Instant Pot Duo Overview
Perhaps the most popular Instant Pot model available, the Instant Pot Duo possesses the functionality of seven individual kitchen appliances and makes mealtimes quick and easy. Available in three sizes, the Instant Pot Duo offers 12 pre-set features, 14 smart program features, and 10 safety features.
Read more: Instant Pot Duo Review
Cooking Options: A Way To Save Your Day
If you know, then it will help. But, if you do not know, you need to know that, today, all pressure cookers are coming with various cooking options.
A single pressure cooker is capable enough to take the place of all of your cooking gadgets. Today, a pressure cooker can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, make yogurt, and work as a food warmer.
And, this is what differentiates a modern-day pressure cooker from a conventional cooker.
Hence, if you ever get stuck while choosing a good pressure cooker, this may help you.
So, I suggest you check cooking options whenever you are going to get a pressure cooking pot.
All of these above factors will allow you to choose the best pressure cooker available in the market. So, whenever you are in the market, do never forget to check these things as it will allow you to bet on the right pressure cooking machine.
Whats The Difference Between The Duo Plus Vs Duo Nova Compare Whats Changed With The Duo Nova Model
Looking at the Smart Programs in the Duo Nova vs Duo Plus side by side, there are some differences. And also to note the Duo Plus 6 quart has a newer version that updates the smart programs for the model series.
And as usual with the 3 quart models, they continue to have a few less smart programs compared to the larger models.
Both the new Instant Duo Nova and Duo Plus has a backlit display. The Duo Nova is the auto sealing lid as an added safety feature. Youll also be able to find the auto sealing lid in the updated Duo Plus 6 quart .
The auto sealing lid is one of my favorite features. No need to worry about the knob in the wrong position.
Compared to the Duo Plus, this new model comes with two sealing rings, a steam rack, and a measuring cup.
When looking at the models side by side for price, keep an eye out for flash sales and other deals. You may be able to save money on your purchase, especially if you buy one of the original Duo Plus models while they last.
Smart programs and feature aside, the biggest difference between the two is the Duo Nova is the first Instant Pot model Ive seen available at 10 quarts. If you need to cook larger meals, you may want to take a closer look at this model. The 10 quart is easy to miss because its currently limited separately from the other Duo Novas on Amazon.
Dont forget the accessories! Regardless of which Instant Pot you buy, dont forget the accessories. These Instant Pot Duo Nova accessories will also work for the Duo Plus.
Read Also: How To Steam Veggies In Instant Pot Without Steamer Basket
Which Size Is Right For You
When selecting your Instant Pot, you’ll want to consider how much space you have. Instant Pot models come in four different sizes: 3-, 6-, 8- and 10-quart. Depending on what youre going to use it for, the size you choose can make a big difference.
If youre sticking to side dishes and meals for up to three people, Instant Pot recommends the 3-quart size. This is offered in most basic models including the Duo, Duo Nova, Duo Plus, Ultra and Lux. The 6-quart size is the most popular and is available in every model except the Duo Crisp, which is an Instant Pot and air fryer combo. Instant Pot recommends this size for feeding up to six people. The 8-quart model is the next most-popular size. It is offered in all models except the Smart WiFi and Max models, and is recommended for large families or to meal prep food for the week. The Duo Nova is the only model that comes in the 10-quart size, which is designed for larger meals, feeding a crowd or to stock the freezer with family dinners.
What Is An Instant Pot
Before we get into our comparison, its probably best to take a look at what Instant Pot actually is. Although the term instant pot is often used in place of products such as slow cooker or pressure cooker, Instant Pot is also the name of one of the most popular worktop cooker brands.
Instant Pot is a Canadian brand that was formed in 2010. From the offset, the company was focused on creating a multi-use cooking device, and the first Instant Pot product was a 6-in-1 cooker that included a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer, and other useful features.
Since that first product, Instant Pot has expanded across the cooking industry, but their multi-use cookers remain their most popular products. This success is no doubt down to the ease of use, quality of cooking, and affordability that Instant Pot manages to pack into their devices.
This Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova article pits two of the brands latest and greatest cookers against one another. By the end, youll hopefully have a good idea about which cooker is going to be the best for you and your lifestyle.
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The Kitchen Appliances Combined Each Model
Each Instant Pot model combines multiple kitchen appliances into one, saving you counter and storage space. You also save money by using one appliance for multiple cooking methods.
When looking at the Duo vs Duo Nova, both Instant Pot models combine the same seven kitchen appliances. Both Instant Pot can take the place of a:
- Pressure Cooker
- Yogurt Maker
- Warmer
| Yes |
Instant Pot Duo Vs Duo Nova: Which Should You Get
Now that you have read and looked at the two cookers side by side, you can decide which to get. Just make sure you carefully consider your own cooking needs. Below is our recommendation on which you should get.
