This is the top-of-the-line Instant Pot, and while it does not come cheap, you’ll eliminate the need for many other kitchen appliances with this bad boy. However, most recipes call for high pressure anyways, and if you don’t care about making your own yogurt, then the Lux is a great value. Plus, there are workarounds for making yogurt in the Lux if you search instant pot duo nova around the Internet. Six-quart large capacity cooks for up to 6 people—perfect for families, but also great for meal prepping and batch cooking. And, when the food is done, you can use the Keep Warm module to keep it ready for eating until everyone is seated at the dinner table. Some odors, especially from intense recipes, stick to the sealing ring.
It can hold 77 degrees for hours (a cool environment preferred for yeasted bread that’s lower than many traditional ovens go) or spike the temperature on command for searing. The number in each Instant Pot’s title, e.g. “6-in-1” describes the number of kitchen appliances it claims to replace. A great high-end alternative to the Evo Plus, the Ultra button lets you control all parts of the cooking process. If you already have an air fryer, the Instant Pot Pro covers bases from yogurt-making to sous vide to baking for just over $100.
Crock-Pot has become synonymous with slow cookers because it’s been offering some of the most reliable models for years now. You don’t need to spend a fortune on a slow cooker but even so, $17 is a darn good price for one. This 4.5-quart slow cooker has three settings — low, high and warm — which are all you need to make tender pulled chicken tacos, lamb stew, pork shoulder and more. The easy to read control panel, indicates exactly what stage the cooking process is at, and the LCD display makes the Duo Nova look smart on the counter. The smart design inner pot is made of food-grade stainless-steel with tri-ply bottom ensure even cooking when sautéing, and dishwasher safe making clean up even easier. If you want the best Instant Pot and also an air fryer, then you will love the Instant Pot Duo Crip + Air Fryer for its multitasking abilities, making it the ultimate kitchen countertop space-saver.
This pro model has all the same functionality of the Duo Crisp plus an upgraded lid with advanced heat protection, auto-sealing, and gentle pressure release. The sturdier stainless-steel inner pot is made to handle anything; it’s stovetop friendly and oven safe up to 450ºF. While no Instant Pot qualifies as basic, the Duo is technically the most basic model.
Low pressure is useful for pressure cooking delicate foods such as eggs, seafood, and pasta. Don’t worry, you don’t need a special “egg” button to pressure cook eggs as long as you have a model that also lets you choose low pressure, you can just follow our instructions. Instant Pot Duo is a basic, medium-quality pressure cooker, but it looks solid, does a good job of pressure cooking, and is simple to operate. I’ve been cooking a lot more recently and plan to cook even more into the holidays. I’ve been looking for ways to still make the same delicious food, while making my life a little easier. With the Duo Nova, you can cook just about anything and through several different methods.
I was impressed by the searing process, which didn’t take as long to brown as it would in a conventional frying pan. The Instant Pot reaches the ideal, high temperature to brown and crisp the meat before adding in the rest of your ingredients and stock to the pot. After closing the lid with a simple twist and lock, press the Pressure Cook button twice to set the temperature to either Low, Normal or High, which is set at 239°F to 245°F. The time also allows for preheat time which you can see on the handy progress bar on the display. I wrote a detailed review of this pressure cooker and even used the LUX to test recipe and ingredient timing for electric pressure cookers for my cookbook. An Instant Pot is basically a multi-functional electric pressure cooker.
Meanwhile, the Duo Nova lets you release the pressure with the push of a button, so you won’t have to get anywhere near the release valve. Because of this, instant pot Duo Nova reviews all state that this feature makes the unit a better choice for beginners. Well, the newer Duo Nova model has an auto sealing function which makes it almost impossible to forget to seal the lid.