Instant Pot Pro vs. Pro Plus for Summer BBQ Ribs
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Instant Pot Pro vs. Pro Plus for Summer BBQ Ribs
By Lisa Hargrove
Summer is here, and that means it's BBQ season. But standing over a hot smoker for six hours isn't a viable Saturday plan when you have errands, yard work, and a family schedule to manage. You want tender, pull-off-the-bone ribs tonight, without the all-day commitment. Enter the Instant Pot. Pressure cooking cuts your rib cook time down to under 30 minutes, leaving you with perfectly tender meat that just needs a quick broil for sticky, caramelized sauce.
But if you're upgrading your meal prep arsenal, you're probably looking at the Instant Pot Pro and the Instant Pot Pro Plus. They look nearly identical, but that $30 to $50 price difference hides some distinct changes under the hood. I've tested both models extensively with everything from weekly shredded chicken to massive racks of St. Louis style ribs. Here is exactly how they stack up, and which one actually deserves your money.
Quick Verdict
Choose Instant Pot Pro if...
- You want the best bang for your buck for basic pressure cooking.
- You prefer simple, tactile buttons over a touch screen.
- You already own a dedicated grilling or smoking setup.
Choose Pro Plus for Summer BBQ Ribs if...
- You want the most reliable, quickest pressure release system available.
- You love smart features like remote control via your phone.
- You need to pour sauces easily using the built-in interior pour spouts.
| Factor | Instant Pot Pro | Pro Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Price Range | $120 - $140 | $170 - $200 |
| Best For | Reliable, no-fuss weeknight cooking | Tech-savvy cooks making complex meals |
| Controls | Physical push-and-turn dial | Glass touch screen interface |
| Connectivity | None | Wi-Fi enabled with app integration |
| Cleanup | Standard inner pot, dishwasher safe | Inner pot with pour spouts, steam valve rinse trap |
| Main Drawback | Manual steam release can sputter | Higher price tag, smudge-prone screen |
About Instant Pot Pro
The Instant Pot Pro is the workhorse of my kitchen. It features 28 cooking modes, but when you're making ribs, you're only going to care about the "Pressure Cook" and "Sauté" settings. You use Sauté to brown your rub-covered ribs slightly before pressure cooking them in apple cider vinegar and broth. The resulting meat is incredibly tender. It has a great 6-quart capacity that easily fits two full racks of baby back ribs when you use the trivet to stack them.
Cleanup is exactly what you'd expect. The stainless steel inner pot goes right into the dishwasher. It handles high heat brilliantly. There are no fragile plastic parts to worry about on the inside. The exterior wipes down easily. It is straightforward, durable, and completely reliable for weekly batch cooking.
The main downside? The steam release valve is manual. When you're finishing your BBQ ribs, you want that pressure released fast so you can get the sauce on and under the broiler. Releasing the steam manually can sometimes cause a bit of a messy sputter if any BBQ sauce or liquid gets caught in the valve.
About the Instant Pot Pro Plus
The Pro Plus is the upgraded, tech-heavy sibling. It swaps out the physical push-and-turn dial for a sleek, flat glass touch screen. While it looks totally modern on your counter, the real magic happens inside the lid. Instant Pot upgraded the steam release system in the Pro Plus. It is designed to trap excess moisture and prevent that loud, messy sputter when you do a quick release. This is a massive win when you are pressure cooking sticky, messy BBQ ribs.
Another brilliant addition? The inner pot has pour spouts. When your ribs are done, you need to drain the cooking liquid before slathering on the BBQ sauce. The Pro Plus pot lets you pour out that hot fat and broth without it running down the side of the pot and making a mess on your counter.
It also features Wi-Fi connectivity. If you are running summer errands, you can turn on the pressure cooker or check the cooking status right from the Instant Pot app on your phone. It is a premium tool, but these specific design tweaks make it an absolute joy for heavy BBQ prep.
Head-to-Head: Cooking Performance for Ribs
When it comes to the actual meat, both cook identically. They use the same heating element and the same pressure technology. Stacked baby back ribs wrapped in foil will cook in exactly 22 minutes in either pot. You get fall-off-the-bone texture from both machines without any noticeable difference in moisture or tenderness.
