Lina Douglas - Paleo Instant Pot Cookbook

Instant Pot, the most popular multi-purpose electric pressure cooker brand in North America, currently offers three different models of their product: Lux, Duo, and Smart. All of these are impressive and largely similar machines, but each has certain qualities that differentiate it from the others.

Lux is the second model Instant Pot introduced, right after their now-discontinued first model, CSG. It offers six distinct functions: pressure cook, slow cook, steam, make rice, saute, and keep warm. While these six functions make the Lux Instant Pot a highly useful machine, it lacks a few features that were introduced in later models. Namely, it doesn't have a low-pressure setting or a yogurt-making setting. You can technically still make yogurt in the Instant Pot using the slow cooker function, but this MacGyver takes considerably more guesswork than the built-in yogurt- making function in the later models. That means that the Lux model is probably not the right choice for anyone who has her heart set on making perfect yogurt in the Instant Pot.

The Duo is the third model Instant Pot released, and it remains their most popular. The Duo Instant Pot boasts seven functions all of the six that are included in the Lux model plus yogurt- making. In addition, the pressure cooker function in the Duo offers both high and low-pressure settings. There's even a new ergonomic design feature on the pot itself: the handles feature slots that the detachable lid can latch onto, so you can latch the lid on the handles instead of setting it on the counter and getting drips all over your granite.

The Smart is the latest, most cutting-edge version of the Instant Pot. In addition to the seven functions included in the Duo model, the Smart features precision temperature setting, which means that you can use it to bring your food to specific temperatures. The effect of this function is similar to that produced by sous vide ovens, which have long been renowned for their ability to cook Platonically ideal steaks and other dishes. You can even program the Smart to reach one precise temperature, hold it for a specific amount of time, and then move on to another temperature. These programmed sequences are called "recipe scripts" and allow you to use your Instant Pot to make things like cheese and yeasted doughs. The Smart also has Bluetooth capability, so it can send notifications to your phone using a paired application. It's an amazingly powerful piece of technology, but it may be a little complex for people who just want a way to combine several familiar appliances into one tool.