In summary, in the Instant Pot Duo vs Instant Pot Duo Nova battle, you could say the latter is a bit more prepared for beginners. As a plus Duo Nova has bot the 3 quart and the 10 quart size – the latter is not similar to the Duo Classsic model (or any other instant pots for that matter). 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. We used the Instant Pot Duo Nova for several recipes to try out its performance across different functions.
If you’re still on the fence about which Instant Pot is for you, then this section will hopefully be a big help. In summary, it’s clear that the Duo Nova has some advantages over the Instant Pot Duo when it comes to extra features. The Duo Nova does everything that the Duo can but adds some nice quality of life improvements. In this article, I’m going to compare two of the brand’s most popular models. The Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova match-up is sure to be an exciting battle, so make sure to stick around to find out who wins.
Since the Instant Pot Duo Nova features an auto-sealing lid, the designs here are slightly different. Anyone who has used other Instant Pot models in the past will feel at home with either of these devices. Again, you can’t really separate the two Instant Pot models in this category.
Compared to the Ultra, this model comes with two sealing rings, a steam rack, and a measuring cup. The team at Milly’s have a reputation for being the premier specialty retailer of kitchenware moosoo air fryer and cookware in New Zealand. If you have any questions about our products or anything else we offer, feel free to get in contact with our knowledgeable staff, they’re happy to help.
No need to worry about the knob in the wrong position when you start cooking. We also had great luck prepping various grains, including rice and quinoa, in the DUO Nova. 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. If we really split hairs, there are other models we’ve tested that can create a bit more tenderness in meat, but the differences are minor and would likely only be noticed by the most discerning barbeques aficionados. It’s exceptionally helpful when slow cooking as you can see the contents.
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Instant produces both oven and basket-style air fryers, and has two primary air-fryer lines—the Instant Vortex and the Instant Omni. In fact, the Instant Vortex Plus 4-quart model usurped the Ninja AF101 as the best budget pick in our best air-fryer testing. We specifically liked the Vortex’s basket shape, as well as its reminders for preheating and flipping. We also tried out the Instant Omni Pro for our best toaster oven testing—you can read our review of that here. This Costco exclusive debuted in 2020, but is no longer available for purchase. The mid-level model was most similar to the Instant Pot Duo Plus, but came with a different control panel, a sous vide function, and extra accessories.
The overall design of the Duo and Duo Nova is almost the same with the exception of the front panel displays and pressure releases. Anyone with a big family (larger than 6 members) will find the 8-quart Instant Pot is a perfect option for everyday needs. That being said, due to its large and bulky size, this tool isn’t ideal for small kitchens. It’s also the most widely-used size, so many Instant Pot recipes are written with this one in mind.
As I mentioned above, Instant Pots are a learning curve and they can be quite confusing when you first start using them. The Duo Nova is actually one of the simplest Instant Pot products to use, which is definitely a big benefit. The last category I’ll investigate in this Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova showdown is their designs. Both of the Instant Pot models have the classic design that the brand is known for and there aren’t that many noticeable differences.
The original cookers are marketed as 6-in-1 or more appliances designed to consolidate the cooking and preparing of food to one device. The brand has since expanded to include non-pressure slow cookers, sous-vide immersion circulators, blenders, air fryers and rice cookers. 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. And to release the steam faster, just push the quick-release button to let the pressure out. It also has a new progress indicator on its bright blue display, so you always know what’s happening inside, and the one-touch Smart Programs help you start cooking whatever you want in a flash.