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introduction
If you are reading this, you probably already know what an instant jar is, but just in case you do not know it, here is a brief introduction. The Instant Pot is an all-in-one kitchen gadget that promises to replace a rice cooker, yogurt maker and slow cooker; it also allows you to saute and steam food. But the real reason that the Instant Pot has become famous is that it's also a very good electric pressure cooker. This allows you to cook foods at a faster pace. imagine pulled pork in one hour instead of five or a chicken curry made in 10 minutes. And since it is electric, you just have to press a few buttons and go away. Unlike pressure cookers on the stove, there is no need to constantly monitor them.
There are nine Instant Pot models to choose from. Some of the lower-end models do not have a yogurt maker, and some of the high-end models have additional features such as vacuum cooking and canning, but all feature the electric pressure cooker function. This guide will therefore focus a lot on this. The instant pot is available in sizes of 3, 6 and 8 pints. Unless you cook for yourself or have a large family, I think the 6-qt model should fit most people.
To start
With any device, I suggest you read the instructions to get a complete idea of its use, but here's a quick overview.
The Instant Pot consists of three parts: the case with the cooking element at the bottom; the stainless steel inner pot; and the lid, which comes with a sealing ring and a steam relief valve. The configuration is as simple as placing the inner pot in the case and plugging it in. You will also want to attach a tiny condensate trap to the back if the instructions warrant it.
The first thing to do is a "water test" that will not only help you become familiar with the basic functions of the pressure cooker, but will also confirm that your appliance is in good working order.
To perform a water test, put three cups of water in the pan, turn the lid – it sounds a sound when locked in place – and turn on the pressure cooker for two minutes. The way of proceeding varies from one model to the other. On Duo machines, you will need to press Manual, select High, and then reduce the time to two minutes. On something like the Ultra, just go to the pressure cooker menu, dial it for two minutes, and select High.
Next, make sure your valve is set to "Sealing" so that the Instant Pot can generate pressure. On Duo machines, this means you have to turn it to point up, while on Ultra machines the valve will automatically be set to Sealing.
Then press "Start". From there, the instant pot will increase the pressure, hold it for two minutes, and then stop. In some cases you will hear hissing and steam will come out of the instant pot. It's totally normal. You'll know that the Instant Pot is under pressure when the float valve lifts and the whistle soothes.
The lid can not be opened when the Instant Pot is under pressure. You must depressurize it first. Once the cooking is over, you can let the pot depressurize naturally (also called "Natural Release"), which simply means leaving it alone for about 20 minutes until the float valve is lowered.
You can also perform a manual release (also called "quick release") by switching the above-mentioned valve to "Ventilation". To do this, on the Duo models, you rotate the valve, while on the Ultra, you press a steam release button located at the top. This method releases a lot of steam, so I suggest doing it under a hood if you have one. Once again, once the float valve is retracted, you'll know the Instant Pot has been depressurized.
Doing the water test teaches you the basics of closing, setting up and depressurizing the Instant Pot. In addition, if something is wrong, especially if it does not solve the problem, you can contact the retailer or manufacturer to resolve the problem or request a return or exchange. It's a step that a lot of people are jumping, but I recommend it, especially if you're a beginner.
Tips & Tricks
Let's review some tips and tricks on the best use of the instant pot. This list is not exhaustive, because different people may have different ideas about their use of Instant Pot, but this information is what I think works best for me.
Do not worry about all the pimples
When you get the instant jar for the first time, you risk being overwhelmed by all the buttons located at the front. There are some who say "Meat / Stew", "Chili / Beans", "Multigrain", "Egg" and even "Cake". With the exception of a few, most of them are just shortcuts that Instant Pot has programmed in advance. You may never need to use them.
The most important buttons to know are "Sautéed", which (as can be expected) allows you to saute objects in the pan, and the function "Manual" or "Cooker" above. The rest is rather superfluous, with the exception of the "Keep Warm", "Cancel" and non-pressure cooker functions, such as "slow cooking" or "yoghurt" (which keeps the culture milk at a lower level). given temperature).
