The “Instant Pot” is a wildly-popular multi-function cooker. I purchased the 8-quart “Duo” model yesterday afternoon, and last night, I cheerfully cooked my first meal in the gadget: a beef roast, as described in the little recipe book that came with the pot. Although the recipe was terrible, the texture of the pressure-cooked meat was at least acceptable. I’ll experiment with the pot over the next few weeks, and report back to you. Meantime, if you’re already riding the Instant Pot train, please post a comment below. Has the appliance been a game-changer for you?
Pictured above is a close-up of the cooker’s many functions. In time, I plan to try all of ’em!
xKevin
P.S. I bought my 8 quart model at Kohl’s for $135. The 6-quart version costs less than $100 at Amazon.
P.P.S. The “pressure cook” button is the same as the “manual” button on older Instant Pot models.
Susan says
Seems like an unnecessary piece of cookware to me.
Barbara says
OMG! Life changer for sure. Can’t even begin to list all the wonderful things I have made. Joghurt is a breeze, Quark Perfect.
Roasted herbed potatoes yummy.
I could go on and on. Took me a bit of getting used to but 4 months later feeling pretty good.
Even take it camping in the trailer.
Suzanne K says
I was very interested in this when I first saw it… then I saw the price! GULP!! Now I’m entering sweepstakes to win it… not going to buy it! I’ll spend the money on a robotic vacuum first.
jab says
I would not call it a game changer but it is very helpful having both a pressure cooker and slow cooker in one unit. It does both as well as the originals so I am very happy with it. I use it once or twice a week. It is very easy to clean which my old slow cooker was not.
Keila says
I don’t have an Instant Pot, but did purchase an Air Fryer yesterday. We fixed corn dogs and French fries in it yesterday, and love it! Has the crisp crunch as if they had been deep fried. Would recommend the Air Fryer.
Kate says
I’ve had one two years now and I use it all the time, at least two or three times a week, but like any new thing I had to find out how to get the best from it by experimenting. It’s worth it. It doesn’t do some things nearly as well as parts of the internet would have you believe, but it does others a lot better than almost any other method. I was about to say the manual button for altering the time is the most important button on there but I can’t see it on yours, hopefully that’s still hidden in there somewhere.
Kathy Cerwin says
Ooh my gosh, get one, I have 2 and love them. Use them for everything. I grew up in a house that used a old fashion pressure cooker and this one is much better since you can use it As a slow cooker And a pressure cooker. It’s awesome!
Mary Lou reslock says
It’s great for rice, had great results with spareribs although it requires finishing in the oven to crisp it up. It’s not bad for quick corn on the cob, useful but not a replacement for your oven/stove top.
Sue says
I have had mine for over two years now and I can’t even imagine getting along without it. Yes, it has been a game changer for me. Get a good cookbook and read about them on line. I don’t use the recipe book that came with it except I do use the timing charts. I had to kind of sneak up on mine because I was foolishly kind of afraid of it. Now I use it nearly every day. There is a learning curve.
Rita says
Love the Instant Pot.
Nancy says
I’m not much for the “latest” thing, having learned that some time ago. And just to give you an example, I love my grandmother’s cast iron skillet even though it’s very heavy. And never had a slow-cooker. I do have an old-fashioned pressure cooker but haven’t used it in years – a little scary when it starts blowing off steam. But one relatively recent appliance I do like and use a lot is an immersible blender – and that was after I read and admired how you were using it. So I’m wary but interested in knowing about this “instant pot.” And will be looking forward to hearing your comments.
Cylinda says
I recently purchased the Instant Pot and so far really like it. I like the fact that you can slow cook, steam, pressure cook, etc all with one appliance. We have made several dishes using the Instant Pot, not only as a pressure cooker but slow cooker too. The fact you can saute foods in the pot before slow cooking is a time saver and you don’t dirty other dishes in the process. There are some favorite slow cooker recipes I’m anxious to try with the Instant Pot.
Katie says
I’d absolutely grant the Instant Pot game-changer status. Yogurt, rice, beans, soups, risotto (!), squash, root veggies, applesauce, curries, etc., etc., etc. I found one on sale about two years ago and can’t imagine our kitchen without it. Highly recommended!
Cynthia says
Hi Kevin, Avery and Mr Fox…..
I love to cook, using another toy isn’t cooking to me, nor will my husband ever eat Quark! The pot
is more like steaming – yuck!
Donnamae Grannemann says
I have the same size InstaPot and love it. However, I have not mastered all of the technological details of it yet. I have made a delicious whole roasted chicken, Barley Beef Soup, rice, etc. You are correct – the instructions which come with it leave a great deal to be desired. The ones online at various websites are much better. Mary Hunt, “Everyday Cheapskate” columnist, disposed of all her other pressure pans and pots and only uses the InstaPot. A great feature of this appliance is that I can prepare the food, take the InstaPot out onto the patio and plug it into one of the outlets on the counter next to the house and free up prep space in the kitchen. I shall look forward to all of the wonderful discoveries you make with the InstaPot and share with us, your eager readers!
Sheila Morse says
I use mine for cooking beans, rice and potatoes mainly. Rice cooks up perfectly every time. I like to “cook up” so this has been wonderful to free up time. I also like it for making soup as you can saute’ and then build your soup and use as an open pot.
Next plan is to make coconut yogurt!
I take ours when we travel if that tells you how much I use ours. We eat plant-based only and it’s by far aside from a blender the most used piece of equipment in the kitchen. Be brave and experiment and you’ll find what you enjoy using it for.
Lyn says
I don’t think I would use it very often if I did buy one as it is just myself and my husband these days. I really do a lot of cooking – it’s my thing. I have never used a pressure cooker or any other gadget that would sit on my pantry shelf. I do have a slow cooker that I pull out once every couple of years, but that’s a pain to clean and put away. I don’t even use my food processor. I do have a mini-prep that I use to make bread crumbs, etc. The only appliance I do use regularly is my stand mixer – which I love. Perhaps if I had a house of hungry children and worked all day and needed to get a dinner on the table it might be worth a try.
Kerry says
Kevin – I bought the smaller one for Christmas. Made one recipe that came with the Insta-Pot (can’t even remember what it was), which was terrible. We put it away and haven’t used it since. My husband says, well I don’t need to hurry up slow cook recipes. So, I look forward to hearing your reviews and, hopefully you will come up with some good uses for it that I can try!
Kerry
Frani says
I was going to get one last fall, but kept seeing articles about them blowing up. I know it doesn’t happen often – but that is truly scary. I will pass until they are safer.
Barbara says
A pressure cooker is so great for Indian food: it cooks pulses quickly and doesn’t heat up the whole kitchen. It also saves on pot washing since you sauté and slow cook in one place.
If you like soups, stews and pasta sauces it will be a time saver. If you like your dinner in discreet parts (meat, starch, vegetables, preferably not touching each other) then this will be no help.
jake says
Like bell bottom pants… hopefully this ridiculous fad will be over soon too !
I have zero use for gadgets. If I want a pressure cooker, I’ll get a pressure cooker…
In the interim my All-Clad works wonders and doesn’t need to be plugged in :^)
Virginia says
I have used it for a variety of things, some for reasons not spelled out in the books and instructions. I make kefir by nearly boiling the milk first on the yogurt button.
I use it for just boiled eggs leaving setting for 15 instead of the directions and no green ring.
I make the potato salad combo–eggs and potato cubes at the same time.
I cook any type meat that I want to be easily cut, chewed, or shredded.
I make any number of different soups quickly and easily.
I make chili with my own Texas hot and spicy recipe with either ground beef or small cubes.
I’ve made banana bread, cheesecake, and slow cooker bread that I used to make in a slow cooker.
I’ve made cooked fruit for breakfast or topping for dessert as in a pressure cooker.
I’m 78 and if I can do it, surely babies, you can learn to love it.
