Instant Pot Cake Setting: What is it? Which Models Have it?

Instant Pots have smart programs to help you cook more conveniently. Wondering about the Instant Pot Cake Setting? Check out what I learned in looking it up. 

The Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cookers have smart programs that they created based on extensive testing. They are used to control heat intensity, temperature, pressure, and duration at the click of a button. The Instant Pot Cake Setting is one of these programs.

Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart with Cake Setting

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One thing to note: Not all Instant Pot sizes have the same set of smart programs available within a model series. For example, within a series (e.x. Lux, and Ultra), the 3 quart models do not have all of the not all smart programs are available compared to the 6 and 8 quart models. This is particularly true about the Instant Pot Cake Setting, which is only available as part of certain series. Double-check the Instant Pot you are thinking of buying prior to purchase if the Cake smart program is important to you. In the past, the Cake smart program was not included in the smallest, 3 quart, models. With the refresh of the Duo Plus Mini, a cake button has since been added to the 3 quart size.

What does the Instant Pot Cake Setting Do?

Like the other Instant Pot Smart Programs, the Instant Pot Cake program presets the cooking pressure, heat intensity, temperature, and time.

By default, the button cooks at high pressure for different lengths of time.

• Normal Setting: 40 minutes, and is for lighter, moist cakes.
• More Setting: 50 minutes, and is for denser moist cakes
• Less Setting: 25 minutes, and is for New York style cheesecakes

Which Instant Pot models have the Instant Pot Cake Setting

Be aware that not all models within a series have all the feature buttons associated with the series. Specifically, the Instant Pot Mini 3 quart model may not have all the features the 6 quart and 8 quart within the series have.

And before you make a purchase, make sure you double-check the Instant Pot Cake function is available on that particular model. In the case of the Lux 6 quart, it was an addition to Version 3. If you happen to find a Lux 6 quart that was manufactured before the switch, it might not have the button. 

Which Instant Pot models have the Cake Setting?

Of the Instant Pot models, the Lux, Duo Plus, and Ultra series include the cake setting for the 6 quart and 8 quart models. The smaller 3 quart sizes for each series do not have the cake button. You can still make a cake in your smaller Instant Pot using the manual (pressure cook) button.

	3 Quart	6 Quart	8 Quart
Instant Pot Lux		Yes (*V3 only)	Yes
Instant Duo Plus	Yes	Yes	Yes
Instant Pot Ultra		Yes	Yes
Instant Pot Viva		Yes	Yes
Instant Pot Smart WiFi		Yes

The Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus Bake Setting

The Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus bake setting works differently than the cake button on other Instant Pots.

• The bake setting on the Duo Evo Plus is a non-pressure cooking method. The other Instant Pots use pressure in the cooking process.
• Uses two preset options: custom and Proofing, both of which allow you to choose a cooking temperature.

Given this model cooks differently than the other Instant Pots, it makes sense to call this setting “bake” instead of “cake”.

The Bake Setting on the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer (8 Quart)

And there is another bake setting in the Instant Pot family. On the Duo Crisp, the bake setting is part of the air frying programs, not the pressure cooking (or wet) programs.

What if your Instant Pot doesn’t have the Cake Button?

Don’t worry. You don’t have to miss out on making cakes (cheesecake!!) in your Instant Pot if it doesn’t have a cake button. Most recipes use manual (or pressure cook) in the cooking instructions.

Even for myself, I would love an Instant Pot with a cake program but have two 3 quart minis so it’s not currently an option in any of the models. I successfully made a chocolate cake (using half a boxed cake mix cooked on the manual setting) that was delicious even without the cake smart program! And if you love cheesecake, that was amazing too! I’ve made two of those so far (first time making cheesecake EVER) and it wasn’t as overwhelming as it sounds.

The Fat Daddio push pans fit the Instant Pots really well and make it easy to “push” the cake out of the pan once it’s done. The 6-inch pan fits the 3 quart and larger Instant Pots. And the 7-inch pan fits the 6 quart and larger Instant Pots. Tip: I decided to buy a few of the pans to have on hand in case I want to make a few cakes or things back to back.

Over to you. What do you think about the Instant Pot Cake Setting?

Is this a setting you want on your Instant Pot or are you trying to make cakes with a manual setting process?

Learn more about the Instant Pot Settings

As part of your Instant Pot research, don’t forget to take a closer look at the other Instant Pot Smart programs to help you figure out which options are the most important to you.

• Instant Pot Soup/Broth Setting
• Instant Pot Poultry Setting
• Instant Pot Meat/Stew Setting
• Instant Pot Chili/Bean Setting
• Instant Pot Porridge Setting