The Instant Pot Duo is a better choice if:
- You do not have to feed more than six people at once
- You are an experienced user and do not need a sealing ring
- You already have or do not need a measuring cup
- You do not need a cooking progress indicator
- You do not care about releasing steam from the cooker
- You do not like a bright, blue interface
The Duo Nova is a better choice if:
- You have to feed many people at once
- You need the help of a smart lid and sealing ring
- You want to get a measuring cup as an accessory
- You want the help of a cooking progress indicator
- You care about releasing steam from the cooker
- You like a bright, blue interface
Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Says Auto On Rice Setting
Smart Steam Release And Easy Seal Lid
This premium product is equipped with a smart lid, also known as the EasySeal lid. This air fryer lid/ easy seal lid automatically seals the appliance and locks the steam in for perfect pressure cooking results. To release the steam, all you need to do is push the quick release button. The item also comes with a bonus sealing ring for replacement purposes, along with other accessories.
This function is what makes it a good pressure cooker that can cook any meal you prefer.
Instant Pot Ultra 10 In 1 Best Multifunctional
The word is Ultra! the newest feature that came to revolutionize the pressure cooker world that comes with the ability to pre-program the cooker with different cooking times and different temperatures as well gives you 2 pressures to choose from.
When using the granular control it will be not just a 10 in 1 appliance but once you start to use it you are going to realized that is more like hundreds of appliances in just one.
Packed with endless choices for customization, the Ultra is full of extra modes and functions for the home chef that likes to try new things out. It comes with 21 pre-set temperatures to choose from.
Available in 3 Qt, 6 Qt, 8Qt the 10 in 1 will even allow you to adjust for altitude, so you dont need to convert your recipes and get a really precise cooking time depending on your needs.
Another great addition is the smooth display that will make your recipes programming a breeze. And last but not least you will be able to pressure cook for up to 6 hours that is 2 hours more than what you will get with the Duo Plus.
Pros: Ultra function that combines 10 appliances in 1 making it a wide range of choices to get the most from your pressure cooker. All the same features that come along with the earlier models plus a large digital display that makes it really easy to use. It also features a cooking process indicator that will show you how much your food has been processed, this will allow you to keep an eye on the cooking progress.
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What Recipes Can You Make In The Duo Gourmet
You can make just about anything in the Instant Pot Duo Gourmet, with a few exceptions. Make a pot roast, chili, shredded chicken, mashed potatoes, or desserts. Make eggs sous vide style, or sous vide steak, and finish it with a quick sauté. Prepare oatmeal, yogurt, or even wine. If you have the Instant Pot Air frying Lid, you can attach it to your Duo Gourmet and make French fries, chicken tenders, and other crispy snacks.
The Duo Gourmet has 20 buttons including pressure cook, soup/broth, meat, stew, sterilize, slow cook, rice, brown rice, oatmeal, bean, chili, yogurt, sous vide, delay start, keep warm, cancel, pressure level, plus, and minus. Notice there are separate buttons for different types of rice, as well as separate buttons for beans and chili. This makes the Duo Gourmet super easy to use for a beginner. The lid automatically seals, and the steam release button releases steam safely to make using the pot easier, too. The Duo Gourmet Pot has loads of safety features, so just about anyone can use this model.
You cant make excessively large meals in your Duo Gourmet, however, as you have a limited amount of space in the Pot. If you attempt to air fry too many ingredients using the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid accessory, your meal could turn out soggy and undercooked. A similar idea applies to other cooking methods sous vide, pressure cooked, and slow cooked meals wont cook as evenly if you overstuff the pot with ingredients.
Instant Pot Vortex Plus 10 Quart Air Fryer Oven
This is a 7 in 1 air fryer oven that sits on the counter top. The Instant Pot Vortex boasts one stop crispy technology that allows you to bake, air fry, roast, toast, broil, rotisserie, and dehydrate foods all without the oil and mess of traditional frying methods.
You can do multiple meals at once in the large 10 quart air fryer oven. The system is designed to circulate super hot air around the food you place in the oven to give it the look, feel, and taste of trying without actually submerging the foods in hot oil.
Theres almost no preheating time involved with the Instant Pot Vortex so you dont have to add time to your plans for meal prep and cooking. Designed to be easily cleaned, theres much less mess than with other cooking methods and the Vortex doesnt heat up the house like cooking with the oven or stove would!
Instant Pot Vortex 6 Quart Air Fryer
There is also a 6 quart air fryer with the same name, Vortex, but its more of a traditional air fryer than the Oven version. It has 4 preset modes so you can air fry all of your favorites for healthy, quick, delicious meals!
When comparing the difference between Instant Pot models you should consider what you need it to do! This air fryer can do a lot but for the price you might be better off with the duo crisp or the air fryer lid!
