topic Re: Instant Pot in Kitchen

Instant Pot

cndkrick — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 01:50:33 GMT

I have never owned a pressure cooker before but I am considering one for the reason of my having newly converted to a plant-based diet. I am thinking beans, rice, and other things would be great to cook in this. Any of you have one? If so any tips and advice would be appreciated!

TIA

Re: Instant Pot

doglover3 — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 09:10:25 GMT

I have both a stove top one(have a gas stove) as well as an electric one. For me I prefer the stove top pressure cooker but maybe because it is what I was use to using. My mom and gram always had one and I used theirs till the seals went and they were so old I couldn't find seals to fit so got new ones. I use the stove top a lot in winter but I can't advise you on what to fix since DH is a meat and potatoes kind of guy.

you don't need anything fancy and in time you will be able to convert your other recipes to a pressure cooker and pressure cooker time.

This was my grams recipes if it helps to show you how long something takes:

Pressure cooker cabbage all in one meal(this was my grandmothers who had a really old pressure cooker I used it till the seal went. I love this as does hubby, great on a cold winter evening.

1 very large head cabbage cut into pieces
2 large onions cut into chunks
4 large carrots sliced thick
2 large potatoes cut into chunks
1 lb smoked sausage cut into slices
1=10 oz box frozen fordhook lima beans
1/2 cup beef broth

Start and end with cabbage laying in pressure cooker(I make 2 batches from this, eat one while the other is cooking) Top off with 1/2 cup beef broth and Bring to pressure. Cook for 7 minutes, No more or will be mushy. I bring pressure down quickly under cold running tap water. Mine is stove top one.
For second pot you will have broth leftover from first batch so no need to add anymore unless you see it needs it, 1/4 cup maybe, same instructions as above, so very good.

Re: Instant Pot

Poodlepet2 — Tue, 09 Sep 2014 14:35:41 GMT

I love the PC because I am not one who plans menus ahead. If I want beans and forgot to soak them overnight, no problem. I put dried beans in the pot, cover with water, bring to a boil for 10 minutes (you can probably do this step in the PC) let it sit for an hour-and then I use my favorite PC recipe. You will love it for beans and grains. Imagine cooking steal cut oats in six minutes! Remember, you have to let it come up to pressure, and that takes a little time, but not long. Are you cooking for yourself or a family? If you are cooking for yourself, you might consider a stove top model. Poodlepet

Re: Instant Pot

cndkrick — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 02:48:28 GMT

On 9/9/2014 Poodlepet said: I love the PC because I am not one who plans menus ahead. If I want beans and forgot to soak them overnight, no problem. I put dried beans in the pot, cover with water, bring to a boil for 10 minutes (you can probably do this step in the PC) let it sit for an hour-and then I use my favorite PC recipe. You will love it for beans and grains. Imagine cooking steal cut oats in six minutes! Remember, you have to let it come up to pressure, and that takes a little time, but not long. Are you cooking for yourself or a family? If you are cooking for yourself, you might consider a stove top model. Poodlepet

Just myself and DH.

Is a stove top model easier to use?

Re: Instant Pot

Firecat1984 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 05:50:14 GMT

I have the instapot brand stainless steal pot! I love it! It is a countertop unit looks like the one being sold here,I love having the stainless pot over the nonstick surfaced ones .this is my second pot I've owned both I prefer the stainless pot

Re: Instant Pot

Poodlepet2 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 11:53:17 GMT

The stove top may be a little trickier because you have to adjust the temperature on the stove to achieve the pressure given in your recipe-but that really isn't difficult. If you have gas, I have read that a heat diffuser or flame tamer is recommended. The advantages of the stove top models is that they come in a variety of sizes, and that certainly can cut your cooking time if you don't have a lot of "headroom". Personally I like the electronic models, but I don't think you can go wrong either way. Poodlepet

Re: Instant Pot

phoenixbrd — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:54:10 GMT

I LOVE my Instant Pot...quick, easy, stainless steel rim, yogurt maker....it was my birthday gift and everything i have made has turned out just right. I have the duo model and I couldn't be happier.

