How To Cook Pasta In An Instant Pot

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Ingredients For Cooking Pasta In Instant Pot

How to Cook Pasta in the Instant Pot (Regular & Gluten-Free!)
  • Unsalted Chicken Stock Different brands or even different boxes of the same brand of salted chicken stock can differ in levels of sodium, so we prefer to develop recipes using unsalted chicken stock for more control & consistency on the dishs flavor profile. Best if you can make your own chicken stock!

Our Secret Umami Ingredients:

Here are our own little flavor-boosting, umami-bombing, non-traditional twist to this ultra-simple pasta bolognese.

  • Regular Soy Sauce + Fish Sauce Thse add a magical delicious touch of savory-umami depth of flavors to cooking pasta in Instant Pot.

Wait! Fish Sauce? Soy Sauce? Worcestershire Sauce in Pasta Sauce?

If youve been following our recipes, you can probably smell our obsession for Umami. hehe~ Give it a try!

Tips On How To Make Pasta In The Instant Pot

The real key for making a successful batch of dried pasta in the Instant Pot is twofold.

  • The first is to make sure that all of the pasta is submerged in water. Otherwise, you will get hard pasta on top. Use your spoon, and push down on the pasta. If you need more water than what is called for in the recipe, add it. You can always drain it later.
  • The other key is to stack it so that its in different directions, which will prevent the pasta from sticking together.

Why Cant I Just Cover The Release Valve With A Towel

If you are asking this, you likely havent read your manual. While it might be tempting to let the pressure just release while covering the valve with a towel to stop the starch from going everywhere, the Instant Pot instructional manual explicitly states that you cannot for any reason cover the pressure release valve with a towel, for safety purposes and for the health of your Instant Pot. So that is the reason for coming up with a way to deal with the escaping starch!

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How To Release Pressure When Cooking Pasta

Because of the starchy cooking water in pasta, it creates a big mess after a quick release when it sprays out of the pressure knob. To avoid this, I follow one of the two methods listed below:

1. Intermittent Pressure Release

I release the pressure in bursts. Which means, I press down or turn the pressure knob partially to release pressure 1-2 seconds at a time, then stop. I repeat this until most of the pressure has released and its intensity has gone down.

After that, when I do a full release of pressure, nothing squirts out of the knob.

2. NPR 5

Another way to avoid the starchy mess is to let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes followed by a quick release. In those 5 minutes, quite a lot of pressure is released, so when you turn the knob, it won’t be as intense. However, if choosing this method, reduce the pasta cooking time by a minute to prevent over cooking it.

How To Cook Perfect Pasta In Your Instant Pot

Instant Pot Pasta  How To Cook Pasta In The Instant Pot ...

Its easy.

  • Place dry pasta in inner pot of Instant Pot.
  • Add salt, olive oil and enough stock to barely cover the pasta.
  • Close the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to sealing. Set the Instant Pot on Manual/Pressure Cook for 5-6 minutes .
  • When time is up, do a quick pressure release by turning the pressure valve to venting.
  • Carefully open the lid. Drain the pasta, if needed, and enjoy!
  • TIP: If using pasta sauce, like marinara, add it very last over the noodle, making sure not to send too much sauce to the bottom. Or itll scorch on the bottom preventing the pot to come to pressure.

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    Can I Cook Pasta In An Instant Pot

    Yes! You can, and whats more I highly recommend it as a time saving and low-effort way to make pasta that is super flavorful and perfectly cooked. Heres why:

    More flavor – Pasta cooked in the Instant Pot turns out more flavorful than pasta that is cooked with the sauce separately. The seasonings are mixed in with the water and liquid used to cook the pasts in the Instant Pot. The pasta cooks under pressure and absorbs all the flavors from the liquid. I like to add a good quality broth or bouillon to the liquid before pressure cooking, and this gives my super flavorful pasta every single time!

    Perfect texture – The pasta comes out just the way my kids and I like it. A tad more done than al dente. The softer than usual texture is a hige hit with kids especially. If you like your pasta al dente and with some more bite, then simply reduce the pressure cooking time by a minute.

    Naturally thick sauce No need to reserve that starchy pasta water to thicken the sauce anymore! Many stovetop pasta recipes call for reserving the pasta water to thicken the sauce. When you cook pasta in the Instant Pot, the starch from the pasta is not drained away. It stays in the cooker, and the sauce is naturally thickened. This means you can add lesser cream or cheese or other thickeners .

    Plain Pasta In Instant Pot

    1)Add pasta in the pot of the instant pot pressure cooker.

    2) Add salt, water and oil.

    3) Cover the instant pot with its lid and turn the knob into sealing. Set to manual pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. When the instant pot completes the course of pressure cooking, switch it off and do 3 minutes natural pressure release.

    4) Open instant pot and serve.

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    Instant Pot Pasta With Sauce

    This Instant Pot Pasta with Sauce is an incredibly simple one pot pasta you can make in just a few minutes with a handful of healthy ingredients.

