Instant ZEST PLUS User manual

ZEST™PLUS
Rice & Grain 20 Cup Cooker
User Manual
Welcome
Important Safeguards
Initial Setup
Product Overview
Control Panel
Initial Test Run
Smart Programs
Care and Cleaning
Troubleshooting
Warranty
Support and Contact
Information

2
Welcome to the world of Instant cooking.
Thank you for welcoming us into your kitchen.
Having families ourselves, we developed the Instant™Zest™Plus rice
& grain cooker to allow busy families and professionals alike to cook
healthy, delicious meals more easily and in less time.
We have partnered with chefs, authors and bloggers to compile a
collection of recipes that we hope you enjoy!
Happy cooking,
Download the FREE Instant Pot App
• Original Recipes
• New User Tips
• Getting Started Videos
Find dozens of easy to follow recipes at recipes.instantpot.com and with the Instant
Pot® app at instantpot.com/app
Robert J. Wang
Founder & Chief Innovation Ofcer

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IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
When using your appliance, basic safety precautions should be followed,
including the following:
1. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS, SAFEGUARDS, AND WARNINGS BEFORE
OPERATING APPLIANCE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE SAFEGUARDS
AND INSTRCUTIONS MAY RESULT IN INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY
DAMAGE.
2. Always operate the appliance on a horizontal surface that is level, stable,
and non-combustible.
3. Do not touch hot surfaces. To avoid spills and burns, do not carry cooker
by the lid handle. To carry, wait until the cooker has cooled to room
temperature, then lift the cooker from the bottom.
4. CAUTION To protect against the risk of electrical shock, do not
immerse cord, plug or the appliance in water or any other liquid. See
“Care & Cleaning” instructions for cleaning. Do not rinse the appliance
under tap.
5. To avoid electrical shock, do not put liquid of any kind into the cooker
base as it contains the electrical components. Always use the inner
pot for cooking.
6. This appliance is NOT to be used by children or by persons with reduced
physical, sensory, or mental capabilities. Close supervision is necessary
when any appliance is used near children and these individuals. Children
should not play with this appliance.
7. Press Cancel, then unplug from outlet when not in use and before
cleaning. Let appliance cool before putting on or taking off parts and
before cleaning or storing the appliance. To unplug, grasp the plug and
pull from the outlet. Never pull from the power cord.
8. Do not operate any appliance with a damaged cord or plug or after the
appliance malfunctions, or is dropped or damaged in any manner. For
assistance, contact Customer Care at [e-mail]
or 1-800-828-7280.
9. Do not attempt to repair, replace, alter, or modify components of the
appliance, as this may cause electric shock, re or injury, and will void
the warranty.
Read this manual carefully and completely, and retain for future reference.
Failure to adhere to safety instructions may result in serious injury.
WARNING

4
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
10. Do not tamper with any of the safety mechanisms.
11. Do not use any accessories or attachments not authorized by Instant
Brands™Inc. The use of attachments not recommended by the
manufacturer may cause a risk of injury, re or electric shock.
12. For household countertop use only. Do not use outdoors. Not for
commercial use.
13. Do not let cord touch hot surfaces or hang over the edge of a counter
or table.
14. Do not place the appliance on or near a hot gas or electric burner, or a
heated oven; heat from an external source will damage the appliance.
15. Extreme caution must be used when moving the appliance containing
hot rice or other liquids.
16. Do not use the appliance for other than its intended use.
17. Do not touch, cover or obstruct the steam vent on the top of the rice
cooker as it is extremely hot and may cause scalding.
18. A short power-supply cord is provided to reduce risks resulting from
becoming entangled in or tripping over a long cord.
19. Do not use unit in electric systems other than 120V~60Hz for North
America. Do not use with power converters or adapters.
20. CAUTION Spilled food can cause serious burns. A short
power-supply cord is provied to reduce the hazards resulting
from grabbing, entanglement and tripping.
• Keep the appliance and cord away from children.
• Never drape the power cord over edges of tables or counters.
• Never use below-counter power outlets, and never use with
an extension cord.
21. The rice cooker should be operated on a separate electrical circuit from
other operating appliances. If the electrical circuit is overloaded with
other appliances, the appliance may not operate properly.
22. Steam vent on top of cooker is extremely hot. To avoid the risk of injury,
do not cover or obstruct steam vent.
Read this manual carefully and completely, and retain for future reference.
Failure to adhere to safety instructions may result in serious injury.
WARNING

