How To Use Steam Rack In Instant Pot

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How To Clean An Instant Pot Anti

Duo Nova 3 Ways to use your Steam Rack

The lid of your Instant Pot has a few parts. You should separate those parts and clean them one at a time. One of the parts is called an anti-block shield and its job is to protect the pressure cookers exhaust valve.

Depending on which model you have, the anti-block shield is either round or oval, and youll find it underneath the Instant Pot lid, next to the float valve .

To remove the shield, use your thumb to push it towards the rim of the lid and lift it up. Wash it with warm, soapy water and a soft sponge. Rinse off any residual soap, then dry thoroughly.

After cleaning the sealing ring and the lid , place the shield back in place and gently pop it back into the lid.

Photo via Rachel Belkin

What Could You Steam In Your Instant Pot

Anything that you imagine boiling will cook much quicker in a steamer in the Instant Pot. Classics that cook very well in the Instant Pot using the steamer include:

  • Boiled Eggs
  • Pureed Fruit
  • Condensed Milk

I love it for the boiled eggs as it is just so quick and the peel so well. If you boil an egg in a pan you then spend ages trying to remove the shells, but the steamer in the Instant Pot makes it so effortless, that you will actually end up eating boiled eggs more and more.

For fish you can cook delicious fresh salmon and it comes out so amazing. None of the flavour is lost and its much lower in calories than cooking it in a shallow pan.

Meat can also be steamed in the Instant Pot. This is particularly good if you fancy a quick chicken salad.

You could wrap some marinated chicken in silver foil, place it in the Instant and it will then be cooked while you are preparing the garnish.

Vegetables are heaven on earth. That is because vegetables boiled lose not only the nutrients but also the flavour.

Once you taste vegetables out of a steamer, you will never go back to boiled again.

If you want to cook fruit, then just like with vegetables use the steamer. It is faster and the flavour is amazing.

I know it is not strictly healthy but the biggest amazement of the Instant Pot has to go to the condensed milk into caramel.

This is worth the purchasing of the Instant Pot just for this. Instead of it taking 4 hours you are suddenly done in 40 minutes.

How To Use An Instant Pot: A Beginners Guide

If youve been intimidated about using your instant pot youre not alone. This Beginners Guide will provide you with all the information you need to know to get started using this helpful cooking tool today.

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If youre like me, youve let your instant pot sit in the hall closet for a couple of weeks . Its time to take it out and give it a try.

I was a bit nervous about using the instant pot at first. It seems like there are so many buttons, features, safety warnings, and accessories. Once you use it a time or two youll see that its not complicated and is really handy. This kitchen tool has truly changed the way I create meals at my house.

Whether you are an Instant Pot pro or newbie, there are always new tips, tricks or recipes to learn. I hope you learn a thing or two in this How to Use an Instant Pot guide.

Also Check: Can You Put The Instant Pot Lid In The Dishwasher

How To Use The Instant Pot For Pot In Pot Method

Foods with thick gravies can be reheated by the pot in pot method using the instant pot. This method can also be used to cook main and side dishes. The plus point is If you reheat thick liquids using this method, you can avoid the burn message.

  • Fill the inner pot with at least 1 cup of water.
  • Fill an oven-safe container with your food. For slow and mild cooking, cover this container with a lid or foil.
  • Place this container on the trivet.
  • Turn the Venting Knob from Venting Position to Sealing Position.
  • Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button on yur instant pot and set the pressure cooking time according to the recipe.
  • After the pressure cooking cycle is complete and the timer goes off, release the pressure by turning the Venting Knob from the Sealing Position back to the Venting position.
  • Flat Wire Round Trivet

    Instapot or Instant Pot? Your Guide to the Most Useful ...

    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.

    Read Also: Can You Make Tamales In An Instant Pot

    Tall Trivets Without Handles

    Tall trivets come in different heights. These long-legged racks are useful for elevating the foods above the level of a larger quantity of liquid in the Instant Pot.

    I use these trivets mainly for pot in pot cooking when I want to cook two foods together and the first food is directly in the inner pot and the second food is in a separate container on the steam rack. The height of the trivet allows the second food to sit well above the first food.

    How To Use The Steamer Rack Of An Instant Pot

    To use the steamer rack of an instant pot, place the rack in and put food on it, then, add water.

    The instant pot steamer rack is called a trivet. The trivet holds food so that it does not submerge in the liquid below.

    The trivet comes in various designs some of which have handles. The two handles help to lift the cooked food out. For cooking procedures such as steaming, pressure steaming, and cooking the feature is useful.

    Trivet in the instant pot aids when cooking lasagna, ribs, vegetables, rice.

