The Instant Pot has revolutionised home cooking with its ability to prepare meals faster and more efficiently than traditional methods. Whether you’re a busy professional, a parent juggling multiple tasks, or someone who simply wants to simplify meal preparation, this versatile appliance can be a game-changer. However, to truly unlock its full potential, there are several clever tips and hacks that can make cooking with an Instant Pot even quicker and more convenient. From reducing prep time to mastering advanced techniques like pot-in-pot cooking, these time-saving tricks will help you get the most out of your Instant Pot.
Preheat While Prepping
While you’re chopping vegetables, marinating meat, or gathering ingredients, switch your Instant Pot to the “Sauté” mode. This heats the pot before you start pressure cooking, shortening the time it takes to reach the required temperature. Normally, when you close the lid and start pressure cooking, the Instant Pot has to heat up first, which can take several minutes. Preheating during prep can cut this time significantly, especially with recipes that require high heat, such as searing meat or stir-frying. This small hack can make a huge difference when you’re short on time.
Use Frozen Ingredients
One of the most impressive features of the Instant Pot is its ability to cook frozen foods quickly. While many other cooking methods require thawing, you can toss frozen meat or vegetables directly into the Instant Pot. If you’re cooking frozen chicken breasts, for instance, you’ll only need to increase the cooking time by about 5 to 10 minutes. The pot will take longer to pressurise, but the overall cooking time is still significantly less than traditional methods. This is especially handy when you forget to thaw food or want to whip up a meal on short notice.
Layering for Pot-in-Pot Cooking
The “pot-in-pot” method allows you to cook multiple elements of your meal at once by layering different foods. For example, you can place a stainless-steel bowl or oven-safe dish on a trivet/steam rack over your main dish (like a curry or stew) and cook rice in the bowl simultaneously. Just add enough liquid to the bottom for pressure cooking. This technique saves time and cuts down on dishes, as everything cooks together in one pot. It’s great for meal prepping or making complete meals with less hassle, ensuring your proteins and sides are all done at the same time.
Double Your Portions
When making dishes like soups, stews, or pasta, double the recipe and store the extra portions in the fridge or freezer for later. The Instant Pot’s large capacity (especially the 6-quart or 8-quart models) allows you to make enough for several meals in one go. Once cooked, divide the meal into airtight containers or freezer bags, then freeze or refrigerate. This hack is especially useful for busy days when you need a quick meal. You can simply reheat the leftovers, saving yourself from cooking the same dish multiple times throughout the week.
Keep Warm for Dough Rising
The “Keep Warm” function of the Instant Pot isn’t just for keeping food hot—it’s also an excellent tool for proofing dough. Yeast doughs, like those for bread or pizza, rise best in warm environments. By using the Instant Pot’s gentle heat, you can create the perfect conditions for your dough to rise faster than it would at room temperature. Lightly grease the Instant Pot’s inner pot, place your dough inside, cover it with a damp cloth or use the glass lid, and set it to “Keep Warm” for about 30 minutes. This speeds up the rising process, making homemade bread or pizza less time-consuming.
Quick Release Pressure Carefully
After the Instant Pot finishes pressure cooking, you can either let the pressure release naturally (which can take 10-30 minutes depending on the dish) or use the “Quick Release” method to manually release the steam, cutting down on waiting time. However, be careful when using the quick release, as the steam can be quite forceful. Use a long-handled utensil like a wooden spoon to switch the valve from “Sealing” to “Venting” without getting too close. This can save you time when you’re in a rush, especially for dishes that don’t need further cooking once the pressure drops.
Use the “Delay Start” Feature
The “Delay Start” feature is excellent for planning ahead. For instance, if you want your dinner ready by the time you get home, set up your ingredients in the morning, programme the cooking time, and the Instant Pot will start cooking at the time you’ve set. This is especially useful for meals that take longer, like stews or braised meats, which will be ready as soon as you walk through the door. Keep in mind this feature shouldn’t be used with perishable foods like dairy, eggs, or meat unless you have a way to keep them cold before cooking starts.
Brown Meat for Added Flavour
Instead of using a separate frying pan to brown meat, take advantage of the Instant Pot’s “Sauté” function. Browning meat before pressure cooking locks in flavour by caramelising the surface, creating deeper, richer tastes in dishes like beef stew or pulled pork. Not only does this save time by eliminating extra pans, but the browned bits left at the bottom of the pot add flavour to sauces or broths. After browning, you can deglaze the pot with wine, broth, or water to capture those extra flavours in the final dish.
Make Stock Overnight
Making homemade stock or broth in the Instant Pot is not only faster than the stovetop method, but it’s also incredibly hands-off. Throw in leftover bones (from chicken, beef, etc.), vegetable scraps (carrots, onions, celery), herbs, and water, set the Instant Pot for 90 minutes on high pressure, and let it do the work. After it finishes, allow it to naturally release pressure. If you don’t need the stock immediately, leave it to cool overnight. By morning, you’ll have a rich, homemade stock that can be used for soups, sauces, and more. This process, which takes hours on the stovetop, is condensed into a fraction of the time with little effort.
Instant Pot as a Yoghurt Maker
Making yoghurt in the Instant Pot is both cost-effective and easy. The “Yoghurt” setting creates the ideal warm environment for fermenting milk into creamy yoghurt. Start by heating milk in the Instant Pot to 82°C to kill any unwanted bacteria, then cool it down to about 43°C before stirring in a yoghurt starter or plain yoghurt with active cultures. Set the “Yoghurt” function for 8-10 hours (overnight works best), and by morning, you’ll have homemade yoghurt ready to go. You can flavour it or strain it for a thicker consistency, like Greek yoghurt. Our Yogurt Cups and Rack makes light work of this process.
Stack Trivets/Steam Racks for Steam Cooking
If you need to steam several items simultaneously, such as eggs, vegetables, or fish, use steam racks to increase your pot’s capacity. This method is particularly useful for preparing meals in bulk or making sides while cooking a main dish. For example, you can steam vegetables in one layer while cooking eggs in another, all at the same time. This method reduces the number of cooking sessions needed for large meals, making it a perfect hack for meal prep or big family dinners.
Now that you’re equipped with these time-saving hacks, it’s time to put them into action! Start experimenting with your Instant Pot and discover just how much easier and faster cooking can be. Whether you’re prepping meals for the week, cooking up a family dinner, or trying out new recipes, these tips will help you get the most out of every dish. Don’t wait—transform your kitchen routine today and enjoy more time for the things you love. Fire up your Instant Pot and let it do the heavy lifting!