The Instant Pot is a time-saving and convenient electric pot that allows you to cook dinner fast. The electric pot can perform various cooking functions. For example, it can be used as a steamer, pressure cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, and rice cooker.
The Instant Pot Duo is compact and priced reasonably. In this review, you’ll learn about the pot, how to use it, its benefits, as well as a couple of recipes to help you get started.
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How to Use an Instant Pot
You can use the Instant Pot Duo as a:
Pressure Cooker
To use the pot as a pressure cooker, you’ll need a recipe that’s suitable for pressure cooking. If you choose to cook chicken or meat, avoid chicken breasts and lean meat. These two don’t cook well. Instead, choose cuts with a lot of connective tissue and fat. Meat with bones, such as pork and beef ribs, also cook well.
Pulses and grains can also be pressure cooked using the Instant Pot. However, first check the rules regarding fill lines, if you intend to start with dried ingredients. Vegetables also cook quickly but become too tender.
Rice Cooker
This Instant Pot function works well with basmati rice. When you remove the lid, the rice will be at the bottom but will have to be fluffed up immediately. If you love fried rice, use this Instant Pot setting. The cooked rice will dry quickly and not stick on the bottom.
Slow Cooker
The Instant Pot can function as a slow cooker, using steam instead of pressure. However, if you like slow cooking, purchase a glass lid. The pot has a strong lid seal and a good heat source at the bottom. However, it needs to be very hot to slow-cook meals.
Steps For Cooking Using An Instant Pot
Follow the steps below to cook using an Instant Pot:
- Make sure the lid seal is clean and in place
- Ensure the Instant Pot is in sauté mode, if the ingredients you’ve requires browning first
- Add other ingredients required for your recipe
- Check the fill line and make sure you’ve enough water.
- Lock the lid
- Ensure the pot’s valve is positioned to sealing
- Choose the function you intend to use and set the timer
- Wait until the pressure rises
- Start the timer after you hear the beeping sound that signals you’re cooking
- Press the cancel button or follow the quick-release rules and allow the pot to depressurize when the timer ends the beep. However, the food will continue cooking.
- Use the sauté function if you want to thicken your sauce.
How to Use the Electric Pot Safely
Using the Instant Pot correctly is critical for your safety as well as the lifespan of the device.
To start off, do not put alcohol inside the Instant Pot. When pressured, alcohol can turn into vapor and escape via the steam valve, and likely cause a fire.
If you aren’t following a particular recipe, follow the instructions on the device concerning the fill line to be used when cooking different foods.Following the instructions is important since some ingredients, e.g., dried beans, increase in size while cooking. The increase in size creates froth and a lot of bubbles which can cause the valve to block.
To avoid this problem, never go beyond the halfway line. Also, avoid peering over the pot’s top when it’s venting steam to prevent it from shooting out fast. Keep in mindthat the pot can vent if the pressure keeps rising.
Benefits of an Instant Pot
So, why would you want to use an Instant Pot over other types of cookers? Here are some reasons why:
- The pot performs the work of many appliances, thus freeing up a lot of space in the kitchen
- The pot has the sauté function for frying. This setting will save you from having to brown ingredients and frying onions first.
- Unlike other pressure cookers, the Instant Pot has half and max fill lines. These lines are crucial for safety.
- The pot can cook to tenderness tough cuts of chicken or meat in 30 minutes.
- It doesn’t make noise when cooking.
- It cooks dry chickpeas quickly.
Instant Pot Recipes
Now that you know how the Instant Pot works and some of its benefits, how about a couple of recipes to get you started with your cooker?
Rice Recipe
Measure the rice you want to cook in a mug or cup and use the same mug for measuring water.
Wash your rice then put it in the electric pot. Add one and half mugs of water for every mug of rice. Let the rice cook for three minutes on high before pressing “cancel”. Release pressure after 10 minutes.
Chickpeas Recipe
You can pre-soak your chickpeas before cooking them to reduce cooking time. However, avoid cooking too many as they increase in volume. Ensure you don’t exceed the half fill line.
Wash the chickpeas before putting them in the pot and add 4 mugs of water. Cook for 40 minutes using high pressure. Drain excess water as it will make the chickpeas to become thick.