Get More Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
I hope this post helps you get the most out of your Instant Pot. For more healthy Instant Pot recipes, including convenient one-pot meals using this pot-in-pot method, be sure to grab my new cookbook, The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook. You can see a sneak peek here!
In the meantime, you can find more of my Instant Pot recipes and tutorials here on the blog.
Reader Feedback: Have any more Instant Pot questions? Leave them in the comments below and Ill do my best to help you out!
Instant Pot Accessories That Are Not Worth It
Perry SantanachotePerry Santanachote
Mesh Baskets Price: $30
All the Instant Pot models in our ratings do relatively poorly in our lab tests for steaming vegetables. Do fine-mesh wire baskets help at all? They do not. Still, if you use your Instant Pot to steam veggies regularly, this basket allows you to make large batches without having to transfer the pieces one by one out of the pot when theyre done. The smaller basket also nests inside the larger basket, so you can steam two vegetables while keeping them separated.
For Small Pumpkin Pieces:
- If you have a small pumpkin, you can cut it in half to de-seed it. If you have a larger pumpkin, you can slice off the stem first and de-seed it like you would before carving a Jack-O-Lantern. Once the seeds and stringy bits are out, you can slice it into small chunks or slices.
- Place a trivet or steamer basket in the Instant Pot along with one cup of water.
- Cook on high pressure for 2-3 minutes and let the pressure naturally release for a few minutes before performing a quick release.
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Heres How You Do That Successfully:
How To Make Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Cube the pork into 3-4 inch chunks. This allows your pork to become SUPER tender and shred easily after pressure cooking.
- Mix together the spices in a small bowl and then and liberally rub them over the pork, coating each piece in the spice rub.
- Add the pork to the instant pot, along with the apple juice and liquid smoke.
- Set high pressure on your Instant Pot by hitting the manual button or pressure cook button on your pressure cooker until high pressure lights up. To adjust the time use the + and buttons. Read more about this on Instant Pot Functions.
- Cook on High Pressure for 40 minutes for a pork shoulder or pork butt or on High Pressure for 30 minutes for a pork loin roast.
- Once cook time has elapsed, it is very important to allow the pressure to release naturally for at least 15 minutes when cooking large cuts of meat in your instant pot. If you do a quick release or pressure, your pork can become tough, making it difficult to shred.
- Place your pork loin into a large bowl and use 2 forks or a hand-held kitchen mixer to shred meat.
- Mix with your favorite BBQ sauce, if desired. This meat is super flavorful without the need for added BBQ sauce.
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Best Foods To Dehydrate
Fruits and vegetables often dehydrate the best, although meats and liquids can be dehydrated too. Slices of apples, stone fruits, berries, tomatoes, mushrooms, all work well as the dehydration process intensifies the flavour and texture while also preserving them.
As mentioned before, the raw vegan diet has enabled a lot more creative uses of dehydration that can use either a dehydrator or an air fryer.
Raw cakes, biscuits, crackers or even raw pizza dough can be dehydrated to add more texture and more firmness to the overall dish you are making. You can find many recipes online that will hopefully encourage you to experiment more with dehydration.
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Reduce The Amount Of Ingredients You Use
You could fill a slow cooker with all the ingredients you want. The Instant Pot wont pressurize if the food is too full. The Instant Pot wont pressurize properly if its not full. So make sure to reduce the number of ingredients you use. You should keep your ingredients below the MAX FILL line by keeping them at least 2/3. You should only fill the Instant pot to the halfway point if you are cooking ingredients that expand, such as beans, pasta, or grains. This is the key to great instant pot recipes.
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Instant Pot Steam Setting
The Steam setting on the Instant Pot is perfect for cooking vegetables, fish and seafood, tofu and any other food that is suitable to steaming. This function uses Low pressure, which helps to avoid overcooking the food and means that the Instant Pot will come to pressure quicker. You need to use the trivet/steam rack provided to elevate food from cooking liquid. Always use QR to prevent food from overcooking. Below is how to use the Steam setting on Instant Pot.
