Which Instant Pot Should You Buy? All of the Models Compared

Remove all packaging material and accessories from within and around the appliance. The recipe book that comes with the Duo version is also larger and contains more recipes than what you get with the Instant Pot Duo Nova. However, there isn’t anything between them, and I would happily have either in my kitchen.

instant pot duo nova

This includes its easy-seal smart lid, which ensures that the lid of the pot is sealed tight. This is an upgrade to the brand’s first edition in this range, the Duo. It also has a steam release function which helps relieve the instant pot duo nova pressure safely. An Instant Pot is basically a multi-functional electric pressure cooker. It can do everything that a conventional pressure cooker does but with better results, from cooking rice to roasting a whole chicken.

While it is cheaper than some other Instant Pots, the Duo Nova doesn’t have an air fryer function and it also doesn’t have as many functions as other models either. If you’d like even more choice in cooking settings, head to our Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus review . The Instant Pot Duo Nova is one of the easiest to use pressure cookers from the brand’s best-selling Duo range.

That’s because it acts like seven different kitchen gadgets in one. It’s available in four different sizes, which is ideal if you have a small kitchen and storage is a problem or if you are trying to keep costs down. 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. The 6-quart is the most popular size and is ideal for families of five or less, and every model comes in this size. The 3-quart is obviously best for smaller families, couples, or roommates and smaller dishes like appetizers and soups. The 8-quart is best for roasts or prepping a few days’ worth of meals for large families.

The Duo Plus has sous vide and sterilizer functions, and an additional two cooking programs. This alone may be enough to seal the deal for the Duo Plus. A handful of smaller features can also be found on the Duo Plus, such as quiet steam release, an anti-spin cooking pot design, and a cooking status bar on the LED display. Instant Pots include smart programs to help you cook your meals at the push of a button. Each smart program controls heat intensity, temperature, pressure, and cooking duration. The company designed each program based on extensive testing to help you create amazing results.

If you need recipe inspo for all the fuss-free meals you can make in your new Instant Pot, check out Good Housekeeping’s Instant Pot Cookbook. Instant Pots come with a stainless steel inner cooking pot, but if you’re partial to cooking with nonstick pots and pans, you may want to snag one of these inserts as well. It’s ceramic-coated nonstick exterior cleans up beautifully and can go in the dishwasher and the oven (up to 680°F).

One of those includes a smart steam release valve in the updated lid, which will automatically seal when the lid is closed. That way, you don’t need to turn the Steam Release Handle to the sealing position to instant pot duo nova pressurize. We’ve forgotten that step on the Duo more times than we’d like to admit. Developed specifically for feed-a-crowd recipes, Instant Pot’s largest electric pressure cooker weighs in at 10 quarts.