Food

Instant Pot 101: How to Use Your Pressure Cooker

In recent years, you may have noticed that pressure cooking has become the new fad. And honestly, it’s not hard to see why! Pressure cookers are one of the most convenient cooking tools you can have. Not only do they cook things much quicker than the average appliance, but a pressure cooker is like having several appliances in one! No need to have a rice cooker, slow cooker, and steamer taking up space on your shelves when you can just buy one appliance that does it all.

In today’s post, we want to teach you all about pressure cooking, and more specifically, the Instant Pot, which you can purchase here.* Want to find out more? Keep reading!

*This is a paid link. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

What is a pressure cooker and how does it work?

A pressure cooker is a sealed pot that uses steam pressure to cook food quicker. A valve on top of the pressure cooker is used to control this steam pressure. When cooking, the valve should be closed, which allows steam to fill the pot and build up pressure as its heated. Using this method, food can be cooked up to 70% faster.

Why should I use a pressure cooker?

Pressure cookers are ideal for busy nights when you need dinner done quickly! You can cook dump meals and large cuts of meat in a fraction of the time it would take in a slow cooker. It’s also a safe method to thaw and cook frozen meats quickly.

Some other uses include:

Rice cooker
Steamer
Yogurt maker
Saute pan
Warmer

How to Use a Pressure Cooker

Before using your Instant Pot, always make sure:

the inner pot does not have any dents or scratches
the rubber ring around the inside of the lid is intact and free from tears
the pressure release valve is clean and free from debris

After you’ve checked these things, it’s time to move on to cooking! Just follow the steps below:

Put your ingredients in the pot, including a liquid. When pressure cooking, it’s important that you always include at least 1 cup of liquid in your recipe. This liquid is used to build up steam. It can be water, broth, etc.
Put the lid on. Make sure to turn the lid to secure it to the pot.
Move the pressure valve to the “sealed” position. This is important to ensure that the pot pressurizes.
Select the mode and the amount of time. The Instant Pot has several different modes: soup/broth, meat/stew, bean/chilli, poultry, rice, multigrain, porridge, steam, slow cook, sauce, yogurt and pressure cook. You can also change the pressure level or set a delay start if needed.
When done cooking, wait for the pressure to release. You can allow the pressure to naturally release, which will happen automatically when the time is done. Or you can do a quick release by turning the pressure release valve to the “unsealed” position.
After the pressure has been released, you can open the lid and enjoy! If you are not eating right away, the Instant Pot also has a “keep warm” function until you are ready.