Instant Pot Duo Nova Review

The Instant Pot Duo Nova is the last of the new pressure cookers unveiled in 2019. The Nova has the button layout of the Duo mixed with the auto-seal lid of the Ultra. You can buy the Nova in a 3, 6, 8, or 10-quart size!

The Instant Pot company recently released the Instant Pot Duo Nova and sent me a 6-quart to review!

The Nova has all the functionality of the best-selling Instant Pot Duo, but with an improved display and button configuration on the housing. AND the push-button pressure release that I love from the Duo Plus. 

And, if you’re interested in cooking large batches, the Nova is the first Instant Pot to come in a 10-quart size. (It’s a giant!)

Read my complete review for everything you need to know about the new Instant Pot Duo Nova!

Looking to Buy? The Instant Pot Duo Nova 6-quart is available now on Amazon and is also available from many retail stores. (It’s often the Doorbuster in Black Friday ads—Kohls has the 6-quart and Target has the 8-quart on sale.) If you’re looking for the 10-quart, however, I’ve only found it available online from Amazon and Kohls.

Just Bought a New Nova? Read the review for the basics of your machine, then hop over to my Getting Started Guide to get cooking in your new Duo Nova! I’ll walk you through everything! Or, jump to my How To Use The Instant Pot Duo Nova video.

Bottom Line

I consider the Duo Nova a half-step up from the Duo, thanks to the improved sealing mechanism in the lid and improved button set-up.

I’ve been using the Nova 6-quart for two weeks and have yet to find anything I don’t like about it. If you can snag it for a great price, definitely go for it!

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What Is the Instant Pot Duo Nova?

As implied by the name, the Duo Nova 7-in-1 is a new spin on the best-selling Instant Pot Duo.

The Duo Nova is the first Instant Pot to come in a 10 quart size. So you can now enjoy the larger sized pressure cooker with the functionality and familiarity of Instant Pot.

(To compare the Duo Nova with other models, check out my other Instant Pot Reviews.)

What Comes with the Instant Pot Duo Nova?

The Instapot Duo Nova comes with quick start guide, detachable power cord, and trivet that folds flat. Like most new Instant Pots for 2019, it also comes with an additional sealing ring. Now you can have one for savory foods and one for sweet!

Like other 2019 offerings, the Nova does not come with a ladle, rice paddle, or measuring cup.

Instant Pot offers many accessories, sold separately, that are compatible with the Duo Nova.

What You’ll Love about the Instant Pot Duo Nova

The Duo Nova pressure cooker retains many of the best parts of the Duo and adds in features found on its mid-range pressure cookers like the Duo Plus.

Updated Lid

This lid is one of my favorites! The quick release switch will automatically set to Seal when the lid is closed. Every time!! No more forgetting to set the release valve in the sealed position!

The pressure release button is also easy to manually reset if you need to use an intermittent pressure release.

It also has the lid fins that fit into the side of the base to hold the lid up when it is removed.

Updated Button Layout

Like the Duo, the pressure cooker automatically starts when selecting your cooking options and time (no start button)

The button layout is a cross between the Duo and the Duo Plus. The preset buttons are located along the sides but the plus and minus buttons incorporated below the screen. The buttons have also been slightly reorganized so that the Pressure Cook button is in the lower right. The Cancel button is now separate from the Keep Warm button. Also, the print on the buttons is much easier to read.

Though the buttons have been rearranged, all the same functionality is there. All the larger sizes, 6-quart and up, have the same buttons along the sides (listed top-down, left-to-right):

• Soup/Broth
• Meat/Stew
• Bean/Chili
• Poultry
• Slow Cook
• Saute
• Rice
• Multigrain
• Porridge
• Steam
• Yogurt
• Pressure Cook

(Note that the 3-quart does not come with a Poultry or Multigrain preset button.)

However, my recipes are written to work in any brand of electric pressure cooker, and the must-use buttons are the same as always: Pressure Cook and Saute.

(Also, note that when you do use a preset, it automatically remembers if you customize a time or temperature and will cook that way in the future.)

Updated LCD Screen

I really like the LCD screen on the Instant Pot Duo Plus and was thrilled to see it adapted to the Nova. It’s much more clear and easier to read. I like the indicator icons along the top as well as the pressure level indicators on the screen itself.  

Here’s what the different Instant Pot status icons mean:

• Heat (the pot with a fire underneath) indicates the heating element is in use
• Pressure Cook (the pot with a P inside) indicates the pressure cook program is in progress
• Keep Warm (the temperature icon) indicates if the keep warm setting is on or off
• Sound (the speaker) indicates if the sound is on or off.

And, for those keeping track at home, it has a removable power cord. (I like to keep my cord inside the pot when not in use to make it easier to store.) The other 2019 offerings, the Duo Evo and the Duo Crisp, both have attached power cords. 

