It’s a slow cooker! It’s a rice cooker! It’s a steamer…no wait, it’s an instant pot.
If you haven’t heard, this 7-in-1 kitchen appliance* can multitask, functioning as an electric pressure cooker, saute/browning pan, warmer, and yogurt maker. Yes, you can make yogurt in the instant pot. And it's taking over the world by a storm (in fact, it's the most requested item on Amazon).
As much time, money, and space as the thing already saves you, there are always a few instant pot tips and hacks to make the most of the full wonderfulness of this kitchen sorcery.
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Jump to:
- Recommended resources
- Know how to convert your favorite recipes for the instant pot
- Use this cheat sheet for instant pot cooking times
- Use the pot-in-pot method to cook multiple items at once
- Get acquainted with saute mode
- Combine the instant pot with another mealtime saver
- Use the insta-pot in place of an oven or microwave
- Maximize those buttons
- Up your kitchen ante with the right instant pot accessories
- Use this cleaning hack to get rid of odor and stains in your instant pot
- Your insta-pot can keep baby healthy
- The instant pot isn’t only for cooking
- It can make you super popular among friends and family
- Conclusion
Recommended resources
- Our favorite instant pot*
- The best-selling instant pot steamer basket* that's stackable and perfect for pot in pot cooking
- You're going to want a few sets of these* so the flavors of your cooking don't mix in unappetizing ways
Know how to convert your favorite recipes for the instant pot
You should already know, by your basic knowledge of the instant pot, that cooking in a pressure cooker is definitely not the same as traditional stovetop or oven.
One example, is how milk and high heat don’t do well together. If your recipe does call for some dairy products, add them AFTER your meal is cooked and the appliance depressurized. This will prevent your meal from getting burnt and ruined. (via My Crazy Good Life)
Use this cheat sheet for instant pot cooking times
Foods don’t all cook the same in the pot. To avoid the confusion of keeping track of the individual cook times of every ingredient, use this handy electric pressure cooker time chart. Stick in a sheet protector* and tape to the cupboard just above your beloved instant pot for easy reference. (via One Good Thing by Jillee)
Use the pot-in-pot method to cook multiple items at once
You don’t necessarily need to use a pot for this, but any oven-safe glass container* or even this stackable stainless steel steamer basket* will do. The idea is to keep foods you don’t want mixing together separated yet still cooked in one go.
Pro tip: Cut down your cooking time, literally. If you’re worried about the different cook times of your food items with the pot-in-pot method, cut the foods that take longer to cook into smaller pieces. You should also place these foods on the bottom, and quicker cooking foods on top for the best use of heat. (via Once a Month Meals)
Get acquainted with saute mode
The pressure cooker function can already cut your cooking time in half, but it still takes 10-20 minutes for the pressure to build up before your insta-pot can do its speedy cooking thing.
One workaround is to set to saute mode and throw in some foods that could use sautéing. Use the time to prepare the rest of your ingredients, toss in, then switch to pressure cooking, since the heat builds up faster this way. (via The Krazy Coupon Lady)
Combine the instant pot with another mealtime saver
Hot and cold unite with the instant pot and freezer cooking. Good news is that you don’t need to thaw foods and can throw them directly into the instant pot.
Very important: DO NOT freeze your foods glass containers. The temperature change could cause them to crack!
Instead, the best way to freeze your foods is to pour them into freezer bags* that sit in round containers so they’ll freeze in the same shape as your cooker. That way you can dump the contents straight from the bag into your instant pot, making transport a cinch.
Pro tips: Saute for 5 minutes to release liquid from your frozen food since you’ll need it for pressure cooking. Also, set your frozen food on the trivet that came with your instant pot, rather than have it directly on the bottom of the pot, as that will allow for heat to circulate and cook your food faster. (via Once a Month Meals)
Use the insta-pot in place of an oven or microwave
The instant pot can help you declutter and retire some of your other higher energy-consuming appliances. For the “oven” setting, reduce cooking time by ⅓.
You can also reheat food without the radiation, yay! For the “microwave” setting, use the slow cook or keep warm features. (via Traditional Cooking School)
Maximize those buttons
I hope you’ve taken advantage of the nifty button for yogurt in the instant pot. It’s actually not as intimidating to make yogurt as you think.