Tara Burgess says
I love mine. The best thing I’ve made is a chuck pot roast. I try to be as gluten free as possible so to thicken the juices, I put 2 cups of cubed butternut squash in with the meat, 1 carrot, 1 stalk of celery and an onion. When the meat is done, I use my hand held blender and make a gravy out of the veggies in the pot. I then add potatoes and more carrots. I also add 2 bay leaves – put the lid back on for 8 minutes. When I release the pressure I put the roast back in and dinner is ready. I’ve learned to always cover the roast while its waiting for the veggies to cook or else it dries out. I sometimes add a tomato in the beginning too.
Kay Hirai says
I’m very curious about the instant pot. I especially want to make good yogurt in it. I don’t want to make the mistake of getting another thing that I use only for a short while like many of my other kitchen gadgets so I signed up for a class at the William Sonoma store to learn more about this pot.
Marcella says
Looks like a dust catcher to me. Usually love your website.
Your new dog is sweet.
Tracy says
I don’t have an Instant Pot and don’t plan to get one, simply because I cook a lot and feel very comfortable with my current approaches. Seems like a lot to store and lug around. (If I didn’t use my Kitchen Aid mixer so much, I’d toss that one too—so heavy– but I love it and use it all the time.) But, I do use a blender at least twice a week, to do everything from puree soups and crush ice and having a good one means I rarely have to break out a food processor. My current blender is a Vitamix and I love everything about it except I’ve lost two blades from the ice crushing! Kevin, I’d love it if you would do a product review of good blenders and solicit your readers’ input on the pros and cons of various models. I’d be willing to spend quite a bit on one because I use it so often. Thanks so much!
Hilary says
I love mine and use it all the time. Seriously the best cheesecake I have ever made. The hard boiled eggs are always perfect and I love that I don’t have to soak beans. Oh also the Baby Back ribs are wonderful and soups come out great! I wouldn’t use it for everything, actually I have not had the greatest luck with chicken or meat unless I use it for shredded, then the pulled pork is to die for! I for sure feel there is a place for this appliance in the kitchen!
Joan Marion says
I purchased mine about 2 years ago, used it once and now occasionally dust it. I am really looking forward to you coming
up with some delish recipes to get me excited about using it.
Patricia Lyle Barlow says
really like the pressure cooker & slow cooker features
Mariska L. says
I love my Instant pot, I received the eight quart as a Christmas gift. Initially, I didn’t think I would use it since I had a dred fear of pressure cookers. When I was a young child my mother’s old stove top pressure cooker would periodically spew hot food into the air like a volcano when, coincidently, I happened to be in the kitchen. She usually repaired it with a toothpick.
I was reassured this one was safe and, I am happy to say, that it has been a wonderful addition to my kitchen . I use it at least four times a week.
After Christmas it became like hens teeth, you couldn’t find one for sale so if you haven’t bought one, scoop it up as soon as you can.
Joanne says
If someone out there wants to send me theirs ( because they don’t like it) then I’ll give it a try.
I just put things in the cast iron casserole (Le Creuset with lid) and bake low and slow–perfectly tender. Now–non-dairy yogurts –for those who can’t eat dairy. Well, that’s reason enough for those folks to get one.
Karina says
I recommend Melissa Clark’s new Instant Pot cookbook, Dinner in an Instant. Lots of great recipes in there that have helped me get some delicious meals out of the Instant Pot. I hope you will start developing recipes for it, there are so many online but not a lot of sources I trust.
Susan says
Hi Kevin,
I own two slow cookers that are gathering dust in my basement which is my alternative pot pantry….They live there with the once-in-a-while-used large roasting pan and assorted sized baking pans. I have lived in my present home for over 4 years and used one of the slow cookers once…may be time for a clean out! I think I will pass on the instant pot. I can cook rice or potatoes in a regular pot along with the rest of the meal. My stews come out just fine in my Le Creuset and Lodge Dutch ovens. I Just cannot figure out the usefulness of them. Rather put the money toward a new vacuum cleaner. Any suggestions on a good canister type?
linda says
I’m waiting for the price to come down. Have used slow cooker and pressure cooker and rice cooker for many years. Seems good idea to have all in one. Maybe when to fad is passed I can get one.
Elizabeth says
I have had the instant pot for several years & I must say I haven’t used it much. I do love it for hard cooking eggs & cooking quinoa. Have yet to cook legumes in it but I imagine it will be great for that as well as rice. I think it was stew I made once & was a bit disappointed in the slow cooker function. I also have a slow cooker which I rarely use so I should have know better than to invest in this appliance. I am a senior & cooking for one but I don’t think that is the problem. I think I just find it easier to use my stovetop & oven. Maybe I will use it more in the near future. I would like to try homemade yogurt in it but if I don’t use it more soon I will probably sell it.
M.W.Gillis says
Looking forward to your Instant Pot recipes. Quick and foods seem to absorb flavors more completely and are tender. Have made chicken, beef recipes and artichokes for appetizers. How delicious. Still learning how to best use it.
Louise says
I researched instant pots because my elder daughter wanted a large soup pot. I mentioned that I have used the pressure cooker to make…. And I listed it for her. Her idea was my pressure cooker is analog and the instant pot is digital. Having said that, I will stick to the pressure cooker. I use that pot for jam making and more. I can’t see storing another device, either.
Jan Jacklin says
Love my Instant Pot for soups especially….I internet search for recipes…much better than the booklet it comes with….
Did Corned Beef…the best I’ve ever tasted…
Judy says
I got caught up in all the hoopla and purchased the Instant Pot. So far have used it about 5 times. Not impressed with how meat turns out, maybe the recipe was crummy. The recipes that come with the pot are not so good, so tried several on line, not so good either. So will hold final judgement until I see what luck you have. Thinking it will probably end up in the next garage sale. Looking forward to your recipes, hope you have better luck with yours
Jerry King says
Unnecessary piece of kitchen gadgetry! Believe it was designed for people that are afraid of using a conventional pressure pot. My kitchen inventory includes 3 pressure pots, 2 – 4 qt and 1 – 6 qt that get used weekly.
Gene says
I’m 75. I often complain about going slow. Yet I love it. We all live our lives too fast. So many people are so busy, they need gadgets to help them, not accomplish more, but just go faster. Time is the most precious gift we all have. I like to take my time to celebrate everything, especially my cooking. I’m in no hurry. I’m grateful to be living in this great age of technology. We all much use it, not be used by it – to accomplish our unique life. The good life isn’t accomplished in an “instant”.
Cathryn Parker says
Have heard that the little recipe book with the Instant Pot is very poor. However, on a recommendation from a friend, I’ve purchased the book “Indian Instant Pot Cookbook” by Urvashi Pitre…it is superb!
Every recipe I’ve tried has been a winner.❤️❤️❤️
Lyla aaland says
I have never been a pressure-style cook. I enjoy the rhythmic, meditative value of stirring. I love the sounds in my kitchen too much. And I love the scents as they slowly “flower” up. This gives me pride. I don’t even like my microwave.
Diane says
It’s truly awesome for hard-cooking eggs, but it’s an expensive and huge egg cooker. I’ve done a few main dishes in it, but so far the recipes leave me unimpressed. The browning/sauteing feature is indispensable. I’ve made a great chicken soup in it; still experimenting. Recipes online are far superior to the ones in the cookbook it comes with. Also, the dang thing takes up a lot of valuable real estate in the kitchen! But if you need a stew in an hour, you can’t beat it! My daughter loves hers. It may be a generational thing.
Terri says
I didn’t buy an Instapot, but I bought The Smart Canner. I can use this as a Pressure cooker, a Crockpot, I can brown meat, can steam vegetables. But the best part is that it can “Can”food.
Having a garden with fresh fruits and vegetables, I have a need for canning and this Canner gives me the opportunity to can in small batches.
Maraya says
I have a 6-quart duo. It’s fantastic for easy-to-peel hard-boiled eggs, cheesecake, no-soak beans, chilies and stews, stock and bone broth, rice and other grains, and so much more!
Lots of great recipes, time charts, and advice for newbies online. I also bought a few good books. I love Dinner in an Instant: 75 Modern Recipes for Your Pressure Cooker, Multicooker, and Instant Pot by Melissa Clark.
Give it a chance. Read carefully because processes differ from “regular” cooking.
