Instant Pot 3 Quart Guide and Review (2020)

Have you been thinking about buying an electric Instant Pot 3 Quart pressure cooker, but not sure which one? Here’s a comparison I put together to help you choose between the 3 Quart Instant Pot Lux, Duo, Duo Nova, Duo Plus and Ultra models.

When did you start having an interest in the Instant Pot? And now you’re starting to wonder if one can work for you and your cooking needs? Is this your first Instant Pot or are you looking for a smaller one for side dishes? I bought the Instant Pot 3 Quart because it works well for (usually) cooking for one person as well as kitchens with limited storage.

When I first purchased my Instant Pot 3 Quart Duo I only knew about the Mini Duo and Mini Lux. At the time I probably would have still bought the Mini Duo, because it was the right price to start experimenting with a new-to-me method of cooking. As any Instant Pot owner will tell you, the likelihood of picking at least one more is pretty high!

To help you choose, I put together the comparisons of the 4 Instant Pot Mini model options.

And one more note: this post contains affiliate links. This means I may receive a small commission if you buy through my link. You won’t pay any more if you use this link.

Appliances combined into each Instant Pot 3 Quart model

Each Instant Pot mini model combines multiple appliances into one electric pressure cooker. This is especially great if you have limited kitchen space (and also want to save money). While pressure cooking is a top reason to buy an Instant Pot, there are a bunch of other ideas for dishes to try beyond what you’re thinking.

For the Duo Nova, the Smart Programs and features are mostly the same. The Duo Nova Mini has a new updated display and different set of accessories compared to it’s siblings.

Instant Pot Mini Duo

Instant Pot 3 Quart Duo Nova

And a quick note about the new Duo Nova 3 Quart Model. It is a new version of the Instant Pot Duo, a 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker. It looks to have the same programs as the original Duo model with updates coming to the display. It also has the auto sealing feature you see in the Mini Ultra. That’s one of my favorite features. From an accessory perspective it comes with 2 sealing rings, a steam rack with handles, and the water measuring cup.

Instant Pot Mini Duo Nova

Instant Pot 3 Quart Smart Programs side-by-side

All of the Instant Pot 3 quart models have the pressure cook (manual) smart program along with the rice, meat/stew, porridge, and steam programs. The bean/chili, egg, sterilizer, ultra, and yogurt programs are available in certain models. All Instant Pot minis also include the sauté and keep warm features.

Before you purchase your Instant Pot Mini, double check the smart programs included to ensure you buy the combination that you want. Keep in mind you can still cook the dish using the Pressure Cook (manual) button if your IP doesn’t include a particular program. And for yogurt, you’ll need to check out recipes for the cold start method.

Instant Pot 3 Quart Smart Programs for each Model

Instant Pot Mini Duo Plus

A few additional differences between the Instant Pot 3 Quart Models

For all of the Instant Pot 3 Quart models, you’ll have pressure cooking at high pressure, the ability to keep your food warm, and have at least 10 safety features. Each 3 quart Instant Pot has a  700 watt heating element, and uses 120V~60Hz. In general the Instant Pot Mini models are about 8 1/2 to 9 lbs. For dimensions, they’re approximately 11.5 x 10.5 x 11.2 (give or take based on specific model).

There are a few differences between the Instant Pot mini models that may sway which one you want to buy. Of course, the model prices increases with the additional features. Check for sales and discounts to help you buy a great deal.

Let’s take a closer look at the differences between the 3 quart Instant Pot models.

Instant Pot Mini Ultra

The lid holder can come in handy especially when you just finished cooking a dish and are awkwardly trying to figure out what to do a with a hot lid.

On the Instant Pot Mini, the quick release button being separate from the steam value is a great feature. The Mini Ultra also has an auto-seal feature so that you don’t have to worry about forgetting putting the steam value in the right position.

The Mini Lux, Duo, and Duo Plus use push buttons to program your cooking and the Ultra uses a dial wheel to make your selections.

Is the Instant Pot 3 Quart Safe to use?

Instant Pot has built in at least 10 safety features to ensure a safe cooking experience. As with any cooking method you should still take care to ensure you don’t burn yourself with the steam release or any hidden pockets of steam in your dish.

If you’re scared of using your new Instant Pot, start off with the water test that both ensures your Instant Pot Mini is working correctly along with giving you a feel for how the pressure builds and releases.

Should you buy an Instant Pot 3 Quart vs 6 Quart?

That’s a somewhat personal decision you’ll need to make based on what works for you. A few things to consider.

Most recipes are written for the 6 quart models so you’ll likely need to to reduce the ingredients depending on the size of the original recipe. Tip: If the original servings is more than 4, you’ll probably need to scale the ingredients. Usually you don’t need to change the cooking time.

The 3 quart model will come to pressure quicker than the 6 quart model and actually cooks a little cooler given the smaller heating element. So far I haven’t run into any issues, but you may hear that for thicker cuts of meat you’ll need to make a timing adjustment.

There are fewer accessories for the 3 quart models. Don’t worry, there’s still a bunch of things you can buy to cook interesting dishes in your Instant Pot Mini, just make sure the width doesn’t exceed 6 inches otherwise it probably won’t fit.

The Instant Pot 3 Quart models that I own

The first one I bought was the Instant Pot Mini Duo because I thought it was the right size and price when cooking for one. It’s a great model to start with! The second one I bought (almost a year later) was the Instant Pot Mini Ultra because I wanted to try a few added features.

In the Ultra I love the auto-seal feature and that the pressure release button is separate from the steam value. I like the dial selector on the Ultra, but have seen other reviews where people prefer the push buttons. I also found my Mini Ultra thanks to an awesome holiday deal.

My suggestion is to buy at least a Instant Pot 3 Quart Duo as it has 2 levels of pressure cooking, the yogurt program (if you’re interested in that), and the lid holder. At the same time, in reading in the groups people also love their Mini Lux. My ultimate advice is find the one that works best for you!

Over to you. What else are you thinking about when it comes to choosing between Instant Pot 3 Quart models?

What is important to you when it comes to choosing your Instant Pot? Why are you considering a 3 quart model vs the 6 quart? Is there additional information that you need in order to make a decision?

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