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Not Running => Food => Topic started by: Natasha on March 02, 2016, 07:51:52 PM

Title: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on March 02, 2016, 07:51:52 PM
Does anyone have one?

I'll probably get a stove top pressure cooker instead, but love the idea of programmable.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on March 02, 2016, 08:03:42 PM
Yes, coincidentally, my Instant Pot was just delivered on Monday.  My Sharper Image branded pressure cooker / slow cooker bit the dust last week.  As my most frequently used appliance, I didn't waste any time getting a replacement.  My research into the options led me to the Instant Pot.  I haven't had a chance to use it much yet, but it seems to work fine.  It probably has more programming options than I really need, but I might change my mind about that after I use it more. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 02, 2016, 08:19:34 PM
I have a pressure cooker but if it ever needed to be replaced I would get an Instapot. I love my pressure cooker and use it at least once a week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on March 03, 2016, 01:52:56 PM
I hope it works well, radial! I'm going to hold off on buying anything for now, but I so want to play with it. The hippressurecooking.com lady seems to like it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 03, 2016, 06:07:19 PM
FYI, Bed Bath and Beyond has an amazing return policy (at least last I checked) and my pressure cooker broke (the knob broke off the top) and i bought a new one and hated it. I think I had it almost 6 months and just really did not like it at all. DH got some replacement parts from the manufacturer and fixed the original one and BB&B took back the used pressure cooker when i told them i did not like it. Costco does too, not sure if they sell instapots.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 04, 2016, 05:20:28 PM
Well, I never heard of this instant pot, but now I think I want/need one badly.  My BD is coming up next week (good reason to get one!).
Anymore feedback?
I have a rice cooker, a steamer, a slow cooker, and a yogurt maker.  Do I really need one?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on March 04, 2016, 08:02:14 PM
It does want all those other appliances do, plus pressure cooking. So no, you don't need one, unless you want to pressure cooker that also does everything else.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 05, 2016, 07:14:46 AM
It does want all those other appliances do, plus pressure cooking. So no, you don't need one, unless you want to pressure cooker that also does everything else.

The yogurt function interests me, since I have to do yogurt in 4 batches now.  (Small incubator).  Could I do one gallon in one attempt?  That would sure save time and be convenient.  And the incubator is on its final days, I fear.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on March 05, 2016, 08:51:43 AM
I don't know anything about making yogurt. But the  model I bought has a 6 L capacity. I think that's a little over 1.5 gallons.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 05, 2016, 07:37:35 PM
I don't know anything about making yogurt. But the  model I bought has a 6 L capacity. I think that's a little over 1.5 gallons.

That is enormous!  How big is it?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on March 05, 2016, 08:37:58 PM
That is enormous!  How big is it?

Bigger than the one it replaced, but not overwhelming.  Here are a couple of pictures.  That's an avacado in the plastic bag for scale.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1623/25422807832_d447293b64_b.jpg)

Here's another picture of the stainless inner pot.

(https://c2.staticflickr.com/2/1713/25448612111_82da0559aa_b.jpg)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 06, 2016, 07:05:04 AM
Thanks. That puts it in good perspective.  Still debating. Want.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on March 16, 2016, 08:13:29 AM
 :panic:
Well, crap...I need one of these!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 18, 2016, 08:24:39 PM
:panic:
Well, crap...I need one of these!

I got one.  It arrived yesterday. The easiest way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it.  Oscar Wilde said this, and I apply this a lot.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on March 18, 2016, 09:47:22 PM
I'm super intrigued by the instant pot, but I already have a crockpot and a high end rice cooker. I feel like I can't justify the purchase.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 19, 2016, 06:26:45 AM
I'm super intrigued by the instant pot, but I already have a crockpot and a high end rice cooker. I feel like I can't justify the purchase.
Me too. But I have a pressure cooker, 2 crockpots and a fancy high end rice cooker :D I use the pressure cooker most, so if that goes, I will think about an Instant Pot.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 19, 2016, 07:52:17 AM
I'm super intrigued by the instant pot, but I already have a crockpot and a high end rice cooker. I feel like I can't justify the purchase.

That was my dilemma, too.  I already have a zojirushi rice cooker that I love (and also prepare my breakfast oatmeal in), a crockpot, and a steamer.  My justification was that I had to make yogurt in several small batches.  Today, I am going to try the pressure cooker for beans, but DH announced that beans give him gas...  I definitely did not get this for the pressure cooker, but it may be something I learn to like, who knows.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on May 14, 2016, 07:26:29 AM
so, Natasha, what is the verdict?  I have been making yogurt, salmon, beans, and kale in mine repeatedly, some other things just once.  I say it was a worthwhile buy.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on May 14, 2016, 10:23:38 AM
how much ice cream?  I've always wanted to do homemade yogurt but have limited success the normal (counter top) way.

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on May 15, 2016, 07:40:13 AM
I usually throw in a full gallon of milk. 
As to how much, do you mean the price of the instant pot?  I paid about USD 115 on amazon.
I have never had luck with beans on the stove top, but in this, they are great.  and steaming salmon in this is a winner, too.  I m glad I bought it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on June 15, 2016, 01:53:07 PM
so, Natasha, what is the verdict?  I have been making yogurt, salmon, beans, and kale in mine repeatedly, some other things just once.  I say it was a worthwhile buy.

I still haven't gotten one but I'm convinced I should.

how much ice cream?  I've always wanted to do homemade yogurt but have limited success the normal (counter top) way.

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk



I've been searching the thread, trying to figure out who has been making ice cream with it.  :!: Doh!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on June 29, 2016, 02:34:21 PM
I still haven't gotten one but I'm convinced I should.

I've been searching the thread, trying to figure out who has been making ice cream with it.  :!: Doh!

You dont make ice cream in it, but yogurt. I am so eage to get back to the usa and get back to my regular routine.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on June 29, 2016, 03:40:27 PM
When I first saw the thread title, I thought it would be about making pot!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on June 29, 2016, 04:57:28 PM
You dont make ice cream in it, but yogurt. I am so eage to get back to the usa and get back to my regular routine.

When run amok said "how much ice cream?" It threw me off. ;)

I got it! So far everything I've made turned out well. I loved the Sicilian vegetables recipe in the cookbook.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 12, 2016, 03:34:35 PM
Amazon prime has it on sale for $70 today.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 18, 2016, 04:56:30 PM
I made this tonight and it turned out ok, i should have quick released it on the last step, the cauliflower is a bit mushier than I would have liked. I know it is trial and error. I added a little extra curry powder but it probably has a lot to do with brand of curry powder.
(the Instant Pot directions are at the end)
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2010/12/curried-cauliflower-sweet-potato-soup.html (http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2010/12/curried-cauliflower-sweet-potato-soup.html)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 18, 2016, 06:17:51 PM
For MoS: my Greek yogurt recipe with IP. 
I put one gallon of milk (2%) in instant pot, press "yogurt" and then "adjust".  This brings milk to a boil.
when finished, I add 1/2 cup of powdered milk and use the hand blender for smoothness.
when cooled to about 112-120 degrees, I add 3-4 large spoonfuls of store-bought plain yogurt, fat-free.  (not Greek yogurt)
then close the IP, press "yogurt" and let it sit overnight.  (The IP goes automatically into keep warm at the end of the cycle.)
When I wake up, I put the yogurt in the fridge.
When yogurt is cold, put yogurt in a strainer lined with coffee filter and strain 2-5 hours, as you wish.

The store bought yogurt will determine the flavor of the yogurt.  I use the store brand that Price Rite sells.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Mom of Scooby on July 18, 2016, 06:41:17 PM
For MoS: my Greek yogurt recipe with IP. 
I put one gallon of milk (2%) in instant pot, press "yogurt" and then "adjust".  This brings milk to a boil.
when finished, I add 1/2 cup of powdered milk and use the hand blender for smoothness.
when cooled to about 112-120 degrees, I add 3-4 large spoonfuls of store-bought plain yogurt, fat-free.  (not Greek yogurt)
then close the IP, press "yogurt" and let it sit overnight.  (The IP goes automatically into keep warm at the end of the cycle.)
When I wake up, I put the yogurt in the fridge.
When yogurt is cold, put yogurt in a strainer lined with coffee filter and strain 2-5 hours, as you wish.

The store bought yogurt will determine the flavor of the yogurt.  I use the store brand that Price Rite sells.

Thank you!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Mom of Scooby on July 18, 2016, 06:42:40 PM
For MoS: my Greek yogurt recipe with IP. 
I put one gallon of milk (2%) in instant pot, press "yogurt" and then "adjust".  This brings milk to a boil.
when finished, I add 1/2 cup of powdered milk and use the hand blender for smoothness.
when cooled to about 112-120 degrees, I add 3-4 large spoonfuls of store-bought plain yogurt, fat-free.  (not Greek yogurt)
then close the IP, press "yogurt" and let it sit overnight.  (The IP goes automatically into keep warm at the end of the cycle.)
When I wake up, I put the yogurt in the fridge.
When yogurt is cold, put yogurt in a strainer lined with coffee filter and strain 2-5 hours, as you wish.

The store bought yogurt will determine the flavor of the yogurt.  I use the store brand that Price Rite sells.

How do you know when it is cooled?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on July 18, 2016, 06:54:38 PM
How do you know when it is cooled?

I've always used a food thermometer.  However, I recently read this article (http://www.nwedible.com/do-you-need-to-heat-milk-for-yogurt-making/) that says that if you use pasteurized milk, you might not really need to scald it, especially if you're going to strain it into greek yogurt. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on July 18, 2016, 08:02:22 PM
Woah...people who are making raw milk yogurt and not putting it through a kill cycle are begging for lysteria. Do they know and not care or not know? Pasturized milk is pretty safe though i think.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 19, 2016, 11:55:43 AM
How do you know when it is cooled?

I use a meat thermometer.  I do not use pasteurized milk, because it's far more expensive for no real benefit to me.  But it's true, if pasteurized, no need to do the first step of bringing to almost boil.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on July 19, 2016, 11:56:40 AM
For MoS: my Greek yogurt recipe with IP. 
I put one gallon of milk (2%) in instant pot, press "yogurt" and then "adjust".  This brings milk to a boil.
when finished, I add 1/2 cup of powdered milk and use the hand blender for smoothness.
when cooled to about 112-120 degrees, I add 3-4 large spoonfuls of store-bought plain yogurt, fat-free.  (not Greek yogurt)
then close the IP, press "yogurt" and let it sit overnight.  (The IP goes automatically into keep warm at the end of the cycle.)
When I wake up, I put the yogurt in the fridge.
When yogurt is cold, put yogurt in a strainer lined with coffee filter and strain 2-5 hours, as you wish.

The store bought yogurt will determine the flavor of the yogurt.  I use the store brand that Price Rite sells.

What does this mean?  I have been scared to try yogurt, but your directions make it seem so easy.  I just don't follow that part.

thanks!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 19, 2016, 11:58:06 AM
Woah...people who are making raw milk yogurt and not putting it through a kill cycle are begging for lysteria. Do they know and not care or not know? Pasturized milk is pretty safe though i think.

Every yogurt recipe I ever read mentions that the boils step is essential, except for pasteurized milk.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 19, 2016, 12:02:11 PM
What does this mean?  I have been scared to try yogurt, but your directions make it seem so easy.  I just don't follow that part.

thanks!

you get regular, plain yogurt when the instant pot finishes "cooking" it.  In order to make greek yogurt, you have to make it thicker, i.e., strain it.  This will separate the liquid whey from the yogurt and the remaining yogurt will have a thick consistency, like Greek yogurt.  Greek yogurt is nothing else than plain yogurt that was strained.
the liquid that remains is a quality protein, but I don't like the taste, so I throw it out.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on July 19, 2016, 02:40:39 PM
Every yogurt recipe I ever read mentions that the boils step is essential, except for pasteurized milk.

There are people in the comments section of that article talking about using raw milk to make yogurt and skipping the heating step.

Just curious what you mean when you say pasturized milk has no benefit to you. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 19, 2016, 04:18:36 PM
There are people in the comments section of that article talking about using raw milk to make yogurt and skipping the heating step.

Just curious what you mean when you say pasturized milk has no benefit to you. 

Oops, my error. I meant ultra-high pasteurized milk that does not have to be refrigerated. As far as I know, that is the one that definitely does not need boiling.  (Buying that has no benefit for me since I live close to a grocery store and do not need to store milk; that is what I meant. It's a more expensive product.)

I always buy the refrigerated milk in the grocery store, the kind that had flash pasteurization. I prefer to err on the safe side and boil. Flash pasteurization is not as safe as the ultra high. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 20, 2016, 04:22:25 PM
Got this from the library!

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160720/b49366b83dbf441f4e936d151e7c70e2.jpg)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 20, 2016, 05:03:36 PM
I think there is a lot of trial and error, kinda over cooked sweet potatoes.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160720/7656d45314dc0a1643c6d9662a70918c.jpg)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on July 20, 2016, 06:25:48 PM
Agreed.  And i think also preference... people are doing their hard boiled eggs in wildly varying times and all saying "perfect!."

We do a lot of stir fry's with cubed chicken thighs, vegetables, and brown rice... i did a simple marinade thing last night... it was 4 boned thighs, about an hour marinade and 9 minutes on manual, quick release.  Incredibly good and shockingly tender.  Like something you slow cooked for a couple of days.  I hope it turns out as well with veggies in with the chicken.  I'm very happy so far.   
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 20, 2016, 07:49:53 PM
I steamed some salmon in the IP.  It was excellent!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 20, 2016, 07:55:20 PM
DH and I each ate a sweet potato, they were fine. I made DD regular potatoes next in the IP and in fear of over cooking them, I had to check it three times before it was ready  :eyeroll: I am so impatient :p But perfect potatoes in 12 minutes??? pretty awesome. We do not have a microwave so making things like potatoes fast is generally not a possibility.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on July 20, 2016, 08:08:11 PM
I made Colorado beans, soaked overnight and cooked for 20 minutes. They were too mushy in my bean salad. Ah well. Better overlooked than undercooked.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 21, 2016, 10:43:26 AM
What are Colorado beans? In my regular pressure cooker i usually undercook, then turn it back on to high pressure for a couple minutes at a time to get the beans cooked just right. Stirring them helps too, because i have found they can cook unevenly in a large batch.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on July 21, 2016, 11:02:07 AM
You guys are making me less and less jealous! I don't have time to experiment! I think I'd be immediately frusterated by this thing!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 21, 2016, 06:20:33 PM
You guys are making me less and less jealous! I don't have time to experiment! I think I'd be immediately frusterated by this thing!
I do not either, but the sweet potatoes were 14 minutes? maybe 12? I just tossed them in with 1 cup of water and pressed the button :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on July 21, 2016, 06:33:18 PM
I do not either, but the sweet potatoes were 14 minutes? maybe 12? I just tossed them in with 1 cup of water and pressed the button :D

Yeah, really.  This is the device for people who want to be less involved in the cooking process, not moreso. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 21, 2016, 08:27:11 PM
Yeah, really.  This is the device for people who want to be less involved in the cooking process, not moreso.
My pressure cooker (stove top) i have to baby sit, this is nice to not have to babysit!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 22, 2016, 08:08:01 AM
My pressure cooker (stove top) i have to baby sit, this is nice to not have to babysit!

I always wondered why you raved so much about that pressure cooker.  My mom had a stove top one, and I was never inclined to get such a thing.  The IP is just so convenient.
Has anyone boiled eggs in the IP?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 22, 2016, 08:49:04 AM
I always wondered why you raved so much about that pressure cooker.  My mom had a stove top one, and I was never inclined to get such a thing.  The IP is just so convenient.
Has anyone boiled eggs in the IP?
I rave about it because I can cook dried beans in 20 minutes :D Lentil soup that tastes like it cooked all day in 10 minutes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 22, 2016, 03:58:15 PM
I made some kind of lentil recipe from the booklet that came with the IP.  It was one of the worst things I ever made.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 22, 2016, 08:45:36 PM
I made some kind of lentil recipe from the booklet that came with the IP.  It was one of the worst things I ever made.

this is my go to pressure cooker lentil soup recipe
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/05/ridiculously-easy-lentil-soup.html (http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/05/ridiculously-easy-lentil-soup.html)

Family favorite.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 23, 2016, 07:08:49 AM
this is my go to pressure cooker lentil soup recipe
http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/05/ridiculously-easy-lentil-soup.html (http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2009/05/ridiculously-easy-lentil-soup.html)

Family favorite.

Thanks!  will do this when it gets cooler. Looks good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 23, 2016, 08:25:16 AM
Thanks!  will do this when it gets cooler. Looks good.
it is, probably made it at least 50 times.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Honey Badger on July 23, 2016, 01:32:31 PM
I made black bean soup (using unsoaked dried beans) last week in something like 14 minutes and it was good! I used chicken broth instead of water. The next time I'll cut back on the amount of liquid a bit as it didn't need 6 cups.

I'm looking for something to cook today or tomorrow that will provide good leftovers for a couple days. Suggestions welcome! I'm an omnivore.