Sheila says
I don’t have one, no more room in my kitchen. Looking forward however to how it works for you, and if you like it.
Good luck.
barbara says
Has anyone used the instant pot for canning purposes? My husband and I downsized from a 9 room house (large kitchen) to a small one bedroom apartment in NY. We’re down to our favorite french copper cookware, the cast-iron, the kitchen-aid mixer, a Vitamix and a truly useless stove/range. We still can a batch or two of jam/jelly for family and friends every holiday season. If the instant pot can replace our old fashioned “water bath” method of canning it would so much easier and convenient … and potentially free up precious space in our kitchen.
Sue Ayer Marquette says
Since the instapot serves as a rice cooker and slow cooker I’ve reduced other equipment I have used in the kitchen. I cooks beans quickly with out soaking and as a slow cooker it’s perfect. Since I love the process of cooking with using a recipe as a guide only, my most valuable pieces of equipment are a large cast iron pan and a Le Crueset pot for the oven. I look forward to the recipes you tryout.
Elizabeth says
Took me awhile to buy an Instant Pot as I don’t care much for gadgets that just duplicate what I could do anyway and I’ve never been a fan of slow cooked meals. Yet, I did and I’m ever so happy now that I took the plunge. My three biggest uses are making yogurt, cooking dry beans and making bone broth. I’m especially grateful that I can do these without steaming up our non-air conditioned home in the summer or tying up a burner on the stove for hours any time of the year. The Instant Pot is useful for getting a quick meal on the table when I rush in late from work. I did a whole chicken in there the other night and it was moist and delicious. I also like that it will automatically hold foods at a warm temperature after cooking time is finished. This allows flexibility if I’m away from home longer than planned. There is most definitely a learning curve so give yourself time. You might want to check out the few zillion FB groups dedicated to Instant Pot. You’ll find recipes and tips and you can ask questions.
Joy says
Love what I have already and it does not include an instant pot!
Cathy says
Was looking for a big slow cooker without toxic “non-stick” surfaces. The stainless inner pot is great. Have pressure cooked a few things (frozen roast beef & frozen ribs that turned out really good) but really prefer low & slow cooking when I remember to take something out of the freezer for dinner. I agree the recipes in the book are not that good. Have heard pinterest has some good recipes for instant pot. Will keep playing around with it and figure I can turn just about anything into soup if it doesn’t turn out as intended. I love soup! Next on the list is pressure cooking dried beans. Should be much quicker than stovetop.
Joanne says
One daughter-in-law has a pressure cooker and one has an Instant Pot, which they love. For myself I am like Susan (number 30 above) and use my
Le Creuset casseroles and Lodge cast iron skillets a la Julia Child all the time and have done so for at least 50 years. People tell me I’m an excellent cook. (I’m flattered)
So no Instant Pot for me. Besides I’m alone now. And still use my well worn first edition copy of Mastering the Art of French Cooking!
Deb B says
I bought a 3-qt duo mini (just me and the hubs) and now wish I’d gotten a 6-qt. I’ve made pho ga, yogurt, bone broth, chicken tikka masala, beef stew and of course, hard boiled eggs. I agree that most recipes are so-so, but it’s fun to experiment!
Susan M. says
Just bought the 6 quart from Kohl’s.com–still waiting for it to be delivered! Will be interested in seeing what you make with yours! We eat only plant based, so I plan on using mine mainly for cooking dry beans, rice, etc. If you dream up any great plant based recipes using the IP, please do share!
P.S.–My African violets are currently blooming beautifully, thanks to YOUR instructions! Thank you so very very much! The little blooms bless my entire family with happy smiles!
Julia says
The instant pot has been a game changer for me, mostly b/c I am a lazy cook and it allows me to “set it and forget it” until the alert sounds, and for many things, I can ignore that as well!
Barbara-according to the manufacturer, “Instant Pot® can be used for boiling-water canning. The Instant Pot® product line is regulated by a pressure sensor instead of a thermometer; the altitude of your location may affect the actual cooking temperature. We recommend to not use Instant Pot for pressure canning.”
Teresa says
Hmmm…I have a rice cooker and a crockpot… I haven’t needed a pressure cooker in my lifetime and I am going on 66. Soooo…probably not a necessary item for me.
I love to bake and roast things up in the oven as the scents they send around my little house are amazing and comforting.
Louise J says
I have a “pressure cooker”…. and must say it’s the best piece of cookware I have! I actually have 2… an 8qt and a small 1.5 qt. i use the smaller one endlessly. I rarely think about dinner until I want it- the fact that I can cook frozen foods and eat homemade , great food in minutes is phenomenal… I experiment a lot and often throw in “what I have” as spice/ liquid… it makes being frugal very easy. Yes, it can be scary the first time. I had mine almost a year before I tried it! As a child my mother’s pressure cooker exploded once- and that’s a memory! These new electric ones have dual seals and fancy gauges that preclude malfunction or user error. Try it! You’ll like it!
Search Pintrest and Facebook for a kazillion recipies and tips… you’re not alone
Katy says
I have the 6 quart instant pot and it isn’t a game changer at this time. However, I attribute that to my lack of creativity and time for cooking. I have to say that I am pretty excited that you are going to experiment and hopefully give me reason to use the darn thing! I’m also intrigued with canning in the instant pot. That being said, I have been thinking about the gadgets I have that are taking up space or rarely used, perhaps it is time to re-home them aka yard sale!
Monica says
Susan (#1) and Joanne (#46) are right. My La Crueset is the best pot ever for slow cooking, chili, soups, osso bucco, spaghetti sauces, stews and more. I have a Fagor (French model) pressure cooker that has been reduced to cooking dry beans. In my opinion, it’s another unnecessary large piece of kitchen equipment that takes the “cooking” out of cooking! However, if you’ve got children, are working long hours or have other time constraints I would go to the basics of an Oster slow cooker and save beaucoup bucks!
Susan says
I’m dragging my feet to spend the money on one. I have re-bonded with my old pressure cooker, but would like to plug in and walk away. I’m not sure if I’d like the 6 or 8. Looking forward to your ideas and creative expertise.
Rhea says
I love having an Instant Pot. It is used most often for stews. Lamb stew for example. I cook the onion in the pot, add some garlic and cook a bit more, then stir in one pound of greens, either spinach or mixed greens, and cook those down (I love the flavor of cooked greens, and I need to cook them down to make room for all the other veggie goodies). Then I add in whatever I’m in the mood for. Zucchini, carrots, maybe celery root. Lots of veggies. I fill it up. Then cut up lamb, seasonings, and only 2 cups of bone broth as the veggies give off plenty of liquid. Set the timer and walk away. It is so delicious. Everyone who has tried it loves it. There is so much flavor. Veggies cooked under pressure are just so good and flavorful. And another reason for me to love having an instant pot is that we moved to over 6,000′, and the IP is the only way I’ve gotten good rice since we moved here. Another favorite in the IP is Zuppa Toscana. Ribs cooked in the IP, then finished with sauce under the broiler. I could go on. 🙂
Lynn says
I have not purchased one. Too many mixed reviews. Also, I’m leery of any multi-function appliance. In general, multi-function anything means that it does nothing really well. I’m willing to admit that at the age of 68 I could be a wee bit set in my ways. lol But in my defense, I recently purchased an air fryer and am looking forward to trying it.
Sarah says
I have one and love it, but admit to not using it as much as I could or should 🙂
Linda says
I held off getting an instant pot for the longest time. I, too, was pretty satisfied with my dutch oven and slow cooker. Then, my daughter got one and loved it. I started researching them and checking to see what I usually make that could be done in the instant pot. Turns out there are a lot of things, not to mention setting the pot and then forgetting about it. I have done eggs, rice, steel cut oatmeal, many soups, a beef stew and beans. I have only had it a few weeks but I like that I don’t have to give it much in the way of attention. Interestingly, I am the only one who eats these things but I freeze my food out in single portions. As to your recipe, its probably not the pot and more than likely the recipe itself. I think once you experiment, you will find ways to convert other recipes you already use into the Instant Pot. There are some great YouTube videos, which have been my primary source of information. Try one called Pressure Luck.
