So, you’re ready to join the world of Instant Pot cooking, but you’re staring at a wall of different models. You’ve probably narrowed it down to two popular choices: the Instant Pot Viva vs Duo.
Which one deserves a spot on your kitchen counter? Find some of the core differences between the two Instant Pot options below. Let’s get started.
Jump to:
- Instant Pot Viva vs Duo: Core Differences
- Breaking Down the Instant Pot Duo
- Exploring the Instant Pot Viva
- Direct Feature Comparison: Viva and Duo
- Real-World Cooking: How They Perform
- Size Matters: Which One Fits Your Kitchen?
- Ease of Use and Cleaning
- The Verdict: Which Instant Pot is Right For You?
- Design Details: Looks and Controls
- Beyond Pressure Cooking: The Air Fryer Option
- Making Your Decision
- FAQ's
- Conclusion
Instant Pot Viva vs Duo: Core Differences
Finding the best Instant Pot that suits your preferences can be quite challenging if you don't know the differences between them. The Instant Pot Duo is the classic Instant Pot model, the workhorse, the model that likely launched a thousand kitchen appliance purges. But the Viva came along and brought some interesting upgrades. This could affect what choice is the one for you.
Think of the Duo as the reliable base model, while the Viva adds a few extra features. The Viva offers extra programs, which is the better version for someone looking for a slightly modernized version.
Breaking Down the Instant Pot Duo
The Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker. It works as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, yogurt maker, and food warmer.
It gives access to 14 smart pre-programmed cooking options. There is even a Manual mode that gives users input for their options. I've had my trusty Duo for years and have not regretted my purchase at all.
Duo's Strengths and Features
The Duo is perfect when it comes to pressure cooking. With high and low pressure options, you have the option to control your cooking temperatures. The cooking pot is made from durable stainless steel, making it easy to clean and handle, and it can be used on various stovetops for added convenience.
The simple interface has buttons, and might appear old school. But it can help with an approach that won’t overwhelm those brand-new to electric pressure cookers.
The Duo is often found at good sales prices, making it budget-friendly. A 6-quart Instant Pot Duo frequently sells for about $100 on average at Amazon. It would be wise to keep a lookout for some specials, as you can get it cheaper.
The Duo's Downsides
It is considered "old" these days, however. One concern with the Duo is the steam release valve.
You have to manually flip the valve, which means getting your hands uncomfortably near to that escaping steam. This could be difficult for beginners.
Exploring the Instant Pot Viva
The Instant Pot Viva takes everything that’s beloved about the Duo and gives you some new upgrades.
Compared to the Instant Pot Ultra, the Viva offers a more straightforward interface but lacks the Ultra's customizable cooking settings, advanced safety mechanisms, and the ability to create and save custom cooking programs.
It’s a 9-in-1 appliance, offering all of the Duo functions, with some more added. The Viva does cake making, and even sterilizing.
Viva's Advantages
The standout addition on the Viva is the sous vide cooking function. This helps for precise temperature-controlled cooking. The Instant Pot Duo Plus, on the other hand, offers upgraded features such as a black-and-white LCD screen and customizable one-touch smart programs, making it a more advanced model.
The Viva features an auto-sealing lid and a quick-steam release button. The risk of near scalding steam is far less and it is more user friendly for beginner cooks.
You also get dedicated programs for things like eggs and cake. Having a specific smart program is helpful when trying to guess the cooking times.
What Could Be Better?
It comes with the territory that the Viva costs more than the Duo. Although prices do vary, so it is always worth to search for different stores offerings.
While many users appreciate the additional programs on the Viva, some have noted that the absence of a cooking progress indicator can be confusing. Without clear feedback on how far along a program is, the Viva may feel less intuitive compared to the classic Duo model.
Direct Feature Comparison: Viva and Duo
To make this extra clear, here is a straight-up feature comparison between these two popular multi cookers:
| Feature | Instant Pot Duo | Instant Pot Viva |
|---|---|---|
| Functions | 7-in-1 (Pressure Cook, Slow Cook, Rice Cook, Steam, Sauté, Yogurt, Warm) | 9-in-1 (All Duo Functions + Cake Maker, Sterilize, Sous Vide) |
| Sizes Available | 3-quart, 6-quart, 8-quart | 6-quart, 8-quart |
| Size Instant Pot | Various sizes to suit different needs, from small families to meal prepping | Various sizes to suit different needs, from small families to meal prepping |
| Steam Release | Manual Valve | Auto-Seal Lid with Quick Release Button |
| Smart Programs | 14 | 15 |
| Price (6-quart) | Often found on sale for $50-$80 | Slightly higher than the Duo |
Real-World Cooking: How They Perform
When it comes down to the meals you will prepare, the differences with preparing main courses become clearer. Both will pressure cook your meals to tender perfection.
Instant Pot recipes offer delicious types of meals, allowing you to create a wide range of dishes from stews and soups to unique desserts and diverse cuisine options.
Either one would be perfect for cooking delicious Instant Pot pot roast. The manual steam release on the Duo might take some getting used to if you’re a newbie.