You guys are making me less and less jealous! I don't have time to experiment! I think I'd be immediately frusterated by this thing!
I'm not into appliances that are overly complex and I wondered about the Instant Pot, but after using it a couple times, it really could not be any simpler. They only variance to time, IMO, is personal preference. 
Like Meri's sweet potatoes; I think "overcooking" them a bit makes no difference at all.  I'm sure they're just as good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on July 23, 2016, 03:43:53 PM
I'm doing another batch of chicken thighs.  Soy sauce, crushed garlic cloves, fresh ginger, coarsely ground peppercorns.  I just threw the ingredients in the pot and put the whole mess in the fridge to marinate.  I'll take it out later when I'm hungry and fire up the IP for 15 minutes at high pressure.  Whole thing including prep, 20 minutes. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 23, 2016, 05:42:43 PM
HB try the lentil soup recipe I posted. We also like to add sautéed diced mushrooms or peas after it is cooked. I am trying a "Sassy Sesame Tofu" recipe right now. Waiting for it to come to pressure.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 23, 2016, 06:05:39 PM
The recipe is not bad, a bit mushy for my tastes (this is prob why i usually only cook soups in my pressure cooker) but not bad.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 24, 2016, 04:01:38 PM
I did chickpeas and cooked them shorter than the manual said and quick released it instead of the natural release method recommended and they were perfect, so not sure why the directions were otherwise? Making the curry cauliflower chickpea soup again!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 24, 2016, 05:11:22 PM
OMG. So the first time i quick released the pressure in the IP i burned my hand. None of the stove top pressure cookers I have ever used had steam shoot UP right where your hand is to release it. So, I post on the vegan IP FB group how do people release it safely, use a spoon, etc? And people were basically calling me a moron and idiot and had no idea how i could ever possibly burn myself and do it wrong  :o Um ok. As a right handed person, I think it is odd that the switch is on the left, because it is second nature to reach with your right hand. After the first time I have been using a spoon, but OMG the comments. They were CRUEL, wtf is wrong with people? I deleted my post because seriously? WTF?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on July 24, 2016, 05:18:28 PM
Yep, I didn't burn my hand but it was hella hot. 

I now put a dishtowel over it and turn it from the side.  I'd bet most have done that once. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 24, 2016, 05:27:21 PM
Yep, I didn't burn my hand but it was hella hot. 

I now put a dishtowel over it and turn it from the side.  I'd bet most have done that once.
RIGHT??? being right handed it is only natural to do it and all my other pressure cookers the steam did not release where your hand would be. Man, people were harsh and degrading. I do not understand why people are like that.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 24, 2016, 06:16:33 PM
I push the quick release thingie to the side with a spoon.  I remembered from my mother's stove top pressure cooker that steam gushes out.  Sorry you burned your hand. That could be quite painful.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 24, 2016, 07:09:24 PM
I push the quick release thingie to the side with a spoon.  I remembered from my mother's stove top pressure cooker that steam gushes out.  Sorry you burned your hand. That could be quite painful.
I was quick with the reflexes so it was not too bad. My stove top ones always had the steam come out the sides and down, so it was totally unexpected for me.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on July 24, 2016, 09:27:38 PM
I was scared to release the valve the first time I ever did it, so I stood as far away as possible and whacked the lever to vent position with the IP manual booklet. I was stunned at the amount of steam that came out!  Meri, I'm sorry you burned your hand and also sorry that people are assholes.

I made this tonight: http://myheartbeets.com/instant-pot-ground-lamb-curry/

It's really good! I didn't feel like making the homemade masala just for a teaspoon, so I used a store bought close approximation I found.  Really, very good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 25, 2016, 07:48:37 AM
I was quick with the reflexes so it was not too bad. My stove top ones always had the steam come out the sides and down, so it was totally unexpected for me.

I did not know that that type of steam release even existed...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on July 26, 2016, 09:28:28 AM
I always wondered why you raved so much about that pressure cooker.  My mom had a stove top one, and I was never inclined to get such a thing.  The IP is just so convenient.
Has anyone boiled eggs in the IP?

I do eggs quite a bit.  I think I do about 5 min high and 5 min NP, then ice bath.  I've found that higher quality eggs don't crack, but I haven't found the magic time formula to prevent it altogether.

Merigayle, cover the valve with a towel or use a spoon if you're doing QR to prevent a steam burn.  I just saw that people were ugly to you about it...wtf?  Rude. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 26, 2016, 09:50:59 AM
Yeah I use a wooden kitchen spoon, but wtf is wrong with people?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on July 26, 2016, 12:58:27 PM
I steam my hardboiled eggs. I have an ista-hot which spits out 200 degree water. So I put about 2 inches of 200 degree water, steamer basket, eggs, put on high. Set timer for 12 minutes. Shock in cold water. Done.

Same thing with pasta. It takes about 2 minutes to bring a pot of water to boil from 200. Pasta goes in-- done in about 10 minutes total.

It does take me about 90 minutes to make beans though.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 29, 2016, 07:36:11 PM
I am loving the IP for making potatoes in it! I make DD yellow potatoes and myself sweet potatoes. So yummy and FAST (we do not have a microwave, so usually an hour in the oven). Tonight i made a sweet potato, sliced it in half, salted it and topped it with a mixture of sauteed onion, bell pepper, black beans, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika and salt. Then on top of that fresh salsa and a small bit of sour cream. YUM YUM YUM.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on July 30, 2016, 02:18:34 PM
I made yogurt last night! It was perfect!!

Ice Cream...you said you use flavored yogurt and the IP yogurt will be that flavor?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 31, 2016, 08:14:05 AM
I made yogurt last night! It was perfect!!

Ice Cream...you said you use flavored yogurt and the IP yogurt will be that flavor?

I am glad you liked it.  Did you strain it, too?  It's so easy, isn't it? 
No, I use plain yogurt.  I *think* you should not use flavored.  Not sure. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on July 31, 2016, 02:13:21 PM
I made ice cream's recipe too. It didn't set the first time. I think it's because I didn't let it cool enough the first time before I added the starter and set it to "yogurt". But I just added more starter and set it again and it turned out great.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on July 31, 2016, 06:00:29 PM
I am glad you liked it.  Did you strain it, too?  It's so easy, isn't it? 
No, I use plain yogurt.  I *think* you should not use flavored.  Not sure. 

Ok I think I misread your first post. I just added some vanilla extract when it was done. We've already finished one batch and one's cooking now!

Yes I strained it for about 4 hours.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 31, 2016, 07:14:18 PM
Ok I think I misread your first post. I just added some vanilla extract when it was done. We've already finished one batch and one's cooking now!

Yes I strained it for about 4 hours.
I usually do a full gallon once a week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Honey Badger on August 02, 2016, 12:29:45 PM
I cooked a pot roast with carrots and potatoes over the weekend. It came out great.
Last night I hard-cooked some eggs for the first time. Easy peasy and they really were easy to peel, something I always have trouble with when I'd boil them.
I'm liking the thing so far!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on August 02, 2016, 02:37:45 PM
I am doing a whole chicken tonight.  Newbie so I am a bit nervous.

I don't understand the hard boiled egg thing.  They are super easy on the stove - bring to a boil, turn off heat and let sit for 17 minutes.  I know the IP does them faster but is it really worth it? 

And I think I will do yogurt next week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 02, 2016, 04:07:13 PM
I let my hard boiled eggs sit 12 minutes, LOL!
I remade the sassy sesame tofu and per the cookbook author's rec, reduced the cooking time by a minute (it was only 3 minutes) and it was much better and more resembled the picture. Geez i love the modern world where i can chat with a cookbook author! LOL.

I do, however, think my IP does not come to pressure properly. In my mind and eyes it is at pressure, but it is not acknowledging that it is up to pressure. I cleaned out the thing in the lid. I need to contact them. It is hit or miss, but one day i was not minding it and a lot of time went by before i realized it never "came to pressure" as in it never started the countdown, i opened it up, all the cooking liquid was gone and my food was wayyyyyy overcooked  :'(
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on August 03, 2016, 12:12:01 AM
I might try the eggs thing, since I keep hb eggs in the fridge all week. I like the yolks pretty soft/not very cooked so that might be interesting to figure out.

I made this great kale... melt ghee/butter/whatever fat or use olive oil on saute setting, saute one thinly sliced onion and 3-5 chopped carrots until onions are floppy. Then add 4-5 chopped/sliced cloves of garlic and stir a bit. Then add one or one and a half chopped bunches of kale (no need to de-rib, you might have to tamp them down a bit), a half cup of broth (I use chicken but veg is cool too), and some salt and pepper. Set on manual for 8 minutes, then once you open it, add some balsamic vinegar and red pepper flakes and stir. Maybe the tastiest kale I've ever made.

Actual recipe and directions and pretty pictures here: http://nomnompaleo.com/post/18128850657/pressure-cooker-braised-kale-and-carrots
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 05, 2016, 01:12:39 PM
Wow. IP customer service sent me a VERY long and detailed email with tasks to perform and report back to them. (with times, observations, pictures, etc!)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 05, 2016, 02:33:41 PM
and of course the IP works totally fine when i run the "test" :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on August 05, 2016, 03:18:56 PM
I am glad you liked it.  Did you strain it, too?  It's so easy, isn't it? 
No, I use plain yogurt.  I *think* you should not use flavored.  Not sure. 

I've used vanilla yogurt as a starter and it was fine, but I suppose it depends on what you plan to do with your final product. If you're just going to add vanilla anyway, then using flavored is fine. I probably wouldn't use a starter that was fruit flavored, just because I don't know what the final product would taste like.

Ice cream, you mentioned in an above post that you steamed some salmon. How did you do that, and was your fish frozen or fresh when you started?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 05, 2016, 04:03:25 PM
Finally used mine the other night (got during Prime Day) Just been so busy, didn't even get to take it out of the box.

Some of the things I see y'all making, I don't think I would use it for. Like HB eggs, me too Meri, 12 minutes after they come to a boil. How hard is that? I mean if it cooled them and peeled them then yea. And salmon, well I guess if it was frozen?
But fresh cooks in no time.

I made chili, with chopped meat. It came out good but it doesn't take all that long on the stove anyway. After adding all ingredients, used 8 min pressure but then it said to use the 10 min sit method for steam release. And any chili, meat or veg is better after it sits in fridge the next day.
So 18 mins for something that is normally ready in not much more time on stove.
Next time I would try to make a chili with cubed beef or pork.

I want to put a spaghetti squash in it, and also would like to do meats that need longer cooking, and definitely beans so I don't have to soak them. I love making 15 bean soup but always forget to soak the beans. And Black beans soup, navy bean soup, etc.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 05, 2016, 05:37:29 PM
Hally-- I find things like making a baked sweet potato (12 minutes) or regular potatoes (14 minutes) vs 1 hour in the stove is where the IP really shines, and beans,from dry they cook in 15-25 minutes vs 1 hour unsoaked (i never soak). The lentil soup i always make in my stove top pressure cooker cooks in 10 minutes and tastes like it cooked all day, so there is that too.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 05, 2016, 07:03:40 PM
salmon was much better in the IP than in the steamer for me.  I did  both frozen and fresh, and followed the times on the charts in the guide. 

I have liked beans, potatoes, greens, and soups in the IP.  and I do yogurt every week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on August 05, 2016, 11:53:37 PM
Tonight I made feijoada, a Brazilian black bean stew with pork and beef. It was good and it only took 45 minutes instead of 6 hours in the crock pot.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 08, 2016, 09:06:23 AM
This weekend I made spaghetti squash and faro. I think I could have used less liquid for the faro, I couldn't really find a recipe.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on August 08, 2016, 10:38:21 AM
I made weird meatballs with sauce that had chili sauce and grape jelly in it, but they are good!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 08, 2016, 04:42:37 PM
So I was making butternut squash soup and it never came to pressure, the silicone ring was slightly out of place, i just threw a spaghetti squash in there, so let's hope that was the issue  :fingers:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 08, 2016, 05:56:13 PM
Spaghetti squash came out great, a minute too long probably, it was a small one, so i reduced it 1 minute, but prob should have done two. It was not too overcookd though, but more than i prefer. DD ate it all anyways, none for me. With avocado pesto on top.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Mom of Scooby on August 09, 2016, 02:30:14 PM
I made the yogurt and after 8 hours it was still liquid.. That's not right is it? I wonder what I did wrong


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 09, 2016, 04:01:38 PM
I made the yogurt and after 8 hours it was still liquid.. That's not right is it? I wonder what I did wrong


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Did you let your milk cool to at least 115*?  How many tablespoons of starter did you use?  How much milk?  Did you add any sort of flavor?

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on August 09, 2016, 06:46:59 PM
Hally-- I find things like making a baked sweet potato (12 minutes) or regular potatoes (14 minutes) vs 1 hour in the stove is where the IP really shines, and beans,from dry they cook in 15-25 minutes vs 1 hour unsoaked (i never soak). The lentil soup i always make in my stove top pressure cooker cooks in 10 minutes and tastes like it cooked all day, so there is that too.

I'm kind of mystified as to why the IP is superior to a pressure cooker.  I guess it's because you can set things up then leave it?  Otherwise, cooking times seem equivalent.

I love my Fissler stainless steel pressure cooker.  :)  Just cooked up toor dal last weekend to use for a big batch of sambar that I'm eating for lunch and/or breakfast this week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 09, 2016, 07:10:30 PM
I'm kind of mystified as to why the IP is superior to a pressure cooker.  I guess it's because you can set things up then leave it?  Otherwise, cooking times seem equivalent.

I love my Fissler stainless steel pressure cooker.  :)  Just cooked up toor dal last weekend to use for a big batch of sambar that I'm eating for lunch and/or breakfast this week.

If you want to buy a pressure cooker now, then this is better in my view, because you have other possibilities.  If you already own a pressure cooker, there is no need for the IP.  I did not buy it for the pressure cooker, but am happy to have pressure cooker abilities now.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 09, 2016, 08:52:42 PM
I'm kind of mystified as to why the IP is superior to a pressure cooker.  I guess it's because you can set things up then leave it?  Otherwise, cooking times seem equivalent.

I love my Fissler stainless steel pressure cooker.  :)  Just cooked up toor dal last weekend to use for a big batch of sambar that I'm eating for lunch and/or breakfast this week.
I am a die hard stove top pressure cooker user and just bought the IP. Here is what I like about it over the stove top PC:
1. set it and walk away, no waiting for it to come to pressure, turning down heat, etc
2. does not use of valuable stove space
3. does not heat up the kitchen in the summer
4. multi functional-- slow cooker, steamer, rice maker, etc.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 10, 2016, 07:44:12 AM
I am a die hard stove top pressure cooker user and just bought the IP. Here is what I like about it over the stove top PC:
1. set it and walk away, no waiting for it to come to pressure, turning down heat, etc
2. does not use of valuable stove space
3. does not heat up the kitchen in the summer
4. multi functional-- slow cooker, steamer, rice maker, etc.

This is what I remembered from my mother's PC, and why it never even occurred to me to get one of those.  But if you're happy with what you have, there is no need to get IP.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 10, 2016, 09:10:11 AM
I am very very happy with my IP purchase and used it THREE times Monday. :banana:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on August 10, 2016, 10:50:35 AM
I am a die hard stove top pressure cooker user and just bought the IP. Here is what I like about it over the stove top PC:
1. set it and walk away, no waiting for it to come to pressure, turning down heat, etc

That's a pretty big advantage!
Quote
2. does not use of valuable stove space

Good point.  However, I have limited counter space, so an IP could be an issue.


Quote
3. does not heat up the kitchen in the summer

Definitely a feature in its favor!


Quote
4. multi functional-- slow cooker, steamer, rice maker, etc.

Also great features!  I already have a steamer and rice maker (separate items) so as tempting as the IP sounds (and it does), I'd have one more gadget to add to my horde of kitchen stuff that resides in the basement.  :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: floridagal on August 10, 2016, 12:12:06 PM
Deal of the day on Amazon today.  69.99
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on August 10, 2016, 01:34:20 PM
Deal of the day on Amazon today.  69.99

Get thee behind me, O temptress!  ;)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 10, 2016, 03:33:40 PM
My only appliance that I should not have bought is an ice cream maker.  Complete waste of $$.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on August 10, 2016, 05:18:36 PM
I used Ice Cream's yogurt recipe and it came out perfect.  It was pretty think so straining wasn't necessary but I did it anyways.

Yum!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 10, 2016, 07:02:38 PM
My only appliance that I should not have bought is an ice cream maker.  Complete waste of $$.
We use it a few times a year, so almost useless.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on August 10, 2016, 10:10:26 PM
I had an ice cream maker years ago and barely used it.  It didn't make the move.  We have a paleta-maker and a yonana (froyo from frozen bananas and other fruit) and use those a bit, though not this summer.

I caved and bought the IP.  I have a rice maker and crockpot we were gifted (not from a registry -- both generous and thoughtful but not anything I'd want) and never use.  But this I might like.  I'm also limited for counter space. oh well
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 11, 2016, 06:49:08 AM
I make banana ice cream in the vita mix. What is a paleta maker?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 11, 2016, 07:57:34 AM
I had an ice cream maker years ago and barely used it.  It didn't make the move.  We have a paleta-maker and a yonana (froyo from frozen bananas and other fruit) and use those a bit, though not this summer.

