Instant Pot Viva 8 Quart

Best Instant Pots: Which Instant Pot To Buy

See my guide on how to use an Instant Pot.

Are you wondering which Instant Pot to buy? There are so many options, from different sizes to different models, that it can be overwhelming. In this Instant Pot comparison I simplify the options to help you decide on the best Instant Pot for you and your family.

As a mom of five with real-life experience using different sizes and models of Instant Pots, I can help you decide what size and features you really need. So which is the best Instant Pot? Its the one that meets your cooking needs and has the functions that you need, without extras that you dont. Extra features sound nice, and they are if you actually use them. But if youll just be using the basics theres no need to pay more for a more complicated Instant Pot model.

I have purchased two Instant Pots for myself and one for my mom. Ive also helped my mother-in-law decide which Instant Pot to buy. Ive helped friends with different Instant Pot models learn how to use an Instant Pot.

Ive done lots of research and Ive had lots of experience cooking with different Instant Pots. Im ready to share what Ive learned to help you decide which Instant Pot to buy. Youre going to love your new Instant Pot! Also see my favorite picks for the best Instant Pot accessories.

What Instant Pot Accessories Do I Need

Since each Instant Pot model is a little different, its important to read the manual and learn about the various features and settings of your Instant Pot. Generally, every model will include an outer body with a display panel and buttons, a lid, a pressure valve, a steam release valve, a plastic collector cup to catch any condensation released during slow-cooking, a stainless-steel or nonstick inner pot, a sealing ring that surrounds the lid and helps absorb odors, and a steam rack or basket to elevate food inside the inner pot.

Any Instant Pot accessories or gadgets you may choose to buy to bulk up your cookers functionality are just a bonus. Depending on what you plan to make with your Instant Pot, extras range from practical and essential to plain old fun. Some people buy extra sealing rings so they can use one for meat and one for baked goods. Some invest in egg trivets if they cook a lot of hard-boiled eggs. Some look into springform pans to make cheesecake and quiche.

Ranking The Different Instant Pot Models

While people may rate each of the Instant Pot models differently, this is how I like to think of them.

High-End: Pro , Pro Plus

Specialty: Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp , Duo Max , Smart Wifi

Upgrade 2: Duo Plus, Duo SV

Upgrade 1: Duo Nova , Duo Viva

Standard Model: Duo

Budget Model: Lux

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At this point, I want to include a brief introduction for new Instant Pot shoppers and a quick guide to the different Instant Pot models:

Also Check: How To Cook Baked Potatoes In An Instant Pot

What Is The Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker

For the last few years, Instant Pot has been a hot topic of conversation across social media. And while you may remember your grandmother or mothers stovetop pressure cooker, this new kitchen appliance brings convinces and safety to this method of cooking. By speeding up the cooking process, your faster meals are more energy-efficient to cook.

There are multiple 8 quart models for you to choose from and Instant Pots recently released its newest model in September 2019.

Recently Discontinued Instant Pots

As its product line has grown and evolved, Instant Brands has retired some of its older models.Instant Pot Viva: Discontinued in the U.S.The Instant Pot Viva began as a QVC exclusive and was later sold through other retailers. The Viva has since been discontinued in the United States but this 6-quart model is still available in Canada.

Duo Nova Instant Pot: 10-quart Size DiscontinuedWhile you can still get a Duo Nova Instant Pot in 3-, 6-, and 8-quart sizes, the 10-quart Instant Pot Duo Nova has been discontinued.

Instant Pot Nova Plus: Discontinued

The Nova Plus was a Costco Instant Pot exclusive that is no longer available. The Nova Plus was similar to the Duo but had the blue LED screen of the Duo Plus.

Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus: Discontinued

The Duo Evo Plus was an upgrade on the standard Duo and has been discontinued by Instant Pot. It had an upgraded blue LED display panel like the Duo Plus and a sleeker interface.

Instant Pot Lux: Discontinued

This early Instant Pot lacked many of the features you can get in even the most basic models available in 2022. The Lux has been discontinued by the brand, though you can sometimes still .

Instant Pot Smart Wi-Fi: DiscontinuedThis Wi-Fi-enabled 6-quart Instant Pot has been discontinued and replaced by the Instant Pot Pro Plus 6-quart Smart Multi-Cooker.

Instant Pot just got delivered? Put it to use with one of these Instant Pot recipes:

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Here Are The Main Attributes We Looked For And How We Tested Them:

Setup: I timed how quickly I could get the cooker set up and building pressure from the moment I opened the box. I also noted whether I could do this without looking at the instructions or if the controls were confusing. Most units took five minutes or less to set up.

Pressurizing: Many pressure cooker recipes look like they won’t take long, but few recipes factor in the time it takes for the unit to build pressure. A cooker that builds pressure quickly is a real time-saver. I tested how long it took each model to get up to pressure with just four cups of water inside. I also tracked how long the pressure build took during the cooking tests. I gave more favorable scores to cookers that built pressure quickly.

