The Best Instant Pot For You

Of course, with higher price comes more advanced features. Anyone with a big family will find the 8-quart Instant Pot is a perfect option for everyday needs. That being said, due to its large and bulky size, this tool isn’t ideal for small kitchens. Choosing the right Instant Pot size depends on the demands of your household and the size of your intended meals. If you have a small family (2-4 members) and do not want to make a lot of food, the 3-quart Instant Pot is typically a great choice.

The Smart app lets you dictate specific temperatures and duration of your recipes in unlimited sequences. Be aware that different Instant Pot sizes cook differently, but most online instructions are designed for 6-quart models. As a result, you’ll have to learn how to properly scale the recipes if you choose a different size. With revolutionary smart multi-cookers featuring new functions and uses constantly in development, it can be hard to tell Instant Pot products apart — especially the Instant Pot Duo and Duo Nova.

In what we’ve found to be the most differentiating of our cooking tests, the saute test; the DUO Nova performed wonderfully. It got hot enough to easily brown eve hearty veggies like carrots and made quick work of diced onions. We believe this ability is crucial; to effectively saute right in the pot vastly increases the number of meals you can make with only one dish to clean at the end. For the most part, we found the differences in cooking abilities to be minor between the models in our fleet. That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed the food made by the DUO Nova, with it earning superlatives in most of our cooking tests. While it isn’t a budget appliance, this Instant Pot is a great price when you take into account all the different uses and the other appliances it can replace.

instant pot duo nova

But they’re also wildly popular, in part, because they’re true multi-cookers that can be used to braise, sauté, steam, and so much more. But all Instant Pots are not created equal—er, not every model can perform every function, and they’re billed accordingly (7-in-1, 9-in-1, etc.). All Instant Pots can pressure-cook, slow-cook, sauté, and keep warm, and fancier models tack on additional cooking methods like yogurt-making, sous vide cooking, broiling, and air-frying. Though every moosoo air fryer Instant Pot has the same basic multi-cooking functionality that made it a household favorite, some are more versatile than others. Most of the models are very similar in terms of pot size, wattage, and voltage; where they differ is mostly in the software—how many “smart programs” are built in with preset heat, time, and pressure levels. Combining the function of seven appliances in one, they both perform well an extensive variety of cooking tasks, all at the touch of a button.

In theory, this one appliance could replace your microwave, rice cooker, slow-cooker, dehydrator, air fryer, and more. It has a large 8-Quart capacity, which means you could make a meal for up to eight people, and the dishwasher-safe stainless-steel inner pot means clean-up is simple. The Duo Nova has an easy-to-read LCD with a new progress indicator, auto-sealing lid, and smart pressure release button. Each function is easily accessible via the front panel, fitted with one-touch buttons that let users select the desired smart program and make adjustments for pressure and cooking time. If you’re still interested in this product, it’s 99% identical to the current Instant Pot Duo.

However, the Duo Nova will be the ideal option for new cooks, while the Instant Pot Ultra is perfect for advanced cooks. At the same time, this model has an upgraded lid which is safer and more convenient for inexperienced home cooks. From genius cookware to easy-to-use appliances, these are the top-performing new kitchen appliances and cookware from this year. Right now, the six-quart model is more than $30 off at Target. This mid-sized model is the most popular size, and it’s perfect for cooking for three-to-six people. Whether you’re prepping a week of lunches or throwing together a weeknight dinner, this Instant Pot makes cooking easier than ever.

For Instant Pots with multiple sizes, the prices below reflect the price for the 6-quart models. Ultra vs Smart Wifi detailed comparison (I’m sure you’ll enjoy the smart programs these pots have to offer). Lastly, in terms of accessories, the comes with the same stainless steel inner pot and trivet that are somewhat standard with Instant Pots .

Steam, saute, pressure cook, or even slow cook—just set it and forget it. Best of all, the Duo Nova is under $100 now, and through Black Friday. Use only the moosoo air fryer lid with the Instant Pot Duo Nova pressure cooker base. Non-Pressure Cooking With the Duo Nova Follow these steps when using non-pressure cooking Smart Programs. Lock the cooker lid in place, or alternatively you can cover the cooker with an Instant Pot Glass Lid .