If you’ve just purchased the Costco Instant Pot (Instant Pot Duo Gourmet model), this beginner’s quick start guide will help you get started. This user manual tells you about all the parts, the most important buttons and functions, and gives you instructions on how to use the Instant Pot Gourmet model for the first time by doing the water test or initial test run. [Instructional video included]
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Table of Contents
- Introduction with video
- What is an Instant Pot?
- How does Pressure Cooking Work?
- Is the Instant Pot Safe to Use?
- Safety Precautions
- First Thing You Need to Do: Open the Box!
- Parts
- Accessories
- Lid
- Sealing Ring
- Float Valve
- Anti-Block Shield
- Assembly
- Open and Close the Lid
- Release Pressure
- Commonly Used Buttons
- Initial Test Run/Water Test
- Compare Duo Gourmet vs. Duo
- Compare Duo Gourmet vs. Duo Plus
- Compare Duo Gourmet vs. Duo SV
- Recipes to Try
Introduction
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This Instant Pot Duo Gourmet from Costco is my seventh Instant Pot! I have an Instant Pot Duo, Instant Pot Ultra 6 quart and 8 quart, Instant Pot Smart Wifi, Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus, and Instant Pot Duo Nova. I purchased my first Instant Pot 4 years ago and I was hooked from the get-go! Is it time for an intervention?!
The Instant Pot Gourmet is a mix between the Instant Pot Duo and Instant Pot Ultra. It has a similar display panel to the Duo and the lid of the Ultra. In other words, the best of both worlds. I love the auto-seal feature of the lid.
This guide will tell you how to use this Costco Instant Pot right out of the box.
What is an Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot has become so popular in recent years that Instant Pot is being used by some as a generic name for pressure cookers of any brand.
In reality, Instant Pot is the brand name of a multicooker that serves as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, sauté/searing pan, steamer, and warming pot all in one convenient appliance.
Some people use the name Instapot, but the correct name is Instant Pot.
The Instant Pot Company (Instant Brands) started out with one product – the Instant Pot – and now makes a wide range of kitchen appliances including air fryers, blenders, and toaster ovens.
Although the Instant Pot pressure multicooker has many different functions or smart programs, the most commonly used is the Pressure Cook function. Pressure cooking allows you to cook foods at a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop.
How Does Pressure Cooking Work?
The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet pressure cooker creates a closed environment where steam builds up in a tightly sealed pot. This, in turn, causes the internal temperature to rise and pressure to increase.
Under high pressure, the fiber in the food is tenderized and flavors develop in a very short time. Nutrient-rich steam condenses in the pot instead of evaporating and nutritional value is retained because of the speed of cooking.
Is the Duo Gourmet Instant Pot Safe to Use?
The Duo Gourmet ain’t your grandma’s pressure cooker! If you’ve had experiences, like I, with stovetop pressure cooker mishaps in the past, fear no more. The Instant Pot eliminates most of those pressure cooker issues.
According to the Instant Pot Company’s safety information, in the past, most pressure cooker disasters could usually be attributed to user error. Instant Pot pressure multicookers are carefully designed to eliminate and avoid most of the potential problems.
Numerous safety features help reduce common errors. Safety features include pressure sensor technology, lid close detection, lid lock technology, overheat protection and automatic temperature and pressure controls.
Safety Precautions
Although there are many built-in safety features as explained above, as a user you need to follow common-sense precautions:
- Don’t touch the hot surfaces, particularly the stainless steel parts. Use the handles to move the Instant Pot or the inner pot.
- Don’t place the Instant Pot on or close to an electric or gas burner.
- Don’t move the Instant Pot when it’s under pressure.
- Don’t fill over ⅔ full.
- When cooking foods that expand e.g. rice, beans, pasta don’t fill over ½ full.
- Ensure anti-block shield, float valve, and steam release pipe are clean and not clogged.
- Don’t open the lid until the float valve is down i.e. the Instant Pot is depressurized.
- Keep hands and face away from the steam release mechanism.
