How Does The Instant Pot Pro Compare To The Duo Evo Plus
Its no secret that weve loved our Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus. The features are amazing: flat-bottomed pot, attached handles for easy removal, redesigned lid with easy steam release, and the well-designed large display!
However, after a while using the Evo, we found it wasnt perfectwe couldnt saute at the highest setting and had some problems with the steam release valve.
The Pro has kept the amazing innovations from the Evo and has added a few more nice-to-have features!
The new features for the Instant Pot Pro include
- Five favorites buttons for frequently cooked meals
- Reminder feature
- Black stainless steel design
Best Instant Pot Of 2022
Instant Pots are known for fast and easy cooking, but how do you know which one is right for you? This guide will help you find the perfect multicooker.
David Watsky
Senior Editor / Home and Kitchen
David lives in Brooklyn where he’s logged more than a decade writing about all things edible, including meal kits and meal delivery subscriptions, cooking, kitchen gear and commerce. Since earning a BA in English from Northeastern in Boston, he’s toiled in nearly every aspect of the eats business from slicing and dicing as a sous-chef in Rhode Island to leading complex marketing campaigns for major food brands in Manhattan. These days, he’s likely somewhere trying the latest this or tasting the latest that – and reporting back, of course. Anything with sesame is his all-time favorite food this week.
While many thought it was merely a passing trend, the Instant Pot is here to stay. If you haven’t adopted one yourself, then Instant Pot cooking is something you could get into right now: These magic time-savers make it easy for budding home chefs. You really don’t need skill or any cooking knowledge to work with an Instant Pot. You can make simple, delicious meals in no time at all. Craft soups, chilis and even pulled pork for taco night. The effort you’ll need is in picking the right one for you. That’s why we’ve tested a number of models to find the best Instant Pot.
There are even Instant Pots made especially for Star Wars fanatics.
Redesigned Inner Cooking Pot
Unlike most pressure cookers on the market, the Pros stainless steel cooking pot has a flat bottom, handles, and can transfer to the stovetop or oven up to 450°F.
I really love the handles! When you place the pot in the housing, the handles lock the cooking pot in place so it doesnt move while youre stirring. Plus, they give you a good grip on the pot when you remove it.
Read Also: How Big Is 6 Quart Instant Pot
Vitaclay Slow Cooker: Best Clay Slow Cooker
This Vitaclay is a 4-in-1 appliance that functions as a rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, and steamer. It has a total capacity of 4.2 quarts or 8 cups. There is a smaller 6-cup version, as well.
Vitaclay uses a 100% unglazed clay pot thats naturally lead-free. This non-toxic slow cooker supposedly cooks food up to four times faster than other slow cookers and requires less energy since clay is naturally thermal.
And since clay is alkaline, it reacts with acidic foods to make them taste sweeter, meaning you dont have to add extra sugar.
The double lid design maximizes steaming which speeds up the cooking process for tender and flavorful food.
The digital control panel is intuitive and easy to use. The Vitaclay is fully programmable and features a delay timer and automatic warmer settings. The LCD clock is easy to read and shows the cook mode.
Customers raved about the performance of this slow cooker. They loved to use it to cook meat, brown rice, oatmeal, veggies, soups, and more. They felt like the Vitaclay helped them make healthier meals.
However, there were several peripheral issues. For instance, several users had problems with cracking and damage to the inner pot. This isnt surprising, as clay is notoriously fragile.
Speaking of instructions, several people felt the manual was poorly written and clunky in the directions. The good news? Most were able to resolve their issues with help from Vitaclay or other customers.
Pros
Health Concerns Of Lead
Even small amounts of lead exposure may cause problems over time.
Effects from lead poisoning include stomach pain, vomiting, headaches, learning problems, high blood pressure, kidney impairment, and more.
But, the good news you can protect your family from dangerous lead levels with a few simple steps:
Of course, if you still have doubts, you might opt for a slow cooker with a clay or stainless steel insert.
Also Check: Instant Pot 6qt Duo Crisp
The Critiera: What We Look For In An Instant Pot
The most useful function of an Instant Pot is its ability to pressure cook, so you want to get a model that quickly comes to pressure. Since many pressure cooker recipes start with a searing or sautéing step, it can help to have an Instant Pot with inner pot stability, so the pot doesnt spin while youre cooking. You want to know whats going on inside your machine while youre cooking, so an easy-to-read progress bar is super helpful. Some additional functions, like being able to use your Instant Pot for not-very-precise sous vide cooking, are sometimes welcome, but others, like the cake-baking function included in some models, we don’t find particularly attractive. However, if the Instant Pot model advertises it can do those functions, it should do them passably well.
