What Is An Instant Pot
The short answer: The Instant Pot is a convenient multi-cooking machine that lets you cook fast or slow.
The longer answer: Because the Instant Pot is a countertop electric pressure cooker and slow cooker wrapped up in one , its designed to help you remove the guesswork of figuring out the ideal amount of heat, pressure, and time your food needs. Its great for beginner cooking and simple meals, like stews and oatmeal. But once you get more comfortable with the machine, its excellent for tougher cuts of meat like baby back ribs or proteins that usually require a long cook time. With a willingness for some trial and error, many recipes can be adapted for the Instant Pot. Generally speaking, when adapting for pressure cooking, the liquid and cook time will need to be cut and adjusted from those of a manual pressure cooker. For slow-cooking, youll need to adjust for less liquid and more time.
Who This Is For
If youre a set-it-and-forget-it type of cook who needs to get dinner on the table with minimal effort, an electric pressure cooker may become your new favorite cooking tool. Making meals can be stressful and time-consuming, but an electric pressure cooker can do a lot of the work for you. As with a slow cooker, you add your ingredients to a pressure cooker, seal the lid, turn it on, and walk away. But instead of leaving it to simmer all day, you can cook dinner in an electric pressure cooker in under an hour . Pressure cookers speed up traditional braising, stewing, boiling, and steaming methods by trapping steam inside the pot. As pressure increases, it heats the moisture in the pot beyond the boiling temperature , so it can cook foods more quickly.
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After cooking many pounds of brisket, rice, and beans in six pressure cookers, we think the Fissler Vitaquick 8.5-Quart Pressure Cooker is the best you can get.
Instant Pot 6qt Easy 3
Pressure cook, sauté and slow cook with the turn of a dial! From Americas most loved multi-cooker, Instant Pot is an easy to use, easy to clean and versatile multicooker. The new 6QT Instant Pot 3-in-1 Easy Multi-Cooker lets you choose how you want to cook. Slow cook your favorite family recipes to perfection with two stress-free settings, plus sauté at the turn of a dial. The option to pressure cook lets you prepare meals even faster, up to 70% less time than traditional methods. The bonus glass lid means you can slow cook and serve at the table with ease. Instant Pot helps to redefine cooking with choice and enjoy your favorite dishes anywhere, any time.
- Versatile Slow Cooker: Slow cook your perfect family recipes with two temperature settings
- Fast, Delicious Meals: Option to pressure cook up to 70% faster and more energy efficient than other cooking methods
- Simple Controls: 4 pre-set cooking settings to slow cook high or low, sauté, and pressure cook.
- 3-in-1 Functions: Slow cook, sauté and pressure cook
- Easy Clean-Up: Dishwasher-safe lids and cooking pot
- Perfect Sautéing: 6QT Aluminum cooking pot with non-stick ceramic coating for even heating
- 6 Quart Large Capacity: Cook up to 6 servings, for growing families, meal prep, and batch cooking
- 10+ Proven Safety Features: Overheat Protection, easy seal safety lid lock and more
- Includes: Bonus glass lid for slow cooking and serving
Recommended Reading: How To Make Refried Beans In Instant Pot
Instant Pot Duo Nova 8
Courtesy of Macys
Normally $125, Now $100 at Amazon
Six quarts just not cutting it for you? Upgrade to the 8-quart version of the popular Instant Pot Duo Nova for all the same great features but with a larger capacity. It fits enough food to feed the whole family, and youll probably end up with some leftovers to save for lunch the next day.
The lowest price we’ve seen for this item is $81.
Should I Get The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid
The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is sold and is compatible with 6-quart Instant models that dont already have air-frying capability . The Air Fryer Lid comes with a fry basket and other accessories and allows you to air-fry straight from your pressure cooker. In addition to air-frying, the Air Fryer Lid adds broiling, baking, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating functionality to compatible machines.
Also Check: Can You Steam In An Instant Pot
What’s The Difference Between Quick Release And Natural Release
With a quick release, you release the steam from the pot when cooking is done. With the natural release, you don’t release the steam immediately. Instead, you allow the pressure to decrease on its own.
Both have their pros and cons. For more details, check out our article: What do natural release and quick release mean on an Instant Pot?
Easy Instant Pot Pot Roast
Instructions : In a small bowl, combine seasoning salt, garlic, parsley, onion powder and pepper. Sprinkle over roast to season. Turn Instant Pot to saute. When it reads hot, add the oil and sear roast on all sides. To do this, place the roast in the pot and do not move for 2-3 minutes. When you flip it, it should release from the pan easily.
Instant Pot Pot Roast A complete pot roast Sunday dinner in the pressure cooker in just 60 minutes? Yes, please! And the meat, potatoes, carrots and flavorful gravy all come together in ONE POT for the easiest clean up ever. Plus, the meat comes out so amazingly tender!
