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Instant Pot 8 Quart Comparison: the Models Side By side

The Instant Pot 8 Quart is a large electric pressure cooker currently made by Instant Pot. Let’s compare the models and features of the eight models available to help you choose which one is right for you.

Four of the Instant Pot 8 Quart models of the six available

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Instant Pot® (the official name, though sometimes called an Instapot) designs each of their electric pressure cookers to be convenient, safe, and dependable. The 8 quart is the largest option for most models, except for this one Instant Pot that is available as a 10 quart. There are eight 8 quart models currently available, each with slight variations that might make you choose one version over the other.

What is the Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker?

For the last few years, Instant Pot has been a hot topic of conversation across social media. And while you may remember your grandmother or mother’s stovetop pressure cooker, this new kitchen appliance brings convinces and safety to this method of cooking. By speeding up the cooking process, your faster meals are more energy-efficient to cook.

There are multiple 8 quart models for you to choose from and Instant Pots recently released its newest model in September 2019.

Instant Pot 8 Quart Models

The 8 quart Instant Pots are available in the core series models along with a few versions. The eight Instant Pot 8 Quart models are:

At this time all of the 8 quart models are available in black with stainless steel. For colorful options, check out the 6 quart Instant Pot Models.

Some of the additional models may be exclusive to specific stores. If you’re having trouble finding a model on Amazon, you may want to check out the different home stores or the Instant Pot website directly.

Save kitchen space by combining multiple appliances into one

The Instant Pot combines multiple appliances into one appliance, saving you counter space, storage space, and money. It’s one kitchen appliance you can use for multiple cooking needs and methods.

All of the 8 quart Instant Pot models combine a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steam, sauté pan, and warmer into one. The yogurt maker, sterilizer, cake/egg maker, and ultra programs are available in specific models in different combinations.

Here is a comparison of the appliances combined in the different 8 Quart Instant Pot options:


LuxDuoDuo NovaDuo PlusUltraVivaDuo Evo PlusDuo Crisp + Air FryerPro
Number of Appliances Combined677910910710
Pressure CookerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Slow CookerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Rice CookerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
SteamerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Sauté/SearingYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Yogurt MakerYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
SterilizerYesYesYesYes
Cake/Egg MakerYesYesYesYesYes
Bake*Yes
WarmerYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
 UltraYes
Sous VideYesYesYes
Air FryerYes

* The Bake reference above is a wet-based mode of cooking. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp also includes a baking feature through its air fryer lid.

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer is very different compared to the other electric pressure cookers as it comes with two lids, enabling both wet and dry cooking methods.

Smart Programs available in the 8 Quart Instant Pot

Instant Pot created smart programs based on extensive testing to help the home chef be able to cook with the press of a button. The smart programs are designed to control pressure, heat intensity, temperature, and duration.

Each Instant Pot series has a slightly different combination of smart programs. Many of the smart programs are common across all 8 quart models, with a few programs being specially available in certain models.


LuxDuoDuo NovaDuo PlusUltraVivaDuo Evo PlusDuo Crisp + Air Fryer
Number of Smart Programs12131315161510
Soup/BrothYesYesYesYesYesYes
Meat/StewYesYesYesYesYesYes
Bean/ChiliYesYesYesYesYes
SautéYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
RiceYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
MultigrainYesYesYesYesYesYes
PoultryYesYes
PorridgeYesYesYesYesYesYes
YogurtYesYesYesYesYesYes
Pressure Cook YesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
SteamYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Keep WarmYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
Slow CookYesYesYesYesYesYesYesYes
EggYesYesYesYes
CakeYesYesYesYesYes
Ultra
YesYes
 SterilizeYesYesYes
Sous VideYesYes
Air Fry*Yes
Roast*Yes
Bake*Yes
Broil*Yes
Dehydrate*Yes

The 8 quart Duo Evo plus is an interesting addition to the Instant Pot lineup. While it has 10 one-touch programs, it’s also customizable with 48 preset programs.

