Next Step: Water Test
Check out the post to complete the Initial Water Test to make sure everything is working properly with your instant pot and learn how it operates.
After the water test, you will be ready to try your favorite recipe.
I highly recommend to initially follow some recipes, rather than making adjustments. Find a trusted website for instant pot recipes, and then follow along. Feel free to ask questions, so you can be successful with your initial recipes.
Check out this post for 10 Easy Instant Pot Recipes for new owners. I have 130+ tried and tested Instant Pot Recipes, do check them out. Leave a comment on the recipe or on any social media channel. I always respond to questions/comments.
Instant Pot 8 Qt Multi
Instant Pot 8 Qt Multi-Use Pressure Cooker
User Manual
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
At Instant Brands your safety always comes first. The Instant Pot® Duo was designed with your safety in mind, and we mean business. Check out this Instant Pots long list of safety mechanisms at instanthome.com to see what we mean.
As always, be careful when using electrical appliances and follow basic safety precautions.
01. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS, SAFEGUARDS AND W ARNINGS BEFORE USE. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE SAFEGUARDS AND INSTRUCTIONS MAY RESULT IN INJURY AND/OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.
02. Use only the Instant Pot Duo lid with the Instant Pot Duo multicooker base. Using any other pressure cooker lids may cause injury and/or damage.
03. For household use only. Not for commercial use. DO NOT use the appliance for anything other than its intended use.
04. For countertop use only. Always operate the appliance on a stable, non-combustible, level surface.
- DO NOT place on anything that may block the vents on the bottom of the appliance.
- DO NOT place on a hot stove.
05. Heat from an external source will damage the appliance.
- DO NOT place the appliance on or close to a hot gas or electric burner, or a heated oven.
- DO NOT use the appliance near water or flame.
- DO NOT use outdoors. Keep out of direct sunlight.
06. DO NOT touch the appliances hot surfaces. Only use the side handles for carrying or moving.
13. Proper maintenance is recommended before and after each use:
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
Dont Get Too Caught Up In What All The Buttons Mean
For the most part, the buttons on the control panel are there to help you decide on your cooking time. For example, if there is a fish button, pressing it will likely mean that your food will cook for a short time . The chicken button will be slightly longer . Some electric pressure cookers have a saute feature, which comes in handy to pre-caramelize your mirepoix, if youre making soup or stew . New models have a sterilize function , and most come with a slow cook option, which means exactly what you think it means: slow cooking without pressure. When it comes to frozen food, learn if you can cook frozen meat in an Instant Pot.
Psst: Heres why you should trade your slow cooker for an Instant Pot.
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Get To Know The Design
Electric pressure cookers come with an inner pot and an outer pot , as well as a lid that creates an airtight seal.
The airtight seal is what creates the pressure, which will eventually need to be released, and to do so safely, youll need to read the directions that come with your pot. But generally speaking, youll either use the quick-release method , or the natural-release method .
Test Kitchen tip: A cool, wet towel placed on the lid can help speed up the release process.
Inspecting Your Instant Pot Before Each Use
1. Remove the stainless steel inner pot and look inside the instant pot base. You will see the heating element. The heating element should always be free of debris and dry before you use you the Instant Pot. After washing, I always dry my stainless steel inner pot thoroughly before returning it to the base unit.
2. Check that the silicone sealing ring is fitted properly onto the lid and is clean and free of tears.
3. Remove the steam release valve from the Instant Pot lid by gently pulling it straight up. Make sure it is clean and free of debris. Some foods, such as applesauce, pasta and oatmeal may froth and foam when you cook them and can clog the steam release valve. Check the steam release valve each time you use your Instant Pot. If it is dirty clean it under running water and then put it back on the Instant Pot lid.
4. Check the float valve to ensure it is clean and free of debris. Clean it with warm water as needed. You may place the lid under running water as needed to wash it.
Making sure that all parts of your Instant Pot are clean and in good working condition can help you to have the best success with pressure cooking. My post about the Instant Pot burn message tells you both how to prevent getting this warning and what to do if you do get a burn message.
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Instant Pot Duo Multi
Instant Pot DUO Multi-Use Pressure Cooker User Manual
Instant Pot DUO Multi-Use Pressure Cooker User Manual
Getting Started Guide
Full manual and instruction videos available at instantpot.comRegister your product today at instantpot.com/support/register
Welcome to the world of Instant cooking.
Hello! Thank you for welcoming us into your kitchen.Having families ourselves, we developed the Instant PotTM DuoTM to allow busy families and professionals alike to cook healthy, delicious meals more easily and in less time.We have partnered with chefs, authors and bloggers to compile a collection of recipes that we hope you enjoy!Happy Cooking!
1000+ Recipes Getting Started Videos
Initial Setup
- Remove all packaging material from in and around the cooker, and verify that all parts are accounted for.
- Place the cooker on a stable, level surface, away from external heat sources.
- Read all Important Safeguards in the included Safety, Maintenance & Warranty booklet before use. Failure to do so may result in property damage and/or personal injury.
- Follow Care & Cleaning instructions in the included Safety, Maintenance & Warranty booklet to wash the cooker before cooking.
- Do not remove safety warning stickers from lid, serial number from bottom, or rating label from back of cooker base.
Never use the cooker on a stovetop. Do not place appliance on or in close proximity to a hot gas or electric burner, or a heated oven heat from an external source will damage appliance.
Open & Close Lid
Do I Need To Adjust My Recipes At Higher Altitudes
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Boil Peanuts In Instant Pot
Why Do Most Recipes Use Manual Settings Instead Of Smart Program Buttons
One size does not fit all in most scenarios. This is true of the smart one-touch buttons on the Instant Pot too. While some may come in handy down the line, you should learn more about specific recipes before you begin relying on them. Using Manual/Pressure Cook button and adjusting time and pressure level by yourself gives you more control.