2 Heat oil in Instant Pot on SAUTÉ function. Place roast in pot. Cook 5 minutes or until lightly browned, turning once. Add vegetables. Pour seasoning mixture over roast. Close lid. Set Valve to Seal. 3 Set to cook for 60 minutes on MEAT/STEW function or until meat and vegetables are tender. When done, quick release the pressure.
A wet and juicy beef pot roast doesnt must take all day. The Instant Pot shortens the. How to Make Pot Roast in a Pressure Cooker · Step 1, Season the red meat and produce it to room temperature. · Step 2, Brown the beef on all aspects. · Step. Instant Pot is.
Enjoy the comfort of perfectly cooked pot roast without the hours of roasting with this recipe that makes use of a multicooker, like the Instant Pot. Just 45 minutes in the pressure cooker is all it takes to make tender pot roast with potatoes and carrots alongside.
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What Can I Make In An Electric Multicooker Or Instant Pot
Virtually all Instant Pots and off-brand multicookers can pressure cook, slow cook, saute, cook rice, and keep foods warm. Some models can also sous vide, air fry, make yogurt, and much more.
For more ideas of what is possible with an electric pressure cooker, check out these articles:
The Best Electric Pressure Cooker Is An Instant Pot
In 2021, Instant Pot streamlined its offerings. Weve tested the updated Duo, Duo Plus, and Pro models.
The Instant Pot is probably the most well-known electric pressure cookermore accurately called a multi-cooker because it can also slow cook, sauté, and morebut many brands make this handy type of appliance. A good electric pressure cooker can help get dinner on the table quickly and easily even when youre swamped. Of the 18 models weve tested from a variety of brands since 2016, the Instant Pot Duo 6-Quart is still our favorite. It offers great performance at a reasonable price, and its tried-and-true design makes it easier to use than other multi-cookers or gimmicky smart cookers.
Looking for things to make in your Instant Pot? Try these recipes for bone broth, corned beef and cabbage, salsa verde chicken, and classic beef chili from NYT Cooking.
Our pick
The Duo is a versatile time-saver in the kitchen. Its one of Instant Pots more basic and affordable models, and it does everything you need it to do with ease.
Buying Options
*At the time of publishing, the price was $90.
Recommended Reading: How Much Does An Instant Pot Cost
What Instant Pot Accessories Do I Need
Since each Instant Pot model is a little different, its important to read the manual and learn about the various features and settings of your Instant Pot. Generally, every model will include an outer body with a display panel and buttons, a lid, a pressure valve, a steam release valve, a plastic collector cup to catch any condensation released during slow-cooking, a stainless-steel or nonstick inner pot, a sealing ring that surrounds the lid and helps absorb odors, and a steam rack or basket to elevate food inside the inner pot.
Any Instant Pot accessories or gadgets you may choose to buy to bulk up your cookers functionality are just a bonus. Depending on what you plan to make with your Instant Pot, extras range from practical and essential to plain old fun. Some people buy extra sealing rings so they can use one for meat and one for baked goods. Some invest in egg trivets if they cook a lot of hard-boiled eggs. Some look into springform pans to make cheesecake and quiche.
Just Like The Name These Deals Move Quickly
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Chloe Jeong / The Spruce Eats
Instant Pot has done an excellent job of taking the humble pressure cooker and turning it into a worldwide phenomenon. The electric cookers are all about getting more done in the kitchen in less time. With seven or more preset cooking features, you can make everything from rice to yogurt to chilis and stews in this tabletop appliance. Cleanup is quick and painlesssimply remove the metal bowl and place that, plus the lid, in the dishwasher.
Winter is a perfect time time to cook up stews, chilis, soups and large-format meals using Instant Pot. When shopping for an Instant Pot, youll want to consider two main things: which features youll use most often, and what size fits your family, cooking preferences, and, realistically, kitchen counter or storage space. Remember, also, that this simple device may replace two or three other appliances, actually clearing up space on your countertop or in your cabinet.
To help you find the best fit, we rounded up the best deals on Instant Pots right now.
We update these sales weekly, but products go fast! If something is out of stock or not on sale, check back next week for a batch of new deals.
Recommended Reading: Campbells Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff
Easy Pressure Cooker Pot Roast Recipe
In this Instant pot bottom round roast recipe, I use their grass-fed bottom round roast. And boy, is this meal scrumptious! Helpful tips. According to this awesome guide from the people who made the Instant pot, allow 20 25 minutes of cooking time for your roast per pound. The Instant pot takes a good 15 20 minutes to come to pressure.
Add beef broth to the pot. Mix all ingredients together. Set your instant pot to high pressure and cook for one hour. Make sure the vent is sealed. When the timer goes off, make sure you release the pressure naturally for about 15 minutes. Remove your meat and shred or cut to the preferred size.
Instant Pot Beef Roast with Root Vegetables and Homemade Gravy By Kristin Marr Posted: October 2, 2018 Updated: February 5, 2022 4.84 from 6 votes
8 ounces button mushrooms. 1 tablespoon fresh minced parsley for garnish. Instructions. Turn the pressure cooker on, press Sauté, and wait 2 minutes for the pot to heat up. Add the avocado oil and roast and cook until browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side, flipping once. Press Cancel to stop sautéing.
