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Instant Pot has sold so many versions of its Duo cooker that choosing one has become a puzzle. The Instant Pot Duo, Duo Plus, Duo Nova and Duo Evo Plus all pressure cook beans, soups and stews well, but they differ in programs, steam release, lids and pots, and one of them is no longer made. This guide lays out the differences side by side so you can pick the right model for a lectin-conscious kitchen, where the pressure cooker is the workhorse for soaked beans, lentils and chickpeas.
How we compared: We did not lab-test these cookers. We compared the specifications on each Amazon listing and Instant Pot’s own manual, checked which models are currently sold new on Amazon, and looked at independent reviews. All four are 6-quart versions unless noted.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition or are considering a major dietary change, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Plus vs Duo Nova vs Duo Evo Plus: Quick Comparison
| Model (6 qt) | Functions / programs | Power | Steam release and lid | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot Duo | 7-in-1; 13 Smart Programs | 1000W | Easy-Release steam switch | Best value, simplest | Check price on Amazon |
| Instant Pot Duo Plus | 9-in-1 (adds sous vide, sterilize); 15 programs | 1000W | Easy-Release switch; time/temp/pressure display | Best all-rounder | Check price on Amazon |
| Instant Pot Duo Nova | 7-in-1; 13 programs | Not stated on listing | Auto-sealing lid; quick-release button | Beginners who want auto-seal | Check price on Amazon |
| Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus (discontinued) | 10-in-1; 48 presets | 1200W | Steam-diffusing cover; handled pot | Buy the Instant Pot Pro instead | Check Instant Pot Pro price |
Short answer: Buy the Duo if you want the cheapest reliable Instant Pot, the Duo Plus if you want the best everyday features for a little more, the Duo Nova if an auto-sealing lid matters to you, and skip hunting for a Duo Evo Plus: it has been discontinued, and the Instant Pot Pro is its closest current replacement.
1. Instant Pot Duo 6 Qt 7-in-1 — Best value
The Duo is the classic Instant Pot and still the default recommendation. It pressure cooks, slow cooks, makes rice and yogurt, steams, sautés and keeps food warm, with 13 customizable Smart Programs that include settings for beans. The inner pot is food-grade stainless steel with a tri-ply bottom for more even sautéing, and the lid, inner pot and accessories are dishwasher-safe.
What you give up compared with the Duo Plus is a more informative display, sous vide and sterilize modes, and a couple of extras in the box. For simply cooking soaked beans, lentils and soups several times a week, it does the job.
Key specs
- Capacity: 6 quarts (cooks for up to 6)
- Power: 1000W
- Functions: 7-in-1 (pressure cook, slow cook, rice, yogurt, steam, sauté, warm)
- Programs: 13 customizable Smart Programs
- Inner pot: food-grade stainless steel, tri-ply bottom
- Safety: 10+ safety features, overheat protection, safe-locking lid
- Weight: 14.6 lb; model DUO 60; 1-year warranty
Pros
- Usually the least expensive full-size Instant Pot
- Huge recipe library and accessory ecosystem
- Stainless steel pot, with PFOA/PTFE-free cooking per the listing
Cons
- No sous vide or sterilize program
- Basic display without a cooking-progress readout
- No anti-spin pot base, which the Duo Plus adds
Best for: First-time buyers and anyone who mainly wants a dependable cooker for beans, soups and stews.
2. Instant Pot Duo Plus 6 Qt 9-in-1 — Best all-rounder
The Duo Plus adds the features most people end up wanting. It is a 9-in-1 cooker, adding sous vide and sterilize to the Duo’s functions, with 15 one-touch programs. The display shows dedicated cooking time, temperature and pressure indicators, so you can see where the cooker is in its cycle. The tri-ply stainless pot has an anti-spin bottom that stays put while you stir.
Instant Pot also includes two extra sealing rings and a stainless steel steam rack, and the power cord detaches for storage. A newer Duo Plus version with WhisperQuiet steam release is also sold (Duo Plus with WhisperQuiet), with dial control, an angled display with a progress bar, 25 recipe presets and a one-touch steam release button.