- Don’t obstruct the steam release valve when pressure is being released.
- When quick-releasing frothy foods such as applesauce, oatmeal, pasta, etc. take extra care. It’s best to release pressure is short bursts for these types of foods.
- Don’t use another Instant Pot model’s lid on the Duo Gourmet Instant Pot.
For more information about safety precautions, please read the Instant Pot Duo Gourmet user manual.
First Thing You Need to Do is Open the Box!
I frequently hear from people who either got the Instant Pot as a gift, or they bought it and are too scared to use it. So let me just say there’s nothing to worry about. The Instant Pot has many layers of built-in safety features!
Besides, if you don’t get it out of the box and try it out, in the event you have a defective unit you might miss the warranty period and be stuck with another useless appliance!
In this guide, I’m going to (virtually) hold your hand and help you get going to the point where you’ll pressure cook your first recipe: water. You’ve got this!
Parts
The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet comes with the following main parts:
- Base Unit/Outer Pot – stainless steel exterior that houses the heating element, control panel, and attached power cord.
- Inner Pot – removable stainless steel pot. The inner pot is stove-friendly, so you can use it on your stovetop as you would a regular pot. It can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
- Lid – closes the Instant Pot and seals it under pressure. The lid can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
Accessories
The Instant Pot Gourmet comes with the following accessories:
- Power cord – the 3-prong detachable power cord is plugged into the back of the Instant Pot Gourmet. (Note: some models have attached power cords.)
- Condensation Collector – catches drips from condensation on the lid; attaches onto the back of the base unit. The condensation collector can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand.
- Trivet / Steam Rack – useful for elevating food above the liquid and for Pot in Pot cooking. (Note: some models don’t come with the spoons and measuring cup.) The trivet can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
- Mini Mitts – used to remove the inner pot from the base unit or to remove dishes from the inner pot during Pot in Pot cooking.
- Sealing Ring – allows the Instant Pot to build pressure by creating a tight seal when the contents are heated to a high temperature. It can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand.
- Spoons and measuring cup – plastic paddle is used to stir rice and ladle can be used to serve soup. The measuring cup can be used for measuring rice.
Instant Pot Duo Gourmet Lid
Instant Pot Duo Gourmet Lid Exterior Parts
- Lid Fins – placed in the lid fin slot of the base unit to prop the lid open
- Steam Release Button (also referred to as Pressure Release Button or Steam Release Reset Button) – allows a manual release of pressure from the Instant Pot Gourmet. The Steam Release Button automatically pops up when the Instant Pot Gourmet lid is opened or closed.
- Float Valve – seals in the steam, allowing the Instant Pot to be pressurized
- The Steam Release Valve – a safety mechanism that allows steam to escape and maintains the correct pressure level. It sits loosely on the lid and can be removed to be cleaned.
- Lid Handle – used to put on and take off the lid
Steam Release Parts
The steam release consists of:
- Steam release valve – regulates the internal temperature. It is supposed to be wobbly but must be pushed in all the way.
- Steam release pipe – steam travels from the inner pot through the pipe during steam release.
Instant Pot Duo Gourmet Lid Interior Parts
The inside of the Instant Pot lid consists of the following parts:
- Silicone Cap for Float Valve – covers the float valve and keeps it in place
- Lid Locking Pin – safety mechanism that prevents the lid from opening under pressure
- Anti-Block Shield – prevents food from coming out of the inner pot through the steam release pipe
- Sealing Ring Rack – holds the sealing ring in place
- Sealing Ring – silicone sealing ring allows the Instant Pot to seal
Sealing Ring
How to Remove the Sealing Ring
- Pull gently on the silicone ring until it detaches from the sealing ring rack.
- Continue to pull the silicone sealing ring out until it is completely separated.
How to Replace the Sealing Ring
- Place the silicone sealing ring on the sealing ring rack.
- Working your way all around, push the sealing ring until it’s firmly seated in the sealing ring rack.
- Make sure no part of the sealing ring is sticking out, or you may have sealing issues and get the Burn Message.
