Its durable construction, precise cooking capabilities, and user-friendly design make it a valuable addition to any household. Since each Instant Pot model is a little different, it’s important to read the manual and learn about the various features and settings your model offers. Instant Pot is the most recognizable brand name among the top-rated pressure cookers for a reason, and the DUO Nova delivers on that pedigree by offering exceptional performance at a reasonable price. There are very few situations where the DUO Nova wouldn’t be our top pressure cooker recommendation.
The cooker base must be kept dry, and can be wiped down with a damp cloth when necessary. The anti-block shield should be washed after each use and re-installed. This gully almost inevitably gathers some crumbs or condensation or whatnot during the stirring and serving process and can be a bit difficult to clean. That gully is likely a necessity of a pressure cooker’s functionality, but we’re still waiting for someone to find an innovative solution to this issue before we award a higher score in this metric. Still, it’s important to mention that none of these two Instant Pot models have a sous vide function nor can they make air fries (usually an air fryer function).
The Pro Plus Smart also features a premium inner pot with easy-to-grab handles and comes with NutriBoost, a function that mimics the motion of boiling by moving food in the pot. Not only do you get a sleek, stainless-steel finish, you get 25 smart programs, as well as a far less nerve-wracking way to release steam and open the lid. The new-and-improved steam release on this model allows the machine to diffuse steam more quietly than ever.
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. The Instant Pot Max delivers maximum pressure and cooks 10% to 15% faster than other Instant Pot models.
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 instant pot duo nova and added a convenient pressure release button. With an easy-seal lid (an upgrade over the regular Duo), a stainless-steel pot and a safety lock, the Duo Nova is the perfect addition to any kitchen. The SV stands for sous vide, and the newest version replaces the Sterilize button with a Sous Vide button.
It has an LED screen and the basic lid that you turn to release the pressure. The the most recent version, released in late 2019, now offers a sous vide setting in place of the steam setting, as well as an updated auto-seal lid. This is the annual cost to cook a meal on low and high slow cooking functions, three days a week at 30c/kWh. We recommend multi cookers that score at least 80% overall and don’t show any scratch marks on the cooking surface following our tests.
Right away I was able to notice the size difference of the 8-quart vs my 6-quart. I liked the idea that the buttons were the same on the Duo Nova as they were on the Duo. The instant vortex 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.
Some other models such as Ultra, Duo Evo Plus, and Max require you to press Start after programming the Instant Pot. If you’ve had experiences, like I, with stovetop pressure cooker mishaps in the past, fear no more. The Instant Pot eliminates most of those pressure cooker issues. Under high pressure, the fiber in the food is tenderized and flavors develop in a very short time.
The Duo Nova features a variety of cooking functions, including pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, steaming, and warming. This allows users to easily create a wide range of dishes, from stews and soups to rice and yogurt. Equipped with advanced microprocessor technology, the Duo Nova ensures precise temperature control and consistent cooking results. The cooker also features a large digital display that makes it easy to monitor cooking progress and adjust settings as needed. The Duo Nova comes with a stainless steel inner pot, which is not only durable but also dishwasher safe, making cleanup a breeze.