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IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
23. Always make sure the outside of the inner cooking pot is dry prior to use.
If the inner pot is returned to the cooker when wet, it may cause damage
or cause the appliance to malfunction.
24. Use extreme caution when opening the lid during or after cooking. Hot
steam will escape and may cause scalding. Keep hands and face at a safe
distance when opening the cooker.
25. Rice should not be left in the inner cooking pot with the Keep Warm
function on for more than 12 hours.
26. To prevent damage or deformation, do not use the inner cooking pot on
a stovetop or burner.
27. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, cook only in the removable inner
cooking pot provided.
28. Do not wrap or tie cord around appliance.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Read this manual carefully and completely, and retain for future reference.
Failure to adhere to safety instructions may result in serious injury.
WARNING

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IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
Polarized Plug
This appliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). To
reduce the risk of electric shock, this plug is intended to t into a polarized
outlet only one way. If the plug does not t fully into the outlet, reverse the
plug. If it still does not t, contact a qualied electrician. Do not attempt to
modify the plug in any way.
Product Specications
Zest Plus 20C 20 Cups
5 Litres 860W 120V~60 Hz 6.61 lb 3 kg
in: 11.3L × 11.26W × 11.34H
cm: 28.7L × 28.6W × 28.8H
Read this manual carefully and completely, and retain for future reference.
Failure to adhere to safety instructions may result in serious injury.
WARNING
WARNING
THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW ANY OF THE IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS AND THE IMPORTANT
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAFE USE IS A MISUSE OF YOUR APPLIANCE THAT CAN VOID YOUR
WARRANTY AND CREATE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
WARNING
Electrical shock hazard. Use grounded outlet only. DO NOT remove ground. DO NOT use an adapter. DO
NOT use an extension cord. Failure to follow instructions can cause electrical shock and/or death.
WARNING
To avoid injury, read and understand instruction manual before using this machine.

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Initial Setup
• Read and follow all Important Safeguards. Failure to follow important
safeguards may result in damage to the appliance, property damage
or personal injury.
• Remove all packing material from in and around the appliance.
• Conrm that all parts are present (See Product Overview, below.)
• Place the appliance on a stable, level surface, away from external
heat sources.
• Read and follow Care and Cleaning instructions to clean the appliance
before rst use.
• Do not remove safety warnings or rating labels from the appliance.
CAUTION Heat from externals source will damage the appliance. Never use the appliance on a
stovetop. Do not place the appliance on or in close proximity to a hot gas or electric
burner or a heated oven.

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Product Overview
Zest™Plus Rice & Grain Cooker
Instant™Zest™Plus Rice & Grain Cookers automatically cook a variety
of grains to perfection.
Illustrations are for reference only and may differ from the actual appliance.
Heating Element
(Interior)
Cooker Base
Control Panel
Lid
Lid Handle
Condensation Collector
Lid Release
Lid Lock
Power Cord
Steam Vent

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Product Overview
Zest™Plus Rice & Grain Cooker Accessories
Illustrations are for reference only and may differ from the actual appliance.
Inner Pot
Steamer Tray
Rice Spoon
Measuring Cup

10
Control Panel
Your Zest™Plus Rice & Grain Cooker features an intuitive Control Panel with
status indicators and an LED Display to help make cooking quick and easy.
Oatmeal
Barley
Bulgur
RisottoSteam
Cancel Start
Quinoa
Sauté
Cous
Cous
Brown
Rice
White
Rice
Mixed
Grains Delay
Start Keep Warm
Slow
Cook
Zest Plus
Rice & Grain
1
3
5
5
5
2
44
Smart Program Indicator
Located above each Smart Program
control. Illuminated when a Smart
Program is selected or running.
Status Icons
Delay Start is counting down
The heating element is engaged
Keep Warm is active
Sound is off or on
Display
Shows cooking times and status
messages.
Smart Programs for Automatic
Cooking
White Rice Oatmeal
Brown Rice Barley
Quinoa Couscous
Mixed Grains Bulgur
Risotto*
Smart Programs for Other Food
Preparation Methods
Steam Keep Warm
Sauté Slow Cook
1
2
3
4
5
* Special Instruction: Follow a trusted risotto recipe and use the Sauté Smart Program
to lightly fry or brown ingredients before using the Risotto Smart Program.

