Instant Pot DUO Nova Review

These days, there are lots of Instant Pot models available on the market. This is a great thing, but it also makes choosing which one is best instant pot duo nova for you more difficult. Most pressure cooker models are available in similar sizes, and it is the additional features that set them apart.

You want a cooking pot with handles
The stainless-steel cooking pot doesn’t have handles for easy lifting, if you’d prefer handles consider another model such as the Instant Pot Pro or the Instant Pot Evo Plus. You should do a water test before the first use but you can also do it when you’re having instant vortex problems with the Instant Pot pressurizing. Doing the water test will pinpoint whether there’s something about the recipe that’s causing your sealing issues. The Instant Pot Pressure Cook program can use high or low pressure. A majority of the recipes that you encounter will use High pressure.

instant pot duo nova

Select the Saute program to brown onions or meat before pressing Cancel to stop sauteing once you’re happy. I was impressed by the searing process, which didn’t take as long to brown as it would in a conventional frying pan. The Instant Pot reaches the ideal, high temperature to brown and crisp the meat before adding in the rest of your ingredients and stock to the pot. After closing the lid with a simple twist and lock, press the Pressure Cook button twice to set the temperature to either Low, Normal or High, which is set at 239°F to 245°F.

We suggest using a spatula or wooden spoon to release this, wearing an oven mitt, or opting for a newer model that has the automatic sealing lid and steam release button. The Instant Pot’s heart is a microprocessor aided by built-in temperature sensors that give Instant Pots the ability to 1. Mimic the cooking functions of multiple different appliances and 2.

But it has far fewer preset programs than you’ll see on some other Instant Pots such as the more expensive Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus, which has 48 customizable presets. The steam release valve does just what it’s called to release the steam from inside the pressure cooker. So there are no more worries about forgetting to turn the sealing valve to sealing. All you have to do is put the lid on your IP and of course, adjust the LCD screen for the correct cooking time. 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. And the smart programs in the Duo and Duo Nova are both able to take care of all the cooking-time and temperature calculations.

This is why busy families absolutely love Instant Pots – they can set their food to slow cook in the morning and come home to a beautiful, ready-made dish in the evening. Since that first product, Instant Pot has expanded across the cooking industry, but their multi-use cookers remain their most popular products. This success is no doubt down to the ease of use, quality of cooking, and affordability that Instant Pot manages to pack into their devices. Of all the things you can do from your phone, the remote steam release is the most clutch.

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 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.

For many people, the extra features that the Duo Nova offers might well be worth the extra expense. However, this is a decision you’ll have to make for yourself by thinking about how you’ll use your Instant Pot, and which functions you really need. With these programs, you can perfectly cook things like ribs, beans, soup, egg-fried rice, and much more. You can fill up your 13 slots with all of your favorite meals so that they can be prepared at the touch of a button. This range of functions means that an Instant Pot could take care of all the cooking in your house if you wanted it to.