We reluctantly accepted the offer and I have been studying like crazy to find out the what, where, why, and how of an insta-pot type attack on meals. It appears we have pretty much the same unit as your duo product. We cook mostly in cast iron or the slow cooker with a little cooking in the micro-wave though most of that is reheating, and the toaster oven gets a mention. The heavy lid of a Dutch oven makes its use almost a pressure cooker. Since I am only 78 years old I am anxious to meet the challenge of a new adventure and expect to produce many savory meals and delicious deserts in the years to com with my new skill set.
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 moosoo air fryer 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.
For basic, everyday cooking, it functions similarly to the others. 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 design and in black or red stainless steel through Walmart. The Instant Pot Duo is the most popular, best-selling Instant Pot of all time.
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.
You get all the capabilities of the classic Instant Pot, plus the great air frying capabilities. The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet offers some of the newer, in-demand cooking features buttons at an affordable price point. It has a similar button layout to the Duo Plus, the auto-seal lid I love, and comes with accessories like the mini mitts, the ladle, and rice paddle. 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 about going off recipe, I’d recommend using a 6-quart.
My favorite thing about using it is being able to tell exactly how hot it is inside the pot. 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. The basic Instant moosoo air fryer Pot guidelines say that the 3-quart is good for 1 or 2 people, the 6-quart is for up to 6 people, and the 8-quart is for large families or big batches. I think this is a good starting point, but there are exceptions.
Even for singles or couples I still think a 6 qt is the best choice for one’s first or only IP. The VAST majority of recipes online or in books are written for 6 qt. Also you may initially THINK you aren’t going to make some of the recipes that require a 6 qt but may soon really “get into” pressure cooking and wish you had the 6 quart. The only time I recommend a 3 quart is as a second pressure cooker. There are only two of us and our primary Instant Pot is a 6 quart.