FAQs | Instant Pot (2024)

Which Instant Pot is right for me?

“Most models come in a variety of sizes, measured by their capacity in Liters: 5,7 or 8 5,7 Liters (6 Quart): This size is suitable for feeding a family of 3 to 6 people and is our most popular size. 8 Liters (8 Quart): Cook for up to 8 people with this size or use it for large batch meal preparation. Visit our Product Comparison Chart for details on all models. “

Is Instant Pot Safe?

“Yes! We at Instant Brands pride ourselves in designing best-in-class appliances that are convenient, dependable and above all, safe. Instant Pot electric pressure cookers are designed with at least 10 safety mechanisms to ensure your safety.”

How many appliances does the Duo replace?

“The Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker, capable of replacing your traditional pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, rice cooker, yogurt maker and food warmer. It alsho has 14 Smart Programs: Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Sauté/Simmer, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Slow Cook, Keep Warm, Yogurt, Manual, and Pressure Cook. Now, your favorite dishes are as easy as pressing a button”

How many appliances does the Duo Plus replace?

“The Instant Pot Duo Plus is a 9-in-1 electric pressure cooker, capable of replacing your traditional pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, rice cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, sterilizer, Sous Vide, and food warmer. It also has 15 Programs: Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew, Sauté, Rice, Porridge/Oatmeal, Steam, Slow Cook, Yogurt, Keep Warm, Sterilizer, Egg, Pressure Cook, Sous Vide, Cake, and Bean/Grain”

Why do I need to do the initial test run?

The Initial Test Run helps you become familiar with how your Instant Pot works, ensures the cooker is operating at peak performance, and sterilizes the cooking chamber so you can start preparing your delicious dishes right away.

What is the inner pot made of?

“The stainless steel inner pot is made primarily from 304 (18/8) stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. The 3-ply bottom has an aluminum core for optimal heat dispersal, but no aluminum comes into contact with your food. With no chemical coating, the inner pot is compliant with FDA food safety standards. The steam rack is also made from food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, so you can be sure that all of your food is cooked safely.”

How do I know that it’s safe to open the lid after pressure cooking?

“Before opening the lid, make sure the float valve has dropped. Do not attempt to open the lid if the float valve is still up. Do not attempt to open the lid if it is locked and cannot be easily opened. Do not force the lid open at any time. If you cannot tell if the float valve has dropped, first turn the steam release handle to the Venting position. If no steam releases, use a long utensil to nudge the float valve down. There is an additional safety feature which won’t allow you to open the pot when it’s not safe to do so. Note: When opening the lid, the inner pot may adhere to the lid. This is caused by vacuum due to cooling. To release the vacuum, move the stream release handle to the Venting position.”

Are there foods I can’t put into the Instant Pot?

“Ingredients that are high in sugar content may trigger the burn warning. We recommend caution when cooking food such as applesauce, cranberries, pearl barley, oatmeal or other cereals, split peas, noodles, macaroni, rhubarb or spaghetti, as they tend to foam, froth or spatter and can cause clogging. When preparing these foods, do not fill the inner pot higher than the — 1/2 line as indicated on the inner pot and followed a trusted recipe. Note: Regular cleaning of the lid and its parts (e.g., steam release handle, anti-block shield, steam release pipe and float valve) is important for proper function and to ensure the cooker’s longevity.”

How much food and liquid should be in the inner pot when cooking?

“For pressure cooking, if you aren’t following a trusted recipe, pay attention to minimum liquid requirements and maximum fill lines as indicated on the inner pot. For non-pressure cooking, the minimum liquid requirements listed below do not apply. Minimum The recommended minimum amount of liquid for pressure cooking, unless otherwise specified in a recipe, depends on the size of the cooker. If a recipe specifies a certain amount, always follow the recipe. 5,7 Liters (6 Quart): 1 ½ cups (12 oz / 375 mL) 8 Liters (8 Quart): 2 cups (16 oz / 500 mL) Note: These liquids should be water-based, including stock, broth, juice and cooking sauces. Oils and oil-based sauces do not have enough water content to account for the required liquid volume. Add suitable liquid to thin condensed cream-based soups and thick sauces. Maximum When pressure cooking, do not fill the inner pot higher than the PC MAX — 2/3 line as indicated on the inner pot. When cooking foods that expand (e.g., rice, beans, pasta) do not fill the inner pot higher than the — 1/2 line as indicated on the inner pot. Overfilling the inner pot may risk clogging the steam release and developing excess pressure. This may cause leakage, personal injuries, or damage to the cooker.”

