If you’ve just purchased an Instant Pot Duo Nova model, this beginner’s quick start guide will help you get started. This user manual tells you about all the parts, the most important buttons and functions, and gives you instructions on how to use the Instant Pot Nova model for the first time by doing the water test (initial test run). [Video included.]
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Table of Contents
- Introduction with video
- What is an Instant Pot?
- How does Pressure Cooking Work?
- Is the Instant Pot Safe to Use?
- Safety Precautions
- First Thing You Need to Do: Open the Box!
- Parts
- Accessories
- Lid
- Sealing Ring
- Float Valve
- Anti-Block Shield
- Assembly
- Open and Close the Lid
- Release Pressure
- Commonly Used Buttons
- Initial Test Run/Water Test
- Duo vs. Nova
- Recipes to Try
Introduction
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This Instant Pot Duo Nova is my sixth Instant Pot! I have an Instant Pot Duo, Instant Pot Ultra 6 quart and 8 quart, Instant Pot Smart Wifi, and an Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus. I purchased my first Instant Pot 3 years ago and I was hooked from the get-go!
The Instant Pot Duo Nova is a mix between the Instant Pot Duo and Instant Pot Ultra. It has a similar display panel to the Duo and the lid of the Ultra. In other words, the best of both worlds. I love the auto-seal feature of the lid.
You may also want to read up a bit about the differences between the Instant Pot Duo vs Duo Nova.
This guide will tell you how to use the Duo Nova Instant Pot right out of the box.
What is an Instant Pot?
The Instant Pot has become so popular in recent years that Instant Pot is being used by some as a generic name for pressure cookers of any brand.
In reality, Instant Pot is the brand name of a multicooker that serves as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, sauté/searing pan, steamer and warming pot all in one convenient appliance.
Some people use the name Instapot, but the correct name is Instant Pot.
The Instant Pot Company (Instant Brands) started out with one product – the Instant Pot – and now makes a wide range of kitchen appliances including air fryers, blenders, and toaster ovens.
Although the Instant Pot pressure multicooker has many different functions (smart programs), the most commonly used is the Pressure Cook function. Pressure cooking allows you to cook foods at a fraction of the time it would take on the stovetop.
How Does Pressure Cooking Work?
The Nova pressure cooker create a closed environment where steam builds up in a tightly sealed pot. This, in turn, causes the internal temperature to rise and pressure to increase.
Under high pressure, the fiber in the food is tenderized and flavors develop in a very short time. Nutrient-rich steam condenses in the pot instead of evaporating and nutritional value is retained because of the speed of cooking.
Is the Instant Pot Duo Nova Safe to Use?
This ain’t your grandma’s pressure cooker! If you’ve had experiences, like I, with stovetop pressure cooker mishaps in the past, fear no more. The Instant Pot eliminates most of those pressure cooker issues.
According to the Instant Pot Company’s safety information, in the past, most pressure cooker disasters could usually be attributed to user error. Instant Pot pressure multicookers are carefully designed to eliminate and avoid most of the potential problems.
Numerous safety features help reduce common errors. Safety features include pressure sensor technology, lid close detection, lid lock technology, overheat protection and automatic temperature and pressure controls.
Safety Precautions
Although there are many built-in safety features as explained above, as a user you need to follow common-sense precautions:
- Don’t touch the hot surfaces, particularly the stainless steel parts. Use the handles to move the Instant Pot or the inner pot.
- Don’t place the Instant Pot on or close to an electric or gas burner.
- Don’t move the Instant Pot when it’s under pressure.
- Don’t fill over ⅔ full.
- When cooking foods that expand e.g. rice, beans, pasta don’t fill over ½ full.
- Ensure anti-block shield, float valve, and steam release pipe are clean and not clogged.
- Don’t open the lid until the float valve is down i.e. the Instant Pot is depressurized.
- Keep hands and face away from the steam release mechanism.
- Don’t obstruct the steam release valve when pressure is being released.
- When quick-releasing frothy foods such as applesauce, oatmeal, pasta, etc. take extra care. It’s best to release pressure is short bursts for these types of foods.
- Don’t use another Instant Pot model’s lid on the Duo Nova Instant Pot.
