Whether an Instant Pot could make your life a hell of a lot easier is a no-brainer. What involves more thought is choosing the right Instant Pot for you. The Instant Pot Duo Nova model has a backlit display and additional safety features of the auto sealing lid. The auto sealing lid is a feature I love in the Ultra so it’s great to see it here. Though every Instant Pot has the same basic multi-cooking functionality that made the brand a household name, some are more versatile than others. If you’re in the market for an 8-quart pressure cooker, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp would be a really great choice.
I guess even Gordon Ramsey will have a hard time operating the Instant Pot without looking at the product manual. 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 tests, successfully rendering a tough brisket cut into a tender and enjoyable feast. In designing the DUO Nova, Instant Pot took an already user-friendly machine and added a convenient pressure release button. If you’re after a simple, no-fuss multicooker, the Instant Pot Duo Nova is a good option for beginners.
When it comes to using the pressure cooker, the Instant Pot has an “easy seal lid” that automatically seals, and a quick pressure release button to release the steam once cooking is complete. The number of Instant Pot models has grown over the years to the point that there’s almost a confusing number of these devices available. Some are more straightforward than others, like the Duo Crisp, which includes an air-fry mode and comes with the appropriate lid for it. 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 cooking time you’ll get back while using it.
You will notice that when there is no pressure in the IP the valve is down. The float valve is what builds and maintains the pressure in the IP. Right away I was able to notice the size difference of the 8-quart vs my 6-quart. I liked the instant pot duo nova idea that the buttons were the same on the Duo Nova as they were on the Duo. This sous vide upgrade of the Duo is interesting, but not widely available. With the Lux, Duo, Duo Plus, Ultra, and Smart Bluetooth being the most common models.
And, the best thing about an electric pressure cooker is that these are multi functional. It’s not just a pressure cooker; it’s a slow cooker, rice cooker, and even a yogurt maker all in one package. The pressure cooker and slow cooker have three settings (less, normal and more) allowing you to adjust the degree of cooking, but it may require a bit of trial and error. When you’re done frying, you can simply switch back to the standard lid for pressure-cooking, steaming, sautéing, and more. Like all current Instant Pot models, this one comes with advanced safety features and access to a digital library of more than 1,000 Instant Pot recipes. The Instant Pot Duo is extremely efficient as it speeds up your cooking by up to 70% (compared to stove-top cooking) and it offers a solid range of smart cooking programs – 13 one-touch smart programs.
Get to know your pressure cooker with pictures that show you what the different parts are. Want to know how the classic Instant Pot models compare to other brands? The Duo SV is an 8-in-1 secondary multicooker from Instant Pot that essentially slaps sous vide functionality on the standard Duo. It has an MSRP of $80 and, in the US, it’s only available for purchase at Costco. Thumbs up to the way the lid seals automatically and how easy it is to release the pressure.
However, the company seemed to have abandoned this model in favor of the classic ones which they have been keeping up to date with the latest features. Since this was the 10 quart capacity, the largest pot around, I found this quite heavy and cumbersome to lift. Another good thing about the Instant Pot Duo Nova is it doesn’t get too hot around the sides if you need to move it around. The Instant Pot Duo Nova has many buttons that may appear confusing and complicated. In my experience, the condensation collector rarely fills up but I have found that when I cook pasta, in particular, liquid tends to collect and it can get messy! Get into the habit of checking for liquid in the condensation collector after every use.
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. In reality, Instant Pot is the brand name of a multicooker that serves as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, sauté/searing pan, instant pot duo nova steamer and warming pot all in one convenient appliance. Skip the fast-food line and make all of your favorite foods with the Instant Pot pressure cooker. With a simple press of a button, you can instantly steam vegetables, cook meat, stews, and casseroles, or even treat yourself to homemade yogurt!