Anyone Own An Instant Pot?

betsygee

Just what part of meow don't you understand.
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Messages
28,334
Purraise
17,477
Location
Central Coast CA, USA

sivyaleah

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
6,259
Purraise
5,222
Location
New Jersey
Free download on Amazon of an Instant Pot cookbook -

I guess you have to join their free reading subscription to get that downloaded. There's a 30 day free trial. I may take advantage to try it out but I think the last time I looked through the Kindle free books there wasn't much I was interested in.

As for other things, I've now used the Instant Pot 3x. So far, so good! My first try was beef stew. I did not follow an exact recipe so it didn't quite come out the way I hoped for (more a soup than stew) but was still delicious and easy to put together.

Second was a split pea soup. WIN! Perfect consistency and flavor.

Third was risotto. This was very good but, I did make a mistake by not paying attention to the timing of the pressure release as I got slightly distracted by cats. Imagine that? LOL. Anyway, it went a couple of minutes more than I wanted it to and did effect the outcome of the rice's mouth feel - somewhat too thick. I'm very critical about risotto as it's one of my specialties done on the stove top. Overall, it was extremely tasty (I put in mushrooms and topped it with left over shredded short ribs) and much less stuff to clean up afterward plus not having to stand and stir for 18 minutes. I'll make this again for sure - but pay much better attention to the timing.

It's a lot less intimidating to use as you go along. Pretty effortless. Happy to report this appliance will not be one of those sitting around collecting dust (in fact, finally removed my under-utilized bread maker from the counter to the closet to make room for the IP).
 

sivyaleah

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
6,259
Purraise
5,222
Location
New Jersey
Just noticed that cook book is 99 cents to download.
I can afford that LOL. Took a "look inside" and it seems useful so I'm buying it. Thanks for the tip AbbysMom AbbysMom
 

AbbysMom

At Abby's beck and call
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
78,303
Purraise
19,406
Location
Massachusetts
I was going to say that I never signed up for any subscription. :lol:

Glad the Instant Pot is working OK for you. :)
 

Kieka

Snowshoe Servant
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Sep 6, 2016
Messages
11,394
Purraise
19,968
Location
Southern California
I got my Mom an Instant Pot for Christmas and she said she's in love. She's been cooking almost every meal in it. Ive noticed the meats end up being a lot softer then regular cooking. She did use a stove pot pressure cooker for some things before and said that she would never go back. Yesterday was the first day since Christmas she didn't use it. Funny thing was she made split pea soup and cooked it stove top. But she's gotten used to it taking under an hour to cook things and mistimed the soup. It wasn't ready until almost 9pm and my Dad is on meds that he has to eat at 6pm.... Soup tomorrow instead.
 

blueyedgirl5946

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Sep 10, 2005
Messages
14,593
Purraise
1,695
I have finally read through these comments. Because I have the pressure cooker and the crock pot, I just don't think I will be buying the instant pot. Everyone who has it, have fun. :yummy:
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,839
Purraise
13,146
Location
Columbus OH
I just got back from buying one so I haven't tried it. I have gotten into this thing of eating a things like sandwiches or takeout a lot on workdays, I thought this might help me break that habit. I don't like leaving the crock pot on while I am gone. I did it when I was making meals for the kids, I wanted them to have real meals but I didn't like doing it. I won't do it just to cook for myself. I don't have a pressure cooker. I like the idea of being able to brown something in it first and then switching to a pressure cooker.

I thought about getting the Ninja Foodie but after reading about it it wouldn't work for me. I am back in an apartment with limited counter space and it takes up a lot of space. The fryer lid isn't detachable, it stays up while using the pressure cooker so it can't be used on a counter that is under cabinets.
 

betsygee

Just what part of meow don't you understand.
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Messages
28,334
Purraise
17,477
Location
Central Coast CA, USA
We still use ours a lot. Hubby's favorite thing is chicken noodle soup. I use it for yogurt, beans, and just recently I made applesauce in it. :yummy:
 

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
OK, I don't know if anyone can answer this---I have an electric pressure cooker. Is that basically the same as an Instant Pot? It kind of looks like an IP. I got it about a year before the IP came out so I think it might be almost the same. So far I've only used it to make rice, and chicken for the cats, lol, but if it's substantially similar to the Instant Pot that does give me a lot of recipes to try. . .
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,839
Purraise
13,146
Location
Columbus OH
The instant pot is an electric pressure cooker with some additional feature. It can be used as a slow cooker and a saute pan to brown before using it as a pressure cooker or crock pot. Saves using an extra skillet to brown first.
 

Willowy

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Mar 1, 2009
Messages
31,886
Purraise
28,287
Location
South Dakota
Thanks, yeah, I found a Quora that answered the question of what the differences are. I think I'll try some IP recipes and see how they turn out.
 

Kat0121

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 23, 2014
Messages
15,036
Purraise
20,363
Location
Sunny Florida
Thanks, yeah, I found a Quora that answered the question of what the differences are. I think I'll try some IP recipes and see how they turn out.
Try this website. I love this guy. There's a link on the page to his Youtube channel. LOTS of different recipes. He's very engaging and his videos are easy to follow

Home
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,730
Purraise
28,024
Location
In the kitchen
W Willowy , check your pressure cooker out; some of the newer ones can brown and saute chicken, ground beef, etc. I can brown ground beef in my pressure cooker and I've browned chicken as well.

I have a PC, so never bought an instant pot. But you can use your PC for lots of instant pot recipes.
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,839
Purraise
13,146
Location
Columbus OH
I found a recipe for Chicken and Brown Rice that I think will be my first attempt. It looks interesting. Saute the onions, garlic,and dry spices. Add the chicken, broth, carrots and brown rice then cook on high pressure for 22 minutes, I will see how it goes. I have leftovers right now so it will probably be a couple of days.
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,839
Purraise
13,146
Location
Columbus OH
I did the water test and it is completely quiet. The screen said that it was working but it was silent. The last pressure cooker I was around was the one that my parents had, my mother wouldn't use it because she was afraid of it. It didn't even have a gauge, it just had this thing on top that rocked and you judged the pressure by how fast it was rocking. That thing made a lot of noise. I did a quick release and yes it was working.
 

Winchester

In the kitchen with my cookies
Veteran
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
29,730
Purraise
28,024
Location
In the kitchen
My pressure canner is like that, with the ***** on the top that rocked. I use it to can certain foods (honey glazed red onions, for example). But I can't use it on our glass top stove; the bottom is too round and it never comes to pressure. Rick takes it outside on our gas grill to can. My pressure cooker is electric and very easy to use. But I still don't leave it unattended in the kitchen.
 

denice

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
18,839
Purraise
13,146
Location
Columbus OH
I made the Chicken and Brown Rice and it is really good. I am not normally a big fan of brown rice but I really like this. It made a lot and it's really filling with the brown rice, I don't know if I can finish it in 3 days which is my limit on leftovers. I don't know how something like chicken and rice would freeze but I may try it.
 

AbbysMom

At Abby's beck and call
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
May 18, 2005
Messages
78,303
Purraise
19,406
Location
Massachusetts
I don't know how something like chicken and rice would freeze but I may try it.
So late here, but it should be OK. The rice may get a little mushier, but it shouldn't be awful.
 
Top