I caved and bought the IP.  I have a rice maker and crockpot we were gifted (not from a registry -- both generous and thoughtful but not anything I'd want) and never use.  But this I might like.  I'm also limited for counter space. oh well

I have a steamer, a crockpot, and a rice cooker.  Three things that are duplicated in the IP.  But I love my zojirushi rice maker and use that at least every other day.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: caribougrrl on August 12, 2016, 08:23:29 AM
My only appliance that I should not have bought is an ice cream maker.  Complete waste of $$.

funny, my ice cream maker broke and I really miss it... it will definitely be replaced
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 12, 2016, 11:43:54 AM
I got mine on deal of the day too. A tiny bit bummed that I didn't notice it isn't the variety with a yogurt option. But, oh well. I'm most excited for things like beans, sweet potatoes, this cabbage hash thing that takers forever to cook, apple sauce, baked beans, lentil soup-- that kind of thing. Now to find somewhere for it to live!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 12, 2016, 11:52:01 AM
I got mine on deal of the day too. A tiny bit bummed that I didn't notice it isn't the variety with a yogurt option. But, oh well. I'm most excited for things like beans, sweet potatoes, this cabbage hash thing that takers forever to cook, apple sauce, baked beans, lentil soup-- that kind of thing. Now to find somewhere for it to live!
sweet potatoes has been the highlight so far for me :D Check out Jill Nussinow's cookbook, I got it from the library and just purchased it on amazon.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 12, 2016, 02:22:30 PM
I think this may be my first experiment: http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/01/the-food-lab-pressure-cooker-caramelized-onions-onion-soup.html (http://www.seriouseats.com/2016/01/the-food-lab-pressure-cooker-caramelized-onions-onion-soup.html)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on August 13, 2016, 08:26:53 PM
I could have written your post, RA!  Galley kitchen and DH took up a bunch of space with a juicer he's stopped using (knew that would happen) so I think I'll find a recipient for my rice cooker that lives in the pantry, then store it in there.  I'll be watching your posts, I think we like to eat similar things.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 14, 2016, 06:53:52 AM
I think my slow cookers and rice cooker and old stove top pressure cooker should make their ways to the basement until I decide what to do. I feel like I should keep the slow cookers because one is HUGE and sometimes I may need them. The rice cooker, geez, DH got me a fancy Zujirushi a few years ago for Xmas and I have been off grains for almost 2 years now, so it never gets used.  :sigh:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 14, 2016, 07:58:40 AM
Also, it was so hot yesterday that it was good to cook dinner in the IP instead of turning on the oven and heating up the house!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 14, 2016, 01:13:21 PM
Yesterday was my first cooking attempt with eggs. I normally do them on the stove. I can see myself using the ip for this. It isnt faster but it's a little more convenient. 8 minites, quick release, and cool in the fridge was over cooked. I'll try 6 minutes next time.

Currently,  I'm making a lentil soup. Again, not sure it will be faster than my normal process since lentil only takes about 30 minutes anyway? If I had a larger kitchen definitely wouldn't be a time saver since i would make 4 soups at a time if i had room to freeze them. I used the saute feature and hot water it still took 10+ minutes to reach pressure.

Don't get me wrong...I'm happy with my purchase and I see myself using it probably quite a bit!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 14, 2016, 02:08:07 PM
Soup finished. I think i like my food cooked lightly as compared to a lot of people . 10 minutes on the lentil soup produced a very well done soup. But it worked just fine.

https://feedyourskull.com/2016/03/16/ip-sushi-rice/

Trying this cheater sushi rice for quick lunch rolls as a dry run for dinner later in the week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 14, 2016, 02:20:32 PM
Hmm. Cheater sushi rice wasnt a success.  Gluey soupy mess. Ill try a different method next time. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 14, 2016, 04:10:13 PM
Check out the Fat Free Vegan "ridiculously easy" lentil soup recipe, that is our go to.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 14, 2016, 05:09:01 PM
I am now inspired by MoS to try yoghurt!

This is cooking in mine now:

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160814/ec744c4857e070a8e1956e355a4b31fe.jpg)


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 14, 2016, 09:52:12 PM
Check out the Fat Free Vegan "ridiculously easy" lentil soup recipe, that is our go to.

I referenced it for time but used a recipe I have had good luck with.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 15, 2016, 06:26:22 AM
Woke up to yogurt! That was awesome! BUt we do not really eat yogurt :D But it was fun.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 15, 2016, 06:39:55 AM
Woke up to yogurt! That was awesome! BUt we do not really eat yogurt :D But it was fun.

Why would you make something you don;t eat/need?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 15, 2016, 06:43:35 AM
Hoping the family will eat it and see what it was like to make yogurt as I never made it. DD often eats yogurt and eats it at school and I guess I could put it in my smoothie.


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 15, 2016, 06:43:49 AM
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160815/f8205bac6fda6025466f44662f588e19.jpg)


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 15, 2016, 10:33:02 AM
Send it to MOS!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 15, 2016, 01:11:51 PM
Send it to MOS!
:rotfl:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 15, 2016, 04:12:15 PM
five 8oz jars of yogurt in the fridge! I have a refried beans recipe in the pot now :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 15, 2016, 05:25:09 PM
The refried beans are a success, DD LOVES them. It was so easy. I had to put it back on a few extra minutes to get the beans cooked thru, but that could be just old beans. I just bought them today, but that means nothing, they were on a bottom shelf at the store :D I threw everything in the pot and after 28 (+5) minutes, i used a potato masher and mashed them to the consistency we like (chunky). To go from uncooked, dry beans, to refried in a little over 30 minutes? SUCCESS! As you can see, I am really loving the instant pot :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 15, 2016, 06:47:52 PM
Soup was yummier today thinned with a little water.

Adding meris bean recipe here to try later.  http://makerealfood.com/2015/03/03/refried-beans-instant-pot-vegan-nachos/ (http://makerealfood.com/2015/03/03/refried-beans-instant-pot-vegan-nachos/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 15, 2016, 07:16:08 PM
Thanks! I forgot to do that :D They were some of the tastiest refried beans I have ever made, crazy!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 17, 2016, 06:46:18 AM
I just bought a 6inch spring form pan from Amazon to make cakes in the IP, should be Friday.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 18, 2016, 11:30:25 AM
I cooked beans from dry in about 35 minutes. I think I'll try soaked next time but still impressive
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 18, 2016, 02:06:19 PM
I cooked beans from dry in about 35 minutes. I think I'll try soaked next time but still impressive
what kind of beans? That is VERY long for a pressure cooker, unsoaked.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 18, 2016, 02:20:17 PM
Cannellini. I checked then at 25 and they werent totally done so i put them back in for 10 more minutes.

I have noticed that things don't seem to cook exactly evenly.  Some where almost done and some weren't. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 18, 2016, 05:16:03 PM
Cannellini. I checked then at 25 and they werent totally done so i put them back in for 10 more minutes.

I have noticed that things don't seem to cook exactly evenly.  Some where almost done and some weren't.
Did you have enough water in the pot? That could cause it. I wonder if the beans were old, that seems like a REALLY long time.

Also, something I have to be aware of in the IP is the gasket. In my stovetop pot i never mess with it or mind it, but in the IP i find if i am having an issue, it is because the gasket is not on completely 100% properly, so I have to really get in the habit of checking it every time (this includes when i take it off, adjust food, and bring it back to pressure, esp in multi step recipes) because I think that was the root of my problems.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 18, 2016, 05:33:58 PM
I used the instand pot table here: http://instantpot.com/cooking-time/dry-beans-legume-and-lentils/ (http://instantpot.com/cooking-time/dry-beans-legume-and-lentils/) Which several people in the comments said their beans took even longer. But, maybe water is the issue? I used 2 cups and it came up to pressure within a couple of minutes. I also did npr.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 18, 2016, 05:56:48 PM
I looked at the chart I use and it is not far off, though mine seem to cook a little faster than those times. I have only done garbanzo and black in the IP so far.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 19, 2016, 05:42:00 AM
I made steamed salmon again and it tastes good. It also takes only two minutes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 21, 2016, 08:00:15 AM
Going to try a raw cashew based cheeze cake once the cashews soak, so exciting :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 21, 2016, 02:09:41 PM
The cheezecake is not bad, could be a bit more sweeter and a bit more lemony. I made a coconut hazlenut crust.

(https://scontent-iad3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/l/t1.0-9/14080051_10209902701434831_1617548902641243360_n.jpg?oh=4706d9974704a85ef160137522c5d2f8&oe=5858CA67)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 21, 2016, 05:10:42 PM
http://potluck.ohmyveggies.com/instant-pot-vegan-lemon-cheezecake/ (http://potluck.ohmyveggies.com/instant-pot-vegan-lemon-cheezecake/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 22, 2016, 06:41:57 AM
I am part of the club!

I tried making yogurt over the weekend. My yogurt isn't very tart. How can i make it tarter?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 22, 2016, 06:42:46 AM
I made steamed salmon again and it tastes good. It also takes only two minutes.

Ooo..this sounds promising. What settings did you put in on? Did you use some kind of container in the pot?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 22, 2016, 07:27:26 AM
Ooo..this sounds promising. What settings did you put in on? Did you use some kind of container in the pot?

I use the steaming rack that comes with the IP. If it's unfrozen salmon, I put it on a 2 min. steaming cycle.  Effortless and healthy.

Can then be cut up and added to noodles in broth with baby spinach leaves. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 22, 2016, 09:57:29 PM
I use the steaming rack that comes with the IP. If it's unfrozen salmon, I put it on a 2 min. steaming cycle.  Effortless and healthy.

Can then be cut up and added to noodles in broth with baby spinach leaves. 

Salmon with skin and the skin on the steaming rack?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 23, 2016, 11:50:01 AM
Salmon with skin and the skin on the steaming rack?

Yes.  I remove the skin after steaming.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 23, 2016, 01:37:15 PM
I am part of the club!

I tried making yogurt over the weekend. My yogurt isn't very tart. How can i make it tarter?

I am not expert, in fact I am just making my first batch but in my reading I saw the longer you incubate the tarter it gets.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 23, 2016, 02:30:57 PM
I did mine overnight (ended up being 10.5 hours I think? maybe a bit more). It was perfectly tart, imo.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on August 23, 2016, 04:24:19 PM
This last batch of yogurt I did for 8 hours.  It isn't as tart as the 10 hour batch.  But it is delicious.

And the risotto with shrimp and peas that I made last night was fabulous!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 23, 2016, 05:43:13 PM
I think tartness depends on your starter. There is only one starter that I really like.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on August 23, 2016, 07:07:17 PM
~waving~
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 23, 2016, 07:57:23 PM
I think tartness depends on your starter. There is only one starter that I really like.
Do share your starter, Ice Cream, I should have paid more attention when I was there. I used a healthy scoop of my Fage 0%
Mine  is not tart at all, but I also read that it gets tarter the longer it sits according to this site.http://www.tidbits-cami.com/2015/09/homemade-yogurt.html/2 (http://www.tidbits-cami.com/2015/09/homemade-yogurt.html/2)
Mine is nice and thick, even with the skim milk after straining for two hours. I used a cloth bag that you can launder delicates in till my nut milk bags arrive. The strainer let too much of the good yogurt through. I did not use powdered milk. Is your powdered milk whole of fat free, Ice Cream?

I will attempt again but probably not till next week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 23, 2016, 08:06:31 PM
Hally-- did you only use skim milk? Nothing added? And it got thick? DH complained that the yogurt i made would make him fat, LOL!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 23, 2016, 08:49:08 PM
Hally-- did you only use skim milk? Nothing added? And it got thick? DH complained that the yogurt i made would make him fat, LOL!
Got thick after I strained it. Added fat free fage for the starter strained for 2 hours
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 23, 2016, 08:55:51 PM
Got thick after I strained it. Added fat free fage for the starter strained for 2 hours
hmm maybe next time I will try skim milk. Is that 1%? I do not drink milk, I am unwise on the ways of milk.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 23, 2016, 09:02:10 PM
0%
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 23, 2016, 09:05:28 PM
Ah, gotcha, so if I use 1 or 2% i should be ok then?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 23, 2016, 09:58:38 PM
I made another batch overnight. put it on for 9 hours and used a different starter which has acidophilus in it (which Fage didn't - read something online from someone who said this gives a tart taste) and I had a taste this morning and it now has that tart taste to it. It is straining in the fridge while I am at work.

I would also like to use 1 or 2% as well as full fat is obviously more calorific. If anyone tries it, let me know if you notice a difference in taste and consistency.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 24, 2016, 06:10:48 AM
Ah, gotcha, so if I use 1 or 2% i should be ok then?
IC uses 2% and hers is yummy

Just saw Leggova's post about Fage not having acidophilus. Interesting, Will try with a different type next time. Ice Cream had a generic type I believe, she will pipe in with the brand soon I am sure.

leggova, I used skim. It got thick after straining.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 24, 2016, 06:42:06 AM
Yes, I use the store brand: Shop Rite. I have tried Dannon from the closest supermarket to my home, but did not like.
I have never tried with store bought Greek.
I add some milk powder to mine (like 1/2 cup), btw, and use the blender.  I do it while the milk is cooling.  Seems like that step was ignored here. Milk powder usually is non-fat and adds protein.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 24, 2016, 07:26:35 AM
Thanks, Ice Cream

BTW I just looked at my Fage and it does have acidohphilus.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 24, 2016, 07:40:04 AM
Thanks, Ice Cream

BTW I just looked at my Fage and it does have acidohphilus.
well that crushes that theory. 😊
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 24, 2016, 09:28:49 AM
I use Fage and 1% milk and it comes out perfect.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 24, 2016, 09:39:39 AM
Ok! Will try a batch of lower fat yogurt this weekend. I got my nut milk bag to strain it with.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 24, 2016, 10:20:20 AM
Thanks, Ice Cream

BTW I just looked at my Fage and it does have acidohphilus.

There is nothing wrong with trying greek yogurt as a starter; it's just more expensive.  I dislike Aldi's yogurt as a starter.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 24, 2016, 10:36:25 AM
There is nothing wrong with trying greek yogurt as a starter; it's just more expensive.  I dislike Aldi's yogurt as a starter.

Why don't you just use some of your homemade?

Wonder why some people aren't getting the tartness, Rochey is yours tart? Do you do it for 8 hours or more?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 24, 2016, 06:37:43 PM
For me, there two variables to my tarter batch. The different starter and I also left it over 9 hours.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 24, 2016, 06:39:36 PM
I made this last night

http://healinggourmet.com/healthy-recipes/pressure-cooker-chicken/ (http://healinggourmet.com/healthy-recipes/pressure-cooker-chicken/)

Was good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 24, 2016, 06:42:31 PM
Why don't you just use some of your homemade?

Wonder why some people aren't getting the tartness, Rochey is yours tart? Do you do it for 8 hours or more?

I read somewhere that your yogurt tends to stay fairly liquid if you keep reusing your own.  I never tried it.  I have no issues buying the starter, and every once in a while, when I am out of starter, I will use my own.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on August 24, 2016, 07:02:47 PM
I just keeping making the same basic thing over and over again and I love this thing!

Chicken thighs and veggies and whatever sauce you like, Hunan, Szechuan, Greek, Italian, Cajun, Moroccan, Mexican.... it's endless. 

9 minutes and it's like it has been in a slow cooker for 12 hours.   

HEB peeps.  Get you some Rockin' Moroccan sauce and whatever veggies you like.  Sometimes I marinate for a couple of hours, sometimes i don't... I use celery and carrots and onions and green peppers... I add maybe a 1/4 cup of water. do manual for 9 to 10 minutes and then vent.  Serve over rice.

If the sauce is thin at the end I'll put it on saute and thicken it with cornstarch. 

This thing is amazing. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on August 24, 2016, 09:29:50 PM
I made Beef Madras....recipe and spice packet from Karen's Spice Kitchen...in the instant pot rather than in a Dutch oven or slow cooker.
It was yummy yummy!
Served over basmati rice with a (garden) cucumber and (garden) tomato salad.
:D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 24, 2016, 09:43:02 PM
If you guys don't shut up about this thing soon I'm going to have to get one.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 25, 2016, 09:40:20 AM
Heh, Bonita. Keep an eye out for another sale. Well worth the $69.95 I paid

I think my yogurt is getting more tart as it sits. I am very happy with it though, a half gallon didn't make that much and I lost a lot of what I strained in the yogurt strainer. The laundry bag worked better, and I received my nut milk bag from Amazon so will use that. It is about same mesh as the laundry bag.
I will make a gallon next time, and use a different starter and maybe some powdered milk.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 25, 2016, 10:28:46 AM
I wonder if the whole milk yielded more because less prob strained out? I got 40oz of yogurt from 1/2 gallon.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on August 25, 2016, 11:24:22 AM
I made Beef Madras....recipe and spice packet from Karen's Spice Kitchen...in the instant pot rather than in a Dutch oven or slow cooker.
It was yummy yummy!
Served over basmati rice with a (garden) cucumber and (garden) tomato salad.
:D


Nice!  I'm glad you're loving your spice packets; what a clever way to use one.  I'm having dinner at Karen's house tomorrow night.  She'll love to hear that one of my imaginary friends liked her product. :heartbeat:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on August 25, 2016, 01:06:46 PM
Nice!  I'm glad you're loving your spice packets; what a clever way to use one.  I'm having dinner at Karen's house tomorrow night.  She'll love to hear that one of my imaginary friends liked her product. :heartbeat:

:D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on August 25, 2016, 01:32:30 PM
Soup was yummier today thinned with a little water.

