it worked really well and is a nice option to have for times when I need a simple, mess-free solution.
To test out the pressure cooking function I 'baked' a cake. This Instant Pot doesn't have a specific Cake preset, so it's certainly a challenge for the appliance. But when Tom's Guide has tested cakes in pressure cookers before the results have been pretty tasty, so I was confident it would work.
I adapted the instructions for chocolate cake in the Instant Pot app to make a chocolate fudge cake. I added 470ml of water into the bottom of the pit and then used the steamer rack to elevate the cake tin.
I used the pressure cook preset on high for 14 minutes which cooked the cake perfectly. This same cake recipe usually takes 24 minutes to bake, so the pressure cooker certainly sped things up.
I was slightly skeptical about releasing the steam as I wasn't sure how fast it would come out of the Instant Pot or how hot it would be. And while there was a big cloud of steam in my kitchen for about a minute, it was very quiet and directed to the back of the appliance. It felt safe to use and incredibly user friendly with just a flip of a switch.
After releasing the steam the lid of the pot was ready to be opened. I waited for everything to cool before icing the cake. While my cake decorating skills are a little questionable, it was still delicious.
I used the yogurt preset and this made the process practically foolproof. The only ingredients were whole milk and a live yogurt starter and the Instant Pot even pasteurized the milk for me.
The only thing I had to do was remove the lid for the milk to cool after it had been pasteurized, which was easy to remember as the app sent me a notification to do this. The Instant Pot then fermented the mixture, making yogurt.
The whole process took around 13 hours using 2 liters of milk. I was shocked at how easy this was and will definitely be making my own yogurt again.
I used the Saute function to brown onions for a stew — one that I was slow cooking for the section below. This function meant that the stew became a true one-pot-wonder, as with my slow cooker I have to saute on the stove with a pan first.
I used the highest heat setting (Level 5 - 375°F/190°C). This took less than 10 minutes and gave a lovely color to the ingredients. I deglazed the bottom of the inner pan with a little stock ready to start the slow cooking process.
After Sauteing, I made a vegetable stew using the Slow Cook preset function. This took 3 hours on high.
I added a variety of veg including swede, carrots and potatoes and covered them with stock. After 3 hours the veg came out tender but not too soft, although you can alter the cooking time and temperature depending on your preference.
The Keep Warm function is on automatically with every function apart from saute and sterilize, so needs to be turned off if you don't need your food kept warm. This function kept my slow cooked stew warm until I was ready to eat it hours later.
As I have mentioned throughout, the Instant Connect app is the ideal companion for the Instant Pot Plus. I would have been beyond confused without it as a first-time pressure cooker user, so I would say it is essential that you use the app.
I was able to get the most out of the pressure cooker, with tips and tricks I wouldn't have come across. It was so simple to alter the temperature and cooking times in the app too. The only thing you can't do in the app is start Saute mode, as this needs to be monitored.
There are also recipe guides in the app and I found these so easy to use as you just need to click start cooking and Instant Pot will automatically be set up.
You can also track the progress of what you are cooking in the app, which I found great as I didn't even need to leave the couch to check what stage my yogurt was at.
I found the clean up process with the Instant Pot Plus ridiculously easy. The stainless steel pot is removable to pop in the dishwasher. The lid is also dishwasher safe.
Both the lid and pot were easy to clean with dish soap and a sponge, and I had no issues with anything getting stuck to the stainless steel pot.
The Instant Pot only weighs 8kg and I was able to move it around on my own with ease. It looked good set up with all my other kitchen appliances and didn't take up too much space. The lead for the plug is pretty short, though, so you will need to move it near a socket when cooking.
I have officially been converted. The Instant Pot Plus made everything I cooked so much easier than using my stove top or slow cooker.
The wide range of different cooking features, plus its sterilization and keep warm modes, make this the perfect all rounder. And better yet, it's incredibly easy to clean.