Specialized Cooking
Here's where things start to get interesting. The Instant Pot Viva offers a world of possibilities with its precise temperature control, allowing you to experiment with dishes that require that extra bit of finesse.
If you're into canning or need to sterilize baby bottles, the Viva's sterilization function is a must-have.
And if you're a fan of perfectly timed hard-boiled eggs, or want to whip up something as simple yet delightful as Instant Pot Bone Broth, the Viva's specialized features make these tasks easy.
Size Matters: Which One Fits Your Kitchen?
The Duo offers that smaller 3-quart mini size. It would be helpful for those people with tighter kitchen spaces and smaller counter tops.
If you have a tiny kitchen or will cook for one or two people only, this is the perfect choice for you.
Both the Viva and Duo come in the popular 6-quart and the larger 8-quart size. The 8-quart is a perfect choice if you like cooking for larger families, gatherings, and in bulk.
Also see: Instant Pot 3 Qt Vs 6 Qt: Choosing the Right Size
Ease of Use and Cleaning
One of the biggest draws of the Instant Pot, whether you choose the Viva or the Duo, is its user-friendly design. Both models feature intuitive control panels with clearly labeled buttons, making it easy to navigate through the various cooking functions.
When it comes to cleaning, the Instant Pot is one of the easiest pots I have ever had to clean. The stainless steel inner pot is not only durable but also dishwasher safe, which means you can simply pop it in the dishwasher after cooking and let the machine do the work. The exterior of the Instant Pot can be easily wiped clean with a damp cloth, keeping your appliance looking sleek and new.
A standout feature that makes the Instant Pot even better is the steam release valve. On the Duo, you manually flip the valve to release steam, which might take a bit of getting used to. (I've personally learned to grab a wooden spoon and flip it like that).
However, the Viva steps it up with an auto-sealing lid and a quick-release button, making the process safer and more convenient, especially for beginners.
Both models come with a range of preset programs that makes the cooking process easy. From soups and stews to rice and grains, these programs allow you to prepare a variety of dishes with minimal effort from your.
The Verdict: Which Instant Pot is Right For You?
Choosing between electric pressure cookers really comes down to your cooking style, your budget, and what features seem useful. Either one could be ideal to a chef of different skill levels.
Get the Instant Pot Duo if: You are just starting to dabble with multi cooking and looking for simple use.
Get the Instant Pot Viva if: The versatility with sous vide opens up new cooking avenues for your cooking experience, or the manual steam value intimidates you.
Design Details: Looks and Controls
Let’s discuss those design details, that some cooks could easily miss. Both have stainless steel inner pots that can be safely washed.
But subtle design changes with appearance gives new styles to your personal preference. The Viva had color options to offer in its line of cookers, such as black or copper finishes.
This opens the opportunity of having options, as the original Duo came in just stainless steel.
Control Panel Differences
The control panels is a place the changes become noticeable. Both feature frontal, one-touch buttons but layouts on each device look slightly different.
The Duo’s is more of a basic arrangement. The Viva has slightly updated looks, and many like having dedicated programs in an easily accessible layout.
The Sous Vide Advantage
Precision cooking comes alive on Instant Pot models including a sous vide option. Since the Duo doesn't provide such a function, the only clear option is going with a different cooker such as, the Viva, or others on the market.
Related: Sous Vide Instant Pot: A Beginners Guide
Beyond Pressure Cooking: The Air Fryer Option
The magic of getting that crispy texture, isn’t lost on Instant Pot fans. Neither the Duo nor Viva have air frying capabilities.
However, Instant Pot does make models that combine pressure cooking and air frying, like the Instant Pot Duo Crisp. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp offers the multifunctionality of both pressure cooking and air frying, providing a vchance to air fry in your Instant Pot.
If you’re primarily interested in air frying, a dedicated air fryer might be a better choice. However, combining an Instant Pot with a separate air fryer lid is also an option.
Check out these Instant Pot Recipes for the air fryer: Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer
Making Your Decision
It's really a personal question as you can see from exploring each pots unique abilities.
For the Budget-Conscious Beginner: The Duo often goes on fantastic deals.
For the Adventurous Home Cook The added cooking options available gives more tools.
For Small Kitchens: That 3-quart Duo Mini would come in very handy
FAQ's
Yes, the Instant Pot Viva includes more preset cooking functions, a larger LCD screen, and an automatic sealing lid, making it slightly more versatile than the Instant Pot Duo.
The Instant Pot Max has a higher pressure setting (15 PSI) for faster cooking, a touch screen display, and a venting system, while the Instant Pot Duo is a more basic model with standard pressure cooking functions.
Yes, recipes designed for the Instant Pot Duo can also be used in the Instant Pot Viva since both have similar cooking functions and pressure levels.
No, both the Instant Pot Viva and Instant Pot Duo have the same pressure levels (low and high), so their pressure cooking performance is nearly identical.
Conclusion
Both of the models are fantastic examples of reliable multi cooker devices on the market. When deciding to go through with either one for you, consider it coming down to, which ones best features is better for you. So either going with an Instant Pot Viva or the trusty Duo could give incredible meals for many families for the years ahead. Happy pressure cooking!
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