What is the voltage of the machine is it compatible in the Gulf countries?

Yes, the Instant Pot cookers we carry are all GCC compatible running on 220-240 Volts and 50 to 60 Hz.

FAQs | Instant Pot (2024)

FAQs

What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

  • Need more time to come to pressure.
  • Reaches pressure in the 10-11psi range. This is a distinct disadvantage because most published pressure cooker recipes require 15psi.
  • Bulkier, which is an issue if you have limited counter top space.
May 9, 2024

What is the rule of thumb for Instant Pot? ›

A good rule of thumb when using things like beans, rice, grains or pasta is to only fill your Instant Pot® to the ⅓ mark. What is this? Your other ingredients can then be added on top, but remember not to fill any higher than the ⅔ mark!

Can you leave an Instant Pot on and leave the house? ›

You can leave your Instant Pot unattended when using it to slow-cook food such as chicken bone broth. However, it's good practice to check on any electric cooking appliance every 10-15 minutes.

What should you never put in a pressure cooker? ›

Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. The high heat and pressure can cause dairy products to curdle or separate, ruining the texture, taste and flavour of the dish. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers.

How long is it safe to leave food in Instant Pot? ›

Instant Pot also switches to a “warm” setting when it's done cooking, keeping food at a safe temperature for up to 10 hours.

Why don t chefs use Instant Pot? ›

They are most commonly used in industrial settings to quickly prepare meat or stocks. However, in most scenarios, Elite Chefs avoid using pressure cookers because they provide less control over the final dish. Chefs often prefer slow cooking techniques that accentuate and pull out the flavors of the food.

Why I don't use an Instant Pot? ›

1. The Instant Pot doesn't cook things as quickly as it seems. While you can supposedly cook recipes such as potatoes, soup, stews, rice, and more in a shorter amount of time, there's a major catch: For most recipes, you have to wait for the machine to properly release the pressure slowly.

What is the average life of an Instant Pot? ›

The average lifespan of an Instant Pot ranges from 2-5 years, but it can last longer depending on how often it's used and how well-maintained it is. So it's safe to say Instant Pots aren't commonly being replaced, and may even be a one-time purchase.

What's the first thing I should cook in my Instant Pot? ›

When it comes to breaking your Instant Pot in, it's a good idea to start with some basic foods and simple meals you're already familiar with, then slowly expand your Instant Pot repertoire from there. Try making staples like eggs, sweet potatoes, rice, or lentils using just the pressure cooker function.

Can you overcook in an Instant Pot? ›

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat. Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.

What to avoid when using a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure Cooker Don'ts:
  1. Don't open the pressure cooker while cooking. ...
  2. Don't release the pressure before it's time. ...
  3. Don't overfill the pressure cooker. ...
  4. Don't add thickeners. ...
  5. Don't give up after one bad experience.
Oct 5, 2018

What happens if Instant Pot runs out of water? ›

Some of the things that can happen when your pressure cooker runs out of water include: A burn message. Automatic shutoff. The pressure valve or plug can melt.

Do you seal the Instant Pot when slow cooking? ›

Do you need to seal the valve? No, you shouldn't seal the lid if you're using the Instant Pot slow cooker function, as a tight seal will prevent the steam from escaping while cooking. You should use a tempered glass lid or cover the lid in tinfoil instead.

Is there anything you can't make in an Instant Pot? ›

In general, Instant Pots do so much more than just pressure cooking and can be used as a rice cooker, slow cooker, steamer yogurt maker, sauté pan, and a meal warmer.

Why shouldn't potatoes be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

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