Instant Pot Classic 5.7L Review: What Changed From the Duo, and Is It Worth It?
The Classic is Instant’s redesigned version of the 5.7-litre pressure cooker that made the brand. The US calls it the Rio. It has a black body, a touchpad and a flick switch for releasing steam. Underneath, it is still a 1000 W pot that only lets you fill about two-thirds of it. We put the evidence on what changed from the Duo next to the figures that decide whether it suits your kitchen.
Where the reviews line up
The evidence comes from three places. Tom’s Guide ran a hands-on test of the US Rio, which is the same design. Instant Pot Eats is a specialist recipe site that compared the Rio with the Duo, feature by feature. And three retailer rating blocks, at Currys, Very and Instant’s own Benelux shop, add up to only 24 ratings between them. They agree on more than they disagree.
Three points come up in every source. It is easy to use. Tom’s Guide calls it “a perfect training-wheels appliance”, and owners say complex recipes become simple. The basics work. Tom’s Guide had unsoaked chickpeas fluffy in 40 minutes, squash steamed in about 16 minutes including preheat, and a two-hour slow-cook broth it called “a success”. The redesign is mostly about handling, not performance. There is a touchpad instead of a dial, an Easy-Release switch instead of a valve handle, an anti-spin pot and four favourite buttons. The heating element is still 1000 W, the same as the Duo 60.
There are honest caveats. Preheat time is not included in the countdown. Tom’s Guide flags it, and so does a Benelux owner, who found total cooking time “longer-than-expected” because of pressurisation. Rice needs trial and error. The control panel has icons only, with no words. And, according to Instant Pot Eats, there is no low-pressure setting, which the Duo has.
It is cheap to run. On TechRadar’s meter readings, taken from a sibling Instant Pot, a pressure-cooked meal costs about 7p and a six-hour slow cook about 8p at the October 2026 price cap. Those are our sums. The price is all over the place. Instant’s RRP is £99.99, we found it at £79 at Appliances Direct, and Currys lists it at £149. The Duo it replaces was £89.99. Do not pay over RRP.
The three reviews this summary is built from
- Tom’s GuideEditorial test of the US Rio, October 2024, Editor’s Choice. The only source with timed cooking results and a noise reading.
- Instant Pot EatsSpecialist recipe site’s Rio-versus-Duo comparison, June 2024. The clearest list of what changed.
- Currys, Very & Instant Benelux4.6/5 from 8, 4.8/5 from 6 and 5/5 from 10, all checked 13 October 2026. A small sample.
Before the review: Classic, Rio and Duo
In the UK and Europe this cooker is sold as the Instant Pot Classic 5.7L Multi-Cooker. It comes in Black Pepper (SKU 112-2000-01-UK), Sea Salt White (112-2020-01-UKEU) and Daydream Blue. Its manual gives the model number DUPC601BKEU and calls it the “Rio Chef Series”. In the US it is the Instant Pot Rio, which Instant Pot Eats says was released in June 2022. Tom’s Guide calls it the successor to the Duo 60. Instant’s UK page does not mention the Duo. It calls the Classic a “redesigned model” and says “The original Instant Pot just got better!” It is not a 2026 launch: Tom’s Guide reviewed it at £99 in October 2024. Instant still lists the Duo 5.7L, which we reviewed separately, but it is getting hard to find new.
Specification at a glance
| Spec | Figure | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Instant Pot Classic 5.7L Multi-Cooker; model DUPC601BKEU; Black Pepper SKU 112-2000-01-UK | Instant UK page and manual |
| Power | 1000 W, 220–240 V | Instant UK, manual, Currys and Appliances Direct agree |
| Capacity, total | 5.7 litres, “up to 6 portions” | Instant UK |
| Capacity, usable | About 3.8 L to the pressure-cook maximum line; about 2.85 L for rice, beans and foods that foam | Our sums. The Classic manual marks “PC MAX” and “1/2” lines but does not say what fraction PC MAX is. The Duo manual puts it at 2/3. The Classic’s 3.8 L yoghurt maximum matches. |
| Minimum liquid | 355 ml, or 375 ml | Both figures are in the same Instant manual (the cooking section and the error-code section) |
| Programmes | Pressure Cook, Sauté, Slow Cook, Steam, Yoghurt, Egg, plus Keep Warm and 4 favourite presets | Instant UK and Very say 7 functions. Currys says “6 programs”. Instant Pot Eats says “13 smart cooking programs”. |
| Pressure levels | Not published. Instant Pot Eats says there is no low-pressure setting | Tom’s Guide gives 12 psi maximum (US model) |
| Keep warm · delay start | Up to 10 hours · 10 min to 24 h | Manual |
| Inner pot | Stainless steel, anti-spin, no handles | Instant UK says BPA/PFOA/PTFE/PFAS-free. Anti-spin per Very and Instant Benelux. No handles per Tom’s Guide. No steel grade published. |
| Dishwasher-safe | Inner pot, lid and accessories (top rack for lid parts). Base and cord: wipe only | Instant UK and manual |
| Noise | 84.7 dB peak during steam release | Tom’s Guide, measured on the larger Rio Wide |
| Dimensions · weight | 30.8 × 35.1 × 32 cm (D × W × H) · 5 kg · 120 cm cord | Instant UK. Currys agrees; Appliances Direct rounds to 31 × 36 × 32 cm |
| Warranty | 1 year (UK) | Instant UK, Currys and Appliances Direct. See below for the 2- and 3-year figures you may see |
| Price | RRP £99.99 · £79 Sea Salt White at Appliances Direct · £149 Black at Currys | All checked 13 October 2026 |
What changed from the Duo
We have only listed changes that a source states. The controls are a touchpad with icons where the Duo had a dial and text labels (Tom’s Guide). Steam release is now a front switch with Seal and Vent positions instead of the Duo’s handle on the lid (Instant UK, the manual and Instant Pot Eats). The finish is black, Sea Salt White or Daydream Blue instead of brushed steel (Tom’s Guide). The pot is anti-spin, so it does not turn in the base while you stir or sauté (Very and Instant Pot Eats). There are now four favourite buttons for your own settings (manual). Low pressure has gone, according to Instant Pot Eats. Instant itself does not say either way. What has not changed: 1000 W, 5.7 litres, a 10-hour keep-warm, a 24-hour delay start and a one-year guarantee. It is also slightly smaller and lighter, at 5 kg against the Duo’s 5.4 kg, and £10 dearer at RRP (£99.99 against £89.99).
