They’re true multi-cookers that can be used to braise, sauté, steam, and so much more. But all Instant Pots are not created equal—er, not every model can perform every function, and they’re billed accordingly (7-in-1, 9-in-1, etc.). All Instant Pots can pressure-cook, slow-cook, sauté, and keep warm.
There’s not much else that differentiates this model from the Duo. After all, the best pressure cooker for you is the one that’s most conducive to your lifestyle and budget. Overall, there’s no significant difference between these two models in instant vortex terms of functions and cooking presets. The newer version does not cook faster or more efficiently than its older counterparts. Choosing the right Instant Pot size depends on the demands of your household and the size of your intended meals.
The larger-sized device is also great if you want to cook in bulk. Meal prep is all the rage at the moment, and there’s never been a more convenient way to get your meals ready for the week than with a 10 qt Instant Pot. We just said that one of the benefits of the Duo is how easy it is to use, but now we’re saying that it’s not beginner-friendly – what gives? Well, in our opinion, most Instant Pot models have a pretty steep learning curve and it takes a while to get to grips with how they work. Of course, paying more for the Duo Nova does bring some extra features, which could be pretty useful to the right person.
You’ll struggle to find another high-quality pressure cooker with such a large capacity. Both the Instant Pot Duo and the Duo Nova are available in 3, 6, and 8 liquid quartz. Being able to choose from three different sizes is great and means you can get something that fits in your kitchen perfectly. This range of sizes isn’t typically offered by other pressure cooker brands. The Instant Pot Duo Nova is the next generation of the one-touch multi-cooker that pressure cooks quickly, sauté, steams, slow cooks, warms, and makes delicious meats, eggs, rice, soup, yogurt and more.
There’s also a progress bar on the LCD display screen to indicate the cooking status but these are minimal differences and this is reflected in the similar price tags. Although the Instant Pot pressure multicooker has many different functions (smart programs), the most commonly instant pot duo nova used is the Pressure Cook function. Pressure cooking allows you to cook foods at a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop. Get to know your LCD screen and the cooking functions that your pot has. My favorite to use is the pressure cooker button in the lower right.
The Duo Nova’s one-touch Smart Program settings let you start cooking instantly. Just press a button for soup, broth, beans, chili, poultry, slow cooking, sautéing, rice, multigrain, porridge, steaming, yogurt, pressure cooking, or keeping warm. Its bright blue display moosoo air fryer tells you everything you need to know about what’s happening inside. What was previously its advantage over any Instant Pot — a single lid used for pressure cooking and air frying — is no longer with Instant Brands’ summer 2022 introduction of the Ultimate Lid.
Sure, you can find some models that sell for less, but those models generally lack a saute function and thus, sacrifice quite a bit of the convenience that makes pressure cookers so attractive. The Crock-Pot competitor-turned-cult classic has been a staple in foodie kitchens since 2018(opens in a new tab). The collection of three or four models has grown into an army of pressure cookers, toaster ovens, air fryers, blenders, and coffee makers. Google autofills “Instant Pot” over “slow cooker” after typing in “potato soup.” When you consider the time, effort, and counter space that these powerhouses save, it makes total sense. Instant Pots are beloved because of their ability to cook foods quickly using pressure. But they’re also wildly popular in part because of their versatility.