How To Use The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Porridge Setting

The porridge setting on the Instant Pot can be used to cook oatmeal using old-fashioned oats and steel-cut oats, rice porridge and congee or porridge-like dishes that use a mixture of grains that expand in liquid. Ideally, you should use natural release when cooking high-starch foods that expand or a combination of 5-10 minutes natural release and quick release to follow. Below is how to use the Porridge setting on Instant Pot.

• Turn the Instant Pot on, it will say OFF to indicate the Stand-By mode. Add the grains, liquid and spices or fat if you wish. Secure and lock the lid. Press the Porridge button. The default setting is pre-programmed to set the pot to cook at High pressure for 20 minutes. If you press the Porridge button again, you can adjust the mode from Normal to Less or More.

• Less mode 5 minutes at High pressure this is suitable for cooking rolled oats and risotto-like porridge or rice porridge with slightly firmer to bite texture.
• Normal mode 20 minutes at High pressure use for steel-cut oat porridge or rice porridge with a slightly softer texture and for making congee.
• More mode 30 minutes at High pressure use for a porridge/congee that contains a mixture of beans or tougher grains.

If desired, use the / + buttons to further customize the time. The cooking time may be adjusted at any time during pressure cooking.

Here are some suggested water to rice/oats ratios for porridge and oatmeal dishes:

Pressure Cooking With The Instantpot

The InstantPot has a lot of pre-set programs you can use to cook beans, rice, meat, soups, etc. However, being the scientist I am, I dont tend to like these programs. Whereas many will greatly appreciate them, I prefer understanding whats going on myself. Therefore, lets take a better look at the settings of an InstantPot .

Pressure: high & low

The InstantPot has to two settings for pressure:

• High Pressure: 10.2 to 11.6 psi
• Low Pressure: 5.8 to 7.2 psi

This means that while cooking in your pressure cooker the pressure in the cooker is: the pressure around you + the pressure mentioned above. So at high pressure, youre cooking at 1.7-1.8 bar, which will drastically increase the boiling point of your water. At 1.7-1.8 bar the boiling temperature of water is 115.2-116.9°C. At the lower pressure setting this temperature is 109.3-111.4°C.

If youre wondering when youd use the low pressure setting, youre not the only one. If youre using a pressure cooker to speed up cooking youd want the highest possible pressure and thus temperature. There only seem to be a few exceptions I found online, cooking eggs and rice are sometimes done at low pressure. Let me know if you have any others.

How is the pressure controlled?

Comparing to stovetop pressure cookers

Does a pressure cooker need water?

How To Do A 10 15 Minutes Natural Pressure Release

After the cooking cycle finished, wait 10 15 minutes before moving the Venting Knob from Sealing Position to Venting Position to release the remaining pressure.

Always make sure the Floating Valve completely drops before opening the lid.

Whats the advantage?

• Compare to Quick Release: Significantly reduces the chance of food splattering out from the Pressure Release Valve.
• Compare to Natural Release: Faster release method when the pressure cooker is full of food with high liquid volume.

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Which One Is Right For You

The version you like best comes down to how you like to cook. I would say that the Instant Pot has an edge on the traditional pressure cooker, though. The ease of use is a huge factor to consider.

If you want to be more hands-on with the cooking process, the traditional pressure cooker offers a lot of benefits, in a smaller package.

If youre more interested in a set it and forget it machine that doesnt have to be used on the stove-top, plus the additional safety features and general peace of mind, then the Instant Pot is your better choice.

Pros And Cons Of The Crock

Now that Ive explained how to use the Crock-Pot Express Pressure Cooker, let me share the pros and cons.

Pros

• No manual or pressure cook button you have to use one of the pre-set buttons.
• You have to be careful not to scratch a non-stick pot
• The float valve is in the handle where it is difficult to see. Its harder to tell when the pressure has been released and you can open the pot.
• The pre-set cooking time adjusts to a range of cook times that varies for each setting. The steaming chart included in the manual indicates a cook time of 1 minute but the steam function does not adjust to 1 minute.

Despite the cons, Ive used the Crock Pot Pressure Cooker for a few weeks now and Ive been really pleased with how well it performs.

If you are in the market for a low priced pressure cooker with a non-stick pot, then the Crock-Pot Express Crock Multi-Cooker is an option worth considering.

If youve purchased a Crock-Pot Express and want to join a Facebook group, check out the Crockpot Express Community.

