Asked July 23, 2022, 10:01 PM EDT
Hello, I have heard from friends that they cook food in their Instant Pot and leave it on "keep warm" for hours afterwards. One gal said that she cooks her beans in the evening and then leaves them in the Instant Pot overnight to eat for breakfast. Is there some reason the food would be safe to eat if handled in this manner? It doesn't seem safe to me, but maybe the Instant Pot provides some protection? Thank you for your help. Pat
Lane County Oregon
Expert Response
The Instant pot can work like a slow cooker and when you leave it on a warm setting it will keep the food around 140 F so bacteria won't multiply. There would be a problem if they turned off the instant pot and left it over night. As long as the food stays warm out of the danger zone (40-140 degreeF.) it should be safe to eat.
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Nellie Oehler
An Ask Extension Expert Replied July 25, 2022, 1:18 PM EDT