Performance: I put each multicooker through five cooking tests:

Additional cooking functions: Three of the units I tested featured sous vide cooking, and two had air frying capabilities. I cooked a NY Strip at 129 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours to test the sous vide and assessed how tender and flavorful it was. All sous vide cookers performed well. For air frying, I cooked a pound of Ore-Ida Extra Crispy Fast Food French Fries at 400 degrees for eight minutes shaking the basket halfway through and judged the doneness.

I donated most of the pulled pork my family didn’t eat to a local restaurant to keep waste to a minimum. And, extra rice and beans went to feed the pigs at a local farm.

Instant Pot Duo Review

The Instant Pot Duo is designed for seven common activities while in the kitchen: high pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sauteing, yogurt making, and maintaining the food warm. This way, even if the pot is a bit bulky, you can make space on the kitchen countertop and save on energy consumption by simply getting rid of old appliances.

It also has a user-friendly interface with one-touch buttons that provide access to 14 smart pre-programmed cooking options and a Manual mode that lets users input customized options.

While the model is available in three sizes , the 6-quart Instant Pot is the most popular design . Also, the fact that you can use high pressure for preparing various dishes reduces the cooking time and makes it a lot easier to make time-consuming and complex foods like bean chili, meat stew, poultry, or soup broth. Furthermore, there are lots of easy to make recipes , specially designed for the Duo Instant Pot, which makes it easy for beginners. In addition, users get free access to the Instant Pot app where millions of users everywhere provide you with cool recipe ideas!

I also enjoy the Keep Warm function that kicks in automatically at the end of each meal. This way, you can leave the pot unsupervised and go about your house chores, and the food will still be ready to eat when everyone comes to the table.

Pros

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First What Is An Instant Pot

Before diving into all the models, let us explain how an Instant Pot actually works. The Instant Pot is a multicooker appliance that can perform the functions of a variety of appliances in one tool. Every Instant Pot model can slow cook, pressure cook, keep your food warm and sauté, and all models can effectively cook rice, meat and soups. No matter which model you pick, you’ll get a pressure cooker that will help you prepare dishes in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods.

Best Smart Pressure Cooker

With its hundreds of preset programs and step-by-step interactive recipes, the Chef iQ Smart Cooker is outstandingly precise.

• Capacity: 6 quarts
• Inner pot material: Nonstick
• Settings: pressure cook, sear/saute, steam, slow cook, sterilize, keep warm, ferment, plus 300+ preset programs in its menu
• Number of included recipes: 1000+ in the Chef iQ App
• Extras: Extra sealing gasket, steam rack, steam basket, heat-resistant pad for the lid

Pros: WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, a helpful app with 1000+ interactive recipes, full-color screen with 300+ present programs, quickest to cook rice and beans, good at searing, easy to set up

Cons: Didn’t do well in our pulled pork tests

The Chef iQ Smart Cooker has the best screen and most precise cooking options of any of the tested units and was easy to set up. Whereas other models have a button for beans, the full-color screen of the Chef iQ cooker offers much more detail. It has specific programs based on bean type, whether they’re soaked, and how much you’re cooking. The customization worked well. The Smart Cooker cooked a pound of beans perfectly 13 minutes faster than any other model.

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Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart

The defining feature of the new Instant Pot Pro Plus Smart is that you can pair it with your iPhone or Android to automatically engage the cooking functions from more than 800 smart recipes on the Instant Brands Connect app. This doesnt mean you can press Start while youre at the office and come home to your Instant Pot braising ribs , but you can control almost everything through the appincluding the steam release! The Pro Plus Smart also features a premium inner pot with easy-grab handles and comes with NutriBoost, a function that mimics the motion of boiling by moving food in the pot to enhance the flavor and texture.

Built-in smart programs: Access 800+ smart recipes via the appFunctions: Pressure-cooking, rice-cooking, slow-cooking, yogurt-making, steaming, sautéing, food-warming, sous videcooking, baking, sterilizing, NutriBoostSizes available: 6-quart Instant Pot

Types Of The Best Instant Pot 8 Quart

There are a lot of different types of instant pot 8 quarts on the market these days, and it can be hard to know which one is right for you. But don’t worry – we’re here to help! Here are some of the best instant pot 8 quarts on the market:

1. The stovetop pressure cooker.

The first type of instant pot 8 quart is the stovetop pressure cooker. These cookers are very versatile and can be used for many different types of recipes. They’re also very easy to use, and clean-up is a breeze.

2. The electric pressure cooker.

Another popular type of instant pot 8 quart is the electric pressure cooker. These cookers are more expensive than stovetop models, but they offer many advantages, such as being much easier to use and having a variety of settings that allow you to customize your cooking experience.

3. Microwaveable pressure cookers

Finally, there are also microwaveable pressure cookers. These are great for those who want the convenience of an instant pot but don’t want to have to deal with the hassle of using a stovetop model. They’re also very easy to clean and can be used for a variety of different recipes.

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Which Model Of Instant Pot Should You Buy

Before I go into specifics about each Instant Pot model, let me say that most of the fancy stuff is stuff you probably dont need. For example, you may have noticed that Instant Pot models vary in the number of pre-set program buttons. All of those program buttons are just a combination of a cook time and pressure setting .

