Main Instant Pot Tips And Tricks
I have Instant Pot guide with 15 mind blowing Instant Pot tips and tricks. Below are 5 the most important ones, but be sure to check the guide and I promise you your mind will be blown. There is also a free printable there. Also, be sure to check out these beginner Instant Pot recipes they will help you become more confident in using your new modern day pressure cooker.
Still dont have an Instant Pot? See which Instant we recommend Pot to buy and how it is different than a slow cooker.
Fast Instant Pot Recipes You Can Make Any Day Of The Week
Whether you’re the proud new owner of an Instant Pot, a seasoned user, or thinking about purchasing one, these recipes will bring you up to speed with the amazing range of possibilities at hand. Scroll through to see the soups, apps, sides, and full-on meals your Instant Pot can make.
Is it chili season yet?
Get the recipe from Delish.
If there’s one thing we find magical about Instant Pots, it’s how quickly and perfectly they cook chicken and rice. The rice is the perfect texture and the chicken is insanely tender.
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Delicious soup in 40 minutes flat.
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An easy way to make the comfort classic.
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Add this to your weeknight rotation.
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This hearty American classic just got a 21st century upgrade.
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You’ll have a creamy risotto in no time.
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We love lentil soup for its versatility.
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Prep for game day in minutes.
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The hearty meal you should be making more than once a year.
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A healthy way to warm up this winter.
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Only 30 minutes away from the creamiest mashed potatoes ever.
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Your instant pot tenderizes meat in minutes.
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You can’t beat only 35 minutes cooking time.
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Make it faster than takeout.
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Our Best Instant Pot Recipes
Our 25 Best Instant Pot Recipes from around the globe! Simple Healthy, easy Instapot recipes with many vegan, low-carb and gluten-free options!
Instant Pot Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup probably our readers favorite Instant Pot Recipe on the blog with just 25 minutes of pressure cooking and dinner is done! Simple and flavorful, this healthy dinner full of veggies and flavor and will make your tastes buds so happy! Garnish with avocado, lime and cilantro! Yum. Keto-friendly.
Instant PotWild Rice Soup with mushrooms and spinach a healthy vegetarian soup recipe that is easy, fast and vegan adaptable!
Smoky Tomato White Bean Soup that can be made in your Instant Pot or on the stovetop using dry beans. Smoked paprika and optional Harissa paste give it a delicious flavor that will have you coming back for seconds. Low in calories, high in fiber, this soup is vegan and gluten-free.
Cozy up with a comforting bowl of Butternut Risotto with Leeks and Spinach made with very little fuss, in your Instant Pot pressure cooker. Vegan-adaptable and Gluten-free.
Make-Life Simple, Instant Pot Lentil Soup- w/ healthy veggies and Middle Eastern spices vegan and gluten-free, this soup cooks in just 12 minutes!
Get warm and cozy with this Instant Pot Beef Stew with Root Veggies- a hearty, comforting one-pot meal made in the pressure cooker, that is keto-friendly, easy to make and full of depth and flavor.
Read Also: What Does Auto Mean On Instant Pot
Instant Pot Beef Curry
This rich, savory Japanese-style beef curry is typically made with little blocks of store-bought Japanese curry roux. Since the dish comes together so fast in an Instant Pot®, we use the time gained to make a homemade roux with basic pantry ingredients. Combined with Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, grated apple and beef broth, the result is a mildly sweet, spicy curry packed with extra umami. You can serve it over white rice or udon noodles. You can also make it without the beef and pour the sauce over Japanese-style breaded and fried pork or chicken cutlets .
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Beef Curry
Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
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An ultimate collection of 45 Best Healthy Instant Pot Recipes for busy families. Most importantly, these tried, tested and true easy pressure cooker recipes actually WORK! I test each recipe at least 3 times, so you dont have to! Simple and kid approved ingredients to make healthy dinner a breeze.
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It’s All About The Timing
While you can use the ingredients list from Instant Pot recipes, cooking times are a different matter. Many Instant Pot recipes you can find online rely on the Instant Pot’s built-in cooking presets which the Ninja Foodi does not have.
You will find Ninja Foodi cooking charts with suggested times in the “Inspiration Guide” booklet that came with your Ninja Foodi. It’s best to refer to these when calculating cooking times for recipes you want to make in your Foodi.
Why You Need An Instant Pot
- Hands off cooking method:Instant Pot brown rice might take same time as on the stovetop but you dont have to bring it to a boil, reduce heat and watch not to burn.
- One pot meals workhorse: Electric pressure cooker makes true one pot meals acting like skillet and pot at same time. So convenient not to use and wash extra pots and pans.
- Cooks frozen meat: Instapot can cook meat from frozen. Great example would be Instant Pot frozen chicken breast or if you forgot to thaw meat, this Instant Pot frozen ground beef recipe will do it for you, so you can proceed cooking dinner.