- The first few times, you may find it difficult to remove the sealing ring but after a few uses, it should stretch out a bit.
Float Valve
You should clean the float valve periodically, especially after cooking frothy or starchy foods.
How to Remove the Float Valve
- While holding the float valve in place on the outside of the lid, remove the float valve’s silicone cap.
- Allow the float valve to fall out from the bottom.
- Be careful not to misplace the silicone cap.
How to Replace the Float Valve
- Thread the float valve through the float valve hole.
- While holding it in place on the exterior of the lid, replace the silicone cover by pushing it onto the float valve on the interior of the lid.
Anti-Block Shield
You need to clean the anti-block shield periodically, especially after you’ve cooked frothy or starchy foods.
How to Remove and Replace the Anti-block Shield
- The anti-block shield can be hard to remove with your bare hands.
- Use a silicone trivet or a dish towel to push the anti-block shield in an upwards motion.
- Try it from the front or from behind (as shown above in the first image)
- To replace the anti-block shield, push it in until it clicks into place.
Instant Pot Assembly
Here’s how to set up the Instant Pot Duo Gourmet base unit, inner pot, condensation collector, and power cord:
Base Unit and Inner Pot
- Make sure the base unit is empty and clean.
- Place the stainless steel inner pot into the base unit.
Condensation Collector
The condensation collector catches any moisture that builds up on the rim. This usually comes from moisture dripping from inside the lid into the rim of the Instant Pot base, when the lid is propped open.
In my experience, the condensation collector rarely fills up but I have found that when I cook pasta, in particular, liquid tends to collect and it can get messy! Get into the habit of checking for liquid in the condensation collector after every use.
To attach the condensation collector:
- Slide the condensation collector onto the back of the Instant Pot.
- It will sit snugly against the base unit.
- To clean it, slide it out, empty it out, rinse and slide back in place. It can also be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher.
Power Cord
- Insert the power cord into the back of the Instant Pot and plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.
- The display will light up.
Open and Close the Lid
How to Close the Lid
- Place the lid onto the Instant Pot base unit with the arrow mark on the lid lined up with the open lock icon that is above the right corner of the control panel.
- You’ll hear a chime (if the volume is turned on).
- Turn the lid clockwise until the arrow mark on the lid is lined up with the closed lock icon and you hear another chime.
- The lid will be closed.
How to Open the Lid
- The lid will not open until all pressure has been released.
- Once the float valve is down, turn the lid counter-clockwise until you hear a chime.
- The arrow on the lid will be lined up with the open lock icon on the base unit.
- Lift the lid to remove it.
- If you feel a slight resistance, wiggle the lid back and forth and the suction should release.
How to Prop Open the Lid
Propping open the lid keeps it out of the way and allows you to use the Instant Pot hands-free.
- Locate the two lid fins on the lid.
- Locate the lid fin slots on the base unit.
- Insert either lid fin into either slot to prop the lid open.
How to Release Pressure
- When the Instant Pot Gourmet is under pressure, the float valve goes up and the Instant Pot is sealed. It cannot be opened. Don’t try to force it open!
- When the Instant Pot Gourmet isn’t under pressure, the float valve goes back down and is level with the lid.
There are a few ways you can release pressure once the Instant Pot Duo Gourmet has finished pressure cooking. The recipe you’re following will tell you what method to use.
In this article, I discuss the two most common pressure release methods:
- Quick Release (QR)
- Natural Pressure Release or Natural Release (NPR or NR).
[Find out more details about all the different pressure release methods.]
How to Quick Release (QR) Instant Pot Duo Gourmet
- To do a Quick Release of pressure (QR), press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
- Be sure your hand is not above the Steam Release Valve while the pressure is being released.
- The Float Valve will go from the up position to the down position once the Instant Pot Gourmet has de-pressurized and all the steam has been released.
- It is now safe to open the Instant Pot Gourmet.
How to Natural Release (NR) / Natural Pressure Release (NPR) Instant Pot Duo Gourmet
- To do an Instant Pot Natural Release of Pressure (NPR), wait for the Float Valve to go down on its own.
