Instant Pot DUO Nova Review

If you have a large family, the 10-quart capacity is perfect for cooking up a storm, although you still have the smaller options to suit your needs. In terms of accessories, the Instant Pot Duo comes with the standard inner pot and steam rack (in my opinion, they should add a measuring cup as well). Both accessories are dishwasher safe and don’t have any chemical coating. A glass lid with a venting hole (purchased separately) may be used.

This collection of programs can be tweaked and tailored to perform super-specific tasks that you may have struggled with pre-Instant Pot (e.g., the perfect way to cook rice). The Duo Nova for all sizes does not include the Cake Setting, egg, or pasteurize features if you’re interested in that particular smart program. But don’t worry as you can still make hard-boiled eggs using the steam setting and cakes in any size Duo Nova by using the instant vortex pressure cook setting and adjusting the time. If the yogurt button is a deal-breaker for you, the all-in-one Ultimate Lid is the only air frying pressure cooker that has that option. Keep in mind that the Ultimate Lid model is heavier than either the Duo Crisp or the Pro Crisp. Additionally, we found many meat-based pressure cooker recipes suggest significantly longer cooking times than Instant Pot suggests for the same cut of meat.

In my opinion, they both do an amazing job, especially since there is no fancy interface to decipher. Do you have a question about the Instant Pot and the answer is not in the manual? Provide a clear and comprehensive description of the problem and your question. The better your problem and question is described, the easier it is for other Instant Pot owners to provide you with a good answer.

I would recommend the 7-in-1 Instant Pot Duo Nova Pressure Cooker back when it was launched, especially if you’re looking for a generous pot capacity. It’s the brand’s only product line that offers a 10-quart cooking pot. It’s exceptionally helpful when slow cooking as you can see the contents. However, if you already have a transparent cover that fits, you don’t need to get another one. Here are some must-have accessories for the Duo Nova pressure cooker. All multicookers, including the Duo Nova, have a moderate learning curve.

In those situations, we generally found Instant Pot’s recommendations to be more on point, with the longer cook times bringing about slightly drier and tougher results. And, when the food is done, you can use the Keep Warm module to keep it ready for eating until everyone is seated at the dinner table. As you probably know by now, the Instant Pot Duo is the most popular Instant Pot model. It is a 7-in-1 pressure cooker (meaning it can replace seven kitchen appliances), 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. Additionally, the quick steam release switch is separate from the steam valve, and ensures you can force the pressure to be released in a safer way.

The buying guide below details which and how many functions and Smart Programs are available in each model. You’ve heard the hype, read the articles, perused the recipes, and have come to the conclusion that you absolutely need an Instant Pot (true!). But finding the best Instant Pot model to add to your artillery of kitchen appliances—the Instant Pot that really fits your unique cooking needs—is a more involved task than instant vortex it may seem. It works similarly to any other pressure cooker, and all of my pressure cooker recipes are designed to work in your Instant Pot. Despite advertising seven capabilities, all in all, it comes with 13 convenient smart programs that can replace multiple kitchen appliances. Helen is a freelance writer who specializes in kitchen appliances and has written for some of the biggest home-related titles around.

instant pot duo nova

It can hold 77 degrees for hours (a cool environment preferred for yeasted bread that’s lower than many traditional ovens go) or spike the temperature on command for searing. Instant Pot dropped a juicier version of the Duo Crisp amid holiday shopping madness in November 2020. Have you heard that the Instant Pot® (the official name, though sometimes called an Instapot) released a new model, the Instant Pot Duo Nova? Let’s take a look at what’s new with this model and the sizes available.

We also tried out the Instant Omni Pro for our best toaster oven testing—you can read our review of that here. Unless you’re taking a multicooker master class, it will take you a couple of weeks or a month to master your Instapot. I’m pretty sure once you’ve tried all its 13 functions, you’ll be confident with your brand new cooking companion. Some of the design requirements of pressure cookers almost inevitably lead to some cleaning challenges.

When pressure cooking, having a strong seal is absolutely essential for proper cooking and kitchen safety. Although the manual seal on the Instant Pot Duo works fine, the automatic version gives you one less thing to worry about. Like the Ninja Foodi, the Pro Crisp comes with two interchangeable lids. (The regular Instant Pot Pro is the same thing, sans the crisping lid.) One transforms the pressure cooker (among other things) into an air fryer, with one lid dedicated to EvenCrisp technology. Unlike the Ninja Foodi, the crisping lid is completely detachable. The Pro Crisp covers 11 functions total, with lid-specific functions lined up on the same side.

While that means it’s dishwasher safe and you won’t have to worry about scratching the surface, it also means it can be trickier to clean if food becomes baked on. The 20-cup Zest Plus is where you can really add some zest to your meals. Mixed grains, barley, couscous, bulgur oatmeal and risotto are added to the lineup, plus four smart programs for sauté, steam, slow cook, and keep warm. You can even cook quinoa on the bottom while using the steam basket simultaneously. Dairy can also get tricky — the high heat is just begging for milk-heavy ingredients to curdle.