Re: Instant Pot

Poodlepet2 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 13:51:16 GMT

I didn't know anything about this PC, but I researched it and people love it. Consumer Reports was not so kind, but we've been burned not once, but three times following their recommendations, so I would take what they say with a grain of salt. This is true for any electric PC, but I think it's worth it because you don't have to babysit. That's not to say that I would leave the house when my PC is cooking, but when you have a stovetop model, you can't wander too far: you do have to make sure the pressure is stable and you have to watch the timer. Poodlepet

Re: Instant Pot

birkin baby — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:26:14 GMT

Oops,I thought this thread was about something else...LOL.

Re: Instant Pot

misspammie — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:35:01 GMT

On 9/10/2014 birkin baby said: Oops,I thought this thread was about something else...LOL.

me too! was going to make a 'cute' remark!!

Re: Instant Pot

Allieoh — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 14:49:07 GMT

So funny I ordered an instant pot pressure cooker from amazon this morning. I like that it's stainless with no Teflon. The reviews are great, so hopefully I'll love it.

Re: Instant Pot

jaxs mom — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:36:46 GMT

The 7 in 1 model is really nice. I've had a stove top pressure cooker for 20 years but I'm tempted by the Instant Pot. I like that you can make yogurt in it too.

Re: Instant Pot

Sammijo10 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 18:48:48 GMT

I just checked out the Instant Pot on Amazon and the only thing it does that the TSV doesn't seem to is make yogurt - well, it has a dedicated yogurt button anyway. BUT, it's about double the price of the TSV for that model.

I've never used a pressure cooker, but my Aunt swore by it. She made the most tender corn on the cob in her pressure cooker.

I'm very tempted by the TSV CE pressure cooker as it will brown in the pot before using either the slow cooker mode or the pressure mode. (Can you brown meat BEFORE pressure cooking? Would it explode? As I said, I'm never had one before.)

Re: Instant Pot

cndkrick — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:04:04 GMT

Sammijo, one major difference between the two is the instant pot's insert is 100% stainless. This is important if you're trying to avoid non stick cooking surfaces

Re: Instant Pot

yellowrose — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:05:23 GMT

Sammijo, it has a brown/saute function to use for browning.

I'm looking at the one on Amazon also. I have a 4qt but been wanting a 6qt. If only the TSV had a stainless insert rather than nonstick I would buy from Q. It's worth the xtra money to me to have the stainless.

doglover, thanks for the recipe. I LOVE cabbage.

Re: Instant Pot

Poodlepet2 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:11:34 GMT

Spamming, you can brown meat or chicken before pressure cooking. Most models today have a brown or salute feature. The TSV is a great price for what it offers: you wouldn't be disappointed with pressure cooking-there is so much you can do: you can even make cheesecake in it! If you decide to get this, I would also encourage you to purchase Bob Warden's books"Slow Food Fast", I like the first volume more than the second, but they are both really good books that don't use hard to find ingredients and are 100 percent user friendly. Poodlepet

Re: Instant Pot

Poodlepet2 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:13:04 GMT

I apologize Sammijo my Kindle put in its own spelling and I should have proofed. Poodlepet

Re: Instant Pot

Sammijo10 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:13:08 GMT

I also don't have any non-stick pots/pans, I'm kind of a traditionalist when it comes to stove top cooking. All my pots/pans are tri-ply stainless steel and I have an induction cooktop which I adore! Yeah, sometimes things stick, but not if I cook them carefully enough. So, the evils of a non-stick coating have kind of escaped my radar. (I feel like an idiot!)

Why would having a non stick pot be an important consideration? Just asking. Thanks for the info.

Re: Instant Pot

Poodlepet2 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 19:36:50 GMT

It is still possible to burn and caramelize sugars, particularly if you don't use enough liquid. That being said, I once made some beef ribs and the sauce used sugar. I followed directions and there was still plenty of liquid in the pot, but there was an area where it burned. It would have been a little time consuming cleaning stainless, but not impossible. I have stainless pots and pans, and when sugars have burned, I always get them back into solution by boiling. Proteins ( eggs) are a different story: I use baking soda vinegar and kosher salt. Poodlepet

Re: Instant Pot

Sammijo10 — Wed, 10 Sep 2014 20:21:14 GMT

Poodle, no problem with the name. Spell check will do that sometimes! DH and I don't eat eggs cooked alone, per se, so that's probably why I don't have a non-stick pan.

I do know that there's a PFOA issue that I assume the TSV would be free of, even though they haven't mentioned it on the presentations. I'm going to peruse the item online and see if I should be afraid of the non-stick.

Thanks for the info, Poodle.