The Instant Pot companion app greatly heightens the experience further, as you can get recipe ideas, guidance, and even customize the cooking times and temperatures. So as long as you don't mind an app ruling over your kitchen, the Instant Pot is a must-have.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Details On F/A-18 Super Hornet's Troubled IRST Pod
More details have emerged about the problems the U.S. Navy is facing with its ill-starred podded Infrared Search And Track system, or IRST, an important capability planned for its F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fighters. The latest issues to be highlighted come after TWZ previously reported on delays caused by production quality problems with the system and a Pentagon assessment of 'significant reliability problems during operational testing,' which emerged earlier this year. The latest status update on the ASG-34A(V)1 IRST pod is provided in the Weapon Systems Annual Assessment that was published today by the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The centerline-mounted IRST pod is intended to provide the F/A-18E/F with a long-wave infrared sensor — the Lockheed Martin-developed IRST21 — that can search, detect, and track airborne targets. Very importantly, it is an ideal tool for detecting stealthy targets, which are proliferating. The IRST sensor assembly is installed in the front portion of a redesigned FPU-13/A centerline fuel tank. According to the GAO, each pod costs $16.6 million. For the full background on the pod, you can read our interview with the Super Hornet program manager responsible for it, back in 2020, here. The GAO report notes that, although the IRST pod achieved initial capability on schedule in November 2024, including delivery of the first lot of low-rate initial production pods, a full-rate production decision has been delayed. At one point, a determination on full-rate production was planned for January 2025, but this was missed 'due to delays incurred during flight testing.' As a result, the program has now breached its baseline schedule for the second time in three years. 'IRST officials told us that operational tests were delayed by two months due to software defects that caused IRST pods to falsely report overheating,' the GAO notes. Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) officials told the GAO that the problem 'was relatively easy to fix and would likely have been addressed during developmental testing had the program allocated more time for that testing.' Thanks to those operational testing delays, the publication of the DOT&E report that informs the full-rate decision production slipped until March 2025. A corresponding decision is now expected sometime this month. Until then, the program is somewhat in limbo, although it has achieved some good results, notably demonstrating 'capability at tactically significant ranges during operational testing.' This has been tempered, however, by how often the pods failed during that same testing. DOT&E officials told the GAO that the pods were 'extremely unreliable.' While we previously knew of issues with reliability, today's report confirms just how bad these are. Although 'the program improved pod reliability as it made software updates, [it] only managed to achieve 14 hours mean time between operational mission failures — short of the 40 hours required.' Not surprisingly, the DOT&E determined that deploying the IRST pods without improving their reliability would transfer risk to the Navy's fleet. Of course, this is bad news for the Navy, and for the F/A-18E/F community specifically, with IRST sensors — which can detect and track objects from a distance and in environments where radar may be ineffective — is increasingly seen as a vital air combat tool. Seemingly ever since it was first flown on a Super Hornet in late 2019, the IRST pod has faced issues. A previous GAO report, in 2023, noted that 'between 20 and 30 percent of the manufactured components [in the IRST pod] failed to meet performance specifications due to microelectronics issues.' These problems persisted more than four years after limited manufacturing had begun and served to delay the launch of developmental and operational testing. The same 2023 report also described how 'staffing challenges' at a critical software development contractor were leading to holdups in the program. Then came a DOT&E report, which looked at the results of tests involving Infrared Optimized Configuration (IROC) pods, described as 'operationally equivalent' but designated for flight test. IROC pods were used for operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) between April and September 2024. This report noted that 'operational test events were adversely affected by IRST Block II system reliability failures' and concluded that the pod 'demonstrated significant reliability problems.' 'Throughout the test period, IRST Block II suffered from hardware and software deficiencies, which required the aircrew to restart the pod multiple times,' the DOT&E report said. 