Adding meris bean recipe here to try later.  http://makerealfood.com/2015/03/03/refried-beans-instant-pot-vegan-nachos/ (http://makerealfood.com/2015/03/03/refried-beans-instant-pot-vegan-nachos/)

I made these last night.  Delicious!  DH said they were the best refried beans he has ever had!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 25, 2016, 02:31:05 PM
I made these last night.  Delicious!  DH said they were the best refried beans he has ever had!
RIGHT???? and beyond easy!!!!!! It is all my kid wants to eat  :heartbeat:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 25, 2016, 04:01:56 PM
If you guys don't shut up about this thing soon I'm going to have to get one.

Either stay out of the thread and avoid temptation or else get one.  My motto is "the only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."  I love mine and don;t regret.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 26, 2016, 01:35:26 AM
If you guys don't shut up about this thing soon I'm going to have to get one.

You know how much I hate kitchen gadgets and I don't regret spending $70 or the counter space for mine!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 26, 2016, 01:37:22 PM
 >:(
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on August 26, 2016, 03:07:23 PM
The risotto I made with shrimp and peas was fabulous!  And so easy!


Did you buy one Bonita???   ;)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 26, 2016, 05:42:04 PM
No, but my birthday is coming up...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 26, 2016, 06:10:10 PM
I wanted to make yogurt again and went to the store and every milk had added vitamins if it was not whole milk.  :confused: So somehow I ended up walking out with a 1/2 gallon of raw milk from my friend's farm.  :confused: :confused: :confused: what just happened?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 26, 2016, 07:09:32 PM
I wanted to make yogurt again and went to the store and every milk had added vitamins if it was not whole milk.  :confused: So somehow I ended up walking out with a 1/2 gallon of raw milk from my friend's farm.  :confused: :confused: :confused: what just happened?

what is wrong with added vitamins?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 26, 2016, 07:31:15 PM
what is wrong with added vitamins?
I thought you wanted milk with nothing added in it for the yogurt and most of the D vitamins are derived from fish. Here is a link on VitD3 and it being from fish or sheep.
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/vitamin-d3-superior-other-forms-vitamin-d-7116.html (http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/vitamin-d3-superior-other-forms-vitamin-d-7116.html)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 27, 2016, 12:09:31 AM
I don't even know if the milk I use has added vitamins and I do not have any milk in the house right now, so I can't check. I guess if you're vegetarian, it would matter what the origin of the vitamins is.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on August 27, 2016, 01:48:04 PM
I just keeping making the same basic thing over and over again and I love this thing!

Chicken thighs and veggies and whatever sauce you like, Hunan, Szechuan, Greek, Italian, Cajun, Moroccan, Mexican.... it's endless. 

9 minutes and it's like it has been in a slow cooker for 12 hours.   

HEB peeps.  Get you some Rockin' Moroccan sauce and whatever veggies you like.  Sometimes I marinate for a couple of hours, sometimes i don't... I use celery and carrots and onions and green peppers... I add maybe a 1/4 cup of water. do manual for 9 to 10 minutes and then vent.  Serve over rice.

If the sauce is thin at the end I'll put it on saute and thicken it with cornstarch. 

This thing is amazing.

Thanks, I'll look for it next time!

It sounds a lot like the Shrimp creole I made last night. I made the sauce first and then added the shrimp that was still somewhat frozen for 3 minutes and it was great.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 27, 2016, 03:15:12 PM
I use regular old store-brand 1% and it has vitamins; works perfectly. I use 2 tablespoons of starter for each half-gallon and it doesn't get too tart.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 27, 2016, 06:05:21 PM
Yogurt attempt #2 in the pot. I brought the raw milk to boil on the stove which only took about 15 minutes (I did it slowly) vs the 1 hour almost in the pot.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 28, 2016, 07:43:25 AM
Straining the yogurt in a nut milk bag per MoS's suggestions, hanging from the cabinet knob :D DH and DD are in love with Greek Gods caramel yogurt, i wonder if this would work? http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012493-caramel-yogurt (http://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1012493-caramel-yogurt)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 28, 2016, 11:32:33 AM
So the caramel yogurt looks pretty thin, but thinking it will thicken up in the fridge, tasted good. The rest of the yogurt i just stirred in some raw honey from the farm we went to last week to pick our fruit and it is DELICIOUS. I do not even really eat yogurt and now all i want to do is make yogurt :D I need people to eat it!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 28, 2016, 12:27:27 PM
Spaghetti squash cooked perfectly in the IP in FIVE MINUTES  :e)

I am so in  :heartbeat:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Honey Badger on August 28, 2016, 01:02:15 PM
Meri, do you just cut in half the long way and scoop out the seeds?  Do you add anything to it? I have a spaghetti squash that I need to cook.

I have the urge to make something fruity, like apples or blueberries with oatmeal. Like a crisp, but not super sweet so I can also eat it for breakfast.
I'm scouting around for recipes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 28, 2016, 05:42:04 PM
Meri, do you just cut in half the long way and scoop out the seeds?  Do you add anything to it? I have a spaghetti squash that I need to cook.

I have the urge to make something fruity, like apples or blueberries with oatmeal. Like a crisp, but not super sweet so I can also eat it for breakfast.
I'm scouting around for recipes.
I cut it in half, scooped out the seeds, put the rack and 1/5cups of water in, then the squash, cut side up, on top of each other kind of, closed the lid, 5 mins high pressure, QR. We then topped it with http://ohsheglows.com/2011/01/31/15-minute-creamy-avocado-pasta/ (http://ohsheglows.com/2011/01/31/15-minute-creamy-avocado-pasta/) Avocado pesto sauce.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 28, 2016, 08:10:13 PM
Honey badger I like homemade applesauce, plus greek yogurt, topped with oat bran. You get creamy & sweet. Seems decadent but isn't .

I made eggs in the ip again. 5 minutes and a quick release was perfect!

Then i made minestrone-- small carrot,  1 cellery stall, half am onion browned on saute over medium +1.5 cups of cannelini beans I'd made the week before,  incl cooking liquid (they were cooked with sage, rosemary,  oregano, thyme & garlic), 5 cups stock, 1 can tomatoes, and 2 generous cups each kale and savoy cabbage, + a couple of parm rinds.  10 minutes at pressure and quick released. 

Doing baked beans now. Tried 2 minute pressure quick soak.  I'll report back the results.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 28, 2016, 11:32:09 PM
Baked beans need a bit of work. The method I followed cooked soaked beans + sauce for 45 minutes. I did the instant pot quick soak method followed by the 45 minutes in sauce. Not totally done so did 10 more minutes. They are all cooked but some are tough. The long cooking time is a result of cooking beans with acid.  Next time I'll try presoaking for more consistent results. Sauce was nice and thick, which was my worry!

Then I did applesauce.  5 minutes obliterated the apples so next time I'll try 3 minutes instead!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 29, 2016, 09:47:48 AM
I upped my game and tried doing a full gallon of milk instead of a half gallon.  Total waste of $3.00.  I've had perfect results every time I've used a half gallon, and this time I got a soupy mess.  I doubled the amount of starter, which was Fage, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to just dump it.  It's in the fridge now.

I've been making whole chickens on the weekend with a cup of water, chicken on the trivet, and copious amounts of sage and garlic salt.  6 min per pound plus 2 min....natural release.  Falls off the bone and shreds like a dream.  I save the broth and today I'm making white chicken chili with the meat and broth. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 29, 2016, 11:48:53 AM
I upped my game and tried doing a full gallon of milk instead of a half gallon.  Total waste of $3.00.  I've had perfect results every time I've used a half gallon, and this time I got a soupy mess.  I doubled the amount of starter, which was Fage, and I'm pretty sure I'm going to have to just dump it.  It's in the fridge now.


Oh no...do you strain?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 29, 2016, 12:32:32 PM
Yes, but it's just slightly lumpy milk.  Bummed. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on August 29, 2016, 01:36:32 PM
When I used a full gallon, I had to boil it twice.  The first time, the temp wasn't high enough.  The second boil cycle didn't take very long but got the temp higher.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 29, 2016, 05:04:27 PM
Yes, I am looking and one lady says this

I’ve been seeing more and more that people are ending up with thin Yogurt and I think I have figured out the problem.

It’s really important that you take the temperature and get your milk to 180 degrees.  Stir the milk first and then use your Digital Thermometer to check the temperature of the milk and it if is not 180 degrees, you will need to do another boil cycle.

There will be hot spots and the stirring prior to taking the temperature, will give a more accurate reading.  You might even need to do three boil cycles to get to 180 degrees.

If you can’t reach 180 degrees after a few cycles, hit Sauté and then adjust to low and whisk continuously (scraping the bottom too), until you get to 180 degrees.  (I like to get to 182-185 degrees.)

It is important to whisk around the milk while you are Sautéing, as the bottom will get hotter quicker and you want an accurate reading and you don’t want the bottom of the pot to burn.[/b

 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on August 29, 2016, 07:04:17 PM
  6 min per pound plus 2 min....natural release.  Falls off the bone and shreds like a dream.  I save the broth and today I'm making white chicken chili with the meat and broth. 

Is that per lb as well? 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 29, 2016, 07:20:12 PM
I found it faster to boil the yogurt on the stove (not boil, bring it to 180F). But yes, I have been using a digital thermometer. Rochey-- did you strain it longer?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 29, 2016, 08:23:18 PM
2 minutes. So a 5 lb chicken would be 32 minutes. So for dinner tonight I made white chicken chili and for the broth, I used what I saved after cooking a chicken, rather than a store-bought can. It was amazing.

Yogurt:  it's straining now but it's super- thin. Logistically it's tough for me to strain a gallon anyway, so I'm going to stick to a half-gallon.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 29, 2016, 08:34:31 PM
Yeah 1/2 gallon was a lot, i would have to break it into two portions to strain.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 29, 2016, 09:44:13 PM
I steamed some salmon fillets last night. Slathered some mustard on top. Steamed for 2 minutes. Perfect.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 29, 2016, 09:55:17 PM
Had anyone tried pulled pork?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 30, 2016, 08:03:11 AM
Baked beans need a bit of work. The method I followed cooked soaked beans + sauce for 45 minutes. I did the instant pot quick soak method followed by the 45 minutes in sauce. Not totally done so did 10 more minutes. They are all cooked but some are tough. The long cooking time is a result of cooking beans with acid.  Next time I'll try presoaking for more consistent results. Sauce was nice and thick, which was my worry!

Then I did applesauce.  5 minutes obliterated the apples so next time I'll try 3 minutes instead!
Honey badger I like homemade applesauce, plus greek yogurt, topped with oat bran. You get creamy & sweet. Seems decadent but isn't .

I made eggs in the ip again. 5 minutes and a quick release was perfect!

Then i made minestrone-- small carrot,  1 cellery stall, half am onion browned on saute over medium +1.5 cups of cannelini beans I'd made the week before,  incl cooking liquid (they were cooked with sage, rosemary,  oregano, thyme & garlic), 5 cups stock, 1 can tomatoes, and 2 generous cups each kale and savoy cabbage, + a couple of parm rinds.  10 minutes at pressure and quick released. 

Doing baked beans now. Tried 2 minute pressure quick soak.  I'll report back the results.


I have been eating homemade yogurt with homemade apple sauce and a bowl of oatmeal for lunch for the past 8 years or so, almost every day.  Not much variety for lunch, but I love, it, it's easy to bring to work, and it's very cheap.  Why wouldn't I?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 30, 2016, 09:24:38 AM
My second yogurt attempt is in the fridge. I brought it to 180° after two boil cycles, it wasn't there so did the manual saute/stir method.
Left it for 10 hours. There is a lot of whey floating on surface. Will strain later.

Ice Cream, what were you making yogurt in before the IP?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on August 30, 2016, 10:05:31 AM
Had anyone tried pulled pork?

I know people love ribs and pulled pork in the IP but DH loves to smoke meat.  I am just not sure he would be happy with IP pulled pork.  He smoked a pork but two weekends ago and it was the best I had ever had.   And if he wants to handle the cooking a few meals a week, I am OK with that!  :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on August 30, 2016, 10:09:27 AM
I made this last night: http://myheartbeets.com/instant-pot-butter-chicken/

It turned out really, really good. I'm really making a lot of Indian food in this thing. My coworker sent me a link to an FB page for IP Indian recipes, but I haven't checked it out yet.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on August 30, 2016, 01:45:50 PM
I made a New York style cheesecake, using a saucepan I have with a removable handle that fits inside the pot. It tastes great but I had the hardest time getting it out of the saucepan. I lined it with wax paper. I think next time I'll try oiling the bottom of the saucepan and then adding the wax paper.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 30, 2016, 02:17:34 PM
I made a New York style cheesecake, using a saucepan I have with a removable handle that fits inside the pot. It tastes great but I had the hardest time getting it out of the saucepan. I lined it with wax paper. I think next time I'll try oiling the bottom of the saucepan and then adding the wax paper.
was it an IP recipe? I used a spring form pan for the cake i made and put parchment in the bottom and sprayed the whole thing. It was fine.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on August 30, 2016, 06:05:11 PM
was it an IP recipe? I used a spring form pan for the cake i made and put parchment in the bottom and sprayed the whole thing. It was fine.

Yes it was, from the Hip Pressure Cooking cookbook.

A springform pan would have worked great but the last thing I need is any more cooking utensils. I live in a camping trailer :D ! So if I can't use my current pots, it's a no go. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 30, 2016, 06:07:01 PM
I bought a 6inch spring form pan 2 weeks ago :D

DH called me at work and asked me how to use the IP, he is attempting potato leek soup (DD's request I guess).
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 30, 2016, 07:09:23 PM
Line the sides also. Then, refrigerate overnight. The put a piecr of parchment on the top also and invert the pan. Should slide right out.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on August 30, 2016, 07:16:54 PM
Line the sides also. Then, refrigerate overnight. The put a piecr of parchment on the top also and invert the pan. Should slide right out.

That's what I did, exactly. And the recipe was written for a "wide, flat-bottomed 4-cup baking dish", not a springform pan.

My pan has a heavy bottom. I think maybe it stayed cold and the butter in the crust was attracted to the coldness.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 30, 2016, 09:33:39 PM
My coworker sent me a link to an FB page for IP Indian recipes, but I haven't checked it out yet.

Link please?

That chicken looks great.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 30, 2016, 09:48:00 PM
Link please?

That chicken looks great.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/InstantPotIndian/ (https://www.facebook.com/groups/InstantPotIndian/)

I have not made anything from it yet.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on August 30, 2016, 11:10:13 PM
Thanks Meri.

Question, when I cook something in it with spices, I clean everything thoroughly. However, if I leave it overnight with the lid on and I take it off the next day I can still smell the odors. I am worried that this will start to affect the taste of something like yogurt. I have taken to leaving the lid off and the steaming ring and just putting it back together when I want to cook something.

Have you guys experienced this as well?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on August 30, 2016, 11:35:15 PM
Yes. I read that the seals absorb the cooing smells, and  some people buy extra seals so that they can use one for smelly foods and one for less smelly, like yogurt.

I haven't noticed it affecting my food yet but I was concerned. Thankfully my cheesecake didn't taste like Rockin' Moroccan. :P
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 31, 2016, 06:36:08 AM
Thanks Meri.

Question, when I cook something in it with spices, I clean everything thoroughly. However, if I leave it overnight with the lid on and I take it off the next day I can still smell the odors. I am worried that this will start to affect the taste of something like yogurt. I have taken to leaving the lid off and the steaming ring and just putting it back together when I want to cook something.

Have you guys experienced this as well?

For yogurt i just use a big glass pot lid to cover it as you do not need to bring it to pressure. My ring/lid does smell like curry. You can also buy a new ring.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on August 31, 2016, 07:03:02 AM
The ring does retain smells, but so far I have not had it bleed over to other recipes.  Having said that, I haven't done anything sweet and that may make a difference. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 31, 2016, 07:34:09 AM
My second yogurt attempt is in the fridge. I brought it to 180° after two boil cycles, it wasn't there so did the manual saute/stir method.
Left it for 10 hours. There is a lot of whey floating on surface. Will strain later.

Ice Cream, what were you making yogurt in before the IP?

Boil milk in MW (no need to stir), incubate in yogurt maker.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 31, 2016, 09:57:49 AM
So my second attempt came out deliciously tart. I used store brand lowfat yogurt for the starter, made sure it came to 180° and incubated for 10 hours. Strained for two. Ended up with about 1.5 quarts which seems like a small amount for a gallon of milk but way less expensive for $3.99. That much Fage would cost about $10 on sale. I might try 1% next time, see if it makes more.

