Natural Release Vs Quick Release
Natural release is when you do not press any buttons after the Instant Pot has finished pressure cooking and the pressure slowly escapes naturally. The amount of time this takes will depend on what you are cooking and the amount of water. The float valve will drop and you will hear a slight click when the pressure has fully released. Use this method when in a small kitchen , with foods that expand , for maximum safety, when foods need a bit more time to soften , or whenever time allows.
Quick release is when you press the quick release button to release the pressure from the Instant Pot right after it has finished cooking. When this happens, steam will come out of the pressure release valve. This method is ideal when you are short on time but requires being careful not to burn yourself or anyone around you.
Partial release is a hybrid of the two methods outlined above. You can allow some of the pressure to release naturally by waiting ~5-10 minutes after it has finished cooking. Then release any remaining pressure by pressing the quick release button . This strategy takes advantage of some of the safety of the natural release and the speediness of the quick release.
What Is A Trivet Used For When Cooking Chicken
When youre cooking a whole chicken, the trivet is perfect to support the bird in a vertical position. This way, the meat cooks from all sides and the steam can go through it quite easily.
If youre cooking chicken wings or legs, the trivet can be used as metallic support. Usually, the wiring is neat enough to support even smaller pieces of meat.
Mango Bundt Cake Tips
Also Check: How To Cook Beets In Instant Pot
Change The Size Of The Meat
Large cuts of meat require much longer in the pressure cooker than that same cut of meat diced into bite-size pieces. So if you want to cook a side with a longer cook time, consider changing up the size of the meat. For instance, the thinly sliced beef strips in Beef and Broccoli only take 12 minutes at high pressure, so theyre too long for white rice and too short for brown rice. However, beef cut into 2- or 3-inch cubes would need about 20 minutes at high pressure, making them a good match for brown rice, which has a 22-minute cook time and a 20-minute natural pressure release.
How To Put The Trivet In An Instant Pot
Putting your trivet in an Instant Pot is very easy.
All you really need to do is assemble your trivet and then lower it into the main compartment of your Instant Pot. Its really that simple!
Just make sure your handles dont go in first, otherwise, youll have quite a bit of trouble trying to grab it again.
You May Like: Sprouts In Instant Pot
Can I Make A Dozen Hard Boiled Eggs In The Instant Pot
Why, yes! You absolutely can! Another joy of using your pressure cookeryou can make a lot of eggs at once! Depending on the size of your pressure cooker, you can make a dozen hard boiled eggs comfortably.
This is perfect for egg salad sandwiches, potato salad, dying Easter eggs, deviled eggs, and beyond!
What Is The Best Instant Pot Trivet
And now, the answer to your most burning question: which one is the best trivet?
There are a few good options on the market, including the standard one that is delivered with the IP. However, everyones choice is different as you also have to consider the size of your pot, whether or not you want handles, the material, and the price.
I have used many trivets over the years, so I tried to review a wide series of products, so everyone can have a choice. So, without further ado, here are my top 6 trivets:
Also Check: What To Do When Instant Pot Says Food Burn
How Would I Use The Steam Function Does It Still Cook Under Pressure
With the Instant Pot, if you use the Steam button, its essentially going to be pressure steaming, not just regular steaming.
To use the Steam function, youll need to pour in at least one cup of water into the inner liner. Then place your trivet at the bottom, then place a steamer rack or basket on top of the trivet. Place your food into the rack or basket and then close the lid. Just push the Steam button, then put in your cooking time. After that, just wait a few moments until you hear the beeping sounds. Then the display should read On. This is when the Instant Pot is heating up, boiling the water, and creating pressure. Once the pressure is high enough, it begins to count down. When the food is done steaming, make sure to do a Quick Release, otherwise, the food will be overcooked.
As the water boils, it creates steam. Since you need to use the regular Instant Pot lid for all functions except sauté, the Instant Pot will be sealed while steaming, building up pressure inside. However, the Steam function wont create as much pressure as the Manual/Pressure Cook function, so you arent exactly pressure cooking like you normally do.
The only problem with using the Steam function is the fact that you cant check on the food as you steam since its under pressure and the lid isnt see-thru.
Once the timer is up, always make sure to Quick Release , because the food is still cooking as its inside. Failure to Quick Release can result in overcooked and mushy food.
