What Is The Instant Pot Burn Warning
The Instant Pot can alert you when the food inside is starting to burn, your screen will show the words BURN. Personally, I notice that I get the BURN error more when using the 8 quart recipes when I know the recipes have worked fine in the 6 quart.
This is a personal note, its something Ive experienced issues with. You might not see this issue but dont be surprised if you do!
The Most Common Instant Pot Problems And How To Fix Them
The Instant Pot is a highly versatile appliance that can save time and energy in the kitchen. While the best Instant Pots are intuitive, these multifunctional pressure cookers can be confusing too. If youre running up against issues like a bad smell lingering in your Instant Pot or trouble with the timer, youre not alone. Most of the problems youre seeing are likely pretty easy to correct when you know what to look for.
We have the best tips, tricks, and hacks to solve some common Instant Pot problems.
Prepare Frozen Food Items
Theres no need to wait for meats to defrost before tossing them in your Instant Pot. With items like chicken, fish, and other meats, the only thing youll have to do to compensate for the freeze is to add a few minutes of prep time to the initial pressurizing. Just pop your poultry in, and your Instant Pot will cook through as if the meat were already defrosted.
Don’t Miss: How Long To Cook Frozen Chicken Tenders In Instant Pot
So How Do Instant Pot Settings Work
Each Instant Pot setting button is essentially a SMART PROGRAM option. Most smart programs, or buttons, simply set the pot to HIGH or LOW pressure for a specific period of time most closely aligned with the food it is meant to cook. For example, the default SOUP button sets the pressure cooker for 30 minutes at HIGH pressure, which you could use to cook any food that requires that much time and pressure.
If you press each SMART setting button more than once, it will toggle between Normal, Less or More options, which gives you more control of time, temperature or default pressure. For example, the RICE button can be set to Less or More depending on how soft or firm you like your rice or the type of rice you might be cooking.
Some buttons dont use the pressurizing function of the Instant Pot. For example, Slow Cook and Sauté settings use the heating element that sits underneath the inner pot. They are programmed for heat level and time.
To keep it super simple, it is possible to use the Instant Pot for all recipes using just a few important buttons. With the Pressure Cook or Manual buttons in addition to the Pressure Level and and buttons, you can control the time and pressure level which are otherwise preset for the rest of the buttons. This will work for any recipe that requires pressure. For non-pressure cooking, the Sauté, Slow Cook and Yogurt buttons help you accomplish a similarly custom cooking setting.
How To Double Instant Pot Recipes
I get a variation of the question how do I double this Instant Pot recipe? a lot! Most of the time I answer with simply double all the ingredients and keep the same pressure cooking time. However this isnt always the answer. Read on for more information
Most often the cooking time will be the same when you double a recipe. Pressure cooking cooks each piece of food equally. That means that each piece of chicken will require the same cooking time, and so will each grain of rice. Thats because the pressure cooking time is determined by the size and not the quantity of food. In other words, the pressure cooking time is the amount of time the food requires to be cooked all the way to the center.
Doubling the THICKNESS of meats, veggies, and other foods DOES require increasing cook time. This is why someone elses recommended 8 minutes for a whole potato wont cook your super duper sized baking potato. However remember that a 2 pound roast is not necessarily twice as thick as a 1 pound roast. If you double the time just due to weight you might get unsatisfactory results.
More items in an Instant Pot will make it fuller which means it will take longer for the pot to reach pressure. Remember: the food is cooking the entire time the pot builds pressure, not just when the timer starts counting down. For recipes that are more finicky and get overcooked quickly, like pasta or vegetables, youll actually need to cooking time the fuller the pot is.
Recommendations
Read Also: Remove Odor From Instant Pot Ring
The Answer Like Your Cook Time With This Amazing Pressure Cooker Is Short Yes
Shutterstock / Kei Shooting
Since the Instant Pot hit the market in 2010, its become one of the hottest products on Amazon.com. And one common question people are asking about this electric pressure cooker? If its safe to cook frozen meat inside this miracle appliance. Happily, for them, the answer is a resounding yesand it works even better if you take a simple step beforehand.
Bonus Point: Beware Of Some Recipes And Use Common Sense
I debated whether I should include this point. I mean, the article is called 7 Things You Need To Know About Instant Pot, not 8. But I decided it was something that needed to be addressed.
A lot of people expect magical results when they start using their Instant Pot. They expect some life-altering appliance that will help them get dinner on the table 30 minutes after they get home. The reason for those expectations is the unrealistic recipes and videos that are all over Facebook and Pinterest.
Food blogging is a business. Food bloggers rely on some tactics to get people to visit their blogs. And quick recipes is one of the best ways to drive traffic to a food site.
