Duo Nova Series Both the Instant Pot Duo and the Duo Nova are available in 3, 6, and 8 liquid quartz. Being able to choose from three different sizes is great and means you can get something that fits in your kitchen perfectly. This range of sizes isn’t typically offered by other pressure cooker brands. 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. 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. 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. It’s all well and good looking at all the cool features that these two Instant Pot models have to offer, but at the end of the day, it’s how they cook that’s the most important. Both devices are”7-in-1? cookers, meaning they can replace 7 of the appliances in your kitchen. If we told you there was a device out there that could replace your slow cooker, steamer, rice cooker, and more, you’d probably want to know about it! Luckily for you, Instant Pot has a range of products that do exactly this. Instant Pots include smart programs to help you cook your meals at the push of a button. Each smart program controls heat intensity, temperature, pressure, and cooking duration. Some of the design requirements of pressure cookers almost inevitably lead to some cleaning challenges. However, the DUO Nova navigates these challenges better than most, making its cleaning process about as easy as one could hope. But there are certain situations where one of the devices will be more suitable than the other. For example, if you regularly cook for a large number of people, then you might need the 10 qt sized pressure cooker, which is only available in the Duo Nova line. As a result, it can be hard to find the Duo Nova when you’re shopping online. As the popularity of this product increases, it’s probably going to get even more difficult to get your hands on one. The last category we’ll investigate in this Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova showdown is their designs. Both of the Instant Pot models have the classic design that the brand is known for and there aren’t that many noticeable differences. In summary, it’s clear that the Duo Nova has some advantages over the Instant Pot Duo when it comes to extra features. This is especially true if you’re cooking for a family and need something that is going to be big enough for all the hungry mouths in your house. Conversely, there’s no point buying a more expensive, larger capacity pressure cooker if it’s just for one or two people. If you’re looking for the Cake Setting or egg program, neither of these models have that feature at any quart size. Don’t worry as you can still make hard-boiled eggs using the steam button and cakes using the pressure cook button. All you need to do is adjust the time based on the recipe you’re following. If you’re trying to decide between the Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova here is a side by side comparison of the key differences between the two electric pressure cooker models. The Duo Nova does everything that the Duo can but adds some nice quality of life improvements. In addition, the Duo Nova comes with two sealing rings, rather than the usual one. Sealing rings are one of the most important parts of an Instant Pot, and the company recommends that you change your ring every months. It’s nice to know that you won’t have to worry about buying a new sealing ring in the future. When you’re shopping for a new Instant Pot you need to decide which features and size make the most sense for your needs. In 2019 the company added several new models including the Duo Nova. The chili wasn’t thickened to our liking but by switching back to saute it was easy to reduce it to the perfect consistency. During slow cooking the handles and sides all stayed cool, the lid reached 113 F/ 45 C which isn’t too warm to touch. The Instant Pot Duo Nova has 15 one touch preset programs covering off the main foods you’re likely to cook in the multi-cooker, as well as various manual settings for the different functions. But it has far fewer preset programs than you’ll see on some other Instant Pots such as the more expensive Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus, which has 48 customizable presets. One cool thing that the Instant Pot Duo Nova has is an auto-sealing lid.