Instant pot is by far the best kitchen appliance I’ve used. Hands down it is the king of my kitchen. I own two Instant pots- a 6 quart and a 3 quart and use them every single day for my cooking needs.
Instant pot is not just a pressure cooker….. It is much much more than that. Let us understand why this appliance has gained such popularity and learn the different ways we can use Instant pot.
Why do I prefer Instant pot over a stove top Pressure cooker
1.All in one device – It has several modes and settings to support one-pot cooking. You can saute, pressure cook, slow cook, make yogurt, steam, and keep the food warm.
2.Noise-free – No loud noises of whistles here (was super helpful when my son was a baby and took naps during the day). It is the silent doer.
3.No babysitting – Unlike cooking on a gas stove, you don’t have to be around to turn it off. Just choose your settings and get other work done while your food is getting ready. Being an electric cooker, it will stop cooking when the chosen cook time is completed along with the option to keep food warm or turn off the appliance.
4.Delay start option – It is a convenient option with which you can set a timer to start the cooking process. Once you are done with the steps required to make the dish, choose the cooking mode eg. pressure cook, porridge, and cook time. Then click on ‘delay start’ and choose the hours and/or minutes after which you want cooking to start. You can choose to delay it by a range of 30 mins up to 24 hrs. Especially useful when you want to set food at night to get it ready in the morning (wake up to hot ready breakfast) or come back home to cooked food.
5.Keep warm option – Why reheat food when you can keep it warm till you are ready to eat.
6.Easy to clean – Cleaning it is such a breeze. Wash the inner pot, sealing ring, and lid after each use. Wipe down the appliance (exterior) with a soft damp cloth.
7.Portable -It can be taken with you on a road trip – works well for families who have food restrictions and prefer eating home-cooked food. It is a great way to save money if you are on Budget.
I do agree with the fact that it takes a longer time to cook your food but the convenience it provides weighs much more over time. In fact, your active time involved in cooking using an Instant pot is definitely lesser than stovetop cooking (using a pressure cooker).
14 ways to use Instant pot
1.Pressure cooking
The most used feature of Instant pot is pressure cooking. It can be used for a variety of cooking like rice, lentils, soups, pasta, stews. Let’s explore the options:
Rice
Rice is a staple in many households across various cultures. They are one of the best choices for one-pot meals. Here are a few recipes to make some delicious rice dishes in Instant Pot.
Lentils and Beans
When we talk about wholesome protein-rich vegetarian food, beans and lentils top the chart. If cooking on stove-top without a pressure cooker, these take a lot of time to cook making it inconvenient.
Of course, canned beans can be an option but they are very high in sodium (not good for health). Instant pot makes cooking lentils and beans a breeze using the ‘pressure cook’ setting.
You can cook beans in big batches and freeze them for later use. Lentils do not take very long to cook as compared to beans so fresh and small batches are totally doable. Convenient, time-saving, and economical!
Some recipes for you to try.
by Spice Cravings
Soup
One of the most comforting meals you can make any time of the year. Soups are healthy, tasty, and easy to make. The variety is endless and you get the flexibility to play with textures, ingredients, and, flavors.
Some Instant Pot soup recipes are simply dump and go and some need a little effort but they are definitely a must-try!
by Kristine’s Kitchen
Pasta
Gone are the days when you would cook pasta in one container, sauce, veggies, and/or meat in the other, combine it together and spend too much time cooking and cleaning.
Instant pot pasta recipes are quick, need little or no babysitting, and it’s a breeze to clean the pot when you are done.
by Piping Pot Curry
by TIDBITS
Eggs
Loved by many of us, eggs are nutritious, satiating, and delicious. Making them instant pot without babysitting makes the process even more fun.
Jams, Chutneys, and Marmalade
Condiments add flavor and add character to your food. They can make a dull dish full of life. Making them from scratch is a good idea as they are preservative-free, better quality, and give you the joy of making something different. Try out some of these in your Instant Pot.
2.Steaming
Steaming is a super handy setting. I use it not only to steam veggies but also to reheat leftover food. Foods like rice, dumplings, idli (Indian lentil &rice dumplings), desserts like halwa, etc. that taste best when infused with moisture work very well here.