Add at least ½ cup of liquid and do not exceed the maximum
One of the things you will learn about cooking under pressure is that it is not necessary to add as much liquid as in the usual recipes. But you will still need to add some liquid because the pressure cooker needs moisture to create this pressure. Otherwise, the Instant Pot could overheat and display an "OvHT" error on the screen. On the other hand, you should not fill beyond two-thirds of the capacity, which is easily indicated inside the inner pot. The instant pot will probably not explode on you – it has many security features to prevent this – but you probably should not test its limits.
Cooking times are not always accurate
Setting the cooker timer for two minutes does not mean that the total cooking time is two minutes. You must take into account the time required for the instantaneous pressure and the time required for the depressurization. The more things you have in the pot (and the colder it is), the longer it takes. Because of this, a "five-minute" curry chicken could really look like 10 or 15 minutes from start to finish.
Clean it carefully and frequently
The inner pot is dishwasher safe, which is great, but the rest has to be cleaned by hand. Do not make the same mistake as me and accidentally spill something hot directly on the cooking element. The outer casing is hard to clean because you can not put it in the sink – electricity and water do not get along well, after all – and you risk getting wet. damage the device. As for the lid, wash it by hand after each use. You will also notice after a while that the seal ring – the rubber / silicone gasket inside the lid – could emit a strange odor when it absorbs the smell of the food you are cooking. I recommend dipping it in a vinegar solution or placing it on the top rack of your dishwasher for a few cycles.
Consider a separate gasket
If you find yourself cooking desserts in addition to tasty dishes – it's great for making cheesecakes and puddings – I recommend a separate seal ring just for that. You probably do not want your cheesecake to have a frayed pork smell unless you like that kind of thing.
You can not cook everything with
Of course, you can cook everything from dog food to jam in Instant Pot, but it's not a miracle worker. You can not fry in it. You can not make a pie in it. Do not be ridiculous.
Recipes & Guides
Now you are all ready to cook and you are probably dying to know what to do in your new machine. Due to the popularity of the instant pot, you will not miss out on cookbooks and recipe tutorials online. The aforementioned Facebook group is a good starting point and many YouTube videos are also useful. Here are some of my favorites:
Pressurized cooking recipes
Amy and Jacky are part of the OG Instant Pot community and their site is great for beginners. You will not only get the water test mentioned above, but you will also get excellent recipes for bone broth, "irreproachable" rice, yogurt, cheesecake and more .
Name Name Paleo
Whether or not you are in the "paleo" lifestyle, you'll love Michelle Tam's Instant Pot recipe list. Pressure cookers are perfect for shortening the cooking time of braised meats. It offers many recipes adapted to your inner carnivore. His Instant Pot pulled pork recipe is always my favorite, and ribs are great too.
Serious eats
Serious Eats is probably my favorite site for pressure cooker recipes. All these recipes are fantastic. I've tried chicken broth, mushroom risotto, chicken pho, chickpea and chicken masala, and they've all been exceptional.
The New York Times
Another personal favorite is The New York Times kitchen section, which contains a list of wonderful easy-to-use recipes for pressure cookers. My favorites are Melissa Clark, who has written two Instant Pot cookbooks: Dinner in an instant and Comfort in an instant. There is a recipe in Comfort in an instant for spaghetti and meatballs that I was extremely skeptical of but that turned out to be one of the most amazing things I have ever done. I also like recipes based on korma chicken and shrimp biryani.
Other sources
Here are some other guides I found very useful in my own Instant Pot journey, and they contain links to many more recipes and sites than what I have here:
Neven Mrgan Instant Pot Guide
The instant start guide from 101 cookbooks
More than 50 recipes to prepare in your Thekitchn Instant Pot
With all this information in your arsenal, you should not be afraid to take an instant pot. Fortunately, not only is the base model affordable at less than $ 100, but it is often on sale by Amazon on the first day or black Friday. So, if you have not bought one yet, it is not a bad idea to wait for any of these times of the year to get one at a bargain price. reduced. And when you do, come back here, reread the guide and venture into your own culinary adventures full of pressure.
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