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 what we’ve found to be the most differentiating of our cooking tests, the saute test; the DUO Nova performed wonderfully. It got hot enough to easily brown eve hearty veggies like carrots and made quick work of diced onions. We believe this ability is crucial; to effectively saute right in the pot vastly increases the number of meals you can make with only one dish to clean at the end.
However, the Instant Pot Duo Mini 3 quart has 11 smart cooking functions. In Manual mode, you have control over your settings and can manually adjust the pressure of the appliance, but if you don’t know how the pot works, there’s a instant vortex chance the food will be under or overcooked. If you are used to using other pressure cookers, then either Instant Pot will be a good choice. It’s more convenient when making both the primary and side dishes in your pressure cooker.
The texture of the rice was soft but not as fluffy as a dedicated rice cooker would offer. In addition, some parts of the rice were not cooked consistently, so there would be rice stuck inside the inner pot – which could have been avoided if the pot had been non-stick. Despite the lack of ‘fluffiness’, the rice rated average for its aroma and taste.
Pressure Control Features Locking Lid Place the lid on the cooker with the on the lid aligned with the on the cooker base. To lock the lid and seal the cooker, turn the lid clockwise until the is aligned with the on the cooker base. IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS WARNING To avoid injury, read and understand instruction manual before using this appliance.
Always ensure the inner pot is dry on the outside before inserting into the cooker base and that the cooker base is free of food or debris. Always unplug the cooker and let it cool to room temperature before cleaning. Never use harsh chemical detergents, moosoo air fryer scouring pads, or powders to clean any part of the cooker. 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.
Be aware that different Instant Pot sizes cook differently, but most online instructions are designed for 6-quart models. As a result, you’ll have to learn how to properly scale the recipes if you choose a different size. With revolutionary smart multi-cookers featuring new functions and uses constantly in development, it can be hard to tell Instant Pot products apart — especially the Instant Pot Duo and Duo Nova.
Air-frying is the trendy cooking technique that uses, in this case, 95% less oil than deep frying. The Instant Pot Duo comes with a multi-level air fryer basket. The extra safety features and accessories make it a better machine to cook with in general. If you want even more control over your cooking times, want to experiment with some advanced features, then the Duo Nova might be a better choice for you.
Remove inner pot from cooker base and wash with hot water and dish soap before first use. Wipe outer surfaces of inner pot and heating element to ensure they are dry and free of food debris. It pops up to indicate instant vortex when the cooker is pressurized, and lowers into the lid when the cooker is depressurized. Six-quart large capacity cooks for up to 6 people—perfect for families, but also great for meal prepping and batch cooking.