REVIEW: Instant Pot RIO Wide Plus

As soon as we published our review on the Instant Pot Rio, we started getting questions about the Rio’s larger 7.5-quart model, known as the Instant Pot Rio Wide Plus.

We’ve been cooking in the Rio Plus Wide for a couple weeks, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know before you buy, and we’ll walk you through everything you need to get started cooking in this model!

Everything you need to know about the Instant Pot RIO Wide Plus

Since these posts are some of the longest on our site, use the links below to jump right around the post to find the information you need!

As always, please comment below if there’s anything else you’d like to know about this model!

What is the Instant Pot Rio WIDE Plus?

The RIO Wide Plus is a 7.5-quart multicooker that can

• pressure cook (at low and high pressure),
• saute,
• slow cook,
• sous vide, and
• make yogurt.

As soon as I unboxed the RIO Wide Plus, I realized my Duo-to-Rio name change theory wasn’t happening. (Yet. While a Rio Wide (not-plus) is or was in the works, the RIO Wide Plus is the only one on the market as of July 2023.

(All of the other buttons simply run pre-set cooking times; they’re not novel cooking functions.)

The “Plus” part of the Rio Wide Plus is what matters, since this model has much more in common with the latest Duo Plus than it has with the Rio.

🔴 CONS

• The sealing ring is not interchangeable with any other models, so you’ll need to be careful when selecting accessories. (It does come with two sealing rings, though, so you should be good for a while.)
• No lid fins to store the lid while you’re sautéing or serving your meal. This also means that the stand-alone air fryer lid is not compatible with this model.
• Since the pot is wider and shallower than other Instant Pot models, you may need to modify some recipes, since they’re generally written for 6-quarts. However, the recipe booklet that is included isn’t specific to this model and size.

Detailed Breakdown of the Instant Pot Rio Wide Plus

While the most obvious changes are the size and shape of the cooking pot, the Rio Wide has a lot of the favorite features we’ve come to love in our Instant Pots.

Short, Wide Exterior

The Instant Pot Rio Wide Plus has the same tapered exterior as the 6-quart RIO, but in a shorter, wider version.

The exterior is a shiny, dark gray. It looks like they were going for a granite or quartz appearance, but I prefer the matte black of the 6-quart Rio since it’s easier for me to keep looking clean. (This one shows fingerprints in a different way than the stainless of the Duo models, but it’s definitely easily fingerprinted.)

Quick Note: As of this writing, the Rio Wide Plus is the only 7.5-quart model in all of Instant Pot’s product line. The redesigned exterior means you’re giving up pots and sealing rings that can interchange with other same-size models.

Stainless Steel Pot

The wider, stainless steel pot does not have handles like the Pro models, but it does have the anti spin features that keep the pot from spinning as you stir. The pot is round-bottomed like many of the pervious Instant Pot versions. I vastly prefer stainless steel since I can get a better sear on my meats and use my favorite utensils without worrying about scratching the finish.

Whisper Quiet Lid Design

I do like the RIO Wide’s lid design, which offers a separate pressure release slider that is far away from the vents that release the actual steam.

It hides the float valve; however, it can be accessed from the outside of the lid, which sometimes can be useful for foods that foam. (For example, the float valve is completely inaccessible in the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, and readers have had issues opening the lid when a few tiny bits of food have interfered with the float valve dropping.)

To access the float valve, remove the outer Whisper Quiet shield and the silicone cap over the float valve. (The Whisper Quiet shield fits tight and is initially difficult to remove, but the fit does loosen over time.)

Streamlined Display

The display on the Instant Pot Rio Wide Plus has has a very different display than its 6-quart counterpart. Unlike the simplified display on the 6-quart Rio, the 7.5-quart Rio has the most detailed display that Instant Pot makes.

The button-and-dial layout of the display is intuitive and easy to use. However, some people can get overwhelmed at the different options within each of the button categories. (For example, when you press the Pressure Cook button, 10 different cooking program options will come up along the sides.) As always, our recipes will always follow the same process, outlined in the How To section below.

One small note: The actual LCD piece is set back quite a ways from the glass overlay on the screen. This ends up causing the glass overlay to reflect the blue light from the LCD in a way that can make sometimes make the text feel out of focus.

Instant Pot Rio Plus Measurements & Specs

The 7.5-quart Instant Pot Rio Plus Wide is 10.25″ long × 16.3″ wide × 11.5″ high. (So it’s roughly 3 inches longer, 3 inches wider, and 1 inch taller than the 6-quart Rio.)

This model operates at 1400 watts and 120V ~60Hz. Its working pressure is 80kPa.

The exact model number is in under the Instant Pot logo on the silver sticker above the electric cord.

The RIO Wide comes with a stainless steel inner cooking pot, two silicone gaskets, and a stainless steel steam rack with really short handles.

The Instant Pot Rio Wide Plus is compatible with many pressure cooking accessories, but others (like steamer baskets) are too tall for the pot.

As of this writing, I haven’t found replacement rings available for purchase. Hopefully, new rings will become available soon.

Instant Brands currently offers a 1-year limited warranty on the Instant Pot RIO Plus. Click here to view the Rio’s product registration page.

To qualify for the warranty, you need to register your product within 30 days.

If you need to reach out for product support or repairs, you can do so by phone at 800-828-7280 or by email at support@instantpot.com. We’ve had really good customer service when we reached out by email in the past.

I’ve never tried it, but you can also visit their website to create a support ticket online. 

Why did I get the Burn Notice on the Instant Pot Rio?

⚠️ For more details, check out our in-depth discussion on the Instant Pot Burn Notice: What to Do and How to Avoid It in the Future.

When the Instant Pot RIO Wide Plus shows FOOD BURN in message display, you need to find out what’s going on in the inner cooking pot.

Here are the first questions I ask myself:

1. Is the inner pot inside the housing?
2. Does the inner pot have enough liquid?
3. Are any food deposits stuck to the bottom of the inner pot?

If you’ve gotten the burn notice, the first thing you need to do is to unlock the lid and remove the cooking pot from the housing. Depending on where you were in the cook cycle, you may need to release the pressure and wait for the float valve to drop.

Then check the cooking pot. 

If just a little food has burned onto the bottom of the cooking pot, don’t stir and you might be able to save your meal! Transfer the good food into a separate bowl. Scrape any burnt parts into the trash. If you have a lot of cook time left, return the food to the cooking pot. At this point, you can add more liquid to the pressure cooking pot and try another pressure cooking cycle. Or you can transfer the remaining contents to a pot on the stove or oven and stir while you finish cooking.

If a lot of food has burned on, you’ll be able to taste the burnt taste throughout and, unfortunately, you may have to discard the meal. Soak and scrub off the burned foods. Barkeepers friend is a useful cleaner to help remove stubborn stains.