For the last ten years people have been raving about one appliance, but does the Instant Pot hold up? If you haven’t already gotten one, or maybe you have but you haven’t opted to open it or use it much, we’ll walk you through them. What are they, what do they do, do they really work, and what can you make with them? We’ll go through all of these.
A quick note first, it’s an Instant Pot, not an Instapot. We had it pointed out to us.
Before we dig in, let’s clarify one thing, Instant Pot is a specific brand of ‘all in one appliances.’ Cusininart, Breville, Gourmia, TaoTronics, Mealthy and Ninja Foodi all have multi function pressure cookers that they sell, with similar functions. So why has this type of appliance become so popular? At first it was a novelty, and then it was realized that it was a very solid option. It saves both time and space within your kitchen, without sacrificing versatility. We’re going to focus specifically on the Instant Pot brand for this article and see if after 10 years it still holds up to the hype.
What is an Instant Pot and how does it work?
While the different functions will vary based on which model you pick, there are some basic programs that will be available on most models.
-Slow cooker
-Pressure cooker (most models let you choose high or low pressure, or specific pressure settings like poultry or meat/stew)
-Rice cooker
-Steamer
-Saute/browning
-Yogurt maker
-Warmer
The community has also gotten inventive and found that you can do all sorts of things with different inserts such as cupcake molds, springform pans, or aluminum foil.
Tip! Using aluminum foil lets you keep ingredients separate from each other which means you can cook your meats and veggies at the same time.
Do they REALLY work?
-How does the food taste?
From experience, meats are amazing. Fall off the bone tender, juicy and utterly fantastic. (90 minutes to get this. Just 90 minutes!)
Vegetables are something we’re still experimenting with to figure out. Sometimes, they turn out amazing! Other times not so much. The one thing we’ve seen is that you don’t cook them with as much water as you think, or for as long.
-Doesn’t that high heat destroy the nutrients?
Nope! While it’s true that your food is going to go well above the boiling temperature when cooked in the Instant Pot, it’s not like cooking in a normal pot. Cooking at high pressure allows the heat to be distributed quickly and evenly throughout so you don’t have to immerse foods in water. In fact, you only need enough water to create the needed amount of steam and pressure within the Pot. Usually a cup is enough. This means that the nutrients don’t leech into the water, nor do they get oxidized by exposure to air.
-Doesn’t that mean I can over-cook the food?
Nope. Instant Pot has both sensors and self-regulating features for both temperature and the amount of pressure.
Are there any rules to using them?
-An important first note before saying ‘it doesn’t work.’
The Instant Pot (and all pressure cookers really) have to pressurize before the cooking countdown begins. You also have to wait at the end of the process to properly release the pressure. Depending on your model, you might have a ‘quick release’ feature. These times need to be counted into your recipe math.
-Meals with less liquid will come up to pressure faster than those with a lot of liquid. For example meats vs soups.
-If you need to thaw and then cook something, the best thing to do is just follow the normal cooking process in the recipe. The food will fully thaw as the Instant Pot comes to pressure.
-If you’re one to prep your foods ahead of time, make sure that they’re frozen in either bowls or boxes that will fit into the pot easily.
-Layer your foods carefully.
Because the Instant Pot works via bottom burners, it’s possible to burn your food. If the foods at the bottom don’t have enough moisture they can burn. The good news is that the Pot has sensors that will shut off power if it looks like this is happening.
-Wash carefully and often!
The Pot has a silicone ring for the locking lid. The ring is great but it’s silicone and that means it absorbs smells over time. If you notice that building up, take it out and wash it by hand, and here’s the link for how to clean it from over at The Kitchn.
-Check out “5 ways you’re using it wrong.”
What things can you make with an Instant Pot?
The list is frankly huge. There are entire sites and numerous books devoted to Instant Pot recipes.
You can also check out the Good Housekeeping tried and tested recipes. No we’re not getting advertising money for this, though we wish!
Or check out what The Kitchn has for recipes.
But if you want a list, try these random suggestions:
-Frozen foods
-Pasta with spinach, starch and veggies
-Meats
-Cheesecake
-Mac & cheese
-Giant Pancakes!
- Veggies with rice and tikka masala
- Soup
-Stock
-Chilis galore!
-Steel Cut Oats
-Frozen chickens (Yes really, the heat and pressure means the bacteria is killed)
- Baked potatoes -super creamy on the inside and if you want them to be crispy, toss them under the broiler for just a few minutes
-There are people who have found ways to make crispy vegetables too!
Should you get one?
If you do choose to buy one, keep this in mind.
A 3-quart pot is best for a small family of two or three people.
The 5 and 6 quart sizes are best for families of 4-6.
The 8-quart is large enough for families of six or more, or if you entertain better.
-If you’re busy and on the go often, there are models like the Wi-Fi enabled version that allow you to monitor and control it via your smart phone.
-Like we said up top, Instant Pot is the most well-known, but it’s not the only player in the game. If you want to buy one, it’s smart to check out all of the options. You might find one with additional features that fit your life better or a lower price tag.
Although we will say that Instant Pot does go on sale quite often.
So to us, yeah, we’d say that the Instant Pot has proven itself to be a useful appliance. It can replace several different appliances and people are still coming up with inventive ways to put it to use. Whether you have a lot of time to prep and plan or you need to get food together fast, the Instant Pot is dead useful.
Did that help? Do you feel like your questions about the Instant Pot have been answered? Let us know over at our Facebook! If we didn’t, and you tell us what we missed, we can always do a follow up post in the future.
If you live in Dallas or the surrounding areas and your appliances aren’t working properly, we want to help! You can call us at (214) 599-0055 or click here to set up an appointment with one of our technicians.