I reheat food using the pot-in-pot method and Steam setting. This is simple and doesn’t dry out your food. Learn more about it in the article How Do I Reheat Food In The Instant Pot? by Traditional Cooking School.
3.Yogurt
Making yogurt in Instant pot was a game-changer for me. Wouldn’t you love it when your yogurt scoops out like ice cream! It is thick, creamy, and rich in taste. Making your own yogurt is way cheaper (and healthier) than store-bought yogurt. The ‘yogurt mode’ helps maintain a warm and consistent temperature which helps to make yogurt, especially during winters. Here’s how to make yogurt using an Instant Pot.
4.Proofing dough
Did you know you can proof dough using the ‘yogurt mode’? It helps you cut down the rising time drastically (literally in half). This is a must-try feature. It hasn’t disappointed me… Ever!!
5.Sprouting
If you live in a cold place you can hear me when I say that sprouting those beans and lentils is a task! But thanks to the ‘yogurt mode’ it has become easier and faster. Now we can enjoy the benefits of sprouts more often.
by Living Smart and Healthy
6.Fermentation
Ferment batters in Instant Pot for soft and fluffy idlis and crispy dosas. These Indian rice and lentil cakes and crepes are totally worth trying.
7.Air frying
Instant Pot Air fryer lid can help you air fry food using the base of your Instant Pot. Isn’t that super convenient! It also helps save counter space for those who have smaller kitchens.
It comes in two sizes: 6 quarts and 8 quarts. You can broil, roast, bake, reheat, and dehydrate with this lid. This function is especially useful for recipes that call for browning after the food is pressure cooked.
8.Popcorn
If you love popcorn, you will fall in love with your Instant Pot all over again. Yes, you can make popcorn using this appliance. No harmful radiations of microwave and no need of a popcorn maker. Make your movie nights extra special!
9.Desserts
Try out these delicious desserts in Instant Pot. The options are endless and the outcome is outstanding.
by My Heart Beets
10.Slow cooking
This appliance has the option to slow cook too. The post below will help you understand how to make slow cooker recipes in Instant Pot ‘slow cook’ mode.
11.Porridge
Porridge mode is a default pre-programmed setting that cooks for a specific time based on your choice of pressure cook level (less, normal, more) and is further customizable using − / + buttons. Ideal for cooking oatmeal, rice porridge, and congee.
by Good Dinner Mom
by Ministry of Curry
12.Beverages
Enjoy making beverages in your magic device. Looking for a cold and refreshing drink or a warm and cozy one? Find a recipe to make it in your Instant Pot.
by Culinary Shades
by Sandhya’s Kitchen
13.Sterilizing
You can use the ‘Steam mode’ to sterilize glass containers, baby bottles, silicone products, and other dishwasher-safe utensils. Some newer models have the sterilize function on the panel. Here’s how to:
14.Defrosting
Forgot to defrost your meat? Instant pot gives the flexibility to cook with frozen meat making a few changes to the quantity of liquid added and cook time. This is how to – Cook Meat Straight from the Freezer with an Instant Pot
Tips to clean Instant Pot
1.Wash the inner pot, sealing ring, and lid after each use. They are dishwasher safe too.
2.Wipe down the appliance (exterior) with a soft damp cloth.
3.Clean the rim with Foam Brush or paper towel and handle of a spoon/fork.
4.Throw the sealing ring in your dishwasher (top rack). This helps get rid of the smell to a great extent.
5.Deep clean the inner pot and sealing ring by pouring 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white vinegar in the inner pot. Close and seal the lid. Select the ‘Pressure Cook’ and set the time to 5 minutes, followed by natural pressure release. Wash the inner post, sealing ring, and the lid thoroughly.
Make the most of your Instant Pot
Hope you now have more ideas to use this versatile appliance. I can’t appreciate it enough. It surely has made my life easier and more convenient.
If you are planning to buy one, here are my recommendations:
1.Instant Pot Duo 6 quarts (Ideal for a family of 2-4 and pot-in-pot cooking)
2.Instant Pot Duo Crisp Lid 6 quarts (Ideal for a family of 2-4, pot-in-pot cooking and air frying)
3.Instant Pot Duo 3 quarts (Ideal for a single person, dorm use, and travel)
4.Instant Pot Duo 8 quarts (Ideal for a larger family and pot-in-pot cooking)
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More recipes to try
