Instant Pot Duo Nova, 10-Quart Although there are cook times and plenty of recipes available online, they don’t always work the same for all the Instant Pot models. They’re a good starting point but you’ll need to be comfortable with a bit of trial and error in the first few weeks of using any Instant Pot. Please visit /support/register to register your new Instant Brands™ appliance. When pressure cooking, having a strong seal is absolutely essential for proper cooking and kitchen safety. Although the manual seal on the Instant Pot Duo works fine, the automatic version gives you one less thing to worry about. 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. This gully almost inevitably gathers some crumbs or condensation or whatnot during the stirring and serving process and can be a bit difficult to clean. Additionally, the quick steam release switch is separate from the steam valve, and ensures you can force the pressure to be released in a safer way. There's also a progress bar on the LCD display screen to indicate the cooking status but these are minimal differences and this is reflected in the similar price tags. 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. The Instant Pot Duo Nova is essentially the venerable Instant Pot Duo, but with an updated digital interface and an additional 10-quart option, which makes it good for large families. Its largest ‘10-quart’ capacity model is big enough to feed a huge gang of friends, but still small enough in overall size to store with relative ease. In our analysis of 9 expert reviews, the Instant Pot Duo Nova, 10-Quart placed 1st when we looked at the top 4 products in the category. Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in the category. Along with our in-house experts, our team analyzes thousands of product reviews from the most trusted websites. The large display and multitude of buttons makes navigating the DUO Nova's settings easy. While it isn’t a budget appliance, this Instant Pot is a great price when you take into account all the different uses and the other appliances it can replace. NOVA California accepts returns in new, uninstalled condition and original packaging within 30 days of receipt, unless otherwise notes on the product page. Once your return request has been authorized, you will receive a shipping labels by email. Print and attach to the box and drop off at your local UPS/Fedex store. You may use your own shipping account to return an item, simply provide us a tracking number. It’s considered their “classic” model and is one of their earlier versions. One of the most difficult things to decide when buying an Instant Pot Duo Nova is which size you’ll need for your family. The 6-quart size is the most popular one and many recipes are written for this Instant Pot size as well. If you’re only cooking for 1-2 people, then opt for the smaller 3-quart size. If, on the other hand, you have a big family, love leftovers or enjoy entertaining, then going with the 8- or 10-quart size is a good idea. We used the Instant Pot Duo Nova for several recipes to try out its performance across different functions. First up, slow cooked chili, the sauté function comes in handy here, allowing you to brown your meat and soften onions in the Instant Pot instead of having to use a separate pan or stove top. Despite the pot not having a non-stick coating there was no sticking during the sauté stage. We slow cooked our beef chili for six hours on the ‘more’ setting and the result was a delicious meaty chili with soft beef. The Instant Pot beeps to alert you that cooking has finished and the temperature of the chili at the end of cooking was 176 F/ 80 C. Although the price difference between the Instant Pot Duo and the Duo Nova isn’t huge, it’s still worth remembering that the Duo is going to be the cheaper option. Another huge benefit of the Instant Pot Duo, and Instant Pots in general, is the easy cleaning process. Since everything is contained in a single pot, there is hardly any mess created whilst cooking. Since the Instant Pot Duo Nova features an auto-sealing lid, the designs here are slightly different. Anyone who has used other Instant Pot models in the past will feel at home with either of these devices. As you might expect, the Instant Pot Duo comes in cheaper than the Duo Nova across all the different pot sizes. First off, the rubber gasket on the lid is easily removable, and the lid itself is a single piece. This makes cleaning and drying easier than some other models that use two-piece lids designs that introduce nooks and crannies where water and gunk can hide. This makes it a bit harder to scrub clean than many of its non-stick counterparts but also means it can unequivocally go in a dishwasher. For example, some Instant Pots include a rice cooker, whereas others swap that out for a yogurt maker. It’s important to think about which features and cooking modes you are going to use when choosing which is best for you. This isn’t necessarily a big disadvantage if you know that these features are going to be worthwhile to you. Moreover, some of the extra cost is recuperated by the additional measuring cup and sealing ring that are included in the Duo Nova package. The Duo Nova also comes with extra accessories, some of which aren’t included with the standard Duo. You can expect the usual measuring cup, paddle spoon, and ladle, but Instant Pot throws in an extra sealing ring with the Duo Nova.