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The first time I bought an Instant Pot, it sat in the box for at least 6 months. I was too overwhelmed to learn how to use it!
Fast-forward a couple of years, and I had used my Instant Pot over a thousand times while developing recipes for The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook. Not only did the pressure cooker win me over, but I was sold on how it protects nutrients while making dinner easier.
That’s why I’m writing this post today— so you won’t be intimidated for as long as I was.
What You Should Know about the Instant Pot
I think the most deceiving aspect of the Instant Pot is its name. Just because you use your Instant Pot to cook a meal doesn’t mean it will be ready significantly faster than it would if you were to cook it on the stove.
For example, Instant Pot steel cut oats cook in just a 4-minute cooking cycle, but you still have to wait about 8 to 10 minutes for the pot to come to pressure, and another 15 to 20 minutes for the pressure to release. That means it takes closer to 30 minutes for your oatmeal to be done.
The real advantage to cooking with your Instant Pot is that the process is almost completely hands-off, so it feels like you have more time on your hands. Instead of standing by the stove, watching to make sure nothing burns or boils over, you have your hands free to finish other tasks around your house. It makes you the ultimate multitasker, which is why so many people have fallen in love with it.
As an added bonus, cooking with your Instant Pot preserves more nutrients than other cooking methods. This is possibly due to the fact that it rarely reaches a temperature higher than 250ºF inside the pot, or that it cooks food faster, giving it less of an opportunity to lose nutrients.
Using the Instant Pot Manual Setting
Depending on your machine, you will either have a “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” button. (The newer models have Pressure Cook buttons.) Both options do the exact same thing.
You’ll use this button when you want to choose the cooking time, rather than relying on a preset button like “rice” or “stew.” This is the setting you will use most often for cooking!
To cook manually, simply press the Manual or Pressure Cook button, then use the + or – options to set the cooking time. The Instant Pot automatically cooks on high pressure, but some models have a separate Pressure button that allows you to cook at low pressure if you’d like to. (I personally never use anything other than the default high-pressure setting.)
Make sure you secure the lid and move the steam release valve to Sealing, to ensure the pot will come to pressure. It’s also important to follow a well-tested Instant Pot recipe, ensuring you have sufficient liquid in the pot and that your ingredients are layered properly.
How to Know the Instant Pot is Pressurized
When you start a pressure cooking cycle, the Instant Pot will not start counting down right away. First, the pot needs to pressurize, which can take 10 minutes or more, depending on the amount of food inside. The fuller the pot, the longer it will take to come to pressure.
So, don’t be alarmed if your Instant Pot screen simply says “On” for a while.
You’ll know that the pot is pressurized when the floating valve in the lid pops up. Shortly after that happens, the countdown for your cooking cycle will begin.
How to Quickly Release the Pressure
If a recipe calls for a “quick release,” that means you’ll need to move the steam release valve from the Sealing position to the Venting position immediately. (The screen will read L0:00 when the cooking cycle is over.)
As soon as the Instant Pot beeps, signaling that the cooking cycle is complete, move the steam release valve to the “Venting” position to quickly release the pressure.
Safety Tip
Make sure that you don’t place your hand directly over the vent, as steam will shoot out the top of the steam release valve. Instead, keep your hand to the side of the valve or use a spoon to turn the vent if you’re extra cautious.
How to Naturally Release the Pressure
If a recipe calls for a natural release, you’ll do nothing when the cooking cycle is complete. For most recipes, it will take 10-15 minutes for the pressure to naturally leave the pot.
I like it when recipes tell you exactly how long to wait for the natural release. In all of my recipes here on my website, or in The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook, I tell you exactly how long to wait, and when that time has passed, you can move the steam release valve from Sealing to Venting to release any remaining pressure.
That way, you won’t have to wait around for an extra 30 minutes or more to eat your dinner!
How to Safely Remove a Pressure Cooker Lid
Are you worried about your Instant Pot exploding? That was my biggest fear when I got started, too. Luckily, the Instant Pot is loaded with safety features to help prevent that from happening, but the best thing you can do is learn how to use it properly to avoid any user errors.
It’s NOT safe to remove the lid from your Instant Pot until all of the pressure has been released from the pot. You’ll know it’s safe to remove the lid when the floating valve in the lid drops. This means all of the pressure is gone, and the Instant Pot lid will easily twist off. (Let me repeat: When the lid feels easy to open, that’s a good sign that the pressure has been released.)
Never ever try to force the lid off the pot if it doesn’t twist easily. As a safety precaution, the Instant Pot locks the lid while the pot is still pressurized, so don’t try to force it open.
Instant Pot Zero Minute Cooking Cycle
Yes, there really is a zero minute cooking cycle on the Instant Pot. This short cycle is most commonly used to cook non-starchy vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, and zucchini. If you cook them for even one full minute, then they turn to mush!
Cooking for 0 minutes is the same as cooking anything else on Manual. Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button, then use the – button to lower the cooking time to zero minutes.
The Instant Pot will still take several minutes to come to pressure (up to 10 minutes), and then as soon as the cooking cycle beeps to signal that it’s complete, you’ll quickly release the pressure right away so that the vegetables don’t overcook.