I am not thrilled with the nut bag. While it did strain perfectly well, getting it out left a lot in the bag. It was a messy process to get it out. Everyone says how easy it is, but tending to the temperature at first is kind of a pita. Then moving from put to a strainer of some sort, waiting another two or so hours, then moving to containers. It is some work but very happy with the finished product.
Need better straining method I think, this will do for now though, bag in strainer over pot in fridge
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 31, 2016, 10:39:56 AM
So my second attempt came out deliciously tart. I used store brand lowfat yogurt for the starter, made sure it came to 180° and incubated for 10 hours. Strained for two. Ended up with about 1.5 quarts which seems like a small amount for a gallon of milk but way less expensive for $3.99. That much Fage would cost about $10 on sale. I might try 1% next time, see if it makes more.

I am not thrilled with the nut bag. While it did strain perfectly well, getting it out left a lot in the bag. It was a messy process to get it out. Everyone says how easy it is, but tending to the temperature at first is kind of a pita. Then moving from put to a strainer of some sort, waiting another two or so hours, then moving to containers. It is some work but very happy with the finished product.
Need better straining method I think, this will do for now though, bag in strainer over pot in fridge

This is the reason why I use coffee filters.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 31, 2016, 10:50:14 AM
I got 99% of it out of the nut bag, but I also let it strain for at least 4 hours to make it thick like greek yogurt. 1/2 gallon whole milk = 40oz yogurt for me.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 31, 2016, 11:11:07 AM
I use cheesecloth which works great, too.  I don't have large enough coffee filters, otherwise I'd use those.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 31, 2016, 12:07:27 PM
This is the reason why I use coffee filters.


What kind of filters?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 31, 2016, 02:05:09 PM
OK, so if I *were* to purchase an Instant Pot, how much would size matter?

Preferences on the 5qt vs. 6qt model?

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 31, 2016, 02:58:30 PM
*were* <snork>

This is the one everyone said to get back when it was on sale prime day, the 6 quart one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FLYWNYQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FLYWNYQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)

ETA size matters, we women KNOW that :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on August 31, 2016, 03:16:31 PM
I agree with the 6 qt recommendation. 

Unless you have an All Smiles sized brood.... you'd need two 8's.   ;)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 31, 2016, 06:16:03 PM
What kind of filters?

this kind:
https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Filters-Natural-Unbleached-Biodegradable/dp/B01IYGHSZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472681607&sr=8-1&keywords=large+round+coffee+filters (https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Filters-Natural-Unbleached-Biodegradable/dp/B01IYGHSZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472681607&sr=8-1&keywords=large+round+coffee+filters)
the largest size.  I place them inside a colander.  Sometimes I let them sit overnight like that in the fridge.  If it's too solid the next day, I simply stir in some that has not been strained yet to reach the right consistency.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 31, 2016, 06:43:09 PM
If the foot print isn't a significant difference,  I'd go 6 qt.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 31, 2016, 07:57:23 PM
this kind:
https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Filters-Natural-Unbleached-Biodegradable/dp/B01IYGHSZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472681607&sr=8-1&keywords=large+round+coffee+filters (https://www.amazon.com/Coffee-Filters-Natural-Unbleached-Biodegradable/dp/B01IYGHSZG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1472681607&sr=8-1&keywords=large+round+coffee+filters)
the largest size.  I place them inside a colander.  Sometimes I let them sit overnight like that in the fridge.  If it's too solid the next day, I simply stir in some that has not been strained yet to reach the right consistency.

So multiple straining for one batch
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 31, 2016, 07:57:46 PM
So multiple straining for one batch


yes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 31, 2016, 08:22:06 PM
i did coffee filters the first batch of yogurt and used several, i found the nut bag significantly easier.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on August 31, 2016, 09:09:17 PM
Thanks Meri.

Question, when I cook something in it with spices, I clean everything thoroughly. However, if I leave it overnight with the lid on and I take it off the next day I can still smell the odors. I am worried that this will start to affect the taste of something like yogurt. I have taken to leaving the lid off and the steaming ring and just putting it back together when I want to cook something.

Have you guys experienced this as well?

I made a batch of yogurt that tasted of teriyaki and onions, I threw it out. That day I bought a set of colored rings, one is red and one is blue. I will use the blue one for sweet things (mostly yogurt, maybe steel cut oats, or if I ever make a cheesecake).
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 01, 2016, 01:19:41 AM
I've read that storing it with the lid facing up,  helps. You can also put the ring through the dishwasher.  Or use multiple rings.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 01, 2016, 10:43:20 AM
The silicone ring is only needed to pressure cook so it can totally be removed for making anything not using pressure. This would save flavor transfer and $$ from buying another.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on September 01, 2016, 02:32:31 PM
I've read that storing it with the lid facing up,  helps. You can also put the ring through the dishwasher.  Or use multiple rings.

I've also read that putting in a box of baking soda helps.

I don't notice a flavor transfer. 

This time, I used a half-gallon of milk and let it incubate for 10 hours.  I did notice I got less whey and it didn't take as long to strain (obvs).
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on September 01, 2016, 02:34:40 PM
oh, and last night i steamed brussel sprouts for 1 minute and then tossed them in a pan with some hot bacon grease until the outsides got crispy.  YUM.  I love steaming veggies in this thing.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 01, 2016, 03:00:49 PM
oh, and last night i steamed brussel sprouts for 1 minute and then tossed them in a pan with some hot bacon grease until the outsides got crispy.  YUM.  I love steaming veggies in this thing.
What is difference between IP and just using a steamer basket on the stove?

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 01, 2016, 09:24:04 PM
I found a kinda answer to my Vit D question
http://organicvalley.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/188 (http://organicvalley.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/188)

Quote
Our Vitamin D is made by processing a sterol derived from Lanolin (sheep wool). While this D3 is obtained from sheep, it is considered Kosher and pareve because the sheep are not slaughtered to obtain the wool. Vitamins are added to our milks at a level of .0001%. Each ½ gallon of Organic Valley milk contains .189 ml of Vitamin A & D. This is equivalent to 2 drops out of an eyedropper per half gallon of milk. Vitamins are specially formulated to spread throughout the half gallon of milk and stay in suspension. Other vitamins such as D2 or other sources of Vitamin A do not have this important feature.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 01, 2016, 11:10:01 PM
I tried the refried beans. 28 minutes wasn't enough. It's so weird that beans take so much longer for me than others!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 02, 2016, 07:22:36 AM
I tried the refried beans. 28 minutes wasn't enough. It's so weird that beans take so much longer for me than others!
The refried beans take closer to 34 minutes for me, did i not add that? I thought I did say that, maybe i forgot? The first time it was 32, the last time was 34. I'd err on the overcooked side anyways because they get mashed anyways.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 02, 2016, 12:32:59 PM
Maybe you did meri! We thought they were good at any rate. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 02, 2016, 12:37:52 PM
I have made them at least three times! We love them. I like to take a sweet potato and top it with the beans and all the "taco" fixings :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 03, 2016, 06:41:52 AM
The silicone ring is only needed to pressure cook so it can totally be removed for making anything not using pressure. This would save flavor transfer and $$ from buying another.

Good point!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on September 03, 2016, 11:44:42 AM
What is difference between IP and just using a steamer basket on the stove?



I normally get distracted by 7 other things and either under- or overcook. I like being able to close it and not worry about it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 05, 2016, 04:21:14 PM
Chickpeas, 32 minutes, perfect. Made my fat free vegan ridiculously easy lentil soup recipe in the IP for the first time, have made it 100000 times on my stove top pressure cooker. Going to start batch #3 of yogurt tonight. I think I have perfected it. I ended up buying another 1/2 gallon of raw milk, LOL! I think it came out the best.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on September 05, 2016, 08:13:38 PM
I tried white jasmine rice using the recipe that came with the IP. A bit gluggy. Anyone got a good technique?

My yogurt is still coming out of the IP too runny. It's ok after straining but without straining it would be unpleasant.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 05, 2016, 08:20:55 PM
I thought you were supposed to be straining the yogurt and more straining = thicker yogurt?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 05, 2016, 09:02:44 PM
Well yogurt made other ways gets to regular yogurt texture without straining.  Straining is really only part of the process for greek style normally.

My theory on this is that the IP doesn't stay consistently warm enough. You need a nice consistent 110 degrees.  I would try leaving it for 10-12 hours and see if it helps.

Otherwise use cheap, crappy, yogurt as your starter and double the amount. It could also be the starter you using.

I haven't tried rice many times. The two times i have it's beem a bit gluey/mushy.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on September 05, 2016, 09:26:57 PM
Well yogurt made other ways gets to regular yogurt texture without straining.  Straining is really only part of the process for greek style normally.

My theory on this is that the IP doesn't stay consistently warm enough. You need a nice consistent 110 degrees.  I would try leaving it for 10-12 hours and see if it helps.

Otherwise use cheap, crappy, yogurt as your starter and double the amount. It could also be the starter you using.

I haven't tried rice many times. The two times i have it's beem a bit gluey/mushy.

Yes, other methods don't need straining as far as I was aware.

Ok, will play around with the starter and the time.
Title: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on September 05, 2016, 10:44:18 PM
I've made good yogurt just by letting it sit in a thermos overnight, so I don't think consistent temperature is necessarily the key to a thick yogurt. I suspect the easiest trick is to add a little dry milk, since so many recipes include it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 06, 2016, 07:37:43 AM
I've made good yogurt just by letting it sit in a thermos overnight, so I don't think consistent temperature is necessarily the key to a thick yogurt. I suspect the easiest trick is to add a little dry milk, since so many recipes include it.

I have always added dry milk, since I am using 1 or 2% milk.  I would not buy a cheap crappy starter.  They often have corn starch in the ingredients.  I look for plain, non-Greek with a decent ingredient list.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 06, 2016, 08:03:03 AM
After you take it out of the IP, do you put it in the fridge to set? I just went to strain my yogurt that was in the IP for 12+ hours last night and it was pretty watery, it was whole milk. I think it would have to be strained, though I only put it in the fridge for an hour before moving it to the nut milk bag. I reserved the whey last batch and for 1/2 gallon of milk, there were easily at least 2 cups of whey strained off. That is a lot.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 06, 2016, 11:36:38 AM
Yogurt strained for 3+ hours. DD complained last time it was lumpy so I whisked it good and it was not lumpy. Wish I had more time to strain it a bit longer but it was stop then or not be home until 7 or later! Lol. That would definitely be cheese.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 06, 2016, 12:36:38 PM
Ice Cream-- the reason for using cheapo plain yogurt as starter is that it usually has a strong culture. Greek yogurt often doesn't have enough live culture to get a new batch going.  But people seem to have varrying results.  What your doing seems to work really well for you!

Natasha,  i think a good thermos will hold the milk warm enough for long enough. It really shouldn't take more than 4-5 hours to set if the culture is strong and the temp is right.  Then another few hours to dial in the tartness.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 06, 2016, 01:51:59 PM
Has anyone just tried dumping probiotic capsules in to their milk instead of the yogurt starter?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 06, 2016, 04:17:37 PM
You can buy freeze dried yogurt starter but not sure about probiotic capsules.

One other thought is that the millk may be handled differently where you are. And you might need to.make sure the milk is getting all the way to 180 in the first step. That also contributes to thickening by denaturing (?) The protein in the milk. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 06, 2016, 05:18:01 PM
Yogurt strained for 3+ hours. DD complained last time it was lumpy so I whisked it good and it was not lumpy. Wish I had more time to strain it a bit longer but it was stop then or not be home until 7 or later! Lol. That would definitely be cheese.

If it's like cheese, you can add some more liquid yogurt and mix it in.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 06, 2016, 05:50:39 PM
If it's like cheese, you can add some more liquid yogurt and mix it in.
and it will turn back to yogurt?? :D Maybe i will do that next time if i end up in a predicament like this. I think it was fine but it could have used a little longer. DH likes his yogurt thick (like Greek Gods if you ever have had that).
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 06, 2016, 06:22:18 PM
This looks like a good site for yogurt making faq
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on September 06, 2016, 07:21:46 PM
I can't see the link, Run Amok.

I bought some siggi's non-fat drinkable yogurt to try out as a culture tonight. It has 1 BILLION probiotics per serving. That's good, right?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 06, 2016, 08:16:24 PM
Natasha-- different cultures produce different taste and texture so you might not end up with firm yogurt from that.
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/yogurt/yogurt-starter-frequently-asked-questions-faq/ (http://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/yogurt/yogurt-starter-frequently-asked-questions-faq/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 06, 2016, 08:53:41 PM
Natasha-- different cultures produce different taste and texture so you might not end up with firm yogurt from that.
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/yogurt/yogurt-starter-frequently-asked-questions-faq/ (http://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/yogurt/yogurt-starter-frequently-asked-questions-faq/)
It mentions raw milk yogurt being runny, mine has not been. There was not much difference between the whole milk and the raw milk yogurt but both types were strained.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on September 06, 2016, 09:23:25 PM
Natasha-- different cultures produce different taste and texture so you might not end up with firm yogurt from that.
http://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/yogurt/yogurt-starter-frequently-asked-questions-faq/ (http://www.culturesforhealth.com/learn/yogurt/yogurt-starter-frequently-asked-questions-faq/)

Thanks, you saved me from disappointment! I googled filmjölk and it looks like it's mesophilic. Putting it in the IP wouldn't work. I'll try putting some in some milk and setting it out overnight and see what happens.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on September 07, 2016, 02:14:46 AM
Can someone post a picture of the texture of your yogurt straight out of the pot without straining? maybe mine is the same of your? I will post a picture of mine the next time I make it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 07, 2016, 06:39:35 AM
Mine is lumpy and watery.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 07, 2016, 07:27:26 AM
It sometimes comes out lumpy and watery, esp. when I make a large batch. sometimes like yogurt as you would expect it in a story bought tub.  The bottom is always a bit thicker than the rest, i presume, due to milk powder.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on September 07, 2016, 09:31:08 AM
I tried white jasmine rice using the recipe that came with the IP. A bit gluggy. Anyone got a good technique?


I do brown rice and it came out similar.  I put it in the fridege for a couple of hours and it broke up fine and the texture was greatly improved.  Doesn't help if you don't have time, but if you're making big batches of rice and then freezing it, it really works well.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 07, 2016, 02:26:39 PM
I just picked up "Hip Pressure Cooking" from the library, anyone have it????
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on September 07, 2016, 03:47:17 PM
Have not read that.

Meri,
I just made a batch of the refried beans. (Mine are not vegan.)
Yum!
Used my immersion blender to get the batch to a perfect (lumpy) consistency.

I'm the only one eating them, so will need to divide and freeze portions.

Otherwise, I'll go ::::FOOM:::: if I consume too much of it. :panic:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 07, 2016, 03:55:42 PM
Meri-- just the site..never the books
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 07, 2016, 05:40:57 PM
I must have bought a dud batch of beans at Wegmans (I usually do NOT buy dry beans there) because my refried beans have done 40 minutes an are already not close to done  :grr: I have hungry people here!!!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on September 07, 2016, 06:58:08 PM
 :hug: hungry hungry family
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 07, 2016, 07:21:42 PM
I am NEVER buying dry beans there again! One and done. It took about 50 minutes in the IP! I have made this recipe probably 4-5 times and never had this problem.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 07, 2016, 08:53:54 PM
Ugh. Sorry. Beans can be super unpredictable. The last batch I made was totally overcooked, even though I've had these beans for a year or more.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 07, 2016, 09:31:51 PM
Which makes me wonder HOW OLD ARE THE BEANS????? Very rarely i get a bad batch that take FOREVER to cook, but with the amount of beans we consume, it is a low %.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on September 08, 2016, 10:10:56 AM
I just picked up "Hip Pressure Cooking" from the library, anyone have it????
No, but I've checked it out from the library and made many of her recipes. I'll see which ones we liked...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 09, 2016, 10:07:42 PM
Pulled pork, same size roast, 45 minutes and it's not done.  Not even close.  So I'm making an alternative dinner. And putting the roast back in for another 20 minutes. 

Anyone ever have any issues with the lid not wanting to lock?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 09, 2016, 11:49:35 PM
80 minutes to done this time.

Also, the whole fam loves the pulled pork but I hate the meaty smell. I hope they know how much i love them!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on September 10, 2016, 05:08:24 AM
Pulled pork, same size roast, 45 minutes and it's not done.  Not even close.  So I'm making an alternative dinner. And putting the roast back in for another 20 minutes. 

Anyone ever have any issues with the lid not wanting to lock?

You mean come to pressure, or just lock when trying to put it on?

In regards to coming to pressure, yes... I tend to lean towards getting by with less water so I've had to stop and add water a couple of times.  I've also found that I can squeeze the lid handles to the base handles and the pin will often set if it's close. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on September 10, 2016, 08:07:33 AM
80 minutes to done this time.

Also, the whole fam loves the pulled pork but I hate the meaty smell. I hope they know how much i love them!

