Topic: Instapot
Tom4Uhere's photo
Wed 05/19/21 07:16 AM
I recently bought an Instapot 6 qt.

So far I've only used the slow cooker function.

I'm kinda hesitant about pressure cooking as I've never done it before.
My son has one and loves it. Said he hasn't run across any thing that can't be cooked in an hour and a half.
That would be great for me cause I have a habit of forgetting to take stuff out of the freezer in time to get it in the slow cooker.

Plus, since I wash my dishes by hand in the sink, according to the instructions ya gotta take it all apart to clean it right. I'm not looking forwar to losing those small pieces in the lid.

Still, my son tells me he uses his for all kinds of stuff, not just roasts and stews. They 'love' their instapot!

Can anyone offer and tips & tricks for using the Instapot?
Anyone have any recipes or methods you might want to share?

Having no experience using pressure cooking, anytime I consider using that feature, it gives me visions of an explosion where I have to clean food from the walls and ceiling.

soufiehere's photo
Wed 05/19/21 07:25 AM
Tom!
Step away from Amazon shopping buffet!

I am waiting to get both an air fryer and an instapot but I want
to see how others like them and not buy on a whim/fad.

Also I have seen bad accidents using the instapot when the pressure
is not right, so that is scary..I don't like appliances that
can kill me.

So I am watching your 2 threads, already learned that soaking
potatoes in water removes the starch making it easier to fry ;-)

delightfulillusion's photo
Wed 05/19/21 07:33 AM
Tom, I’ve used a pressure cooker for 40 years and I’ve never had any problems with it. It cuts down a lot of the cooking time so saves on gas/electricity. It’s great for large joints of meat, soups, stews and even puddings.

Don’t be scared of it!

Larsi666 😽's photo
Wed 05/19/21 07:50 AM
I have a pressure cooker in work, never had any problems. Comes in handy for bigger portions alright. Just don't fill it up to the top, they usually have markings on the inside, saying like "maximum".

Tom4Uhere's photo
Wed 05/19/21 07:58 AM

Tom!
Step away from Amazon shopping buffet!

I am waiting to get both an air fryer and an instapot but I want
to see how others like them and not buy on a whim/fad.

Also I have seen bad accidents using the instapot when the pressure
is not right, so that is scary..I don't like appliances that
can kill me.

So I am watching your 2 threads, already learned that soaking
potatoes in water removes the starch making it easier to fry ;-)

Both have been on my "To Get" list for quite some time.
Walmart had the air fryer for $79 and the Instapot for $49 so I scarfed them up.
My kids have both and are who inspired me to get them.

I do know the beef sirloin roast I did with the slow cooker setting came out fantastic. One thing I found out: Even on slow cook it will build pressure if you forget to release the valve. I cooked the roast in two stages.
4 hours, stir, 4 hours more.
At the stir, I twisted the top and it popped off under pressure. Kinda made me jump and hot steam/water splashed my hand and neck (not severely burned).
Second segment I made sure the valve was open and there was no pressure.

Also, the inner pot has a rack to keep it off the counter top surface.
When I started to remove the roast and veggies the pot slipped off the rack, almost spilled (I caught it with my utensils).
I have marble counter tops so no danger of burning them but others might not have stone countertops. I recommend setting the inner pot on a trivet which is a bit more stable.

I'd like to try making some Chicken Cordon-Blue in chicken cream sauce but I'm hesitant.

Delightful, thanx for the confidence. My kids have not had any problems with theirs. I just try to use caution when doing something new which has the potential to be disastrous.
What is your favorite dish to prepare in your pressure cooker?
My one son says chili if fantastic in his.

Larsi666 😽's photo
Wed 05/19/21 08:01 AM
Chilli comes out great indeed. I can only confirm this :thumbsup:

delightfulillusion's photo
Wed 05/19/21 08:05 AM


Tom!
Step away from Amazon shopping buffet!

I am waiting to get both an air fryer and an instapot but I want
to see how others like them and not buy on a whim/fad.

Also I have seen bad accidents using the instapot when the pressure
is not right, so that is scary..I don't like appliances that
can kill me.

So I am watching your 2 threads, already learned that soaking
potatoes in water removes the starch making it easier to fry ;-)

Both have been on my "To Get" list for quite some time.
Walmart had the air fryer for $79 and the Instapot for $49 so I scarfed them up.
My kids have both and are who inspired me to get them.

I do know the beef sirloin roast I did with the slow cooker setting came out fantastic. One thing I found out: Even on slow cook it will build pressure if you forget to release the valve. I cooked the roast in two stages.
4 hours, stir, 4 hours more.
At the stir, I twisted the top and it popped off under pressure. Kinda made me jump and hot steam/water splashed my hand and neck (not severely burned).
Second segment I made sure the valve was open and there was no pressure.