Dont Be Afraid To Add Time
Since the trivet lifts foods up and away from the heating element on the bottom of the cooking pan, foods occasionally need an additional minute or two at high pressure. When first adjusting a recipe, I recommend starting with the original time listed in the different recipes and testing for doneness. For example, if I use a tall trivet when just cooking rice pot-in-pot, I will use a 4-minute cook time to make sure the rice cooks through.
OK, thats it! Do you have any questions about cooking pot-in-pot? Leave me your questions in the comments!
Don’t Miss: What Is Instant Pot Poultry Mode
Soft Boiled Vs Hard Boiled Eggs
Okay, so I have tested hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot at least eight different times before coming to the exact timing and process that I prefer. And you know what I discovered? The perfect hard boiled egg is possibly one of the most subjective concepts on the entire planet. Like, up there with art.
Some people love their yolk slightly on the soft boiled side, with the yolk a dark yellow and chewy texture. Some people are die-hard boiled egg enthusiasts and like the yolk light yellow and FIRM. I feel that Im somewhere in the middle, and this recipe gives you my perfect hard boiled egg.
Recommended Equipment For Reheating Leftovers In The Instant Pot:
- You may also want to consider stackable pans for the Instant Pot
Reheating leftovers in the Instant Pot is such an easy way to warm food without using a microwave. Who knew there could be so many uses for an electric pressure cooker? I continue to find more and more reasons to love this versatile appliance!
Also Check: Instant Pot Bread Recipes
What Can I Cook Using Instant Pot Trivet
Anything that needs a pot-in-pot approach and anything else that needs to stay above the water level.
As such, you can cook steamed rice by placing the rice in a heat-resistant bowl and the bowl on the trivet. The rice wont get watery and it will get a better-defined structure than when you boil it. You can baked bread and you can even make this super easy cheesecake .
Of course, you can keep it simple and use the trivet to boil eggs or steam potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, or asparagus without using a special basket. The results are impressive
Healthy recipe I like is the Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash below:
Silicone Egg Bites Molds With Built
This is a trivet mold made from food-grade BPA free silicone, with two trays, each with its own individual lid. It fits all 5, 6, 8 qt Instant Pot pressure cookers but can also be used in a regular pot.
The bottom mold has feet, to keep the food out of the water and heat resistant handles that help keep the second mold in place and get them out of the pot safely.
As you see, the shape of the molds and the fact that it has a lid at the top doesnt allow for a great variety in the type of foods you can cook using this product. But its perfect for boiling/cooking all sorts of eggs, muffins, quiche, and even baby food.
Verdict: While its not the kind of trivet you can use for everything, I like the shape of the molds and the lids. Since there are two trays, you can cook extra and keep it in the fridge for later.
You May Like: Pressure Cooker Tuna
Instant Pot Trivet Tips And Tricks For Everyone
So youve got a new Instant Pot trivet and need to figure out how to use it. Youre not all on your own tons of people end up with new and fancy cooking appliances and dont use them to their fullest.
We know you have a few questions about your Instant Pot trivet, and you want to know all about the best tips and tricks.
But before we dive into the best ways to use your Instant Pot trivet, what is it anyway?
Stainless Steel Inner Pot
This inner pot is what you will use for cooking. Wash the inner pot before first use. Dry it completely before use. Place this into the base unit of the instant pot.
Tip: I like to have an extra inner pot, so I can quickly cook multiple things one after the other. There is also a non-stick ceramic inner pot if that is of interest to you.
Also Check: How To Steam Artichokes In Instant Pot
Is The Instant Pot Safe
We were initially concerned about whether the Instant Pot was safe . But after using it many times and learning that it has 10 built-in safety mechanisms, we can verify it feels very safe.
One of our biggest concerns was what happens if we forget to release the pressure before opening? Well, it turns out thats not an issue because the lid has a safety lock that prevents it from being opened when pressurized.
The biggest safety precaution we would recommend is to always make sure no one is above or within 2 feet of the steam release valve when quick releasing the pressure. Also make sure to keep hands away because hot steam will spray out.
Ways To Use The Instant Pot Trivet
Learn how to use the Instant Pot trivet with this handy guide-post. From making cakes to steaming vegetables to pot-in-pot cooking, we show you 7 different ways for how to utilize this accessory for cooking delicious food with a pressure cooker.
When you first unbox your Instant Pot, youll find a few additional items that come with it. One of those key accessories is the trivet or the metal insert with collapsible sides. In the example of the Instant Pot, it is designed to keep ingredients out of the water.
