(There are Reddit threads devoted to people complaining about forgetting to do this.) It’s minor, but it’ll be a lot of people’s deciding factor. Like the Ninja Foodi, the Pro Crisp comes with two interchangeable lids. (The regular Instant Pot Pro is the same thing, sans the crisping lid.) One transforms the pressure cooker into an air fryer, with one lid dedicated to EvenCrisp technology.
In this article, we compare the current Instant Pot models, examine their unique features, and explain how each product’s settings work. You can “auto-pilot” pressure cooking, sautéing, steaming, slow cooking, warming, air frying, roasting, baking, broiling, and more—ideal if you’re not a very confident cook. Luckily, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Kitchen Appliance and Technology Lab is here to help parse through those differences so you can find the best option for your household. (Our experts have tested nearly every multi-cooker on the market, including the full suite of Instant Pots.) We evaluate these multi-cookers for how well they pressure cook and slow cook a beef stew. We also evaluate their ability to evenly brown meat and make rice, including how quickly they came up to pressure and released pressure both quickly and naturally.
Instant pot duo and duo novaKnowing how to choose an instant pot depends on identifying your needs and cooking prowess first. Are you a first-time home cook, looking for a dependable multicooker? If so, then the traditional instant pot Duo is a good choice for you.
If you are looking for the best Instant Pot for a family of 4, I would suggest purchasing either the 6 or 8 Quart models. The first thing I have to say is that either of these two Instant Pot models is excellent. I would be happy to recommend either one of them to friends and family. The Duo model comes with a Manual mode, but this moosoo air fryer is not something that new users will want to use, so the numerous function modes are so handy. A fast-release switch also allows you to release steam more quickly without getting your hands near the steam. This addition guarantees that you don’t have to worry whether the Duo Nova fails to create pressure due to the open valve.
The steam function uses pressure cooking to steam and again, we struggled to find a good recommendation for timings and plumped for four minutes with one cup of water in the bottom of the pot. The steam rack provided isn’t great for this purpose and some of the broccoli pieces fell through the gaps. Preheating took five minutes and after the four minute cook time we used the quick release pressure button so that we could get the broccoli out immediately. Some of the larger florets had a good texture but the smaller ones were overcooked.
After closing the lid, the sealing ring creates an airtight seal between lid and cooker base. While the auto sealing knob is great for starting to cook, it’s easier to do a controlled manual release with a Duo as you can tap to release pressure in smaller bursts. The smart programs in the Duo Nova vs Duo side by side are pretty much the same. And as you’ll notice with the other mini 3 quart models, it has a few fewer smart programs compared to the larger models. Overall these Instant Pot models are very similar from the smart programs to the price.