For more information about safety precautions, please read the Instant Pot Duo Nova user manual.
PURCHASE THE NOVA INSTANT POT ON AMAZON!
First Thing You Need to Do: Open the Box!
I can’t even tell you how many times I hear from people who either got the Instant Pot as a gift, or they bought it and are too scared to use it. So let me just say there’s nothing to worry about. The Instant Pot has many layers of built-in safety features!
Besides, if you don’t get it out of the box and try it out, in the event you have a defective unit you might miss the warranty period and be stuck with a bulky paperweight!
In this guide, I’m going to (virtually) hold your hand and help you get going to the point where you’ll pressure cook your first recipe: water. You got this!
Parts
The Instant Pot Duo Nova comes with the following main parts:
- Base Unit/Outer Pot – stainless steel exterior that houses the heating element, control panel, and attached power cord.
- Inner Pot – removable stainless steel pot. The inner pot is stove-friendly, so you can use it on your stovetop as you would a regular pot. It can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
- Lid – closes the Instant Pot and seals it under pressure. The lid can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
Accessories
The Instant Pot Nova comes with the following accessories:
- Power cord – the 3-prong detachable power cord is plugged into the back of the Instant Pot Duo Nova. (Note: some models have attached power cords.)
- Condensation Collector – catches drips from condensation on the lid; attaches onto the back of the base unit. The condensation collector can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand.
- Sealing Ring – allows the Instant Pot to build pressure by creating a tight seal when the contents are heated to a high temperature. It can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand.
- Trivet / Steam Rack – useful for elevating food above the liquid and for Pot in Pot cooking. (Note: some models don’t come with the spoons and measuring cup.) The trivet can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
Instant Pot Duo Nova Lid
Instant Pot Duo Nova Lid Exterior Parts
- Lid Fins – placed in the lid fin slot of the base unit to prop the lid open
- Steam Release Button (also referred to as Pressure Release Button or Steam Release Reset Button) – allows a manual release of pressure from the Instant Pot Nova. The Steam Release Button automatically pops up when the Instant Pot Nova lid is opened or closed.
- Float Valve – seals in the steam, allowing the Instant Pot to be pressurized
- The Steam Release Valve – a safety mechanism that allows steam to escape and maintains the correct pressure level. It sits loosely on the lid and can be removed to be cleaned.
- Lid Handle – used to put on and take off the lid
Steam Release Parts
The steam release consists of:
- Steam release valve – regulates the internal temperature. It is supposed to be wobbly but must be pushed in all the way.
- Steam release pipe – steam travels from the inner pot through the pipe during steam release.
Instant Pot Duo Nova Lid Interior Parts
The inside of the Instant Pot lid consists of the following parts:
- Silicone Cap for Float Valve – covers the float valve and keeps it in place
- Lid Locking Pin – safety mechanism that prevents the lid from opening under pressure
- Anti-Block Shield – prevents food from coming out of the inner pot through the steam release pipe
- Sealing Ring Rack – holds the sealing ring in place
- Sealing Ring – silicone sealing ring allows the Instant Pot to seal
Sealing Ring
How to Remove the Sealing Ring
- Pull gently on the silicone ring until it detaches from the sealing ring rack.
- Continue to pull the silicone sealing ring out until it is completely separated.
How to Replace the Sealing Ring
- Place the silicone sealing ring on the sealing ring rack.
- Working your way all around, push the sealing ring until it’s firmly seated in the sealing ring rack.
- Make sure no part of the sealing ring is sticking out, or you may have sealing issues and get the Burn Message.
- The first few times, you may find it difficult to remove the sealing ring but after a few uses, it should stretch out a bit.
Float Valve
You should clean the float valve periodically, especially after cooking frothy or starchy foods.
How to Remove the Float Valve
- While holding the float valve in place on the outside of the lid, remove the float valve’s silicone cap.
- Allow the float valve to fall out from the bottom.
- Be careful not to misplace the silicone cap.
How to Replace the Float Valve
- Thread the float valve through the float valve hole.
- While holding it in place on the exterior of the lid, replace the silicone cover by pushing it onto the float valve on the interior of the lid.