- This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on how much liquid is in the Instant Pot. The more liquid there is, the longer it takes for the Instant Pot to release pressure on its own.
- If you’re in a hurry, you can wait for 15 minutes for the Instant Pot natural release, and then release the remaining pressure using the quick-release method.
Commonly Used Buttons of the Instant Pot Gourmet
The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet has many buttons that may appear confusing and complicated. But they really aren’t. Just think of them as presets or shortcuts.
For the purposes of just getting you going, in this guide I’ll show you the most commonly used Instant Pot buttons and functions (smart programs):
- Saute
- Pressure Cook
- Pressure Level
- Keep Warm
- Cancel
[Read More: Detailed instructions on the Instant Pot Sous Vide smart program.]
Pro Tip
You may encounter Instant Pot recipes that tell you to press Start. Some models such as the Duo, Lux, Nova, Gourmet, Viva, Smart Wifi do not have a Start button. Instead, once you program the Instant Pot, it automatically starts after a few seconds. Some other models such as Ultra, Duo Evo Plus, Duo Crisp and Max require you to press Start after programming the Instant Pot.
Saute
The Saute function allows you to saute food in the Instant Pot before pressure cooking, and to reduce the liquid after pressure cooking. I love this function because I don’t need to get out another pan and that helps keep cleanup to a minimum.
- Press the Saute button.
- The display says On.
- Once the desired saute temperature has been reached, the display says Hot.
- Add your food to the inner pot and saute.
To change the Saute temperature:
- Press the Saute button repeatedly to toggle between Less (lowest temperature), Normal (medium temperature), and More (high temperature).
Safety Tip
Don’t use the Instant Pot lid while sauteing. A glass lid with a venting hole (purchased separately) may be used. As a safety precaution, the cooker automatically enters standby mode (display says Off) after 30 minutes if you have not pressed Cancel.
Pressure Cook
Pressure Cook is the most useful feature of the Instant Pot.
Pro Tip
* You might see some recipes tell you to press Manual. Manual and Pressure Cook are the same thing. Manual was replaced with Pressure Cook in newer versions of the Instant Pot.
- Press the Pressure Cook button.
- Press the + or – buttons to set the pressure cooking time.
- Once the pressure cooking time has been set (e.g. 00:05 for 5 minutes), wait a couple of seconds and the display will change to On.
Pressing the Pressure Cook button repeatedly allows you to toggle between several preset cooking times programmed as Less, Normal, and More. I don’t normally use this functionality. I prefer to manually program the pressure cooking time using the + and – buttons.
- The float valve will go from the Down position to the Up position.
- This can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the amount of food you’re cooking and the temperature of the ingredients.
- The display will change from On to counting down the number of minutes you’ve programmed for (e.g. 00:05 for 5 minutes).
Pressure Level
The Instant Pot Pressure Cook program can use high or low pressure. A majority of the recipes that you encounter will use High pressure. If a recipe doesn’t state whether to use high or low pressure, you can probably assume it’s high pressure.
- Press the Pressure Level button to toggle between low and high pressure when using pressure cooking functions.
Keep Warm
The Keep Warm function is useful when you want your food to stay warm after being pressure cooked. Having the Keep Warm function on allows you keep track of the amount of time since pressure cooking completed. This is useful when you’re doing a natural release.
- Press the Keep Warm button to turn the Keep Warm function on and off.
- After pressing the Keep Warm button, press the + and – buttons to change the time you want the Instant Pot to be in Keep Warm mode.
- After pressure cooking is complete, the Keep Warm function starts and the time counts UP by minutes. The display panel shows the elapsed time (e.g. 00:02 for 2 minutes or 00:15 for 15 minutes.) If the Cancel button is not pressed, the Instant Pot will turn OFF after 10 hours.
- The Keep Warm function can be used with or without the lid closed. You can also use an optional glass lid for this function. When the Keep Warm function finishes, the cooker beeps and goes into standby mode.
