By now, you’ve surely heard of the Instant Pot®. It’s all the rage on social media. Moms are swapping recipes. Heck, they even have their own online community! Maybe you got one for Christmas. But what exactly is this thing? Could it really be that great? And is it safe? We’re here to answer some of those questions so you know whether to dive in or take cover.
What Is an Instant Pot?
Simply put, it’s a programmable, electric pressure cooker. The makers boast that it offers “delicious and affordable cooking, using smart technology.” The Instant Pot is a seven-in-one kitchen appliance. In theory, it should be able to replace your slow cooker, electric pressure cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté/browning pan and warming pot.
How Does It Work?
The Instant Pot consists of three main components — a stainless steel pot with a tight-fitting lid that sits inside an electric heating unit. The high temperature combined with the pressure in the pot forces hot steam into the food, causing it to cook quickly and evenly. A valve releases steam as needed to avoid too much pressure from building. For a more technical explanation, click here.
To use your Instant Pot:
- Set it to the proper pressure level (low, medium or high).
- Set the appropriate cooking time (the timer will not start counting down until the pressure is built up — approximately five to 20 minutes).
- Make sure the steam valve is in the locked, sealed position … and that’s it!
- When it’s done cooking, it will automatically switch to the “keep warm” function and begin to slowly release pressure — which takes up to 30 minutes.
Is It Safe?
If you’ve ever heard horror stories about stove-top pressure cookers exploding or causing steam burns, you may be hesitant to plug in the Instant Pot. But the good news is, they’ve gone to great lengths to ensure safety. In fact, Instant Pot offers multiple safety features that stove-top pressure cookers don’t.
Electric pressure cookers are fully automated. Much like with your trusted slow cooker, you can just turn it on and walk away. Once it reaches the right pressure and temperature, it stays there. And if the pressure or temperature start getting too high, it will automatically shut off — explosion averted.
You can also feel comfortable with the safety of your food. Unlike nonstick cooking surfaces, the stainless steel pot presents no threat of harmful chemicals. Instant Pot also switches to a “warm” setting when it’s done cooking, keeping food at a safe temperature for up to 10 hours.
Why Is It So Popular?
If it seems like people are strangely passionate about their Instant Pot, there’s a good reason why.
Benefits of cooking with an Instant Pot:
- You’ll have a lot more kitchen space since it does the job of seven appliances.
- Meals can be on the table up to 70 percent faster than with other cooking methods.
- You can conserve energy. It’s the second most energy efficient kitchen appliance, after the microwave.
- You aren’t chained to the kitchen! You can set it and forget it; just like a slow cooker — only faster.
- Your whole house won’t smell like tonight’s dinner. Since it’s completely sealed, aromas stay with your food — where they belong!
- Food will maintain its nutrients. Since you only use a small amount of water to create steam, nutrients will stay with your food instead of dissolving in water.
- Your food will be safer. Since the food is cooked at such a high temperature, almost all harmful living micro-organisms, such as bacteria and viruses, are killed.
Bottom Line
The Instant Pot offers a lot of great benefits, including convenience, nutrition and safety. If you’re looking for an appliance that gets flavorful meals on the table fast, this is definitely one to try.
Just be sure to read the manual before you use your Instant Pot for the first time. It’s simple to use, but it’s important that you learn how to use it correctly. Follow all the instructions, and it should be smooth sailing.
Once you’re ready to dive in, try some of these recipes!
FAQs
“In particular, tightening of credit terms and higher interest rates impacted our liquidity levels and made our capital structure unsustainable,” Mr. Gadbois said. Instant Brands said in a statement on Wednesday that the new financing would allow the company to continue paying workers, vendors and suppliers.
What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›
Con– If you don't pay attention to setting the vent properly you will have to extend your cooking time. I can't tell you how many time I forgot to seal the pot and the steam was escaping rather than building up inside and cooking my food. Pro– Like I said earlier, you are not limited to soups and stews.
Does the Instant Pot really work? ›
However, the Instant Pot is more functional than a slow cooker and a rice cooker combined because it can also pressure-cook. The word “instant” in the name gives it away: You can cook things astonishingly fast in a pressure cooker—even notoriously slow-cooking or labor-intensive foods, such as risotto and brisket.
