How To Use The Pot In Pot Method In Your Pressure Cooker
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Wondering how to use the pot-in-pot method to cook in your pressure cooker? This tutorial will walk you through the whole pot-in-pot processhow to set it up and what equipment youll need, as well as tips for adapting recipes to cook pot-in-pot!
Have you tried pot-in-pot cooking yet? The pot-in-pot method of cooking in the electric pressure cooker has several benefits!
- Cooking pot-in-pot lets you make a dish in the pressure cooker without dirtying the inner cooking pot, which is useful if you plan to use the pressure cooker again .
- Pot-in-pot also lets you make two separate parts of the meal at the same time in the same pressure cooker .
- Pot-in-pot is necessary for baking things like cheesecakes in the pressure cooker.
- Its also automatic portion controlthe pot-in-pot method uses cute, smaller-size dishes like cake pans, half-size Bundt pans, mason jars, and ramekins.
I recently had the chance to walk a friend through the pot-in-pot method, and I thought Id take some photos to share with you!
Youll find lots of pot-in-pot recipes in my dessert cookbook, Instantly Sweet.
Flat Wire Round Trivet
This flat wire rack with low legs works great not just for the Instant Pot but is a perfectly-sized cooling rack for round cake pans or to protect your countertop from hot dishes.
I use this round trivet to slightly elevate chicken or other meats that are cooking in liquid. Many times this technique helps me avoid the Burn Message. I also use it to separate multiple containers that are stacked on top of each other.
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:
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Heat Resistant Trivet With Silicone Handles
Compatible with Instant Pot 6 & 8 qt Accessories, Stainless Steel Steaming Rack Trivet Stand for Pressure Cooker.
Youll also find a silicone trivet thats launched by the brand itself and is great if youre looking for an easy to clean and dishwasher-safe variant.
Whats best is that this trivet wont scratch the inner surface of the pot as well. This trivet may be one of the accessories that you use the most with your Instant Pot. Thanks to its long handles you can easily remove the food from the inner pot.
Now That Youve Got The Basics Down Youre Ready To Get Started
STEP 1: Stick your trivet in the bottom of your pot. If youre cooking something on the bottom go ahead and add that first. If not, go ahead add your liquid to the Instant Pot minimum half a cup.
STEP 2: Earlier we referenced the sling, this is not something you have to do, but sometimes it might be hard to retrieve your container so this will help. To craft a foil sling you can fold the foil into thirds for reinforcement. Place your bowl on top of the sling and pull the sides up.
STEP 3: With your bowl in the sling, put your bowl on top of the trivet. Hold the bowl steady as you put it in the Instant Pot to set and cook.
STEP 4: Set and forget! Cook according to your recipes directions and youre good to go!
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Instant Pot Stainless Steel Official Wire Roasting Rack
This is the trivet that comes with most IP pressure cookers . This is a metallic trivet, with a simple build, four legs, and two handles. The grid-like surface allows you to use it with pans, pots, bowls, and steamer baskets that are compatible with the pressure cooker.
Also, you can place veggies and meat directly on the trivet, and any grease or oils will be drained right out.
Verdict: Its a rather simple trivet, but it has a durable build and it doesnt cost you anything . However, the metallic legs and handles can scratch the bottom of the pan if youre not careful.
Extra Instant Pot Sealing Ring And Silicone Lid
It is really nice to have an extra sealing ring in case my other one is dirty. Lots of people prefer to have two . I like this bundle I have because it comes with a lid as well.
- Pros: Both are dishwasher safe. Easily stores the pot straight to the fridge!
- Cons: The lid is not a sealing lid, so you wouldnt be able to turn the pot upside down or anything.
- Uses: Easily store leftovers, marinate meats right in the pot for easy and fast cooking like for Kalua Pig, Yogurt, or storing any Instant Pot Soup.
Learn how to use the Instant Pot with step-by-step instructions and photos for manual or smart program pressure cooker settings, how to sauté foods, and how and when to select a natural release or quick release options. Plus, we cover some Instant Pot FAQs and general tips to make your learning curve as the Instant Pot beginner less steep. Lets get started!
Looking at your shiny new Instant Pot box and wondering where to start? Dont panic! This wonderful kitchen gadget might seem intimidating but its actually very friendly once you get to know it. Lets unpack the box, its time to learn how to use the Instant Pot.
As part of our Instant Pot For Beginner series, we have also covered what the Instant Pot is and how it works with its key features and cooking stages. Make sure to check them out!