Cancel
- Press the Cancel button to end any selected function. The Instant Pot display will say OFF.
Instant Pot Gourmet Water Test / Initial Test Run
What is the Water Test?
A water test is done by pressure cooking water for a few minutes. According to the Instant Pot manual you need to use 3 cups of water but I’ve found that using 2 cups of water is adequate. The advantage of using 2 cups is that it takes less time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.
Why You Should do the Water Test
The initial test run or water test serves two purposes: it familiarizes you with using your new Instant Pot Duo Gourmet and it allows you to establish that your Instant Pot is working properly. If you have a defective unit, the water test will identify that and you can get a replacement unit.
You should do a water test before the first use but you can also do it when you’re having problems with the Instant Pot pressurizing. Doing the water test will pinpoint whether there’s something about the recipe that’s causing your sealing issues.
How to do the Initial Test Run / Water Test
- Make sure the sealing ring is properly seated.
- Place the inner pot into the base unit.
- Attach the power cord to the base unit and plug it into an outlet.
- Pour 2 cups of water into the inner pot.
- Close the lid.
- Make sure the steam release button is up. If it isn’t, turn it counter-clockwise to snap it back up.
- Press the Pressure Cook button.
- Press the + or – buttons until the time goes to 00:05 (5 minutes).
- After a couple of seconds, the display will change to On.
- Soon, you’ll hear and see small amounts of steam coming from the top of the lid. This is normal and safe! Just keep your hands and face away from the steam. You might also notice a funny, plastic smell. Don’t worry – it should go away and it shouldn’t happen again after the first use.
- Once pressure has built up, the float valve will come up.
- After the float valve comes up, the display will change from On to 00:05. This can take a few minutes.
- The display will count down from 00:05 to 00:00.
- When pressure cooking is complete, you’ll hear a series of beeps and the display will show 00:00, which means it’s in Keep Warm mode (if the Auto Keep Warm function is turned on.)
- You can either do a quick release or a natural release. To do a natural release, wait for the float valve to fall on its own. This can take 10 to 30 minutes. [Learn more about all the pressure release methods.]
- In this case, you’ll do a quick release.
- Press the Cancel button. The display will say Off.
- Press the steam release button until it locks into place. Steam will gush out of the steam release cover. Keep your hands and face away from the steam.
- Once all the steam has been released, the float valve goes down and the Instant Pot is de-pressurized.
- This can take a few minutes.
- Open the lid and prop the lid open.
What to do if the water test fails
If the water test fails and you’re not able to get the Instant Pot to come to pressure, use the following articles to troubleshoot the issue:
- Reasons why your Instant Pot is not Sealing
- Instant Pot Burn Message
- Common Instant Pot Problems
- Instant Pot Tips and FAQs
If you can’t solve your problem, open a support ticket with the Instant Pot company.