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Display Messages
Indicates that no Smart Program is running and the cooker
is in Standby mode.
Indicates that a Smart Program has been selected but
not yet started.
Indicates that a Smart Program is running. ( is illuminated.)
Display will read On when using the White Rice, Brown
Rice, Quinoa, Mixed Grains, Barley, Couscous, Bulgur,
Risotto Smart Programs only.
Display will change to [MM:SS] when less than 10
minutes of cooking time remains and counts down
to Smart Program end.
Indicates the time remaining in the Delay Start cycle or Smart
Program cooking time remaining when using the Oatmeal,
Steam, Sauté or Slow Cook Smart Programs
Display will change to [MM:SS] when less than 1 hour
remains until Delay Start or Smart Program completion.
Indicates that the cooker is set to “Low” temperature.
Indicates that the cooker is set to “High” temperature.
Indicates that the Smart Program has ended and
Keep Warm is active.

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Smart Programs
Smart Programs for Automatic Cooking
The Zest™Plus Rice & Grain Cooker features 9 Smart Programs for automatic
cooking.
White Rice Brown Rice Quinoa Mixed Grains Oatmeal
Barley Couscous Bulgur Risotto*
These automatic cooking Smart Programs use the built-in advanced sensor
technology to detect the volume of ingredients in the inner pot and control
cooking times and temperatures automatically.
For best results, follow grain to water ratios as described in “Smart Program
Cooking Times & Temperatures”.
How to Use the Smart Programs for Automatic Cooking
1. Select a Smart Program for automatic cooking by pressing the Smart
Program control. The Smart Program indicator will ash.
Optionally, press Keep Warm to turn the Keep Warm program OFF.
For most Smart Programs, Keep Warm is ON by default and the
cooker will automatically keep food warm for a maximum of 12 hours
after the Smart Program has ended. Press Keep Warm to toggle Keep
Warm on or off at any time.
Optionally, press Delay Start to delay the start of the Smart Program.
Delay Start is OFF by default. Turn ON by pressing the Delay Start
control. Use the [−/+] controls to adjust the delayed start time in
increments of 10 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours.
2. Press Start to begin cooking. If Delay Start is ON, the Display will show
the countdown to the delayed start time. When cooking starts, the Display
will count down the remaining Smart Program cooking time.
Press Cancel to stop Smart Program cooking (including Keep Warm, if applicable
at any time. The cooker returns to Standby mode and the Display reads “OFF”.
For the cooking time and temperature associated with each Smart Program,
see Smart Program Cooking Times and Temperatures, below.
* Special Instruction: Follow a trusted risotto recipe and use the Sauté Smart Program
to lightly fry or brown ingredients before using the Risotto Smart Program.

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Smart Programs
Smart Programs for Basic Food Preparation Methods
The Zest™Plus Rice & Grain Cooker features 4 Smart Programs for popular
food preparation methods.
Steam Slow Cook
Sauté Keep Warm
Cooking times and temperatures for these food preparation Smart Programs
are user-adjustable as described in Smart Program Cooking Times and
Temperatures, below.
Select a Smart Program by pressing the Smart Program control. The Smart
Program Indicator will be illuminated.
Steam
The Steam Smart Program uses steam to prepare food.
1. With the cooker in Standby mode (Display reads “OFF”), press Steam.
Display will read [HH:MM].
Optionally, press Keep Warm to turn the Keep Warm program OFF.
Note that Keep Warm is ON by default and the cooker will
automatically keep food warm for a maximum of 12 hours after the
Smart Program has ended. Press Keep Warm to toggle Keep Warm
on or off at any time.
Optionally, press Delay Start to postpone the Smart Program.
Note that Delay Start is OFF by default. Turn ON by pressing the
Delay Start control. Use the [−/+] controls to adjust the delayed start
time in increments of 10 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours.
2. Press [−/+] to adjust Steam program duration in increments of 1 minute
to a maximum of 1 hour.
3. Press Start to save cooking time and begin the Steam program.

