Best Instant Pot 2022: A guide to the features of this year’s top cookers

Families of four require at least a 6-quart pot, while larger families will probably prefer 8 quarts. Additionally, 3-quart pots are usually the best option for one or two people or for preparing side dishes. The 6-quart is the most popular size and is ideal for families of five or less, and every model comes in this size. The 3-quart is obviously best for smaller families, couples, or roommates and smaller dishes like appetizers and soups. The 8-quart is best for roasts or prepping a few days’ worth of meals for large families. This lid works on all existing models with the exception of the Instant Pot Pro Plus, the now- discontinued Duo Evo Plus, Duo SV, Smart WiFi, or Max.

From beef stews to baked potatoes, steamed corn, mac and cheese and even dessert, there’s nothing I haven’t tried to make in my Instant Pot that hasn’t come out perfect. (The Float Valve will pop up when the cooker is pressurized.) Release pressure by pressing down on the Quick Release Button to open the Steam Release Valve. Close the Steam Release Valve by turning the Quick Release Button counter-clockwise until it pops up into the sealed position. Vent Seal Float Valve The Float Valve provides a visual indication of the pressure within the cooker. When the Float Valve is up, the cooker is pressurized. All pressure must be released and float value must be down.

instant pot duo nova

Developed specifically for feed-a-crowd recipes, Instant Pot’s largest electric pressure cooker weighs in at 10 quarts. If you usually host large dinner parties or group gatherings of hungry folks, this is your lifesaver. I would love to know your recommendation for a 6 qt Instant Pot. I used a Fissler pressure cooker for more years than I want to count!

With an easy-seal lid , a stainless-steel pot and a safety lock, the Duo Nova is the perfect addition to any kitchen. Of the three, the Duo60, which cooked decently and was simple to use, is the most similar to the that’s on sale here. QVC shoppers love the Nova, rating it with a solid 4.5 stars and noting that it was easy to use and clean. Some also raved over its compact size, which they say was perfect for use in their motorhomes. The major differentiator of the Instant Pot Pro Plus is its access to your home Wi-Fi network. This lets you schedule cooking, remotely control it, and beam recipes directly to the Instant Pot.

The Instant Pot Duo Nova, otherwise known as the Duo Nova Pressure Cooker, Instapot Duo Nova, or simply the IP Duo Nova, was released in 2019 as an upgrade to the original Instant Pot Duo. With the Lux, Duo, Duo Plus, Ultra, and Smart Bluetooth being the most common models. In all other respects, it functions very similarly to the Duo Plus. The Instant Pot Duo SV is another Costco-exclusive Instant Pot model. It has been replaced by the Duo Gourmet and is in the process of being phased out. The Instant Pot Duo’s exterior is has been available in mint, white, and coral.

Whether you’re pressure cooking, steaming, sauteing or making batches of yoghurt, this a kitchen appliance to rule them all. Great care has been taken to ensure maximum efficiency and safety and the new easy seal lid makes pressure cooking more secure while the quick release button lets steam escape safely. The generous size is great for batching as well as feeding families and dinner guests. Instant Pots are multifunctional pressure cookers with enhanced features and multiple settings to make an even better meal. The best Instant Pots not only offer faster cooking times but other handy features like preprogrammed settings, LCDs, smartphone apps, and customizable parameters. In this article, we compare the current Instant Pot models, examine their unique features, and explain how each product’s settings work.

Its bright blue display tells you everything you need to know about what’s happening inside. At the end of the day, instant pots are multifunction cookers that can cook food in no time at all. Pressure cookers greatly decrease cook time as the increased pressure raises the boiling point of water and traps steam. After the cooking is done the steam is released either automatically or manually.

A pressure cooker is a device that cooks food under pressure. It’s either an electric device you plug into the wall or a stovetop device that uses the heat of your cooktop. An Instant Pot is a multifunctional pressure cooker, meaning it has additional cooking functions outside of pressure cooking. Even if your recipe only calls for one minute of cook time, you are not about to go from frozen chicken breasts to a perfect roast with a well-done center. The act of sealing and coming to pressure feels like it takes forever (in reality, 5-10 minutes), and yes, it’s fine if your Instant Pot blows steam in the process. It will automatically switch to pressure cooking when pressurization is complete and will automatically switch to warming when the timer is up.

So the absence of a smart program isn’t a deal-breaker. The lid auto-seals i.e. you don’t need to turn the handle to the Sealing position as with some older models of Duo Nova and Duo. This is a really useful feature because it’s very easy to forget to turn the steam release handle to the Sealing position. While the moosoo air fryer comes in a range of sizes, it’s currently the only model with a large, 10 quart capacity option, which is ideal for big families or hosting parties. The only downside is that it’s quite heavy and bulky, and can take up a fair bit of countertop space.

If you’ve purchased previous Instant Pot models, you’re probably used to receiving one sealing ring, a steam rack, a measuring cup, and a few stirring spoons. With both lids, a controlled manual pressure release takes some practice to get right without covering your ceiling in steam. If you only need a cooker for one or two or don’t plan to meal prep, then the Instant Pot DUO Mini can save you some money with the same functions and performance, just a smaller quantity. If you want the best option with a good capacity, then the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart is a higher ranking option that offers the same cooking performance that is easier to use. We also had great luck prepping various grains, including rice and quinoa, in the DUO Nova.