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Hapway Steamer Rack Trivet
Simple and efficient, this trivet is perfect for 6 and 8qt Instant Pot pressure cookers with a stainless steel inner pot. It is made from high-quality food-grade stainless steel, it ha four legs, and vertical wiring that can accommodate trays, bowls, pots, and big pieces of meat and veggies/
The handles are covered with heat-resistant silicone and you can fold them flat, for easier storage.
Verdict: If youre looking for a low-cost but quality trivet for your IP, this one is a great option. Its easy to use and store and its not easily damaged by heat or intense use.
Everything You Need To Know About The Instant Pot Trivet
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The Instant Pot trivet is a key accessory used in many recipes. I break down everything about the Instant Pot trivetwhat it is, how to use it, helpful tips, and alternative accessories. Learn everything you need to know about this round steam rack!
If you just unboxed your Instant Pot, youll find a few extra items included, such as a rice paddle, soup ladle, measuring cup, and a round wire rack with collapsible sides. That round metal insert is called a trivet .
Many Instant Pot recipes call for the trivet. Let me explain everything you need to know about this key accessory!
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What Is A Trivet Good For
This trivet is holding eggs off all-time low of a pressure cooker.
The most fundamental function of a trivet is to raise your food, racks, or baskets off all-time low of the inner cooking pot. Some trivets just increase food up a fifty percent inch or so while others can increase foods a few inches off the all-time low.
If you are making use of a steamer basket after that you usually want your trivet high enough to raise the basket out of the water at the bottom of the pot. If the trivet is to low then you will certainly be boiling or braising the materials of your basket rather than steaming.
Trivets are not constantly required though, some racks, as well as baskets, can pick your food up all by themselves. Some trivets nonetheless serve as your food shelf also. This is generally located with egg devices. The trivet a little raises the eggs off all-time low and also allows them to steam or boil without creating a hot spot.
The Most Important Step Add Liquid
No matter what youre using the pot-in-pot method for, dont forget to add liquid to the bottom of the pot. If youre cooking a saucy dish in the bottom at the same time, this should already be covered. If you are only cooking something in the elevated pot, be sure that you add water to the pot first. Otherwise, you will get the burn message as the pot heats up.
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Instant Pot Whole Chicken Cooking Time Experiment
Before we dive into this instant pot roasted whole chicken recipe, I wanted to explain to you the experiment we did and why we did it.
We had seen time and time again that the recommended cooking time for a whole chicken in any electric pressure cooker is 6 minutes per pound. Therefore, if you have a 2 pound chicken you would cook it for 12 minutes, or a 4lb chicken would be 24 minutes and so on.
Our whole chickens in Portugal was always small.
We never had a chance to compare notes and see if this statement was true and we had many readers asking us to confirm or deny if this is really the case.
Therefore, we bought four whole chickens from Morrisons.
- Small
- Large
- Extra Large
The plan was then to cook each of them, using the six minute golden rule. We would convert them from kilos to pounds and then times the pounds by six for a cook time.
Today, we are sharing with you in full the experiment as well as how we recommend you cook your whole chicken in the instant pot.
We will be starting with the whole chicken ingredients, how to cook a whole chicken in the instant pot and then will be going into more detail about our experiment.
Instant Pot Cooking Time Guides
Also, those time sheets/magnets/charts with cooktimes- ehh. I dont think they are a good resource since every chart Ive seen online doesnt seem accurate to me. Unless it guide comes from a blogger or recipe creator you absolutely trust, I wouldnt spend money on it.
Personally, I would stick with tried and true recipe and methods with researched recipes
Just my two cents!
So what do you think? Do you have some of these accessories? What would you add to the list?
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Instant Pot Glass Lid
Some people like to get a lid for their pots for popcorn, slow cooking, or yogurt. However, I find I have lids for my pots and pans that work just fine on top of the Instant Pot. I dont find it necessary, though many people like it, so Ive included it in my list.
- Pros: Can be used for recipes that do not require pressure cooking, you can see inside the pot at a glance.
- Cons: Its a glass pot lid that is branded Instant Pot, so it costs $15
- Uses:Instant Pot Yogurt , popcorn, slow cooking
- BUY HERE
Choose Foods With Similar Cook Times
Choose recipes with similar cook timesfor instance chicken breasts diced into large bite-size pieces cook in 3 or 4 minutes with a 10-minute natural pressure release, which is an excellent match for the cook time of white rice! For example, you can make my Indian Butter Chicken and rice at the same time! Simply cut the chicken thighs into large bite-size pieces so they cook more quickly. Then add a trivet and rice as directed in the white rice recipe below and reduce the High Pressure cook time to 4 minutes with a 10-minute natural release.