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Smart Programs
Sauté
The Sauté Smart Program lightly fries/browns foods using a small amount
of oil in the Inner Pot.
1. With the cooker in Standby mode (Display reads “OFF”), press Sauté.
Display will read “HI” or “LO”. Press Sauté again to toggle between
“HI” and “LO” temperatures.
2. Press [−/+] to adjust Sauté program cooking time in increments of
1 minute to a maximum of 30 minutes.
3. Press Start to save cooking time and temperature and begin cooking.
Note: Delay Start and Keep Warm are not available when using the Sauté Smart
Program.
Slow Cook
The Slow Cook Smart Program brings the cooker up to cooking temperature
slowly and continues cooking at that temperature for a maximum of 24 hours.
1. With the cooker in Standby mode (Display reads “OFF”), press Slow Cook.
Display will read “HI” or “LO”. Press Slow Cook again to toggle between
“HI” and “LO” slow cooking programs.
Optionally, press Keep Warm to turn the Keep Warm program OFF.
Keep Warm is ON by default and the cooker will automatically keep
food warm for a maximum of 10 hours after the Smart Program has
completed. Press Cancel to end Keep Warm at any time.
Optionally, press Delay Start to delay the start of the Smart Program.
Delay Start is OFF by default. Turn ON by pressing the Delay Start
control. Use the [−/+] controls to adjust the delayed start time in
increments of 10 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours.
2. Press [−/+] to adjust the Slow Cook program cooking time in increments
of 10 minutes to a maximum of 24 hours.
3. Press Start to save cooking time and temperature and begin the
Slow Cook program.
WARNING To ensure that foods are fully cooked, the Slow Cook Smart Program must reach the
target temperature. DO NOT adjust Slow Cook time to less than 4.5 hours for “LO” or
2.5 hours for “HI”.

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Smart Programs
Keep Warm
The Keep Warm Smart Program keeps any food warm for up to 10 hours.
1. With the cooker in Standby mode (Display reads “OFF”), press Keep
Warm. Display will read “HI” or LO. Press Keep Warm again to toggle
between “HI” and “LO” temperatures.
2. Press [−/+] to adjust the Keep Warm program duration in increments
of 10 minutes.
Note: Adjustments to Keep Warm cooking times and temperatures apply only
when using Keep Warm as a standalone food preparation method and do not
affect Keep Warm when it is used in conjunction with other Smart Programs.
3. Press Start to save warming time and temperature and begin the
Keep Warm program.
4. Press Start to begin cooking. If Delay Start is active, the Display will show
the countdown to the delayed start time. When cooking starts, the Display
will count down the remaining Smart Program cooking time.
Press Cancel to stop cooking at any time. The cooker returns to Standby
mode and the Display reads “OFF”.
Note: Delay Start is not available when using the standalone Keep Warm Smart Program.

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Smart Program Cooking Times & Temperatures
The cooking times and temperatures for all Smart Programs for Automatic
Cooking are controlled automatically (according to the volume of ingredients
to be cooked) and are not user-adjustable.
Cooking times and temperatures for the Sauté and Slow Cook Smart
Programs are user-adjustable.
Cooking times for the Steam and Oatmeal Smart Programs are
user-adjustable.
Smart
Program
Grain to
Liquid Ratios Cooking Time Cooking Time
Adjustment Cooking Temperature
White Rice 1:1.5 Automatic
25 – 60 min per vol
N/A 212°F / 100°C
Not user-adjustable
Brown Rice 1:2 Automatic
40 – 90 min per vol
Quinoa 1:1.5 Automatic
30 – 60 min per vol
Mixed Grains 1:2 Automatic
40 – 90 min per vol
Steam N/A Default: 10 min User-adjustable
Range: 5 – 60 min
212°F / 100°C
Not user-adjustable
Sauté N/A Default: 30 min
User-adjustable
Range: 1 – 30 min
User-adjustable
LO - 221°F / 105°C
HI - 320°F / 160°C
Oatmeal 1:3 Default: 50 min
User-adjustable
Range: 20 – 60
min
212°F / 100°C
Not user-adjustable
Barley
(Brown) 1:1.5 Automatic
40 – 90 min per vol
N/A 212°F / 100°C
Not user-adjustable
Cous Cous 1:1.5 Automatic
1 – 10 min per vol
Bulgur 1:1.5 Automatic
30 – 60 min per vol
Risotto 1:2 Automatic
30 – 60 min per vol

