It’s an upgraded version of the Instant Pot Duo, adding a lid that automatically seals shut when you close it. It’s a 7-in-1 device, combining a pressure cooker, yogurt maker, rice cooker, cake maker, slow cooker, egg cooker and sauté machine into one. And with the 8-quart model, you’ll be able to prepare a lot of food — it’s arguably the best size for large families and those who entertain often. This isn’t the only model available with a pressure release button. In fact, other machines place their buttons on the main control panel, even farther away from the assault of steam that accompanies depressurizing a pressure cooker.
This makes it a bit harder to scrub clean than many of its non-stick counterparts but also means it can unequivocally go in a dishwasher. The control panel makes navigating its multiple cooking features and settings quite easy. A dedicated button for each cooking instant vortex presets make it easy to quickly dial in rice or soup settings. A large LCD clearly displays feedback if you want to cycle through some advanced features, such as adjusting the pressure level, programming in a delayed start, or adjusting the cooking time.
The third and fourth pressure cookers above are Instant Pots. The others are other brands of electric pressure cookers. My in-depth Instant Pot Duo Plus Whisper Quiet Review will be posted next week. As a quick preview, the Whisper Quiet is a great mid-range option. My favorite feature is the combination dot-matrix and LCD display, which provides text that indicates what’s going on in the pot. The redesigned lid is quieter , and it has a lot of the high-demand buttons.
All of my recipes are written to work in ANY model of Instant Pot.Some models come to pressure a little faster than others, but the cook times are within a few minutes. The Instant Pot Duo has the yogurt button, adjustable pressure, and the saute function. And one final thought, don’t choose one Instant Pot model over another because one model has more buttons than another. For the vast majority of recipes you’ll need the Sauté, Pressure Cook, Start, Warm and Cancel Buttons.
The first Instant Pot pressure cooker came out in 2012. Since then, it feels like Instant Pot has released a zillion new models , and all with slightly different features. Some of the design requirements of pressure cookers almost inevitably lead to some cleaning challenges. However, the DUO Nova navigates these challenges better than most, making its cleaning process about as easy as one could hope. The pressure release button makes depressurizing the cooking chamber feel much easier and less stressful.
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 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.
The plethora of Instant Pot models sold by the Instant Pot Company make choosing one a frustrating nightmare. I really think they’ve shot themselves in the foot as I fear many people consider purchasing an Instant Pot, see the 986 models and give up because they can’t figure out what model choose. Past retailers have offered a vibrantly colored exterior. The Viva has also offered the stainless steel body in several colors. These colorful editions appear to be getting phased out, so stock will be limited. It also cooks a little faster than older models of Instant Pot, like the Duo, so be aware that you may need to adjust your recipes accordingly.