    Steaming is an efficient cooking process especially for vegetables because it retains most of vitamin C. As vegetables are not in contact with water or oil, the soluble vitamins can not move out of the vegetable. Cooking on the trivet also retains more flavor.

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    The Instant Pot Meal Plan Jumpstartlearn How To Save Time And Wow Your Family With Easy Meals

    Add water. Once you have a steamer basket, youll just need to add some water to the insert pot of your Instant Pot. This water is what will heat up and create the steam.

    Lower the steamer basket. Youll place the basket into the insert pot. The contents of the basket should be up out of the water.

    Steam. Program the steam time according to the recipe youre using and wait for the food to cook to perfection. So easy!

    Instant Pot Duo Nova 6

    Stackable Egg Steamer Rack for the Instant Pot with easy egg peel trick

    The best Instant Pot® for beginners, with upgraded lid and display.

    Also available in these sizes:

    Fast, versatile, and convenient, with its bright, upgraded display and lid, the Instant Pot® Duo Nova is a rising star in the bestselling Duo family. Start enjoying delicious meals with just the push of a button.

    • 7-in-1 pressure cooker, rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan and food warmer
    • 13 customizable programs for quick one-touch meals
    • Helpful cooking status icons
    • Innovative auto-sealing lid with a button for easy, stress-free venting
    • Stainless-steel inner pot with tri-ply bottom for perfect sautéing
    • Cook up to 6 portions, perfect for growing families, meal prep, and batch cooking
    • Use it at home and bring it on the road RV trips, sporting events and more
    • Up to 70% faster and more energy efficient than other cooking methods
    • Dishwasher-safe lid and inner pot for quick and easy clean-up
    • 10+ proven safety features, including Overheat Protection and safe locking lid
    • Extra sealing ring and stainless-steel steamer rack with handles included
    • BPA/PFOA/PTFE-free cooking
    • 1000 watts, 120 V~ 60 Hz, UL & ULC Listed

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    I’m Not Sure I Can Blindly Steam My Food In The Instant Pot What’s The Traditional Way

    It’s completely understandable if you’d still prefer the old-fashioned way, since you can’t check on the food while it’s steaming with the Steam button. Figuring out the right cook times without ruining the food can be frustrating if you don’t have the patience for it, here’s how to do it the traditional way, except still in the Instant Pot.

    Please keep in mind that this method does require a glass lid that fits over the Instant Pot. It can be any glass lid you already have in the kitchen, but Instant Pot does sell its own glass lid if you need to buy one.

    To use your Instant Pot as a traditional steamer, just pour in at least one cup of water into your liner. Then place the trivet at the bottom, and set a steamer rack or basket on top of the trivet. Place the food you want to steam inside the basket or rack, and then push Sauté. You can adjust the temperature of Sauté mode by pressing the More button after initiating Sauté. Then just wait for the water to start boiling to create steam, and then place the glass lid on top. Allow the food to cook, though you can lift the lid off to check up on the food periodically. Once the food has reached your desired doneness, push the Cancel button to stop cooking.

    Like the traditional stovetop method, this does require a bit of babysitting, which is one reason why I prefer the Steam function.

    Let Us Discuss Some General Aspects Of An Instant Pot And How It Works:

    Instant pots combine a pressure cooker and a slow cooker for ease of use. Having multiple cooking appliances together is helpful as it occupies less space in the kitchen. It cooks your food for the right amount of time not too little or not too much. The temperature sensors inside keep track of the status of food and shut themselves off before food gets a chance to burn.

    The instant pot takes around 10 minutes to create pressure the exact time depends on the quantity and temperature of the food.

    The time at which you set the pressure cooker is set off not as same as the time that you set. Initially, the pressure builds up and the timer is set off after that. Before an instant pot pressurizes, you need to preheat it.

    You can hasten the cooking process when you cook meat by using the pressure cooker feature. However, for vegetables, you will need to use a quick pressure release to prevent them from getting overcooked.

    After the pressure-cooking cycle completes, you can now commence the natural pressure release which could take anywhere between 5-30 minutes which depends on the quantity of water in the pot.

    After 5 minutes, the instant pot beeps again a few times. The instant pot then switches to warming mode and the ascending numbers begin to appear. An L will appear next to the number after the cook cycle has ended.

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    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.

    Do Cook Inexpensive Tough Cuts Of Meats

    When to Use the Steamer Basket in Your Instant Pot

    With the pressure cooker function youll get tender, melt-in-your-mouth results in less than half the time youd need in the oven think 30-minute spare ribs, 45-minute pulled pork sandwiches and 40-minute beef stew. Or make it an all-day thing and braise them low and slow on the slow cooker function.

    Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches

    Also Check: How Long To Cook Pre Cooked Ribs In Instant Pot

    Metal Trivet With Handles

    This is the official Instant Pot trivet that ships with most Instant Pots. It has handles that allow you to easily remove the food. It fits 6 quart and 8 quart Instant Pots.

    This is one of the most-used Instant Pot accessories that I own. I like this metal trivet because it takes very little space in the dishwasher.

    Quick Instant Pot Steamer Chart

    Here is a quick reference chart that you can pin for later with the different timings on it. That way if you want to steam in your Instant Pot then you have a quick reference to rely on:

    Rather than struggling to print the image or jotting down all the info, we have a PDF version. You can download the PDF for free in our instant pot members area including lots of other instant pot printables, and free air fryer and slow cooker printables too.

    Also Check: Thawing Ground Beef In Instant Pot

    What Can I Use As A Trivet In A Pressure Cooker

    A pressure cooker trivet is a raised, usually metal rack placed inside the pressure cookers inner pot. Its purpose is to raise foods above the cooking liquid. Its also known as a steam rack.

    Pressure cookers are normally supplied with a trivet. Some have handles, and some do not. The handles are there to help you easily remove the trivet from the pot.

    Most people who cook with a pressure cooker find this one of the most useful accessories. Its so versatile use it, for the following, for example:

    • Steaming vegetables, fish, or chicken breasts
    • Making cakes and steamed puddings
    • Cooking meats that should not be immersed in a liquid such as roasts
    • Hard-boiled eggs

    Life happens, though, and trivets are sometimes lost or misplaced. This can be so frustrating when you need to cook something in a hurry. Well share with you a few ideas for ordinary kitchen trivet alternatives that you can use.

    The usual standby is a large metal lid from a jar, but you have a range of other options if you dont have one on hand. A large metal cookie cutter, for example, would work very well. A ceramic bowl turned upside down also works.

    You can use anything that is metal or heat resistant that fits in the pressure cooker and provides support for whatever it is you are cooking. You can even use a scrunched-up piece of tin foil as a trivet.

    Remember that you can easily and cheaply order a new trivet online. We recommend that when you do buy one, get one with handles. Happy pressure cooking!

    Cooking Multiple Recipes Together

    How to use Instant Pot as a Pressure Steamer

    This method is only applicable to foods that have the same cooking time and temperature. First, fill the inner pot with 2 cups of water and adjust a trivet at the bottom.

    Place the dish containing your food on this rack. Lay another rack over the food dish. Place the second dish of food and let the instant pot do its job.

    Read Also: Burn Notice On Instant Pot

    But If I Cant See The Food As Its Steaming How Do I Know How Long To Cook Or Steam It For

    When it comes to using the Steam function, its best to have done some research on cook times, especially when it comes to delicate vegetables and seafood.

    A lot of your experience with an Instant Pot, or pressure cooker in general, will require experimentation. Dont be intimidated! Its a kitchen tool, like everything else, and takes some time to master it.

    If you use the Steam button, its essentially going to be pressure steaming, not just regular steaming.

    Fortunately, the Instant Pot company knows that it can be a bit overwhelming, so its provided some useful cooking timetables on its website.

    Personally, I love using my Instant Pot to steam broccoli on a regular basis. I always steam it at 0 minutes , Quick Release the pressure, and voila! Some vegetables, like broccoli, just need 0 minutes because its already cooking while building up pressure for steam. Anything more than 0 results in mushy broccoli, and no one wants that.

    Reasons To Use A Pressure Cooker Steamer Basket

    If you use a pressure cooker in your kitchen regularly, then having a steaming basket or even a silicone steamer basket is always a good idea because it allows you to cook a variety of foods that are elevated, rather than sitting directly on the surface of the inner pot. They are also usually dishwasher safe like most pressure cooker models, so you dont have to worry about excess cleanup following your meal.

    Elevation like this allows for a calmer cooking environment and allows you to make more delicate foods much easier. It is also good for foods that you dont want sitting in the liquid in the base of the pot for example, when you make certain desserts.

    The following are a few good reasons to use a pressure cooker steamer basket:

    Cooking Eggs. This is a delicate food, and you dont want them sitting in the bottom of the inner pot and able to move around and become broken. The basket allows you to cook hard-boiled eggs without the frustration of them rocking and breaking under the pressure.

    Vegetables. If you have tougher vegetables you want to cook, then the steamer basket can help. It elevates them above the liquid, so the veggies dont soak it all up from sitting in it. Potatoes are a good example of when to use the steamer basket.

    For Baking. When you are making desserts like cakes or cheesecake, or you want to try your hand at baking bread in your pressure cooker, then the steamer basket comes in handy again to keep the food above the water or other liquid.

    Recommended Reading: How Long To Cook Pre Cooked Ribs In Instant Pot

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