- Minimum prep: Prep time is maximum 10 minutes with most recipes. You can also cook dried beans without soaking first.
Need more help with dinner? Check out iFOODreal Instant Pot meal plans.
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Perfect Instant Pot Rice
Rice is practically brand new when you get an Instant Pot. Long cooking times get cut in half with fluffy, cooked-to-perfection results every time. We all know how awful it is to take a big bite of slightly undercooked OR overcooked rice! The pressure cooker allows you to put full trust in its hands for the perfect texture every time.
It makes for great leftovers to stir-fry with meats, top off with an egg, or mix with some beans for a meat-free dish. It can also be turned into a casserole, fishcakes or veggie burgers. Pretty versatile, huh?
We have a detailed post on how to cook perfect rice in the Instant Pot including white, brown and wild varieties. You can then try one of our flavored rice recipes such as this fluffy yellow rice with peas and corn or our Indian-inspired spinach rice.
What Are The Best Things To Cook In An Instant Pot
The options are endless! You can use an Instant Pot to make rice, cook hard-boiled eggs, and more. Plus, they’re great for large families or anyone who meal preps. I’m not even a good cook, but I love making a huge batch of rice in it, then using the same pot to sauté veggies and simmer with my favorite tikka masala sauce. Whenever I make that meal, my coworkers often say that my lunch smells great and I always tell them how easy it was to make in my Instant Pot!
Pro tip: Your Instant Pot takes time to come to pressure first before the actual cooking process begins. Expect meals with less liquid to come to pressure and start cooking much quicker than recipes that are mostly liquid , which can take a while to come to pressure first.
You may have thought making pasta was already easy, but wait until you realize how simple it is to make in an Instant Pot. There’s no need to wait around for the water to boil, and you don’t even have to drain it after cooking the little bit of starchy water that’s left over helps the sauce stick to the pasta.
Our Kitchen Appliance experts love cooking soup, stock, and chili in their Instant Pots. If you’re a fan of steel-cut oats, then you know how long they take to make on the stove but in an Instant Pot, they only take eight minutes! If you’re cooking meat, be sure to cut large chunks into smaller pieces so it cooks faster.
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What Is An Instant Pot
An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker. Its a multi-cooker, which means that it has many cooking functions. You can use your Instant Pot as a slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker or sauté pot. I use the Pressure Cook/Manual and Sauté buttons on my Instant Pot most often.
If you are new Instant Pot user, Ive written a simple guide to get you started: How to use an Instant Pot. If you dont have an Instant Pot yet and are wondering which one to buy, read about the best Instant Pots. My top 10 Instant Pot accessories can help you to do things such as cook pot in pot rice and chicken at the same time.
Baking An Instant Pot Cake Without A Pan + Other Options
- I do not recommend making this Instant Pot Cake without a pan , as the batter will burn.
- If youd like to make an Instant Pot chocolate bundt cake, you can try using a 6-cup bundt pan that will fit inside the Instant Pot like this one.
- Ive also heard rumors of baking Instant Pot cakes inside of heatproof bowls but have not played around with this myself yet.
OK, now that I have convinced you to pick up the proper pan, lets get to the batter, shall we?
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So What Can You Cook With An Instant Pot
LOTS of things!
You know me Ive been scouring the Internet to learn everything I can about Instant Pot cooking, and also reading lots of books.
Just yesterday, I made oatmeal, BBQ chicken sandwiches, and then coconut rice pudding all in my Instant Pot . This morning another oatmeal recipe. There are just so many possibilities, and its actually really fun!
The basic functions are straight-forward, and clearly delineated for each Instant Pot model.
Remember that most Instant Pot models can:
- pressure cook
- keep food warm after cooking
- make yogurt
- and some models can sterilize and make cakes, and even have specific settings for cooking eggs
Some of these are probably pretty self-explanatory, but lets take a closer look at a few
Instant Pot Chicken With Quinoa Pistachios And Apricots
This is going to be your new go-to healthy weeknight dinner. Full of protein and fiber, this dish is light, yet satisfying. The heat of the chile and ginger balance out the sweetness of the apricot, and the pistachios provide a pleasant crunch.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Chicken with Quinoa, Pistachios and Apricots
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How Long Does Fruit Cake Last
Traditional fruit cake with eggs but without alcohol will last up to 1-2 weeks at room temperature, a few weeks in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer . If alcohol is added to the recipe, fruitcake can last much longer both out of the fridge and in the freezer. However, the dried or candied fruit and nuts may start turning rancid after a couple of years.
Our Instant Pot fruit cake is made with eggs, without alcohol and less sugar than the classic fruitcake, so we recommend storing it tightly wrapped in foil or Clingwrap or in an airtight Tupperware container for up 1 week out of the fridge, 2 weeks in the fridge and up to 6 months in the freezer.
