Do I Need To Adjust My Recipes At Higher Altitude
The short answer is yes. Some Instant Pot models e.g. Ultra and MAX will allow you to set your altitude and the cooking times will be automatically adjusted for you. Otherwise, cooking should be adjusted 5% for every 1,000 feet above 2,000 ft. above sea level. So, for example, at 3,000 ft., you will increase cooking time by 5% and at 4,000 ft., you will increase cooking time by 10% and so forth. One of our team members has lived at many varying high elevations and personally, I have never run into altitude-related issues with my Duo model.
Silicone Trivet For Instant Pot
Designed from food-grade silicone , this interesting-looking trivet is perfect for inner pots with a non-stick coating that scratches off easily.
The handles come together in a curbed shape and use a button-type enclosure to close them around the food or the pot. The bottom has a honeycomb shape that supports the pot or tray and keeps it away from water. Also, the side that gets in contact with the inner pot has some ridges that serve as legs and allow the air and water to move freely and create steam.
Lastly, you can use the honeycomb shapes of the bottom to boil eggs, but this time, you cant place a pot or other foods on top.
Verdict: I like the shape and color, and the fact that its made from silicone, which is a very gentle material for any pot . I also enjoy the way you can use the handles to keep the food in place (when youre steaming pieces of meat or big pieces of veggies.
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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.
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.
Also Check: Instant Pot Frozen Hamburger
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?
Lakatay Round Steamer Rack Stand
This is a multi-functional trivet that also works as a steam rack or a stand . It can be used with a steam basket, to steam veggies, fish, chicken, and more, but it also supports bowls, trays, and other kitchenware items.
It durable and all the ends are smooth and round, to avoid any scratching. Its easy to store in a drawer, cabinet, or even on the wall, hanging in a nail.
Verdict: If you have an IP with a stainless steel inner pot, this trivet is a great choice. It is solid enough to use it as a pot stand in the counter and fits most 6 and 8 qt pressure cookers.
Also Check: What Is Instant Pot Poultry Mode
How To Set Up An Instant Pot
If youre completely new to your Instant Pot and dont even know where to start, dont feel bad. Well have you and your new gadget set up and raring to go in no time!
To set up your Instant Pot, start by taking all of the pieces out of the box and make sure you have all of the pieces there.
Once youve got everything out on the counter, youre ready to set up the inner pot. Wash the inner pot, the silicone sealing ring, and the lid before assembly.
Put the inner pot in the main compartment, and then put your silicone sealing ring on top of your Instant Pots rack. To do this, just run your fingers along the ring to push it in.
Once thats done and your pot, lid, and sealing ring are all set up, you should check on the lids other parts.
Double-check the venting knob, the floating valve, and the anti-block shield.
Now set up your condensation collector. You should have two plastic cups, the flatter of the two being the collector in question. To install it, slide it into the slot on the back of the pot.
After thats finished, youre ready to plug it in and get cooking!
Instant Pot Trivet Substitute
There are several Instant Pot accessories with a similar function to the original trivet. However, I recommend using your Instant Pot and original trivet for a while BEFORE investing in other accessories.
This will help you determine what you actually cook in the Instant Pot and what additional accessories youre lacking. That way you can purchase the best items for you, so they wont sit unused in your kitchen.
Find a complete breakdown of Instant Pot accessories here!
Let me explain the Instant Pot accessories that serve as a substitute to the trivet!
Read Also: How To Cook Frozen Ground Beef In Instant Pot Without Trivet
What Can I Use Instead Of Trivet In Instant Pot
The old standby substitute for a trivet is the the metal lid of a large jar, but suitable substitutes can include stainless steel cookie cutters, a screen from the food mill, an upside down ceramic or stainless steel bowl, a steamer basket, and even a real trivet that is just the right size can go from the table and …
How To Saute In The Instant Pot
Sauté is a non-pressure cooking program that can be used in place of a frying pan or flat-top grill. For recipes that call for browned onions or garlic, its important to sauté them before adding liquid to the pot as you will release a lot of flavor this way. Another reason to sauté first is for browning meat. Lastly, sautéeing before cooking is a great way to increase heat and reduce the amount of time your pot will take to come to pressure.; Learn more about other smart program settings on Instant Pot here.
Step 1. Star the Instant Pot. Insert the inner pot into the cooker base. Do not use the lid for the next step.;
Step 2. Press the Sauté button. After 10 seconds, the cooker displays ON to indicate that it has begun heating. When display switches from On to Hot, add ingredients you want to brown. Note: You can add ingredients before the Hot message appears; if you do, it may not appear at all. This is normal.
The control panel will display a 30-minute countdown timer as a maximum Sauté time, you can use it for reference if you like or disregard.
The default temperature setting for Sauté function is Normal. Press Sauté again to cycle through for Less;and More temperature options. Use Normal for general pan searing or sautéing, Less for simmering, thickening and reducing liquids and More for Stir-frying or browning meat.
Step 4. Add any other ingredients and liquids. Stir if needed or leave layered and continue with the manual or program settings to pressure cook the food.;
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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?
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.