Having said that, you can also adjust time and pressure levels once youve selected one of the Smart Program functions.
How To Do An Instant Pot Water Test
Now that you have completed the water test, you are ready to cook in your Instant Pot!
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How To Quick Release Instant Pot
This method will let out the steam in one go and depressurize the pot immediately. This will prevent any continued cooking and is useful if youre in a rush. Simply press the quick release button on top of the lid . The steam will rise through the top steam valve and a loud venting or hissing sound will occur.
Yes that steam is hot and so take care. Be quick to remove your hand once youve pressed the button and step away from the cooker. In some cases, you can hover a towel over the steam jet absorbing some of the moisture and reducing the amount of output youre exposed to.
Done cooking? Open the lid and stir the contents if needed. Once the pot is empty, remove the inner pot and add some water to soak before cleaning by hand or in a dishwasher. Unplug or switch off the main power to turn the Instant Pot completely off.
How To Use An Instant Pot: What You Need To Know To Get Started With Instant Pot Cooking
There are a few basic things that you need to know when using an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. Once you use yours a few times, these will be like second nature. Depending on which Instant Pot model you own, the buttons may be labeled slightly differently. Consult the manual that came with your Instant Pot.
Minimum Liquid Required: As a general rule, you want to use at least 1 cup of liquid in your Instant Pot every time you cook with it. The Instant Pot uses steam and pressure to cook food, and you need liquid to create the steam and pressure. Some recipes may call for more or less liquid. I recommend following recipes from a trusted source while you are learning to use your Instant Pot.
Fill Level: Inside the Instant Pot inner pot, you will see a 1/2 and a 2/3 line marked. Never fill the Instant Pot higher than the 2/3 line with food or liquid . If you are cooking food that will expand during the cook time such as rice, quinoa or beans, do not fill the Instant Pot higher than the 1/2 line.
Pressure Cook or Manual Button: Depending on which Instant Pot model you own, the Pressure Cook button is sometimes labeled Manual and sometimes Pressure Cook. This is the button that you will press to start a pressure cooking cycle. Its your basic pressure cooking button.
+/- Buttons: Use these buttons to adjust the cook time.
Keep Warm/Cancel Button: Use this button to end a cooking program or turn on/off the keep warm function.
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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 around 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.
How To Find Your Instant Pot Manual Online
Did you get your Instant Pot from a garage sale site, used, or even found along the side of the road? If so, chances are it didnt come with a user manual. This can make using your Instant Pot super frustrating. The great news is that we know exactly how to find your Instant Pot Manual online!
The instant pot instruction manual can be super helpful in helping with instant pot directions: Find out how to get the instant pot duo manual or other instant pot manual you need below:
*I use affiliate links in this post. If you buy anything from my links I will earn a small commission*
Contents
Read Also: Where Is The Manual Button On The Instant Pot
Instant Pot Beginner Manual
September 12, 2022 . By Meeta Arora . | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Want to get started with your new Instant Pot, but confused how? You have come to the right place. Here is the guide that you have been looking for, with step-by-step photos to get you started. See all parts of the instant pot, and do the water test with me.
I joined the Instant Pot tribe more than an year back and there has been no going back. Like me, I am sure you are thinking “do I really want to spend the time learning one more gadget that I might not use for long and will occupy counter space?”. Let me assure you IT IS NOT HARD, and the Instant Pot is here to stay. It has taken the community by a sweep and found many ardent fans and proud converts. You are all set to join the tribe, then check out my detailed post about which instant pot to buy. Then come back to this guide. So let’s begin!
I know the instant pot manual that comes along with the pot can be hard to read and hence I am sharing this easy to read/use guide with lots of pictures to show the details.
Instant Pot Parts And Accessories
The Instant Pot comes with the following main parts and accessories:
- Base unit/Outer Pot stainless steel exterior that houses the heating element, control panel, and detachable power cord.
- Lid closes the Instant Pot and seals it under pressure. The lid can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand with soap and water.
- Inner pot removable stainless steel pot that is also stove-friendly, so you can use it on your stovetop as you would a regular pot. It can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
- Condensation Collector catches drips from condensation on the lid attaches onto the back of the base unit. Can be washed in the top rack of the dishwasher or by hand.
- Power cord the 3-prong detachable power cord is plugged into the back of the Instant Pot Duo.
- Accessories spoons, measuring cup, and trivet. The trivet is useful for elevating food above the liquid and for Pot in Pot cooking. The trivet can be washed in the dishwasher or by hand.
Read Also: How To Install Sealing Ring On Instant Pot
Release The Pressure Safely
When you release the pressure, the escaping steam will be very hothot enough to burn you. So make sure the hole on top of the steam release is facing away from you before pressing the release button. Also, the quick-release method is not suitable for soups or cereals , because quick release may cause food to splatter out with the steam.
What Is The Timer Button For
Some models have a button that reads Timer. While you may think that this is the button that sets the cooking time for your Instant Pot, it actually delays cooking time and will start the cooking when the timer counts down. You can set the cooking time with the plus/minus buttons or the dial, depending on the model.
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Using Saute Function After Cooking
The Sauté function is also useful for finishing the dish after pressure cooking is done. Once the pressure has been completely released, open the lid and then press Sauté button again. Press the button again to cycle through Less or More for lower or higher temperatures.
Use it for:
- Simmering the sauce or broth in the dish that needs to evaporate and reduce or thicken.
- Adding more fragile or no-cooking-required ingredients like baby spinach, fresh tomatoes, fruit, cheese, milk or cream.
- Thickening sauce with butter, cream or flour.
