The Best Instant Pot to Buy in 2022: Complete Buying Guide

This device provides customized cooking times with its altitude adjustment feature. Aside from the smart features and customizations, there are dual pressure settings available as well. The models of Instant Pot pressure cookers you can find include the 3-quart, 5-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart sizes. The dimensions of the Ultra 10-in-1, 8-quart model measure out to be 14.80 by 14.00 by 14.50 inches, and it weighs 15.7 pounds.

instant pot duo nova

I prefer the Instant Pot Pro Crisp, but the Original Duo Crisp and theDuo Crisp with Ultimate Lid might be a better choice for you if you have other features you’re looking for. However, both share the improved auto-seal lid that makes them instant vortex worth the extra expense. Get the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter. The best Instant Pot® for beginners, with upgraded lid and display.

But until now meal preppers have been using the 8-quart without any problems. Honestly, there’s a reason the Instant Pot Duo is a best-seller. I absolutely still recommend the Instant Pot Duo, even with all of the newer models on the market. I’ve had mine for seven years and it’s still working just as well as the day I bought it. Instant Pot Duo Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Duo Gourmet, whichever is better priced when you’re ready to buy . This is the second year where we’ve placed the Instant Pot Pro at the top of our recommendations.

But the Duo Nova remains a solid option for newbies as it combines the convenience of a pressure cooker with a bunch of other functions in a relatively counter-friendly appliance. You may need to make a bit more space for the 8-quart model in your kitchen, but it’s a small price to pay for all of the cooking time you’ll get back while using it. First off, the rubber gasket on the lid is easily removable, and the lid itself is a single piece. This makes cleaning and drying easier than some other models that use two-piece lids designs that introduce nooks and crannies where water and gunk can hide.

That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed the food made by the DUO Nova, with it earning superlatives in most of our cooking tests. In contrast, the Ultra Mini 10-in-1, 3-quart cooker measures 11.5 by 10.20 by 11.00 inches and weighs 9 pounds. The dimensions of the 6-quart Ultra 10-in-1 model are 13.00 by 12.50 by 12.50 inches, and it weighs 11.8 pounds. The Lux Mini 6-in-1, 3-quart version has dimensions of 11.50 by 10.51 by 10.50 inches, and it weighs 8.5 pounds. If you plan to cook big batches of dump-and-go meals, then I’d recommend an 8-quart Instant Pot or even the new Instant Pot Duo Nova 10-quart. If you’re cooking for two adults and one or two kids, the 6-quart Instant Pot will have everything you need.

While people may rate each of the Instant Pot models differently, this is how I like to think of them. Instant Pot accessories will also be easier to find in a 6-quart or 8-quart size. Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Slow Cook similar to what you’d experience in a top-ranked slow cooker, Saute, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Yogurt, Pressure Cook. Instant Pot used to offer the Pioneer Woman Lux in an exclusive floral design, but that is being phased out and is only available from third-party sellers if you can find it. In all other respects, it functions very similarly to the Duo Plus. The Instant Pot Smart WiFi pairs with your smartphone, so you can see what’s going on in your Instant Pot from anywhere!

If you don’t yet have an Instant Pot and can possibly swing the extra bucks, the Duo Evo Plus is the one to choose. Supposedly the Duo Evo Plus was designed after collecting user comments and suggestions about what features a new model should have. For most folks, even instant vortex families, a 6 quart will make a dish that will feed even a pretty large family. Don’t forget the larger the pressure cooker, the longer it will take to come to pressure. The Instant Pot Max has an automatic pressure release feature that you set when you begin cooking.

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is Instant Pot’s combination air fryer and pressure cooker, with a separate lid for each function. If you only need a cooker for one or two or don’t plan to meal prep, then the Instant Pot DUO Mini can save you some money with the same functions and performance, just a smaller quantity. If you want the best option with a good capacity, then the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart is a higher ranking option that offers the same cooking performance that is easier to use. In designing the DUO Nova, Instant Pot took an already user-friendly machine and added a convenient pressure release button. Hi Emily – I have a separate air fryer, so I don’t use the air fryer lid very often. The Duo Crisp does not have the Yogurt function nor some of the other shortcut buttons like rice, brown rice, etc.

I used a Fissler pressure cooker for more years than I want to count! Thank you for all your great recipes for pressure cooking and baking. The DUO Nova provides most of the basic pressure cooking functions and some more advanced options. Essentially, unless you’re looking for some specific specialty functions like air fry or dehydrate, it will likely meet your needs.

It’s a step up from the base model Lux because it cooks at High and Low Pressure. Williams Sonoma has a limited edition line of Star Wars themed Instant Pot Duos. I’m particularly fond of R2D2, though to my disappointment, it doesn’t beep like R2 when you’re cooking. Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8-quart Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer. If you don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen, this 8-quart is two great appliances in one. Seriously, so much food fits in the Instant Pot Duo Nova 10-quart.