topic Re: Instant Pot in Kitchen

Instant Pot

JCF — Fri, 25 May 2018 11:27:00 GMT

Need an opinion on an Instant Pot. I would like to know a "few" of the pros and cons.

Is it "simular" to a pressure cooker?

I'm considering purchasing one, but I know nothing about them.

I don't watch the Q much any more....it has gotten boring and I have to just turn some the middle seasoned host off.

I say middle, because I don't watch the newer host during the night and I get busy sometimes and don't watch Jayne, Mary Beth, Jane, Pat, Mary, Antonella and the other more seasoned ones. Well, you get the picture.

Sorry, I got off track.

Re: Instant Pot

RespectLife — Fri, 25 May 2018 12:47:12 GMT

@JCF

It IS a pressure cooker.

It is also a slow cooker, you can saute in it ( braise your meat), rice cooker..and more.

I have a 6in1. I can't remember what else it does.

I just got it last Christmas at a great Black Friday price.

I am new to pressure cooking but loving this pot!

One 'con' I have run into is that I will need to purchase additional inner seals. Mine has picked up Beef Stew odor! LOL Not a very expensive additional purchase.

I found the instruction manual to be lacking in details since I have never used pressure cooking before. However, there are unlimited resources online as well as recipes.

If you let the pressure release naturally...meaning don't touch it...it does take additional time. From what I read, it is best to do it that way for meats and stews.

You can release the pressure yourself, which is much quicker, but be careful to keep your hand to the side. I read that way is best for pastas, rices and beans...things that could go mushy if you let it stay in the pressure longer.

Other than that...this thing is great! Meats are SO tender and juicy. It is SO much faster than braising and baking.

I purchased a small springform pan and made my first cheesecake in it. Couldn't believe how delicious it was! Going to try more desserts!

Re: Instant Pot

CLEM — Fri, 25 May 2018 12:53:01 GMT

@JCF First, the Instant Pot is a pressure cooker. I have replaced the one I had for years with an Instant Pot when QVC had it on back in March. The one I have is the 7 in 1, which only means it has 7 preset buttons for different foods. So far I have been very happy with it.

There are other Instant Pot models out there like 11 in one, 6 in 1, etc. But I chose this particular model and haven't regretted it. You can read a lot of reviews on Amazon for each model and decide what you want for yourself.

Re: Instant Pot

JCF — Fri, 25 May 2018 13:22:17 GMT

CLEM: Thank you so much. I had thought it was a type pressure cooker.

I don't use an actual pressure cooker. Really don't have a reasoon why. May be I remember the "OLD" type my Mom used when she canned, which was way back in the day.

I guess I still live (in some ways) in the old world and use my slow cooker a lot.

I've decided I want to make quicker meals.

Again, thank you!!!

Re: Instant Pot

JCF — Fri, 25 May 2018 13:28:11 GMT

@ Respectlife

This is very helpful and I thank you so much for the information.

I will do more looking on line and may decide on one.

We are moving to a new house closer to Nashville and I'm getting rid of a lot of older and getting new.

Re: Instant Pot

CLEM — Fri, 25 May 2018 14:11:48 GMT

@JCF I was just like you before I got my first electronic pressure cooker. I remembered my mom's. So, when I finally decided to get one, I was terrified. But after I tried it out, I could not believe now non-scary it was. With the Instant Pot (by the way, that is just the brand name) it is the same. Also, you can slow cook in it.

Good luck with your move. This is a good time to make changes. I have been in Nashville once to visit a friend. It is a very beautiful area.

Re: Instant Pot

tucsongal — Fri, 25 May 2018 14:38:14 GMT

It’s also a wonderful slow cooker and rice cooker. You can brown anything right in it before you slow cook. Also great for hard boiled eggs. Definitely worth the hype.

Re: Instant Pot

CLEM — Fri, 25 May 2018 14:57:15 GMT

@JCF By the way, these cookers come in different sizes. Most used is the 6 qt. I live alone, but I have the 6 qt because I like to like to put some in the freezer.

Also, I highly recommend one of Meredith Laurence's pressure cookbooks. They may be on QVC or Amazon. She explains a lot and her books have wonderful recipes.

Re: Instant Pot

momtochloe — Fri, 25 May 2018 15:04:08 GMT

@JCFif I may chime in along with my Instant Pot sisters, I had a different electric PC first and I liked it. I usually don't replace a working appliance but at Christmas I snagged an IP from Amazon at a great price and have never looked back. Results (for me) are so much better out of the IP and it is so easy to use. I think you would be very happy with your purchase.

Re: Instant Pot

jackthebear — Fri, 25 May 2018 16:08:18 GMT

@JCF wrote:
Need an opinion on an Instant Pot. I would like to know a "few" of the pros and cons.

Is it "simular" to a pressure cooker?

I'm considering purchasing one, but I know nothing about them.

I don't watch the Q much any more....it has gotten boring and I have to just turn some the middle seasoned host off.

I say middle, because I don't watch the newer host during the night and I get busy sometimes and don't watch Jayne, Mary Beth, Jane, Pat, Mary, Antonella and the other more seasoned ones. Well, you get the picture.

Sorry, I got off track.