- Turn the Instant Pot on, it will say OFF to indicate the Stand-By mode. Add a cup of water to the inner pot and place the trivet on top. You can place the vegetables or a piece of fish or thinly sliced chicken on top of the trivet OR you can use an additional steam basket or a round pan with holes that fits inside the pot. A steamer basket might be useful for smaller-sized vegetables or cut-up vegetables to prevent them from falling into the water.
- Secure and lock the lid. Press the Steam button. The default setting is pre-programmed to set the pot to cook at Low pressure for 10 minutes. If you press the Steam button again, you can adjust the mode from Normal to Less or More.
Why You Need An Instant Pot
Instant Pot’s popularity has grown tremendously as home cooks discovered all the cooking problems it can solve. You can cook up to 70 percent faster, so last-minute dinner prep is a breeze. Its stainless steel construction is free from unhealthy coatings or chemicals, and its innovative engineering makes it reliable and safe to use. The smart controls are user-friendly and even learn your preferences, making Instant Pot even easier to use over time.
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How Do Instant Pots Work
An instant pot is an electric version of a pressure cooker. It works by heating up food within the tightly-sealed pot to create enough pressure from the steam to cook. Foods that are pressure cooked are typically ready faster and tend to be tender and moist. Once the food is ready, the pot slowly vents the pressurized steam inside through a pressure release valve at the top of the lid. The valve can also be manually vented faster by switching the knob from seal to vent. Once the pressure has been released, you can remove the lid and serve the contents inside.
What Size Instant Pot Should I Buy
The size of the Instant Pot you need depends on how many servings you plan on making. If you usually prepare food for two people or fewer, a smaller, four-quart size may be all you need. However, a six-quart Instant Pot is a good size because it can fit a whole chicken or make enough stew or chilly to share. For families of four or more, an eight-quart instant pot is the best option.
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Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Chicken wings fit a little better than chicken legs in the air fryer. I cooked them at 400 F for about 15-22 minutes. I used 2 trays with 3 wings breaded and 3 wings not breaded to see what the difference would be. Again, I had to rotate the trays and flip each wing.
I liked the non-breaded version better and it browned faster. The breaded version took longer to get the right coloring and it was extremely messy. There was flour everywhere and in the door hinges from flipping them with the tongs. I tried to use a silicon matt to shield the door but still didnt help because the door was already greasy from the cooking process. I used fresh poultry for this test run. I think using frozen and small wings would make this go a lot smoother and time-efficient.
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When And Why Would I Want To Use Pot
There are several reasons you might like to use the PIP method, including but not limited to:
- Reheating meals
- Cooking meals not on direct heat such as those with low liquid content or those you dont want sitting in liquid
- For a recipe youve made before that stuck to the bottom of the pot
- Desserts such as cakes or cheesecakes
- Preparing multiple items at once, for example: rice and honey bourbon chicken.
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Can You Use Frozen Vegetables In An Instant Pot
This recipe for making Instant Pot steamed vegetables is based on using fresh veggies. You can use frozen vegetables, but they will need a little extra cook time.
Rather than setting the cook time to zero minutes, you will just set it to one minute. An alternate method is to allow the pressure to release naturally rather than doing an instant pressure release.
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Benefits Of Pip Method:
Youll need 2 things to try this pressure cooker cooking method.
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Any Instant Pot Cheesecake
The simplest example of using a pot-in-pot method in the Instant Pot is a cheesecake, which is made in a springform cake pan positioned on top of a trivet with some water added to the pot. You can try any of these fabulous cheesecake recipes or our light and healthy peach cheesecake here.
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How To Use An Instant Pot Or Modern Pressure Cooker
Instant Pots can help you save time once you know how they work. This guide will help you overcome the learning curve.
| Topic: Kitchen & Household
The Instant Pot has become the latest kitchen must-have. You’ll likely find a variety of sizes and styles that can do everything from steam, roast and even air fry. Most Instant Pot or multi-cooker users swear by the ease and speed at which recipes cook. However, there are just as many stories of fails as there are successes. The key is to understand how the Instant Pot works.
