We also had great luck prepping various grains, including rice and quinoa, in the DUO Nova. Things generally came out a bit more moist and sticky rather than fluffy, but we generally enjoyed the texture. It also performed well in our meat cooking moosoo air fryer tests, successfully rendering a tough brisket cut into a tender and enjoyable feast. Some of the Instant Pot options you might encounter are the Duo, the Lux and the Ultra line. The 3-quart Instant Pot has been dubbed the mini version.
If you don’t yet have an Instant Pot and can possibly swing the extra bucks, the Duo Evo Plus is the one to choose. Supposedly the Duo Evo Plus was designed after collecting user comments and suggestions about what features a new model should have. For most folks, even families, a 6 quart will make a dish that will feed even a pretty large family. Don’t forget the larger the pressure cooker, the longer it will take to come to pressure. The Instant Pot Max has an automatic pressure release feature that you set when you begin cooking.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is Instant Pot’s combination air fryer and pressure cooker, with a separate lid for each function. If you only need a cooker for one or two or don’t plan to meal prep, then the Instant Pot DUO Mini can save you some money with the same functions and performance, just a smaller quantity. If you want the best option with a good capacity, then the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart is a higher ranking option that offers the same cooking performance that is easier to use. In designing the DUO Nova, Instant Pot took an already user-friendly machine and added a convenient pressure release button. Hi Emily – I have a separate air fryer, so I don’t use the air fryer lid very often. The Duo Crisp does not have the Yogurt function nor some of the other shortcut buttons like rice, brown rice, etc.
That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed the food made by the DUO Nova, with it earning superlatives in most of our cooking tests. In contrast, the Ultra Mini 10-in-1, 3-quart cooker measures 11.5 by 10.20 by 11.00 inches and weighs 9 pounds. The dimensions of the 6-quart Ultra 10-in-1 model are 13.00 by 12.50 by 12.50 inches, and it weighs 11.8 pounds. The Lux Mini 6-in-1, 3-quart version has dimensions of 11.50 by 10.51 by 10.50 inches, and it weighs 8.5 pounds. If you plan to cook big batches of dump-and-go meals, then I’d recommend an 8-quart Instant Pot or even the new moosoo air fryer 10-quart. If you’re cooking for two adults and one or two kids, the 6-quart Instant Pot will have everything you need.
It’s a step up from the base model Lux because it cooks at High and Low Pressure. Williams Sonoma has a limited edition line of Star Wars themed Instant Pot Duos. I’m particularly fond of R2D2, though to my disappointment, it doesn’t beep like R2 when you’re cooking. Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8-quart Pressure Cooker and Air Fryer. If you don’t have a lot of space in your kitchen, this 8-quart is two great appliances in one. Seriously, so much food fits in the Instant Pot Duo Nova 10-quart.
There are very few situations where the DUO Nova wouldn’t be our top pressure cooker recommendation. The first is for those that mainly want to cook meat, as we’ve found some other cookers that can retain just a bit more tenderness in specific cuts than this machine. It sets the standard for pressure cookers, offering a versatile list of cooking functions, well-designed controls, and convenient touches like a pressure release button. In the world of pressure cookers, the DUO Nova sells for a relatively reasonable price but leads the pack in terms of performance. Sure, you can find some models that sell for less, but those models generally lack a saute function and thus, sacrifice quite a bit of the convenience that makes pressure cookers so attractive. We believe this is one of the best values on the market.
I used a Fissler pressure cooker for more years than I want to count! Thank you for all your great recipes for pressure cooking and baking. The DUO Nova provides most of the basic pressure cooking functions and some more advanced options. Essentially, unless you’re looking for some specific specialty functions like air fry or dehydrate, it will likely meet your needs.
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. There’s SO MANY models and variations, it’s not surprising! Our 2022 Instant Pot Buying Guidewill talk through the available options so you can feel confident choosing the Instant Pot size and model that’s right for you. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support our work. Learn how we create the most in-depth and scientific tech reviews on our About page. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews.
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 lid can go in the dishwasher, and it is ergonomically designed to be used by both left-handed and right-handed users. A stainless steel rack is included with the Instant Pot pressure cooker that can also be washed in the dishwasher after your meal is finished. This cooking pot is composed of food-grade stainless steel that’s free of chemical coatings. This particular Instant Pot is a Walmart exclusive, but it’s almost identical to the standard Duo Nova aside from its front panel looking a bit different.