Instant Pot: Why You Want to Have One
The Instant Pot has been around a good long time but I must have had my head in the sand. When I started reading about what it was, I knew it was a time saver that I desperately needed. I am going to share why you want to have one too because I am just that excited about them.
In fact, I want a second one to cook side dishes. AND here is why!
Because . . . while the main dish is cooking in my Instant Pot, it would be easier to have a smaller one for rice, quinoa, or potatoes if that’s what you’d prefer.
To be absolutely honest, the whole thought of an Instant Pot scared me to death because of an experience my mom had on Thanksgiving Day when I was twelve. Before getting my multi-cooker, first I had to be sure it would be safe.
My mom was making Thanksgiving dinner in our small apartment kitchen in Kowloon, Hong Kong where I grew up. Two U.S. Navy sailors were our guests. My mom was using a pressure cooker (not the same as an Instant Pot) and the mashed potatoes released, spewing into her face. It seemed terrifying at the time but no one was hurt. Needless to say, I never used a pressure cooker for canning.
It didn’t take me long to research the safety of the Instant Pot and overcome my childhood fears.
Today, the Instant Pot has so many safety features built-in that it’s difficult to make a catastrophic mistake. If you follow the safety instructions, you should be good.
Reading about the Instant Pot, I was convinced that if I learned how to use it correctly, this would never happen.
Can you believe that some people still have their Instant Pot in the box?
Take the plunge and learn how to use it!
What’s an Instant Pot Anyhow?
Less than six months ago I was really unclear about what an Instant Pot was and why I needed one. It didn’t take me long to figure out what it was and why I would need one.
Since a Slow Cooker never worked into my daily schedule too well, I soon realized how this comparatively new device would work so well with my kitchen routine.
You see, I might remember to thaw the meat I need for supper each day but that’s as far as it goes. Prepping the evening meal early in the day just doesn’t get me excited. I am a last-minute girl rushing up to the kitchen when my husband walks in the door from work!
That’s why I got so excited about the Instant Pot because it takes so much less time to cook the meal. You can even throw the meat in, frozen solid when life with the kids kept you from remembering to thaw it that morning.
An Instant Pot is a multi-cooker that does the job of seven kitchen appliances. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have room to store so many small kitchen appliances!
- Slow cooker!
- Electric pressure cooker!
- Rice cooker!
- Steamer!
- Yogurt Maker!
- Saute/browning pan!
- Warming pot!
At first, the only thing I thought the Instant Pot did was to cook your meal in a hurry. It took a while for all its perks to sink in. It’s truly too good to be true!
I am so thrilled with how sturdy it is made. It is not like so many kitchen items that are made to break.
Why I Wanted an Instant Pot
A good deal of my day is taken up with writing and managing my blog and the other things going on in my life. Sometimes the house has to be cleaned, right?!
It’s awesome when time is saved in the kitchen without sacrificing the quality of meals. My husband likes good food anyway!
When I read how fast you can whip up a delicious meal and how it turns out flavorful and tender, I was pretty much sold.
The learning curve is a little more than for a crockpot but it comes with a great instruction manual and it is easy to find information on the internet.
Not only was I excited to have my own but it makes a wonderful gift for your grown kids or maybe your mom.
Is it Hard to Learn How to Use the Instant Pot?
There are so many excellent instructional articles, books, and instruction manual to help you learn how to use your Instant Pot.
Whether you are totally new to the Instant Pot or you’ve been using one for a while, here is a list on how to use it:
- First off, make sure the lid is on nice and snug. I have their top seller, the Duo, so I will be sharing about it.
- Always check the seal inside the lid (turn the lid upsidedown) and make sure it is nice and snug.
- You do NOT want to fill your insert for your pot above the Max line. If you do, it might not cook all the way through or will take longer.
- One thing you always need is water or some kind of liquid.
- If some reason, your Instant Pot is not turning on, be sure both ends are plugged in!
- Make sure that it is sealed and the little dial thing is pointing to seal. It vents on either side of it.
- Start it by pushing the Manual button. You can press one of the fancy buttons and it will take the same about of time.
- Most people are afraid it is going to explode on you as the pressure cooker did for my mom, but this is not going to happen!
- It will say, “Keep Warm” while you are cooking, and don’t worry it is still going to pressurize.
- When it is done, it will show an “L” and will start counting UP!
- To pressurize faster, direct the pressure to release but direct it away from you because it is HOT HOT HOT!
What Can You Cook in the Instant Pot?
You can cook an amazing amount of things in the Instant Pot!
You can make anything from meat dishes to bread and vegetables.
- Pot Roast
- Rice
- Beans
- Ramen Noodles
- Mashed Potatoes
- Chicken Noodle Soup
- Salmon
- Yogurt
- Pancake
- Boiled Eggs
- Chili
- Mac and Cheese
That’s just to name a few of the many things. It’s enough to get you started with some great ideas of how you can nurture and feed your family quickly and get raves from them!
Instant Pot for Weight Loss is a Course to Get You Started
What could be better than an Instant Pot course to get you started?
The best part about it is all the recipes that give you instructions on using it for that particular meal. I don’t know about you, but as I have been learning to use the Instant Pot, I want a recipe so I know the cook times and methods since I am new at it. I suppose eventually I will know how to make typical meals without a recipe.
Instant Pot for Weight Loss is a course by Sara over at The Holy Mess and Becky over at So Very Blessed. Together they have both lost 100 pounds and are helping women to do the same through their blogs and courses.