    Chances are, you may have an Instant Pot. And if you do, you know how invaluable that pot is to cooking food for your family. I know it seems silly to say an appliance can be so amazing but it truly is a game changer in the kitchen.

    Over the last 2 years, we have used ours for everything from Mole to Tamales, Chile Lime Chicken, Grapefruit Marmalade and so much more.

    So much more

    As much as I love the Instant Pot, its clearly not the solution to everything ) I have seen people make hot dogs in it , and popcorn and as much as I love popcorn, it truly IS easier on the stove in a stockpot. And yes.. I have tried it in the Instant Pot. What. a. pain.

    Seriously, not worth the time.

    This recipe for pasta isnt really faster, but it IS easier. Its one of those recipes you can tell your non-Instant Pot spouse how to make if you are gone for a day. Its also that type of recipe you can teach your children to do especially now that the summer is here and theyll be hungry 24/7.

    Or if you have kids at your house during the day, throw everything in the Instant Pot, then spend a few minutes getting the table ready and drinks poured, and by the time you are done, the beeper will go off on the pot.

    A few things to note about this recipe:

    To Drain Or Not To Drain

    Instant Pot Pasta Recipe – How To Cook Pasta In The Instant Pot – So Easy!

    And here is where the magic lies with Instant Pot pasta: you dont always have to drain the pasta! Using this method for cooking pasta results in most of the water being absorbed into the pasta. When its finished there will be just a little bit of water leftover. You can then toss your pasta with your sauce, or make one directly in the Instant Pot such as Mac and Cheese.

    However, you can drain the pasta too. And you should if your recipe calls for it, such as a Macaroni Salad.

    One word of caution about cooking pasta made from different grains, such as a brown rice flour: When you are making non-traditional pasta, the leftover water might be too starchy and sticky to leave in a recipe. In that case, rinsing and draining the pasta will do the trick of eliminating that less-than-desirable starchiness.

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    Quick And Easy Spaghetti Ingredients

    Jarred marinara sauce makes this super easy, its a great short cut, especially on busy nights. You can make your own spaghetti sauce, like this favorite, which is made in the instant pot first. Then add the noodles. Or keep it quick and simple.

    • Olive Oil: To help the beef from sticking to the pot.
    • Ground Beef: Use lean ground beef.
    • Italian Seasoning: Helps to season the beef for an extra flavor.
    • Garlic Powder: Because you can never have enough garlic in Italian food.
    • Salt and Pepper: Add more or less to taste.
    • Spaghetti Noodles: It is best to break the noodles beforehand then criss-crossing them in the pot for best cooking.
    • Two Jars of your favorite or this homemade equivalent sauce is even better.
    • Water: You need this extra fluid for the noodles to cook in.

    How To Reduce Pasta Foam

    I’ve learned some great tips and tricks from all of you in the comments below, here is a summary of the knowledge I’ve gathered over time:

    • Add Fat
    • Oil or butter will reduce foaming. I add about 1 tablespoon per 8 ounces of pasta
  • Rinse pasta
  • Rinse the pasta 2 3 times before you cook it I wouldn’t say this is the perfect solution, but it does seem to help
  • Place a trivet over the pasta
  • As bubbles start to rise, the trivet will pop them and keep foam from reaching the valve. This doesn’t work perfectly every time either, but again, it seems to help especially if you use a slow pressure release
  • Intermittent Pressure Release
  • Turn knob to quickly release the pressure. If starchy water starts to spray through the valve, switch the knob to a sealed position, wait 30 seconds, then switch the valve back to release, repeating this process as many times as needed usually 2 -3 times
  • Slow Pressure Release
  • Turn the knob only slightly so the pressure is released slowly. This will take a bit longer but will cut down on foaming considerably and prevent overcooked pasta
  • My personal go-to method
  • Add fat, place a trivet over the pasta, use a quick release of the pressure and wait and see if there is going to be enough starchy water spraying out for me to want to close the knob again. Then I use the intermittent or slow-release method to release the remaining pressure.
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    How To Cook Pasta In A Slow Cooker

    You can use slow cookers to make pasta as long as you dont mix the pasta in with the sauce and leave it sitting in the slow cooker for an extended period of time. Doing so will result in pasta that is mushy, soggy and unappetizing. For best results, keep the pasta separate until serving. Prepare whatever sauce or dish you are pairing with pasta in the slow cooker and then combine it with pasta that has been cooked al dente.

    How Long To Cook Pasta In Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Pasta  How To Cook Pasta In The Instant Pot ...

    When I was first searching for how to cook pasta in an Instant Pot, I found a lot of conflicting information on exactly how long to cook it often accompanied by some complicated math equations. No thanks, Id rather keep things simple!

    I always cook the pasta on high pressure for a flat 5 minutes, followed by a quick release of the pressure, and Ive never been disappointed with the results.

    Of course, theres definitely some leeway for personal preference. If you find that youd prefer the pasta be slightly less cooked, next time you make it just cook it for 4 minutes. On the other hand, if you prefer it to be slightly more done, youll know to add an additional minute and cook it for 6 minutes in the future.

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    Instant Pot Pasta Cooked With Ground Beef

    1)Prep the ingredients. Put on instant pot and set to saute mode.

