By now, you’ve surely heard of the Instant Pot®. It’s all the rage on social media. Moms are swapping recipes. Heck, they even have their own online community! Maybe you got one for Christmas. But what exactly is this thing? Could it really be that great? And is it safe? We’re here to answer some of those questions so you know whether to dive in or take cover.
What Is an Instant Pot?
Simply put, it’s a programmable, electric pressure cooker. The makers boast that it offers “delicious and affordable cooking, using smart technology.” The Instant Pot is a seven-in-one kitchen appliance. In theory, it should be able to replace your slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté/browning pan and warming pot.
How Does It Work?
The Instant Pot consists of three main components — a stainless steel pot with a tight-fitting lid that sits inside an electric heating unit. The high temperature combined with the pressure in the pot forces hot steam into the food, causing it to cook quickly and evenly. A valve releases steam as needed to avoid too much pressure from building. For a more technical explanation, click here.
To use your Instant Pot:
- Set it to the proper pressure level (low, medium or high).
- Set the appropriate cooking time (the timer will not start counting down until the pressure is built up — approximately five to 20 minutes).
- Make sure the steam valve is in the locked, sealed position … and that’s it!
- When it’s done cooking, it will automatically switch to the “keep warm” function and begin to slowly release pressure — which takes up to 30 minutes.
Is It Safe?
If you’ve ever heard horror stories about stove-top pressure cookers exploding or causing steam burns, you may be hesitant to plug in the Instant Pot. But the good news is, they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure safety. In fact, Instant Pot offers multiple safety features that stove-top pressure cookers don’t.
Electric pressure cookers are fully automated. Much like with your trusted slow cooker, you can just turn it on and walk away. Once it reaches the right pressure and temperature, it stays there. And if the pressure or temperature start getting too high, it will automatically shut off — explosion averted.
You can also feel comfortable with the safety of your food. Unlike nonstick cooking surfaces, the stainless steel pot presents no threat of harmful chemicals. Instant Pot also switches to a “warm” setting when it’s done cooking, keeping food at a safe temperature for up to 10 hours.
Why Is It So Popular?
If it seems like people are strangely passionate about their Instant Pot, there’s a good reason why.
Benefits of cooking with an Instant Pot:
- You’ll have a lot more kitchen space since it does the job of seven appliances.
- Meals can be on the table up to 70 percent faster than with other cooking methods.
- You can conserve energy. It’s the second most energy efficient kitchen appliance, after the microwave.
- You aren’t chained to the kitchen! You can set it and forget it; just like a slow cooker — only faster.
- Your whole house won’t smell like tonight’s dinner. Since it’s completely sealed, aromas stay with your food — where they belong!
- Food will maintain its nutrients. Since you only use a small amount of water to create steam, nutrients will stay with your food instead of dissolving in water.
- Your food will be safer. Since the food is cooked at such a high temperature, almost all harmful living micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, are killed.
Bottom Line
The Instant Pot offers a lot of great benefits, including convenience, nutrition and safety. If you’re looking for an appliance that gets flavorful meals on the table fast, this is definitely one to try.
Just be sure to read the manual before you use your Instant Pot for the first time. It’s simple to use, but it’s important that you learn how to use it correctly. Follow all the instructions, and it should be smooth sailing.
Once you’re ready to dive in, try some of these recipes!
FAQs
They are most commonly used in industrial settings to quickly prepare meat or stocks. However, in most scenarios, Elite Chefs avoid using pressure cookers because they provide less control over the final dish. Chefs often prefer slow cooking techniques that accentuate and pull out the flavors of the food.
Does pressure cooking destroy vitamins? ›
Cooking methods vary in their ability to retain nutrients, and pressure cooking stands out. Research, including a study from the 1990s, suggests that pressure cooking retains about 90 to 95 percent of food nutrients, outperforming other methods like steaming, roasting, and especially boiling.
What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›
Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.
What is the best cut of meat for Instant Pot? ›
Best Cuts for Your Pressure Cooker/Instant Pot
You can cook any cut in a multi-cooker, but we recommend those from the chuck and round.
What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›
6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
- Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
- Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
- Cookies. ...
- Burgers. ...
- Pie. ...
- Steak.
Even though some studies suggest that pressure cooking isn't the best way to preserve nutrients in food, no research exists to suggest that pressure cookers of any model or brand pose health risks. If you're a fan of your Instant Pot, don't worry: You can continue to safely use your appliance without worry.
Why is pressure cooker food not good for health? ›
Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.
Are instapots carcinogenic? ›
No, Instant Pots themselves are not carcinogenic. There is no scientific evidence to suggest they cause cancer.
What cooking method is the healthiest? ›
Healthy cooking methods
- grilling.
- stir frying.
- air frying.
- roasting or baking with minimal oil (e.g. use spray or lightly brush with oil)
- steam or blanch in boiling water.
- microwave.
They're never as good as individual appliances — Instant Pots may be versatile, but they will never be as good as the appliance designed for that cooking purpose. Cooking rice in the Instant Pot was never as fluffy as my trusted rice cooker, while steaming broccoli often ended up an overcooked and soggy mess.
1. The Instant Pot doesn't cook things as quickly as it seems. While you can supposedly cook recipes such as potatoes, soup, stews, rice, and more in a shorter amount of time, there's a major catch: For most recipes, you have to wait for the machine to properly release the pressure slowly.
How many years does an Instant Pot last? ›
The average lifespan of an Instant Pot ranges from 2-5 years, but it can last longer depending on how often it's used and how well-maintained it is. So it's safe to say Instant Pots aren't commonly being replaced, and may even be a one-time purchase.
Why is my roast tough in Instant Pot? ›
If it's still tough, you will need to cook it longer. The pressure cooking process breaks down tough meat, making it tender. Put the lid back on, seal the pressure cooker, and cook at high pressure for another 10 to 20 minutes.
Does chicken get tough in Instant Pot? ›
Oddly enough, it can be really challenging to get the right texture when cooking boneless chicken breasts. They cook quickly in the Instant Pot, but if you don't cook them long enough they get a weird, rubber-like texture that's nearly impossible to chew, and if you cook them too long, their texture gets dry.
Can you overcook meat in an Instant Pot? ›
In a few words, yes! You can also undercook it, too. Overcooking the meat would result in a very dry tasting pot roast. Undercooking it would result in a tough piece of meat.
Why not to get an Instant Pot? ›
They're never as good as individual appliances — Instant Pots may be versatile, but they will never be as good as the appliance designed for that cooking purpose. Cooking rice in the Instant Pot was never as fluffy as my trusted rice cooker, while steaming broccoli often ended up an overcooked and soggy mess.
What do chefs think of pressure cookers? ›
It depends on the chef and the type of dish they are preparing. Pressure cookers are great for quickly cooking tough cuts of meat, beans, and other ingredients that would normally take a long time to cook. Pressure cooking also helps to retain more nutrients and flavor in the food.
Why are people selling their instant pots? ›
The Instant Pot became an unnecessary appliance taking up space in my pantry. The Instant Pot is safe and effective at cooking food thoroughly, but I found that the downfalls of the machine didn't justify its space in the kitchen.
Are Instapots better than crockpots? ›
If you are interested primarily in slow cooking, you should buy a dedicated slow cooker. They're more reliable with a range of slow-cooker recipes than an Instant Pot. We found Instant Pot multicookers specifically could not successfully slow-cook dense, high-volume recipes such as beef stew or pot roast.
