By now, you’ve surely heard of the Instant Pot®. It’s all the rage on social media. Moms are swapping recipes. Heck, they even have their own online community! Maybe you got one for Christmas. But what exactly is this thing? Could it really be that great? And is it safe? We’re here to answer some of those questions so you know whether to dive in or take cover.
What Is an Instant Pot?
Simply put, it’s a programmable, electric pressure cooker. The makers boast that it offers “delicious and affordable cooking, using smart technology.” The Instant Pot is a seven-in-one kitchen appliance. In theory, it should be able to replace your slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté/browning pan and warming pot.
How Does It Work?
The Instant Pot consists of three main components — a stainless steel pot with a tight-fitting lid that sits inside an electric heating unit. The high temperature combined with the pressure in the pot forces hot steam into the food, causing it to cook quickly and evenly. A valve releases steam as needed to avoid too much pressure from building. For a more technical explanation, click here.
To use your Instant Pot:
- Set it to the proper pressure level (low, medium or high).
- Set the appropriate cooking time (the timer will not start counting down until the pressure is built up — approximately five to 20 minutes).
- Make sure the steam valve is in the locked, sealed position … and that’s it!
- When it’s done cooking, it will automatically switch to the “keep warm” function and begin to slowly release pressure — which takes up to 30 minutes.
Is It Safe?
If you’ve ever heard horror stories about stove-top pressure cookers exploding or causing steam burns, you may be hesitant to plug in the Instant Pot. But the good news is, they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure safety. In fact, Instant Pot offers multiple safety features that stove-top pressure cookers don’t.
Electric pressure cookers are fully automated. Much like with your trusted slow cooker, you can just turn it on and walk away. Once it reaches the right pressure and temperature, it stays there. And if the pressure or temperature start getting too high, it will automatically shut off — explosion averted.
You can also feel comfortable with the safety of your food. Unlike nonstick cooking surfaces, the stainless steel pot presents no threat of harmful chemicals. 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 Is It So Popular?
If it seems like people are strangely passionate about their Instant Pot, there’s a good reason why.
Benefits of cooking with an Instant Pot:
- You’ll have a lot more kitchen space since it does the job of seven appliances.
- Meals can be on the table up to 70 percent faster than with other cooking methods.
- You can conserve energy. It’s the second most energy efficient kitchen appliance, after the microwave.
- You aren’t chained to the kitchen! You can set it and forget it; just like a slow cooker — only faster.
- Your whole house won’t smell like tonight’s dinner. Since it’s completely sealed, aromas stay with your food — where they belong!
- Food will maintain its nutrients. Since you only use a small amount of water to create steam, nutrients will stay with your food instead of dissolving in water.
- Your food will be safer. Since the food is cooked at such a high temperature, almost all harmful living micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, are killed.
Bottom Line
The Instant Pot offers a lot of great benefits, including convenience, nutrition and safety. If you’re looking for an appliance that gets flavorful meals on the table fast, this is definitely one to try.
Just be sure to read the manual before you use your Instant Pot for the first time. It’s simple to use, but it’s important that you learn how to use it correctly. Follow all the instructions, and it should be smooth sailing.
Once you’re ready to dive in, try some of these recipes!
FAQs
The Instant Pot Duo is proud to proclaim it's a “7-in-1” appliance, featuring the following functions: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker, and Warmer. The device has its temperature and pressure sensors dialed in, resulting in precise results when cooking.
What is the 10 minute natural pressure release on the Instant Pot? ›
A Natural Pressure Release means pressure within the Instant Pot is released in a very gradual manner (as opposed a Quick Release which forces the steam out quickly) so it's perfect for foods that are primarily liquid (like soups) or “foamy” foods (those high in starch content that tend to foam when cooking like ...
How long can I leave an Instant Pot on to keep warm? ›
Instant Pot also switches to a “warm” setting when it's done cooking, keeping food at a safe temperature for up to 10 hours.
How much water to put in a pressure cooker for meat? ›
Add Liquid
“Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water. When learning how to use a pressure cooker, make sure the unit is never more than two-thirds full of liquid, so the steam has enough space to accumulate.
Is the 9-in-1 Instant Pot worth it? ›
This is a MUST HAVE for your kitchen!
Very easily, this is one of the best items you can purchase for your kitchen. 9-in-1, or any other kind of Instant Pot, in the 6-quart size, is more than adequate for many of your cooking options. It's an excellent rice cooker, and excellent pressure cooker for all other things.
Does quick release make meat tough? ›
Does Quick Release Make Meat Tough? Quick release does not necessarily make your meat tough.
What is the longest natural release on Instant Pot? ›
To perform a natural release, simply let the Instant Pot sit until the pressure naturally releases and goes back to normal. It's the most common release used in Instant Pot recipes and can take as little as five minutes and as much as 30 minutes.
Can I leave my Instant Pot on slow cook all day? ›
If you are slow cooking in the Instant Pot, you should be able to leave your dish cooking overnight for as long as the recipe dictates.
Can I leave soup in the Instant Pot overnight? ›
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 degree F.)
Is it safe to leave the house with Instant Pot on? ›
Are Instant Pots safe to leave unattended? 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.
Avoid cooking deep-fried foods, cream-based soups, cakes, fruit desserts, and spinach in a pressure cooker. Deep-fried foods won't be crispy, cream-based soups may curdle, cakes may lose texture, fruit desserts can become mushy, and spinach can turn mushy too quickly.
What is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker? ›
Best Cuts for Your Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot
You can cook any cut in a multi-cooker, but we recommend those from the chuck and round. These beef cuts typically take hours to prepare using braising and roasting methods.
Can you open a pressure cooker while cooking? ›
Most modern electric pressure cookers make it impossible for someone to open them while pressure is building on the inside. But, regardless, you shouldn't attempt to open one while it's in use. If you need to open your cooker while food is cooking, turn it off first and release the pressure before opening.
What are the functions of instant pot duo 7-in-1? ›
Instant Pot DUO 60 Duo 7-in-1 Smart Cooker, 5.7L - Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Sauté Pan, Yoghurt Maker, Steamer and Food Warmer, Brushed Stainless Steel.
What is the difference between the Instant Pot 7-in-1 and 9-in-1? ›
7-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer. 9-in-1: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Yogurt Maker, Egg Cooker, Sauté, Steamer, Warmer, Sterilizer (plus cake setting)
What do the different Instant Pot settings do? ›
Within 10 seconds of setting your cooking time, press the 'adjust' key to toggle between 'less' (keep warm mode on a CrockPot), 'regular' (low on a CrockPot), and 'more' (high on a CrockPot.)
What does 9-in-1 mean for Instant Pot? ›
9-in-1 Cooking: pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steam, sauté, yogurt, sous vide, cake and keep warm.