Janice says
My son gifted me a 6 qt last year. I really love mine. My favorite to cook is oatmeal using the pot in pot method.. Also, it will cook a whole chicken in 45 minutes to make chicken stew or chicken and rice. I can go on forever about this appliance. I love to steam my home raised eggs in it. Only takes 6 minutes! I steam a spaghetti squash last week and it was so good.
lynn says
I just ordered one, and have not gotten to use it yet…I’ve never used a pressure cooker before either so am sort of excited and worried…good luck with yours
NuGoddess says
I have had my Instapot for about two weeks and once I overcame my fear of the pot, I love it. As others have stated, the recipe book that comes with it is … well, useless but it’s a start. The best part about that booklet is the listing of approximate pressure times listed in the back. Use that as a jumping off point. There are many testimonials online regarding how much weight a person has lost using this gadget but my opinion is that these people switched from eating processed/fast food to decent food; that’s bound to make a difference.
I made spaghetti sauce today using frozen, fresh tomatoes in 25 minutes. You have to change your style of cooking from start cooking hours before serving to about 45 minutes, start to finish.
I came across this site on YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWP5zYusIJqJCK27A0NlAKg it is listed as Pressure Luck and Jeff takes you step-by-step through his recipes. (Hope I’m not stepping on anyone’s toes, Kevin.)
Best advice: follow all of the safety steps and play with this gadget – bet you’ll love it, too.
Toni says
I like that I can sear then slow cook in 1 container. I use it to make pulled pork, beef stew, Corned beef and cabbage in an hour is pretty awesome too.
Becki says
Love my instant pot! I just got it 2 months ago. Hard boiled eggs are easy in the instant pot, and made some delicious chili! It tasted better than the slow cooker version. I’m still learning, and I am still trying to get the timing down. Many recipes say to pressure cook for however many minutes, but they don’t say how long it takes to get to pressure and how long it takes to naturally de pressure. Sometimes it takes up to 30 mins to come to pressure depending on what your cooking, so timing of “dinner is ready” has been off for me. Other than that it’s been fantastic. My next recipe to try will be corned beef and cabbage 🙂
Linda A says
Curious what motivated you to buy one, Kevin. Maybe it’s useful for blog content. You’ve written such wonderful content but even you might be running out of ideas. Well, this is a good place to do a thorough test-drive to determine whether this thing is worth buying – so thank you for the test run! Sort of a Consumer Reports aka Kevin’s blog. Will be interesting to read/hear your report. Probably should tally all the yays and nays from your readers, too.
I have a bunch of gadgets that sit either in the garage (next to the unused exercise equipment) or in the far reaches of my cupboards.
My tried and true keepers: my lightweight 8″ (blade) Victorinox chef’s knife, J.A.Henkels paring knife, my All-Clad pots and pans, old fashion cast iron skillet. On the wish list is a LeCruset dutch oven.
Judi Nemeth says
Yes, I love it.. I do at least 1 meal a week with it and works great… plenty of you-tube videos to watch and recipes to follow… have NOT done anything from the little book other than learn how to really do yogurt… came out fab!!!. the other nite I make a 98% frozen bone in texas pork roast and we were eating a great dinner in less that 1 1/2 hours… made a big batch of chili a few weeks ago when I had the gals over for Bunko… Yes I have the 8 quart…. It takes a bit to get used to and the timing of things, but I will learn more with use… Good luck and keep experimenting…
Betty Blalock says
I never would have bought one, but my daughter gave me an Instant Pot for Christmas 2016. It stayed in the box a long time, and I read & re-read the book. Finally got the nerve to experiment and learned to like it. Best thing was steaming home made tamales instead of using a big steamer pot. It did not do all of them at once, but the time was considerably shorter. Finding lots of good recipes on Pinterest. You can get rid of your old slow cooker, pressure cooker and rice cooker.
TRACEY says
Love it! Never buy a can of beans again. No soaking and 30 min later. Wonderful tasting beans. The more I play with it the better it gets. Perfectly done hard boiled eggs everytime and the absolute best potatoes. Put herbs and garlic in the water or savory tea in the bottom and the potatoes on the rack. The flavor infuses in the potatoes. I hear pasta is fast and perfect too but haven’t tried that yet. I’m anxious to see what you come up with. Love your new puppy. I lost my little helper over a year ago and miss him so much especially when I bake bread as that was his absolute favorite and he always did an awesome job cleaning up any flour I got on the floor.
Cyn says
I use mine to make food for the dog. It is very handy and I appreciate that I don’t have to be sitting in the same room as it to watch it like I do with my stove-top pressure cooker. He is a big boy with allergies so this has really helped because I cook for him 2-3 times a week. It cleans up quickly and was worth the purchase price for me.
Suzanne Surburg says
I’m very interested on your opinion, Kevin. I have a slow cooker, a pressure cooker (which I’m not afraid to use), a dehydrator that I can use to make yogurt, numerous cast iron pans, and a stove and oven. Additionally, my small toaster oven has a convenction option. With only two of us in the house and both retired I’m not sure I need/want another gadget to cook with. The learning curve intimidates me. I don’t like preparing food that isn’t up to my usual standards because I’m learning to use a new appliance. Perhaps if I still had a family at home and was working outside the house I’d be more interested in this appliance. Anxious to hear what others have to say who are in the same demographic as we are.
Susan Eastman says
I have one! As a Vegetarian, the Instant Pot might not be as useful as if your making roasts. It’s great for hard-boiling eggs! Have also done lentil soups. Fun to have; not a game changer for me!
Joan says
Have never been a fan of pressure cookers so still on the fence about whether this would be worth the price of investment. I do use a slow cooker all the time and absolutely love it. Have been looking at air fryers and not sure about the advantages…except getting crispy food w/o deep frying seems like a big plus. Additionally, just don’t have the room for the stuff I have now. Will be interested to hear how you progress with your new kitchen appliance.
Melanie says
I got mine for Christmas and was intimidated for a bit but now I use it lots, even adapting some favorite recipes to it which turned out well. I get home late from work and need to get dinner on quickly and it’s super helpful! I also love I can “set it and forget it” – start it and run out to a swimming lesson and come back and it’s just keeping it warm. I have a tiny kitchen and it fits NOWHERE so it’s on my stove top – I guess I’m forced to use it s lot because it’s just there 🙂
Stephanie Harper says
I waffled a long time, as I require any gadget to replace at least one if not more existing tools in my kitchen. But I also grew up with my mom cooking with a pressure cooker (the old fashioned more exciting explodey sort) so I understood the appeal. Gotta say that for our purposes it is wonderful. I still have my rice cooker in case I need to cook something with the rice separate. It is a dream for pork and beans, wonderful for beef stew, and we have developed a couple of recipes for smoked pork (using liquid smoke) and huli-huli pork that are amazing. I am going to try making a tagine in the next couple of days.
Alice says
My Electric pressure cookers (not a misprint, I have 3) have been life savers. My daughter gave me a Fagor Multicooker for last Mothers’ Day. It resides on the counter in Illinois where I spend the summer months. I gave her an Instant Pot for Christmas since I would need it in the Texas winter home I share with her. (I got her brother one, too) I also bought a 3-qt Mini, which will travel back and forth. When I return to Illinois, an 8-qt DUO is on my list, along with an Airfryer. Since I got my first pot, I think I have used my oven fewer than 6-10 times and the stove top about the same. I imagine restaurant owners hate IPs, since they remove the, “I forgot to get anything out of the freezer, we’ll have to go out” excuse. I have used the recipe booklets that came with the Pots for timings but most of the recipes stink. I am a cookbook nut so, have about 6 or 7 IP books, favorite is Urvashi’s Indian book, restlessly waiting for her new book coming soon. This Old Gal, Amy*Jacky, Pressure Luck, some of my favorite recipe sites. Mostly, I just cook my old recipes, adapted to the IP. Successes: spare ribs, pulled pork, hard cooked eggs, veggies, soups, the best chicken breasts I’ve ever eaten, cheesecakes (I use the old recipe off the Philly package as the basis) yogurt (if you like yogurt, I don’t) Fails: Chicken and noodles/dumplings (bad recipes, finally found a good one), the beef we get down here is terrible (select cut, not choice) so not completely happy with stews, pot roasts, etc. To try: ricotta and cottage cheese. I’m 78, much experience cooking, considered a good cook, lazy, don’t like stirring. LOVE my IPs. Fast, one pot, quick/easy cleanup, flavors permeate the food. And, who knew I liked Indian food?
