Instant Pot Duo Nova vs Duo Evo Plus: Honest Review

I used to hate the dinner hour. My feet always hurt after a long day at work. I just wanted a hot meal fast without standing by a hot stove. I was always tired and grumpy when cooking. That is why I tried pressure cooking to save my sanity. This article shares my true thoughts and daily experience. You will see how the Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus compare in a real kitchen. I will help you pick the best one to solve your dinner stress.

I wanted to see which cooker actually made dinner easier for me. Here is how the first one fit into my messy kitchen routine.

Instant Pot Duo Plus Review

I took this cooker out of the box on a rainy Tuesday. I needed to make a beef stew quickly. The parts felt nice and solid in my hands. I washed the inner pot and set it up on my clean counter. It took me just ten minutes to start cooking my meal. The screen was very bright and easy to read from far away.

Every kitchen tool has good and bad sides. Here is what I noticed right away after unboxing it.

Pros And Cons

I love finding what works and what fails. Here is my honest list of hits and misses.

TypeFeatureMy Experience
ProBright screenI could easily see it from across the room.
ProSmart lidIt seals on its own so I never forget.
ConHard to cleanThe ring holds smells from old spicy food.
ConSlow releaseLetting the steam out took a very long time.

I used this pot for two full months. It became a normal part of my busy week.

Everyday Cooking Performance

I cooked breakfast, lunch, and dinner in this metal pot. The mornings were always busy and loud in my house. I just dumped oats and water inside and pressed a button. Ten minutes later, my hot breakfast was totally ready to eat.

I also tried making a huge beef roast for dinner. The hot steam shot out in a thick white cloud when it finished. The meat was so soft it fell apart with a simple fork. It tasted like I cooked it all day long.

Here is a quick look at my daily cooking results.

TaskTime TakenMy Result
OatmealTen minutesVery creamy and warm bowls.
Beef RoastOne hourMeat got very soft and juicy.
White RiceTwelve minutesFluffy but stuck to the bottom.
Dry BeansForty minutesCooked perfectly without soaking first.

Not everyone needs the exact same kitchen tools. Here is who I think will love this exact model.

Recommendation

I thought about who would actually want this model. Here is a quick guide to help you decide.

User TypeRecommendationReason
BeginnersGood FitVery easy buttons to learn fast.
Busy parentsGood FitCooks meals while you do other things.
Pro chefsNot IdealLacks fine heat control settings.
Small kitchensNot IdealTakes up a lot of space on the counter.

Check out this all-in-one cooking machine. It’s a must-have for the kitchen!

I needed to know if the next step up was worth the cash. So I swapped my cooker for a new one.

Instant Pot Duo Nova vs Duo Evo Plus

Instant Pot Review

This upgraded model looked very sleek right out of the box. It had a big dial and a huge digital screen. I felt like I was using a fancy space tool. I made a huge batch of chicken soup on the very first day. The handles on the inner pot made me so incredibly happy. It felt much faster and stronger than the last one.

I found a lot of cool upgrades on this model. But nothing in the world is totally perfect.

Pros And Cons

I tested this one for weeks with heavy family meals. Here are the main things I loved and hated.

TypeFeatureMy Experience
ProInner pot handlesI lifted hot soup out safely and easily.
ProFast heatingIt got hot much faster than my old pot.
ConComplex screenIt took me more time to learn all icons.
ConLoose dialTurning the control knob felt a bit cheap.

I put this sleek pot to the test day after day. It changed how I handle my busy dinner time.

Heavy Duty Daily Use

I cooked ribs in this pot for a big family dinner. The meat fell right off the bone in a rich sauce. I loved how fast the steam came out at the very end. The switch to let steam out is super safe and nice.

I did get a burn error once when making thick pasta sauce. I had to scrape the bottom and start the meal over. That was very frustrating on a hungry night. But overall, it made cooking feel much more fun.

Here is how it handled my weekly food prep.

TaskHeat Up TimeMy Result
Pork RibsVery fastLocked in all the rich meat flavors.
Thick SauceSlowTriggered a burn warning easily.
Brown RiceFastGrains came out perfectly soft and cooked.
Chicken SoupSuper fastBoiled heavy water in record time.

This upgraded pot is not right for every single home. Here is exactly who should buy it.

Recommendation

If you like playing with settings, this is for you. Here is my breakdown of who should get it.

User TypeRecommendationReason
Tech loversGood FitHas lots of screens and settings to play with.
Soup fansGood FitThe side handles make pouring hot liquid safe.
Simple cooksNot IdealToo many hard steps to just boil water.
Budget buyersNot IdealCosts more than basic starter models.

This pressure cooker is perfect for making meals in a flash! I use it for everything from rice to yogurt!

Now it is time to put both of these pots in the ring. Let us see how they match up.