Well, everyone on the boards knows I love mine, in fact I made a chicken meal last night,

It's great, hard boiled eggs, soup , corned beef.

If you are interested in one, you might want to wait until Prime Day Amazon, they have the past 2/3 years promoted it

Re: Instant Pot

yellowrose — Fri, 25 May 2018 19:50:29 GMT

I cannot think of one single IP CON. There are many days that I use mine

numerous times a day. Example, tonight I'll first be making Hibachi Fried Rice,

then a Polynessian Pineapple Chicken to go with the rice, In keeping with the

pineapple theme going on, I've already made

a pineapple upside down cake for dessert. The recipe made two cakes, so I

froze one for another day. I just LOVE my IP, and when I come across

a good price, I'll be

buying a 2nd one to keep in our RV so I won't have to tote this one back and forth.

I haven't tried a cheesecake yet ( I keep using up my cream cheese) but I've made

a few dump cakes and they come out really good.

Re: Instant Pot

momtochloe — Fri, 25 May 2018 20:53:10 GMT

@yellowroseI looked up recipes for those two dishes and they sound delicious. It seemed like there was a site called Pressure Luck on YouTube where everything looked quick and easy. Is there a particular site you use for these recipes as I would like to try both of them?

Re: Instant Pot

yellowrose — Fri, 25 May 2018 21:25:22 GMT

@momtochloe. I got the recipes off facebook. The guys name is Jeffrey and he has his own site. It's the same one you already found - pressureluckcooking.com . If you go there and do a search for one of the recipes, it will include a link for the other, and also the pineapple upside down cake. Every recipe I've tried from Jeffrey has been very good.

the Polynesian chicken uses thighs in the recipe, which I don't care for. I almost substituted with breasts, but decided to try it with thighs, and it was good.

Re: Instant Pot

momtochloe — Fri, 25 May 2018 21:57:47 GMT

@yellowrose wrote:
@momtochloe. I got the recipes off facebook. The guys name is Jeffrey and he has his own site. It's the same one you already found - pressureluckcooking.com . If you go there and do a search for one of the recipes, it will include a link for the other, and also the pineapple upside down cake. Every recipe I've tried from Jeffrey has been very good.

the Polynesian chicken uses thighs in the recipe, which I don't care for. I almost substituted with breasts, but decided to try it with thighs, and it was good.

Excellent, thank you so much @yellowrose. I like his videos and recipes very much and look forward to making both of these dishes!

Re: Instant Pot

JCF — Sat, 26 May 2018 01:30:13 GMT

@momtochloe, Thank you so much.

Re: Instant Pot

JCF — Sat, 26 May 2018 01:35:10 GMT

Thanks to every one for all the wonderful feed back regarding the Instant Pot......I'm sold!

I'll check out Amazon's during their Prime and others in between times.

Once we move, I will get one.

Re: Instant Pot

CLEM — Sat, 26 May 2018 13:24:05 GMT

@yellowrose I think I will make that yummy sounding pineapple upside down cake next week and take it to one of my friends. Thank you for posting about it. I just ordered the pans and hope I can find the cake mix in the store nearby. I am a good baker, but have never used a cake mix. Am a bit afraid of it (don't know why though).

Re: Instant Pot

momtochloe — Sat, 26 May 2018 15:55:57 GMT

@JCF wrote:
@momtochloe, Thank you so much.

And I just want to say thank you @JCF as often people ask for advice/feedback and they never come back again to the thread. It's so great to read all of your posts and I so hope you enjoy your IP as much as we do and best of luck on your move!

Re: Instant Pot

MsSuze — Sun, 27 May 2018 13:16:10 GMT

JCF, If you have Amazon Prime, then I would wait until Prime Day to buy an Instant Pot. Prime Day is usually around the second week of July. However, be aware that it sells out fast. The last couple of years it was Amazon's best selling item on Prime Day. Also, be aware that Amazon might start Prime Day early. Last year they started it 3 hours early and the Instant Pot sold out in about 20-30 minutes. So be prepared. On Prime Day and Balck Friday you can usually get around $30-$50 off the price of the Instant Pot.

I won't mention all the things an IP can do since you can find that info on Amazon and other websites. It is the best appliance I have ever bought and use the most. I have two of them. I eat a plant-based diet and do bulk cooking. I no longer buy canned beans. I cooked them from scratch without soaking in the IP. I also make my own soy yogurt in it. That can take 10-12 hours so that is why I have two IPs. Those are just a couple of things I cook in the IP among many other things.

The IP is not necessarily faster for everything because you do have to wait for it to come up to pressure and for the pressure to release if you use natural release. However, the big advantage of the IP is that you just throw everything into it and go do something else. You don't have to babysit the food at the stove stirring it or checking to see if there is still enought water in the pot.

I don't think you will be disappointed if you buy one.

Re: Instant Pot

tiny 2 — Sun, 27 May 2018 19:35:31 GMT

@JCF,You might also check out the Instant Pot Max soon to be released. There are some pretty significant changes on this one. It will have 15 psi, more powerful so canning is possible. There are a number of improvements. There are too many to list here but if you google it there are several sites that list the changes. There is also supposed to be another one out after the MAX later in the year. They are not telling anything about that one yet. I am keeping my fingers crossed for an oval. The Max will cost about $200 for all the extra features.