'Troubleshooting and repair often exceeded the abilities of Navy maintenance crews and required assistance from Lockheed Martin.' In the meantime, however, earlier iterations of the pod have already been deployed on operations, carried by Super Hornets in the Middle East, with photos emerging of this appearing in late 2020. As the Navy awaits the decision on whether or not to pursue full-rate production, there's no doubt about the utility of an IRST pod — provided that it works. The specific advantages of the IRST pod are something we have discussed before, including with the Super Hornet program manager: 'Very importantly, the IRST pod provides an entirely passive capability, relying exclusively on the infrared spectrum to detect and track airborne targets, including those at far beyond visual range. With no radio-frequency emissions, the target won't be alerted to the fact that they've been detected and are being tracked. At the same time, the IRST does not give away the location and presence of the host platform. This kind of sensor also provides a vital companion to the Super Hornet's AN/APG-79 radar, functions of which may well be compromised in a heavy electronic attack or radar-denied environment.' Meanwhile, similar kinds of sensors have been found on fighters operated by potential adversaries for decades. China and Russia operate tactical fighters such as the Su-35 and Su-30 Flanker series that incorporate IRST sensors as standard. In Western Europe, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen E, for example, also offer them. Closer to home, the U.S. Air Force has already put equivalent sensors on its F-15Cs and F-16Cs, making the delays to the Navy's program all the more puzzling. On the other hand, we don't know exactly how reliable the Air Force's IRST pods are, and we do know that there are substantial differences between the Air Force and Navy versions, although they both use IRST21 as a base the fact that a functioning IRST capability can be integrated on even older platforms without too much difficulty is also evidenced in the contractor-operated adversary community, which is increasingly flying fast jets with IRST sensors to better replicate potential threat aircraft. On the other hand, it should be recalled that not all IRST sensors offer the same level of capabilities, with significant differences also in terms of depth of integration and fusion between different types and aircraft, especially over time. This applies especially to the higher-end IRST pod for the Super Hornet and some of the cheaper off-the-shelf options that are now available. Threat aircraft with IRST capabilities continue to proliferate, but so do the kinds of threat platforms for which a sensor of this kind would be most useful to counter. China, especially, is making rapid developments in stealth technology and advanced electronic warfare, two areas that make the introduction of an IRST sensor all the more compelling. These kinds of infrared sensors are immune to radar-evading stealth technology and are not affected by electromagnetic jamming and other electronic attacks. For Navy Super Hornets, a fully functional ISRT pod would help to detect and target advanced Chinese platforms in a future conflict in the Pacific theater. At the same time, these pods can significantly boost the flight crew's situational air-to-air 'picture' in conjunction with more traditional sensors. As noted previously, there has been some good news with the latest iteration of the IRST pod, specifically the fact that it has, in a test environment, demonstrated that it can detect targets at long ranges. Furthermore, it can translate this data into stable system tracks that would be suitable for weapons employment. With its clear potential, it's certainly alarming for the Navy that it is still being kept waiting for the vital capabilities promised by the IRST pod. Contact the author: thomas@
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Yahoo
Qumulo Strengthens Leadership Team with Board of Directors Expansion
Qumulo continues record growth while adding industry veterans with strong financial and technical expertise. SEATTLE, June 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Qumulo, Inc., the leader in enterprise-wide unstructured data management, today announced continued record growth and the addition of two new board members, Kelly Battles, a seasoned technology CFO and board member, and Bob Gleichauf, a technology leader with deep experience in enterprise IT infrastructure and cybersecurity. Qumulo is adding these two experienced Board members at a time when the company has seen record revenue and profits, and a rapidly growing customer base. Since it launched Cloud Native Qumulo on Azure and AWS in October 2024, Qumulo has seen an over 400 percent year-over-year growth in cloud data storage alone. And, with a rapidly growing base of over 1100 diverse customers worldwide, across a variety of key industry verticals including Media and Entertainment, Energy Exploration and Delivery, Gaming and Sports, Automotive and Autonomous Driving, Semiconductor Development, Healthcare and Life Sciences, and Financial Services, Qumulo is delivering record revenue growth as well. "Qumulo is experiencing rapid growth as our users, partners, and potential customers increasingly turn to AI and hybrid cloud solutions to transform their businesses. These developments require high-speed access to large amounts of data wherever and whenever it is required for business needs. And, for the last three quarters of our previous fiscal year, this demand has led to a record-setting revenue and profit for us," said Qumulo Chief Executive Officer and President Douglas Gourlay. "With Kelly Battles and Bob Gleichauf joining our board of directors, we are welcoming two industry leaders with significant experience in high-growth environments, diligent financial management, and technology that will help us realize our vision." Kelly Battles is an accomplished board director, CFO, and operations officer with more than thirty years of experience helping scale technology companies from growth stage to a successful public offering. She previously served as CFO at Quora and Bracket Computing, VP of Finance at Ironport (acquired by Cisco), and Director of Strategy and Corporate M&A at HP. She currently serves on the boards of several public and private companies, including Genesys, Arista, and now Qumulo. Bob Gleichauf is a respected technology leader and innovator with extensive experience in networking, security, and enterprise IT transformation. He has served in