COOKING WITH THE INSTANT POT
Understanding how the Instant Pot works, and how cooking times impact recipe preparation, will help save you time and also help yield better results in the pot. You might also benefit from owning a few extra accessories.
INSTANT POT CONTROLS
- Program keys—These are preprogrammed cooking modes, each designed to cook specific types of foods using preset times and pressure levels. Some keys may differ depending on which model you own, but it’s important to note that for the main pressure cooking mode some models will have a Pressure Cook key, while others will have a Manual key.
- Operation keys—These enable you to control a number of functions, including adjusting pressure levels, shutting off the pot (by selecting Cancel), selecting the Keep Warm mode, or selecting Delay Start to set a delay time before a cooking cycle starts.
- Pressure indicator—Indicates the current pressure level for each of the pressure cooking modes.
- Mode Indicator—Lets you adjust the pressure levels from Less, Normal, or More for each of the various pressure cooking programs.
- +/- keys— Each program has a preset cook time, and these enable you to manually adjust the cook times.
- Time display—Displays the cook time on the LED screen. When a mode is active, the timer will count down. When a mode is complete and the Stay Warm mode has been activated, the display will count up.
HANDY ACCESSORIES TO OWN
These accessories are not included with the Instant Pot, but they are used in many of the recipes in this book.
Tempered glass lid
Vented glass lids are not critical to have but many models are made to fit the Instant Pot and they’re useful during the slow cooker or yogurt program modes when pressure is not used during the cooking process.
Silicone muffin cups
Reusable, washable silicone muffin or cupcake liner cups are easy to clean and very handy for making muffins or cupcakes in the Instant Pot.
Springform pan
A springform pan is useful when making cakes, cheesecakes, and other recipes in the Instant Pot. Look for a 6-inch (15.25cm) to 7-inch (17.5cm) pan that will easily fit inside the inner pot. A nonstick model will help minimize cleanup.
Steamer basket
A steamer basket is useful for steaming items that don’t fit well on the steam rack. Look for a stainless steel or silicone model with legs and small holes, which will allow steam to circulate, and in a size that will fit inside the pot.
Ramekins
Ramekins are useful for cooking items in the Instant Pot that are portioned into single servings, such as desserts. Look for heavy-duty ceramic ramekins that come in 4oz (110ml) and 6oz (170ml) sizes.
Understanding cooking times in the Instant Pot
Understanding how the different cooking times work will help you better plan your meal times.
- Prep time—The amount of time it takes to prepare any ingredients, prior to adding them to the pot for cooking.
- Build time—Much like the preheating time in an oven, this is the time it takes for the pressure to build in the pot. The build time is part of every pressure cooking program, but is not included in the actual cook time. (Note that the timer on the pot does not begin until the pot has reached full pressure.)
- Pressure time—The time it takes to cook a food once full pressure has been achieved in the pot. Pressure time does not include build, release, or cooling times in the pot.
- Release time—The time it takes for the pot to release the pressure once the cook time is complete. This can happen either by natural release, which means the pressure is allowed to release naturally, or by quick release, which means the pressure is forced from the pot by flipping the steam release handle on the lid. Quick release can take as little as 1 minute, while natural release can take as long as 30 minutes, depending on food temperature, volume of food in the pot, and other factors.
- Total time—The time it should take to complete a recipe from start to finish, beginning with the preparation of any ingredients to the point at which the recipe is ready to be served. The total time in a recipe includes the prep time, build time, cook or pressure times, release time, and time for any other steps that may be required to complete the recipe such as sautéing, resting, chilling, marinating, or setting.