Instant Pot Duo Nova vs Duo Evo Plus

Detailed Comparison For Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus

I sat both pots on my counter side by side. I wanted to see exactly which one won the battle. I looked at how they cook, clean, and feel.

Speed and heat matter a lot when you are very hungry. Here is how they did with the actual cooking.

Performance: Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus

I made the exact same stew in both pots to test them. I started them at the exact same time on my counter. The second pot heated up way faster than the first one. It saved me about ten minutes of annoying waiting around.

The first pot did a fine job in the very end. The meat was just as soft in both hot meals. But the speed of the upgraded model really blew me away. I felt way less stressed waiting for my dinner.

Here is the final breakdown of how they perform.

FeatureInstant Pot Duo PlusInstant Pot
Heat timeA bit slowSuper fast
Steam releaseStandard buttonNice safe switch
Cook resultsVery goodVery good
Screen infoBasic iconsFull step tracker

Instant Pot Rating: 7/10

Instant Pot Duo Plus Rating: 9/10

Using a pot should never give you a huge headache. Let us talk about which one is much simpler.

Ease Of Use: Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus

The first pot wins big when it comes to simple steps. You just press a simple button and walk away. It is so easy that my kids could probably do it. You do not need a thick book to understand it.

The second pot has that big dial you have to spin. You have to push it in to select your menu things. It took me a full week to stop messing it up. But the handles on the inner pot are a total dream.

Here is how easy they are to use every day.

FeatureInstant Pot Duo PlusInstant Pot
ButtonsPush and goTurn and click
Inner potHard to liftHandles make it easy
Learning curveFive minutesOne full week
ScreenSimple to readBusy with data

Instant Pot Duo Plus Rating: 9/10

Instant Pot Rating: 7/10

Kitchen gear needs to survive drops, bumps, and rough scrubbing. Here is how tough these two machines felt to me.

Build Quality: Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus

Both pots feel very heavy and safe on the kitchen counter. They do not slide around when I stir thick hot stews. The lids lock on tight and feel very strong and secure. I never worried about them breaking or falling apart.

But the upgraded pot feels like a heavy tank. The flat bottom of its inner pot sits perfectly still. The first pot has a curved bottom that spins when I stir. That drove me completely crazy when browning hot ground meat.

Here is how they feel out of the box.

FeatureInstant Pot Duo PlusInstant Pot
Pot bottomCurved and spinsFlat and stays still
Lid weightHeavy and safeHeavy and safe
Dial feelNo dial at allFeels slightly loose
Power cordA bit shortGood long length

Instant Pot Rating: 7/10

Instant Pot Duo Plus Rating: 9/10

Nobody wants to stand at the sink scrubbing burned bits. Here is my daily washing and cleaning experience.

Maintenance: Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus

Washing the first pot is mostly simple and fast. The shiny steel wipes clean with a little soap and water. But the heavy lid has deep parts that are hard to reach. I had to use a small brush to get it clean.

The second pot is basically the exact same to wash. The smell stays in the rubber ring on both thick lids. The flat bottom of the second pot is slightly easier to scrub. But overall, they firmly tie in this messy cleaning race.

Here is what to expect at the dirty sink.

FeatureInstant Pot Duo PlusInstant Pot
Pot scrubbingNeed elbow greaseEasy to wipe flat base
Smell in ringHolds garlic smellsHolds garlic smells
Lid cracksHard to cleanHard to clean
DishwasherSafe to put inSafe to put in

Instant Pot Duo Plus Rating: 8/10

Instant Pot Rating: 8/10

We all want to spend our hard earned cash wisely. Let us see which one gives you much more.

Value For Money: Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus

The first pot costs less and gives you a whole lot. It has all the main things you need to cook well. It is a fantastic deal for anyone just starting out. You get a strong machine without emptying your wallet.

The second pot costs more cash upfront. But the speed and those amazing handles are huge daily perks. If you cook every single day, the extra cash is completely worth it. It pays for itself in saved time and zero stress.

Here is how they match up for the cost.

FeatureInstant Pot Duo PlusInstant Pot
CostVery friendlyA bit pricey
Daily useGets the job doneMakes life much faster
Safety partsStandard lidUpgraded steam switch
Overall valueGreat for basic needsGreat for heavy use

Instant Pot Duo Plus Rating: 9/10

Instant Pot Rating: 8/10

The big debate finally comes to an end right here. Let us see which one stays on my counter.

Instant Pot Duo Nova vs Duo Evo Plus

Conclusion

I had a great time testing both of these out. They both make dinner time much less stressful for me. Choosing the winner in the Instant Pot Duo Nova Vs Duo Evo Plus debate comes down to how you cook. If you want a cheap way to cook, go with the first one. If you want handles and fast heating, save up for the second one.

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