Does anyone else use an Instapot?

[Laffy Kat]

I've been wanting one for months, so using my Kohl's cash and coupons, I finally bought one today (saved $50!). My son and I made orange chicken for dinner tonight and it was yummy. Still, I am finding some of the directions confusing. For example: when heating up the IP for sauteing, do I close the lid until it heats up?

Any tips, suggestions, lessons-learned, or recipes would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[applegrove]

1. Use the online videos for instructions. I would assume if you are sauteing

you treat it like a pot ans leave the lid off. All that heat will escape as soon as you lift the lid.

[Laffy Kat]

4. Thanks, that's what I ended up doing. nt

[dawg day]

2. I leave the top off while heating up to saute.

It heats up pretty quick, so there's no real advantage in putting the top on then.

Also it makes cleanup easier if you spray the upper part of the pan with cooking spray.

[Laffy Kat]

3. Thanks. The recipe I was following wasn't clear about the lid.

I appreciate the cooking spray tip.

[mahina]

6. You don't need to put the lid on to saut. It heats up really quickly.

I love mine. It's an older one now but I love it.

Hot tip: those handles are made to hold the lid vertically.

Beans from dry rocks to yummy healthy food, an hour.

I can make a meal the night before or morning and have a hot meal ready to eat as soon as we walk in the door at night.

You can even cook frozen meat if that's your thing, without any problem.

There are heaps of videos. Enjoy!

[Laffy Kat]

7. Thanks! My sister raves about hers and suggested I join an on-line group.

I don't know if I'll go that far, but I have been watching some videos and looking at recipes.

[Blue_playwright]

8. Hard boiled eggs

Amazing, fast and easy to peel. Especially if you need a lot of them at once. Did two dozen once for potato salad.

[Laffy Kat]

9. That is one of the reasons I bought it!

I eat boiled eggs several times a week and I never remember to make them before I want one. I haven't looked up the directions yet, but have any tips?

[Dave in VA]

13. 5, 5, 5

I use the 5, 5, 5 method. Set on manual setting for five minutes. Unplug (or turn off) instant pot and wait 5 minutes and then release the pressure. Place all the eggs in an ice water bath for five minutes. Peel and use the ones you want and put the remaining ones in the refrigerator for a few days and eat when you want! Easy, peasy!

Love our instant pot. Lots and lots of videos and recipes online. Google is your friend!!

[Blue_playwright]

19. That's pretty much what I do! Nt

[Laffy Kat]

22. I made some this morning an can't believe how easy to peel.

[fierywoman]

10. Beans ! Frozen meat! Yeah there's a learning curve but tons of info on youtube.

BRILLIANT for bone broth.

Personally I've discovered steaming eggs to hard boil them in order to remove the shells easily (non IP, obviously.)

There's a slew of Indian recipes made so much easier by IP.

[emmaverybo]

11. Great for pot roast, though takes me somewhat longer than the recipe usually calls for. Glad you

reminded me. Sometimes I forget I have this handy thing.

[Backseat Driver]

12. We can learn together. Made my first beef stew in it tonight.

Came out pretty good, though. Excited to try all the recipes and learn these fast techniques. I used an old-fashioned one with the rocking weight years ago, but since then I've had electric ranges. I found maintaining the pressure temperature too tricky, and haven't used one since. My kid re-gifted her InstaPot to me, and bought her husband a NinjaFoodie appliance. He's the chef in their house!

[Laffy Kat]

23. Thanks, Backseat Driver.

Keep me posted on any new tips you discover. The IP has gotten me interested in cooking again, so I'm excited about it.

[Backseat Driver]

25. Here's what I used:

https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-beef-stew/

I liked this site because it showed recipes and available accessories: I absolutely NEED that small springform pan for InstaPot CHEESECAKE!

