Instant Pot

Beginning Your Instant Pot Journey

Tell me if this sounds familiar.

You have a long day at work and are utterly exhausted by the time you get home. You plop down on the couch, fantasizing about a tender piece of chicken or creamy pasta with veggies tossed in. Really, you’d eat anything, because you’re starving and beat. You reach for the takeout menu because the last thing you feel like doing is fishing ingredients out of your fridge, finding a recipe, and making a home cooked meal. Hello, Grub Hub.

This is definitely reality for me at least twice a week. Do I rely on Grub Hub, pizza delivery, and the Taco Bell drive thru? Of course I do. Nothing takes the edge of better than a hot Cheesy Gordita crunch after a stressful day. I have a rewards account with just about every pizza delivery place in the area.

But in reality, we all want to fuel our bodies with healthier food and also save money by cooking for ourselves more often than not. That’s why when people ask me, “What’s your favorite cooking tool?” I always shout, “THE INSTANT POT!” (Yes. I literally shout it).

My First True Love: The Crockpot

Now, I want to get one thing clear – my first love was the Crockpot. When I decided I wanted to learn how to cook a few years ago, it was the first big kitchen appliance I purchased, and I hit the ground running. In no time, I was cooking up delicious soups, chicken dishes, and vegetables. I got really into bulk “freezer meals” (chop and prep ahead of time, store in freezer bags, and pull out a meal when you’re short on time). Slow cookers are the perfect tool for people who may not want to spend hours in the kitchen. Many recipes require minimal prep – maybe chop a few veggies, measure out some spices, whatever – then “set it and forget it,” as they say. Who doesn’t love coming home to a ready-to-eat meal? Not to mention your entire home smells great all day. Win!

You can even make snacks in a slow cooker! Check out my favorite recipe for homemade Chex Mix from Recipes that Crock

My issue with the beloved Crockpot, though, is time. Since your meal is slow cooking, you need hours. Planning ahead is key. I found that many of my favorite recipes slow cook between 4 and 6 hours – and (before the pandemic) I was at work for way longer than that. I realized that slow cooking was perfect for lazy Sundays where I was home all day (and now, during a pandemic, I’m slow cooking a lot more again since I am not going anywhere). Have I abandoned my slow cooker? Absolutely not. But there’s a reason it’s no longer my only true love. 

When you need dinner in a pinch, a slow cooker will let you down. ENTER: THE INSTANT POT.

Instant Pot > Slow Cooker

The Instant Pot is a pressure cooker that helps you make meals in a fraction of the time. How? Here is a fantastic article that describes the science behind it. Basically, trapped steam builds up to an intense pressure that cooks your food in a snap. You know how when you slow cook meat, you get that tender “fall-off-the-bone” perfection after several hours? You can get that in 30 minutes or less with the Instant Pot. Some people think that the Instant Pot (and slow cookers, for that matter) are only good for soups and stews in the fall and winter. Think again! Pasta, meat, beans, vegetables – the possibilities are endless. YES, I said pasta! You can cook pasta in about 10 minutes without boiling a pot of water.

The thing that makes the Instant Pot a true winner is it’s versatility. It’s not just a pressure cooker. It’s also a…SLOW COOKER, rice cooker, saute pan (this is HUGE), steamer, warmer, yogurt maker, and possibly more (depending on your model). Remember all of the great things I said about my first true love, the slow cooker? Boom – it’s built into the Instant Pot. So, if you’re worried about cabinet space, this baby does it all in one.

Models, Sizes, & Where to Buy

There are many different brands of pressure cookers on the market, but I am loyal to the Instant Pot brand right now. That’s not to say that the other brands aren’t great, I just have no experience with them.

Yes, I love my Instant Pot so much I brought it a new outfit! Check out this Etsy store if you want to do the same!

Just within the Instant Pot family, there are tons of models to choose from. It can be quite overwhelming if you’re trying to choose one to purchase for the first time. When I got mine in 2017, there were maybe 2 or 3 different models. Now, Instant Pot offers so many bells and whistles – automatic steam valve closure, WiFi controls (?!), sanitization, and even the capability to AIR FRY with Duo Crisp air frying lid (I could go off on how amazing air frying is right now, but that’s not what this post is about; if you happen to be looking to buy an Instant Pot AND air fryer, or can’t decide between the two, I highly recommend checking out Duo Crisp + Air Fryer model where you get both in one). 

So, where to buy? Instant Pots are all over the place – the Instant Pot website, Target, Walmart, Amazon, Bed Bath & Beyond, etc. If you don’t buy off of their website, I highly recommend you at least visit it to use the Product Comparison Chart to figure out which one is right for you. I love that the top row of this chart helps you narrow down your options – “Best for Beginners,” “Best for Canning,” “Most Innovative,” etc. I have the classic Instant Pot Duo (8 quart). It is MASSIVE. Unless you’re cooking for an army (or at least a large family), you probably don’t need this enormous size. The 6 quart is plenty big and you won’t throw your back out lifting it out of your cabinet. The 3 quart is adorably compact, but probably only the best choice if you are cooking for 1-2 people and don’t want leftovers. Plus, many of the great recipes out there may not fit in the 3 quart model unless you scale them down. For me and my cooking needs, the Duo does it all.

Getting Started

If you are hesitant to buy or start using an Instant Pot because they seem confusing or overwhelming, I don’t blame you. The multitude of buttons and settings can seem daunting. But, I promise you, with a little practice and a run-through or two with the manual (I hate reading manuals, but I highly recommend doing it), and your life will never be the same. If you despise reading manuals or just have trouble following them, Instant Pot has a whole YouTube channel with helpful tutorials (for example, here is a step by step video of instructions on how to clean and prepare your Instant Pot before your first use). Or, call me and I will walk you through it. That is a sincere offer 🙂 

Not sure what to make or where to start with searching for recipes? I recommend starting EASY. Here are some very simple recipes you can consider:

Once you’ve mastered a few simple recipes, definitely check out some of my favorite bloggers that publish an endless number of amazing recipes for the Instant Pot:

I love talking about the Instant Pot and have coached many friends through their first use. Please never hesitate to reach out of you want to chat about recipes, how the Instant Pot works, or just how much you LOVE it!

Check out my the Instant Pot board on my Pinterest for hundreds more recipes for the Instant Pot! Happy cooking!

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