Both Instant Pots have the same menu layout on the front, with all the buttons located in exactly the same place. The Duo Nova has a blue screen whereas the Duo’s is black, but aside from aesthetics, they are practically the same in this area. In addition, the Duo Nova comes with two sealing rings, rather than the usual one. Sealing rings are one of the most important parts of an Instant Pot, and the company recommends that you change your ring every months.
Instead, once you program the Instant Pot, it automatically starts after a few seconds. Some other models such as Ultra, Duo Evo Plus, and Max require you to press Start after programming the Instant Pot. If you’ve had experiences, like I, with stovetop pressure cooker mishaps in the past, fear no more.
While the Instant Pot performs very well as a pressure and slow cooker, unfortunately, it’s let down by its ease of use which we find to be only OK. The 7-in-1 Duo(opens in a new tab) is a cult favorite and one of Instant Pot’s all-time best sellers. Though its “successor,” the , comes with an extra safety feature and cooler screen, anyone who prefers a more straightforward approach may prefer the classic Duo. As a result he suffered burns over large portions of his body, and indicates he has been left with permanent injuries. Faulty and defective designs may cause a pressure cooker to explode, resulting in severe burns and injuries.
They’re versatile, combining a range of functions into one appliance, and save you valuable cupboard space by replacing multiple appliances. The loyalty to the Duo lies in its combination of function, simplicity, and price. It’s a slight step up from the 6-in-1 Lux function-wise, adding the yogurt-making function. (Now that the Lux has been discontinued, it’s technically now the cheapest Instant Pot.) Since the birth of the Duo Nova, the six-quart Duo’s retail price of $99.95 is almost always slashed to $79.95 or less. $79.95 was the original price of the six-quart Lux, so that’s essentially getting the yogurt-making function for free.
The steam rack provided isn’t great for this purpose and some of the broccoli pieces fell through the gaps. Preheating took five minutes and after the four minute cook time we used the quick release pressure button so that we could get the broccoli out immediately. Some of the larger florets had a good texture but the smaller ones were overcooked. The slight improvements in design and functionality moosoo air fryer also make this version better suited to everyday needs. Meanwhile, the Instant Pot Duo still offers myriad benefits and uses in its own right while being among the least expensive electric pressure cookers on the market. Every Instant Pot has different cooking programs, but you can typically expect to see features such as a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, and more.
In addition to that, it also has settings that allow it to widen the realm of possibilities. Your Instant Pot can serve not only as a pressure cooker but also as a warmer, steamer, rice cooker, slow cooker, sous vide, and much more. Though its price is slightly higher than a comparable pressure cooker, the value it brings is exceptional, and in our opinion, totally worth it. Although pressure cooking is certainly nothing new, traditional cookware could be dangerous.
Consequently, milder recipes might pick up some of the odor/flavors if you use the same sealing ring. Therefore, it’s ideal for getting extra sealing ring(s) for different tastes (mild and strong). 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. Unlike other Instant Pots, it has a simple control panel, with the standard program buttons and a blue-lit, LED screen. Programs range from Slow Cook and Saute to Poultry and Pressure Cook. Handy functions, such as Pressure Level, Keep Warm, Delay Start, and Cancel are in the center.
In what we’ve found to be the most differentiating of our cooking tests, the saute test; the DUO Nova performed wonderfully. It got hot enough to easily brown eve hearty veggies like carrots and made quick work of diced onions. We believe this ability is crucial; to effectively saute right in the pot vastly increases the number of meals you can make with only one dish to clean at the end. The Instant Pot Duo is considered a classic among all the Instant Pot products.
This new model has an Easy Seal Lid, which automatically sets to seal when you close it. It comes with an Easy Steam Release Button, which sits an inch or two away from the steam nozzle, that you can press. We really like this new feature because it keeps our fingers out of the way of the hot steam. When it comes to cleaning, the Instant Pot can be fiddly instant vortex – you’ll need to remove, clean and replace the rubber seal after each use. Food spills can also be difficult to clean as they can become trapped around the edge where the lid locks in. The unit has cracks and crevices that can accumulate residue and regular maintenance is needed to clean the silicone rubber gasket and the steam release mechanism.