* The 8 quart Duo Crisp + Air Fryer comes with fewer pressure cooking smart programs, and 5 air fryer-specific programs.

Instant Pot 8 Quart Dimensions by Model

Here is a quick comparison of the Instant Pot 8 Quart Dimensions for the Lux, Duo, Duo Nova, Duo Plus, Ultra, Viva, Duo Evo Plus models. Model-by-model, the Instant Pot Mini dimensions are fairly close in terms of size and weight.

And one suggestion comes to mind if the overall Instant Pot weight has you nervous. Try lifting it in pieces (i.e. the lid, line, and heating element). Each part will add to the weight.

The Duo Nova 8 Quart weight is as it’s currently provided by Amazon, but it is also noted as the shipping weight. I think the weight below includes the packaging and the actual electric pressure cooker weighs a few pounds less.

LengthWidthHeightWeight
Lux 8 Quart14.513.213.515.4 lbs
Duo 8 Quart14.813.21415.8 lbs
Duo Plus 8 Quart14.813.514.515.56 lbs
Ultra 8 Quart14.81414.515.7 lbs
Viva 8 Quart14.813.314.215.57 lbs
Duo Nova 8 Quart
(Released August 2019)
14.813.61415.6 lbs
Duo Evo Plus
(Released September 2019)
14.3713.914.215.82 lbs
Duo Crisp + Air Fryer*
(Released November 2019)
14.1613.5814.1422.7 lbs
Pro Crips + Air Fryer*15.3512.5714.7826.1 lbs
Pro 8 Quart
(Released March 2021)
14.413.914.220.9 lbs

* The Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer and Pro Crisp + Air Fryer come with two lids, one for pressure cooking and one for air frying. The Air Fryer lid adds about another inch to the height of this model.

A few more comparisons between the Instant Pot models

All Instant Pots come with a minimum of 10 safety features. The Ultra and Duo Nova have an added safety feature related to the automatic sealing and steam release.

With the exception of the Lux 8 quart model, these Instant Pots have 2 pressure levels (high and low). The Lux model only has high-pressure cooking.

All models have their power cord permanently attached. Many of the smaller quart models have a detachable cord.

Most of the 8 Quart models have a 1200 watt heating element with a 120V – 60Hz power supply. The new 8 Quart Duo Evo Plus has a 1400 watt heating element. These specifications are based on the models available for sale in the United States. If you are purchasing outside of the country, double-check the specifications locally available.

The original 8 quart models come with a sealing ring, stainless steel steam rack with handles, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup, condensation collector and recipe booklet.

For the new Duo Nova and Duo Evo Plus, it also comes with two sealing rings. It might not include a rice paddle or soup spoon (FYI as that is not mentioned in the Amazon description).

From an accessories perspective, there are several accessories that are sized to fit the 8 quart models. One thing to note, the Duo Evo Plus has a specialized liner that’s not interchangeable with the other Instant Pots of this size.

One feature many people love is the lid holder (and it’s one that most people find by accident). The handles on the base have a slot in them so that you can insert the lid. This is great if you’re short on counter space to put down a steamy lid. Trying to put a hot lid down after opening can be awkward (from my own experience). With the exception of the Lux, this feature is available in the other models.

Over to you. What other information do you want to know about the Instant Pot 8 Quart models and features?

Above was a quick round-down of the Instant Pot 8 Quart models for sizes and features to help you compares them side-by-side as you make your decision which electric pressure cooker is right for you. What additional information do you need as part of deciding which model and size to buy?

Learn more about the Instant Pot models

Instant Pot 8 Quart Guide of features and models

2 Comments

    1. Hey Claire – I just noticed the same the other day when taking a look at the Evo as I’m contemplating an 8 quart to help with massive batch meal prep cooking. My guess on bake is that it will work the same as the cake feature, just with a new name. I haven’t had a chance yet to dig around for any information out there but overall the Evo is interesting given the number of programs.

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