Also, the inner pot has a rack to keep it off the counter top surface.
When I started to remove the roast and veggies the pot slipped off the rack, almost spilled (I caught it with my utensils).
I have marble counter tops so no danger of burning them but others might not have stone countertops. I recommend setting the inner pot on a trivet which is a bit more stable.

I'd like to try making some Chicken Cordon-Blue in chicken cream sauce but I'm hesitant.

Delightful, thanx for the confidence. My kids have not had any problems with theirs. I just try to use caution when doing something new which has the potential to be disastrous.
What is your favorite dish to prepare in your pressure cooker?
My one son says chili if fantastic in his.


The dish I made a lot of (when married and had family to cook for) was Ham with Sherry Sauce. Both the ham joint and sauce were cooked together at the same time. The sauce is made using carrots, celery, Sherry, onion, tomato purée and water. That sits at bottom of the pot and you place the trivet on top along with the ham. The juice from the ham in turn adds more flavour to the stock. A 3lb ham joint will cook in 40 mins. What’s not to like?

Tom4Uhere's photo
Wed 05/19/21 08:26 AM
LOL, that rack (trivet) is meant to go "in the pot"?
Hahaha, no wonder the pot fell off.
Thanx for another tidbit of knowledge.

My son said he did pork ribs in his and he could bite through the bone.

Two nights ago he made my apple cider ham recipe in his instapot and said it came out even better than mine (my family loves my apple cider ham).

I also do a slow cooked sweet pork & kraut meal which I think would be great, especially if I don't have to wait all freakin day to chow down on it. Its torture smelling it all day long as it slow cooks. The recipe includes sweet potatoes and from time to time some of the sweet potatoes are still a lil hard, even after 10 hours.

I like to get creative with soups and stews, plus I like the 'casserole effect' of baked dishes which cook the meat into the casserole, like lamb chops in scalloped potatoes, cajun shrimp in mac & cheese and ham steaks in baked beans.

I also like the automatic 'keep warm' feature. Not sure if I will use the delay start very often because I have to see how I feel that day as to what I am having for supper.

That 6 qt capacity is certainly big enough. I'm sure it would feed a young family of 6. For just me or just her and I, plenty big enough.

TxsGal3333's photo
Wed 05/19/21 08:45 AM
I have not gotten a Instapot yet but have heard a lot of good things about having one and it cooks so much faster then a crockpot..

I love gadgets that makes cooking easy...

I have a quesadilla maker, have used the heck out of it.. makes perfect quesadillas... Ohh and have a omelet maker too.. bigsmile Still have a George Foreman Grill..

Tom4Uhere's photo
Wed 05/19/21 09:10 AM
The instapot I bought has multiple functions including dehydrator and steamer.
I've yet to attempt anything with those settings.

When the kids were still living at home I bought sandwich makers, pizzelle makers, waffle makers, even an egg poacher.

Right now I also have a rotisserie toaster oven. I'm doing a rotisserie Cornish rock hen this weekend (just the right size for her and I). My son used his to make pork loins. He bought the air fryer with the spit basket so he has been using that lately instead.

Tom4Uhere's photo
Wed 06/09/21 10:07 AM
I did some beef short ribs which were fantastic!
Meat slipped right off the bone in 45 minutes of cooking.
Clean up wasn't bad either.

The seasonings pushed deep into the meat, now I must try some lamb chops in plum sauce.

I also bought a big family pack of country pork ribs.
Gunna try cooking those with a few different Jumex juices.

I feel like a kid with a new toy!

delightfulillusion's photo
Wed 06/09/21 10:10 AM

I did some beef short ribs which were fantastic!
Meat slipped right off the bone in 45 minutes of cooking.
Clean up wasn't bad either.

The seasonings pushed deep into the meat, now I must try some lamb chops in plum sauce.

I also bought a big family pack of country pork ribs.
Gunna try cooking those with a few different Jumex juices.

I feel like a kid with a new toy!


Haha. Experimenting is soooo much fun!

Have fun happy

TxsGal3333's photo
Wed 06/09/21 10:41 AM
Humm so which brand did you buy Tom?

Gonna get me a instapot next just wondering which is the best one to get..

But yea meal in 45 min and meat falls off the bone sounds awesome to me... bigsmile :thumbsup:

Tom4Uhere's photo
Wed 06/09/21 10:56 AM
I picked up a Farberware at Walmart for $49, its a 6 quart and plenty big enough for me and my gf on weekends.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Farberware-Programmable-Digital-Pressure-Cooker-6-Quart/46543314

It has 9 functions:
PO1 - Slow Cook
PO2 - Soup/Stew
PO3 - Rice/Risotto
PO4 - Fish/Steam
PO5 - Steak/Meat
PO6 - Chicken
PO7 - Vegatable/Steam
PO8 - Beans/Lentils
PO9 - Brown/Sear
Auto Keep Warm (10 min - 24 hours) 158F

It also offers a delayed start feature (10 min - 24 hours)