Anti-Block Shield
You need to clean the anti-block shield periodically, especially after you’ve cooked frothy or starchy foods.
How to Remove and Replace the Anti-block Shield
- The anti-block shield can be hard to remove with your bare hands.
- Use a silicone trivet or a dish towel to push the anti-block shield in an upwards motion.
- Try it from the front or from behind (as shown above in the first image)
- To replace the anti-block shield, push it in until it clicks into place.
Instant Pot Assembly
Here’s how to set up the Instant Pot Duo Nova base unit, inner pot, condensation collector and power cord:
Base Unit and Inner Pot
- Make sure the base unit is empty and clean.
- Place the stainless steel inner pot into the base unit.
Condensation Collector
The condensation collector catches any moisture that builds up on the rim. This usually comes from moisture dripping from inside the lid into the rim of the Instant Pot base, when the lid is propped open.
In my experience, the condensation collector rarely fills up but I have found that when I cook pasta, in particular, liquid tends to collect and it can get messy! Get into the habit of checking for liquid in the condensation collector after every use.
To attach the condensation collector:
- Slide the condensation collector onto the back of the Instant Pot.
- It will sit snugly against the base unit.
- To clean it, slide it out, empty it out, rinse and slide back in place.
Power Cord
- Insert the power cord into the back of the Instant Pot and plug the power cord into an electrical outlet.
- The display will light up.
Open and Close the Lid
How to Close the Lid
- Place the lid onto the Instant Pot base unit with the arrow mark on the lid lined up with the open lock icon that is above the right corner of the control panel.
- You’ll hear a chime (if the volume is turned on).
- Turn the lid clockwise until the arrow mark on the lid is lined up with the closed lock icon and you hear another chime.
- The lid will be closed.
How to Open the Lid
- The lid will not open until all pressure has been released.
- Once the float valve is down, turn the lid counter-clockwise until you hear a chime.
- The arrow on the lid will be lined up with the open lock icon on the base unit.
- Lift the lid to remove it.
- If you feel a slight resistance, wiggle the lid back and forth and the suction should release.
How to Prop Open the Lid
Propping open the lid keeps it out of the way and allows you to use the Instant Pot hands-free.
- Locate the two lid fins on the lid.
- Locate the lid fin slots on the base unit.
- Insert either lid fin into either slot to prop the lid open.
How to Release Pressure
- When the Instant Pot Duo Nova is under pressure, the float valve goes up and the Instant Pot is sealed. It cannot be opened. Don’t try to force it open!
- When the Instant Pot Nova isn’t under pressure, the float valve goes back down and is level with the lid.
There are a few ways you can release pressure once the Instant Pot Duo Nova has finished pressure cooking. The recipe you’re following will tell you what method to use.
In this article, I discuss the two most common pressure release methods:
- Quick Release (QR)
- Natural Pressure Release or Natural Release (NPR or NR).
[Find out more details about all the different pressure release methods.]
How to Quick Release (QR) Instant Pot Duo Nova
- To do a Quick Release of pressure (QR), press down on the Steam Release Button until it locks into place, and steam begins to come out of the Steam Release Valve.
- Be sure your hand is not above the Steam Release Valve while the pressure is being released.
- The Float Valve will go from the up position to the down position once the Instant Pot Duo Nova has de-pressurized and all the steam has been released.
- It is now safe to open the Instant Pot Nova.
How to Natural Release (NR) / Natural Pressure Release (NPR) Instant Pot Duo Nova
- To do an Instant Pot Natural Release of Pressure (NPR), wait for the Float Valve to go down on its own.
- This can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes, depending on how much liquid is in the Instant Pot. The more liquid there is, the longer it takes for the Instant Pot to release pressure on its own.
- If you’re in a hurry, you can wait for 15 minutes for the Instant Pot natural release, and then release the remaining pressure using the quick-release method.
Commonly Used Buttons of the Instant Pot Duo Nova
The Instant Pot Duo Nova has many buttons that may appear confusing and complicated. But they really aren’t. Just think of them as presets or shortcuts.