This guide will walk you through what you need to know about your new Instant Pot and how to use it to create healthy, delicious dishes.
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Buying An Instant Pot Heres What You Need To Know
Select is editorially independent. Our editors selected these deals and items because we think you will enjoy them at these prices. If you purchase something through our links, we may earn a commission. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
Over the past few years, Instant Pots have become a staple in small kitchen appliances. Busy parents use them to get dinner on the table in minutes, while batch cookers use them to simplify midweek meals. Some people prefer them for their ability to cook just about everything from pot roast to yogurt. Staying home has become the new norm to help prevent coronavirus from spreading, so youre probably using your time indoors to cook more and try out new recipes. Alongside summer cooking staples like grills, an Instant Pot is a relatively quick, easy and affordable way to whip up home-cooked meals while under quarantine. Heres everything you should know about an Instant pot, including how it works, best Instant Pots to buy and more.
A few years ago the idea that people would be cooking in pressure cookers en masse was unthinkable, says Elizabeth Barbone, a cookbook author and the creator of the pressure-cooker blog Cook Fast, Eat Well. Its been really fun to see folks not only embrace it, but to embrace it in different ways.
Whats So Great About The Instant Pot
Safety, speed and easy cleanup are just a few of the reasons for the rising popularity of these trendy kitchen appliances.
an Instant Pot isnt just an electric pressure cooker. As a true multi-cooker, it sears, browns and sautés food like a stove-top skillet. It also steams delicate items such as fish, eggs and vegetables. Instant Pots double as standalone electric rice cookers as well.
You can use them to bake bread, cakes and other sweets like custards, flan, even cheesecakes. Many Instant Pot models come with special yogurt modes. And yes, they function as slow cookers, too.
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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.
What If Your Instant Pot Doesnt Have The Soup Button
Dont worry. You dont have to miss out on making soup or broth recipes dishes in your Instant Pot if it doesnt have a soup button. Most recipes use manual in the cooking instructions.
Check the recipe to see if it includes any special instructions on time or ingredients to help you have a great finished dish.
And with soup more than most dishes youll cook, be sure to be careful you both release the pressure as well as open lid.
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The Steam Boss Steam Release Diverter
The quick release feature on the Instant Pot is the fastest way to release pressure when your food is fully cooked. Normally, the steam release valve on the lid of your Instant Pot directs the steam straight up. But with this nifty little steam diverter, you can point the steam off to one side and avoid steaming up the underside of your cabinets. I cant tell you how many times I wished I had something like this before I found it!
Instant Pot Accessories That Are Worth It
Perry SantanachotePerry Santanachote
Air-Fryer Lid Price: $79
The air-fryer lid combines two of the most popular countertop appliancesmulti-cookers and air fryersinto a cooker that can truly do it all. The lid fits on top of the Instant Pot, turning it into a mini convection oven that adds roasting, baking, broiling, reheating, and dehydrating functions to the multi-cookers already long list of programs. But while it saves you from buying yet another space-hogging appliance, its not exactly compact: Its 11 inches wide and 7 inches tall. And its not compatible with all Instant Pot models, so be sure to check here before you buy.
The lid comes with an air-fryer basket that you slip into the Instant Pots stainless steel inner pot. The downside is that the 3.5-quart basket is quite small. It may not make sense for large families, but its just right for couples or people cooking for one, or if youre willing to do multiple batches.
While you need the basket to crisp up fries, you can use the air-fryer lid with just the Instant Pots stainless steel pot to brown and bake. I pressure-cooked a whole chicken in the stainless steel pot and swapped out the lid for the air-fryer lid to crisp up the skin. The result was a tender, juicy chicken with golden-brown skin.
Metal Egg Racks Price: $20
Ceramic Nonstick Inner Pot Price: $20
Perry SantanachotePerry Santanachote
Springform Cake Pan Price: $13
Silicone Steam Rack Price: $9
Buy at: and Walmart
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