Key specs
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Power: 1000W; UL and ULC listed
- Functions: 9-in-1 (adds sous vide and sterilize)
- Programs: 15 one-touch Smart Programs
- Display: time, temperature and pressure indicators
- Inner pot: 18/8 stainless steel, anti-spin tri-ply bottom
- Included: 2 extra sealing rings, stainless steel steam rack
- Weight: 12.4 lb; model 112-0156-01
Pros
- Clearer display than the Duo
- Anti-spin pot makes sautéing easier
- Extra sealing rings are handy if you keep one for savory and one for sweet
- Newer WhisperQuiet version available
Cons
- Costs a bit more than the Duo
- Sous vide is a niche feature for many cooks
- Two Duo Plus versions are sold, so check which one you’re buying
Best for: Most households: it’s the best balance of features and price, and the extra sealing rings are useful if you cook beans and yogurt in the same pot.
Watch: Pressure Luck Cooking compares the original Duo Plus and Duo side by side.
3. Instant Pot Duo Nova 6 Qt 7-in-1 — Best for auto-sealing
The Duo Nova is the Duo with a smarter lid. Its easy-seal lid seals automatically when you close it, so there’s no valve to forget, and steam is released with a push of the quick-release button. Instant Pot describes it as an upgrade to the Duo series aimed at beginners.
Functionally it matches the Duo: 7-in-1 with 13 customizable programs, plus automatic keep-warm for up to 10 hours. The pot is 304 (18/8) stainless steel with no chemical coating, and a bonus sealing ring is included.
Key specs
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Functions: 7-in-1 (pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steam, sauté, warm, yogurt)
- Programs: 13 customizable one-touch programs
- Lid: easy-seal lid seals automatically; quick-release button
- Inner pot: 304 (18/8) stainless steel, uncoated
- Keep warm: automatic, up to 10 hours
- Extras: bonus sealing ring; blue LCD display
- Weight: 11.8 lb; model DUO NOVA 60
Pros
- Auto-sealing lid removes a common beginner mistake
- Push-button steam release keeps your hand away from the valve
- Uncoated stainless steel pot
Cons
- No sous vide or sterilize, unlike the Duo Plus
- Wattage not stated on the Amazon listing
- Fewer programs than the Duo Plus
Best for: Beginners and anyone who has forgotten to turn the sealing valve on an older Instant Pot.
4. Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus — Discontinued (buy the Instant Pot Pro instead)
The Duo Evo Plus was the most advanced Duo when it launched. According to Instant Pot’s user manual, the 6-quart model ran at 1200W and used a dial with 8 Smart Programs offering 48 preset cooking times, temperatures and pressure levels, including sous vide and bake. Its inner pot had handles and a flatter base for sautéing, and its lid included a steam-diffusing cover for a gentler release (Pressure Cooking Today).
The catch is that the Duo Evo Plus has been discontinued, and we couldn’t find it sold new on Amazon US when we checked. Older listings may still show up in search or from third-party sellers, so check condition and warranty carefully. The Instant Pot Pro carries forward its best ideas, so it’s the model we’d recommend instead.
Instant Pot Pro 6 Qt (current replacement): key specs
- Capacity: 6 quarts (8-quart version also sold)
- Power: 1200W; UL and ULC listed
- Functions: 10-in-1, including sous vide and bake
- Programs: 28 one-touch options
- Steam release: gentle steam release switch and diffusing cover
- Preheat: about 20% faster, per Instant Pot
- Dishwasher-safe lid and inner pot
Pros
- Keeps the Evo Plus’s calmer, diffused steam release
- More power than the Duo, Duo Plus and Nova
- Widely available new, with a manufacturer warranty
Cons
- Costs more than the Duo line
- More programs than many cooks need
Best for: Anyone who was shopping for a Duo Evo Plus, and frequent batch cooks who want a quieter steam release.
Watch: Indigo Nili compares the Instant Pot Pro with the Duo Evo Plus it replaced.
Which Instant Pot Is Best for Cooking Beans?