What You Need to Know Before Buying the Instant Pot Duo Nova

Unlike the Duo Plus, the Duo Nova does not have a sous vide setting. If you’re interested in using the sous vide, you’ll want to buy a different version that does include this button.

Most recipes are written for 6-quart pressure cookers, so the larger 8-quart and 10-quart sizes will definitely need recipe modifications in order to come to pressure. As a general rule, you’ll want to use at least 2 cups of water when cooking in the 10-quart Instant Pot. (The exact amount varies by recipe, depending on how much water is released during cooking.)

Larger pressure cookers also take longer to come to pressure, so be sure to account for this additional time when preparing your meal.

What Are the Specs for the Duo Nova?

All sizes of the Instant Pot Duo Nova use a sensor to toggle between 10.2 and 11.6psi on High pressure and between 5.8 and 7.2psi on the Low pressure setting.

• Instant Pot Duo Nova Mini is the 3-quart pressure cooker model. It is 700 watts, almost 9 pounds, and 11.5″ long × 10.2″ wide × 11″ tall.
• Instant Pot Duo Nova 60 is the 6-quart pressure cooker. It is 1000 watts, almost 12 pounds, and 13.2″ long × 12.2″ wide × 12.5″ tall.
• Instant Pot Duo Nova 80 is the 8-quart pressure cooker. It is 1200 watts, 15.6 pounds, and 14.8″ long × 13.6″ wide × 14″ tall.
• Instant Pot Duo Nova 100 is Instant Pot’s first-ever 10-quart pressure cooker. It is 1440 watts, almost 21 pounds, and 14.8″ long × 15.5″ wide × 14.7″ tall.

The full Instant Pot Duo Nova user manual is available here.

How to Use the Instant Pot Duo Nova

How to Clean the Instant Pot Duo Nova

While Instant Pot indicates that all of the cooking parts and accessories are top-rack dishwasher safe, I baby my pots and prefer to hand wash them. (We have harder water in our area, so using the dishwasher can lead to discoloration or hard water stains.)

Remove the silicone ring, from the lid and wash in hot soapy water. I do not like to submerge my lid or let it soak; instead, I use a wet sponge to scrub the and then rinse in running water.

When I wash the anti-block shield, float valve and silicone cap, I like to remove them after the lid has been washed, wash them in my hand, dry them, and immediately reinstall them on the lid. Just to prevent any small parts from being lost.

Also, make sure to wipe down the pressure cooker housing and the lip around the top before returning the dried cooking pot.

How to Turn Off the Sound on the Duo Nova Instant Pot

Right after you turn on the Duo Nova, press and hold the minus button [-] until the display indicates SOFF and the icon displays a little X next to the sound icon.

To turn the sound on again, simply press the plus button [+] button until the display shows S On.

Note that you can not turn off the sound while a cooking function is enabled.

What Do the Instant Pot Duo Nova Error Codes Mean?

There are six basic types of error codes you may see on your Instant Pot Duo Nova.  The manual provides possible issues and solutions for each of the error codes (see pages 55–58 for more details.)

OvHt / BURN / FOOD BURN are all error codes that indicate burn notice for one of four reasons:

• the inner pot is not positioned properly inside the outer housing
• the temperature inside the pot is too hot
• the inner pot does not have enough liquid
• food deposits on the bottom of the cooking pot may be blocking heat dissipation

If you’ve gotten the burn notice, remove the inner cooking pot from the base. Check for debris inside the pressure cooker housing or on the outside of the cooking pot. (Keep in mind that the cooker will be hot, so you may need to let it cool to thoroughly check.)

If food has burned onto the bottom of the cooking pot, soak and scrub off the burned foods. Allow the pot to cool before pressure cooking again. Be sure to add more liquid to the pot and avoid ingredients containing thickeners like canned soups or prepackaged spaghetti sauces.

Other Duo Nova Error Codes

The other error codes are quite rare:

C1, C2, C6, C6H, C6L: These five errors don’t specify what exactly is wrong, just that your Instant Pot may have a faulty sensor and that you’ll need to contact customer support at 1-800-828-7280 or support @ instantpot.com.

C5 indicates that the cooking pot is not in place or that there is no water in the inner cooking pot.

C7 or NoPr indicates that the heat element has failed, there is not enough liquid, or the quick release switch is in the vent position. If you get the error after checking the vent release valve and checking to make sure there is the minimum amount of liquid required for pressure, you would need to contact Customer Support.

Lid indicates that the lid is not correctly positioned. Simply open the lid and replace it, ensuring it is properly placed.

PrSE indicates that pressure has accumulated during a non-pressure cooking program. You will want to use the quick release vent to reduce pressure in the pot.

(Disclosure: I was sent a Instant Pot Duo Nova to review. As always, my opinion is always my own.)

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