What it costs to run
No one has metered the Classic. The closest readings come from TechRadar, which put an energy meter on an Instant Pot Pro Crisp, a different and bigger model. Pressure-cooked ribs (25 minutes plus a seven-minute preheat) used 0.26 kWh, and a six-hour slow-cooked chilli used 0.31 kWh. At the Ofgem cap of 26.32p per kWh for October 2026, that is about 6.8p and 8.2p a meal (our sums). As a worst case, even if the 1000 W element ran flat out for a full hour, which it does not once the pot is up to pressure, that would be 26.3p. If you are choosing between appliances, our Russell Hobbs slow cooker review and our Salter Dual Air Pro air fryer review run the same sums for those.
Tom’s Guide
Who they are: Erin Bashford is a senior reviews writer at Tom’s Guide, a Future-owned site that combines lab benchmarks with real-world testing. Her author page lists an MA in broadcast and digital journalism, seven years of reviewing music and events, a background as a barista, and a love of kitchen appliances “including her beloved Instant Pot”. It does not say how long she has tested cookers, so we weight this review for its timed, hands-on cooking rather than her seniority on appliances.
This is the only real cooking test we could find. One caveat matters: the cooking was done on the 7.5-quart Rio Wide. The reviewer says the 6-quart (5.7 L) model “works exactly the same”, and it is the 6-quart that is sold here as the Classic. Steamed squash was done on a 10-minute setting, about 16 minutes including preheat. Unsoaked chickpeas, about a cup in five cups of water, came out fluffy after 40 minutes on pressure. A two-hour slow cook gave tender vegetables and a deeply coloured broth. The 5-minute egg default produced an easily peeled hard-boiled egg.
Two dishes went wrong. Rice cooked on 14 minutes of steam was mush, and only came right at 1:1 water to rice after more trial and error. The 3-minute soft-boiled egg was undercooked and hard to peel. Tom’s Guide also noticed that the sauté timer did not count down, which it called a “strange oversight”. Its listed cons are icons with no written labels, preheat time left out of the countdown, and no handles on the inner pot. The steam release peaked at 84.7 dB, louder than the Duo Plus Whisper Quiet and quieter than the Pro Plus. For comparison, our Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 SmartLid review covers a dearer cooker that adds air-frying.
Watch: Instant Pot Rio Series Chef 5.7L Pressure Cooker Review
A 5.7L Rio Chef Series review, the same design as the UK Classic. We confirmed the video from search listings only, so we have not seen which market’s version is shown.
Watch on YouTube ↗ Independent YouTube video — not made by or for Shopbam.Instant Pot Eats
Who they are: Instant Pot Eats is an independent recipe site devoted to Instant Pot cooking, and its author page describes Nivenka Stanton as one of its writers, a work-from-home mum who owns an Instant Pot and an air fryer. The page gives no professional cooking credentials and does not say how long she has used pressure cookers, so we use this for the list of differences and not as an expert verdict.
This is the source to read if you already own a Duo and are wondering whether to change. The author has used her own Duo “for years” and is positive about both models. On the Rio, she describes a sleeker design, a larger display, an anti-spin stainless pot “for easier stirring and sauteing”, the Easy-Release switch, and more than ten safety features including overheat protection.
The most useful line is a loss, not a gain: “the Duo does have a low-pressure setting which the Rio does not.” If you cook delicate fish or eggs on low pressure, that matters. The article also says the Rio has no separate manual steam valve, and that the Duo is often about $10 cheaper (a US price). It is not careful with numbers, though. It gives the Rio “13 smart cooking programs” where Instant UK lists seven functions, and it repeats Instant’s marketing claim of 70% faster cooking and 60% less energy. No one has tested either figure.
