What is an Instant Pot, you say? First off, for clarification, Instant Pot is NOT a generic term; it's a brand name (like Oster or Kitchen Aid or Cuisinart). This is the particular model we got:
This is the six quart Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 Multi-Function Pressure Cooker, scored in a Black Friday deal from Amazon for $69.
Why did we get it?
- Andrew has wanted a pressure cooker for years.
- Our rice cooker died.
- As a multi-function appliance, it is one thing that could replace several (important when you have limited counter/storage space):
- Pressure cooker
- Slow cooker
- Rice Cooker
- Steamer
- Yogurt Maker
- Warmer
- Saute Pot
If you participate in the Tuesday CraftLit Crafty Chats, you've already heard me wax rhapsodic about this baby.
Imagine going from whole raw chicken to home made stock to chicken soup in, say, three hours total, versus more than that time just for the second or third step.
Imagine making pulled pork that doesn't take hours.
Imagine making perfectly hard-"boiled" eggs that are EASY TO PEEL.
Imagine going from dried beans to a pot of chili in, say, an hour instead of multiple hours for cooking the beans + multiple hours cooking the chili.
If you make your yogurt in your slow cooker, as I've done for years, imagine lopping three hours off the time it takes, not having to do the whole "wrap it up in a bunch of towels" thing, only having to use 1/4 cup of starter, and having the process be slightly more forgiving.
Tamales.
Pozole.
Rice.
Mashed potatoes in a fraction of the time it usually takes to do the first step of boiling them.
...and I'm only mentioning things we've actually made, not the stuff we've yet to try, like curries, pot roast, ribs, cheesecake (yes!), curries, hummus (from dried beans), proofing bread.
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| Beets. I love beets. I had never actually cooked them myself before. Two bags of Trader Joe's beets, whiz, bang, BOOM! |
My ONLY regret is that I wish we'd gotten the 8qt model instead of the 6qt. Yes, it's exactly the right size for using a gallon of milk to make yogurt, but it just doesn't feel like enough space to cook the amount of vegetables I do (I usually cook two pounds at a time in order to have some leftovers), and with something like chili, it doesn't feel like it makes enough to last for a dinner plus a few lunches for Andrew and Abby. While I initially scoffed at people who have more than one Instant Pot, I understand it now - "Here, while pot #1 is tied up for 10 hours making yogurt, I can still make every course we need for dinner, plus a few other things."
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