Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova: Which is Better? If you’re struggling to choose between the two, then be sure to have a read through our Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova breakdown above. So, after all that, which Instant Pot model would we actually recommend? In truth, the Duo and the Duo Nova are very similar products and in a lot of situations, they will offer exactly the same functionality and ease of use. Once you know what you’re doing, Instant Pots are an absolute dream, but understanding the different modes and experimenting with recipes can take some time. To make your life easier, we’d recommend starting out by using recipes shared online by other Instant Pot users. We just said that one of the benefits of the Duo is how easy it is to use, but now we’re saying that it’s not beginner-friendly – what gives? Well, in our opinion, most Instant Pot models have a pretty steep learning curve and it takes a while to get to grips with how they work. The Instant Pot Duo is packed with functionality to make your cooking sessions as straightforward as possible. The device has 13 customizable modes built-in, which can be set up to make a huge variety of dishes. Instant Pot is the standard-bearer of pressure cookers, and the addition of a pressure release button to the DUO Nova makes it one of the best cookers that we've ever tested. Plus, this all comes at a relatively reasonable, middle-of-the-road level price. For the vast majority of people who want a versatile cooker that can make meals as convenient as possible, the DUO Nova is both a superb choice and a great value in the world of kitchen appliances. 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. Additionally, we found many meat-based pressure cooker recipes suggest significantly longer cooking times than Instant Pot suggests for the same cut of meat. In those situations, we generally found Instant Pot's recommendations to be more on point, with the longer cook times bringing about slightly drier and tougher results. The pressure release button makes depressurizing the cooking chamber feel much easier and less stressful. Helen is a freelance writer who specializes in kitchen appliances and has written for some of the biggest home-related titles around. For many people, cooking can be an overwhelming, time-consuming, and generally unrewarding process. An Instant Pot can help you fall in love with cooking again, by ensuring your food is quick, easy, and most importantly, delicious. Even though the Duo Nova is more expensive, the price difference isn’t that stark. For many people, the extra features that the Duo Nova offers might well be worth the extra expense. However, this is a decision you’ll have to make for yourself by thinking about how you’ll use your Instant Pot, and which functions you really need. Let's help you find the right sizes kitchen appliances for your small kitchen so it can live up to its full potential. Having said that, the stainless-steel finish gives it a reassuringly robust look. Richmond Howard started Meal Prepify in 2019 and has helped over a million people learn how to meal prep, get better at meal planning, and create a kitchen they love to use. He’s an avid home chef and loves to bbq, grill out, and make awesome food for family and friends. Before we get into our comparison, it’s probably best to take a look at what Instant Pot actually is. Although the term “instant pot” is often used in place of products such as “slow cooker” or “pressure cooker”, Instant Pot is also the name of one of the most popular worktop cooker brands. The Instant Pot Duo is one of the electric pressure cooker models made by Instant Brands. 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.