I think this all the time when I cook meat for my fam.  And especially when I clean up grease -- so gross!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 10, 2016, 08:16:38 AM
I won't cook meat. DD is a vegetarian luckily :) I also won't clean up the greasy pans.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 10, 2016, 10:03:14 AM
Pulled pork, same size roast, 45 minutes and it's not done.  Not even close.  So I'm making an alternative dinner. And putting the roast back in for another 20 minutes. 

Anyone ever have any issues with the lid not wanting to lock?
Is the pin that goes up and down clogged? I would clean that out. And make sure the silicone ring is in properly.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 10, 2016, 11:16:56 AM
Yeah, the pin would slide back so I could close the lid even though it didn't appear to be stuck. I kept trying abd eventuality it worked. Maybe it was too hot?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 10, 2016, 11:48:45 AM
Yeah, the pin would slide back so I could close the lid even though it didn't appear to be stuck. I kept trying abd eventuality it worked. Maybe it was too hot?

it's a safety feature at work.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on September 10, 2016, 02:01:37 PM
Mine hasn't locked a couple of times, in both instances, an adjustment of the sealing ring got it to lock as soon as I pour the lid back on.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 12, 2016, 05:14:59 PM
I strained the yogurt for about 7-8 hours! It came out PERFECT for DH.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 14, 2016, 04:51:46 PM
This is in the pot now and sounds awesome, from the Hip Pressure Cooking book.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160914/ee7f398ab7039523e7459fee2e8834dc.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160914/7ffeab60e6bc36f9bccb62662fea32d7.jpg)(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160914/89fd05fcfa16fb0a879c7c33b39efa8c.jpg)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 14, 2016, 06:57:32 PM
 That sounds good. Though, I'm skeptical as to whether the beans will cook in 20 minutes with a tomato product included as that usually lengthens the time!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 14, 2016, 07:16:09 PM
Beans were soaked and then cooked 20 minutes then NR for 15 minutes. 95% of the beans were done. It was very watery and i scooped out the tomatoes and beans with a slotted spoon and it was fine. I thought it was delicious. I made that and some cranberry orange quick bread for DD so my kitchen smelled DIVINE.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 14, 2016, 10:22:22 PM
Beans were soaked and then cooked 20 minutes then NR for 15 minutes. 95% of the beans were done. It was very watery and i scooped out the tomatoes and beans with a slotted spoon and it was fine. I thought it was delicious. I made that and some cranberry orange quick bread for DD so my kitchen smelled DIVINE.

What is NR?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 15, 2016, 06:58:40 AM
In pressure cooking recipes, times are listed as QR or NR which is quick release (releasing the pressure/steam once the time at pressure is up) and NR is natural release (letting the pressure cooker come down out of pressure on it's own).
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 19, 2016, 03:28:52 PM
The yogurt strained pretty fast today and in 4 hours it looks almost like cheese. I put some whey in a mason jar and put the yogurt into glass containers in the fridge and will let DH decide if it is too thick or not.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on September 19, 2016, 05:20:50 PM
I have an amazon gift card... hmmm....
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 19, 2016, 06:07:21 PM
YES! DO IT!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 19, 2016, 07:20:41 PM
I like to make a mix of sticky brown rice and barley, you could use regular brown rice too. Barley is full of nutrition and I like the mix.
Anyway trying for first time in IP right now.
3/4 cup barley 1 cup rice 2 cups water.
18 minutes NR

ETA it came out perfect.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 19, 2016, 08:41:35 PM
I like to make a mix of sticky brown rice and barley, you could use regular brown rice too. Barley is full of nutrition and I like the mix.
Anyway trying for first time in IP right now.
3/4 cup barley 1 cup rice 2 cups water.
18 minutes NR

ETA it came out perfect.

that sounds good.  I still use the rice cooker for grains.  It's smaller and it's always on the counter, whereas the IP is not.  Can I program the IP to have a delayed start???
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 20, 2016, 08:39:05 PM
I may try this tomorrow with cassava flour.  :fingers:

http://thisoldgal.com/pressure-cooker-grandma-mills-banana-nut-bread/ (http://thisoldgal.com/pressure-cooker-grandma-mills-banana-nut-bread/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 21, 2016, 01:27:03 PM
Banana bread just loaded into the IP. 55minutes on the timer. I totally understand I could cook it in the oven for the same amount of time, but the novelty of it all :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 21, 2016, 03:13:47 PM
Will cut into it when DD is home from school shortly!


(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160921/96365bdea296025f1fec87b438583e88.jpg)


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 21, 2016, 03:50:56 PM
that sounds good.  I still use the rice cooker for grains.  It's smaller and it's always on the counter, whereas the IP is not.  Can I program the IP to have a delayed start???
I don't think so? You have it longer then I do!

Meantime, the yogurt is delicious. I let it strain overnight. OMG. It doesn't make that much out of a gallon but it's so yummy and still less $$ that Fage.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 21, 2016, 04:04:55 PM
I don't think so? You have it longer then I do!

Meantime, the yogurt is delicious. I let it strain overnight. OMG. It doesn't make that much out of a gallon but it's so yummy and still less $$ that Fage.
I got almost 40oz from HALF a gallon! How much did you get for a full gallon? I did a full gallon this week but did not measure it this time.

The banana bread was good. It had a funky texture but i think it was the cassava flour more than the pressure cooking. DD ate THREE pieces already.  :e)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on September 21, 2016, 09:01:39 PM
The bread looks fabulous, meri
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 21, 2016, 09:24:18 PM
I have a serious addiction :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on September 21, 2016, 10:11:18 PM
 :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 22, 2016, 06:27:33 AM
I got almost 40oz from HALF a gallon! How much did you get for a full gallon? I did a full gallon this week but did not measure it this time.

The banana bread was good. It had a funky texture but i think it was the cassava flour more than the pressure cooking. DD ate THREE pieces already.  :e)


I strained it overnight and got about 36 oz.
I use 1% though not whole milk.
Had dinner with my brother last night who suggested using the powdered milk like Ice Cream does for a bigger yield. Going to pick that up and try it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 22, 2016, 07:42:48 AM
I strained it overnight and got about 36 oz.
I use 1% though not whole milk.
Had dinner with my brother last night who suggested using the powdered milk like Ice Cream does for a bigger yield. Going to pick that up and try it.

With milk powder, I also use the hand blender. 

I noticed that the IP does a better job at yogurt when I do two 1/2 gallon batches instead of one full gallon.

I made a very simple veggie bean soup in the IP last night and it is quite good, considering that I barely put any effort into it.  Tonight's dinner, with a roll and cheese wedges.

MM suggested, as a flavored threat, to add a pack of instant chocolate pudding powder to yogurt.  It's quite good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 22, 2016, 10:02:47 AM
With milk powder, I also use the hand blender. 

I noticed that the IP does a better job at yogurt when I do two 1/2 gallon batches instead of one full gallon.

I made a very simple veggie bean soup in the IP last night and it is quite good, considering that I barely put any effort into it.  Tonight's dinner, with a roll and cheese wedges.

MM suggested, as a flavored threat, to add a pack of instant chocolate pudding powder to yogurt.  It's quite good.

Better job as in yield? Because taste wise I am fine with the gallon. And to tell the truth the time consuming to make it I'd rather make more.

Do you have a recipe link for the bean soup? I make a 13 bean soup from the Bob's Red Mill beans, was going to do that soon. I add carrots, celery, onions, thyme and usually use TJ's low salt veggie broth as the liquid. I throw in a small can of chopped tomatoes as well. I saute the veggies first. But not sure cooking time in the IP.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 22, 2016, 12:20:52 PM
The better job has been for me that it is far more solid, therefore better yield.  Yes, it's more time, but it does not add significantly, I think.

I simply took the Bob's Red Mill veggie soup mix and chicken broth and placed it in the IP for 30 min./soup cycle.  Then used the hand blender, and it was ready.  Yes, I would usually sauté onions and garlic and add a few veggies, but I had no time.  Considering this, I was surprised to see that I still liked it.  I have had that 13 bean soup, too, takes forever on the stove top.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 22, 2016, 12:37:59 PM
The better job has been for me that it is far more solid, therefore better yield.  Yes, it's more time, but it does not add significantly, I think.

I simply took the Bob's Red Mill veggie soup mix and chicken broth and placed it in the IP for 30 min./soup cycle.  Then used the hand blender, and it was ready.  Yes, I would usually sauté onions and garlic and add a few veggies, but I had no time.  Considering this, I was surprised to see that I still liked it.  I have had that 13 bean soup, too, takes forever on the stove top.

I usually soak the beans overnight then it still cooks for a long time on stove.
I can probably find a recipe for it. Or just wing it and if it needs more time cook it more. Sure it won't take as long as regular.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 23, 2016, 09:22:52 AM
I made chick peas last night, they had been in a jar on the counter for well over a year. Recipes I could find said 40 minutes but I had to add 10 then 10 more till they were done.
When I was standing at checkout last night there were cans of Joyva Tahini sitting there so I grabbed one and will make some hummus later.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 23, 2016, 10:02:26 AM
They must have been OLD then (who knows how old when you bought them), mine are usually in the 28-35 minutes range, unsoaked.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 23, 2016, 02:44:00 PM
They must have been OLD then (who knows how old when you bought them), mine are usually in the 28-35 minutes range, unsoaked.

Well they were old in my house too.
I am not sure where to get beans that aren't old. I do have access to Indian grocery stores, they use a lot of dried beans and lentils. Whole Foods or Fairway have bulk sections, I likely got these at one of those.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 23, 2016, 03:12:48 PM
Well they were old in my house too.
I am not sure where to get beans that aren't old. I do have access to Indian grocery stores, they use a lot of dried beans and lentils. Whole Foods or Fairway have bulk sections, I likely got these at one of those.
I buy them from the bulk section at our local natural foods store and they see fine 90% of the time. I bought some at Wegmans (big grocery store) and they were OLD and took FOREVER to cook. I bet the Indian store would be a god one.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 23, 2016, 09:17:13 PM
I buy them from the bulk section at our local natural foods store and they see fine 90% of the time. I bought some at Wegmans (big grocery store) and they were OLD and took FOREVER to cook. I bet the Indian store would be a god one.
Probably the ones in natural store move quicker

Hummus came out pretty good. Glad I only used two cloves of garlic! I think I would use less tahini next time too. But it won't go to waste.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 23, 2016, 09:58:31 PM
Probably the ones in natural store move quicker

Hummus came out pretty good. Glad I only used two cloves of garlic! I think I would use less tahini next time too. But it won't go to waste.
Definitely!

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 23, 2016, 10:31:40 PM
Made Japanese rice 4 minutes and nr came out perfectly.  2 cups rice to 2.3 cups water. Rinsed about 4 times begore cooking. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 24, 2016, 07:54:30 AM
I had some grains and beans soaking overnight. They will be cooked today!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on September 24, 2016, 07:38:36 PM
Saw pie pumpkins in the store and thought this could be good too.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 24, 2016, 08:36:48 PM
Saw pie pumpkins in the store and thought this could be good too.
IP pumpkin pie? :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on September 26, 2016, 11:50:56 PM
Has anyone seen this thing?

https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Accu-SV800-Circulator/dp/B01JNKEMH4

For sous vide with the IP... it's a lightning deal right now, but it still costs more than the IP did when I bought it! I am intrigued, though...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 27, 2016, 07:43:21 AM
It produces "restaurant quality" and is especially good for "tougher and lower grade meat". I wonder what restaurants they are thinking of here.

Anyway, I don't think I need it. What is attractive to you?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on September 27, 2016, 08:32:10 AM
It produces "restaurant quality" and is especially good for "tougher and lower grade meat". I wonder what restaurants they are thinking of here.

Anyway, I don't think I need it. What is attractive to you?

Probably the celebrated restaurants of the notable chefs mentioned here https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sous-vide

I've read about this method, and everything I have read makes it sound like a great way to prepare meats and vegetables, but I didn't want to buy an even more expensive standalone machine in order to try it. I'm always interested in cooking gadgets and new ways to prepare things.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 27, 2016, 08:42:29 AM
I see lots of Sous Vide on cooking shows, but as a vegetarian, nothing that i could use :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on September 27, 2016, 10:46:17 AM
Has anyone seen this thing?

https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Accu-SV800-Circulator/dp/B01JNKEMH4 (https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Accu-SV800-Circulator/dp/B01JNKEMH4)

For sous vide with the IP... it's a lightning deal right now, but it still costs more than the IP did when I bought it! I am intrigued, though...

You'd probably also want to get a vacuum sealer to use with it, so you'd have to figure that into the cost. I'm with you on being intrigued by sous vide though, I never make steak at home because I just can't get it right. (BBQ grills aren't allowed in our apartment complex unless you want to cook in the parking lot)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on September 27, 2016, 11:44:23 AM
You'd probably also want to get a vacuum sealer to use with it, so you'd have to figure that into the cost. I'm with you on being intrigued by sous vide though, I never make steak at home because I just can't get it right. (BBQ grills aren't allowed in our apartment complex unless you want to cook in the parking lot)

I know I had a vacuum sealer at one point, but can't remember if I still have it.  It was several residences (and one country) ago, so my guess is that it's gone.  Given the amount of food I make and freeze anyway, I could justify a purchase of a new one, most likely :d

Who knows, maybe I will put it on my holiday gift list and SO will surprise me :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 02, 2016, 12:32:21 PM
In about 90 minutes today, I made lentil stew, potato leek soup and then sassy sesame tofu. IP FTW!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on October 02, 2016, 05:29:00 PM
I was getting worried about nobody posting in this thread anymore...  I always feel like you are doing my homework and I can just relax and look at your recipes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 02, 2016, 05:32:49 PM
I am making yogurt now! IP working over time today :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on October 02, 2016, 06:10:00 PM
Meri is kicking ass with her IP!

Potato leek soup sounds divine!

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 02, 2016, 06:22:04 PM
I just haven't been cooking much the past couple weeks. Will probably do tomato soup in the ip in a bit though
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 02, 2016, 07:00:32 PM
Meri is kicking ass with her IP!

Potato leek soup sounds divine!
DH's favorite!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on October 02, 2016, 07:38:27 PM
Is there a specific recipe you use for the potato-leek soup?
Or do you make it up as you go?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 02, 2016, 07:56:26 PM
I made it up :D saute leeks, add potatoes and broth, cook until potatoes are soft, blend til creamy, season as needed and enjoy! :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on October 02, 2016, 09:11:15 PM
I've not been making much besides yogurt which I have down. I like mine really thick so get less yield. But that is OK, I love love love how it comes out.

I did make some chicken and turkey stock in there, and now the plastic ring smells like it. I tried soaking it for a long while in dish soap and baking soda but still smell it. But I remove it to make yogurt ever since someone posted they had to throw out a whole batch so won't have that happen.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 03, 2016, 06:46:45 AM
DH likes his yogurt almost cheese thick!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on October 03, 2016, 08:03:44 AM
Hally, I am buying two extra rings on amazon to avoid the problem. 

I think it's very difficult to make a mess of soup.  It always comes out good, no matter what.  We often have soup, salad and a roll for dinner.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on October 03, 2016, 04:04:31 PM
Hally, I am buying two extra rings on amazon to avoid the problem. 

I think it's very difficult to make a mess of soup.  It always comes out good, no matter what.  We often have soup, salad and a roll for dinner.

Somewhere down the road I might buy extra rings, if I want to make something that needs them for pressure and am afraid of smell but for the yogurt, don't need a ring anyway.

To tell truth, I am finding for the amount of time it takes for it to come to temperature/pressure for what I have made so far it's not all that much of a time saver.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 03, 2016, 04:15:58 PM
It definitely doesn't cut much time off most things. For meat, yes I think it does. Also for beans. But, for most stuff-- I agree, not really a time saver. Like lentil soup, it only cooks under pressure for 10 minutes. But it takes about 10-15 minutes to come to pressure and then another 10-15 to release pressure. So, you're still at 30-40 minutes of cooking time, which is really about how long I cook my lentil soup for anyway.

But, I what I do like about it is the convenience factor. I put all my stuff for soup in, set the timer and walk away. It also seems like less of a mess to me, and the IP is always very easy to clean up.

So, from that perspective-- I'll do eggs, and walk away and do something else and then come back and cool and pack them up. Then throw soup in there, same thing. Then throw something else in, etc.

I usually cook with a lot of strong spices and I haven't noticed any flavor transfer to the mild (e.g. plain rice) or sweet (e.g. applesauce) things I've made. If I smell the ring, I do pick up hints of whatever I've cooked recently but haven't had it transfer. I do store it with the lid off and the ring out, and I run the ring through the dishwasher periodically.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 03, 2016, 04:29:29 PM
All the recipes  I have done except one have been QR so I would say overall quicker than stove top. I also put in hot liquids to speed up the process. I also like that it cleans easily and I do not have to mind it and it does not heat up the kitchen.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on October 05, 2016, 04:23:01 PM
I made butter chicken last night and it was delicious.  I thought I got the recipe here but maybe not?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 05, 2016, 04:41:54 PM
Last night I made this soup: http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/a-simple-carrot-soup-recipe.html (http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/a-simple-carrot-soup-recipe.html) in the IP and then used the trivet to also make a grain to go with it. It worked out ok although the grain ended up with a lot of liquid in it so I ended up having to strain it. Which is ok, but next time I'd use less than the amount of water called for for the grain. I also wouldn't cook something you want a specific texture this way (like white rice, for example).