For the purposes of just getting you going, in this guide I’ll show you the most commonly used Instant Pot buttons and functions (smart programs):
- Saute
- Pressure Cook
- Pressure Level
- Keep Warm
- Cancel
Pro Tip
You may encounter Instant Pot recipes that tell you to press Start. The Duo, Lux, Nova, Viva, Smart Wifi do not have a Start button. Instead, once you program the Instant Pot, it automatically starts after a few seconds. Some other models such as Ultra, Duo Evo Plus, and Max require you to press Start after programming the Instant Pot.
Saute
The Saute function allows you to saute food in the Instant Pot before pressure cooking, and to reduce the liquid after pressure cooking. I love this function because I don’t need to get out another pan and that helps keep cleanup to a minimum.
- Press the Saute button.
- The display says On.
- Once the desired saute temperature has been reached, the display says Hot.
- Add your food to the inner pot and saute.
To change the Saute temperature:
- Press the Saute button repeatedly to toggle between Less (lowest temperature), Normal (medium temperature), and More (high temperature).
Safety Tip
Don’t use the Instant Pot lid while sauteing. A glass lid with a venting hole (purchased separately) may be used. As a safety precaution, the cooker automatically enters standby mode (display says Off) after 30 minutes if you have not pressed Cancel.
Pressure Cook
Pressure Cook is the most useful feature of the Instant Pot.
Pro Tip
* You might see some recipes tell you to press Manual. Manual and Pressure Cook are the same thing. Manual was replaced with Pressure Cook in newer versions of the Instant Pot.
- Press the Pressure Cook button.
- Press the + or – buttons to set the pressure cooking time.
- Once the pressure cooking time has been set (e.g. 00:05 for 5 minutes), wait a couple of seconds and the display will change to On.
- The float valve will go from the Down position to the Up position.
- This can take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the amount of food you’re cooking and the temperature of the ingredients.
Pressure Level
The Instant Pot Pressure Cook program can use high or low pressure. A majority of the recipes that you encounter will use High pressure. If a recipe doesn’t state whether to use high or low pressure, you can probably assume it’s high pressure.
- Press the Pressure Level button to toggle between Low and High pressure when using pressure cooking functions.
Keep Warm
The Keep Warm function is useful when you want your food to stay warm after being pressure cooked. Having the Keep Warm function on allows you keep track of the amount of time since pressure cooking completed. This is useful when you’re doing a natural release.
- Press the Keep Warm button to turn the Keep Warm function on and off.
- After pressing the Keep Warm button, press the + and – buttons to change the time you want the Instant Pot to be in Keep Warm mode.
- After pressure cooking is complete, the Keep Warm function starts and the time counts UP by minutes. The display panel shows the elapsed time (e.g. 00:02 for 2 minutes or 00:15 for 15 minutes.) If the Cancel button is not pressed, the Instant Pot will turn OFF after 10 hours.
- The Keep Warm function can be used with or without the lid closed. You can also use an optional glass lid for this function. When the Keep Warm function finishes, the cooker beeps and goes into standby mode.
Cancel
- Press the Cancel button to end any selected function. The Instant Pot display will say OFF.
Instant Pot Duo Nova Water Test / Initial Test Run
What is the Water Test?
A water test is done by pressure cooking water for a few minutes. According to the Instant Pot manual you need to use 3 cups of water but I’ve found that using 2 cups of water is adequate. The advantage of using 2 cups is that it takes less time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.
Why You Should do the Water Test
The initial test run or water test serves two purposes: it familiarizes you with using your new Instant Pot Duo Nova and it allows you to establish that your Instant Pot is working properly. If you have a defective unit, the water test will identify that and you can get a replacement unit.
You should do a water test before the first use but you can also do it when you’re having problems with the Instant Pot pressurizing. Doing the water test will pinpoint whether there’s something about the recipe that’s causing your sealing issues.
How to do the Initial Test Run / Water Test
- Make sure the sealing ring is properly seated.
- Place the inner pot into the base unit.
- Attach the power cord to the base unit and plug it into an outlet.
- Pour 2 cups of water into the inner pot.
- Close the lid.
- Make sure the steam release button is up. If it isn’t, turn it counter-clockwise to snap it back up.
- Press the Pressure Cook button.
- Press the + or – buttons until the time goes to 00:05 (5 minutes).