Chicken is also an excellent match for pastas. To figure out a cook time for pasta, simply take the time listed on the box, divide in half and then subtract a minute.
I love to serve my Chicken Lazone over pasta, so when I want to use the pot-in-pot method, I saute the chicken in the cooking pot, then transfer the sauteed chicken to my cake pan. Ill wipe out the pot, then cook my spaghetti in the bottom of the cooking pot with just enough water to cover the noodles. Ill rest the cake pan on a tall trivet in the cooker and cook for 3 minutes with a quick pressure release.
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What Equipment Do I Need For Pot
You will need a trivet. I love this trivet/sling made by the OXO brand.* Many Instant Pots do come with a metal trivet. I prefer a trivet with handles so I can easily remove my PIP dish from the Instant Pot liner.
As noted in the video above there are many different types of dishes that will work in your Instant Pot. Make sure the dish you use is oven safe. From my experience Corningware and silicone dishes require a longer cooking time than metal cake pans and such. Here are the dishes that I use and love:
Recommendations
Aozita Stackable Steamer Insert Pans
These tiered steamer pans allow you to cook your sides and main dish all in one pot. It comes with two interchangeable lids, one for steaming and one airtight lid for baking, cooking, or food storage.
I usually use it to simultaneously cook my rice and steam my veggies, or to thaw my meat. 10/10 would buy again, says one reviewer.
Buy It: Aozita Stackable Steamer Insert Pans, $30
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How To Cook Fresh Or Frozen Chicken Breast In The Instant Pot:
- Place inner pot into the instant pot and place the trivet in the bottom.
- Add 1 cup of liquid to the instant pot .
- Place chicken breasts on top of the trivet in a single layer.
- Add salt and pepper or desired seasonings.
- Secure lid and make sure the vent is set to sealed. Pressure cook on high for 8-10 minutes for fresh chicken breast, and 10-12 minutes for frozen chicken . Cook time stays the same no matter how much chicken you add to the pot the pot will just take longer to come to pressure.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 5 minutes, then turn the valve to venting to release any remaining steam.
The Pot To Cook It All
Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Cooker
Cook almost everything in one pot
The Instant Pot DUO60 is the most popular version of the Instant Pot, and there are a few good reasons for that. The 6-quart size is big enough to feed a family of four with plenty of leftovers, and you can reduce kitchen clutter since it is like seven kitchen appliances in one. Plus, it comes in 3 and 8-quart sizes if you need to go smaller or larger.
The Instant Pot is one of our favorite kitchen appliances. We can easily cook a pot roast in a little over an hour, or other meals that we no longer need to babysit on the stovetop. The 6-quart size is the gold standard and easily feeds a family of four with room for leftovers. But you can also go for a 3-quart or 8-quart size if needed. We also love that it reduces the number of kitchen tools we need, since it has multiple functions, like a rice cooker and even slow cooker.
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Making Instant Pot Eggs Couldn’t Be Easier Check Out Our Test Kitchen’s Foolproof Method For How To Make Hard
Instant Pots are all the rageand with good reason! The multi-cooker is equipped with an easy-to-use panel of buttons, accompanied by an Instant Pot manual to help you use them all correctly. In order to perfect the best instant pot recipes, start with the simpler of techniques first. I always have hard-boiled eggs on hand for a quick snack or lunch, but had never made my hard-boiled eggs in an Instant Pot before.
After hearing that the machine was able to cook big batches of perfectly hard-boiled eggs in a flash, I asked my friend, chef and dietitian Abbie Gellman, MS, RDN, to bring over her Instant Pot to see if the hype was true.
Dont have an Instant Pot yet? Heres how to choose the best Instant Pot for you.
Pressure Cooking Requires Liquid
Before we continue, we must mention the most important aspect of pressure cooking. It requires liquid. This is because the pressure is built by the steam accumulating inside the pot, which is produced from the liquid.
Whether youre cooking rice, chicken breasts, pot roast, carrots, stew or cheesecake, you will need at least a cup of liquid for the Instant Pot to do its job.
This is a total amount of liquid and can be in the form of water, stock, tomato sauce, juice, wine and liquids released from the food while cooking , or a combination of those. Amount of liquid required varies depending on the recipe and amount of food but as a rule of thumb, 1 cup is always a good starting point. Also, the food doesnt need to be completely covered or submerged in liquid to cook.
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