a variety of executive technology leadership roles the past 15 years at In-Q-Tel as well as 15 years before that at Cisco, seven of those as VP/CTO of the Security Business Group that expanded into the Wireless Networking group before joining In-Q-Tel. Prior to all that, Gleichauf led Engineering at Wheelgroup, one of the pioneers of Network Intrusion Detection that was acquired by Cisco in 1998 for $124m. "The rapid expansion of our customer base clearly demonstrates how our scalable, high-performance cloud data platform effectively serves a wide spectrum of user requirements, no matter if their data resides on-premises, in a public cloud, or a hybrid environment," said Qumulo Chief Operating Officer Michelle Palleschi. "Our Run Anywhere software and Cloud Native Qumulo offerings empower our customers with the essential flexibility and choice for true hybrid cloud adoption—across any server, any cloud, and any location. The addition of Kelly and Bob to our board, will undoubtedly help us advance our corporate efforts and continue to deliver on our growth targets." About Qumulo Qumulo is the only seven-time Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Distributed File and Object Storage and the leading provider of cloud data platforms. With exabytes under management and more than 1,100 production customers, Qumulo empowers organizations to manage, store, curate, and protect their data, unlocking new possibilities and driving innovation across diverse industries. To learn more, visit View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Robert BergerQumulo Communications Teambberger@ 303-803-0648
Business Wire
20 hours ago
- Business Wire
Qumulo Strengthens Leadership Team with Board of Directors Expansion
SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Qumulo, Inc., the leader in enterprise-wide unstructured data management, today announced continued record growth and the addition of two new board members, Kelly Battles, a seasoned technology CFO and board member, and Bob Gleichauf, a technology leader with deep experience in enterprise IT infrastructure and cybersecurity. Qumulo is adding two experienced Board members at a time when the company has seen record revenue and profits, and a rapidly growing customer base. Qumulo is adding these two experienced Board members at a time when the company has seen record revenue and profits, and a rapidly growing customer base. Since it launched Cloud Native Qumulo on Azure and AWS in October 2024, Qumulo has seen an over 400 percent year-over-year growth in cloud data storage alone. And, with a rapidly growing base of over 1100 diverse customers worldwide, across a variety of key industry verticals including Media and Entertainment, Energy Exploration and Delivery, Gaming and Sports, Automotive and Autonomous Driving, Semiconductor Development, Healthcare and Life Sciences, and Financial Services, Qumulo is delivering record revenue growth as well. 'Qumulo is experiencing rapid growth as our users, partners, and potential customers increasingly turn to AI and hybrid cloud solutions to transform their businesses. These developments require high-speed access to large amounts of data wherever and whenever it is required for business needs. And, for the last three quarters of our previous fiscal year, this demand has led to a record-setting revenue and profit for us,' said Qumulo Chief Executive Officer and President Douglas Gourlay. 'With Kelly Battles and Bob Gleichauf joining our board of directors, we are welcoming two industry leaders with significant experience in high-growth environments, diligent financial management, and technology that will help us realize our vision.' Kelly Battles is an accomplished board director, CFO, and operations officer with more than thirty years of experience helping scale technology companies from growth stage to a successful public offering. She previously served as CFO at Quora and Bracket Computing, VP of Finance at Ironport (acquired by Cisco), and Director of Strategy and Corporate M&A at HP. She currently serves on the boards of several public and private companies, including Genesys, Arista, and now Qumulo. Bob Gleichauf is a respected technology leader and innovator with extensive experience in networking, security, and enterprise IT transformation. He has served in a variety of executive technology leadership roles the past 15 years at In-Q-Tel as well as 15 years before that at Cisco, seven of those as VP/CTO of the Security Business Group that expanded into the Wireless Networking group before joining In-Q-Tel. Prior to all that, Gleichauf led Engineering at Wheelgroup, one of the pioneers of Network Intrusion Detection that was acquired by Cisco in 1998 for $124m. "The rapid expansion of our customer base clearly demonstrates how our scalable, high-performance cloud data platform effectively serves a wide spectrum of user requirements, no matter if their data resides on-premises, in a public cloud, or a hybrid environment," said Qumulo Chief Operating Officer Michelle Palleschi. "Our Run Anywhere software and Cloud Native Qumulo offerings empower our customers with the essential flexibility and choice for true hybrid cloud adoption—across any server, any cloud, and any location. The addition of Kelly and Bob to our board, will undoubtedly help us advance our corporate efforts and continue to deliver on our growth targets." About Qumulo Qumulo is the only seven-time Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Distributed File and Object Storage and the leading provider of cloud data platforms. With exabytes under management and more than 1,100 production customers, Qumulo empowers organizations to manage, store, curate, and protect their data, unlocking new possibilities and driving innovation across diverse industries. To learn more, visit