Also Check: Beef Round Tip Roast Instant Pot
Instant Pot Duo Crisp
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is Instant Pots combination air fryer and pressure cooker, with a separate lid for each function.
If youre in the market for an 8-quart pressure cooker, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp would be a really great choice. You get all the capabilities of the classic Instant Pot, plus the great air frying capabilities.
Read my full Instant Pot Duo Crisp Review.
What Is The Instant Pot Duo Gourmet
Instant Pot has a lot of competition, but the company has continued to release new pots to set itself apart from other multifunctional pressure cooker brands. Instant Pot offers 13 different pots, each with different features and cooking programs. One of its new offerings is the Instant Pot Duo Gourmet. What does the Duo Gourmet offer over other multifunctional pressure cookers? How is the Instant Pot Duo Gourmet different from the regular Instant Pot Duo? We examine the Duo Gourmet to find out.
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The Appliances Combined In The Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Plus
Instant Pot combines multiple kitchen appliances into one, saving you storage and counter space. And youll save money by only needing to buy one kitchen appliance to use for multiple cooking methods.
Lets take a look at the appliances combined in the Instant Pot Duo Plus vs Duo Nova:
| Sous Vide | Yes** |
The Duo Plus combines a few additional appliances into one Instant Pot compared to the Duo Nova.
* The Cake Maker feature is not available in the 3 quart Instant Pot Duo Plus Mini. But dont worry you can still make cakes in a Mini without the specific cake smart program.
** For the Duo Plus models, Sous Vide is currently an addition to the updated 6 quart model. You can find that one on the Instant Pot store. Looking at Amazon, it currently has the original 6 quart Duo Plus version.
Other Instant Pot Cookers And Productsto Buy In 2021
So Instant Pot makes more cookers besides the Electric Pressure Cooker, they also sell Multicookers and Air Fryers we already told you about the Lid that you can add to your cooker to convert it into an Air Fryer but they also have an Air Fryer that they sold separately that can Fry, Roast and much more!.
Below we are going to give you a mini-review of each of them and in case you would like to learn more about the accessories that come along or the ones that you can buy to improve your cooker in This POST where we cover most Instant Pot Accessories.
- Instant pot Gem 65 v2
- Instant pot Aura 9 in 1
- Instant pot Aura Pro 11 in 1
- Instant Vortex 4-in-1
- Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1
- Instant Vortex Plus 7-in-1
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Instant Pot Viva Vs Duo
The Instant Pot Viva is a relatively new multi-purpose pressure cooker on the market. This updated model has some great new features that make it look so much better than the Duo, including a choice of attractive finishes and cool colors. But do we really need everything that the advertising for Viva claims? Or is Instant Pot just adding new novelties in order to sell more products? Instant Pot Viva vs Duo lets take a look at the Instant Pot Viva and see how it compares to the Duo.
Instant Pot Viva
Instant Pot Viva is a multi-purpose electric pressure cooker that offers an impressive array of functions and, according to the product information, does the job of 9 different kitchen appliances. It is a pressure cooker,rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, and sauté pan, food warmer, and stockpot. You can also use it to make cakes and cook eggs as well as use it as a sterilizer or for sous vide. There are 15 one-touch smart program buttons in all.
There are some technological improvements. The lid of the Viva has been upgraded to an easy self-seal, which automatically seals the pot for pressure cooking. The quick steam release button is easy to use too, and has been updated from earlier Instant Pot models.
Instant Pot Viva is much more expensive than the Duo. Prices vary depending on the retailer but are generally around $158.99 for the 8 qt size.
Pros
- A newly updated lid locking device
- 9 functions
Instant Pot Duo
Pros
- Extremely versatile and easy to use
Cons
Instant Pot Duo Vs Duo Nova: Whats The Difference
The Instant Pot Duo Nova is similar in its versatility, but safer to use. It has more advanced features that will provide a better cooking experience.
This version is more suited for everyday use due to the slight changes in design and functionality. The Instant Pot Duo is still a great electric pressure cooker and offers many benefits.
This page contains all you need to understand the functions of these models and other details.
Capacity and size
Duo Nova and Instant Pot Duo are available in three sizes: 3-, 6-, and 8-quart. The newer model comes with an additional option , which allows you to accommodate a wider range of cooking styles.
Your cookers size often affects the speed at which it can reach full pressure. It also determines how much heat is produced per hour. Because they have more space, larger pots take longer to build pressure and release it.
While different Instant Pot sizes can cook differently, most online instructions work best for 6-quart models. If you decide to use a different size, you will need to scale the recipe accordingly.
The size of your Instant Pot will depend on your familys needs and how many meals you plan to cook. The 3-quart Instant Pot is a good choice for small families who dont want to cook a lot. This model is lightweight, portable, and compact. Its also great for people with limited space.
Prices and features
Functionality
The best pressure cooker is one that suits your lifestyle and finances.
Design
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