- After a couple of seconds, the display will change to On.
- Soon, you’ll hear and see small amounts of steam coming from the top of the lid. This is normal and safe! Just keep your hands and face away from the steam. You might also notice a funny, plastic smell. Don’t worry – it should go away and it shouldn’t happen again after the first use.
- Once pressure has built up, the float valve will come up.
- After the float valve comes up, the display will change from On to 00:05. This can take a few minutes.
- The display will count down from 00:05 to 00:00.
- When pressure cooking is complete, you’ll hear a series of beeps and the display will show 00:00, which means it’s in Keep Warm mode (if the Auto Keep Warm function is turned on.)
- You can either do a quick release or a natural release. To do a natural release, wait for the float valve to fall on its own. This can take 10 to 30 minutes.
- In this case, you’ll do a quick release.
- Press the Cancel button. The display will say Off.
- Press the steam release button until it locks into place. Steam will gush out of the steam release cover. Keep your hands and face away from the steam.
- Once all the steam has been released, the float valve goes down and the Instant Pot is de-pressurized.
- This can take a few minutes.
- Open the lid and prop the lid open.
What to do if the water test fails
If the water test fails and you’re not able to get the Instant Pot to come to pressure, use the following articles to troubleshoot the issue:
- Reasons why your Instant Pot is not Sealing
- Instant Pot Burn Message
- Common Instant Pot Problems
- Instant Pot Tips and FAQs
If you can’t solve your problem, open a support ticket with the Instant Pot company.
Duo vs Nova
Here are the important differences between Duo and Duo Nova:
| Instant Pot DUO | Instant Pot NOVA | |
|---|---|---|
| Pressurizing and Steam Release | The Steam Release Handle moves between the Sealing and Venting positions. The Steam Release Handle has to be manually moved to the Sealing position when the Instant Pot is closed. It’s easy to forget to move it to Sealing. | The Steam Release Button is pushed down to lock into venting mode and turned counter-clockwise to seal again. The Steam Release Button automatically resets to the Sealing position when the lid is opened or closed. |
| Float Valve | On some Duo models, the float valve is at the level of lid when the Instant Pot Duo is sealed and below the level of the lid when it’s not sealed. | The float valve is above the level of lid when the Instant Pot Duo Nova is sealed and at the level of the lid when it’s not sealed. |
| Cooking Progress | There is no indicator of cooking progress. | Status indicator icons tell you what stage of the cooking process the Nova is at. |
| Size | The Duo comes is 3 qt, 6 qt and 8 qt. | The Instant Pot 10 qt is only available in the Nova model. It also comes in 3 quart, 6 quart and 8 quart. |
| Display | The display panel is an LED display with red lettering on a black background. | The Nova has an easy-to-read and more attractive LED display with white lettering on a blue background. |
First Recipes to Try
You should be all set to try out your first recipe! Here are some of my favorite easy recipes:
- Instant Pot Coconut Chicken Korma
- Instant Pot Cream of Chicken Soup
- Instant Pot Indian Fish Curry
- Instant Pot Panang Curry
- Instant Pot Chicken Curry Soup
- Instant Pot Penne with Sausage
If you found this article to be helpful, please share it on social media using the social media share buttons at the top and bottom of this post. Thank you so much!
Deb says
Ok, so I don’t cook at all but am desperately hoping this Duo Nova will resolve that deficiency! However, I am mostly cooking for myself, which means this apparatus will be more for main dishes and not sides. How do I adapt the recipes out there that are for larger Instant Pots? For instance, do I just halve the ingredients but keep the same cooking time? Please assume I know nothing (because it’s true) so will appreciate all the details you can provide. Thanks in advance!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Deb, your Instant Pot requires a certain minimum quantity of liquid to come to pressure (this depends on whether you have a 3 quart or 6 quart). If the quantity of liquid in the halved recipe is enough to let the Instant Pot come to pressure, then the answer is yes, you can halve the recipe and keep the same pressure cooking time. Recipes that have plenty of liquid (e.g. rice, soup, pasta) most likely can be halved. If you’re making a recipe that has just enough liquid to bring the Instant Pot to pressure, you might not be able to halve it. I hope that helps. Feel free to follow up!