Watch: New instant pot classic 5.7l / 6q First look and how to set your favourite buttons
A first look at the Classic itself, including how to set the four favourite buttons, which are one of the clearest changes from the Duo.
Watch on YouTube ↗ Independent YouTube video — not made by or for Shopbam.Currys, Very and Instant Benelux
Who they are: Currys’ ratings come from customers it emails an invitation after they buy, collected and moderated by Feefo. Very’s are written by its own shoppers, and we could not find its review policy. The Benelux ratings are hosted by Instant itself, on a shop that sells the product. All three record owner satisfaction rather than testing, and the manufacturer’s own block deserves the least weight.
That is 24 ratings across three pages, and all of them are high. It is too small a sample to say much more than that nobody is unhappy yet. The Currys and Very pages showed only a score and a count, with no review text we could read. Instant’s Benelux page did show text, and it echoes Tom’s Guide closely. One owner says it is “incredibly easy to use, and it makes complex recipes simple”. Another lists “a learning curve for new users, the longer-than-expected total cooking time due to pressurization, its bulky size”. A third says that “for different rice types one has to adjust the time a bit”. Instant’s UK page shows a count of 128 Amazon reviews next to its Amazon link, but no average score, so we have not used it.
The retailer pages are more useful for price and stock. On the warranty, Currys and Appliances Direct both say one year. Very’s listing gives no guarantee, and repeats Instant’s claims of “Save up to 80% energy” and “Cook 70% faster”. These are a different energy figure from the 60% Instant Pot Eats quotes. We could not read whether a marketplace seller rather than Currys or Very fulfils either listing.
Watch: Introducing the Instant Pot Classic 5.7L Multi-Cooker
From its title, this looks like a launch film from Instant itself, so it is promotional. Still, it is a clear look at the switch, the touchpad and the pot that owners describe.
Watch on YouTube ↗ Independent YouTube video — not made by or for Shopbam.Strengths and weak points
What holds up
- Easy for beginners: Tom’s Guide and the owners agree on this.
- Timed results are good: chickpeas in 40 minutes from dry, squash in about 16, and a slow cook that works.
- The front steam switch keeps your hand away from the vent, and the anti-spin pot stays put while you stir.
- Four favourite buttons save the settings you use most.
- The pot, lid and accessories go in the dishwasher.
- Cheap to run, at roughly 7p–8p a meal on a sibling model’s meter readings (our sums).
What people complain about
- Preheat is not in the countdown, so real meal times are longer than the display suggests.
- Rice took trial and error, and the soft-boiled egg default undercooked.
- Icons only on the panel, and the sauté timer did not count down in Tom’s Guide’s test.
- No low-pressure setting, according to Instant Pot Eats.
- No handles on the inner pot, and only about 3.8 L of the 5.7 L is usable under pressure.
- Only a one-year UK guarantee, and prices vary from £79 to £149.
Who it actually suits
Buy it if you are new to pressure cooking, you cook for up to four (about six portions at most), and you want stews, beans, stock and slow cooks from one pot at pennies a meal. It is at its best value at or below the £99.99 RRP. Below £80 it is an easy recommendation.
Look elsewhere if you rely on low pressure, you want words rather than icons on the controls, or you would rather have one appliance that also air-fries. In that last case the Ninja Foodi is the comparison to make. If you already own a working Duo, nothing here is a reason to replace it.
What we could not check
- No test of the UK Classic itself. Tom’s Guide tested the US Rio Wide and says the 6-quart works the same. We found no UK editorial test and no public Which? result.
- Energy use of this model. The 7p and 8p figures are from TechRadar’s meter on an Instant Pot Pro Crisp, multiplied by us at 26.32p per kWh. The 70% faster, 60% and 80% energy savings are maker claims that nobody has tested.
- Usable capacity. The Classic manual does not say what fraction the PC MAX line is. Our 3.8 L assumes two-thirds, as the Duo manual says.
- Low pressure. Only Instant Pot Eats says it is missing. Instant’s UK page and manual do not mention pressure levels.
- Programme count. 7 functions (Instant UK and Very), 6 programs (Currys) or 13 smart programs (Instant Pot Eats).
- Minimum liquid. 355 ml or 375 ml. Both figures are in Instant’s own manual.
- Guarantee. 1 year from Instant UK, Currys and Appliances Direct. Instant’s Benelux shop gives 2 years (EU), and Lakeland’s discontinued listing gave its own 3 years. We could not confirm which registration address is current: the manual gives both instantbrands.co.uk and instantpot.co.uk.
- Stock and sellers. Instant’s own UK listing says out of stock, Lakeland lists it as discontinued and Very as out of stock. We could not read Currys’ availability, the Appliances Direct stock line, or the Argos price or seller (the page is JS-rendered). Instant’s panel says Amazon, Appliances Direct, Argos and Robert Dyas have stock. We did not check Amazon because it blocks us.
- Ratings. Only 24 ratings across three pages, with no text on Currys or Very, and one block hosted by the manufacturer.
- The videos. We confirmed all three from search listings and did not open them. No channels were named, and one is probably Instant’s own.
Sources last checked 13 October 2026. Prices and stock change: check them against the listing in front of you before ordering.