Design: Modern And Sleek
The controls on this Instant Pot are different from earlier models thanks to a large display with plenty of information. Buttons around the display show the preset cooking functions, while a knob below lets you choose the function as well as all of its options. I really liked this method, and it made me feel confident that I actually did turn the warming feature on or off.
One interesting design decision on this model is the cancel button on the left of the control knob and the start button on the right. The cancel button not only cancels the cooking process, but it also backs you out of the settings you were choosing. Previous models of the Instant Pot did not have a start buttonyou simply chose your settings and you walked away. If youve used previous models, you may need to train yourself to press start. If this is your first Instant Pot, that start button might seem normal, since many other appliances have start and stop buttons.
The lids side handles can be inserted in the pots side handles to hold the lid . I liked this design, as it meant that I didnt need to find a place on the counter to set the lid while I was working.
One interesting new design feature is that when the lid is removed and replaced, the quick-release button automatically reverts to the sealing mode. This is great for people who forget to correctly set the steam release and come back to find that theyve been cooking without pressure.
Recommended Reading: How To Cook Chicken Tenders In The Instant Pot
Compare Large Instant Pots
We only featured six 8-quart Instant Pots above. To date the brand already released eleven 8-qt models, however more than half of them have already been discontinued . For the sake of educating our readers, were still be including all of them in this comparison table.
| With stovetop compatible handled inner pot Programmable Faster natural release Can sous vide |
| Automatic sealing + safer pressure release Can sous vide |
| Faster natural release With stovetop compatible handled inner pot Can sous vide |
| Automatic sealing + safer pressure release Can sous vide |
| Automatic sealing + safer pressure release Programmable Ultra mode |
| Automatic sealing vent + safer pressure release No sous vide function |
| Faster natural release Automatic sealing + safer pressure release With stovetop compatible handled inner pot Can sous vide |
| Automatic sealing + safer pressure release Can sous vide |
| No sous vide function Discontinued |
One thing thats not included in this list is the Chewbacca Instant Pot. Its the only 8-quart Star Wars pressure cooker, sadly its already been discontinued.
So all in all, you only have six options if youre looking for a large Instapot pressure cooker.
Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot Duo Nova
Instant Pot Duo Nova: Not everyone needs the newest model, and not everyone needs an air fryer. Thats where the Instant Pot Duo Nova comes in. Retailing around $120, the Duo Nova is a 7-in-1 pressure cooker that features the usual programs like pressure cook, saute, yogurt, etc., that Instant Pot is known for. Its a great model for beginners, and its great as a second cooker in a busy house. The Pro Crisp is for a different audience. I love it and would recommend it to those who want the air frying option.
A fantastic combination of pressure cooking and air frying.
Instant Pot has so many different models, its hard to remember the differences, but the Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer stands out from the crowd thanks to its sleek black exterior, its handy vent/pressure toggle, and the innovative inner pot that adds to the versatility of this machine. Is it worth having? I say yes.
- Product Name Pro Crisp + Air Fryer
- Product Brand Instant Pot
- Product Dimensions 14.78 x 14.17 x 14.24 in.
- Material Stainless steel
- Warranty 1 year
- Whats Included A reversible rack, frying basket with broil/dehydrate tray, and a trivet/base for the air fryer lid
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Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus
I bought it before Covid started and it came in handy the very few times I used it but now I work from home and I am able to cook traditionally so I do not have a use for it anymore and it is just taking up cabinet space. Everything works perfectly on it and I imcluded a picture showing that the rub …
I Got The Ip Nova Aussie Version Couldn’t Be Happier
What a great product! It made pulled pork in 20′!Again I was skeptical about do-it-all electrical appliance. I was so wrong about the wonderful instant pot. It made slow cook meals even tastier than the traditional method of cooking them.I’m used to cooking soup bones and meat stew for hours on gas stove tops. I was also worry about the electricity bill after a month of using instant pot every 2nd day. To my surprise, it did not cost much at all. Especially when compared to my reduced gas bill.The silver lining is it’s supper mess-free and easy to clean.
Purchasedin
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To Our Valued Customers
We regret that due to technical challenges caused by new regulations in Europe, we can for the time being no longer accept orders from the European Union. If you reside in the UK you can continue to order from our UK websites or shop from our locations and partners. Visit West Elm at www.westelm.co.uk and Pottery Barn Kids at www.potterybarnkids.co.uk.
Matters of consumer privacy and rights are paramount to our brands and we will continue to work diligently to make our products available to you. The pace of global regulations is hard to predict, but we have the ultimate goal of being able to offer our products everywhere.
We share your disappointment and greatly appreciate your understanding. Thank you for your patronage.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11
Recently, I made the investment in the Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo, and I couldn’t be happier with my purchase.
