But it looks like there will be some excellent deals (on sale for $49 at Best Buy) this holiday season. Older models of the Instant Pot Viva have a Steam program, while newer models have a Sous Vide button in its place. The Instant Pot Max has an automatic pressure release feature that you set when you begin cooking. It also offers a NutriBoost feature, which creates movement inside the pot and helps make soups creamier. Check out my Instant Pot Duo Plus Whisper Quiet review for details on why it’s a great mid-range option. I like the combination dot-matrix and LCD display, which provides text that indicates what’s going on in the pot.
The best size of Instant Pot for big families mostly depends on how you plan to use it! If you plan to cook big batches of dump-and-go meals, then I’d recommend an 8-quart Instant Pot or even the instant pot duo nova 10-quart. This is the product’s overall performance score, based on key tests conducted by our industry experts in the CHOICE labs.
Essentially, unless you’re looking for some specific specialty functions like air fry or dehydrate, it will likely meet your needs. You may need to add more liquid for some recipes with 8-quarts and larger. So if you feel really nervous about going off recipe, I’d recommend using a 6-quart. Since then, it feels like Instant Pot has released a zillion new models (some with different instant pot duo nova versions), and all with slightly different features. However, the Duo Nova has an upgraded lid and a better-looking control panel, which is why many beginners would rather choose it for their first pressure cooking experience. On the other hand, a seasoned cook may feel more at home with the classic Duo since it’s already been cleared by thousands of users from all over the world.
Do not place the appliance on or in close proximity to a hot gas or electric burner, or a heated oven. The new rubberized handles make it much easier to lift the pot after cooking, and they help keep it in place so it doesn’t spin when you’re sautéing veggies or stirring something like risotto. “IP” stands for “Instant Pot”, “50” instant vortex or “60” relates to the size, ie 5 or 6 quart/liter. ONLY the “Smart-60” model with a Datecode between 1410 and 1503, purchased before June 1, 2015, is affected. For basic, everyday cooking, it functions similarly to the others. While people may rate each of the Instant Pot models differently, this is how I like to think of them.
You’ve heard the hype, read the articles, perused the recipes, and have come to the conclusion that you absolutely need an Instant Pot (true!). But finding the best Instant Pot model to add to your artillery of kitchen appliances—the Instant Pot that really fits your unique cooking needs—is a more involved task than it may seem. A glass lid with a venting hole (purchased separately) may be used. As a safety precaution, the cooker automatically enters standby mode (display says Off) after 30 minutes if you have not pressed Cancel. The most obvious advantage of the Duo Nova slow cooker is that it’s available in 4 different sizes, rather than the Duo’s 3. The Duo Nova is available in a larger 10 qt size, which wouldn’t be an option if you picked the Duo.