Janet E says
Hi Kevin, So glad to read all the opinions on the Instant Pot. Not sure if I would ever get one tho. I do love my slow cooker, but am really wondering about the air fryers. Have a neighbor who sold her Instant Pot, but uses the fryer everyday. Since ours is an almost no fry household, would be interested in this if as healthy as it sounds.
Judy S says
I received one as a holiday gift and I like it, but it’s not a game-changer. I use it most for things like soups, stews and congee – things I cook much more often now with the convenience of the Instant Pot. It really is great for hard or soft boiled eggs, and easy rice that I don’t have to watch! I’ve done spare ribs and country style ribs (finished in oven/broiler) and I am not impressed with the texture which is more steamed than I like, but since it’s winter in MN I’m not firing up the grill very often, and it is acceptable when I really want ribs. Loved the whole (imitation rotisserie) chicken!
For me the best feature is for times when I want a good fresh meal and don’t feel like fussing. I can set the IP and go do something else for a while and dinner cooks itself.
My struggle has been to learn the basic concepts like proportions & timing. So many of the “recipes” are things I would never cook/eat because they don’t appeal to me and are full of “ingredients” like packaged gravy and ranch seasonings, or cream of whatever soup – I do not use these items. So I would like to better understand how to convert cooking concepts I already know into an IP variation. I look forward to learning from you and with you.
Mary Priest says
I’ve had my IP for a couple of months now and I really love the results with the recipes I’ve tried. Especially love cooking 2 large whole artichokes in 12 minutes. The spaghetti squash recipe was excellent. I’m very excited to try your recipes. Maybe an IP cookbook?
Crystal B. says
Hello Kevin, I have a pressure cooker by Cuisanart; not an instant pot. I use it in the summer when i want a recipe that would use the oven. The beef stew was good, the meat tender.
I love it for soup, which it will do excellently in 45 minutes.
I am still experimenting, hope this helped.
Robin Gray says
I received one for Christmas and would love some coaching and recipe help from you if you’re game. Would trust your take on it. Love your fun and interesting blog. Thanks!
Sonja Jones says
We were just in Kohl’s the other day looking at this one but I don’t think I would use it much. I have a couple of friends who love theirs. I did, however, see one in our local HEB (grocery store) and they were only $80 (same store that I got my KitchenAid stand mixer for only $200!).
I am interested, and have read the comments above, regarding the many uses for this. If you get an Air Fryer, please…post about that!
Rose says
I cook quite a bit, but really can’t think of anything I make that I need to cook faster or slower. I don’t have a problem with rice, beans, grains, or eggs cooked on the stove. I used to use a pressure cooker a lot for stew but now I prefer a pot on the stove so I can add vegetables at different times. I have 2 crock pots and their best use for me is carrying food to parties and meetings. I like the one with the locking lid for the car. I don’t like to cook in them. I don’t think I’ll be buying another redundant appliance.
Linda F. says
It’s okay. Great for quick cooking quinoa, rice and for making homemade chicken stock. I don’the like the slow cooking feature on mine — it never seems to turn out properly. I use it mainly for the aforementioned and for chili and soups. I would love it if you shared your recipes with this machine with us. If anyone can take on the IP it’seems you!
Janet Carter says
I’ve had so much fun with my 6 qt. Instant Pot! It’s the bomb for cooking eggs that are ALWAYS easy to peel. My husband loves deviled eggs. I made Lindy’s New York cheesecake that was excellent. It’s great for wild rice. Pulled pork, baby back ribs, beef stew, beef roast…all were winners. I’m not thrilled with the texture of chicken done in the pot. Meat still needs to be seared and seasoned properly. If it’s something that can benefit from moist heat, then give your IP a try. Next I want to do some custards and yogurt.
Play with it, Kevin. Have fun!! Love your blog!
patricia kuntz says
My daughter in law got one for Christmas and uses it all the time. She makes soups, stews, yoghurt and more. I have never been a cook who uses lots of ingredients and would not use the instant pot. I think it is great for cooks who like to experiment.
Barbara Higdon says
Got one for Christmas. Thought I wanted one! Tried beef stew on slow-cook. Took over 16 hrs. and meat still wasn’t tender! Took back to store and returned. I’ll just use the appliances that I already have. Useless and where to store is another problem!
Joyce Ann Schlag says
I bought a 3 quart Instant Pot and that is the best size for me. The meat does not come out tender and moist, but like it was boiled so it was dry and stringy. The broth was very good, but I wanted both tender moist meat and tasty broth. I followed the recipe. For me there is a learning curve for this pot. Upon further thought, i think I added too much liquid (even though the recipe called for the amount I used) and I overcooked the meat, not knowing if I should add the time for natural release to the actual cooking time. i will try the function of a slow cooker and steamer next. The manual is not well written.
Linda says
I love mine. I am a scratch cook with 6 children and am always looking for ways to be more efficient with time and money. This does both once the learning curve is done. I have made many things and all have saved me time. I can make 1 pot meals which are my favorite for clean up reasons. I am still trying to figure out the correct time for noodles. I keep getting mine over soft. My favorite thing so far was BBQ Meatloaf and mashed potatoes cooked together in the instant pot. Both were great and where quick. I am not going to use my pressure canner ever again. Also I can make my own vanilla flavoring. I have my beans and vodka. I cannot wait to try it. I look forward to all your creative recipes.
Sekina suleman says
Hi Kevin
I’ve never had a pressure cooker nor do I intend to buy another gadget. I have a slow cooker which is great for making soup, chilli and ( nihari) Indian beef soup/ stew.
My late mother in law ( Bless her ) used a pressure cooker all the time and made great meals.
Your new dog Avery looks smart .I’m sure you’ll love him.
Keep well,
Thank you
Sekina from Vancouver
Lynne Lillie says
For me, it’s Vita Clay all the way. The Vita Clay Chef is the one appliance (and I have many) that I would follow into combat. It’s a slow cooker, yogurt maker, and rice cooker all in one. And, cooks most anything you throw at it in two hours or less; the food retains its flavor better than anything cooked in a standard slow cooker, and clay is a safe, time-proven, method of cookery. I use mine so often that I’m thinking of getting the next largest size. That said, I know many people who love their instant pots–and I wish you all the best with yours!
pk says
A robotic vacuum cleaner will change your life… an Instant Pot will not!
Linda Cerisano says
Game. Changer. I use my Instant Pot all the time…rice, beans, chili, soups, stews, stoups…you name it! My favorite thing is a whole chicken for any shredded chicken dish, then dumping the stripped carcass back in the pot with veggie scraps, season and cover with water, and voila! A short time later you have chicken stock! Takes a bit of time to learn how to use it. Definitely worth the time to hunt for recipes online. Michelle Tam of Nom Nom Paleo has some great ones. You are going to love it…can’t wait to heat about your creations!
Dominique says
Hummmm…… I personally like the slow cooker which I use a lot in the winter. It is great with cheaper cuts . I make a lot of casseroles, throw everything in it and leave it for 6 or 8 hours. It always turns out delicious. You can make a whole lot of other things in it but the good part is that you leave in the morning and come back to a finished meal ! I would not be interested in a pressure cooker as I prefer slow cooking process. But…… Everyone is different ! That is what makes our world !
Kathrin Weber says
I grew up in a household that used a pressure cooker for everyday food on a regular basis, so the idea of a pressure cooker is not new or innovative or frightening. We mostly used it to cook frozen foods and meats.
I have had an Instant Pot for about 6 months and have used it a few times for cooking dried beans. I am a vegetarian. I want my vegetables cooked quickly as a stir fry or roasted in the oven. Soup is so fast to make the old fashion way so I’m not interested in using it for soup. I am sure there are great things that can be done, but I’m not sure what yet.
