Electric Pressure Cooker?

[siv1]

I've been thinking of getting an electric pressure cooker. This is one I was looking at. I don't know if it is something that would be used enough to justify getting, or if it will end up collecting dust like other small appliances.

https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-...1-5ce0-4735-922f-7d3de52f6b31&pf_rd_i=desktop

Any recommendations?

Do you have one? Do you use it much?

 

[Cozystitches]

Me! Me! I have one!!! I got it last weekend and am having a BLAST with it! I have made several things: hamburger helper, rice and hamburger (ok, this was a fail, but I'm still working on it), wild rice. Currently I have yogurt that is setting up in the fridge, I'll strain tomorrow and hopefully I'll have some awesome Greek yogurt!

There are several groups, I've joined on FB and I"m trying to learn a lot. Tomorrow I'm planning on trying a Buffalo Mac & Cheese recipe. You cook the pasta and everything in the pot!

 

[redwood66]

Yes! I have one and love it! I have to admit that since mine has a sear, slow cooker, and pressure cooker function, I use the sear and slow cooker function more often. I have one from HSN because when I was looking at them it had all the features I needed. I don't see the brand I have any longer but I do love it.

 

[lyra]

We have had one for a few months. It was time to replace our old pressure cooker. The new one works great and does not scare me or have the same safety concerns as the old 30 year old one. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

 

[Dee*Jay]

When I first opened the thread I thought it was about crockpots but clicking on the link -- WOW! That thing does A LOT! I have a crockpot (no idea why or who gave it to me... ) and the CB uses it to make a lot of stuff so this, with it's plethora of functions, seems like a great appliance.

 

[siv1]

Me! Me! I have one!!! I got it last weekend and am having a BLAST with it! I have made several things: hamburger helper, rice and hamburger (ok, this was a fail, but I'm still working on it), wild rice. Currently I have yogurt that is setting up in the fridge, I'll strain tomorrow and hopefully I'll have some awesome Greek yogurt!

There are several groups, I've joined on FB and I"m trying to learn a lot. Tomorrow I'm planning on trying a Buffalo Mac & Cheese recipe. You cook the pasta and everything in the pot!

Glad you're enjoying it. Looks like you recommend it. Is this the brand you have or do you have another brand?
Please let me know how your yogurt turns out.

 

[siv1]

Yes! I have one and love it! I have to admit that since mine has a sear, slow cooker, and pressure cooker function, I use the sear and slow cooker function more often. I have one from HSN because when I was looking at them it had all the features I needed. I don't see the brand I have any longer but I do love it.

Thanks red. What brand do you have? I'm thinking this may help me get rid of my crackpots and possibly other small appliances, therefore I'd be saving space.

 

[siv1]

We have had one for a few months. It was time to replace our old pressure cooker. The new one works great and does not scare me or have the same safety concerns as the old 30 year old one. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Hi Lycra. Thanks for the reply. Do you use it much? I remember my mother using a pressure cooker once in a while when I was young. She didn't use it very often, which is why I am wonder about the practically of it.

 

[Efe]

I have the Instantpot 6 quart and I love it. I use it once or twice a week minimum. I really like how you can saute meats right in the pot instead of having to use the stove and the fact that once cooking time is done, it will automatically switch to keep warm mode. It also makes perfect hard boiled eggs using the steam function. Makes them super easy to peel.

 

[siv1]

When I first opened the thread I thought it was about crockpots but clicking on the link -- WOW! That thing does A LOT! I have a crockpot (no idea why or who gave it to me... ) and the CB uses it to make a lot of stuff so this, with it's plethora of functions, seems like a great appliance.

Hi Deejay. It looks cool. Are you going to get one? I use a crackpot a few times a month, but this has so much versatility. It will probably be worth the investment.

 

[siv1]

I have the Instantpot 6 quart and I love it. I use it once or twice a week minimum. I really like how you can saute meats right in the pot instead of having to use the stove and the fact that once cooking time is done, it will automatically switch to keep warm mode. It also makes perfect hard boiled eggs using the steam function. Makes them super easy to peel.

Hi Effe. How long have you had yours? I never thought about hard boiled eggs. Do they cook faster than just boiling them in a pot on the stove?

