Should I invest in an Instant Pot cooker?

Hi everyone,

I am mulling over whether I should invest in an Instant Pot cooker. I would welcome your views.

So here are my thoughts. I already have a slow cooker, so I wouldn't anticipate using the slow cooker facility especially often.

But there are 6 other functions on an instant pot, and the one that appeals to me most is that it's an electric pressure cooker. I like the idea of being able to fry any meat in it using the saute function, and then pile on flavourings and fluids and pressure cooking it for a quick stew or casserole.

The primary reason I'm thinking I'd like a pressure cooker is that I would like to buy dried pulses and beans and to cook them with it before adding to a dish I'm cooking, perhaps in the slow cooker. I use a lot of beans/pulses/legumes in my cooking. I have several different sorts of dried lentils and some dried beans too but some of them can take quite a long time to cook and really add to the cooking time of a meal. I'd like to expand that collection so I don't have to keep buying so many cans of the things, but it's just not practical while it takes so long to cook them!

I also like the idea of being able to make my own Greek yogurt. I've watched some youtube videos and the Instant Pot seems like it does that quite well.

What do you think? I'm thinking this piece of kit could really justify its place on my kitchen work surfaces (whereas it really is time I retired to another home my Juicer! I love juices, but the juicer takes such a lot of washing up and reassembling that I nearly lost the will to live)!

As well as letting me know if you think it might be useful for me too, do please let me know if there's another function to an Instant Pot that you find particularly helpful, if you already own one.

Thank you so much! I appreciate anyone who takes the time to reply here.

[Hidden]

Hello Hidden I think that you've answered your own question here as you would obviously make good use of one, so please let us know how you get on with one. 😊

[Ninn]

I have an instant pot and have been disappointed with it. pressure cooking veg destoys vitamins, so i wdnt use it for that, it also take longer to pressure cook rice and veg than cooking on stove or microwaving. and rice, rinse, double the amount of water to rice, bring to boil and turn off, sit 10 mins, perfect. saute feature is never right. low isnt hot enough to cook anything, medium burns very quickly and has to be stirred constantly and water added its so hot. Slow cooker same, low, food still uncooked 8 hrs later, medium setting and food is boiling and bubbling. The only thing i do with it is pressure cook batches of dried beans. They also dont bother to produce their own recipe book, all recipes being users own. these are mainly to US tastes with some rather odd ingredient combinations and heavily meat orientated. There could well be other brands which are more suitable and more proficient at a variety of tasks.

[Hidden in reply to Ninn]

I'm sorry you've been so disappointed in your Instant Pot, Ninn. I use brown basmati rice, so I can't see it being done in the way you suggest. I'm quite happy to cook it on the stove for half an hour but I would certainly try it in an Instant Pot using the rice setting, rather than the pressure cooker facility.

I'm really looking to use it for quick casseroles, if I forget to put dinner in during the morning, or to pressure cook dried beans and pulses, and to make yogurt. I'm sure there are other things you can do with it, because I've watched a lot of youtube videos to see what other people would do with one.

As for vegetables, I'd probably steam them in the Instant Pot, rather than pressure cook them. If that's no good, well, I'm already happy enough with my microwave for veggies, although I know some people think microwaves do bad things to our food...

What you do seem happy with are the dried beans you pressure cook in the Instant Pot, and honestly, that's the main reason I want a pressure cooking facility. I want to be able to bulk buy beans and pulses, and then pressure cook them in batches as I want them. Again, I can manage with cans, but the thing is that they take up a lot of space and are, relative to dried beans and pulses, expensive.

[Spike57 in reply to Hidden]

hi Bella, I find the Instantpot Duo-2, 5.9L really good. I do a lot of brown rice, Quinnoa, soups, stocks, chicken, stews and long ferment yogurt (24-35hrs). I’ve had this one about 6 months, got it new but discounted off EBay for about £56 or so. I use it daily and more recently have got some stacking tins (great for up to 2L of Yogurts) and silicon steamers and trivets. I have had regular pressure cookers before and this is much cleaner, quieter and just gets on with it without any further attention from you. It also replaces my slow-cooker and even fits in the cupboard. I really recommend it.

[Hidden in reply to Spike57]

Hi Spike,

That's the very model I am looking at as well. I like a lot of the foods you're talking about, and would be really glad if I can find a decent way of cooking my quinoa. Every time I do it, it seems to turn out soggy and overcooked! I appreciate your feedback, that's very useful.

[SenateurDupont in reply to Hidden]

Hi there. Be aware that every rice has it’s time and own setting... depending on wich kind of rice you use. I did a simple white rice and was not convinced by the result... still a bit hard. However, internet has tons of information where you can get the right setting for the rice you want to cook. I made glutinous rice without soaking it and it came out perfect! But you’ll get used to it!

[Hidden in reply to SenateurDupont]

I seem to be quite lucky with cooking rice on the stove top/hob. I've never really struggled with rice, but I do think brown rice is more forgiving, and the only white rice I eat is pudding rice or risotto rice (carnaroli or arborio). But thank you for your feedback, kind sir. I always appreciate a reply.