Instant Pot is one of the most famous names in the multicooker industry, and the Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 Qt is their bestselling multicooker model.
Now if you don’t really cook for large groups of people and you tend to just cook for yourself and a friend, you can save money and countertop space by going with the Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 Qt 7-in-1. You get all that versatile functionality and ease of use with just a smaller unit. This also works well for RV camping trips and picnics. Even as a second Instant Pot for more options when cooking multiple dishes!
Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 Qt. Notable Features
It’s a smaller model of the Duo, as it measures 11.8 x 10.5 x 11 inches.
In addition, it hardly weighs a thing as its weight is only about 8.6 pounds.
This doesn’t need to be limited to use at home, it’s very easy to bring along on trips in the RV, camping, boats, and hotel rooms.
Some buy this even when they already have the regular Duo size, and then make it their dedicated outdoor multicooker.
This may be a small instant pot pressure cooker, but its small size doesn’t really limit its capabilities.
This offers the functions of 7 different traditional kitchen appliances. You can use this for pressure cooking, steaming, sauté, and slow cooking. You can use it as your 3-quart Instant Pot yogurt maker as well as your food warmer.
All in all, you actually have 11 built-in programs here for you to use.
There’s a separate button for soup/broth, meat/stew, bean/chili, rice, and porridge. The Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-quart has 3 different settings for slow cooking, and can cook up to 6 cups of rice. You can also make risotto, sushi rice, wild rice, brown rice, and plain old white rice.
This has an automatic keep warm function, so when the food is done you can still be sure it hasn’t gone cold when you’re ready to eat. But you may want to try the delay start timer, which lets you delay the start of the cooking for up to 24 hours. You can then set things up so that it starts and finishes your cooking at the same time you’re ready to eat (or when you come home from work).
Your purchase also includes a few accessories, including a stainless-steel steam rack without handles, a soup spoon, a rice paddle and a rice measuring cup, and a condensation collector to make it neater for you to clean cup. There’s also a recipe booklet, though you can easily add to your recipe collection by going online.
Specs
- 700 watts
- 3-quart capacity
- Measures about 12 by 10.5 by 11 inches
- Weighs 8.6 pounds
- 7 cooking functions
- 11 built-in programs
- Can cook 6 cups of rice, and can handle different types of rice
- Automatic keep warm
- Delay start timer up to 24 hours
- 1-year warranty
Pros
Cons
Consumer Ratings
The Duo has received many tens of thousands of customer reviews, with most of them giving rave ratings. The Duo Mini has been praised for how useful and versatile it is, despite its small size. It’s very easy to use and clean, and the food it produces is fantastic.
Many love the small size, that was the reason the customers chose this version in the first place. Many say that they’ve used it for outdoor activities, while others say that they only cook for themselves or for a couple so its 3-quart capacity is ideal for their circumstances.
Many of the complaints, however, isn’t really about the Instant Pot Duo Mini. The appliance is fine. But quite a few of the reviews focus on the customer support, which some feel isn’t as helpful as it ought to be.
Who Is This Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 Qt. Best For?
Let’s first talk about its capabilities. This Duo is for those who don’t want to spend too much time and trouble preparing food, especially when they lead busy lives. With this, preparing food is easy as it’s mainly a matter of pushing the appropriate button. You can pick the cooking method you want, and press a button for a particular food item.
At the same time, it’s also for those who want to eat good food without having to go with food delivery or to a restaurant. In the old days you need to spend a lot of time and effort in the kitchen if you want really good food. Now you can take it easy and the food will still be tasty. In other words, you can have your cake and eat it too.
It’s also for those who want their food ready only when they’re also ready to eat. That’s what the delay starter is for, to make sure that it cooks only when it’s the right time. When it’s done cooking, you’re also ready to eat. This is a better option than nuking cold food in the microwave oven when you’re ready to eat.
Now let’s address the size.
Its limited capacity means you’re only cooking for a friend or for a couple of people. That’s about it. Yet this size makes it ideal for RV camping, sailing, and other outdoor or travel excursions. It’s compact and lightweight. Even if you already have a larger Duo, you may want to get this one as your extra multicooker if you like to go camping by yourself or with a friend, even as a second multicooker for your home kitchen!
Conclusion
This Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 Qt is a fantastic option for outdoor dining at camping sites, as well as for those who live alone. It may be small, but it offers terrific food even if you’re not really an expert cook. It saves time, space, and effort, and you save money as well.
You may also try to read in our review on GreenPan Chatham 15 Piece Cookware for additional kitchen addition ideas.