    2) Add oil in the pot then add in onions and garlic. Saute for few minutes then add the minced meat /ground beef.

    3) Brown the beef then add in paprika, cayenne pepper, Italian seasoning and salt then stir.

    4) Add 1 cup broth in the pot and deglaze the instant pot by scraping any brown bits off the bottom of the pot.

    This is to avoid getting burn error during pressure cooking.

    5) Switch off saute mode then pour pasta in the pot on top of the minced meat.

    6) Add the remaining broth then tomato sauce. Dont stir.

    7) Cover the instant pot with its lid and turn the knob into sealing. Set to manual pressure cook on high for 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes of pressure cooking, do a quick release.

    8) Open the instant pot and stir till fusili, sauce and ground beef are well mixed.

    Serve and enjoy.

    How To Use Pot

    Published: Dec 18, 2020 · by Jess Smith · · · This post may contain affiliate links.

    The pot-in-pot method can be used in the Instant Pot to cook something in an elevated dish. Its useful for everything from desserts to preparing two dishes at once! Read on for all of the tips and tricks you need to master this useful technique.

    Ive recently become a little emphatic about the usefulness of the pot-in-pot method for the Instant Pot. The truth is, once I got over my initial fear of using the Instant Pot , I found it only moderately more useful than my slow cooker. But the pot-in-pot method has totally changed that. Once I discovered that I could cook a complete meal main dish and side at the same time, I was hooked. I use this once or twice a week now and love that all messes are contained right inside the machine. See below for my favorite things to cook this way!

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    By Step Instructions For Instant Pot Pasta

    The steps for cooking pasta in the electric pressure cooker couldn’t be easier! Simply:

    • Add liquid and pasta: Add water, pasta, salt and oil. If cooking short pasta , give it a stir. If cooking spaghetti or other noodle shaped pasta, break in half and lay in two batches in a criss-cross pattern. Do not stir.
    • Set cooking time: Close the lid on sealing position. Using the rule of thumb, calculate the cooking time for your specific pasta shape. Set Pressure Cook/Manual for the calculated pasta time.
    • Perform an intermittent quick release: After the cooking time is done, use the intermittent pressure release technique and release all the pressure. Open the lid when the pin drops.
    • Rest, sauce and serve: Stir the pasta and separate any clumps using two forks. Let the pasta rest for 3 to 5 minutes as this lets it absorb the leftover liquid. For a simple and satisfying meal, stir in your favorite sauce, such as spaghetti sauce or pesto.

    The Instant Pot Pasta Formula

    How to make INSTANT POT PASTA

    To cook any type of pasta perfectly in the Instant Pot :

  • Find the recommended cook time on any box / bag of pasta.
  • Take the lowest, even number in the range.
  • Divide in half.
  • Use 5 minute natural release and then release any remaining pressure manually.
  • But theres no need to do all that math. Just use the chart below:

    **0 is a real setting on the Instant Pot / pressure cooker. For small pasta shapes with a short recommended cook time, set the timer to zero minutes. The pressure cooker will fully pressurize but wont hold for any amount of time.

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    Cooking Tips For Cooking Pasta In Instant Pot

    1. Evenly Cooked Instant Pot Pasta: Its critical to ensure all the Penne Pasta are completely submerged in the sauce before pressure cooking.

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    2. Dump-and-Go Instant Pot Pasta: If you want a fast & super easy one pot meal, you can simply dump all the ingredients into the pot . Ensure to add the Penne pasta and tomato paste last, then start the pressure cooking cycle immediately.

    3. Extra Pinch of Salt: Sometimes youre just a pinch of salt away from awesomeness! Salt wont reduce the sourness, but will bring out other flavors to balance the dish. Try it for yourself!

    4. Scorching Instant Pot: Mixing 156 ml tomato paste with 3 cups of liquid should be completely safe. But if youre afraid of scorching, avoid mixing the tomato paste, just place it on top of the pasta.

    5. Vegetarian/Vegan Version: Instant Pot Penne Rigate Pasta

    Saut Onion Garlic Celery Mushrooms

    Add 1 tbsp olive oil in Instant Pot. Add sliced onion, sauté. Add a pinch of kosher salt and ground black pepper to season. Stir occasionally until slightly browned.

    Then, add minced garlic and stir for roughly 30 seconds until fragrant.

    Add sliced mushrooms, chopped celery, a pinch of dried oregano, and dried basil. Cook for another minute.

    Taste seasoning and adjust with more kosher salt and ground black pepper if necessary.

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    Formula: Calculate The Perfect Pasta Cook Time

    For perfect Instant Pot pasta, theres a pretty simple formula to find the right cooking time: take the time listed on the box, cut it in half, then subtract an additional minute.

    For example, for bowtie pasta, if the package says to cook for 12 minutes, Id pressure cook it for 5 minutes. .

    This formula works for regular pasta, whole wheat pasta, gluten-free pasta, rice-based pasta, or pretty much any kind.

    Tip: If the cook time is an odd number, I generally round down.

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