Instant Pot Duo Gourmet vs Duo
Here are the important differences between the Duo Gourmet and Duo:
| Feature | Instant Pot DUO | Instant Pot GOURMET |
|---|---|---|
| Pressurizing and Steam Release | Has a steam release handle that has to be manually moved from Sealing to Venting. | Has a steam release button that automatically resets to the Sealing position when the lid is opened or closed. |
| Float Valve | On some Duo models, the float valve is at the level of lid when the Instant Pot Duo is sealed and below the level of the lid when it’s not sealed. | The float valve is above the level of lid when the Instant Pot Gourmet is sealed and at the level of the lid when it’s not sealed. |
| Accessories | Comes with basic accessories, no extras | Comes with mini mitts and extra sealing ring. |
| Size | The Duo comes in 3 qt, 6 qt and 8 qt. | Comes in 6 quart size only. |
| Smart Programs | Does not have the Sous Vide smart program. | Has Sous Vide smart program. |
| Colors | Available in different colors, at select retailers. | Only available in one color. |
Instant Pot Duo Gourmet vs Duo Plus
Here are the important differences between Duo Gourmet and Duo Plus:
| Feature | Instant Pot DUO PLUS | Instant Pot GOURMET |
|---|---|---|
| Pressurizing and Steam Release | The Steam Release Handle has to be manually moved to the Sealing position when the Instant Pot is closed. It’s easy to forget to move it to Sealing. [There are multiple versions of this model. Older versions have the Steam Release Handle but newer versions have a Steam Release Switch (like Duo Evo Plus model) which is really easy to use.] | The Steam Release Button is pushed down to lock into venting mode and turned counter-clockwise to seal again. The Steam Release Button automatically resets to the Sealing position when the lid is opened or closed, so it’s easier to use than the steam release handle of the Duo Plus. |
| Accessories | Comes with basic accessories, no extras. | Comes with mini mitts and extra sealing ring. |
| Size | The Duo Plus comes in 3 qt, 6 qt and 8 qt. | Comes in 6 quart size only. |
| Smart Programs | Has Sous Vide smart program | Has Sous Vide smart program. |
Instant Pot Duo Gourmet vs Duo SV
Here are the important differences between Duo Gourmet and Duo SV:
| Feature | Instant Pot DUO SV | Instant Pot GOURMET |
|---|---|---|
| Pressurizing and Steam Release | Has a steam release handle that has to be manually moved from Sealing to Venting. | Has a steam release button that automatically resets to the Sealing position when the lid is opened or closed. |
| Float Valve | On some Duo SV models, the float valve is at the level of lid when the Instant Pot Duo SV is sealed and below the level of the lid when it’s not sealed. | The float valve is above the level of lid when the Instant Pot Gourmet is sealed and at the level of the lid when it’s not sealed. |
| Accessories | Comes with mini mitts and extra sealing ring. | Comes with mini mitts and extra sealing ring. |
| Size | The Duo SV comes in 6 quart size only | Instant Pot Duo Gourmet also comes in 6 quart size only. |
| Smart Programs | Has the Sous Vide smart program. | Has the Sous Vide smart program. |
First Recipes to Try
You should be all set to try out your first recipe! Here are some of my favorite easy recipes:
- Instant Pot African Peanut Stew
- Instant Pot Arroz Con Pollo
- Instant Pot Pork Tacos/Carnitas
- Instant Pot Thai Red Curry
- Instant Pot Chicken Curry Soup
- Instant Pot Vegetarian Moroccan Stew
If you found this article to be helpful, please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!
Sarasu says
Please can you give the step by step procedure to make yogurt in the Costco Instantpot Duo Gourmet
Thanks
Paint the Kitchen Red says
This post has step by step directions for the duo gourmet. It is for ultra-pasteurized milk. If you want to use regular milk you would add the first step of pressing the yogurt button to select More, and then boiling the milk.
Kathryn M says
Wonderful tutorial. I am wondering about canning in the IP gourmet. I don’t believe I saw directions on how to can/sterilize ie/ jams, spaghetti sauce. I do agree with previous comments that you should write a book, this is the most comprehensive site I have found. Thank you for all your research.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you for your kind words, Kathryn! Here’s the official word from Instant Pot:
“Pressure canners require a minimum of 15 psi for safe canning of low-acid foods, such as meat. Most Instant Pot electric pressure cookers operate within a range of 10-12 psi, which is safe for water bath canning of high-acid foods, such as jams and chutney. Modifying cooking times, ingredients or temperatures can be dangerous. Use the exact time, temperature/pressure and method specified in the recipe to protect the food from harmful bacteria, molds, and enzymes. Read and carefully follow the instructions provided in the USDA’s Complete Guide to Home Canning. The Instant Pot Max is the only electric pressure cooker with a dedicated Canning Smart Program.” So you can do steam canning as you would on the stovetop, without pressure – for acidic foods. Frieda has a good article on steam canning in the Instant Pot.
Rose says
I cleaned the inner pot but it still shows some white spots at the bottom. How do I get rid of the white spots? Thanks.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Have you ever used Barkeeper’s Friend? It comes in liquid and powder form and is sold at most grocery stores including Walmart. It works very well. Hope that helps.