Not a life changer.
Mariayn says
It is now 4 pm and I am just sitting down to rest after using my Instant Pot to make meals for the upcoming week. I did a 3 lb pork butt in 45 minutes –there’s two meals tonight half of it is in the mini mini crock warming with green chili sauce. Turned around and cooked brown rice in the cooking juice of the pork –that will be fried with corn and black beans to go with tacos. Making pulled bbq pork and macaroni salad tomorrow. Then I cooked 3 chicken breasts bone in less than 25 minutes. Those have been meat removed and frozen for those “oh lord what’s for dinner nights” the bones will be used to make broth. I use the Instant Pot so much since buying it 2 years ago that I am now working on my 6th inner ring.. love that you can order them online. We make yogurt all the time. Next big project is making a cheesecake this spring. If you make a lot of rice or yogurt I recommend the ceramic inner pot……a steal at 20 bucks and delivered right to the front door. My grandson in the Navy and living on base in small apt is looking into getting a smaller Instant Pot -he was just home on leave and asked all kinds of questions about using it.
Lynn says
I’m not a fan of these multi-purpose devices. I like to cook the traditional way. I have a rice cooker but prefer steamed rice. I had a slow cooker but prefer the taste of casseroles etc cooked in the Le Crueset in the oven. I have a pressure cooker, which I use for legumes and I admit it does make meat really tender. Otherwise, it’s just frypans and saucepans for me.
Ardelle says
I do not have one and after experiencing dining on foods cooked with one by friends and family I find the outcomes less than enjoyable. I grew up learning to cook from scratch and still do. It’s not rocket science. There are foods that can be prepared ahead of time such as rice, quinoa, barley, soups; I eat very good food. Recently 4 people showed up from out of town and I was able to serve a fresh full dinner within 2 hours. Everything from some hors d’oeuvres all the way to dessert. The were astonished. I had the pleasure of being a family cook for a year and it was not uncommon for them (very busy professionals with a 2 year old in day care) to call me at noon and ask me to prepare for an extra number of business associates anywhere from 4-12 people. It was delightful as I was always included in the dining. I was able to do this as I had many prepare items in the freezer. Sure it takes a bit of planning. I will be doing a presentation addressing that very issue. So many families eat fast food because they come home at 6 pm or later – tired, crying toddlers, and aren’t inclined to start cooking a healthy meal – my presentation will address that and offer numerous suggestions to change their eating habits. No instant pot for me!
Iris says
just saw this on Facebook….
https://www.hippressurecooking.com/alert-instant-pot-gems-overheating-melting-base-facebook-post-says/
Constantine says
Hi Kevin,
I don’t have the Instapot but have two sizes of the traditional stove top pressure cookers. I wouldn’t trade them for anything. I use a pressure cooker at least once a week. Stews, Indian cuisine, pulled pork, beef burgundy….. all great. Iris above has posted a link, do check it out. Laura Pazzaglia has great recipes and I like her book as well. Once you learn how to use a pressure cooker and discover how easy it makes so many foods, you’ll wonder why you waited so long. I have an induction cooktop so the control is very precise; I should think that the Instapot is also very precise.
Enjoy the new discovery!
Pat Eaton says
I love, love, love mine.
I have used a pressure cooker for years, so it was an easy transition to the Instant Pot. I love the multiple functions and use it weekly. The recipes that come with it are awful, much better recipes are available in any pressure cooking book, and on the internet! Looking forward to reading about your adventures with yours.
Katheryn Osborne says
I have one and have bought one for my son…he loves it for pinto beans……I have done spaghetti & sauce together, baked potatoes, rice is nice in it..and made split pea soup quite a few times..so much easier to use than the old hissing stove top types….Love it and worth every penny !!! and it has replaced a few other appliances for me.
Kath Watson says
OMG! Game changer for me! I’m making Massaman curry tonight.
Have made Tzatziki with Greek yogurt made in instant pot. Bought
nesting pots that fit in my 8 qt. Duo so I can do pip( cooking 2 separate items in pot at same time. )
Also bought small spring form pan to make cheesecake
in instant pot, which turns out excellently. Made delicious chicken tortilla soup. Many interesting videos on YouTube for recipes, but best, best, best
is Jeffrey from “Pressure Luck cooking .com”. He has many great recipes and
makes using the instant pot and watching his YouTube videos lots of fun.
Can’t recommend his site enough. I love your blog too!
Lori Beth says
We were given one as a gift and we committed to learning it. I put the rice cooker and the slow cooker away. It’s worth it to me just for broth. We eat low FODMAP which makes buying soup or broth practically impossible. Now I have homemade broth available for soup or stew anytime.
I have not been overly impressed by the slow cook function. It heats the metal interior pot very evenly, eliminating hot spots that make browner bits in parts of my crock type slow cooker, which I think add flavor to the dish (even with pre searing using the sear/sauté setting).
Risotto is now a regular occurrence at our house, and it’s incredibly simple. You’ll barely believe it. We have a couple of cookbooks for it and I want that Indian one everyone is talking about.
Marjean Cline says
I made the mistake of buying a 5 quart Duo about 2 1/2 years ago when they were on sale at Amazon,but it sat on a shelf for over a year before I got up the courage to use it. I wish now that I had gotten the 6 quart size instead. As many people have mentioned, easy-peel eggs, beans, rice, yogurt, soups, and stews are easily done in an Instant Pot. But I have to say that the recipe I found for tapioca is the one I love the most. I have a real soft spot for it and it’s SO easy to make in the Instant Pot once I found out I needed to use a *metal* bowl-in-pot and made sure I had the small pearl tapioca on hand. Heaven! I don’t use it for anything fancy, but that’s just me. However, I purchased several Kindle cookbooks recently and plan to be more adventurous in using it. I hope you find yours as useful as I have mine!
Sharon says
Myfavorite use is the ability to cook totally frozen meat. I cooked a frozen roast beef in
1.5 hours & it was perfectly tender. It is so great not to have to decide what I want to defrost at 6AM so I have something to cook when I get home from work.
BJ Foster says
Bought one and I have used it but I am looking forward to your guidance !
Pam R says
I love my 3quart.
Smith Robin S says
Bought one as my Christmas present to myself. I’ve only made two meals in it. I roasted a whole chicken. Got well over a quart of broth plus delicious moist chicken. My latest attempt was a pot roast. Bought a seasoned, marinated roast from Trader Joe. Sautéed it, added broth, onion, garlic, fresh thyme, then pressure cooked it for @ an hour. Next I removed the meat, added carrots and small whole red potatoes to broth. Ready to eat in 20 minutes. This was delicious – moist, well seasoned meat and perfectly cooked potatoes and carrots. Also made oatmeal.
I’m looking forward to learning more here.
Maureen says
I have one but have loaned it to my grown daughter with family. I have 3 stovetop pressure cookers and about the same slow cookers. I always reach for my pressure cookers and don’t do a lot of slow cooking. We got to talking about multi-cookers about 3 months ago and she said how much she would love one. Told her mine was collecting dust and she was more than welcome to use it. I know she uses it 3, 4 or even more a week. To her it is a game changer. To me, not so much. For me, it’s more habit and the stove top is where I’m used to cooking.
Linda W. says
My mother used a pressure cooker at least 2 -3 times a week, all the years I was growing up. After I was married, I had one that had use at least once a week or so. Everyone was raving about the Instant Pot and since my pressure cooker is quite old now, I thought I would give the IP a try. While it cooks beautifully when it works right, it is much SLOWER than my old pressure cooker. It takes way too long to get the pressure up, so my meals are literally 20 min later than with the old school pressure cooker. Besides that, the digital timing is a mess. Sometimes it works right and other times not. Most of the time not! I’ve taken to turning on another timer just to keep track and the IP can be anywhere from a few minutes to an hour off!!! In working with the company to exchange it, it has taken 6 months to get the issue resolved. At least I hope…it is resolved. They are replacing just the bottom part of the cooker, not the whole thing, and I had to jump through hoops to get that!. It just arrived yesterday, so now will try it to see if the problem is resolved. I think it was very “cheap” of the company to replace just part of it, even though it was under warranty, and feel I should have been able to take care of the problem in only 1 or 2 communications, not close to a dozen times, having to take multiple pictures, record and document times, multiple emails, etc. Customer Service is severely lacking!!! I like the fact it will do other things besides pressure cook……..at least supposedly…….hopefully. If not, then it is a waste of money when a pressure cooker costs less!