And hack that same yogurt button to make instant pot bread too, including:
- Sourdough
- Parmesan
- Banana bread
- and more
Up your kitchen ante with the right instant pot accessories
You have so much potential with your instant pot, which is exponentially increased with a few additional accessories. Like having another inner pot* to swap out if your primary one’s in the wash or if you’re cooking multiple items and don’t want to wash the whole thing.
Find out which are the must have instant pot tools that’ll make cooking and cleaning so much easier, and super simple ones you can DIY (like this nifty trick) to save a little money.
Use this cleaning hack to get rid of odor and stains in your instant pot
Depending on how much you’ve been using your insta-pot, you may have noticed some…smells. Clear it out with a simple recipe of cut lemons, baking soda, and water. Stench be gone! (via My Crazy Good Life)
Your insta-pot can keep baby healthy
Since we’re on the subject of cleaning, the pot is perfect for sterilizing your precious little one’s bottles, pacifiers, and other bacteria-breeding possessions. A quick video if you needed a demo. (via Indigo Nili)
The instant pot isn’t only for cooking
Be creative! You can literally make ANYTHING in the instant pot, like these unique instant pot recipes, including:
- Lotions and soaps
- Crayons
- Healing salve
- and more
It can make you super popular among friends and family
You can be that family that everyone looks forward to getting something awesome from every holiday season or special occasion with these unique and creative homemade gifts in the instant pot.
Note: A reader wanted to point out to be careful of what you can and cannot do safely in an instant pot. Canning (like for preserving foods) should be avoided, but luckily the jam recipe that is included is for a safe version.
Conclusion
With these great instant pot tips and hacks, your instant pot will get great mileage as you make the most of this kitchen whiz-ardry...get it, because you'll be a cooking whiz after knowing these tricks...
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K WA says
Sylvia, Thanks for posting these IP hacks and suggestions. I've had my IP for almost 5 years and this post gave me new ways to make the most of IP cooking. When I first purchased my IP I read so many recipes and hints that I was overwhelmed.
Thanks again, it was a pleasure to read your post and gain new hacks, hints and information. I believe that we are never to old to learn something new every day.
Sylvia Wu says
Glad that you were able to find some useful tips. Always young enough to try new things 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, K!
Frances says
Hi there, thank you so very much for Tips and Hacks. I am a 68 year old women from the Old School so Digital Pressure Cookers and Instant Pots are very new and scary for me. I am trying to decide between a Digital Pressure Cooker and an Instant Pot so your experience/advice/tips and hacks are very much appreciated. Keep them coming for those who know much less and need people like you...
God bless and continue your kindness and sharing of info.
Frances from Sunny South Africa
Sylvia Wu says
Such a sweet comment, Frances! Always young enough to learn something new 🙂 Kudos for taking on something outside of your comfort zone. Best of luck and thanks for stopping by!
Sylvia
Michele says
Every time I use my IP for cooking chicken, whether it's from frozen or fresh, my chicken is always tough.
Why is that?
Donna Henderson says
To Frances:: I am also new to the instant pot thing . I bought one and really love it.
My husband and I are full time RV ing. I am also afraid of pressure cookers so my instant pot set in the counter for couple weeks before I used it. I am glad I finally did. I love it.
Kim says
Thanks for the post. Finally got a pot when they were on sale for Mother's Day. Still learning the ins and outs of it. I'm always on the lookout for more ways to save time and money. Also, for new, easier ways to use a product. Thank you so much.
Sylvia Wu says
Thanks for taking the time to make a comment, Kim. Glad you enjoyed the post and hope you get more out of your instant pot!
Sylvia
Cleon V Kimberling says
I cooked a 4 pound beef roast 45 minutes. This product should be sterile. If I do not break the seal it should still be sterile for a number of hours. Can I leave it on the counter top in the sealed environment over night and reheat it with vegetables the next day?
Sylvia Wu says
Hi Cleon,
That I am not sure about, though I do think that it is good you are reheating the food to a high temperature to kill any potential bacteria. Perhaps you can find the answer from an Instant Pot Facebook group with more experienced folk since I cannot give you a firm answer on this.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sylvia
Deborah says
Hi Sylvia, whatever they are called I love the information you are providing. I just got my Mealthy Pot for Christmas & tried it for the first time a couple of days ago. My chicken & potatoes turned out really well. My biggest question is I am mostly cooking for one & am concerned about cooking so much food as most of the recipes I have seen call for. Is there a way to cut down on the quantities without loosing the quality. The other question is do you have a good recipe for pot roast, mine always turns out tough!! Thanks for your wonderful information & attitude, it is refreshing!!