What is the best and easiest Instant Pot? ›
The Instant Pot Duo Plus 8-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V4 had a nearly perfect score for easy use, and it didn't falter in any other category, either. The control panel was straightforward, with the preset buttons and status updates making it simple to get the cook we needed with the pot's guidance.
Which Instant Pot is on recall? ›
The recall was announced on March 1, 2018 for the “Instant Pot Gem 65 8-in-1 Multicookers” after at least 107 reports involving overheating, including 5 incidents that caused property damage. The problem is caused by a manufacturing defect that allows that cooker to overheat and melt on the underside of the unit.
What is the average life of an Instant Pot? ›
The average lifespan of an Instant Pot ranges from 2-5 years, but it can last longer depending on how often it's used and how well-maintained it is. So it's safe to say Instant Pots aren't commonly being replaced, and may even be a one-time purchase.
Is it unhealthy to cook in Instant Pot? ›
Even though some studies suggest that pressure cooking isn't the best way to preserve nutrients in food, no research exists to suggest that pressure cookers of any model or brand pose health risks. If you're a fan of your Instant Pot, don't worry: You can continue to safely use your appliance without worry.
Why I don't use an Instant Pot? ›
1. The Instant Pot doesn't cook things as quickly as it seems. While you can supposedly cook recipes such as potatoes, soup, stews, rice, and more in a shorter amount of time, there's a major catch: For most recipes, you have to wait for the machine to properly release the pressure slowly.
Why don t chefs use Instant Pot? ›
They are most commonly used in industrial settings to quickly prepare meat or stocks. However, in most scenarios, Elite Chefs avoid using pressure cookers because they provide less control over the final dish. Chefs often prefer slow cooking techniques that accentuate and pull out the flavors of the food.
Is an Instant Pot better than a crockpot? ›
If you are interested primarily in slow cooking, you should buy a dedicated slow cooker. They're more reliable with a range of slow-cooker recipes than an Instant Pot. We found Instant Pot multicookers specifically could not successfully slow-cook dense, high-volume recipes such as beef stew or pot roast.
If you're a tech-savvy home chef looking for versatility and convenience, the Instant Pot might be your ideal match. However, if you value time-tested reliability, durability, and a focus on the art of pressure cooking, a classic pressure cooker could be your perfect culinary companion.
Is it worth it to buy Instant Pots? ›
Yes, the Instant Pot is widely considered an effective and versatile pressure cooker. Many users find it worth the price due to its convenience, time-saving features, and ability to perform various cooking functions in one appliance.
What is the number one Instant Pot? ›
Instant Pot Pro
The Instant Pot Pro is the best Instant Pot you can buy right now. It sets out to replace ten kitchen appliances including a pressure cooker, slow cooker, saute pan, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, and warmer, and has 28 cooking modes for preparing different dishes.
Do professional chefs use Instant Pot? ›
Despite its popularity in professional kitchens, a pressure cooker is rarely featured on cooking shows. But that doesn't mean celebrity chefs don't appreciate their value. In fact, many renowned chefs have sung the praises of pressure cookers.
Why did Instant Pot explode? ›
Faulty Gaskets that Allow Premature Opening – A faulty gasket that allows the premature opening of the pot during high pressure can cause steam and contact burns. Inadequate Venting – Inadequate venting can cause a pressure cooker to explode.
Has there been any accidents with Instant Pot? ›
In many Instant Pot accidents, the excess pressure that built up in the pressure cooker caused the appliance to explode. The explosion can launch shrapnel at high velocities, hitting vital body parts like the eyes. In many cases of Instant Pots exploding, victims sustain injuries to the eyes.
Do people still use Instant Pot? ›
Sales for multicookers such as the Instant Pot fell by more than half in 2022 compared with 2020, The Associated Press reported. Instant Brands faces many struggles as it restructures, but the Instant Pot's impact deserves to be celebrated even if it's no longer considered the hottest gadget in the kitchen.
