No Instant Pot qualifies as basic, but the Duo is technically the most basic model you can buy. That makes it the perfect starter Instant Pot, especially if you’re on a budget or you just don’t want to invest in something more instant pot duo nova complicated right now. It’s not too big (though you can buy this model in the 8-quart size), not too small (though the 3-quart is great for dorm rooms), and not quite as complicated as some of the more expensive models.
You’ll struggle to find another high-quality pressure cooker with such a large capacity. Both the Instant Pot Duo and the Duo Nova are available in 3, 6, and 8 liquid quartz. Being able to choose from three different sizes is great and means you can get something that fits in your kitchen perfectly. This range of sizes isn’t typically offered by other pressure cooker brands. The instant vortex is the next generation of the one-touch multi-cooker that pressure cooks quickly, sauté, steams, slow cooks, warms, and makes delicious meats, eggs, rice, soup, yogurt and more.
The pot itself features a redesigned display with a combination of a dial and touch screen buttons, including one for bread proofing. The only other Instant Brands proofer is the Precision Dutch Oven, which doesn’t pressure cook. The Pro Plus Smart also features a premium inner pot with easy-to-grab handles and comes with NutriBoost, a function that mimics the motion of boiling by moving food in the pot. The 8-quart Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer is the Duo Crisp turned up to 11.
Safety is another major feature of this new Instant Pot Duo Nova. It’s Advanced Safety Protection, with 10+ built-in safety features, including Overheat Protection, Safety Lock and more ensure safe pressure cooking. Where the Ninja Foodi’s crisping lid once had a leg up is no longer Instant Pot’s blind spot. The fall 2019 collection brought the first Instant Pot Duo Crisp(opens in a new tab), which opened the door for a collection of other air-frying Instant Pots with Pro, Plus, or both tacked onto the end of the name. There are also multiple dedicated air frying convection ovens by Instant Brands that do not pressure cook. If you’re not familiar with the Instant Pot®, it is a smart multi-use Electric Pressure Cooker designed to be dependable, convenient, and safe.
In summary, in the Instant Pot Duo vs Instant Pot Duo Nova battle, you could say the latter is a bit more prepared for beginners. As a plus Duo Nova has bot the 3 quart and the 10 quart size – the latter is not similar to the Duo Classsic model (or any other instant pots for that matter). We used the Instant Pot Duo Nova for several recipes to try out its performance across different functions.
The larger-sized device is also great if you want to cook in bulk. Meal prep is all the rage at the moment, and there’s never been a more convenient way to get your meals ready for the week than with a 10 qt Instant Pot. We just said that one of the benefits of the Duo is how easy it is to use, but now we’re saying that it’s not beginner-friendly – what gives? Well, in our opinion, most Instant Pot models have a pretty steep learning curve and it takes a while to get to grips with how they work. Of course, paying more for the Duo Nova does bring some extra features, which could be pretty useful to the right person.
This lid works on all existing models with the exception of the Instant Pot Pro Plus, the now- discontinued Duo Evo Plus, Duo SV, Smart WiFi, or Max. This lid is compatible with the Duo Nova, which is also discontinued. They get down to the nitty-gritty of heat intensity, pressure, and cooking duration to achieve more precise results in the kitchen. Some of the more advanced models even offer personalized programming and will remember your settings for the next time. Aside from each Instant Pot series having different smart programs, not all of the sizes within a model will have all of the smart programs included. For example, the mini 3 quart models usually have a few fewer programs than its larger 6- and 8-quart siblings have.
And with its versatility, range of sizes and convenient, one-touch programs to cook just about anything, you can see why. If you’re a novice to the world of the best Instant Pots, or are looking to feed a crowd, the Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1 Cooker could be your best bet. However, the Duo Nova has an upgraded lid and a better-looking control panel, which is why many beginners would rather choose it for their first pressure cooking experience. On the other hand, a seasoned cook may feel more at home with the classic Duo since it’s already been cleared by thousands of users from all over the world. The Keep Warm function is useful when you want your food to stay warm after being pressure cooked. Having the Keep Warm function on allows you keep track of the amount of time since pressure cooking completed.
In this case, you may need to manually adjust the cooking time to your preferred setting. There is also a Manual module, but I only recommend it for more experienced users. In Manual mode, you get to select your own moosoo air fryer settings (like manual pressure setting), but if you don’t know how the pot works, there’s the risk of the food coming out over- or under-cooked. You may encounter Instant Pot recipes that tell you to press Start.