Sylvia Wu says
Haha, thanks, Deborah!
I looked into this and it seems like you can cut a recipe in half without losing the quality. For the most part, the cooking time will remain the same if the size of your pieces remain the same (eg. 1 or 2 cups of diced potatoes will take the same amount of time to cook because the chunks are the same).
Secondly, remember to use the minimum required amount of liquid in your recipe to avoid burning. For most 6 qts, that means using at least 1 1/2 cups of liquid.
Also, I haven't tried a pot roast recipe myself so I can't say for sure, but perhaps you can try to adjust the times to cook for a little less time.
Thanks for stopping by!
Sylvia
C says
How can I prevent chicken from sting out and getting tough as it cooks? Thank you for all the great info.!you are appreciated a great deal.
Sylvia Wu says
Hi C, You can try to cut it into smaller pieces to fit into your instant pot if it's sticking out. Or if you're just concerned with it sticking to your pot, then try using the trivet so it's not resting on the bottom of your pot and add some water. Thanks for stopping by!
Katie says
Deborah, if you go to the Mealthy website, many of their recipes can be altered to the number of people you are cooking for. On the left side, above the ingredients, there are options to select 2, 4, 6, or 8 servings and they automatically adjust the proportions for you. I just got the Multipot myself and I've been investigating recipes.
Melissa says
When I first started with my instapot i also had a problem with tough meats. I increased the time and now my meats are fork tender.
Melissa
Kristine says
Thank you, most of these are very helpful. I highly suggest that you change number 12 however. Canning is not reccameded in instapots. I have canned for over 2o years and could go into detail, but if you research it, the most important thing is that food is not safe because you cannot ensure all bacteria has been killed. I know people do it, partly because the manufacturers of the product originally claimed you could. However, they have been forced to retract those claims. Foods like jam are not shelf stable. Botulism is deadly.
Sylvia Wu says
Hi Kristine,
Thanks for sharing that tip! The jam recipe doesn't include any canning; you basically cook the mixture in the instant pot and then blend to your desired consistency. Safety is very important, especially with a contraption like an instant pot, which has the ability to pressurize. I'm sure all the readers will appreciate your bringing this to their attention!
Sylvia
Donna M says
Was just reading about the sling someone used. I take a long sheet of aluminum foil and fold it into about a 2” - 3” wide strip and place the center of it under my dish and bring the “handles” up on the sides to rest until my dish is done. Works great for lifting and is reusable over and over.
Sylvia Wu says
Yes, that is one of my favorite hacks!
Julie says
Hi Sylvia.... What great hacks for the IP.... I have been cooking over 45 years and have used a regular pressure cooker, but the IP is a dream.... I love it and enjoy all the great recipes out there.... Your blog is great and enjoy your style and attitude.... Hugs to your little one.... Will continue reading as long as you post... Thanks.
Sylvia Wu says
Yes, there are so many great things about an IP! Makes life so much easier. Thanks for the hugs for my son and for visiting my blog regularly 🙂 Have a great day, Julie!
Lynda says
I actually have two comments here.
1. Do you have to use only IP accessories with the IP? This may sound silly but I found a recipe for a meatloaf and it calls for a loaf pan or a round cake pan? I have both but not actual IP accessories.
2. Rude comments are not necessary. It is like going to someone’s home to ask for advice then being mean because they gave you advice. I doubt this mean people would be so mean if they were face to face. Leave the mean comments to yourself as I am sure you would in person. Respect people!
Sylvia Wu says
Hi Lynda,
No, they don't need to be IP-brand specific to be useable in the IP. There are other brands that make accessories that are compatible with the IP. If your pans have the features that the recipe you called for suggests to use (eg. right dimensions), then you should be good.
Also, I appreciate your second comment and manners 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
Alice says
Do you know if. A power cooker is about the same as a IP
Sylvia Wu says
Hi Alice,
They are pretty similar. I think one major difference is that some models of the IP are able to make yogurt while the Power Cooker can't. Thanks for stopping by!
