If you’re trying to decide between the Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova here is a side by side comparison of the key differences between the two electric pressure cooker models. 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. Some of the design requirements of pressure cookers almost inevitably lead to some cleaning challenges. However, the DUO Nova navigates these challenges better than most, making its cleaning process about as easy as one could hope.
We slow cooked our beef chili for six hours on the ‘more’ setting and the result was a delicious meaty chili with soft beef. The Instant Pot beeps to alert you that cooking has finished and the temperature of the chili at the end of cooking was 176 F/ 80 C. The chili wasn’t thickened to our liking but by switching back to saute it was easy to reduce it to the perfect consistency. During slow cooking the handles and sides all stayed cool, the lid reached 113 F/ 45 C which isn’t too warm to touch.
My favorite thing about using it is being able to tell exactly how hot it is inside the pot. The Instant Pot Duo is the most popular, best-selling Instant Pot of all time. It’s a step up from the base model Lux because it cooks at High and Low Pressure. Instant Pot accessories will also be easier to find in a 6-quart or 8-quart size. If you’re cooking for two adults and one or two kids, the 6-quart Instant Pot will have everything you need. However, both share the improved auto-seal lid that makes them worth the extra expense.
It is a 7-in-1 pressure cooker , which is lower than what an Instant Pot Duo Plus or a Duo Evo Plus can offer, but it is enough for a regular kitchen or a beginner. The Duo Nova comes with a stainless steel inner pot with sealing ring, steam rack and extra seal ring, which is handy as the silicone tends to pick up odors. The only downside is the inner pot doesn’t come with handles, like other Instant Pots, so you’ll need to lift it out carefully.
This button sits about two inches from the pressure valve and allows you to open that valve without actually touching it. Thus, having a button that makes this process quicker, easier, and safer is a welcome instant pot duo nova addition. Care & Cleaning Clean the pressure cooker after each use. Always ensure the inner pot is dry on the outside before inserting into the cooker base and that the cooker base is free of food or debris.
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. My thoughts…not disagreeing really just a bit of a different take. Though it’s the least expensive, the Lux is the only model I wouldn’t recommend. Yes that’s what most recipes call for but for very few dollars more you can choose a model with high and low pressure. Hi Emily – I have a separate air fryer, so I don’t use the air fryer lid very often.
This is the model that caused the Black Friday stampede. The 7-in-1 Duo is a cult favorite and one of Instant Pot’s all-time best sellers. Though its “successor,” the instant vortex, comes with an extra safety feature and cooler screen, anyone who prefers a more straightforward approach may prefer the classic Duo. Nail the perfect rice or quinoa consistency every time without waiting around to stir.
The overall best instant pot will always be the reliable Duo model. However, the Duo Nova will be the ideal option for new cooks, while the Instant Pot Ultra is perfect for advanced cooks. By having so, your Instant Pot will work as an air fryer.