Any of these models will cook soaked beans thoroughly. All of them pressure cook, and the model matters far less than the method. Raw or undercooked red kidney beans contain a lectin that can cause stomach upset, and the U.S. FDA recommends soaking dried kidney beans and boiling them thoroughly. Dr. Gundry recommends soaking legumes and pressure cooking them (Gundry MD), though he acknowledges a pressure cooker “won’t get every last lectin.” A classic study found kidney bean lectin activity fell below detectable levels with thorough wet-heat cooking, including pressure cooking (Thompson et al., 1983).
Features that make bean cooking easier: a stainless steel pot (all four), extra sealing rings so bean and savory smells don’t carry into yogurt (Duo Plus), and a gentler steam release that reduces sputtering from foamy bean water (Instant Pot Pro). For step-by-step soaking and cook times, read our guide to the best pressure cookers for cooking lectins out of beans. If you also want to air fry, see our Instant Pot Duo Crisp review.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Between Instant Pot Models
Pick the size first
Six quarts suits most households of two to six people and comfortably handles a pound of soaked beans. Choose 8 quarts for big families or batch cooking, and 3 quarts for singles or small kitchens. The Duo is sold in all three sizes.
Steam release
Older Duo models use a valve you turn by hand. The Duo Nova adds a push-button release and an auto-sealing lid, the newer Duo Plus adds WhisperQuiet, and the Instant Pot Pro uses a switch with a diffusing cover. If steam release makes you nervous, these upgrades are worth paying for.
Programs vs. what you’ll actually use
Most cooks rely on Pressure Cook, Sauté and Keep Warm. Extra programs like sous vide and sterilize are nice to have but shouldn’t decide your purchase on their own.
Pot design
All of these models use a stainless steel inner pot. The Duo Plus’s anti-spin bottom and the Pro’s handled pot make sautéing and draining easier.
New vs. discontinued
Buy a current model new with a manufacturer warranty when you can. If you find a Duo Evo Plus, confirm that it’s new, that it comes with a warranty, and that sealing rings are easy to get.
FAQ
What is the difference between the Instant Pot Duo and Duo Plus?
The Duo Plus is a 9-in-1 cooker (adding sous vide and sterilize) with 15 programs, a display with time, temperature and pressure indicators, an anti-spin pot, and two extra sealing rings. The Duo is a 7-in-1 cooker with 13 programs. Both are 1000W in the 6-quart size.
Is the Instant Pot Duo Nova better than the Duo?
It’s similar, with the same 7 functions and 13 programs, but adds an auto-sealing lid and a push-button quick release. If you’re new to pressure cooking, those are useful upgrades.
Is the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus discontinued?
Yes. It’s no longer in Instant Pot’s current lineup, and we couldn’t find it sold new on Amazon US. The Instant Pot Pro is the closest current replacement.
Which Instant Pot is best for beginners?
The Duo Nova, for its auto-sealing lid and push-button release, or the newer Duo Plus with WhisperQuiet, which has guided presets and a progress display.
Can every Instant Pot cook beans safely?
Yes, if you follow good practice. Soak dried beans, cook them in fresh water until completely tender, and don’t fill past the maximum line. Undercooked kidney beans are the main concern.
Final Thoughts
For most kitchens, the Instant Pot Duo Plus is the sweet spot: more useful features than the Duo for a small step up. Choose the Duo to save money, the Duo Nova for an auto-sealing lid, and the Instant Pot Pro if you were hoping to find a Duo Evo Plus. Whichever you buy, soak your beans, cook them until fully tender, and let the pressure cooker do the heavy lifting.
Sources
- Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus user manual (via Williams-Sonoma)
- Pressure Cooking Today — Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus Review
- Gundry MD — How to Use a Pressure Cooker
- U.S. FDA — Natural Toxins in Food
- Thompson LU et al. Effect of Heat Processing on Hemagglutinin Activity in Red Kidney Beans. J Food Sci. 1983
Not medical advice. This content is for general informational purposes and does not replace guidance from a qualified health professional.