So as you know I got my Instant Pot (new-fangled pressure cooker thingy) back in May for my birthday so I feel like I should be an expert with it by now and sometimes get kinda down on myself that I haven't experimented with it more or cook with more on a regular basis. First I was sick, then we were on vacation, then it was summer and I was just busy with boys and not doing too much kitchen stuff, I have lots of excuses. Not that anyone is pressuring me (no pun intended) to use it but I just want to feel like I use the things I buy. But then when my wonderful Mother-in-law was here for a visit she asked me about it and I got it out and started telling her about it and realized I could answer most of her questions and explain lots of the different functions and I realized I'm not as novice with the instant pot as I thought. I'm by no means and expert but I do think I am gaining confidence with it and ready to do some experimenting with it this fall. So I'm gonna go over everything I have cooked so far (which now that I've listed it all out is more than I thought) and if it was a success or a failure. (this is as much for me to remember what I made and how it went as it is to share my recipes with anyone reading this) I kinda have a goal (but with no real timeline) to make a recipe in the IP that will require me to use every button on the instant pot. (although as I have learned probably 75% of the recipes just have you use the manual button anyway.) So hear goes.
But First Some Instant Pot Lingo:
Set the lid to sealing: there is a lever you slide to sealing or vent. You want set to seal when you are cooking and release when your done, which you can use to release the pressure the pressure quickly or naturally
NPR: Natural Pressure Release-this refers to the method of letting all the pressure that has built up in the instant pot release naturally when it is done cooking. this is used most of the time for meat dishes, it helps the meat stay tender. (this can take just 5 minutes for something small or up to 25-30 for a larger dish) Many recipes also use a mix of Natural release and then quick. For instance they will say NPR for 10 minutes then release the remaining pressure.
QPR: Quick Pressure Release-this is when you flip the lever and instantly let all the pressure out when your cooking time is up. It makes a hissing noise and boiling hot steam spews out of your machine. [stand back!]
Manual: This is the button you can use for pressure cooking where you can change any and all settings to exactly how you want them for your recipe.
Liquids: The pressure cooker uses steam to cook your food, therefore it needs liquid to convert into said steam. Usually 1-2 cups of water are added, unless your dish has enough natural liquids in it.
Time Under Pressure: when you read a recipe it will say something like: Select manual, High, for 3 minutes then QPR.....however it does not only take 3 minutes to cook your dish. It will be under pressure for 3 minutes but none of the recipes ever take into account how long it will take your IP to get to pressure. It can often take 10-15 minutes to reach pressure (sometimes longer). This is important to remember when your planning your dinner time. Sometimes I have been annoyed by this and felt like it would just be faster to make the dish in the oven or stove. Which if it is something easy like eggs, or corn this is true but remember you can set it and forget it and walk away where things on the stove you have to keep an eye on. When you cook something like Rice,or a roast the IP is much faster.
Saute': One cool handy feature on these new instant pots is that you can saute something in the instant pot then add the other ingredients and cook it. All in one container! If I was going to brown like a whole pound of hamburger for a dish I think I might do it over the stove because it can be a bit awkward (I think) to saute' in the round dish that kinda spins in the IP. But for browning some onions or even browning the sides of a roast or pork loin before you cook it's really handy. Also I have used it after a dish was done to take the meat out, turn the saute' function on and then turn your liquid into a thicker sauce or gravy.
HARD BOILED EGGS: This was not an Instant Success, which was a bit frustrating because it was the first thing I tried and I wanted perfect results on the first try. People LOVE to make hard boiled eggs in their instant pots because it's quick, hands off, and they are INSANELY easy to peel. But when you look around everyone has a slightly different recipe. I tried the default egg setting on the IP and they were too soft (for me a hard boiled egg is completely cooked, right!), so I increased the time, then they had a green ring around them (over cooked), now I've finally got a recipe I like
6 eggs
1 cup cold water
12 mins on low pressure
QR pressure-put eggs in ice bath
It takes longer on low pressure but I think they turn out better. I probably make these 1 to 2 times a month now. Did I mention how easy they peel!? It's amazing!!!
CORN ON THE COB: What!? corn on the cob in an instant pot you say!? Yes. I have made corn in the instant pot multiple times this summer. I really like it because again it's quick, hands off, and the corn comes out juicy and delicious. I feel like usually when I make corn on cob it's just 1 side to a bigger meal, so it was kind of a pain when I was making other things usually grilling to boil the big pan of water, then keep an eye on the corn and all that. With the Instant pot I just layer the corn in the instant pot with the wire rack. Add 1 Cup of water and then set it for 3 Minutes on high pressure then use the quick release method when it beeps.
BAKED POTATOES: One night I was searching for another side for dinner, I thought of potatoes but then didn't like the idea of heating up the kitchen for over an hour on an already hot summer day....enter the Instant Pot. I found this recipe in the cookbook the IP came with. It was easy and they were really good!!