I sautéed the veggies, added the liquid. Put the trivet/metal thingy in the pot and then sat a pan with the grain + water on top of it. Closed the lid and let it go for 10 minutes while we were watching the debate. 10 minutes was longer than the soup needed probably but also about right (a little much) for the grain.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on October 05, 2016, 04:56:38 PM
I made butter chicken last night and it was delicious.  I thought I got the recipe here but maybe not?
I did post a recipe here from myheartbeets - that butter chicken recipe is amazing!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 10, 2016, 10:22:26 AM
Trying Chili for the first time in the IP right now. I "quick soaked" the beans so  :fingers: this works. I did not have time to soak for 8 hours.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 15, 2016, 06:52:47 PM
I'm trying a bison roast in the IP.  We haven't had a roast in 10+ yrs....

I won't tell you how much the 2.5 lb bison roast cost, but it starts with "40" and ends with "fucking dollars!"   :e)

I went saute to brown it, deglazed with some red wine, then poured in about 4 cups of seasoned liquid. 

Went 20 minutes on manual, quick release, and tossed in potatoes and carrots and set it manual for 8 minutes and I'm going natural release.   

I will report back!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 15, 2016, 07:09:17 PM
It better be AWESOME :D

On the IP FB page someone posted "I have a filet mignon how should i cook it in the IP" everyone was like DON'T DO IT  :panic: LOL!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 15, 2016, 07:17:25 PM
It better be AWESOME :D

On the IP FB page someone posted "I have a filet mignon how should i cook it in the IP" everyone was like DON'T DO IT  :panic: LOL!

Ha! 

That would be a crime!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 15, 2016, 07:56:28 PM
Do we have a verdict?

Did I ever follow up on the chili? It was good. A little watery, but really tasty.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 15, 2016, 10:28:11 PM
It was ok... it probably had more to do with how lean bison is than anything else.  The flavor and the veggies were really good.  Meat was a little dry.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 16, 2016, 06:25:16 AM
I am not sure what I will make in mine again this week. Probably refried beans, that seems to be a staple here :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 16, 2016, 06:45:09 AM
I am not sure what I will make in mine again this week. Probably refried beans, that seems to be a staple here :D

They don't get watery?

I haven't tried those yet in the IP.  I'll have to do it one day.  I've always done the skillet thing where you separate beans and the liquid. You add the liquid back in at three intervals to get a creamy consistency.   
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 16, 2016, 07:34:52 PM
They don't get watery?

I haven't tried those yet in the IP.  I'll have to do it one day.  I've always done the skillet thing where you separate beans and the liquid. You add the liquid back in at three intervals to get a creamy consistency.
No, sometimes they are a bit thin, but as they sit they firm up.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on October 17, 2016, 01:43:58 PM
I made applesauce on Saturday night. Super easy, but I left the skins on the apples and blended them too much and now it's the consistency of baby food. I need an immersion blender for stuff like this.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 17, 2016, 03:41:12 PM
I made applesauce on Saturday night. Super easy, but I left the skins on the apples and blended them too much and now it's the consistency of baby food. I need an immersion blender for stuff like this.

Yeah, that happened with mine too. I think because the IP cooks at a higher temp it tends to obliterate vegetables. I was going to try just not cooking it as long next time.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 17, 2016, 04:04:37 PM
People keep raving about a brussel sprout recipe in the Vegan Pressure Cooker book so I bought some today and if my refried beans cook in time, I will try them, if not, Wednesday night.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on October 17, 2016, 05:59:46 PM
Yeah, that happened with mine too. I think because the IP cooks at a higher temp it tends to obliterate vegetables. I was going to try just not cooking it as long next time.

The texture was fine just using a potato masher, except for the skins. Next time I will just use my apple corer/peeler (I forgot I had one because I use it so infrequently) and a potato masher and it will be perfect.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 17, 2016, 07:04:11 PM
The brussel sprouts were jut ok. Not bad but not super awesome.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on October 18, 2016, 07:44:34 AM
People keep raving about a brussel sprout recipe in the Vegan Pressure Cooker book so I bought some today and if my refried beans cook in time, I will try them, if not, Wednesday night.

oh, report, please!!!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 18, 2016, 08:52:00 AM
The brussel sprouts were jut ok. Not bad but not super awesome.

I like the char you get from roasting.  There are some things the IP can't do.  ;)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 18, 2016, 11:02:22 AM
I like the char you get from roasting.  There are some things the IP can't do.  ;)
I was actually thinking about finishing them up in the oven under the broiler or something, but was lazy.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 19, 2016, 05:53:47 PM
I made this with all lentils, no grains 15 min High Pressure, QR and it is delicious
http://citnutritionally.com/butternut-squash-and-lentil-soup/#comment-46824 (http://citnutritionally.com/butternut-squash-and-lentil-soup/#comment-46824)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 22, 2016, 07:56:52 PM
Made hard boiled eggs in the IP tonight. 4 mins low pressure, 5 min NR and then into ice water. They were PERFECT.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 24, 2016, 04:58:57 PM
Made hard boiled eggs in the IP tonight. 4 mins low pressure, 5 min NR and then into ice water. They were PERFECT.

How long total?

On the stove I bring to a boil and then cover and pull off of heat and wait 12-13 mins and then rinse in cold water. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 24, 2016, 05:40:47 PM
So for me it's about the same time wise as stove top. But I always forget to set the time so it's just more convenient. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 24, 2016, 05:42:22 PM
I tried a sweet potato for the  first time. Wasn't totally done at 24 minutes (split into two) so I nuked it for 3 more minutes and it was done finally. 

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 24, 2016, 05:53:53 PM
I tried a sweet potato for the  first time. Wasn't totally done at 24 minutes (split into two) so I nuked it for 3 more minutes and it was done finally.
Huh, mine are usually 13-15 minutes. Splitting in half, 8-10 minutes.

How long total?

On the stove I bring to a boil and then cover and pull off of heat and wait 12-13 mins and then rinse in cold water.
It was probably 12 minutes. It was only 1 cup of water in the IP so it came to pressure fast.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 24, 2016, 06:13:48 PM

 It was probably 12 minutes. It was only 1 cup of water in the IP so it came to pressure fast.

Good to know it's an option.   :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 24, 2016, 06:33:51 PM
MG, I have seen 15 minutes listed most often. I wonder if it's bc keep them in the fridge
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 24, 2016, 09:30:32 PM
MG, I have seen 15 minutes listed most often. I wonder if it's bc keep them in the fridge
You store sweet potatoes in the fridge?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 25, 2016, 11:18:36 AM
I've never had good luck storing onions, potatoes,  etc outside the fridge.  Maybe because the air has so much moisture here? Plus, I have very limited storage room.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 25, 2016, 12:49:12 PM
I've never had good luck storing onions, potatoes,  etc outside the fridge.  Maybe because the air has so much moisture here? Plus, I have very limited storage room.
Interesting, we store them in a cabinet or under a shelf.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 25, 2016, 03:50:26 PM
MG, I have seen 15 minutes listed most often. I wonder if it's bc keep them in the fridge

"They" say sweet potatoes stored in the fridge have a hard center and an off taste. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 26, 2016, 07:21:34 PM
Ok, this is my one gripe about the instant pot. It seems very inconsistent to me. I always do my hard cooked eggs in the instant pot. I always do 5 minutes, quick release, and then cool them in cool water before putting in the fridge. Sometimes they are a touch over done, sometimes a touch underdone but usually fine. This time? The white was not fully cooked and the yolk was total raw. WTF?  :argh: But I have had this problem with cooking other things as well. Sometimes the time that obliterates something barely scratches the surface on the same thing on another day.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 26, 2016, 07:36:01 PM
Huh. That is really weird. I have not seen much of that but i make mostly soups/stews/potatoes in mine. Eggs 2 times.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on October 27, 2016, 07:48:15 AM
I continue to use my regular steamer for eggs. 

The Instant Pot gets used regularly for soups and for salmon here.  I bought a large yam and will try that this weekend.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on October 27, 2016, 06:21:50 PM
I prepared the large yam this morning and reheated it in the MW for dinner.  It was good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: siamesedream on October 27, 2016, 06:45:46 PM
I prepared the large yam this morning and reheated it in the MW for dinner.  It was good.


Good food for yammering!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on October 28, 2016, 02:09:48 PM
Ok, this is my one gripe about the instant pot. It seems very inconsistent to me. I always do my hard cooked eggs in the instant pot. I always do 5 minutes, quick release, and then cool them in cool water before putting in the fridge. Sometimes they are a touch over done, sometimes a touch underdone but usually fine. This time? The white was not fully cooked and the yolk was total raw. WTF?  :argh: But I have had this problem with cooking other things as well. Sometimes the time that obliterates something barely scratches the surface on the same thing on another day.

Interesting.  When I did the butter chicken recipe that Dag posted, it came out perfectly.  I made it again this week and the chicken wasn't cooked - same recipe, same ingredients, absolutely nothing was different.  I used a meat thermometer and the chicken was at 120 - not even close to being edible. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 06, 2016, 07:48:39 AM
I made Merigayle's lentil soup recipe yesterday.  It's going to be eaten today or tomorrow.  And the rest will be frozen.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 06, 2016, 08:10:33 AM
I made Merigayle's lentil soup recipe yesterday.  It's going to be eaten today or tomorrow.  And the rest will be frozen.
did you like it?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 06, 2016, 11:08:57 AM
did you like it?

I haven't tried it yet.  Tonight or tomorrow, depending on what DH selects.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 06, 2016, 04:54:20 PM
I haven't tried it yet.  Tonight or tomorrow, depending on what DH selects.
do you not taste and season while cooking?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 06, 2016, 07:48:56 PM
do you not taste and season while cooking?

Well, if it's in the instant pot, I can't.  I don't taste it before it goes in, and when it's all done, it's no use tasting it until it's going to be eaten. I will taste it before reheating in the mw and adjust if need be.  The house smelled good, so it should taste good. Also, I never add salt to anything I cook, so DH will probably add salt.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on November 07, 2016, 04:42:35 PM
Well, if it's in the instant pot, I can't.  I don't taste it before it goes in, and when it's all done, it's no use tasting it until it's going to be eaten. I will taste it before reheating in the mw and adjust if need be.  The house smelled good, so it should taste good. Also, I never add salt to anything I cook, so DH will probably add salt.

You have mentioned before that you never add salt.  I don't understand - it is a basic seasoning and many thing are bland without it.  Do you avoid it for health reasons?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 07, 2016, 06:19:03 PM
I seam to recallthat icecream's husband has some health issues that mean he eats a pretty restrictive diet. So perhaps that is why?

I am a salt addict! I have totally been known to eat it on its own!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 07, 2016, 06:58:56 PM
I do not eat enough salt according to the dr, lol. I try!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 07, 2016, 07:00:03 PM
I seam to recallthat icecream's husband has some health issues that mean he eats a pretty restrictive diet. So perhaps that is why?

I am a salt addict! I have totally been known to eat it on its own!

No, he does not.  My last sentence indicates that he will add salt. 

I grew up with a father who had health issues and did not eat added salt.  So, all of our food was prepared without adding salt and that is what I was/am used to.  You still get enough sodium in bread, etc. 

In this soup, I used canned tomatoes and low sodium broth, so there is some salt in the soup from that, but I did not add any salt.  I use lots of pepper.  I had it tonight.  It's quite good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 07, 2016, 07:00:32 PM
I do not eat enough salt according to the dr, lol. I try!

Why not?  How do they know?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 07, 2016, 07:50:39 PM
Why not?  How do they know?
I have extremely low blood pressure and am constantly told to eat more salt. I use as much as I can stomach, but does not seem to help.

Glad you liked the soup!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on November 07, 2016, 09:20:57 PM
I have extremely low blood pressure and am constantly told to eat more salt. I use as much as I can stomach, but does not seem to help.

Glad you liked the soup!

Me too. The nurse takes my BP and then looks at me to make sure I am alive.

And I love salt.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on November 08, 2016, 05:52:51 AM
:)  same here ladies
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 08, 2016, 07:44:46 AM
HBP runs in my family, but I do not have it.  That is why we had a low salt diet when I grew up.  My brother, sister, and mother are all on BP medication. Mine is actually on the "healthy low" side, but I see variation throughout the day; I monitor it on a regular basis, and BP often increases when you hit menopause.  My lowest readings are like 96/65.  I checked right now and it's 112/64.
I just googled: Low is defined at 90/60 or lower: is that what you all have?  I have never been there.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on November 08, 2016, 09:12:07 AM
Yes, mine is generally at that number or lower (systolic)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on November 08, 2016, 09:13:54 AM
Yes, mine is generally at that number or lower (systolic)

Me too.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 08, 2016, 10:23:18 AM
Mine is usually 90/60- 80/55.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on November 16, 2016, 01:40:52 PM
I just made chili from cubed beef rather than chopped. Don't ask for my recipe cause I don't follow one, but bottom line after adding everything I did 30 mins pressure and it's as tender as if it had cooked 2.5 to 3 hours.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on November 16, 2016, 02:23:28 PM
How was the liquid level?

That's my only criticism so far.. lots of things are more "wet" than i like.   
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on November 16, 2016, 06:27:14 PM
How was the liquid level?

That's my only criticism so far.. lots of things are more "wet" than i like.   

I used a 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes and about 3/4 small can if pumpkin puree, and maybe a quarter cup of coffee. Meat started out as 1.5 pounds before browning. Liquid was fine. However for chili if it was too loose I would finish with some masa harina (or grits would work as well) but didn't need to.
I have added pumpkin to black bean soup. It adds some nutrients and you don't even know it's there. Had a can that the date was just past and wanted to use it up so in it went.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on November 17, 2016, 03:29:47 PM
I will probably try  a chili just to see. 

I like to simmer and reduce to thicken. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 21, 2016, 08:30:11 AM
I made yogurt with a (store bought) Greek yogurt starter over the weekend, and it's the most solid yogurt I have ever made...  I was rereading some posts here, and they advise not to use Greek.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 21, 2016, 09:38:03 AM
I've almost always used Greek yogurt.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on November 21, 2016, 09:51:45 AM
I've almost always used Greek yogurt.

Me too.  Greek yogurt is just regular yogurt with more of the whey strained out.  No reason why it wouldn't work just fine.  The key to a good starter isn't how much whey it contains.  The key is whether it has a live and active culture of the critters that convert milk to yogurt during the fermentation process. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 21, 2016, 12:27:24 PM
I made yogurt with a (store bought) Greek yogurt starter over the weekend, and it's the most solid yogurt I have ever made...  I was rereading some posts here, and they advise not to use Greek.

I had read somewhere a long time ago not to use greek yogurt and that the stuff with the strongest culture was cheapo Yoplait or whatever. I say go with what works!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 21, 2016, 05:49:27 PM
I had read somewhere a long time ago not to use greek yogurt and that the stuff with the strongest culture was cheapo Yoplait or whatever. I say go with what works!

That is what I was referring to.  Never really believed it, but don;t usually buy Greek as a starter, since it's more $$.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on November 21, 2016, 07:27:22 PM
I haven't tried it, but I hear the whey you drain off in the course of making yogurt works just fine as a starter for the next batch.  It keeps in the fridge for 3 or 4 weeks.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 22, 2016, 08:28:36 AM
I haven't tried it, but I hear the whey you drain off in the course of making yogurt works just fine as a starter for the next batch.  It keeps in the fridge for 3 or 4 weeks.

That is probably true. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Coyzmum on December 18, 2016, 12:59:23 PM
Can someone give me their instructions for baking potatoes?  I made some last night.  I googled instructions, but I had to do 12 minutes twice and then had to microwave at the end.  I did four baking potatoes, not huge, but decent size.  I'm just curious if there is a foolproof way to do in IP.  I bought one too.  So far, have only done roast and the potatoes last night.  My DH said if potatoes can be done it in quickly, it will be worth it.  :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 18, 2016, 03:00:15 PM
Were they cold? (ie were they in the fridge) And how big were they?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Coyzmum on December 18, 2016, 06:43:59 PM
They were not cold.  I would say they were average baking potatoes size.  I could get four of them on the steamer thing, but it was crowded.  I don't know weight exactly.  I forgot to poke holes in them (as one site suggested). I did not want them cut as we were eating them as baked potatoes with steak.  I put water in the bottom and did 12 minutes and had to do again.  I'm still learning this thing, and I know meri posted about sweet potatoes, and I was hoping someone had a suggestion for time on these.  I used manual, but remembered later that one of the sites mentioned the steam option (or I could be confusing that with something else I read).  It's not good to tell your DH, sure I can do the potatoes when you start the grill without knowing what I was doing.  :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 18, 2016, 07:46:30 PM
Potatoes are dependant on size,  i find. For baking sized russets, I'd probably start with 20 minutes and go from there. I usually cut standard cooking times in half as a starting place,  but it's usually pretty accurate for me.