Rhonda Donaldson says
I bought one and it has sat on my kitchen floor since Sept. I’m giving it to a friend of mine tomorrow. I just have no use for it.
Barbara Greene says
Love it!! Had it for a couple years now and have given away my rice steamer, slow cooker and I no longer need to get a small pressure cooker!
Makes great cheesecake ( of course small), great for making chicken or beef broth over 24 hours, works equally well for applesauce and apple butter ( which needs long slow cooking). My youngest son ( the one who cooks) has two, a smaller one and the larger one and he frequently uses both!
I’ve only scratched the surface of what I can do with this cool appliance.
Bonnie Taormina says
I have an air fryer and love it also but I love the instant pot also. I have what is called the Big Boss and it makes great food and I use it all the time as it healthy cooking and also I can make a turkey and chicken roasted and it is really good . The air fryer is the one that browns things and the instant pot I can make 14 hard boiled eggs in 5 minutes and man are the so light and fluffy. I hardly use my stove so it won’t heat up the house this spring and summer. I had a 6 quart instant pot and it was too small so we bought an 8 quart before Christmas and it was very hard to find one at the time. I love the instant pot as I can make homemade soups in less than 15 minutes. Bonnie
Lois says
Sounds like something this 84 year old gramma would love to learn how to use. Perhaps if I find the funds I would get one. I had not even heard of them. I don’t go shopping that much. If someone would like to give me one I would love that. Keep up the good info.
Kay says
I’ve had my IP for about 18 months now and while it’s not a substitute for range/oven cooking, it does have it’s place in my kitchen. I use it for hard-cooked eggs; yougurt, bone-broth, chicken noodle soup, carnitas, short ribs, “baked” potatoes, soups, rice, roasts, chicken, applesauce. I like that I can make a recipe and it will wait for me to come back to it. Yougurt was the most pleasant surprise. So good! I’ll be making more this week. I use it more during the farming months when we are so busy.
I rarely use my crockpot. Holding on to my rice cooker for now and the roaster. I’m mostly a hands-on cook, so love my good knives & cutting boards; cast iron skillets & large pot; stainless steel cookware, immersion blender and Kitchen Aid mixer.
Happy experimenting with your new toy.
PS Check Flo Lum, This Old Gal’s blog and Nom Nom Paleo’s. Youtube videos by these ladies too.
Robin says
I’ve had my Instant pot for about 3 years & it’s been a total game changer! Love it so much that I have several. Takes a while to figure out but after you use it a while you will figure out what recipes you like & what recipes you will stick to the old method. Enjoy!
Verla says
Kevin, I know you don’t have time to read these all but just wanted to say we love our Instant Pot. I got it for Christmas but my husband has taken it over, which is fine with me. He makes soup and roasts mostly. The thing I really like is the hard cooked eggs. He can do a dozen in about 15 minutes with only one cup of hot water. Enjoy yours.
Yvonne says
I read that most slow cookers have lead in their glaze so the food, especially tomato based recipes, are tainted with lead. (I sincerely hope I haven’t slow poisoned my family over the years!) The Instant Pot tested free of lead and other heavy metals according to several websites I checked. I make veggies, beans and rice or soup probably 3-5 times per week using the slow cook option while I’m at work, especially during cold times of year. I prefer not to use the pressure cooking option since I don’t want excessive heat to destroy nutrients and enzymes in the food.
Deborah says
Garbanzo beans from rock hard in the bag to tender yumminess in an hour. That alone would be enough for me to love my Instantpot. Sure, it could be done in a stove top pressure cooker, but not by me – my attention wandering self needs a machine that will turn itself off and monitor itself when on. I used mine twice yesterday – first in the morning to process the previous days chicken bones into broth for the freezer, then later for pot roast for dinner. The saute function to brown the meat before adding liquid is wonderful, I’ve also used it for blooming spices for Indian dishes.
J says
I have the 8qt Duo like yours. I love that I can saute veggies, brown meat and then add other ingredients using only the instant pot. I couldn’t get over how much better any soup I make, tastes made in the Instant Pot. It intensifies the flavor.
I don’t typically use the instant pot for any lean meat. I tried a whole chicken once and didn’t care for it. The only way I found to cook chicken breasts is to cover them with chicken broth & pressure cook. They come out perfect and easy to shred .
I have very successfully made yogurt as well as cheesecake in mine.
I think the key is to keep using it for any recipes you can. If you opt for other cooking methods because you don’t feel like getting the IP out, you will not get into the routine of using it.
Kara says
I’ve used it for rissoto several times. Always amazing and love rissoto but it’s SO time consuming without this. Great for almost anything. You can literally google “instant pot _____” and find a recipe! As for the price…I got my 6 qt on Kohls.com and ended up paying only $55. It was on sale, I had 40% off and Kohls cash! Honestly, if you have a Kohls charge just watch for sales, order it online and it’s WAY cheaper!
margaret middleton says
My son-in-law bought me an Instant Pot for Christmas and although I haven’t really tried out a lot of recipes yet I love it for potatoes; rice; stews and it makes wonderful chicken stock! Will be experimenting with yogurt etc. shortly. I love the fact that it uses 75% less electricity too – it’s a win-win situation; it is much more versatile than an ordinary pressure cooker – you will love it!
Kattrinka says
Kevin, thanks for asking for opinions about The Instant Pot! It has intrigued me, condensing pieces of equipment is a great idea. I will be getting one after reading all the positive reviews; interesting that the majority of positive reviews are from the people who actually have and use one!! I can’t wait to make yogurt in it, plus much more!
Kristal Kagy says
I love it! I make more grains, using it as it takes 15 + pressure and release (about 25min) to make brown rice, different times, but quinua, wheat berries, farro anything. I can cook beans quickly. And the best, yogurt….easy, fresh yogurt! Buy qt of milk….thats it, save $$ i sweeten with 1/4c sugar and vanilla= 4 pints.
I’ve decluttered my kitchen, no more rice cooker, 1 fewer crockpot, no stove top pressure cooker. You can cook a grain and meat together bowl of meat on top. I cooked huge sweet potatoes in about 25min, while cooking ham. Different temps. Unfortunately the booklet times arent always accruate. You have to experiment. Lots of wonderful blogs with IP recipes.
Joanie says
I got one for Christmas and love using it. There is a slight learning curve in order to get the right amount of liquids and to not over cook (best to err on the side of less time rather than overcook), but it’s worth it. I love the fact that you can take something out of the freezer and dump it into that beautiful stainless steel pot and have a great meal in less than an hour. I have a shrimp and rice recipe that uses frozen shrimp that comes out perfect every time. I put frozen wings in it for the Super Bowl and finished them under the oven boiler with two different kinds of sauces and everyone raved about how tender and juicy they were. I’ve made the most tender pork loin dinner and quick spaghetti and meat balls meal that my grandkids love. It cleans up easily and doesn’t require much storage space – I have mine on the floor of my pantry so it’s handy to grab and fill. Can’t wait to see what you whip-up in yours!
Jane says
I have had a 6 quart IP for about 6-8 months. Like most things, I like some recipes really well (steel cut oats, especially), others not so well (dried beans). Takes some experimentation but it is fun to check them out and see what I like. I grew up hearing the chucka, chucka, chucka of the stove top cooker. The silence of the IP is really an adjustment.
Elizabeth Worden says
Kevin, I do not own an Instant Pot. I DO own several different sized Kuhn Rikon pressure cookers which my husband and I use frequently. A colleague of my husband told my husband that he and his wife really loved their Instant Pot because it only took 25 minutes to pressure cook potatoes in the Instant Pot. There went our interest in the Instant Pot. It only takes us 5 minutes to pressure cook potatoes in the pressure cookers!