ORANGE CHICKEN: I got this recipe out of one of my IP cookbooks and was really keen to try it because it claimed to be a Panda Express copy cat and I know Will is a fan of Panda Express' Orange Chicken. It used natural ingredients and seemed pretty straight forward. It also involved me using the Saute' function which was new to me when I made this. Everything went fine with the recipe but it wasn't that good. It wasn't bad it was just kinda ok.
ITALIAN BEEF: Pretty early on I wanted to make something with one of my roasts. Another thing that the Instant Pot is known for it to make meat super tender and delicious in a fraction of the time it usually takes to cook meat. I have had trouble in the crockpot with my roasts being tuff so I was excited to try the instant pot. I decided to just make my Italian Beef recipe with the exact same ingredients as I would in the crockpot. Then because I wasn't actually following a specific recipe for IP I read as many other Italian beef recipes as I could and compared sizes of roasts and cook times and liquid amounts and finally concocted a recipe that I thought, and hoped would work. The day I made it a play date ran long and I was pressed for time so it was perfect to use the instant pot. It turned out.....AMAZING! It cooked from raw to done in 3.5 hours and was fall apart delicious! Now that I think about it, why haven't I made this again yet!?
SMOKY-SWEET SPARE RIBS: This was another recipe from one of my new Instant Pot Cookbooks that really sounded good and I wanted to try. I have never cooked ribs so I was excited to try them and a bit nervous. It was very easy to layer them in the IP, add the sauce and cook them. When they got done I was worried I had undercooked them but after I boiled them in the oven (which is part of the recipe) they were great!CILANTRO-LIME RICE: This is probably our new #1 favorite thing. It is supposed to be a copy cat of Chipotle's rice. I'm not really sure if I would agree with that but it was really really good. Probably the best rice I've ever made. I made it to go with a Beef Barbacoa meal in the crockpot and it all mixed so well together, Will and I ate this all week for left overs for lunch and loved it every time. I will definitely make this on again and again!
HONEY PORK CHOPS: (from Once a Month Meals) I got this recipe from an online company that sells freezer meal plans. (sound familiar?) You can pay for a 5 meal plan or 10 meal plan or more and then you also get to pick and choose the meals you want in it. Once you have you then get all the directions, ingredients list and and even labels emailed to you. I haven't ever actually paid for this yet but it is tempting me. They sell lots of plan but some that are all crockpot or all paleo, OR all Instant pot. Their Instant Pot recipes have been really popular for them because 1 cool thing about the IP is that you can cook food from frozen in your IP and you don't even have to change your cooking time. **however it will take your instant pot much longer to come to pressure if you are cooking a frozen meal** Still how cool to pull something out of the freezer dump it in there push a few buttons and an hour or so later wallah dinner is served! They have a few sample recipes out there you know for you to try....to get you hooked so you will want more. These Pork Chops were pretty good and super easy! I made the recipe with all thawed ingredients but it might be fun to make it ahead and try it from frozen sometimes.
HONEY BOURBON CHICKEN: (from once a month meals): This Chicken turned out really well and had a lot more of an Asian flare too it than I thought it would. I would make it again.
Mexican Rice: After my huge success with the Cilantro Lime rice in the IP I decided to try another rice recipe. I have tried several mexican rice recipes over the years but never really found one we like.(except the 60 sec microwave pouch one from old el paso that is loaded with sodium) I found a recipe on pinterest, tried it out and it was another great Rice Success! All 4 of us liked it. Also I was short on rice (it called for 2 cups) so I halved the recipe, and I'm really glad I did. I made just the right amount for us and our Enchillada left overs. Honestly I think if I only ever used the Instant Pot as a rice cooker it would be worth it, it makes the best rice I have ever made!
Ok so that's everything, or at least everything that I can think of. Most of it's been pretty good over all. There have been a few duds but I guess that happens any time you are trying out new recipes. Some things that are on my Instant Pot to do list are: Make a cheese cake in the instant pot (but I have to get a smaller size spring-form pan to do this, make yogurt. mostly just because I have heard you can make yogurt in the instant pot and I'm curious to try it and see how it would turn out., Oatmeal-I like oatmeal but am too lazy or busy, we'll say busy ;) to cook it in the morning, maybe this would be easier??, now that fall is getting close I also want to make a soup in the instant pot, also I haven't tried any pasta dishes and I've heard it's super easy and quick. ohh ohh and apple sauce there are a lot of applesauce recipes out there for the IP.
If you read all this God Bless you. That was a lot. I'd be happy to share any of the recipes with anyone just didn't think I would bother to put them all up here now. I'm not a real blogger after all trying to get a kick back from the Instant Pot company. Maybe I've convinced you to buy an Instant Pot? or at least made you consider it? Over all I don't think it's revolutionized my life or anything but its a fun new way to make new recipes, or even old recipes in a new way. I'm having fun with it and hope to continue.
thanks
Beth
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