While pressure cooking, it is necessary to use 1-2 cups of water for every recipe. However, you dont always want it mixing with your food. Could you imagine a soggy cheesecake? Gross. This is where the trivet comes in handy, and no its not just good for dessert! Theres a reason why it comes with the Instant Pot.
Here are some of our favourite ways to utilise the Instant Pot trivet that will inspire you to cook more and step outside of the box.
New to Instant Pot? Check out our Instant Pot beginner series. Learn how this pressure cooker actually works here, settings and buttons lowdown here, learn how to make perfect rice, creamy mashed potatoes, Tuscan chicken pasta or easy pork shoulder and gravy with our step-by-step recipes.
Read Also: Steaming Frozen Tamales In Ninja Foodi
Can I Stack Chicken In An Instant Pot
Ideally, no. Butyes.
Placing chicken in the pressure cooker in a single layer will give you the best results to make sure its evenly-cooked. However, this limits how many pieces of chicken you can cook at once.
If were going by total amount, you can certainly fit more chicken with stacking . Just be aware that you may need to increase cooking time if you do this, and be sure to check internal temp.
If you are using frozen chicken, keep it to a single layer, no stacking.
How Do I Use Instant Pot Trivet
I guess its clear that the trivet goes first inside the inner pot. It can even go before the water since you can pour it in after the trivet is in place.
Once everything is in place, lock the lid and set the time and pressure according to the recipe. When the cooking stops and the lid can be removed, you can use the trivets handles to remove the entire thing from the pot.
You May Like: Can You Put Foil In An Instant Pot
Steaming Veggies On Trivet
Delicate veggies dont take long in the Instant Pot. If youve experimented, you likely know that things like asparagus, broccoli, beets and cauliflower only take around a minute to make. Perfectly steamed veggies are still a little crisp. Cooking them in the Instant Pot can be a gamble.
For great texture and maximum nutrient retention, place your delicate veggies on the trivet to steam so that they remain out of the water. A steamer basket or even a cake tin placed on top of the steam rack trivet will also do the trick. For more ways to cook vegetables with your Instant Pot, check out our 101 series here.
Baked potatoes are a thing of the past. Pressure cooked potatoes are in because the method is hands-off, the timing is quick, and the results are fantastic every time. The trivet works to keep them out of the water so the bottom of your spuds doesnt get soggy. You can use the trivet steaming method for potatoes with both regular potatoes and sweet potatoes. Check out these baby potatoes with butter and dill.
You might also want to check out these 5 delicious ways to make Instant Pot potatoes.
Choose Similar Ingredients To Another Pot
One of the easiest ways to adjust a pot-in-pot recipe is to choose a recipe that uses similar ingredients and base your cook time off of that. For example, if you want to make a Snickers Cheesecake, I recommend starting with my Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake recipe and adapting it to your candy of choice.
Read Also: Pressure Cooker Brussel Sprouts
Instant Pot Broccoli Without Steamer Basket
If you do not have a steamer basket, you can still make Instant Pot Broccoli. Simply use the trivet that your Instant Pot came with .
Place the trivet in the Instant Pot, along with 3/4 cup water for a 6 quart, 1/2 cup water for a 3 quart, and 1 cup for an 8 quart Instant Pot.
Stack the broccoli on top of the trivet and keep it out of the water as much as possible. Cook as directed, and quickly remove the broccoli to a serving plate with tongs or a large spoon.
You can also dump the entire thing in a colander or strainer, but be careful since the trivet will fall out as well.
Why Youll Love This Instant Pot Wings Recipe:
- QUICK: These wings are ready to serve in less than half and hour, so make for a great last minute appetizer.
- GLUTEN FREE: These wings are gluten-free, so theres no need to miss out if you have an intolerance.
- ONE POT: Because these wings are made in the pressure cooker, even the clean up is a breeze!
When you need to serve up a tasty appetizer in a hurry, these Instant Pot buffalo chicken wings tick all the right boxes!
Don’t Miss: What To Do If Your Instant Pot Says Burn
Cheesecakes & Other Baking Needs
Who wants a cheesecake with a soggy crust? Nobody thats who. While the springform pan is the most vital accessory for making the perfect dessert slice, a trivet is necessary for getting the right texture.
Unlike with the oven method, you need water to cook anything in the Instant Pot. This is how it comes to pressure. While the pan provides a barrier, a trivet keeps it lifted and fully out of the water allowing for even cooking throughout. Check out these 10 incredible Instant Pot cheesecakes recipes for inspiration.