Just two days ago I saw a recipe for Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff, the recipe boldly stated that it will be done in 6 minutes. Yes, thats right, just 6 minutes. It said 2 minutes prep time and 4 minutes cook time. The prep time of 2 minutes included dicing of the onion, cutting of the beef, lightly sautéing, and measuring and adding the rest of the ingredients.
I consider myself a very adequate cook but even I cant do all of that in 2 minutes. In fact, I just recently made a shortcut version of a beef stew and with the beef already cubed, it took about 5 minutes to prep. That recipe for that beef stroganoff also conveniently forgot to add the time it would take to come to pressure and to release the pressure.
Also Check: What To Do If Your Instant Pot Says Burn
You Can Cook Food & Meals Directly From Its Frozen State
Yes, that means you can skip the thawing step and still have your freezer meals on the table in record time. But there is one catch to cooking freezer meals in the Instant Pot. Because the appliance is round you cannot freeze your meals in the bag flat. Square peg, round hole you get the picture. But never fear! Our test cooks werent about to let this come in the way of this epic couple.
My Top 5 Instant Pot Recipes For Beginners
So, here you have it: 7 Things You Need To Know About Instant Pot . Would I recommend buying one? Absolutely! As long as you realize that it is not a magical appliance and dont expect your life to change while using it.
Do you love your Instant Pot? Were you disappointed at first with the actual cooking time? Id love to hear from you! Comment below!
Recommended Reading: Pressure Cooker Frozen Ground Beef
The Best Instant Pot Tips Tricks And Hacks
The Instant Pot is one of the most versatile, time-efficient, and flavorful additions you can make to your kitchen. The pressure cooker can prepare anything from chili to cheesecake and everything in between. Advanced Instant Pot models can even be linked to your home Wi-Fi for remote temperature and timer controls. These phenomenal devices can do quite a bit, with most models offering a handful of features and capabilities that many folks wont even touch. Its time to shed a light on some of these less-obvious functions.
We have the cooking hacks and tips on how to pack the most flavor possible into each meal. Youll learn everything you need to know to feel like an Instant Pot expert.
What About Other Instant Pot Models
- Duo Plus: Like the Duo, but with a blue LCD display and few more settings . You can toggle to sound off or on.
- Smart WiFi: Generally like the Duo, but you can pair it with an app and use your smartphone to control some of its functions.
- Lux: No yogurt making setting. Does not need a drip catcher. Each setting will remember the cook time you programmed most recently.
- Ultra: Has a central control knob, not as many buttons, and a few more special settings. Has a feature to automatically adjust for pressure cooking at altitude. Quick release button keeps fingers away from the steam release valve. Each setting will remember the cook time you programmed most recently.
- Max: This has a touch screen, a sous-vide function, heats faster, can be programmed to automatically release steam, and offers an altitude adjustment option.
Read Also: What To Do If Your Instant Pot Says Burn
How To Store Your Instant Pot
Store your cooker like this, with the lid upside down and the gasket loose. Condensation builds up in the gasket, which can become moldy if you lock a damp lid on the cooker.
This method allows for lots of air circulation. Its not so pretty on a countertop, I know. If nothing else, make sure you at least never store your cooker with a damp lid.
The Instant Pot Display Wont Turn On
Most display issues are often the direct result of a power problem. One quick way to try and fix your display is to make sure the power cord is fully plugged into your Instant Pot. If you previously tried this and the screen still wouldnt turn on, you should try to plug your Instant Pot into a separate outlet entirely. If youre still unsuccessful, contact Instant Pot support.
Also Check: Instant Pot Says Burn Then Went Away
Using The Instant Pot Buttons May Seem A Little Intimidating At First Because There Are So Many But Really Its Easy
Before you know it youll be whipping up fabulous meals and desserts that will impress your friends and family. Have fun!
For step by step instructions, watch my how to use an Instant Pot multicooker video.
For more information on using your new Instant Pot, come join my Facebook community at .
***Many thanks to my friend Sigrid for alerting me to the updated information about the latest versions of the Instant Pot buttons.***
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Be Prepared To Thicken
One thing the Instant Pot does really well is retain liquid. However, this can actually turn into a negative when you end up with dishes that have a little too much liquid. When this happens, add a bit of cornstarch mixed with water to help thicken up the dish. Be sure you add the thickener after the cooking process, and not in the beginning. This is because the cornstarch or other thickening agents can interfere with the steam being generated by the Instant Pot.
Also Check: Instant Pot Setup Red Ring
Pressure Isnt Building In My Pot
This usually happens when the pressure release valve has been turned to open when you sealed the lid, but you didnt notice at the time so steam is just slowly leaking out of the pot as it tries to heat up. This isnt good for the food inside, and it keeps the pot from actually reaching the correct pressure levels.