Instant Pot, Slow Cooker, or Oven Beef Pot Roast, Carrots, and Potatoes makes the most tender pot roast with lots of flavor. Using a pressure cooker, slow cooker , or oven makes this one pot meal so easy to make. This recipe makes enough for 4 servings or increase the amount of beef to make up to 8 servings. Youll love this recipe!
Instant Pot Silicone Cover
Normally $20, Now $17 at Walmart
This cover creates an air- and water-tight seal on an Instant Pot stainless steel inner potso you can just pop the pot out of the Instant Pot and put it in the fridge without needing to transfer anything or dirty another vessel. When youre done with it, throw it in the dishwasher for quick cleaning.
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Best Smart Pressure Cooker
With its hundreds of preset programs and step-by-step interactive recipes, the Chef iQ Smart Cooker is outstandingly precise.
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Inner pot material: Nonstick
- Settings: pressure cook, sear/saute, steam, slow cook, sterilize, keep warm, ferment, plus 300+ preset programs in its menu
- Number of included recipes: 1000+ in the Chef iQ App
- Extras: Extra sealing gasket, steam rack, steam basket, heat-resistant pad for the lid
Pros: WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, a helpful app with 1000+ interactive recipes, full-color screen with 300+ present programs, quickest to cook rice and beans, good at searing, easy to set up
Cons: Didn’t do well in our pulled pork tests
The Chef iQ Smart Cooker has the best screen and most precise cooking options of any of the tested units and was easy to set up. Whereas other models have a button for beans, the full-color screen of the Chef iQ cooker offers much more detail. It has specific programs based on bean type, whether they’re soaked, and how much you’re cooking. The customization worked well. The Smart Cooker cooked a pound of beans perfectly 13 minutes faster than any other model.
Instant Pot Smart Programs Vs Functions
Instant Pots are beloved because of their ability to cook foods quickly using pressure. But theyre also wildly popular, in part, because theyre true multi-cookers that can be used to braise, sauté, steam, and so much more. But all Instant Pots are not created equaler, not every model can perform every function, and theyre billed accordingly . All Instant Pots can pressure-cook, slow-cook, sauté, and keep warm, and fancier models tack on additional cooking methods like yogurt-making, sous vide cooking, broiling, and air-frying. The functions are customizable, and while you cant air-fry or broil in a model that doesnt have an air-frying lid, people still manage to bake cake in models that dont offer mini oven functionality and make yogurt in models that arent officially marketed for yogurt-making.
The Instant Pot Smart Programs allow you to engage each cookers listed functionality with the touch of a button. Many models also have additional Smart Programs that take the guesswork out of specific items like cake, yogurt, eggs, brown rice, and more. The buying guide below details which and how many functions and Smart Programs are available with each model.
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How To Set An Instant Pot To High Pressure
- Turn the Instant Pot on, it will say OFF to indicate the Stand-By mode.
- Normal mode 30 minutes at High pressure recommended for soups with meat.
- Less mode 20 minutes at High pressure recommended for soups without meat.
- More mode 4 hours at High pressure recommended for soups that require longer cook times such as rich bone broths.
Instant Pot Duo Plus 8
Courtesy of Amazon
Normally $160, Now $120 at Amazon
Looking for a little more capacity in your Instant Pot? This 8-quart version of the Instant Pot Duo Plus does it allpressure cooks, sautés, steams, slow cooks, sous vides, and moreand also makes it easier to prepare a meal for a crowd without taking up much more space in your kitchen. The lowest price we’ve seen for this is $70 .
By swapping this lid for the one that came on your 6-quart Instant Pot, you can turn the appliance into an air fryer and dehydrator. The heater and fan are built into the lid , and it also comes with an air fryer basket and dehydrating/broiling tray.
The lowest price we’ve seen for this is $46.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
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Compare To Similar Products
| Versatile, intuitive, feature-rich, great value | Friendly control panel, versatile, lots of new updates, steam-release valve | Great for solo chefs, budget friendly, lightweight, stores easily | Perfect size for meals for one, easy to clean, good pressure cooking performance, doesn’t need much counter space | Good overall cooking performance, easy to clean | |
| Cons | Rice is a bit sticky, lid and stainless steel pot can be difficult to clean | Pot can be hard to clean, saute function can be finicky | Stainless steel tends to stain, not for large groups, struggles to cook meat | Too small for family meals, meat just shy of perfectly tender | No lid storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bottom Line | An easy-to-use, versatile model that won’t break the bank and offers plenty of useful features | Useful features, an intuitive control panel, and a friendly price make this model a standout option | It may be pint-sized, but this appliance is a great, inexpensive option for solo cooks | A fantastic smaller appliance for singles or for couples that aren’t fans of leftovers | An easy to clean, great performing product, especially for the price you pay |
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