 

[siv1]

Thank you for all the replies.

I have a few more questions. Do you use it for roasts or whole chickens? I've read you can even cook frozen meat in it, which would be such a time saver.

Have you tried it for canning?

What accessories do you need? Steamer basket?

The more I research, the more I want one.

 

[Efe]

Hi Siv. I've had mine for about 8 months and just purchased one for my son. The eggs probably don't cook faster than on the stove, but I like that I can start it and go off and do whatever until you hear the timer. I do about 8 eggs at once, for about 9 minutes, and they really do peel much easier (which is the part that I really like). One thing to note is that it takes about 10 minutes for the instant pot to come to pressure. So, when the recipe says to cook for 45 minutes, you will have to allow for about an hour total.

 

[Dee*Jay]

When I first opened the thread I thought it was about crockpots but clicking on the link -- WOW! That thing does A LOT! I have a crockpot (no idea why or who gave it to me... ) and the CB uses it to make a lot of stuff so this, with it's plethora of functions, seems like a great appliance.

Hi Deejay. It looks cool. Are you going to get one? I use a crackpot a few times a month, but this has so much versatility. It will probably be worth the investment.

Siv, I just showed the link to the CB. Rut ro. I think there may be a new appliance coming into my house...

 

[siv1]

Hi Siv. I've had mine for about 8 months and just purchased one for my son. The eggs probably don't cook faster than on the stove, but I like that I can start it and go off and do whatever until you hear the timer. I do about 8 eggs at once, for about 9 minutes, and they really do peel much easier (which is the part that I really like). One thing to note is that it takes about 10 minutes for the instant pot to come to pressure. So, when the recipe says to cook for 45 minutes, you will have to allow for about an hour total.

Thanks for the info. Is there anything you DON'T like about it?

I'm beginning to think about this summer when it is hot and I don't want to use the oven.

 

[siv1]

When I first opened the thread I thought it was about crockpots but clicking on the link -- WOW! That thing does A LOT! I have a crockpot (no idea why or who gave it to me... ) and the CB uses it to make a lot of stuff so this, with it's plethora of functions, seems like a great appliance.

Hi Deejay. It looks cool. Are you going to get one? I use a crackpot a few times a month, but this has so much versatility. It will probably be worth the investment.

Siv, I just showed the link to the CB. Rut ro. I think there may be a new appliance coming into my house...

Yay. Let me know what you think of it.

 

[lyra]

We haven't used ours for anything but cooking so far. I didn't think about canning. We don't do that because of lack of storage space, but that is a great idea. Mostly we use ours for cooking meats that can be tough, like beef. We did short ribs this week and they were fabulous. We've also done stews and roasts. We do use it as a time saver for sure, and all meat comes out very tender. I tend to call it the Magic Pot instead of Instant Pot. Ours is 6 qt.

 

[siv1]

We haven't used ours for anything but cooking so far. I didn't think about canning. We don't do that because of lack of storage space, but that is a great idea. Mostly we use ours for cooking meats that can be tough, like beef. We did short ribs this week and they were fabulous. We've also done stews and roasts. We do use it as a time saver for sure, and all meat comes out very tender. I tend to call it the Magic Pot instead of Instant Pot. Ours is 6 qt.

That's good to know about everything coming out so tender. I cooked a roast in a crock pot a few weeks ago and it was still a little tough. Do you slow cook the meat or pressure cook it?

 

[lyra]

We haven't used ours for anything but cooking so far. I didn't think about canning. We don't do that because of lack of storage space, but that is a great idea. Mostly we use ours for cooking meats that can be tough, like beef. We did short ribs this week and they were fabulous. We've also done stews and roasts. We do use it as a time saver for sure, and all meat comes out very tender. I tend to call it the Magic Pot instead of Instant Pot. Ours is 6 qt.

That's good to know about everything coming out so tender. I cooked a roast in a crock pot a few weeks ago and it was still a little tough. Do you slow cook the meat or pressure cook it?