However, the Pro Plus has a slight edge in heat recovery. When you sauté your ribs or sear them after cooking to caramelize the BBQ sauce, the Pro Plus maintains its temperature a bit more consistently under heavy loads. The standard Pro does a great job, but if you are searing multiple batches of ribs for a large backyard party, the Pro Plus gets back to temperature a few seconds faster.
Head-to-Head: Ease of Cleaning
Cleaning up after making ribs can be a greasy chore. The Instant Pot Pro gives you a standard, excellent stainless steel pot. It cleans up fine in the dishwasher, but pouring out hot grease requires a steady hand to avoid spilling it into the crevices of your cooker base.
The Pro Plus wins this category effortlessly. The built-in pour spouts make draining hot cooking liquid completely foolproof. Furthermore, the anti-sputter steam valve design on the lid means you will not have sticky BBQ sauce vapor coating the underside of your kitchen cabinets. Both inner pots are dishwasher safe, but the Pro Plus design prevents the extra messes before they happen.
Head-to-Head: Usability and Tech
The Instant Pot Pro relies on a physical dial and buttons. I love this because it is incredibly intuitive. You just turn the dial to set the 22-minute cook time for your ribs, hit start, and walk away. It is completely frustration-free and you never have to worry about Wi-Fi connectivity issues.
The Pro Plus uses a touch screen. It looks sleek, but it collects fingerprints fast, especially when you are poking at it with messy, BBQ-rub-covered fingers. That said, the app connectivity is genuinely useful. You can program specific cooking times and temperatures from your phone. You can also receive an alert the exact second your ribs are finished cooking. If you like integrating your kitchen tools with your smart home setup, the Pro Plus delivers.
Who Should Choose Instant Pot Pro?
Choose the Instant Pot Pro if you are a practical, budget-minded cook who just wants perfectly tender ribs without paying for extra tech. If you already own an outdoor grill or a smoker and just need a reliable pressure cooker to speed up the tenderizing process, this is all the machine you need. It delivers the exact same cooking results for a lower price.
Who Should Choose Pro Plus for Summer BBQ Ribs?
Choose the Pro Plus if you make BBQ ribs regularly, hate messy cleanups, and love smart kitchen gadgets. The pour spouts and the upgraded, anti-sputter steam valve are absolute game-changers for cooking greasy, saucy meats. If you spend a lot of time multitasking in the yard and want to monitor your cook from your phone, the extra cost is completely justified.
Our Verdict
Both machines will give you phenomenal, tender BBQ ribs in a fraction of the time it takes to smoke them. However, for this specific use case, the Instant Pot Pro Plus is the clear winner. When you are pressure cooking ribs, you are dealing with hot grease, sticky sauces, and rapid steam releases. The Pro Plus is purpose-built to handle those exact messes. The pour spouts and the superior steam release valve will save you time, frustration, and scrubbing. Spend the extra money on the Pro Plus—it earns its place on your counter every single BBQ season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use frozen ribs in either Instant Pot?
Yes, you can. You will need to add about 5 to 10 extra minutes to the pressure cooking time. However, for the best BBQ flavor and texture, I highly recommend thawing your ribs completely before applying your dry rub and pressure cooking.
Do I need to use foil when making ribs in the Instant Pot?
It is highly recommended. Creating a foil sling or wrapping the ribs in foil packets keeps the meat elevated above the liquid. This ensures the rub stays on the meat and the ribs steam perfectly rather than boiling into a mushy mess.
How do I get crispy BBQ sauce on ribs from a pressure cooker?
You must finish them under a broiler or on a hot grill. Once the pressure cooking is done, carefully transfer your tender ribs to a baking sheet. Slather them generously with BBQ sauce, then broil them on high for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce bubbles and caramelizes.
Is the Pro Plus screen hard to read in bright sunlight?
It can be. If you are cooking outside on a bright, sunny patio, the glass touch screen on the Pro Plus can throw some glare. The physical dial on the standard Instant Pot Pro is slightly easier to see in direct, intense summer sunlight.