[iamateacher]

14. I love to use it to make soup or chili

I like the saute feature for onions, garlic, etc. then put the rest of the ingredients into the pot, put the lid on, then pressure cook. Can make minestrone in 3 minutes with precooked beans.
I have found many good recipes online (I don't like videos) but the cookbook included with the pot is not bad and have bought two books that are useful.
One is "Vegan under Pressure" by Jill Nussinow which has handy charts for how long to cook grains, beans, vegetables...and I am not vegan.
The other is
The Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Cookbook by Laurel Randolph.
Homemade Mac and cheese in 5 minutes! Had it tonight...

[Sherman A1]

15. We have had one for about 3 years and used it

that many times. One of those being as a slow cooker. I just can't get into the process, but I do need to give it another try.

[get the red out]

16. I have used mine a lot

I use mine almost constantly, I make stews, made black beans then arlier in the week.i use it for rice a lot! I am sure more. I also love that I can brown the meat, leave it there and move on! I wouldn’t be happy without it in the kitchen!

There was a bit of a learning curve, but finding answers was easy.

[hlthe2b]

17. I use it twice a week to make yogurt; beans, soups, stews every other week....

It is almost always in use or in the dishwasher. When I got it, it gave me the opportunity to sell an expensive, fairly upscale and bulky slow cooker and to streamline my other pots.

I have never really enjoyed cooking so a way to cook enough to freeze portions for later use is a real "gift" to me.

There is so much it can do that I've never tried, but just not having to use multiple pans to saute the onions, garlic, bacon or other diced meat for beans or stews is great.

And yes, no better way to hard boil eggs.

[gollygee]

18. There are lots of good online resources

Check out pressureluckcooking.com

[Laffy Kat]

24. Thanks, I will. nt

[Dave in VA]

20. Laffy Kat

Don't mean to hijack your thread, but I would like to ask the team if anyone has used the instant pot with the slow cooker function. I have a couple of slow cookers that I use, but haven't tried the function on the instant pot. Again, LK, hope I'm not butting in!

PS: I love threads like this in DU. I believe that it really helps build us as a team. And we are a team. Sort of like siblings. We fuss, feud, argue, sometimes even wrestle in the mud with one another, but in the end; we are a team.

OK, back to cooking!

[Laffy Kat]

28. That's a great question.

One of the reasons I got my IP is because my Crock Pot finally died and the IP has the slow cooker option as well.

[tishaLA]

21. I'll never make stock another way again

I used the recipe for pressure cooker chicken stock on seriouseats.com and it's like magic with the flavor extraction.

I use it a lot for soups and stews, too, and because mine has a sous vide function, I always cook chicken breasts in it--the texture is better than any other method I've used.

[procon]

26. Makes fast, easy one pot meals.

Here are some of my favorites: you can find many tasty variations for these recipes on line.


Spaghetti and meat balls with thick marinara sauce.

Mac and Cheese, with or without ground beef.

Chili!

Stews and Soups.

Tuna and Noodles

Chicken and rice casserole

Beef or Chicken Fajitas

Teriyaki Beef Bowl with Rice and Broccoli

Goulash

Bean Soup made with dried beans

Beef Stroganoff

Meat filling for Tacos and Burritos

Baked potatoes

Ratatouille

Whole Baked Chicken

Scalloped or Au Gratin Potatoes



Have fun trying new recipes!

[marigold20]

27. OK I guess

I've made soup and pressure cooked potatoes so far. The potatoes were fine but I think my old Presto stovetop pressure cooker was faster - plus I could put the pan under a stream of cold water and release the pressure very quickly.

My gripe is the size - it's so big and heavy. I have a small kitchen and can't leave it out on the counter. So I have to drag it out of a lower cabinet each time I want to use it.

I'm thinking I'll use it mainly as a slow cooker.

[Laffy Kat]

29. Yes, the size is an issue, I agree.

One of the things I don't like about my house is the tiny kitchen. I got the smallest IP I could and I'm still going to have to keep it out on my counter when not in use and I don't like appliances on my counter.