Even though my first attempt at using an air fryer was unsuccessful , this one is fantastic! In a short amount of time, I have perfected fried chicken, French fries, and even handmade popcorn.
Soups and stews can also be prepared rapidly in the pressure cooker I have managed to complete an entire soup pot in under an hour.
Important Characteristics
If you want a pressure cooker and air fryer, this is the best option.
It includes two lids so you can cook without worrying about burning your hands, and the lid is removable so you can get to the two purposes quickly.
As an added bonus, the Avante is 70% faster than conventional cooking methods, allowing you to prepare more meals in less time.
From steaming to slow cooking, this amazing gadget can do it all thanks to its 11 functions and two handy removable lids. It is also compatible with the vast majority of cookware manufacturers.
When used alone, the inner lid keeps liquids from splashing into the heating element and causing an accident while cooking.
The ergonomically designed grip makes it simple to operate even while clad in protective gear.
The stainless steel used in the construction of this electric pressure cooker is FDA-approved for use in contact with food and poses no health risks.
Pros
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Is An Instant Pot Worth It
If you enjoy slow-cooked food such as pulled pork, beef stew or pot roast, but don’t love waiting for them to braise, an Instant Pot is a worthy investment. Not only do Instant Pots use less energy than a full stove, but they are able to turn cheaper cuts of meat into fork-tender dinners. That all amounts to more money in your pocket and more fast, easy and delicious meals on your table each week.
Plus, Instant Pots and multicookers can be purchased for under $100 for basic models. And some lesser-known brands produce multicookers that can be had for much less.
If you don’t plan to use the pressure-cooker function, an Instant Pot is probably not worth the cost and space it takes up. You might be better off nabbing a more budget-friendly slow cooker, or a rice cooker instead.
What We Dont Like
Used for either air frying or pressure cooking individually, the Duo Crisp does nothing exceptional. As an air fryer, it has a lot of the same shortcomings as the standalone air fryers weve tested. The fryer basket, although larger than some weve tested, is still cramped, which makes it difficult to cook food evenly. We found that the basket couldnt handle more than about 12 ounces of chicken tenderswhen we made a larger, 16-ounce batch, the results were slightly mushy in the middle. We were able to cook 1½ pounds of frozen fries in the Duo Crisp but had to toss them more often than Instant Pot suggests. And the resulting fries were classic air fryer quality: dryish on the outside, with mostly fluffy interiors. For more evenly cooked, crispier results, we prefer cooking finger foods in a toaster oven or regular oven.
As a pressure cooker, the Duo Crisp lacks a lot of the preprogrammed settings that make the Instant Pot Duo or Ultra so convenient to use. You cant simply press a button to cook rice, for example, or stewinstead you have to look up the correct time and pressure setting and program it manually. The Duo Crisp also doesnt have a setting for making yogurt, which is admittedly a bit niche but something that some people love about their Instant Pot.
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Three New Cooking Programs
They have made some changes to Instant Pot DUO60s current cooking programs and introduced 3 new cooking programs.
*The following details & descriptions are straight from the manual.
1. Egg Program
- Less Mode Soft Boiled Eggs
- Normal Mode Medium Boiled Eggs
- More Mode Hard Boiled Eggs
*We still think Low Pressure is still the best way to cook Pressure Cooker Eggs in the Instant Pot.
2. Cake Program
- More ModeNew York Style Cheesecake
3. Sterilize Program
- Less Mode Pasteurization of dairy products
- Normal Mode Sterilization of utensils and canning of acidic fruits and vegetables. Not intended for meat canning.
- More Mode Sterilization of utensils and canning of acidic fruits and vegetables. Not intended for meat canning.
*This program can open a can of worms if users try to use it to replace a pressure canner. I would recommend using this program to sterilize utensils only.
Performance: As Good As Expected
I am familiar enough with Instant Pot pressure cookers to expect them to perform basic tasks well. Still, I pressure-cooked country pork ribs, steamed cauliflower, and sauteed potatoes, just to make sure this cooker was up to par.
When I made steel-cut oats using the pot-in-pot method, I appreciated the extra space the 8-quart pot gave me, since I could use a slightly larger container for my oats.
After basic pressure cooking was done, I started having more fun. I air-fried frozen eggrolls, estimating the temperature and cooking time based on package instructionswhile wondering when I’ll see air fry instructions on packages. The eggrolls emerged crisp and brown, with a hot interior. Frozen French fries were also successful.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
I decided to try something a bit more complicated and put a whole chicken on the included rack and lowered it into the cooker. I added water and set it for pressure cooking. When the time was up, I brushed the top of the chicken with oil, attached the air fryer lid, and let it crisp the chickens skin. While the result wasnt as pretty as an oven-roasted chicken, the visible skin was crisp and brown, and the chicken was juicy throughout.
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