Need help with cooking a pork half loin in Instant Pot

qualityshopper · ‎12-04-2011

I'm really embarrassed to ask this, but I am a total dummy when it comes to cooking. I've tried searching online for what I'm wanting to know, as well as asking on Facebook. Not really getting the answers I need. So, thought I'd try here.

I just got my IP last week and haven't done anything with it yet. I picked up a pork half loin (not tenderloin) and some baby potatoes & carrots. Would like to cook them all together in the pot but am not sure about the timing. I'm guessing I need to brown the pork a little in the pot before actually cooking it with the pressure cooker feature. But, for how long? Can I put the potatoes & carrots in at the same time, or do I need to cook the meat under pressure for so long, release, & then add the veggies? If so, again how long to cook?

I'm really thinking I should return this because I absolutely don't know anything about cooking. Think the IP is really better for people who already know how to cook and are just looking for a way to do it quicker--not for novices like me. Would really, really appreciate it if someone could tell me step by step how to just cook this one meal. Thanks!

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

I am by no means a cook. I googled "instant pot recipe for pork loin" and step came up. I'm on my kindle though and can't copy them. You are pretty close. Put instant pot on saute. Salt/pepper the meat, when pot reaches hot, add 1/2 teaspoon olive oil. Cook 2 minutes each side = browning. Turn off saute. Turn on meat/stew setting 145 degrees. Add 1/2 can vegetable broth. Cook 20 minutes. This was for a two pound loin. The broth was added to make gravy. After pork is done, remove. Change setting to saute again, add rest of vegetable broth. Reduce it to half.

qualityshopper · ‎12-04-2011

@GCR18--Thanks for the info about the meat, but what about the veggies? Do you cook them separately from the meat, or can you put them together?

BeccaLou · ‎02-09-2016

You can learn how to use the instant pot, I have faith in you. Just don't cook the potato's and carrots with the meat, at the last 5 minbutes cancel the button out and add the potato's and carrots and set it for about 3to 4 minutes or the vegetables with be all mushy. You go , you can do it . You'll always wonder it you couldn't have cooked in it.Should be easier than regular cooking, Just watch acouple of video's on utbe. They are very helpful.

Ainhisg · ‎03-09-2010

Join the Facebook group called Instant Pot Community. Ask your question there, and you will get many responses. Pressure cookers have a learning curve no matter what brand you buy and no matter whether a person is an experienced cook or not. I am an experienced cook, but before I bought a PC, I joined a couple of groups and read, and read, and read so I’d have a clue what I was doing.

momtochloe · ‎11-03-2013

@qualityshopper as I am not on Facebook, I find You Tube to be extremely helpful when looking for IP recipes and techniques like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7VAkScSAXo

Please do not be intimidated by your IP. I am not repeat not a good cook but this has made me a better cook (I made beef short ribs yesterday that were delicious and so easy). Once you make a couple of recipes, I believe you will be hooked too!

qualityshopper · ‎12-04-2011

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I actually asked about this on the FacebookIP community, but didn't really get any answers about the veggies. If I were only going to cook the meat in the IP, I could manage that. Adding the veggies is what's causing me problems because I just can't seem to find an answer about how long to cook them (until now when becca lou replied). I've seen videos with people cooking pot roast where they add the veggies and cook them all together, but was having trouble finding the same for pork loin. I'm still tempted to return it, but I'll try to cook my pork first, I guess, to see how it turns out.

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

@qualityshopper wrote:
@GCR18--Thanks for the info about the meat, but what about the veggies? Do you cook them separately from the meat, or can you put them together?

From what I can tell, put them in there with the meat. The only thing spelled out is don't cut potatoes too small.

aroc3435 · ‎09-30-2010

@qualityshopper Sorry I didn't see your post sooner. From Bob Warden's Slow Food Fast cookbook his recipe for a 2 to 3 pound Pork Loin Pot Roast (p. 100) indicates 40 minutes on high after browning, natural release for 10 minutes and then quick release. If you can find this book and his sequel Great Food Fast I highly recommend them.

Then he adds the 1 cup of baby carrots, 2 small onions peeled and quartered, 2 stalks celery cut in one inch pieces, and six small halved redskin potatoes.

I cook chuck roast and corned beef adding vegetables separately too. I don't have the Instant Pot yet. Still using Cooks Essentials pressure cookers--six and eight quart. I think you will get the hang of it and love it. Just have fun with it. By the way, I always brown my meat first.

Once I got started using it I loved it. Don't use a slow cooker nearly as often, though I still have and use a Nesco roaster for big roasts, turkeys, feed a crowd type situation.

qualityshopper · ‎12-04-2011

@aroc3435 and @GCR18--Thanks to both of you for your help. I'm hoping to try and make this tonight. Still not sure exactly how I'll go about it, but I'll keep my fingers crossed that it will at least be edible. What was confusing me the most was how to do the veggies with the meat, but frankly, I'm also confused about the meat by itself. In checking different videos of people cooking pork (whether with veggies or not), I'm seeing different cook times--20 mins., 30, 35, 40, and even 7???? Guess I'll just pick the time I think will work & hope for the best.