It will take 2 to 3 minutes for the pressure to release, so the food will be in your Instant Pot for at least 12 to 15 minutes in total, giving it plenty of time to cook.
How to Cook Pot-in-Pot
One of my favorite perks of the Instant Pot is that it allows you to cook two dishes simultaneously. It’s called pot-in-pot cooking, where one dish cooks on the bottom of the pot, and then a separate bowl of food can cook on top of that.
For this method, you may need to purchase an extra trivet and a heat-safe bowl that is small enough to allow steam to build around it. (I use a 7-inch bowl in my 6-quart Instant Pot.)
You can see an example of this with my Chipotle Burrito Bowls. In this case, the spiced black beans cook on the bottom while a bowl of brown rice cooks on top, both from scratch in a 30-minute cooking cycle.
I’ve dedicated an entire blog post to pot-in-pot cooking, so you can get a better idea of which ingredients can be cooked together at the same time. There are also several recipes in my cookbook that teach you how to cook rice, cauliflower “rice,” and cauliflower mashed “potatoes” at the same time as your main entree.
Instant Pot Troubleshooting Tips
If you don’t think your Instant Pot is cooking properly, here are a few things you can do to help prevent any issues.
1. Always Check the Sealing Ring.
The lid of your Instant Pot has a silicone sealing ring inside, and this is responsible for locking in the steam pressure. This silicone ring should be properly seated along the metal ring that is in the lid, but since it’s exposed to heat during the cooking cycle, it can sometimes move out of place or get stuck.
All you have to do is gently wiggle it before each use to make sure it’s not stuck. (See the video below if you want a demonstration.)
2. Deglaze the Pot (to avoid a Burn error)
If use the Sauté function on your Instant Pot before pressure cooking something, it’s essential that you deglaze the bottom of the pot. This simply means that you add a splash of water to the pot and use a wooden spoon to scrape off anything that might be stuck to the bottom.
Onions, dried spices, and ground meat are common ingredients that will stick to the bottom of your pan, so it’s important that you get every little bit unstuck to avoid getting the dreaded “burn” error during your pressure cooking cycle.
Once you become familiar with your Instant Pot, making dinner can be as easy as adding your ingredients to the pot, pressing a button, and walking away. I love how the process is totally hands-off!
Instant Pot Video Tutorial
If you’re a visual learner, here’s a quick 3-minute video sharing everything you need to know. I hope it’s helpful to see these tips in action!
What’s the First Thing I Should Cook in my Instant Pot?
To get yourself comfortable with using the Instant Pot, I recommend starting with something very simple. Here are a few good “beginner” recipes to try:
- Instant Pot Hard-Boiled Eggs
- Instant Pot Brown Rice
- Instant Pot Quinoa (1-minute method)
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash (the biggest time saver!)
- Instant Pot Applesauce
- Instant Pot Chicken Breasts
For more recipes with step-by-step instructions and a photo for every recipe, be sure to check out The Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook. All of the recipes have a tested gluten-free option, as well as a vegan option, and are also refined sugar-free.
Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below!
My instant pot lid won’t close/lock. We’ve checked the seal and looks like it’s sitting in the metal groove, and it’s all been washed. We have a little button on the opposite side of the lock and unlock icons that will spring back in when we push on it. Not sure if that moves when we try to close the lid? We can push the lid close to the lock icon but it won’t lock like it would so easily the few times we’ve used it before.
How do you cook dry beans in an Insta pot IP Lux?
Is it dangerous to leave my instapot on in slow cooking for the whole day?
Que le pasa a la olla cuando se prenden todos los botones?
Gracias
K.I.S.S. Keep it simple stupid! This is the most complicated, confusing way to cook , I’ve ever experienced. There is nothing that says venting or sealed, period. Nor sure what’s happening. I stopped and thru the instapot in the trash!~
This was super helpful. I used my pressure cooker safely. Without this post I might have had to go to the hospital. Detoxinista is the best!
Thank you SO much for this brief but VERY clear AND informative post on how to use my Instant Pot. It’s been in its new box for over a year because I have been afraid of it. But this post inspired me…can’t wait to check out your recipes as well!
Thank you so much for this fine instructional road map to the Instant Pot! Everyone seems to have these now, so one can feel they should already know how to use them, but they are tricky at first. You helped me understand the manual setting (“Pressure Cook” on mine) and feel secure in actually walking away from my stove! Something that’s a bit tough the first few times if you are someone who is used to having to stay hands on at all times due to a bevy factors, never mind, I must digress *smile*…my point is, thank you.
You have a great site and you have a presence in your writing that helps here at home, like I just had a buddy tell me how it’s all done.IDK, that is something that is appreciated these days. Thanks Megan (and team!)
Happy 2021!
Your recipes have been a Godsend….they are tasty and easy and my husband and I have enjoyed everything we’ve done so far.
I’m so glad to hear that they are helpful, Patricia. Thanks so much for letting me know!
Hi there, does the Instant Pot you use crisp things? If you make a chicken does the skin come out crispy or just soft? How about the color of it…just a pasty light color…do you have to rely on spices for the coloring? Thank you!
No, nothing gets crisp in the Instant Pot because it cooks with steam. Most people will throw chicken under the broiler in their oven for a few minutes to crisp-up the skin after cooking in the Instant Pot.