If you have a large family, the 10-quart capacity is perfect for cooking up a storm, although you still have the smaller options to suit your needs. In terms of accessories, the Instant Pot Duo comes with the standard inner pot and steam rack (in my opinion, they should add a measuring cup as well). Both accessories are dishwasher safe and don’t have any chemical coating. A glass lid with a venting hole (purchased separately) may be used.
You want a cooking pot with handles
The stainless-steel cooking pot doesn’t have handles for easy lifting, if you’d prefer handles consider another model such as the Instant Pot Pro or the Instant Pot Evo Plus. You should do a water test before the first use but you can also do it when you’re having instant vortex problems with the Instant Pot pressurizing. Doing the water test will pinpoint whether there’s something about the recipe that’s causing your sealing issues. The Instant Pot Pressure Cook program can use high or low pressure. A majority of the recipes that you encounter will use High pressure.
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. Both the Duo Plus Whisper Quiet and the Duo Nova hit a sweet spot of offering some of the newer, more convenient features without a high-end price.
The new lid’s Steam Release Button also makes it easier to release pressure. This will help keep your hands clear of the superheated steam that escapes when you release the pot’s internal pressure. With revolutionary smart multi-cookers featuring new functions and uses constantly in development, it can be hard to tell Instant Pot products apart — especially the Instant Pot Duo and Duo Nova. Another type of pressure cooking is geared specifically toward canning. Although you can cook meals in these units, they aren’t quite as user-friendly as all-in-one units. They also tend to have a much higher capacity, as they’re designed to hold multiple jars of foods.
In those situations, we generally found Instant Pot’s recommendations to be more on point, with the longer cook times bringing about slightly drier and tougher results. 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. As you probably know by now, the Instant Pot Duo is the most popular Instant Pot model. It is a 7-in-1 pressure cooker (meaning it can replace seven kitchen appliances), which is lower than what an Instant Pot Duo Plus or a Duo Evo Plus can offer, but it is enough for a regular kitchen or a beginner. Additionally, the quick steam release switch is separate from the steam valve, and ensures you can force the pressure to be released in a safer way.
The buying guide below details which and how many functions and Smart Programs are available in each model. You’ve heard the hype, read the articles, perused the recipes, and have come to the conclusion that you absolutely need an Instant Pot (true!). But finding the best Instant Pot model to add to your artillery of kitchen appliances—the Instant Pot that really fits your unique cooking needs—is a more involved task than it may seem. It works similarly to any other pressure cooker, and all of my pressure cooker recipes are designed to work in your Instant Pot. Despite advertising seven capabilities, all in all, it comes with 13 convenient smart programs that can replace multiple kitchen appliances. Helen is a freelance writer who specializes in kitchen appliances and has written for some of the biggest home-related titles around.
I have since learned the Instant Pot Max is the appropriate device for “Pressure Canning”; however, it will only pressure can 4 pints at a time and cannot accommodate quarts. My personal experience to date tells me the Instant Pot is highly overrated. However, other injuries linked to pressure cookers have included eye injuries, broken bones and other complications that resulted from electrocutions, spills or explosions. The Duo Nova isn’t the only deal you can grab from Instant Pot during Prime Day.
The new rubberized handles make it much easier to lift the pot after cooking, and they help keep it in place so it doesn’t spin when you’re sautéing veggies or stirring something like risotto. Anyone with a big family (larger than 6 members) will find the 8-quart Instant Pot is a perfect option for everyday needs. That being said, due to its large and bulky size, this tool isn’t ideal for small kitchens. Similar in versatility but safer to use, the Instant Pot Duo Nova comes with more advanced features to provide its users with a superior cooking experience.
This is why busy families absolutely love Instant Pots – they can set their food to slow cook in the morning and come home to a beautiful, ready-made dish in the evening. Since that first product, Instant Pot has expanded across the cooking industry, but their multi-use cookers remain their most popular products. This success is no doubt down to the ease of use, quality of cooking, and affordability that Instant Pot manages to pack into their devices. Of all the things you can do from your phone, the remote steam release is the most clutch.