The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is Instant Pot’s combination air fryer and pressure cooker, with a separate lid for each function. If you only need a cooker for one or two or don’t plan to meal prep, then the Instant Pot DUO Mini can save you some money with the same functions and performance, just a smaller quantity. If you want the best option with a good capacity, then the Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Quart is a higher ranking option that offers the same cooking performance that is easier to use. In designing the DUO Nova, Instant Pot took an already user-friendly machine and added a convenient pressure release button. Hi Emily – I have a separate air fryer, so I don’t use the air fryer lid very often. The Duo Crisp does not have the Yogurt function nor some of the other shortcut buttons like rice, brown rice, etc.
The plethora of Instant Pot models sold by the Instant Pot Company make choosing one a frustrating nightmare. I really think they’ve shot themselves in the foot as I fear many people consider purchasing an Instant Pot, see the 986 models and give up because they can’t figure out what model choose. Past retailers have offered a vibrantly colored exterior. The Viva has also offered the stainless steel body in several colors. These colorful editions appear to be getting phased out, so stock will be limited. It also cooks a little faster than older models of Instant Pot, like the Duo, so be aware that you may need to adjust your recipes accordingly.
I prefer the Instant Pot Pro Crisp, but the Original Duo Crisp and theDuo Crisp with Ultimate Lid might be a better choice for you if you have other features you’re looking for. However, both share the improved auto-seal lid that makes them worth the extra expense. Get the latest Black Friday and Cyber Monday offers by following @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribing to the Engadget Deals newsletter. The best Instant Pot® for beginners, with upgraded lid and display.
All of my recipes are written to work in ANY model of Instant Pot.Some models come to pressure a little faster than others, but the cook times are within a few minutes. The Instant Pot Duo has the yogurt button, adjustable pressure, and the saute function. And one final thought, don’t choose one Instant Pot model over another because one model has more buttons than another. For the vast majority of recipes you’ll need the Sauté, Pressure Cook, Start, Warm and Cancel Buttons.
It has an LED screen and the basic lid that you turn to release the pressure. In most other respects is very similar to the Duo Plus. The large display and multitude of buttons makes navigating the DUO Nova’s settings easy. For the most part, we found the differences in cooking abilities to be minor between the models in our fleet.
That being said, we thoroughly enjoyed the food made by the DUO Nova, with it earning superlatives in most of our cooking tests. In contrast, the Ultra Mini 10-in-1, 3-quart cooker measures 11.5 by 10.20 by 11.00 inches and weighs 9 pounds. The dimensions of the 6-quart Ultra 10-in-1 model are 13.00 by 12.50 by 12.50 inches, and it weighs 11.8 pounds. The Lux Mini 6-in-1, 3-quart version has dimensions of 11.50 by 10.51 by 10.50 inches, and it weighs 8.5 pounds. If you plan to cook big batches of dump-and-go meals, then I’d recommend an 8-quart Instant Pot or even the new 10-quart. If you’re cooking for two adults and one or two kids, the 6-quart Instant Pot will have everything you need.
Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Thanks to Barbara for this article on choosing an Instant Pot model.
Both the Duo Plus Whisper Quiet and the Duo Nova hit a sweet spot of offering some of the newer, more convenient features without a high-end price. There’s SO MANY models and variations, it’s not surprising! Our 2022 Instant Pot Buying Guidewill talk through the available options so you can feel confident moosoo air fryer choosing the Instant Pot size and model that’s right for you. When you click on links to buy products we may earn money to support our work. Learn how we create the most in-depth and scientific tech reviews on our About page. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews.
If the yogurt button is a deal-breaker for you, the all-in-one Ultimate Lid is the only air frying pressure cooker that has that option. Keep in mind that the Ultimate Lid model is heavier than either the Duo Crisp or the Pro Crisp. I would love to know your recommendation for a 6 qt Instant Pot.
There are very few situations where the DUO Nova wouldn’t be our top pressure cooker recommendation. The first is for those that mainly want to cook meat, as we’ve found some other cookers that can retain just a bit more tenderness in specific cuts than this machine. It sets the standard for pressure cookers, offering a versatile list of cooking functions, well-designed controls, and convenient touches like a pressure release button. In the world of pressure cookers, the DUO Nova sells for a relatively reasonable price but leads the pack in terms of performance. Sure, you can find some models that sell for less, but those models generally lack a saute function and thus, sacrifice quite a bit of the convenience that makes pressure cookers so attractive. We believe this is one of the best values on the market.