Duo Nova Series 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. We've always Instant Pot models because the lid can be stored upright in either of the handles on either side of the machine. This allows you to put the lid out of the way, no matter which hand you like to stir with, without setting it down on a potentially dirty countertop. For a speedy Thai red curry, the manual pressure cook function was our choice. This model replaces seven appliances, including a pressure cooker, slow cooker and rice cooker. With different sizes available, this is a useful multi-cooker no matter what size your family or household. The pressure release button is our absolute favorite thing about the DUO Nova's user experience. As a result, it’s fair to say that the manual seals on the Instant Pot Duo are a bit of a drawback. However, The Instant Pot Duo Nova also comes in an extra special 10 liquid quartz size. This huge Instant Pot is absolutely ideal if you’re cooking for a large family or need to cater for a party. You’ll struggle to find another high-quality pressure cooker with such a large capacity. That said, the Instant Pot Duo is still completely safe to use – you just have to make sure that you follow the instructions carefully, especially when releasing the chamber after pressure cooking. Since the majority of people will be choosing between one of the three smaller sizes, we can’t really say that the Instant Pot Duo Nova is that much better in this category. If you do need the larger capacity though, then your decision between the two products becomes very easy. With both lids, a controlled manual pressure release takes some practice to get right without covering your ceiling in steam. 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. Most pressure cooker models are available in similar sizes, and it is the additional features that set them apart. This 10 qt pressure cooker is absolutely ideal if you’re cooking for a large family or group. It’s really great to be able to chuck all your raw ingredients into the cooker, knowing that there’ll be plenty of food to go around when it’s done. Now it’s time to have a look at the main advantages of the Instant Pot Duo Nova. Again, this product isn’t much different from the Duo electric pressure cooker, but it has some key features that help it stand out from the crowd. An automatic seal makes an Instant Pot even easier to use and is considered to be the safer option when pressure cooking. He’s been featured on MSN, Renaissance Periodization, and Good Financial Cents. When comparing the Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova, the price is a clear difference. The Duo Nova is more expensive than the Duo across all the different pot sizes. This increase in cost is thanks to the device’s additional features. Meal prep is all the rage at the moment, and there’s never been a more convenient way to get your meals ready for the week than with a 10 qt Instant Pot. Instant Pot is the most recognizable brand name in the pressure cooker space for a reason, and the DUO Nova delivers on that pedigree by offering exceptional performance at a reasonable price. There are very few situations where the DUO Nova wouldn't be our top pressure cooker recommendation. The first is for those that mainly want to cook meat, as we've found some other cookers that can retain just a bit more tenderness in specific cuts than this machine. It sets the standard for pressure cookers, offering a versatile list of cooking functions, well-designed controls, and convenient touches like a pressure release button. In the world of pressure cookers, the DUO Nova sells for a relatively reasonable price but leads the pack in terms of performance.