If you are looking for the most economical Instant Pot on the market, then the IP-LUX60 V3 might be the electric pressure cooker for you.

Overview

The Instant Pot IP-LUX60 V3 is the third version of this dependable 6-in-1 electric pressure cooker. It has keep warm, sauté, rice cook, steam, slow cook and pressure-cook functions. There are ten automatic cooking programs to choose. However, it does not have a menu program for making yogurt like the other Instant Pot multi-cookers.

Our Instant Pot IP-LUX60 V3 review takes a look at this LUX series pressure cooker. We review its control panel and automatic cooking programs. We also compare it to the V2 model and the IP-DUO60 before answering a few questions and concluding with our verdict.

IP-LUX60 Control Panel

This is on the control panel:

• Automatic cooking program buttons
• LED time display
• temperature mode indicators (less, normal, more)
• +/- buttons for increasing/decreasing time
• Adjust button (for choosing cooking temperature mode)
• Delay Start (up to 24 hours)
• Manual (choose your own pressure level and cooking time)
• Keep Warm/Cancel (keep warm up to 10 hours)

IP-LUX60 Cooking Programs

• Soup/Broth
• Meat/Stew
• Cake
• Egg
• Sauté
• Rice
• Multigrain
• Porridge
• Steam
• Slow Cook

IP-LUX60 V3 versus V2

Here are the small differences that we noticed between the discontinued IP-LUX60 V2 model and the updated IP-LUX60 V3 model (which was revised for 2017).

The automatic cooking programs have been slightly changed. The V2 model had buttons for Soup and Poultry on the left side of the control panel. The V3 model now has cooking programs for Soup/Broth, Cake and Egg. However, the Poultry program has been removed from the list.

It also seems like the maximum pressure-cooking time of the manual setting has been increased from 120 minutes to 240 minutes (4 hours) for the V3 model.

The IP-LUX60 V3 can be silenced by pressing and holding the Minus adjustment button for three seconds. Use the Plus button to turn the sound alerts back on.

These are the only differences we could find.

IP-LUX60 versus IP-DUO60

There are probably only three minor differences between these Instant Pot 6-quart electric pressure cookers.

The IP-LUX60 does not have the ability to make yogurt like the other Instant Pot cookers. It cannot cook at a lower pressure setting, thus it only cooks at high pressure. The handles of the IP-LUX60 does not have the convenient holes where you may insert the lid.

Therefore, you may buy the IP-LUX60 if you are never going to make yogurt. You might save a small amount of money because it is a few dollars cheaper than the other Instant Pot 6-quart electric pressure cookers.

IP-LUX60 Recipes

There are no recipes in the LUX series user manual, but a recipe booklet is included with the pressure cooker. Nevertheless, there are lots of recipes on the internet and even a couple of cookbooks available.

What is included?

• 6-quart stainless steel cooking pot
• stainless steel steam rack (no handles)
• rice paddle
• soup spoon
• measuring cup
• recipe booklet
• user manual

Can it slow cook?

The Instant Pot IP-LUX60 has an automatic non-pressure program for slow cooking food. You can modify the preset slow cook time by pressing the +/- button to add or subtract time. You may also press the Adjust button to select one of the preset cooking temperature modes. The Less/Normal/More modes might achieve similar temperatures as the Low/Medium/High settings of certain slow cookers. Here are the preset temperatures for the slow cooking function:

• Less mode (180-190 °F)
• Normal mode (190-200 °F)
• More mode (200-210 °F)

The steam release handle should be in the venting position if you use the pressure cooker lid when slow cooking food.

Alternatively, you are able to use an Instant Pot clear tempered glass lid when slow cooking food. The glass lid is transparent so that you can see the food while it is slow cooking. The glass lid has a stainless steel rim, handle and steam vent. It is also dishwasher-safe. The glass lid is unfortunately not included as an accessory. You can buy the glass lid on Amazon.

Cooking Eggs

The egg cooking program is made for cooking eggs. You can choose the Less mode for soft-boiled eggs, Normal mode for medium and More mode for hard-boiled eggs. The cooking program was created for cooking extra large size eggs. You might have to experiment with the cooking time for smaller egg sizes to get the right result. You can use the included stainless steel rack for cooking eggs.

Cooking Porridge

The user manual suggests that you use the Less mode for oatmeal porridge and the Normal mode for white rice porridge. However, it warns that you should never use the quick steam release because the liquid will spray out or block the pressure release valve. You should let the cooker cool down naturally.

Oatmeal also tends to foam and froth, so always follow an Instant Pot oatmeal recipe when making oatmeal porridge.

We prefer to use an electric rice cooker with a porridge setting for making oatmeal porridge. We do not want to cook something as frothy as oatmeal under lots of pressure.

Cooking rice

The Instant Pot IP-LUX60 has a cooking program for white rice. However, it has no temperature modes or time adjustments available. The Multigrain cooking program can be used for cooking wild rice and brown rice. Use either the Less or Normal mode depending on the type of rice. Take care not to add too much water and dry rice because it expands during cooking: make sure that the pot is not more than half full.

Most people are quite satisfied with the cooking results when making rice. They even say that the IP-LUX60 is worth getting, even if rice is all you want to cook. Just remember that cooking rice under pressure is not necessarily faster than cooking rice without pressure. The Instant Pot still needs to get up to pressure, cook the rice, and then release the steam naturally. This whole process might take about 30 minutes, depending on how many cups of rice you cooked. An electric rice cooker will be just as fast because you do not have to wait for steam pressure to be released safely.

Can you use it for browning?

Select the sauté non-pressure cooking program and keep pressing the Adjust button until the More preset temperature indicator lights up. The More preset is hot enough for browning meat. The Less preset mode is suitable for simmering sauces, while the Normal mode might work for stir frying. Do not put the lid on while you are sautéing food in the pot. Remember to press the Keep Warm/Cancel button when you are finished browning the food.

IP-LUX60: Verdict

In brief, the Instant Pot IP-LUX60 V3 is a great electric pressure cooker with a stainless steel pot. It has been on the market for many years, so there are lots of recipes and information available on the internet. The IP-LUX60 is also one of the most affordable 6-quart electric pressure cookers that we could find (check price on Amazon).