topic Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot? in Kitchen

Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

qualityshopper — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:00:35 GMT

Well, here I am again with more questions about using the IP. Since I don't cook, I am very ignorant about a lot of things. This time, I'm wondering about what type of oil is the best (or perhaps I should say the safest) to use in the IP. I've been reading about the "smoke points" of different oils and read the following: "If you cook oil at a higher heat than its smoke point, it can cause free radicals to form, which can cause cancer."

After reading that, I feel unsure about which oil to use. I think the IP only gets up in the 200s (forget what they said during the presentation) when pressure cooking, but what about when you're sauteing? Just trying to figure out how hot it may get to determine which oil is the right one to use. Could really use some advice please. Thanks.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

sidsmom — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:07:51 GMT

I just water-sauté everything (vegetables).

No one needs to add oil to foods.

You can get beautiful browning on all foods w/ water sauté only.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

SharkE — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:09:03 GMT

Haven't got my new IPot yet, but, feel like it will be covered in the use & care

booklet.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

jackthebear — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:18:51 GMT

never used any oil

If I need to saute I just use another well used pot then dump into the IP

I think you might be over thinking this,

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

millieshops — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:19:21 GMT

@qualityshopperOne way to decide would be to read recipes designed for your Pot. The oils used in some of them will give you useful info even if what you're making isn't that recipe.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

Mothertrucker — Thu, 27 Sep 2018 23:45:37 GMT

Olive oil has a very low smoking point so i wouldn't use IT..canola or corn oil should be OK- Peanut oil has the highest smoking point..

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

loriqvc — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:11:54 GMT

I always use vegetable or canola oil; typically, the recipe should tell you which type to use.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

yellowrose — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:16:27 GMT

I've always used evoo when I saute, but I googled to find out if it's ok

to use olive oil.

This is what I found...

The answer is yes! The Instant Pot reaches a maximum temperature of 338°F when sautéing. Extra virgin olive oil can be safely heated to 350⁰ - 410⁰ F and olive oil (regular, classic or light) can be heated to 390⁰ - 470 °F.

In pressure cooking mode, the Instant Pot reaches a peak cooking temperature of 244°F which is well below the smoke point of olive oil.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

qualityshopper — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:17:54 GMT

Thanks everybody for answering, and yes, jackthebear, you're right--I'm definitely overthinking it! Guess I got to wondering about all this when I was checking out videos for making pot roast with potatoes and carrots. Some of the people first sauteed the meat in the IP with olive oil. That got me checking out olive oil, which in turn, led me to reading about "smoke points" and so on. Guess I need to take a chill pill and just experiment with the IP and keep things simple!

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

qualityshopper — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:20:59 GMT

I no sooner finished typing a response when I saw more of you had answered. Thanks to all of you, especially yellowrose. I really appreciate you looking up all of that info & posting it for me. THANKS EVERYONE!

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

yellowrose — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 00:33:49 GMT

You're welcome @qualityshopper I googled for myself also,

although I've been using olive oil for two years.

I was nervous the first time I used my IP.

Guess I should had taken a chill pill also. LOL

If you want a super easy recipe to give that IP it's first run....

get a 3 - 4 lb. chuck roast (rump roast doesn't work good for this, I tried)

cut the roast into 4 chunks, put IP on saute and when hot saute the chunks

in 2 tbs. oil (recipe calls for veg oil) Brown all sides,

Turn saute off, add 1-1/2 cups water or beef broth and pressure cook

for 60 mins. When done take meat out and shred - add bbq sauce.

And there you have a bbq sandwich, or however you want to serve it.

Good stuff

Makes a lot, I always freeze half.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

AuntMame — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 04:14:47 GMT

This was a very good question to ask, QualityShopper. I just got an IP so the answers provided were very interesting to me too. I don't want to repeat my mom's pressure-cooking disasters. No cooking question is ever dumb or over-thinking. Keep the questions coming!

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

CLEM — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 12:58:48 GMT

I always use Canola oil in my IP.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

ptagirl — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:18:41 GMT

I always use regular olive oil to saute in my 7-in-1 6qt. Instant Pot... no problems ever...

Making yogurt today... have had mine for 3 years and I LOVE IT!!!

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

Ainhisg — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 13:25:02 GMT

I use whatever oil is called for in the recipe. If a specific oil is not mentioned, I use canola. You can use whatever oil you would use on your stove top. You're just using the saute function, which is like turning on a burner.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

Tigriss — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 22:08:45 GMT

I use olive oil or butter or both. I've been doing this in my IP since I got it. I've not had problems with smoking or error messages.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

Nightowlz — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 00:14:59 GMT

@yellowrose wrote:
I've always used evoo when I saute, but I googled to find out if it's ok
to use olive oil.
This is what I found...

The answer is yes! The Instant Pot reaches a maximum temperature of 338°F when sautéing. Extra virgin olive oil can be safely heated to 350⁰ - 410⁰ F and olive oil (regular, classic or light) can be heated to 390⁰ - 470 °F.
In pressure cooking mode, the Instant Pot reaches a peak cooking temperature of 244°F which is well below the smoke point of olive oil.

@yellowrose

I don't have an Instant Pot but do have 2 pressure cookers.

I have always used olive oil too. Never had any problems.

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

Thats Me — Wed, 10 Oct 2018 22:24:59 GMT

This is interesting. I've always used evoo for everything, whether IP, stovetop eg eggs ( though medium heat only), or in oven eg roasting vegetables.

Do you all think this is a problem? When roasting vegetables for example I do 425 degrees...hmmm

Re: Which type of oil is best to use in the Instant Pot?

rollyc — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 13:46:07 GMT

@AuntMame wrote:
This was a very good question to ask, QualityShopper. I just got an IP so the answers provided were very interesting to me too. I don't want to repeat my mom's pressure-cooking disasters. No cooking question is ever dumb or over-thinking. Keep the questions coming!

Ita!