Chris says
I have seen that you can use one of the functions on an IP to pre-soak and then cook long cooking beans. But the button the directions called for is not on the Duo Gourmet? Is this doable with this machine?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Chris, it’s the multigrain function. I’m not sure how you would replicate that in the Gourmet. By the way, I usually do a quick soak of beans prior to pressure cooking – maybe that’ll help you out.
Shelly says
How do I slow cook soup with the duogourmet? Sliw cook does nothing but keep warm. Its been sitting for an hour and isn’t even hot yet. I used to do this with my old model with the instapot glass lid.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Shelly, it’s possible that you’re slow cooking on the “Less” setting? Have you tried to go to “More”?
Stuart potts says
How do I cook beef rendang using the duo gourmet
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Stuart, I would saute the paste, deglaze really well, add the water or broth and beef chuck (cut into stew size pieces) and pressure cook for 20 minutes with natural release. If you want to cut the beef into larger size, make it 30 minutes. Amount of liquid depends on your individual Instant Pot. If you can get away with 1/2 cup, that would be best. I plan to post a recipe soon – let’s see how that goes 🙂
Dacra says
How do I change settings from normal to high?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
You toggle between Less, Normal and More by repeatedly pressing the program (e.g. Meat, Stew, Soup, etc.) All this does is increase or decrease the cook time. If you’re looking to go from low pressure to high pressure, press the Pressure Level button to toggle between the two.
Karen says
This was the best manual I have seen for this model. Is there a way to download it?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Karen, thank you for your question. Unfortunately, I don’t have a downloadable version – sorry!
Shweta says
Hi,
Can you please explain how to cook idly in duo gourmet model. All the videos that I find in YouTube to make idly in an instant pot use the steam button which is not available in duo gourmet.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
For Idli, you can program it to pressure cook for 12 minutes, but keep the steam release in the venting position so it won’t come to pressure. Make sure you have enough water in the bottom. Or you can use Saute mode, and put on a glass lid.
NewIpUser says
Thanks for your very useful article and replies. But I have a question on programming it to pressure cook for 12 minutes in lieu of the “steam Button ‘ function”. I thought the clock (the programmed time) won’t start until the pot get pressurized enough. So if I leave the release in venting position to avoid pressurization, how does it work?
Please help me understand. Thanks again for all your sharings.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi, that’s an excellent question and I should clear that up. You’d need to set a separate timer. Hope that helps!
Pam says
I’m so thankful for your information ! i purchased an Instant Pot Duo Gourmet at Costco . I was disappointed in the directions that came with it. I’ve tried to use it twice and both times ended up with the “burn food”. It seemed to put out a lot of steam for quite awhile.
I’m hoping after reading and studying your directions I’ll be able to start making the amazing meals my friends are talking about.
So, thank you! You should publish this as a book to be purchased .
Pam
Paint the Kitchen Red says
I’m so happy to hear that you found it helpful. Good luck with your new Instant Pot!
Julie says
What buttons do I push 1st to cook brown rice. In what position should the vent button be in? Up or down?⁹
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Julie, use these instructions to make brown rice. You don’t have to do the PIP method, you can cook directly in the inner pot.
https://www.paintthekitchenred.com/perfect-instant-pot-brown-rice-pot-in-pot-pip-method/
Rozina Jamil says
How do you make yogurt in this pot? Thanks.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Rozina, you will press the Yogurt button multiple times to go to More and you should see BOIL show up on the display. Once the milk has boiled, allow it to cool down to 110 degrees, add your starter, close the lid and press the Yogurt button until you see Normal and that should begin the fermentation process.
Daniel Lobo says
Hi,
How do the programs work? I tried using the rice program but it never changes from on to the countdown mode. It doesn’t seem to begin the cook cycle.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Daniel, it can take a few minutes to go from On to counting down. Did you wait long enough? Was there enough water? Sometimes when I have too little water, it can stay in ON forever. Try a water test to make sure there’s nothing wrong with your unit. Did you watch the video? It’s on the blog post but also on youtube on my channel.