Meg says
Maybe when we downsize if it’s still a thing, but nope, don’t want one now. I use two sizes regular stove top pressure cookers frequently and my oven is my slow cooker. I make yogurt in my oven and you can even use a heating pad or jars of hot water in a cooler to make yogurt. I was given a home sous vide and the jury is still out on it, but overall I think it might be much more useful than most InstaPot functions. Makes yogurt too. Fits in the utensil drawer and the Joule sous vide costs less than your InstaPot.
Lana-Lee says
I have the 6 qt Duo. I like mine, but you do have to play with recipes. I have found that in most recipes with pasta, I prefer the results with the pasta made on the side. The game-changer most people refer to, in my humble opinion, is the facst you can load the thing and walk away, and it removes the fear of ‘blowing up’. Pressure cooking has been around a long time. With the introduction of this device, it is enjoying a revival! Enjoy the journey – I really look forward to seeing your recipes for the InstantPot!
Lu says
Absolutely a game-changer!!!!!!! I bought mine about 1 1/2 years ago and while I didn’t think much of the little recipe book (not my types of cooking) I didn’t use ALL the cooking functions, Recently we started a paleo diet so won’t use all the functions. Nonetheless, I use this device several times each week for soups, stews, roasts, curries, yogurt and more. I love that using it for a half hour saves me hours in the kitchen tending a stockpot to prevent burning. Its a real convenience. I have searched the net for Instant Pot recipes and many paleo cooks have adapted recipes, so I feel rich in recipes. The only downside to not eating sugar, flour is that I can no longer make the most-yummy recipes I find on your site. I used to print off nearly every one… and still read them longingly but made a lifestyle/dietary choice that will help me heal my body and lose weight.
Vicki Byrum says
I received an Instant Pot for Christmas and I am enjoying experimenting with different recipes. I can’t eat tough meat because of dental problems so I have been pressure cooking anything that’s not ground and it’s so tender! Yes, it’s been a game changer for me. I was so tired of hamburger.
janrinn says
I have one and have made lots of nom nom paleo recipes in it (I don’t necessarily make them 100% paleo). I also make at least a dozen hard ‘boiled’ eggs in it weekly. I have NEVER been able to make hard boiled eggs that are so easy to peel before I got the IP. I can take eggs that were laid that day and cook them and they are perfect. 6min pressure 6 min QR 6 min ice bath. some folks do 777 or 555 I find 666 works for me. Believe me, I’ve tried EVERY other trick preparing them and the IP is by far the most perfect way to do them.
Joe B. says
I have the Ultra instant pot, was a gift. Still prefer the traditional cooking method,I think the food taste better because it has texture. The Instant pot makes everything taste like it was poached. I will admit I have only made 3 meals in it, even took a class at sur la tab and one of the dishes was similar to something I made in my allclad pan. Mine was way tastier.
Ana says
I thought maybe you should see this https://www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/faq-your-new-cursed-instant-pot
Someone else recommended it to me. I do not read or endorse this site but I kind of liked this article
Do you think your instant pot is cursed?
I have an electric pressure cooker that I bought to use for canning. I am too scared to try it for that. I do use it to quickly cook an entire chicken very quickly for one week’s worth of quick meals.
The chicken always comes out the same. It is not dry.
Morningstar says
Not a fan. It may be because I treasure my slow cookers/crock pots…all three of them!
Wendy says
I love my 6-quart Instant Pot. I also make food for my dogs in it and you can easily ‘poach’ a whole chicken in it – I put a 4-5 lb chicken in the pot with about a 1/2 cup of water or vegetable broth (minus onions as dogs can’t tolerate onions), set the pot for 35 minutes. When the time is up, I leave it in the pot to naturally release the steam (about 30 minutes more) and it’s the most juicy, tender bird. The meat falls off the bone. I end up cooking two chickens this way weekly – one for the dogs and the other for us. It’s so easy to turn the chicken into pot pie or chicken salad, etc.
The only failure I have had was meatloaf, as we like a nice crusty meatloaf and that’s just not possible in the Instant Pot. Oh well!
One thing I would caution is to use a wooden spoon to knock the release from sealing to venting otherwise you can risk a painful scald. It’s the only downside to the pot to my mind.
If you find you really love your Instant Pot, I would recommend buying an extra stainless steel pot so you can easily make more than one item without losing momentum by having to wait for the pot to cool, wash it, etc. I would also recommend the glass lid you can purchase for it – very easy to prep your ingredients and store in the fridge until its time to cook and invaluable when making yogurt.
Juls Owings says
I have one and have only used it to cook pumpkin to dehydrate. I wouldn’t get rid of it just for the amt of time it saved me.
My single daughter with 4 teenage boys has 2, one for main dish and the other for the side dish. Saved her thousands of dollars in take out after sport practices and games.
My single son whom lives alone uses it to cook his chicken to make a week’s meals of different chicken dishes especially homemade chicken noodle soup(yes he makes his own noodles for just himself)
Willa Nemetz says
I’m of two minds regarding the Instant Pot and I really welcome the comments here. I probably will not purchase it, simply because I’m afraid I won’t use it that much. I’m happy with my food processor, Kitchen Aid and slow cookers (yes, plural!) as well as with my collection of cast-iron skillets.
J. says
I inherited a similar pot (different brand) from a friend who bought a more advanced model because she loved it and uses it all the time. I’m still figuring mine out, but so far I’ve successfully made brown rice and barbacoa beef in it. I also tried a recipe for Butter Chicken from The New Yorker that turned out pretty well:
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/the-butter-chicken-lady-who-made-indian-cooks-love-the-instant-pot
To be honest, I don’t see it changing my life, unless I need to make a lot of brown rice at the last minute.
Connie says
We bought our 6 quart three years ago when we were having our kitchen remodeled and were cooking out of the guestroom! It was invaluable for those couple of months. Since then I use it maybe every other week, mainly for soups, although I did a pot roast with vegetables yesterday which was yummy. Don’t judge, but to be honest the reason I don’t use it often is that it creates film on my glass kitchen cupboard fronts, glass lighting fixture and even the sliding glass doors! Hence, when I use it I assemble all ingredients and then it is hustled into the garage to cook and let off steam! Maybe I’m too picky but I really don’t like the mess it makes on the glass!
Liz in Salem says
Today’s news (3/3/18) had a recall on the model sold through WalMart. The bottom has been reported melting and could be a fire hazard. Instant Pot Gem 65 8 in 1. I also agree with others, I have enough tried and true cooking implements and, limited space to put more.
Rose Healy says
I have one but and I say but…..I think we have far too many gadgets and gizmos in the kitchen. My god if I were to purchase all of the things that are supposed to make our lives easier I would need a pantry the size of Coscto. That being said I do have a one pot or Insta pot, thanks to my husband.
The nice thing about it is ….you can walk away as opposed to a boiling pot of potatoes on the stove….no more burning. My insta pot comes out when I am entertaining and multitasking as it stops cooking without monitoring. For the student or individual living alone I see it as a great tool, it replaces a slow cooker, pressure cooker and rice cooker, the saute function is great for one person but if you need to saute a lot I still prefer my gas stove. I am a foodie and like the touchie feely side of cooking. If you have the space to store some of these gadgets go for it otherwise enjoy the experience of cooking as it was meant to be without the multitude of technology that we really do not need.
Peggy says
Have you tried your insta pot anymore and what are your comments. Was waiting to hear more.
Phyllis says
I received mine as a gift and was afraid to try it. (Going back to my childhood and my mother ordering me out of the kitchen when she was using her pressure cooker!). Finally got up my nerve to try it and fell in love! What I appreciate most is that I can put in frozen meat and vegetables and very quickly have a meal on the table.
Janet says
Have had our Instant Pot for over 4 years now and use it A LOT! The best resource I’ve found is https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com by Amy & Jacky. We’ve also had an Instant Omni Plus air fryer/toaster oven for over a year and rarely use the big oven. Love them both!!