Norma says
Wow, Sylvia. What a gracious comeback to a monumentally rude comment. (Btw, anyone who prefaces something with any variation of 'no offense but' is about to say something offensive.)
You have smarts and grace beyond your years.
I've had an Instant Pot for several years and you taught me a thing or two in this post!
Thank you. (and give Q a hug from me. He's adorable!)
Sylvia Wu says
Wow, thanks for the kind comment, Norma. Totally made my day! And Q's too with the big squeeze he got 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Radhika says
Hi can we use our normal steel utensils in Instant pot
Sylvia Wu says
Hi Radhika,
You mean the kind that you would use regularly for cooking like a steamer? They should work fine. Thanks for stopping by!
Sylvia
Rita TAte says
Thank you for sharing your instant pot experiences. For those that are geniuses- great! good for you!
From those of us who are grateful for your kind blog- thank you thank you! I have had an instant pot for several years and never get tired of gleaning pearls from others. Keep them coming!
Sylvia Wu says
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and write such a delightful comment, Rita! It's always nice to find shortcuts and other ways to enhance user experience for things we use every day, isn't it?
Andrea says
Thanks for compiling so many useful tips and tricks. I’ve had my IP for about a year and I’m constantly learning. And since I’m trying to downsize at this point my life I have a plethora of small kitchen appliances that can now be eliminated. But, I have not had success with making popcorn in the IP. It doesn’t seem to get hot enough. Any tips that you can recommend?
Sylvia Wu says
Hi Andrea,
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed the post, isn't the instant pot so great?
Do you use coconut oil? I hear that's the best kind to use. Also, are you waiting at least 5 minute for the IP to heat up before adding the oil? Try that and see how it turns out.
Hope that helps,
Sylvia
LeeAna says
I make popcorn at least 3x’s a week and have had great results using the “popcorn butter”. It is located right next to the popcorn kernels. I put 3-5 tbls in the pot while it’s cold, add in 1/2c of the kernels, add a tsp of salt (optional), give it a stir, turn it on sauté mode. It’ll take a few minutes for the IP to get hot enough to make the kernels pop, but once it gets going I wait until it completely stops, right around 10 minutes.
12 Instant Pot Hacks You'll Wish You Knew Sooner says
I would like to purchase the white sling the lady in the picture of this display is using. Where can I buy it? What is the name of this item? Can it be used in the Instant Pot while cooking? It looks like some sort of sling. Please send me this information.
Sylvia Wu says
Hi,
Thanks for stopping by the blog! That was a homemade sling from a large silicone pastry mat. She was able to cut it into fourths. You can find the instructions here: https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/how-to-get-a-pan-out-of-the-pressure-cooker/
Sylvia
Betty says
Personally, I appreciate you sharing these tips. I prefer reading your notes & suggestions to digging through the dry material in the user's manual. I'm more likely to try something that I know someone has used successfully.
Please continue with your upbeat and positive attitude in your blog!
Sylvia Wu says
Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a kind message, Betty! I too prefer to read and learn from people's experiences to know what works and doesn't. Glad you stopped by!
Cari says
The microwave is one of the most energy-efficient ways to cook and also maintains nutrient levels in food by being so quick. It doesn't expose you to radiation at all. Your reasons for wanting to avoid it are silly.
Katzenfrau says
Think the microwave is harmless?? Google Norma Levitt.
A Canuck says
Lots of stuff about this woman’s case on the Internet. Here’s an academic scientist’s view: https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/controversial-science-health-household-products-quackery/microwaves-and-blood
spock74 says
Thank you for a dose of reality. Perpetuating these myths doesn’t help anyone.
Jane says
What is dangerous with microwave ovens is using plastic dishes or containers in them. Plastic off gasses toxic fumes that also goes into the food. Use glass. Silicone or ceramic containers to hold your food when warming or cooking in a microwave oven
Jamie says
I'm in no way trying to be rude, but, how are these "hacks"? These basic how tos of instant pot.
Sylvia Wu says
Hi Jamie,
For me, hacks are little tips and tricks save a little more time, add convenience, or have you see something in a new and different way. These were things that weren't intuitive to me when I first used the instant pot, but which I thought would benefit others to know in case they weren't aware of them. But if you already knew these, right on! You must be a much more efficient than me in the kitchen 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!