Jan says
Thanks for All this info, Neena!
I was almost done researching the Instant Pot models and had decided on the Duo Evo Plus model when I discovered Costco has the Gourmet model.
You mention the Duo Evo Plus on one line of ypur comparison above, but would you mind stating the other differences?
Does the Gourmet have the handles on the insert that make it easier to grasp? Does it have the flat bottom?
Are the presets the same?
Does it have the redesigned vent seal switch that makes it easy to tell if the lid is sealed?
Lots of decisions to make when deciding!
Thanks!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Jan, there are some differences between the two. Please read this article: Which Instant Pot to Buy (go to the section ‘Compare Instant Pots’ from the table of contents) and if you have specific questions, feel free to reply here or on that post. They’re both good, you can’t go wrong with either. Best of luck.
susan says
Hello Neenah!
I just got this model from Costco- Duo Gourmet. I can’t find info on either website about whether it is compatible with the air fryer lid. Do you know?
Love your site!
Susan
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you Susan! The official Instant Pot word is that you should use the Instant Pot brand of air fryer lid with the Instant Pot, however, I do use the Mealthy CrispLid and it works just fine. The Instant Pot lid should be compatible with your IP. The Gourmet is a newer model so maybe that’s why you didn’t see it on the list.
Eva says
Hi , i tried the following procedure for steaming idlis
1. Put water and boil it
2. Put idli stand
3. Close the lid and press pressure cook on high
4. Press the steam release valve and let it cook for 12 mins
Once the pressure starts building up the float valve goes up
I am thinking why the float valve is getting up when my steam release button in pressed down .
Is this resulting in building pressure inside ?
Is this ok to have the valve in up position for 12 minutes?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Eva, you have me stumped – not sure why it’s sealing when steam is being released all the time… Maybe try less water OR take the steam release valve off next time. It should not seal then, I would hope!
Sami Fullford says
I just bought iPod duo gourmet. Had a 3qt duo before. It had a steam button. This 6qt does not. What button is for steaming. Such as vegetables and fish?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Sami, I just use Pressure Cook on high pressure instead of Steam. For fish and vegetables, using low pressure is also a great option. I would give that a try to compare the results.
Sheila beal says
I’m wanting to know if I can pressure can things like pumpkin purée, green beans and things like that in my instant pot duo gourmet. Thanks
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Sheila, the USDA has strict rules about canning and I don’t think the Instant Pot is built for pressure canning. You can do steam or water-bath canning.
Leena says
Hi, I recently got a Instant pot duo gourmet from Costco. I tried fermentation of dosa batter today but it burnt. Could you please let me know what went wrong? I am really confused about the boil thing that displays after I press the yogurt mode! Thank you 😊
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Leena, to ferment the dosa batter, you need to press the yogurt button multiple times till you get to the “normal” setting and then set it to whatever number of hours. So you don’t want to be in the ‘boil’ setting. If you’re seeing that, press Yogurt twice more till you see ‘normal’ and then press + or – till the time increases to 12:00 (that’s how long I ferment my batter).
Camille Callahan says
I’m confused by the “Less – Normal-More” markings. I suppose they are just for the preprogrammed buttons, but I don’t know how to set them. Is there another video that would help?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Camille, I’m in the process of creating a video for this model but it’ll be a couple of days. The way you set the pre-programmed settings of less, normal and more is to press the smart function button repeatedly, and that’ll toggle between the three. Hope that helps.
Emmy says
Do I need to add some water to do a steam?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Emmy, yes you do need to have water. Add at least a cup of water to the inner pot.
minfang Fei says
can i use instant pot due gourmet multicooker to steam vegetable?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Yes, you can. You can pressure cook on high pressure for 0 minutes. So program it to pressure cook for 1 minute and as soon as the ‘On’ goes to 00:01, press Cancel and release pressure. You can also pressure cook on low pressure for a minute or two. It all depends on what type of veggies you’re cooking. Some are very quick-cooking.