F says
Hello I have the duo abs I keep getting the ‘lid’ error message. I have been used it yet abs I can’t figure out what’s wrong with it. I’ve check the ring, the valve and cleaned the lid. The sauté function seems to work
Paint the Kitchen Red says
It could be an issue with the sensor. You might want to contact the company.
Pam says
Thank you! Your detailed instructions are EXACTLY what I’ve searched for. I’ve just received the IP Duo Nova and immediately burned the brown rice! The instructions provided with the IP are so vague – especially for a newbie. And I’m looking forward to trying out your posted recipes. You saved the day!!!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Wonderful to hear this, Pam! Hope you enjoy your new Instant Pot.
Cynthia says
How can I tell if the float valve is working properly on my IP Duo nova?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Cynthia, on the Duo Nova, the float valve will pop up above the level of the lid when the Instant Pot is under pressure. Hope that helps.
Becky Comella says
I seem to be having problems knowing if my instant pot is sealed right when I start my food. I have the instant pot duo nova. My stuff dosent seem to always be done then I try again and it burns
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Becky – the Instant Pot is sealed when the float valve is up and there is no steam escaping. If you find your food is undercooked regularly, I would increase the cooking time by a minute or two in future tries. Also, if your food is undercooked and then you try again, you may need to add more liquid if you’re cooking any foods that absorb liquid e.g. rice, beans, pasta. I hope that helps.
PepperPotts says
I don’t understand how you get minutes on the duo nova. I seem to only get hours. I have had my instapot for a year now and have only used the saute function and can’t figure out how to use the other features. Frustrated to say the least.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Are you saying that you don’t see time in the format of HH:MM (H=hour, M=minutes)? Have you watched the video that I have in my guide (it’s also on youtube)? If your display doesn’t look like what’s in the guide, you probably need to open a support ticket with Instant Pot.
Howard says
I’ve been reading some recipes for making bread and using the instant pot on the yogurt setting to proof the dough.. Some recipes show taking out the stainless steel out, and placing the bread dough in a bowl on a trivet in the bottom of the base. My question is will the instant pot work like this? There is a silver “pressure plate” button at the bottom center of the base, and if the stainless steel inner out isn’t sitting on it, that button won’t be pressed down. What does that button do, and will the instant pot work if nothing is pressing down on it?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Howard, that does seem odd. Are you sure they weren’t referring to putting the glass bowl in the inner pot?
Betty says
There is a black bracket on the outside of the base at the bottom. What is that for? Is it to use with the cord somehow?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Yes, I tuck the cord into the bracket when I store the IP, on my Instant Pots that don’t have a detachable cord.
Beverly says
I received my Insta Pot Duo Nova as a gift from my daughter. I’d been wanting one and absolutely love it. I’ve only used the Sauté and pressure cook functions because I can’t find a booklet or explanation for all of the other functions on the control panel. Do you have any suggestions or recommendations?
Thank you!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Beverly, have you watched the video that’s in the blog post? I briefly go over some of the other buttons. It’s also on youtube here: https://youtu.be/aA07Jtokpsg
Here’s the online version of the Duo Nova manual.
Ann says
Hi, I got an 8-quart Duo Nova about 3 weeks ago. The quick steam release button/handle pops off when I open the lid. It is as though it’s broken because it also comes off when I turn the lid upside down, The unit still works, but I have to manually turn the quick steam release button so it is raised or else it won’t seal. And I thought it auto seals. What do you suggest?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
The steam release button should automatically go into the UP/Sealed position when you open the lid. Once in a while, it can get stuck in the DOWN/Venting position. It should stay in the UP/Sealed position when you close the lid. When you push down on the steam release button all the way, it should stay in the DOWN/Venting position. If your unit isn’t doing that, you might want to return or exchange it.
Ann says
Thank you for your quick response! Is that steam release button removable?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Ann, I don’t think so. You might want to visit the Facebook group where they sell and swap Instant Pot parts – maybe you can get a good price on a lid like yours. Search for ‘Instant Pot parts swap or sale’.
