Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova: Which is Better? We found plenty of slow cook and pressure cook recipes but it can be tricky to find exact guidance for more simple tasks like steaming and cooking rice. The Nova has all the functionality of the best-selling Instant Pot Duo, but with an improved display and button configuration on the housing. So you can now enjoy the larger sized pressure cooker with the functionality and familiarity of Instant Pot. Many people, and some manufacturers, maintain that it's completely fine to put non-stick cookware in the dishwasher, while others find that blasphemous. On the other hand, stainless steel has a long and proven pedigree of being dishwasher safe and thus doesn't elicit the same debate. Instant Pot has come down firmly on the "stainless is better" side of the conversation, using stainless pots in all of their pressure cookers. The control panel makes navigating its multiple cooking features and settings quite easy. A dedicated button for each cooking presets make it easy to quickly dial in rice or soup settings. A large LCD clearly displays feedback if you want to cycle through some advanced features, such as adjusting the pressure level, programming in a delayed start, or adjusting the cooking time. This way, you’ll have plenty of room for yummy meals that could last for days. It’s also important to note when you’re comparing the smart programs included in each Instant Pot series that not all quart sizes will 100% of the same functions. The mini 3 quart has a smaller front panel and typically has a program or two fewer than its larger 6- and 8-quart siblings. It also has a cooking progress indicator so you have an idea of when your meal will be ready. One of the main reasons this model is best for beginners is because it has so many safety features. You can just turn on the setting you need and go about your other tasks — without having to constantly check on it or fiddle with it. If you have some time, you can let the gadget release steam over the course of a few minutes. If you need to take a look at the food right way, you can opt for the quick release button which lets out the pressure and steam right away in a safe manner. Keep in mind that the Instant Pot Duo Nova 3-quart size doesn’t have the poultry or multigrain smart programs, while the other sizes do. 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 fact, other machines place their buttons on the main control panel, even farther away from the assault of steam that accompanies depressurizing a pressure cooker. However, the DUO Nova is undoubtedly still in the minority, offering a pressure release button. 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. Learn how we create the most in-depth and scientific tech reviews on our About page. 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. Unfortunately, the lamp was damaged, but the company was incredibly responsive and refunded my money. I bought a different lamp from them previously, and everything went smoothly. This may sound nit-picky, but the styrofoam they use gets everywhere; best to open the boxes outside. Things generally came out a bit more moist and sticky rather than fluffy, but we generally enjoyed the texture. It also performed well in our meat cooking tests, successfully rendering a tough brisket cut into a tender and enjoyable feast. There’s no recipe book or thick manual of cooking times included in the box, you’ll need to find these on the website or app as well as experimenting to achieve the perfect result. 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. If you’re new to Instant Pots, extra sealing rings are a must-have accessory and newer models are starting to come with two sealing rings instead of one. The new Duo Nova has an auto sealing lid as an added safety feature that’s available on the Ultra. Have you ever forgotten to flip the sealing knob to the closed position when starting to cook?