The best solution for this is to get in the habit of always checking the pressure valve when you seal the lid. Just look and make sure its in the locked position before you select your pressure cooking setting.
Use Caution With Recipes That Use Dairy Or Flour
Cheesy dishes, cream soups, and dishes that are thickened with flour are not expressly forbidden in the Instant Pot thankfully! But you do want to take care to clean the seals and valves when you are done so that these foods dont get stuck in there. These items are best added during a saute or warming step at the end of the cooking time.
Indigo Nili has a great tip on using the pot in pot method for recipes such as these. This allows you to still use water to create the pressure seal and not the creamy/thickened liquids.
Also Check: Ninja Foodi Frozen Tamales
Ways To Remedy Burning:
Is It Better To Cook Burgers In The Oven Or On The Stove
Is it better to cook burgers in the oven or on the stove? Its up to your personal preference! Baked burgers are a great, nearly hands-off cooking method that wont fill your kitchen with the smell of frying beef. Pan-fried burgers, on the other hand, have the benefit of a tasty sear from the cast-iron skillet.
Read Also: Instant Pot Reads Burn
Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Message Burn
Keep The Same Cooking Time
Pressure cooking cooks each piece of food equally. That means that each piece of chicken will require the same cooking time, and so will each grain of rice. So the general rule of thumb is to not increase the pressure cooking time.
However, more items in a pressure cooker will make it fuller which means it will take longer for the cooker to reach pressure. For time-sensitive recipes that are undesirable when over-cooked youll actually need to cooking time. Thats because even while the cooker is reaching pressure the food is already cooking. The recipes on this website are written assuming your pressure cooker will take an average of 10 minutes to reach pressure. So, the rule of thumb Ive figured out is: for every two additional minutes the cooker needs to reach pressure, subtract one minute from the pressure cooking time.
The Best Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken is just about the most American food can get. And this here Fried Chicken is about to change your life.
Folks, Im talking the most crispy, succulent and knuckle-lickin fried chicken on the face of the earth. No annoying, messy, eggy batters or blowing money on buttermilk to brine it in either. Were talking a simply seasoned water bath for the brine and a sensationally seasoned dry flour coating for the batter. And after its deep fried to a gorgeous golden brown? Well, lets just say youre going to feel like the best cook on the planet and will not only knock the socks off yourself, but anyone else you serve it to.
Oh and this ones gonna give your Instant Pot a break. But have no fear, its so CRAZY EASY, even a chicken could do it!
Heres How I Made It! :
Hey. Wanna make the best, crispiest, juiciest, most flavorful Fried Chicken ever? Well, youve come to the right party so lets get it started!
In a large bowl, add cold water
some dill pickle juice right from a jar
cayenne pepper
and garlic powder.
Stir well.
Now lets focus on our chicken! Use any parts of chicken that you fancy be it drumsticks, thighs, breasts or wings! I personally feel dark meat reigns supreme with fried chicken, but whatever you choose, just make sure the bones are in and the skin is on. Those are the rules to the perfect fried chicken!
Add all of the raw chicken to the brine
making sure its fully immersed
Whisk together
Also Check: Instant Pot Tamales
Want To Convert Your Favorite Slow Cooker Recipes Into Instant Pot Ones All You Need To Do Is Follow These Simple Rules Straight From A Chef
corners74/Shutterstock
The day I received my Instant Pot felt like Christmas morning. I unpacked the box and started dreaming about what I would cook first. Then, I took a good hard look at all those buttons and realized something: this thing definitely wasnt in the same league as my slow cooker. It was a sophisticated appliance and I had a lot of learning to do.
Luckily, it didnt take long for me to learn how to get the most out of the Instant Pot. Once I got the hang of how to use my new favorite kitchen tool, I started converting my favorite slow cooker favorites into Instant Pot hits. I found that by following a few simple rules, I was able to make all these fabulous foods in a fraction of the time. So lets dive in and take a look at what it takes.
You Already Love The Instant Pot Just Wait Until You Know The Techniques That Will Bring Your Instant Pot Cooking To The Next Level
Since I got an Instant Pot, its all I can do to keep myself from shouting my love from the rooftop. I even went so far as to buy one for all my family members this Christmas, and I found myself talking to strangers on a plane about it! Like so many of you, Im totally in love with the Instant Pot, but I have a confession to make: It wasnt until a few weeks ago that I really figured this thing out.
I mean, I knew that it helped me put healthy, real food dinners on the table . But I really learned to appreciate the Instant Pot and what its capable of when I mastered these techniques to save time and effort. So Im here to help you learn how to take advantage of this hands-off cooking machine to get the most out of your Instant Pot.
Read Also: How To Clean Instant Pot Lid