Also Check: What To Do If Your Instant Pot Says Burn
Should I Add Seasoning To My Chicken
Chicken breasts in the instant pot can be customized to whatever dish you are planning to put them in. Mexican food? Sprinkle with taco seasoning. Italian dish? Add some Italian seasoning or garlic.
For simple, versatile, chicken breast that can be used in meal prep, salad, etc, just add some salt and pepper along with your chicken broth or water. You can also use different juices for your liquid for some added sweetness to the chicken.
Using Pressure Cooker Racks And Trivets
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Racks and trivets are useful accessories for a pressure cooker. They are usually made out of aluminum and stainless steel so they can withstand the heat of pressure cooking.
Racks allow you to cook various kinds of foods in a pressure cooker. They can help you steam foods or even bake bread. Whereas, a trivet will help you keep food from touching the bottom of the pressure cooker and save it from burning.
Both of these pressure cooker accessories can aid you in preparing many different types of foods. Not only does this allow you to use your pressure cooker to its max potential, but it also encourages you to get creative with your cooking.
Also Check: Tamales In An Instant Pot
Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
I love this recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Breasts because;I can use fresh or frozen chicken, its completely hands off, and yields perfectly cooked chicken in about 25 minutes.
I love the ease of cooking chicken this way, and there are so many ways to enjoy it, like in chicken enchiladas, white chicken chili, or BBQ chicken pizza.
Have you tried cooking chicken breast in your Instant Pot yet? It is so easy and yields juicy chicken breast you can enjoy for dinner, meal prepping, or use in any recipes that call for cooked or shredded chicken. Once you try it, theres a good chance you wont go back!
For this recipe Ive simply seasoned the chicken with salt and pepper but you can add whatever seasonings or spices that will enhance the flavor of the dish you are preparing.
Should You Peel Potatoes Before Or After Boiling
I actually peeled the potatoes before boiling them in the instant pot, only because I preferred it that way when I made these.
You can peel the potatoes before boiling the potatoes, or you can peel them after you boil them, as you like.
You may also keep the skin of the potatoes if you wish to leave it on for you to enjoy.
It is really not necessary to peel the potatoes, since we use them in many recipes with skins on.
However, to use in recipes like mashed potatoes where you do not want the peels of the potatoes, you can remove them .
Whether you want to peel the potatoes before or after boiling the potatoes, is really based on what is convenient to you.
If you decide to peel the potatoes before cooking, you can use a good quality potato peeler to remove the skin.
If theres a lot of dirt in the skin of the potato, it is actually a good idea to remove the peel before you boil them.
However, if you clean the skin of the potato, you can boil the potato with the skin itself.
Once boiled, allow the potatoes to completely cool down, then you can easily remove the skin with your hands if you dont have a potato peeler.
Also Check: How Long To Steam Broccoli In Instant Pot
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.;
Which Items Can You Cook At The Same Time In The Instant Pot
Cooking with White Rice:
White rice cooks quickly, in just 4 minutes of high pressure cooking, but it can go up to 10 minutes when cooked in a separate bowl on a trivet. I always allow the pressure to naturally release for 10 minutes before moving the steam release valve to venting, then removing the lid. When cooking white rice, rinse it well in a fine mesh strainer to help keep the grains from sticking together, then use a 1:1 ratio of rice to water in the bowl.
The following items work well when cooked at the bottom of the Instant Pot, with the white rice in a bowl on top.
Cooking with Brown Rice:
Brown rice takes 22 minutes to cook in the Instant Pot, but it can withstand a little extra cooking time up to 30 minutes when cooked in a separate bowl on a trivet. Allow the pressure to release naturally for an additional 10 minutes before removing the lid. Below are some ideas to help you get started, but you can use any recipe on the bottom of the Instant Pot that requires 22-30 minutes of cooking.
When cooking brown rice, rinse it well in a fine mesh sieve to prevent the grains from sticking together, then use a 1:1 ratio of rice to water.
Cooking with Vegetables:
As I noted above, most vegetables will turn to mush if you cook them longer than 1-2 minutes at high pressure. As a result, you can easily make a vegetable mash to go with your main entree all at once.
Read Also: How To Cook Chicken Tenders In Instant Pot
Smart Program Pressure Cooking
If you choose to use one of the pre-set smart program options, the steps are even simpler. Please refer to our post on Smart Program Instant Pot Buttons Explained for how to adjust each setting.
Step 1. Start the Instant Pot. Insert the inner pot into the cooker base.;
Step 2.;Add ingredients and liquids to the inner pot. Stir if needed or leave layered.;
Step 3. Secure and lock the lid. Make sure everything feels well sealed.;
Step 4. Select one of the Smart Program buttons. Pre-set cooking time and pressure level will display. You can leave it as is or adjust things like the pressure level from HIGH to LOW. You can press the Smart Program button again to cycle through the Less, Normal and More time options or use the and + buttons to adjust the cooking time further. If you make any adjustments to the selected Smart Program, they will be remembered next time you use it.;
Step 5. Preheating & pressurizing stage begins followed by cooking under pressure as per program settings. Once the Instant Pot beeps again and the timer has reached zero, the cooking process is done.;
Step 6. You can do a quick release or allow the built-up pressure to release naturally , or do both depending on the food/recipe.
Step 10. Once pressure is released, open the lid and stir or remove the contents.;