So, whether or not your Instant Pot has a poultry or cake button is not important, because you can cook pretty much anything in your Instant Pot using the Pressure Cook function and manually setting the cook time. In fact, most of the recipes that you find are going to tell you to use the Manual/Pressure Cook function, not one of the other program buttons. And pretty much every recipe will be cooked at high pressure.

Which Model Is Better For Me

So, in the battle Viva vs Duo , which one should you buy? Should you stick with the classic and well-tested Duo or should you invest a bit more in an Instant Pot with fancier features and an automated steam valve?

Heres my answer:

• You want to stay below the $100 threshold
• You are happy with the classic model
• You are a beginner in using an electric pressure cooker
• You dont need a cake baking or Sous Vide function
• You can work with a manual steam valve

Choose the Viva if

• You like the idea of more pre-set dishes
• You want to try more advanced Instant Pots
• Youre not bothered by the slightly higher price
• You feel safer with a button for the steam valve

In closing, both products have their merits. As such, it is up to you to decide which will earn your trust. My advice is to start with Instant Pot models from the Duo series and decide from there. If you like and get used to the classic , it will become easier to use an Instant Pot with more advanced functions .

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How To Clean The Instant Pot Viva

Most Instant Pot electric pressure cookers clean like a breeze, and thats true with the Viva model as well. That being said, heres a video demo on how to clean your Instapot.

In summary, you first have to remove the lid and inner pot. Secondly, detach anything removable from the lidsilicone ring, float valve, and anti-block shield. You can clean them one by one, yet I find that its easier to do it all at once.

However, ensure that you dont lose any of the small parts.

Afterward, you can wash the lid and inner pot by hand. Or, you can also load the said parts into the dishwasher for more effortless cleanup.

Instant Pot 8 Quart Dimensions By Model

Here is a quick comparison of the Instant Pot 8 Quart Dimensions for the Lux, Duo, Duo Nova, Duo Plus, Ultra, Viva, Duo Evo Plus models. Model-by-model, the Instant Pot Mini dimensions are fairly close in terms of size and weight.

And one suggestion comes to mind if the overall Instant Pot weight has you nervous. Try lifting it in pieces . Each part will add to the weight.

The Duo Nova 8 Quart weight is as its currently provided by Amazon, but it is also noted as the shipping weight. I think the weight below includes the packaging and the actual electric pressure cooker weighs a few pounds less.

* The Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer and Pro Crisp + Air Fryer come with two lids, one for pressure cooking and one for air frying. The Air Fryer lid adds about another inch to the height of this model.

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Other Instant Pots And Pressure Cookers We Tested

We tested 11 electric pressure cookers for this guide. These are the ones that missed the cut.

What else we recommend and why:

Zavor LUX LCD: This model has more than 30 programmable settings, including sous vide, and an easy-to-read LCD. In our tests, it was easy to set up and use. It was quick to build pressure and made juicy, easy-to-shred pulled pork. However, we weren’t as impressed with its bean cooking and meat searing.

Ninja Foodi XL Pressure Cooker: The Ninja Foodi air fries and pressure cooks. And, in our tests, it did a great job of searing, slow cooking, and pressure cooking delicious meals but took longer than most units to build pressure. Read our comparison of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp vs. the Ninja Foodi.

Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 80: The Duo Evo Plus’s stay-cool handles set it apart from other multicookers since you usually need to grab potholders to lift a multicooker’s pot out. The pot also stays in place when you stir the contents. The screen is packed full of info, including several preset programs. It didn’t make our guide because it didn’t do better than average at any cooking task and was one of the worst at rice and slow-cooker pork.

What we don’t recommend and why:

What Size Of Instant Pot To Buy

Not sure how to choose an Instant Pot size for your circumstances? It can feel really intimidating!

Here are my recommendations for some common scenarios:

Best for Singles or Couples: If you dont want leftovers, go for the 3-Quart Instant Pot. However, if you like leftovers, cooking pot-in-pot , or two-fer meals , Id recommend the 6-quart.

Best for College Students: Instant Pot Duo 3-Quart Pressure Cooker.

Best for Small Families: If youre cooking for two adults and one or two kids, the 6-quart Instant Pot will have everything you need.

If youre a new parent, the Duo Plus has a sterilize button however, you can sanitize in any Instant Pot with a steam setting.

Best for Big Families: Honestly? It depends on how you want to use it. If you plan to cook big batches of dump-and-go meals, then Id recommend an 8-quart Instant Pot or even the new Instant Pot Duo Nova 10-quart.

However, if you typically cook a main dish and a side dish, you may be happier simply buying two 6-quart Instant Pots so you can cook both at the same time. Depending on what youre cooking, the 6-quart will fit a double or triple batch.

Best for Meal Preppers:Seriously, so much food fits in the Instant Pot Duo Nova 10-quart. But until now meal preppers have been using the 8-quart without any problems.

Best for RVs: Instant Pot 3-quart or 6-quart.

Best for Tech Lovers:Instant Pot Pro Plus Pressure Cooker.

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