We have a lot of kitchen gear. My husband does most of the cooking. One of his jobs while putting himself through school was cooking at a fancy restaurant. He uses the pressure cooker part to do meats. We also have a slow cooker, and a brand new baby, a purple Lodge dutch oven which is currently getting all the love. I guess to put it plainly, we use a different tool for each thing, although certainly the Instant Pot can do it all.

 

[siv1]

We haven't used ours for anything but cooking so far. I didn't think about canning. We don't do that because of lack of storage space, but that is a great idea. Mostly we use ours for cooking meats that can be tough, like beef. We did short ribs this week and they were fabulous. We've also done stews and roasts. We do use it as a time saver for sure, and all meat comes out very tender. I tend to call it the Magic Pot instead of Instant Pot. Ours is 6 qt.

That's good to know about everything coming out so tender. I cooked a roast in a crock pot a few weeks ago and it was still a little tough. Do you slow cook the meat or pressure cook it?

We have a lot of kitchen gear. My husband does most of the cooking. One of his jobs while putting himself through school was cooking at a fancy restaurant. He uses the pressure cooker part to do meats. We also have a slow cooker, and a brand new baby, a purple Lodge dutch oven which is currently getting all the love. I guess to put it plainly, we use a different tool for each thing, although certainly the Instant Pot can do it all.

This is nice to know. Thanks. Looks like this will be an early birthday present to myself.

 

[kgizo]

I'm thinking of getting one too as the ladies in my Bookclub were raving about it. They all have a knock off version they got at Sam's. They said it works great on thawed or frozen chicken as it's fast and the meat is very tender (they recommend broiling it for a few min after to crisp up the skin), veggies, rice and potatoes.

 

[Arcadian]

I have one. best thing in my kitchen outside the dishwasher! Its also an instant pot. I use mine 3-4 days a week these days as I don't have a gas stove anymore. everything else goes on the grill!

I use the pot for pretty much everything. I feel like I should get another...lol.

The only thing that came out iffy was steamed vegetables. IMO for me, better to do that on the stove.

Word of warning, if you cook aromatic stuff a lot, the seal does absorb those smells over time. do yourself a favor and have 2 of them.

 

[siv1]

I have one. best thing in my kitchen outside the dishwasher! Its also an instant pot. I use mine 3-4 days a week these days as I don't have a gas stove anymore. everything else goes on the grill!

I use the pot for pretty much everything. I feel like I should get another...lol.

The only thing that came out iffy was steamed vegetables. IMO for me, better to do that on the stove.

Word of warning, if you cook aromatic stuff a lot, the seal does absorb those smells over time. do yourself a favor and have 2 of them.

Hi Arcadian. Thanks for the reply.

I read about the seals absorbing smells. They don't transfer any flavors do they? Just the smell?

 

[siv1]

I'm thinking of getting one too as the ladies in my Bookclub were raving about it. They all have a knock off version they got at Sam's. They said it works great on thawed or frozen chicken as it's fast and the meat is very tender (they recommend broiling it for a few min after to crisp up the skin), veggies, rice and potatoes.

Hi kgizo. Thanks for chiming in.

 

[Arcadian]

I have one. best thing in my kitchen outside the dishwasher! Its also an instant pot. I use mine 3-4 days a week these days as I don't have a gas stove anymore. everything else goes on the grill!

I use the pot for pretty much everything. I feel like I should get another...lol.

The only thing that came out iffy was steamed vegetables. IMO for me, better to do that on the stove.

Word of warning, if you cook aromatic stuff a lot, the seal does absorb those smells over time. do yourself a favor and have 2 of them.

Hi Arcadian. Thanks for the reply.

I read about the seals absorbing smells. They don't transfer any flavors do they? Just the smell?

They seem to impart taste, but after a while...yeah they get smelly. The first time I made yogurt I didn't change the seal. No funky taste but it smelled like BBQ.. Thankfully the dog didn't care!

Some people soak the seal in a little baking soda and water but I've never noticed that it did much frankly.

So now I change the seal based on what I cook.

One for main dishes then another one in reserve for everything else, which has not absorbed a lot of smells. Used it for yogurt recently, no funky smells this time. I don't do yogurt often but its exceptionally easy to do in the pot. Realistically I should have three but I really think having another pot is in order.