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Setting Up The Instant Pot With Air Fryer Lid

Setting up the Instant Pot with the Air Fryer lid is actually pretty easy. First, locate the slots on the base unit. Place the air fryer lid on the base unit in such a way that the fins go into the slots. Push down gently so that the power units on both- the base unit and the lid come in contact with each other. When this is done correctly, you will hear a chime.

To open the lid, just gently lift it up, and then place it face side down on a protective pad until it has completely cooled down.

This Sounds Too Good To Be True

I wouldnt lie to you. Instant Pot is a misnomer. Its not a miracle, and it does not cook food in an instant. Nothing does, unless you live on Cup Noodles.

Here’s the catch: It takes time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

Typically, the time it takes the cooker to get to pressure is not part of that cooking time. For instance, if a pot roast cooks for 30 minutes at pressure, the total time from start to finish for a recipe like this might be more like 45 minutes or more. An Instant Pots heating element has less juice than the burners on your range, so it takes longer to heat food enough to get to pressure.

BUT! The ease of use frees you up to do other things. With most recipes, Instant Pots truly are set it and forget it. Lets say youre making a stir-fry, and youd like brown rice to go with it. Before you start prepping the stir-fry, put the rice and water in the Instant Pot, program it to cook for 22 minutes at pressure, then go about your business.

Emma Christensen

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What Should You Not Cook In An Instant Pot

Here are some of the food you shouldnt cook in an Instant Pot:

• Deep-fried food such as fried chicken, french fries
• Delicate food that requires quick & high heat
• Milk-based or cream-based sauces shouldnt be pressure cooked directly in the inner pot
• Food that uses puff pastry
• Breaded meat, breaded vegetables
• Pressure canning

Which of the 50 Easy Instant Pot Recipes from this list are you going to try first?

What are some of your favorite Pressure Cooker Recipes? Let us know in the comments.

Instant Pot Manual Setting

Depending on the model, the Instant Pot manual setting button will either say Pressure Cook or Manual. This is the setting youre likely to use the most. The temperature, pressure level and cooking times can be adjusted on the control panel.

• Turn the Instant Pot on. It should say OFF on the screen, indicating its in the Stand-By mode.
• Select Pressure Cook button . The default settings will be Normal mode on High pressure. If you press the Pressure Cook button again, it will change from Normal mode to Less or More, which simply changes the automatically programmed cooking time. Less would be 20 minutes and More would be 45 minutes.
• Use the +/- keys to change the cooking time in each mode. In most cases, you will leave it in Normal mode and simply adjust the time as needed.
• Use Pressure Level button to adjust the pressure level press it to toggle between High and Low. For most recipes, you will use High pressure except for cooking more fragile foods like fish, seafood or fast-to-cook vegetables.
• With the manual setting, you can use Natural Release or Quick Release or a combination of both once the cooking is done.

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How To Cook With The Instant Pot

How you use your Instant Pot depends on what you’re cooking. But, many recipes — especially those involving meat — tend to follow this formula:

The above steps can vary quite a bit, depending on the recipe, but most of what I cook in my Instant Pot follows that sequence.

Here, the Instant Pot’s valve is in Sealing position.

Learn How To Boil Water

Whichever electric pressure cooker you end up with, your first time using it should involve literally learning to boil water. You do this by adding a cup or so of water to the inner pot , sealing the lid, and selecting a short cook time. Within five minutes, the water should heat up and build pressure, at which point the pressure is released via the natural method, or you can use the quick-release method. .

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What Can You Cook In An Instant Pot

Since Instant Pots require liquid to get up to pressure, pressure cooking is mainly used to cook moist foods. These include beans, soups, meats, squash, mashed potatoes, stocks, and more. In general, you’ll want to avoid pressure cooking fried, delicate, or crispy items. Noodles can also give Instant Pots a hard time.

However, there are other functions that Instant Pots can perform that may be better suited for these foods. For instance, the wildly popular Instant Pot DUO60 has presets that go far beyond just pressure cooking and include everything from slow cooking and porridge to steaming and poultry settings.

For the uninitiated, pressure cooking may sound scary. And, the stovetop pressure cookers of yesteryear could be dangerous as the quick, unexpected release of pressure might destroy everything in its path resulting in an emergency room visit and kitchen remodel. Fortunately, with today’s electric pressure cookers, there’s virtually no chance your unit will malfunction and cause damage. Most units have several fail-safes that regulate the amount of pressure and how it’s released.

