Food
16 Helpful Ways To Use Your Instant Pot
It really does save so much time in the kitchen!
Caryl Jane Espiritu
07.16.19

We all love our Instant Pot! It’s not only reliable but extremely versatile as well. For a busy mother like myself, anything that can make my kitchen adventures easier is welcome to stay in my kitchen forever. And my Instant Pot can remain in my kitchen countertop for the rest of its days, that’s for sure!

YouTube/Paint The Kitchen Red
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YouTube/Paint The Kitchen Red

Getting to know the Instant Pot better

For everyone out there who hasn’t been in touch with an Instant Pot yet, I suggest you start to get to know this gem. Let me be the first to tell you what you’ve been missing out on.

An Instant Pot is the kitchen gadget for all seasons! It can be a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, a rice cooker, a steamer and even a yogurt maker. But, those aren’t the only tricks it can do!

You can choose the size of your preference. If you prep really big meals, you might want to get the 8-Quart Instant Pot. But, if you have a small family or are living on your own, getting the 3-Quart Instant Pot Mini might be the choice for you. The 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo is also available if you are somewhere in between.

The Instant Pot is a lifesaver when it comes to busy days where you barely have time to get a meal done for your family. It’s also something that you can rely on to help you create delicious dishes within just a few minutes so you won’t have to exert too much effort after a long, grueling day at work.

Now, it’s time to get down to business. Here are 16 amazing ways to use your Instant Pot.

1. Rice

Of course, the Instant Pot is known for its ability to cook the perfect rice for your family. Instead of having both an Instant Pot and a rice cooker on your kitchen countertop, you can now have more space because you only need one gadget to cook rice for you and that my dear is the ever-versatile Instant Pot. This does not only save you much needed kitchen counter space, but it also saves you money!

A Couple Cooks
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A Couple Cooks

2. Spiced apple cider

As you can see, the Instant Pot is your go-to in preparing drinks as well. Planning a party in the winter? A warm cup of spiced apple cider is the drink you need! Just cook your fruity combination for about 15 minutes, keep the Instant Pot on warm, replace the cover with the glass lid and voila! Your drink is ready to be enjoyed.

Pinch of Yum
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Pinch of Yum

3. Yogurt

If you haven’t tried making yogurt using your Instant Pot then now is the time to make it. It may take a bit more of your time, but trust me, it’s worth it! Just make sure that your thermometer on hand when you make yogurt so that you can accurately read the milk’s temperature as it cooks. You will love the creamy flavor that you’ll be left with!

Pinch of Yum
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Pinch of Yum

4. Soups for all occasions

The Instant Pot is a gem if you love soups. You can make all kinds of soups and keep family and guests entertained every season with different recipes to try.

Pinch of Yum
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Pinch of Yum

5. Hard boiled eggs

If you want readily available eggs for when you suddenly crave a yummy salad, then all you have to do is boil the eggs in the Instant Pot and keep them in the fridge when they cool off. It only takes five minutes to hard boil them, another five minutes to release the pressure and you can submerge the eggs in ice cold water to cool them off before peeling or refrigerating.

Pinch of Yum
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Pinch of Yum

6. Baked Potatoes

Baked potatoes are sometimes hard to perfect using a regular pot and stove because you really need to “guesstimate” the perfect temperature to bake them nicely. But, with the Instant Pot, you can be sure that your potatoes are baked to perfection every single time.

Food With Feeling
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Food With Feeling

7. Mashed Potatoes

If you are not satisfied with only baking the potatoes and want to try out mashed potatoes at times, then the Instant Pot is definitely your best friend in the kitchen. It consistently and evenly cooks the potato and makes it really soft. Just imagine how easy this will make potato duty during the holidays!

Pinch of Yum
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Pinch of Yum

8. Steamed veggies

Of course, one of the healthiest foods you can offer your family is preparing steamed vegetables for them. Brussels sprouts are perfect for steaming and they taste really, really good with only a dash of salt and a drizzle of olive oil.

Temecula Blogs
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Temecula Blogs

9. Dried Beans and Peas

If you wish to make dried beans and peas the traditional way, then be prepared to spend a lot of time doing it. But, if you want a faster and easier way to make them then all you have to do is use your Instant Pot. Cooking the beans and peas for about 30 minutes does the trick!

Sweet And Savory Meals
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Sweet And Savory Meals

10. Kettle Corn

Oh, how kids love popcorn! Movie night is not complete without it. Using the instant pot you can make any kind of popcorn possible. Just pop the corn in the Instant Pot, let it pop and voila! Popcorn heaven.

Earth, Food and Fire
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Earth, Food and Fire

11. Oats

If you can cook rice and other beans in your Instant Pot, then you can definitely cook oats in it. The best part about it is that you don’t need to spend too much effort watching over it and making sure it doesn’t spillover. You don’t even need to worry about it getting burned. All you have to do is throw the oats in with some water and wait for it to get cooked. It’s that easy!

Foodie Crush
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Foodie Crush

12. Roasted Whole Chicken

Making a whole roasted chicken has never been this easy. With the Instant Pot, all you have to do is tie the legs and fold the wings of the chicken before popping it inside. Add your seasonings and turn your Instant Pot on. After 30 minutes, your 5-pound whole chicken is roasted to perfection!

A Mind Full Mom
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A Mind Full Mom

13. Cheesecake

Now, this is the dessert I’ve been telling you about. Using the springform pan, you can now steam your cheesecake for only 35 minutes before delving into the creamy realms of cheesecake paradise! This, by far, is my favorite use for my Instant Pot. I’m so in love with it!

Mielkes Fiber Arts
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Mielkes Fiber Arts

14. Short Rib Beef Ragu

Craving beef ragu? Fret no more because your Instant Pot can make it in no time. No need to roast the beef ribs in the oven for hours! Your Instant Pot can do the trick in 30 minutes. What a relief!

Pinch of Yum
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Pinch of Yum

15. Ribs

And since we’re talking meat, then you might want to take note of this ribs recipe too. Just like roasting chicken, making ribs in the Instant Pot is such a breeze. All you need is 30 minutes and you’ve got yourself delicious and unbelievably tender meat!

Pinch of Yum
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Pinch of Yum

16. Mac and Cheese

I’m sure all moms out there are doing a happy dance right now because guess what? The all-time favorite mac and cheese is also a magic trick under the Instant Pot’s imaginary sleeves! It’s our children’s favorite and as much as we’d like to do it, cooking it on a regular stove can cause inconsistent results. As the mother of a picky eater I totally appreciate the consistency and efficiency that Instant Pot provides me.

Love and Zest
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Love and Zest

There you have it! Now that you have met the amazing Instant Pot, it is time to see its “marvelousness” in real life. Try out the recipes now and have fun cooking!

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