Joann says
Fingers crossed I have used our duo nova correctly. I wish I had seen your post before proceeding. Ours came with a red sealing ring and a clear sealing ring. I took off the clear one that was attached and out 8n the red when I was making soup. Is this wrong?? The soups is almost done I think… smells good and is releasing steam now
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Joann, the sealing rings are interchangeable. The colors just help you keep track of which one you’re using. The 2nd one is just an extra. Save it for when the first one gives out or use it for desserts if you plan on making them in the Instant Pot.
Kathleen says
I just got a 6 quart dua nova. I am trying to make yogurt and just put in milk and pressed yogurt button, but cannot find button to get it on high heat except for the pressure button and I’m not pressurizing it so do you have a suggestion
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Kathleen, try pressing ‘Yogurt’ repeatedly till you get to ‘More’ and you should see ‘Boil’ show up on the screen. Let me know if you have further questions.
Pete says
I wish I had found this video and info prior to starting to use the appliance, it sure would have reduced the “panic, what do I do” mode. Thank you for a good understandable session. Will certainly check out your recipes.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Pete, I’m so glad to help out – thank you for letting me know!
Courtney says
Thank you so much for the clear and concise tutorial. I am a teacher. Due to the pandemic, our school went to online classes. I understand the challenge of presenting information through a video platform now. You are smooth and soothing. Most importantly, I understand the content. Thank you! I will be trying out my Duo Nova today 🙂
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Aww, thank you so much, Courtney! That means a lot to me coming from an educator! Hope you’re enjoying your new Instant Pot.
Susan says
I bought an Instant Pot Duo Nova 80 second-hand. However it was listed as brand new and never used.
The advertiser lied!
It is worn in places, at least one part is missing and it smells of middle eastern food.
We tried to get the smell out but without success. It is embedded into the rubber seal.
Is there a great cleaning tool or method that could help or is there a place we can order parts?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Susan, in my experience most of the smell comes from the silicone sealing ring. You should definitely purchase a new [eafl id="10571" name="Sealing Ring" text="sealing ring"]. The only other part that would retain odors is the float valve silicone cover but I wouldn’t worry about that initially. See how it goes when you replace the sealing ring. Once you do that, you’ll find that the sealing ring will absorb the odors of whatever you cook but I guess they’re your foods not someone else’s 🙂 In my experience, the foods I cook don’t get affected by the odor of the sealing ring.
Shaun says
Susan, here’s a trick I learned about cleaning instant pot. Try a cup of water or maybe a little more, and add in some baking soda (usually in fridge to eliminate odor), pressure cook on high for 15 mins and slow release for 15 mins. There should be instructions in the net, that’s where i initially found them. It may help with the odor too.
Gerry Dietrich says
Thank you thank you thank you!! I just used my pot for the first time today and this video was VERY helpful!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
You’re welcome, Gerry – hope you enjoy your new Instant Pot!
Glenda says
I have the nova but I can’t tell from the display if I have it on low or high pressure.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Glenda, at the bottom of the display it’ll say LOW or HIGH. If you press the Pressure Level button when you’re selecting the smart function, you can toggle between the two.
Dave says
What if nothing happens when I press the Pressure Level button? “Normal” is all I get.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Dave, that doesn’t seem right. Are you using the Pressure Cook function? You should be able to press the pressure level multiple times and toggle between Low and High. Normal doesn’t apply to the pressure level. I’d need more information to identify the issue.
Eilene says
Thank you for writing a better owner’s manual than the one by Instant Pot. Also, your comments were extremely helpful regarding the different models. Maybe now I can figure out some of those confusing recipes!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
You’re very welcome, Eilene. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. I’m here to help 🙂
Dana says
This article was so helpful- thank you so much! I have a new Instant Pot DuoNova and I keep reading recipes that say to use the Manual setting. Your instructions clarified everything for me.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Dana, I’m glad to help out 🙂
Michael Brown says
In the instant pot duo nova. How do we set a slow cook on high for 5 hours?
Just confused as our old cooker had settings at low or hig and set the time. Thanks
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Michael, you would press Slow Cook, press Slow Cook again to toggle through the Less, Normal and More
temperature options. More=High. Use the + and – buttons to adjust the cooking time.