# TLDR Review: Instant Pot RIO Wide Plus

*Published: 2026-02-27 | Updated: 2026-02-27 | Source: https://shopsavvy.com/reviews-tldr/instant-pot-rio-wide-plus*

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## Product: Instant Pot RIO Wide Plus
**Brand:** Instant

## Pros
- Cuts cooking time dramatically—recipes that typically take 4+ hours are done in 40 minutes, and stocks and beans cook in 1-2 hours instead of 5+
- Produces quality equal to traditional stovetop cooking while reclaiming your time and attention
- Intuitive and straightforward to operate—accessible for both cooking newbies and experienced chefs
- Consolidates multiple appliances (crockpot, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer) into one space-saving 7.5-quart device
- Creates genuinely superior fresh stock and beans from scratch that beat store-bought alternatives
- Heavy stainless steel interior pot is removable and works directly on your stovetop for extra versatility
- Handles make it substantially easier and safer to remove and strain hot cookware without requiring special heat-resistant gloves
- Sauté function with multiple heat levels lets you precision-control simmering sauces, gravies, and braises
- Set-and-forget design means you load it and walk away—no monitoring or manual pressure release required
- Operates quietly during pressure cooking and built with durable, long-lasting quality

## Cons
- Rice cooker function takes about 20 minutes versus the typical 30-35, plus it leaves starch residue that needs extra cleaning
- The 7.5-quart capacity, while amazing for batch cooking, can make thorough cleaning a bit more involved than smaller appliances
- Cord management slot on the back doesn't provide nearly enough space for storing excess cord length

## Bottom Line

The RIO Wide Plus is genuinely excellent if you're serious about saving time in the kitchen without sacrificing quality. Its ability to slash cooking times dramatically while delivering results rivaling traditional cooking methods makes it particularly smart for busy households and meal-prep warriors. If you can accommodate the larger size and don't mind a little extra TLC when using the rice cooker function, this versatile 9-in-1 cooker will likely replace several appliances you already own and earn its space on your counter. We're confident it'll become a kitchen MVP that delivers real value in both time saved and space reclaimed.

## Pros vs Cons at a Glance

| Pros | Cons |
|------|------|
| Cuts cooking time dramatically—recipes that typically take 4+ hours are done in 40 minutes, and stocks and beans cook in 1-2 hours instead of 5+ | Rice cooker function takes about 20 minutes versus the typical 30-35, plus it leaves starch residue that needs extra cleaning |
| Produces quality equal to traditional stovetop cooking while reclaiming your time and attention | The 7.5-quart capacity, while amazing for batch cooking, can make thorough cleaning a bit more involved than smaller appliances |
| Intuitive and straightforward to operate—accessible for both cooking newbies and experienced chefs | Cord management slot on the back doesn't provide nearly enough space for storing excess cord length |
| Consolidates multiple appliances (crockpot, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer) into one space-saving 7.5-quart device |  |
| Creates genuinely superior fresh stock and beans from scratch that beat store-bought alternatives |  |
| Heavy stainless steel interior pot is removable and works directly on your stovetop for extra versatility |  |
| Handles make it substantially easier and safer to remove and strain hot cookware without requiring special heat-resistant gloves |  |
| Sauté function with multiple heat levels lets you precision-control simmering sauces, gravies, and braises |  |
| Set-and-forget design means you load it and walk away—no monitoring or manual pressure release required |  |
| Operates quietly during pressure cooking and built with durable, long-lasting quality |  |

## Current Prices

| Retailer | Price | Availability |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Instant Brands | $149.95  | Check |
| Target | $149.95  | Check |
| Best Buy | $149.99  | Check |
| Kohl's | $149.99  | Check |

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*About this review: We pulled together findings from professional and user reviews, and cross-referenced them with ShopSavvy's pricing data from thousands of retailers to give you the short version.*