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Smart Program Cooking Times & Temperatures
Smart
Program
Grain to
Liquid Ratios Cooking Time Cooking Time
Adjustment Cooking Temperature
Slow Cook* N/A LO default – 6 hrs
User-adjustable
Range: 30 min –
24 hours
User-adjustable
LO: 4.5 hrs to reach
212°F / 100°C
HI: 2.5 hrs to reach
212°F / 100°C
Auto
Keep Warm N/A Default/Max:12 hrs N/A
User-adjustable
LO - 149°F / 65°C
HI - 176°F / 80°C
Keep Warm N/A Default/Max: 10 hrs
User Adjustable**
Range: 1hr –
10 hrs
User-adjustable
LO - 149°F / 65°C
HI - 176°F / 80°C
* To ensure that foods are fully cooked, the Slow Cook Smart Program must reach the target
temperature of 212°F / 100°C. Do not adjust Slow Cook Smart Program cooking time to less
than 4.5 hours for “LO” or 2.5 hours for “HI”.
** Keep Warm cooking time is NOT user-adjustable when used in conjunction Smart Programs
for Automatic Cooking.
To make and save adjustments to Smart Program cooking times and temperatures, see More
Controls, below.

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More Controls
Adjust and Save Cooking Time
Applicable to Oatmeal, Steam and Slow Cook Smart Programs ONLY
With the Smart Program selected (Display reads [00:00]), press the [−/+]
controls to adjust cooking time in increments of 1 minute for Steam, and 5
minutes for Oatmeal. Press Start to save the adjusted cooking time with the
selected Smart Program.
Adjust and Save Cooking Temperature
Applicable to Sauté, Slow Cook and Keep Warm Smart Programs ONLY
With the Smart Program selected, press the Smart Program control again to
toggle between “HI” and “LO”. Press Start to save.
Adjust “Delay Start” Time for Smart Programs
Not applicable to the Sauté Smart Program.
With the Smart Program selected, press the [−/+] controls to adjust cooking
time in increments of 10 minutes. Adjustments will be saved with the selected
Smart Program when you press Start.
Reset Smart Program Time Settings to Factory Defaults
Applicable to Oatmeal, Steam, Sauté and Slow Cook Smart Programs only.
With the cooker in Standby mode (Display reads “OFF”), press and hold the
control for the specic Smart Program to reset for 5 seconds. The Smart
Program beeps once to indicate that the Smart Program cooking time is
restored to the factory default settings.
Reset All Settings to Factory Defaults
With the cooker in Standby mode (Display reads “OFF”), press and hold
Cancel for 3 seconds. Cooker will beep once to indicate that all Smart
Programs and controls are restored to the factory default settings.

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More Controls
Turn Sounds On or Off
To turn cooker audio alerts OFF: When cooker is in Standby mode (Display
reads “OFF”), press and hold [−] for 3 seconds. will be illuminated.
To turn cooker audio alerts ON: When cooker is in Standby mode (Display
reads “OFF”), press and hold [+] for 3 seconds. will be extinguished.

20
Initial Test Run
Follow these steps to ensure your cooker is operating properly.
1. Release the lid lock and lift the lid.
2. Remove the inner pot.
3. Place the Steam Rack in the bottom of the inner pot.
4. Add only 2 ounces of clean water to the inner pot.
5. Return the inner pot to the cooker and close the lid.
6. Plug the power cord directly into a 120V power outlet. Display reads
“OFF” indicating that the cooker is in Standby mode.
7. Press the Steam Smart Program control.
8. Press Start. The Display counts down cooking time in hours and minutes
until 1 minute remains, then in seconds.
9. When the Smart Program ends, the cooker beeps 5 times, Display reads
“END” and the Keep Warm program begins.
10. Press Cancel to end the Keep Warm program.
CAUTION The cooker may be hot during and after cooking. Do not touch hot surfaces.