What Foods Are Best For A Pressure Cooker
Pressure cooking uses wet heat only. You gotta have liquid in the cookerthe steam creates the pressure. No liquid, no steam, no pressure.
Pressure cooking is for boiling, steaming, and braising. For example, you wouldnt cook French fries or make a crusty loaf of bread from start to finish by pressure cooking.
But anything boiled or steamed or simmered is ace in your Instant Pot.
Coco Morante
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Sweet Potato Quick Bread Recipe
Here’s my favorite quick bread recipe. It tastes amazing when cooked in an Instant Pot. It comes out with a moist, chewy, cake-like texture.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup canned sweet potatoes
- 2 eggs
- 1 Tbs. pumpkin pie seasoning
Instructions:
1. Mix all of the dry ingredients with your stand mixer on low.
2. Slowly add the wet ingredients with your mixer on medium.
3. Grease and flour a coffee can.
4. Pour the mix into the coffee can.
5. Place the steamer rack upside down in the inner pot.
6. Add 6 cups of water.
7. Place the coffee can into the inner pot and cover with a buttered aluminum foil square.
8. Turn the valve to Sealing.
9. Turn off the Warming button.
10. Lock the lid.
11. Set Pressure Cook to 40 minutes.
12. Do a natural release of pressure for 10 minutes or until the Instant Pot is ready to open.
Here are some more quick bread recipes that will work in your Instant Pot:
How To Make Fruit Cake In The Instant Pot
We used a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo to make this fruit cake recipe. You will need a trivet and a springform cake pan that can fit inside the pot , or any other round, heatproof cake pan.
You will find the full list of ingredients, instructions and nutritional breakdown in the recipe card below. Here are some handy step-by-step photos to guide you along.
Also Check: What To Do If Your Instant Pot Says Burn
Instant Pot Mini Cake
Most cakes for the Instant Pot arent made in the Mini and we all know baking by intuition or guessing can be dangerously disappointing. This recipe will curb your sweet tooth with a small cake perfect for dessert lovers and people who dont necessarily want the temptation of a full-size cake hanging out around the house! Recipe from Home Pressure Cooking.
Instant Pot Bread Pudding With Bourbon Sauce
Using the pot-in-pot method, the Instant Pot makes moist and delicious bread pudding. Studded with raisins and flavored with warm spices, it’s especially good top with a bourbon cream sauce.
Dairy-free and egg-free, this vegan chocolate cake only takes a few simple ingredients to create a decadent dessert. Cooked in the Instant Pot, the cake is never dry and doesn’t even need a blanket of frosting . It’s especially good with fresh raspberries.
Best Ever Instant Pot Vegan Chocolate Cake from Carve Your Craving
Continue to 13 of 19 below.
Flan is an egg custard that cooks on top of a caramel sauce. Once the dish cools completely in the fridge, you turn it out and the caramel sauce blankets the sweet, smooth dessert. It’s a thing of beauty that you can make ahead and whip out at the end of a meal to a chorus of oo’s and ah’s.
Instant Pot Whole Egg Leche Flan from Recipes for Instant Pot
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What Kind Of Instant Pot Do I Need
I have both a 6 quart and an 8 quart Instant Pot. For most of my Instant Pot Recipes, I only need a 6 quart, but Im always glad that my 8 quart is around for those times when Im planning to cook a large slab of meat or when I am feeding a crowd. If youre only 1-2 people, consider the 3 quart Instant Pot, but only if you dont plan to cook any larger batches or for company.
Instant Pot Swedish Meatballs
This speedier version of Swedish meatballs is streamlined and made in an Instant Pot®, but loses nothing that we love about the classic recipe. Gone is the step of chilling and resting the subtly spiced meatballs we brown them as soon as theyre formed. We also bypass the tedious process of making a roux and whisking in broth to form the rich, creamy gravy. Instead, we simply pour the broth over the meatballs, dot it with pieces of beurre manie and let the Instant Pot® do the work. After the steam is released, all thats left to do is stir in some heavy cream.
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Want More Practice Bring It Back To Pressure
Try it again with the same hot water. This time, press Manual and then adjust the 30 minute default time by pressing the button, then press the + button to go up. Lets do 10 minutes.
You may notice how, if you press Manual and take too long before pressing the other buttons, the cooker will just beep on its own and proceed for 30 a minute pressure cooking time. If you need to re-start, just press Cancel/Keep Warm and start over.
Since the water is in your cooker is already almost boiling to begin with, the cooker will come to pressure a lot faster than it did the first timewithin a minute or so. Itll hiss, then the hissing will abruptly stop as the pressure indicator button goes up. If the hissing just keeps on going, its probably because you left the valve in the venting position instead of sealed. Just use your spoon handle to nudge it back.
What next? Same as before: the cooker beeps, the readout will say 10, and then it will switch to LO:00. You can do quick or natural release, whichever floats your boat.
Coco Morante
