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Everything You Need to Know About the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

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Inside: Everything You Need to Know About the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

I first heard about the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker a couple of years ago. There were rumblings about its awesomeness. Bloggers were extolling its virtues. It was proclaimed as The Best New Kitchen Appliance since the invention of the Crock Pot. That’s why I’m sharing Everything You Need to Know About the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker

At first I was a little skeptical until my Crock Pot boiled over into my kitchen cabinets and drawers. That messy incident caused me to take a chance on the Instant Pot. It was kitchen appliance love at first site.

Everything you need to know about the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker PLUS 10 Quick & Easy Recipes to get you started.

I’m Going to Answer All of Your Instant Pot Questions

The Instant Pot is actually the brand name for a programmable countertop multi-cooker. A what? To be specific ~ a single countertop appliance capable of performing multiple functions. It, essentially, replaces the following:

  • Slow Cooker
  • Pressure Cooker  
  • Rice Cooker
  • Steamer
  • Sauté/Browning Pan
  • Yogurt Maker
  • Warming Pan

What makes this pot so awesome?

instant pot
  • Forget to thaw out something for dinner. No problem-o. The Instant Pot can handle it.
  • Baked potatoes cook in minutes and they are so fluffy on the inside.
  • Veggies cook in about 5 minutes, as in, frozen broccoli in 5 minutes or less. And, the nutrients are preserved.
  • It’s also a slow cooker. Did you catch that – it’s a slow cooker that doesn’t boil over. When it’s finished slow cooking, it goes to the Warm setting. Your food doesn’t continue to cook ~ the IP keeps it warm!
  • It makes nutritious bone broth w/gelatin in about 2 hours. Not in 2 days, 2 hours!
  • It’s a Yogurt Maker
  • It’s a steamer – I can steam veggies or fish. Occasionally, I use the steamer to clean my IP!
  • It’s a rice cooker. Perfect rice in about 10 minutes. Not gummy rice, not burned rice, perfect, fluffy rice
  • A pot of beans can cook in under 10 minutes (as long as they’ve been soaked)
  • Perfect hard boiled eggs ~ no boiling required.

This single appliance has literally changed the way I cook. Most days I use the Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker features. Because of this, I spend less time in my kitchen and more time doing the things I love.

My grocery basket is now filled with vegetables because the IP perfectly cooks them and doesn’t destroy the nutrients. Once a week I cook up a batch of hard boiled egg for quick breakfasts. I no longer buy store-bought yogurt because it’s so easy to make my own.

The saute/browning feature means I can saute veggies and brown meat in a single pot before setting the slow cooker.

I occasionally toss things in the pot and set the Warming feature. It will warm up your food and then keep it warm for hours. You could put frozen soup into the pot in the morning, set it on Warm, and have perfectly heated soup for dinner ten hours later.

Is it Safe?

I bet you’re wondering why I would want a pressure cooker. Don’t they occasionally explode and leave sweet potatoes on the ceiling?

Well, this is a not your grandmother’s pressure cooker. It has numerous built-in safety features that are electronically controlled. It is impossible to open the lid until the the pressure has been released ~ either naturally or manually.

There are Several Instant Pot Models

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  1. Instant Pot makes a variety of different models with the most popular being the Instant Pot 7-in-1 Pressure Cooker. This is the model I own and use daily. It has a 6 quart stainless steel liner pot and and performs all seven functions. The size is perfect for my small family but large enough for big events.
  2. IP makes a less expensive model called the Instant Pot Lux-60 Pressure Cooker. This model is almost identical to the one above, except it doesn’t have a Low Pressure or Yogurt setting. Otherwise, it cooks everything the same. If you’re on a tight budget, watch for Amazon sales and you can sometimes pick this one up for half off.
  3. IP makes a blue-tooth enabled model which syncs with a smart phone. There are several downloadable recipe programs included in the app. Other than the blue-tooth functionality, this one works identical to the #1 on this list.
  4. IP also makes an 8 quart model called the Instant Pot IP-DUO80. If you have a large family or like to batch cook, then you will want to get the 8 quart model. This one functions the same as #1.
  5. There are a couple of accessories I recommend you get. IP makes a Tempered Glass Lid which is great for slow cooking or the Warm feature. There is a 6 quart model and an 8 quart model. Be sure to get the correct one for your Instant Pot.
  6. I also recommend getting an additional Sealing Ring. The silicone rings can hold smells and possible flavor foods such as yogurt with something undesirable, like broccoli. The sealing rings are dishwasher safe and need to be replaced once a year, depending on how often you use your IP. Be sure to purchase the correct size for your IP.

Instant Pot Recipes I Use All the Time

  1. Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Granola
  2. Holiday Meal Favorites – Green Beans, Cranberry Sauce, and Yams
  3. Easiest Pot Roast Ever
  4. Chicken & Rice Soup (Includes Rice recipe)
  5. Healthy Broccoli Cheese Soup
  6. Vegetable Beef Soup
  7. Elderberry Syrup
  8. Pumpkin Puree
  9. Perfect Corn on the Cob
  10. Hard Boiled Eggs

 

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