The Instant Pot has revolutionized home cooking with its versatility and time-saving capabilities. While many of us use this kitchen wonder for basic recipes, there’s a whole world of clever hacks that can take your Instant Pot game to the next level. Here are some ingenious ways to maximize your multi-cooker’s potential.
1. Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs in Minutes
Skip the stovetop method and use your Instant Pot for perfectly cooked, easy-to-peel eggs every time. Place eggs on the trivet, add a cup of water, and cook on high pressure for just 5 minutes. After a quick release, transfer to an ice bath, and you’ll have eggs that practically peel themselves.
2. Make Your Own Yogurt
Why buy yogurt when you can make it at home? The yogurt setting on your Instant Pot creates the perfect environment for culturing. Simply heat milk, add a starter culture, and let your pot do the work overnight. The result is creamy, fresh yogurt at a fraction of the store-bought price.
3. Steam-Clean Your Pot
Keep your Instant Pot spotless with this self-cleaning hack. Add a cup of water and a tablespoon of vinegar to the pot, run on high pressure for 3 minutes, then wipe clean. Stubborn food residue will practically melt away.
4. Cook Frozen Meat Directly
Forgot to defrost dinner? No problem! The Instant Pot excels at cooking frozen meat safely and efficiently. Simply add extra cooking time (roughly 50% more than thawed meat) and you’ll have tender results without the wait.
5. Pot-in-Pot Cooking
Maximize efficiency by cooking multiple dishes simultaneously. Place one dish on the bottom of the pot and another on a trivet above it. This works wonderfully for combinations like rice below and chicken curry above, or beans below and cornbread above.
6. DIY Infused Vanilla Extract
Make gourmet vanilla extract by placing split vanilla beans and vodka in a sealed mason jar. Place the jar on a trivet in your Instant Pot with water, and pressure cook for 30 minutes. You’ll get the equivalent of months-aged extract in under an hour!
7. Speedy Potato Salad
Make potato salad in one pot by placing quartered potatoes on the bottom, eggs on a trivet above, and cooking for 4 minutes. After quick release, you’ll have perfectly cooked potatoes and eggs ready for mixing.
8. No-Stir Risotto
Achieve creamy, restaurant-quality risotto without standing over the stove stirring constantly. Just sauté aromatics, add rice and broth, and pressure cook for 6 minutes. A quick stir after releasing pressure yields perfect texture every time.
9. Homemade Baby Food in Batches
Parents can easily prepare healthy, preservative-free baby food by steaming fruits and vegetables in the Instant Pot, then pureeing and freezing in ice cube trays for convenient portions.
10. Effortless Cheesecake
Believe it or not, the Instant Pot creates the perfect humid environment for baking cheesecake. Use a 7-inch springform pan, cook on high pressure for 35 minutes, and you’ll get a creamy, crack-free dessert that rivals any bakery version.
With these creative hacks, your Instant Pot becomes even more valuable in your kitchen arsenal. And if you’re looking to upgrade your current model or add another to your collection, check out the latest deals at Instant Pot’s website for potential savings on your purchase.
What’s your favorite Instant Pot hack? Do you have any creative uses that aren’t on this list? The possibilities with this versatile appliance seem nearly endless!