Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate 2.0: Our In-Depth Review

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker is perfect for preparing large quantities and simple meals. It has the same features as comparable multicookers, but is much easier to clean and store.

Air fryers are the appliance of the moment , thanks to their energy efficiency compared to conventional ovens—a much-needed feature given the soaring cost of electricity these days. But what if there was an appliance that could not only fry with air, but also pressure cook, slow cook, bake, grill, and more?

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker, the latest generation of multicookers from Instant Brands, offers 12 different cooking functions and the option to delay cooking (so you can come home to a warm meal) and keep your food warm. For fans of similar appliances, there's a significant improvement: the Ultimate lid.

Currently, multicookers like this one come with two separate lids that you have to swap out, depending on whether you're cooking "wet" (pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, etc.) or "dry" (air frying, grilling, baking, etc.). While it doesn't take much time to change the lids, it does take up storage space—and they're large, heavy lids.

The Ultimate lid, however, is just one lid, permanently attached to the body of the appliance. It has the heating element and air frying fan on top, with a removable panel that locks in place for pressure cooking. The result? A sleeker design that saves cabinet space and is much easier to clean.

So, how easy is it to use and how does it compare to other multicookers? We put the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker to the test.

Utlimate 2.0: greatly improved in 2025

The new Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate 2.0 has been significantly improved in several areas. The redesigned lid lock and pressure valve are more robust and smoother to operate, virtually eliminating the common problem of a stuck lid. The internal components have also been reinforced, reducing wear and tear during heavy use.

However, this Instant Pot is less suitable for highly frothy products, such as (soy) milk, pea soup, or porridge. In that case, fill the pot (much) less than 2/3 full, otherwise foam can clog the float valve, preventing the lid from opening and becoming mechanically locked. This is not a defect, but a safety precaution. Release the pressure completely and clean the valve to fix this. This will prevent it from happening again.

How We Tested

Having tested an Instant Pot multicooker in the past, we had a decent repertoire of recipes to use with this new model, ranging from sweet potato fries to casseroles and rice. For us, it's mainly about testing out the various functions and seeing if the new Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid is an improvement on the previous design. That means whether it's easier to use, saves space, and whether it's worth switching over.

Design

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker is very similar in design and function to previous models in the Duo Crisp range. The base is compact and raised off the countertop with soft rubber feet. Handles on both sides make it easy to carry – although at just over 10 kg (22 lbs), it's probably not something you'll want to do often. The lid is attached to the base via a hinge, and a discreet condensation tank is located on the back.

The front control panel has all the "wet" cooking functions in a column on one side and the "dry" cooking functions on the other. A dial in the center is used to adjust the temperature andAdjust the cooking time. Just above, an LED display shows the cooking time, temperature, progress (preheating, cooking, or keeping warm), and any cooking instructions such as "close the lid" or "turn the food."

The base houses a heating element used for "wet" cooking. A removable 6.2-liter stainless steel cooking pot sits inside and is used for all types of cooking. It's not the largest in terms of capacity, but it's enough to prepare six servings of food, which should be suitable for most families. There's also a ventilated, nonstick air fryer basket that doubles as a steamer basket and is placed inside the cooking pot when needed.

The most significant design change is the lid. The compact heating element and fan are located here and are used for all dry cooking functions. A removable pressure cooking panel snaps into place just in front of the heating element, protecting it during wet cooking. A ring on the front of this panel makes it easy to remove, and you have to press a red button to release it, preventing you from accidentally knocking it off.

The lid itself also has a lever to lock the lid during pressure cooking or to keep it in place during general use.

Features

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker has 12 main functions: pressure cooking, sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, sous vide, yogurt, air frying, roasting, grilling, baking, dehydrating, and proofing. All these functions can be selected with the touch of a button on the control panel. Additionally, you can select a delayed start for some functions and use the keep-warm function if you're not ready to eat yet.

When you first select a function, the default cooking time and temperature are displayed. You can adjust these before or during cooking. The next time you use the appliance, it automatically displays the last settings used, so if you often cook the same things, you don't have to reset the time and temperature each time. During cooking, the appliance will beep to let you know when it's time to turn your food.

Another handy feature is that, instead of manually opening the steam valve after pressure cooking, you have the option of selecting "natural," "pulse," or "fast release" using the control panel. This means that once you've set the program, you literally don't have to do anything until you're ready to eat.

After testing other multicookers, including a model from Instant Brands, we were very impressed with the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker. It's simple and easy to use, and there's an app with plenty of recipes to try.

Compared to other models we tried, the cooking chamber is wider and shallower, meaning there's more surface area to cook on. This was especially useful for the air fryer function, which we found much more efficient than other models we tested. Our standard recipe—sweet potato fries—was ready in 15 minutes instead of the usual 20, and they cooked evenly. It also came in handy for sautéing, as there was more space to spread the ingredients.

There was also better temperature control. While other models allow you to adjust temperatures, the range for certain functions was quite narrow—for sautéing, for example, you might only have low, medium, or high. However, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker offers six different temperature settings, so you can adjust accordingly. The temperature adjusts quickly, so there's less chance of burning your food.

We also loved the lid's design. We found the pressure cooker panel easy to install and remove. And because it's much smaller than a full pressure cooker lid, it's much easier to wash it by hand in the sink. The air fryer lid is hinged, so we didn't have to worry about putting it down while flipping food during cooking. And of course, the whole design saves a lot of space, since you don't need storage space for two separate lids.

Our verdict on the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker

We're fans of multicookers in general because they're so versatile. Granted, most people won't use all the functions—we mainly use sautéing, pressure cooking, air frying, and grilling—but the choice is there if you need it. We find it particularly useful for batch cooking, but also for busy households who might want to take advantage of features like delay cooking.

We think the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker is a significant improvement over existing designs. While it has all the same features as comparable multicookers, the single-lid design saves space and is much easier to clean. Because the lid is hinged, you don't have to worry about placing it somewhere heat-resistant during use.

That said, if you already have a multicooker, we wouldn't throw it away just yet—this machine probably won't offer you many more features than you already have. But if you're looking to replace your current machine or buy your first multicooker, we highly recommend it.

Order directly?

Convinced after reading this review? Then you can order the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Ultimate air fryer & multicooker via this link.