That said, there are a few precautions you should take. Make sure you set up your Instant Pot in a safe place. Many people are tempted to put their electric pressure cooker on the stove, but we’ve seen enough pictures of Instant Pots melted and mangled from someone turning on the burner to caution you against this location.

What To Use The Trivet For

The trivet comes with the Instant Pot. This is a simple insert that allows you to get some space between the bottom of the pot and whatever food youre cooking. Generally speaking, any food that you might want to cook without having it come into direct contact with liquid can be made more easily with the trivet. You can place the food directly on top of the trivet or add it to a round heat-proof casserole dish or cake pan and place that on top of the trivet.

Think of things like chicken breasts, lasagna, breads, meatloaf, and other things that wouldnt taste great if they were super soggy. Its also commonly used for eggs, veggies, potatoes, or pot-in-pot cooking. Using the trivet can prevent burning or overcooking and also ensure even cooking.

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Is This Thing Safe

Its actually safer than conventional cooking or stovetop pressure cooking. Everyone has heard stories about old-time pressure cookers exploding. Your Instant Pot wont do that because the temperature and pressure inside the pots is carefully monitored and regulated through its internal programming.

Remember: Its your trusty cooking robot.

What Is Instant Pot What You Need To Know About The Popular Kitchen Appliance

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The Instant Pot is a holiday and birthday wishlist mainstay, but if you haven’t invested in one yet, you may still be wondering what all the fuss is about. These multi-use pressure cookers promise to replace other kitchen gadgets, including slow cookers, yogurt makers, rice cookers, steamers and air fryers, depending on the model.

Pressure cooking is a technique that prepares beans, meats, stews and more under high-pressure conditions. That pressure cooks food much more quickly than a similarly shaped slow cooker. Instant Pots come with safety features, such as overheat protection and a safe-locking lid, making pressure cooking seem like — well, a low-pressure endeavor.

Chefs and home cooks alike have gotten creative with this popular kitchen appliance. Find countless recipes designed for the Instant Pot, available both in cookbooks and online.

Here’s a breakdown of the most popular Instant Pot models, so you can find your perfect match.

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What Is Pressure Cooking

This is where pressure cooking comes in, as the name says, it truly is cooking under pressure. What a pressure cooker does is that it increased the pressure in the vat that youre cooking your food. As a result, the boiling temperature of water goes up. In a decent pressure cooker this can go up to 120°C, which is significantly higher than the 100°C it would normally be!

This significantly higher temperature greatly increases the speed of all sorts of chemical reactions as well as the movement of molecules. Since cooking is chemistry and movement of molecules, it drastically increases the speed of cooking!

How To Use Your Instant Pot: Everything You’ve Wanted To Know

It’s not just a supercharged pressure cooker — it’s a way of life.

Like a microwave or an electric kettle, the Instant Pot has become a kitchen staple. This versatile pressure cooker replaces so many countertop appliances, from rice makers to slow cookers. It’s introduced a new generation to pressure cooking, and shown us just how quickly it can cook a healthy meal.

Whether you’re a new Instant Pot owner or it’s long been stored away in a cabinet, this guide is for you. A longtime Instant Pot owner myself, I’ll guide you through the basics, including explaining those strange buttons and some basic recipes.

To kick things off, let’s walk through Instapot basics. Even if you’ve owned yours for a while, there’s something here for you, too. Let’s get started.

More tips:15 healthy Instant Pot recipes for breakfast, lunch and dinner | Does the Instant Pot destroy nutrients in your food while cooking? | The best paleo Instant Pot recipes | Best Instant Pot accessories you need right now | Best air fryers of 2020

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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.

How To Cook Using An Instant Pot

For a quick and dirty guide, it’s as easy as this:

If using your Instant Pot still seems daunting and you need more detailed instructions on how to use it, we’ve got you covered.

Once you’ve found a safe place to put your Instant Pot I keep mine on a kitchen counter away from other appliances take a moment to gently handwash the removable pot and the interior of the lid before you first use it. Next, plug in the unit.

If you are using meat or vegetables like garlic and onions that benefit from browning, you’ll want to use the sauté function first. With some recipes you can skip the searing shredded chicken from frozen comes to mind but for the most part, you want to brown or sear your meat first to add and lock-in flavors. Press the Stop or Cancel button to stop the sautéing, and add your other ingredients. If there is an excessive amount of grease left in the pot, drain it before continuing.

Before you press Start to begin the cooking process, make sure the steam valve is in the closed position. If it’s left open, the pressure will never build up, and your meal will take much longer to cook.

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