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

The first few times, you may find it difficult to remove the sealing ring but after a few uses, it should stretch out a bit. Steam Release Button – allows a manual release of pressure from the Instant Pot Nova. The Steam Release Button automatically pops up when the Instant Pot Nova lid is opened or closed. Condensation Collector – catches drips from condensation on the lid; attaches onto the back of the base unit. The condensation collector can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand.

instant pot duo nova

The Instant Pot Duo SV is another Costco-exclusive Instant Pot model. It has been replaced by the Duo Gourmet and is in the process of being phased out. The Instant Pot Duo’s exterior is has been available in mint, white, and coral. You can also get the Duo in the exclusive Pioneer Woman floral moosoo air fryer design and in black or red stainless steel through Walmart. While people may rate each of the Instant Pot models differently, this is how I like to think of them. If I were to buy just one in each size, I’d have a 3-quart Duo Mini, a 6-quart Duo Evo Plus, and the 8-quart Duo Crisp.

I’m Cara and I’ve been cooking in a condo kitchen for years. Let’s help you find the right sizes kitchen appliances for moosoo air fryer your small kitchen so it can live up to its full potential. Price-wise both models are about the same per quart size.

Most recipes online are written for 6-quart pressure cookers. You may need to add more liquid for some recipes with 8-quarts and larger. So if you feel really nervous instant vortex about going off recipe, I’d recommend using a 6-quart. Some of the design requirements of pressure cookers almost inevitably lead to some cleaning challenges.

Pressure cooking allows you to cook foods at a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop. 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.

With different sizes available, this is a useful multi-cooker no matter what size your family or household. I use this method to steam Indian rice cakes called idli. Hope that helps and let me know if you have further questions. Even for singles or couples I still think a 6 qt is the best choice for one’s first or only IP.

There’s no recipe book or cooking charts included though, so you’ll have to head to the website or app for these. We found plenty of slow cook and pressure cook recipes but it can be tricky to find exact guidance for more simple tasks like steaming and cooking rice. 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. 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.