I did Yukon golds over the holidays and they took 12 minutes so, it doesn't surprise me russets took longer.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Coyzmum on December 18, 2016, 08:05:30 PM
Do you prick your potatoes before using the IP?  Twenty minutes will still be a good time.  I know it's a learning/testing process.  I doubt I will get as much use out of it as some of you, but I still think I will like it.  I just need to re-read threads and check out some of the recipe sites. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on December 18, 2016, 08:35:34 PM
IP fail - the slow cooker setting turns everything into watery, flavorless mush just like a crockpot.  :grr:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 18, 2016, 09:25:38 PM
I have never used the slow cooker feature.

As far as potatoes, yes it depends on the type and size. I am surprised 10-15 minutes HP was not enough. We usually do small potatoes and those are 4 minutes. Sweet potatoes around 13-16 depending on the size. White potatoes is what we usually eat and they are 10-15 size wise. Do not think I have ever poked holes in them. Did it actually come to pressure?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: OldBaldHippie on December 18, 2016, 11:48:14 PM
I did four Yukon gold the other day for ten minutes and natural release and they were just right...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 19, 2016, 12:36:24 AM
I never use the slow cooker.  Only the pressure setting.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 19, 2016, 01:30:18 PM
For Ice Cream (we like this recipe, but it’s probably not very authentic—it’s definitely better the next day)

Chana Masala
1 cup dried chick peas (or you can use canned—but I really prefer to  do my own)
1 cup of canned crushed tomatoes or crushed fresh tomatoes if in season
1 large yellow onion or two smaller ones- cut very small
2 serrano peppers or 1 jalapeno (skip if you don’t like it spicy)
1- ½” nub of ginger grated or finely chopped
1 bay leaves
1 tbs cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander
1 tbs garam masala
Juice of 1 lemon or 2 tbs

I started my chickpeas from dry and added them to the pot with enough water to cover + some, a handful of coriander seeds, cumin seeds, a cardamom pod, a jalapeno, 2 garlic cloves, a bay leafe, and a tbs of salt (I had all this on hand but not sure I’d bother if I didn’t). Cook on high for 10 minutes and then check. You want them to be soft all the way through but still have a bit of bite to them (i.e. like 90% cooked). I did mine on high for 10 minute 2 x. You can make a little baggie out of cheese cloth for the aromatics to keep them from mixing in with the beans—or just do your best to remove them but don’t worry too much if a few seeds end up staying with them. Drain the beans but retain 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Now, I like to cut the ginger into a couple of pieces and throw it into the food processor with the garlic, pulsing until they are tiny. Then cut the onion into a couple of pieces and add it and the peppers and pulse until it all is finely chopped. The food processor kind of pulverizes it but I think that’s actually kind of a good thing for this type of cooking. Otherwise, just chop it with a knife and get it all pretty small.

With your IP on saute, add the onion/garlic/pepper/ginger mixer to the pot and with a good amount of olive oil and keep it moving until it starts to brown all over. Now add the cumin seeds and cook another minute or two. Now add the rest of the spices and cook another 1-2 minutes. Add in the tomatoes, lemon, cooking liquid, and chickpeas. At this point I turned off my IP so I could add the rice.

I placed the trivet in the chickpea mixture. On top I balanced a pyrex container that had 1 cup of basmati rice and 1 cup of water (did not rinse the rice).

Now, I closed the lid and cooked on high for 6 minutes followed by 10 minutes natural release. I found the chana to be a bit wet but it did soak up the remaining broth fairly quickly. So, you could try reducing the liquid by ½ cup or so if you really like it dry. In terms of the rice, it came out “al dente”. It was cooked through—but I like my rice a little softer so next timed I’d do 1.25 water to 1 cup rice.

I dumped the rice into a bigger container and fluffed it.

And that was that. I served it with the flat bread in the “horrible baker” thread. I had some dough balls leftover from the last time we made something similar. That is a pretty quick recipe so easy to whip up along side if you want.

I used this recipe for basmati rice in the IP and I do think I’d prefer the softer version they mention so I’ll do that next time.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on December 19, 2016, 03:38:48 PM
I haven't tried it, but I hear the whey you drain off in the course of making yogurt works just fine as a starter for the next batch.  It keeps in the fridge for 3 or 4 weeks.

Try it and let us know!
I have a hard time finding a small container of non greek plain yogurt, can only find the quart size and that would turn before I could use it all.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 19, 2016, 06:26:11 PM
Try it and let us know!
I have a hard time finding a small container of non greek plain yogurt, can only find the quart size and that would turn before I could use it all.

I did, this last batch, and it worked fine.  It's probably a coincidence, but this was the best batch ever.  I ran the incubation cycle overnight and left the results straining in the fridge the next day while I was at work.  It was a little too thick so I whisked a bit of the whey back into the final product.  The result was smooth, creamy, and not too tart.  Pretty much a perfect batch of Greek yogurt. 

BTW, I don't know of any good reason to avoid using Greek yogurt as a starter.  Greek yogurt is just regular yogurt with a bit more of the whey removed.  It works fine. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 19, 2016, 07:30:07 PM
Try it and let us know!
I have a hard time finding a small container of non greek plain yogurt, can only find the quart size and that would turn before I could use it all.
I have only used Greek yogurt as my starter and never had an issue. Every batch was AWESOME.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on December 20, 2016, 09:14:21 AM
I did, this last batch, and it worked fine.  It's probably a coincidence, but this was the best batch ever.  I ran the incubation cycle overnight and left the results straining in the fridge the next day while I was at work.  It was a little too thick so I whisked a bit of the whey back into the final product.  The result was smooth, creamy, and not too tart.  Pretty much a perfect batch of Greek yogurt. 

BTW, I don't know of any good reason to avoid using Greek yogurt as a starter.  Greek yogurt is just regular yogurt with a bit more of the whey removed.  It works fine. 

Thanks for the update. How much of they whey did you add?
I pretty much end up throwing the container that I have out when I make the next batch. I guess if you baked it would be good to add as a liquid. I made those power pancakes a few times and added it.
I was only following Ice Cream's recommendation. I've used the Greek and it seems fine.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 20, 2016, 09:38:14 AM
Thanks for the update. How much of they whey did you add?
I pretty much end up throwing the container that I have out when I make the next batch. I guess if you baked it would be good to add as a liquid. I made those power pancakes a few times and added it.
I was only following Ice Cream's recommendation. I've used the Greek and it seems fine.

I didn't measure, but probably 1/2 cup of whey to 1 gal milk.  You could probably get away using half that much (1/4 cup).  One thing I haven't tried yet is freezing whey.  Theoretically you could freeze up cubes of whey and keep them indefinitely for making yogurt.  I don't think freezing kills off any significant fraction of the bacteria involved, so it ought to work. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on December 20, 2016, 12:35:27 PM
Didn't someone post about the food "smells" that linger on the lid? How do I get rid of them? I could smell onion even after a cycle in the dishwasher.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 20, 2016, 12:45:17 PM
Didn't someone post about the food "smells" that linger on the lid? How do I get rid of them? I could smell onion even after a cycle in the dishwasher.
Two options-- you can try a vinegar soak or do what i did and buy a new ring to use for sweet dishes. For yogurt you do not bring it to pressure so i just use a glass lid from one of my pots that fits the IP.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 20, 2016, 12:46:35 PM
Didn't someone post about the food "smells" that linger on the lid? How do I get rid of them? I could smell onion even after a cycle in the dishwasher.

Yes, the smells linger. I haven't really had them transfer over. It definitely helps to store the ring separate from the lid and store it with the lid facing up-- ideally with the lid off but that might not be feasible. Some people have multiple rings (i.e. one for heavily flavored things and one for mild/sweet things).

If you make yogurt you do not need the ring.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on December 20, 2016, 01:55:03 PM
I have three rings for mine. The white one that came with it is for savory stuff, then I ordered a two pack of rings, one red and one blue. I use the blue one for sweet things and the red one for tomato-y things. Not that I really care if my clear ring gets discolored, just that the two-pack was only a couple bucks more than just getting one ring, plus having different colors is handy for me.

What I really want is an extra metal insert, but I don't have a place to store it so for now it's just washing it quickly in between uses.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 20, 2016, 02:04:45 PM
Crap, just remembered I said I would make a cheesecake for Xmas in it :D I better start googling :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 20, 2016, 02:08:45 PM
Oooh also have a key lime pie on my pinterest IP board......
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on December 20, 2016, 02:09:24 PM
A fresh liner!  :!:

I already have a yogurt maker that I use often, but if I like the IP yogurt, I might donate the yogurt maker and have one less appliance cluttering up my kitchen.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 20, 2016, 02:14:13 PM
A fresh liner!  :!:

I already have a yogurt maker that I use often, but if I like the IP yogurt, I might donate the yogurt maker and have one less appliance cluttering up my kitchen.
YES!!! I got rid of almost all my other kitchen things. I put 2 cups of water on HP for 2 minutes before making yogurt to "sanitize" the liner and have not had any flavor transfer issues even though my pot smells of chili powder or curry.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 20, 2016, 02:35:15 PM
I've learned to enjoy curry-flavored yogurt.  Not really :).  Actually, I haven't really noticed any persistent odors.  I do wash out the lid and the plastic sealing ring after every use. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on December 20, 2016, 03:51:25 PM
I only use the ring for pressure cooking.  Yogurt doesn't need a ring.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 20, 2016, 07:51:44 PM
For Ice Cream (we like this recipe, but it’s probably not very authentic—it’s definitely better the next day)

Chana Masala
1 cup dried chick peas (or you can use canned—but I really prefer to  do my own)
1 cup of canned crushed tomatoes or crushed fresh tomatoes if in season
1 large yellow onion or two smaller ones- cut very small
2 serrano peppers or 1 jalapeno (skip if you don’t like it spicy)
1- ½” nub of ginger grated or finely chopped
1 bay leaves
1 tbs cumin seeds
1 tsp coriander
1 tbs garam masala
Juice of 1 lemon or 2 tbs

I started my chickpeas from dry and added them to the pot with enough water to cover + some, a handful of coriander seeds, cumin seeds, a cardamom pod, a jalapeno, 2 garlic cloves, a bay leafe, and a tbs of salt (I had all this on hand but not sure I’d bother if I didn’t). Cook on high for 10 minutes and then check. You want them to be soft all the way through but still have a bit of bite to them (i.e. like 90% cooked). I did mine on high for 10 minute 2 x. You can make a little baggie out of cheese cloth for the aromatics to keep them from mixing in with the beans—or just do your best to remove them but don’t worry too much if a few seeds end up staying with them. Drain the beans but retain 1 cup of the cooking liquid.

Now, I like to cut the ginger into a couple of pieces and throw it into the food processor with the garlic, pulsing until they are tiny. Then cut the onion into a couple of pieces and add it and the peppers and pulse until it all is finely chopped. The food processor kind of pulverizes it but I think that’s actually kind of a good thing for this type of cooking. Otherwise, just chop it with a knife and get it all pretty small.

With your IP on saute, add the onion/garlic/pepper/ginger mixer to the pot and with a good amount of olive oil and keep it moving until it starts to brown all over. Now add the cumin seeds and cook another minute or two. Now add the rest of the spices and cook another 1-2 minutes. Add in the tomatoes, lemon, cooking liquid, and chickpeas. At this point I turned off my IP so I could add the rice.

I placed the trivet in the chickpea mixture. On top I balanced a pyrex container that had 1 cup of basmati rice and 1 cup of water (did not rinse the rice).

Now, I closed the lid and cooked on high for 6 minutes followed by 10 minutes natural release. I found the chana to be a bit wet but it did soak up the remaining broth fairly quickly. So, you could try reducing the liquid by ½ cup or so if you really like it dry. In terms of the rice, it came out “al dente”. It was cooked through—but I like my rice a little softer so next timed I’d do 1.25 water to 1 cup rice.

I dumped the rice into a bigger container and fluffed it.

And that was that. I served it with the flat bread in the “horrible baker” thread. I had some dough balls leftover from the last time we made something similar. That is a pretty quick recipe so easy to whip up along side if you want.

I used this recipe for basmati rice in the IP and I do think I’d prefer the softer version they mention so I’ll do that next time.


Thank you for this.  I am making this soon!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 20, 2016, 07:53:15 PM
Try it and let us know!
I have a hard time finding a small container of non greek plain yogurt, can only find the quart size and that would turn before I could use it all.

Dannon has a small size. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: onawhim on December 20, 2016, 08:43:34 PM
Has anyone tried making crème fraîche in the IP yet?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 20, 2016, 09:52:42 PM
I've only ever made creme fraiche at room temp. Heavy cream + buttermilk. Leave at room temp (65-75) for a day or so.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on December 21, 2016, 09:52:33 AM
Dannon has a small size. 
Like I said, hard to find.
Shop Rite has their own brand that I can sometimes find.

Last night I tried using the whey as a starter. It came out with a ton of whey floating in it. It's chilling now, will strain a bit.
I only used 1/4 cup. Will go back to yogurt starter for next batch.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 21, 2016, 11:36:22 AM
Just use greek yogurt! never had an issue with it!!!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on December 21, 2016, 01:52:19 PM
Just use greek yogurt! never had an issue with it!!!
yeah yeah
I wanted to try it. Still seems fine, just more whey than usual.
I have also used some of the leftover yogurt I make and that is fine too.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 21, 2016, 02:53:00 PM
Last night I tried using the whey as a starter. It came out with a ton of whey floating in it. It's chilling now, will strain a bit.
I only used 1/4 cup. Will go back to yogurt starter for next batch.

:confused:  Hmm, not sure why using whey as your starter would produce appreciably more whey in the final product.  Of course there would be an extra 1/4 cup, but that would be negligible.  Interesting.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 21, 2016, 06:22:02 PM
Like I said, hard to find.
Shop Rite has their own brand that I can sometimes find.

Last night I tried using the whey as a starter. It came out with a ton of whey floating in it. It's chilling now, will strain a bit.
I only used 1/4 cup. Will go back to yogurt starter for next batch.


I use a large tub of regular yogurt and it does not usually get bad. I think I use more than 1/4 cup, though.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on December 21, 2016, 10:02:27 PM
:confused:  Hmm, not sure why using whey as your starter would produce appreciably more whey in the final product.  Of course there would be an extra 1/4 cup, but that would be negligible.  Interesting.
Who knows.  But still tastes fine.
I use a large tub of regular yogurt and it does not usually get bad. I think I use more than 1/4 cup, though.
I usually only use  two heaping tbsps. Which would take so long to use a big container!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 25, 2016, 08:15:40 AM
I made run amok's garam masala and it's tonight's dinner. I figured it's the kind of dish that tastes better the second day.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on December 25, 2016, 10:42:11 AM
Ours has been opened! Rah!!! Won't get to use it today, but will start playing with it tomorrow.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on December 25, 2016, 05:34:56 PM
We gifted one to my dad.  Hoping he enjoys #alltheinstantpotthings and it entertains him
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: wherestheportojohn on December 26, 2016, 04:28:37 PM
  8) I received Hip Pressure Cooking for Xmas.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 26, 2016, 10:10:13 PM
I got one for my mom.  She tried it today and loves it.  DD seems interested in one so i might give her mine and buy the 7 in one.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 26, 2016, 10:54:03 PM
Made another perfect batch of yogurt today.  I think I've got this down to a science now. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 27, 2016, 11:16:49 AM
WTPOJ or anyone else who's used a pressure cooker cookbook. I'm interested in a review. I think I am going to pull the trigger on an IP for DD and get her a cookbook to go with.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on December 27, 2016, 05:39:57 PM
OK, Barfmas slowed me down, but I'm ready to start experimenting. I just reread this whole thread.

What recipes did you all start out with?

And what websites do you go to for reliable recipes?

Links, please! Thanks in advance!!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 27, 2016, 06:00:17 PM
WTPOJ or anyone else who's used a pressure cooker cookbook. I'm interested in a review. I think I am going to pull the trigger on an IP for DD and get her a cookbook to go with.

You are a nice mother! She is very lucky to have you.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 27, 2016, 07:36:38 PM
You are a nice mother! She is very lucky to have you.

I know! I hope someday she realizes it! That said, if it helps her ear more real food, it's an easy thing to do.

BA

I've had some success with these sites

http://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/pressure-cooker-recipe (http://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/pressure-cooker-recipe)

http://dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-recipe-index/ (http://dadcooksdinner.com/pressure-cooker-recipe-index/)

Otherwise I google to get a sense for time and then experiment.  Or I use a regular recipe and cut back water and cut time in half.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 27, 2016, 08:38:33 PM
WTPOJ or anyone else who's used a pressure cooker cookbook. I'm interested in a review. I think I am going to pull the trigger on an IP for DD and get her a cookbook to go with.
Hip Pressure Cooking is good, lots of basics and how to's. Vegan Under Pressure by Nussinow is very good too, but if she is not into vegetarian/vegan food then perhaps pass that one. (it is lots of indian and other ethnic flavors)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 27, 2016, 08:50:39 PM
Yeah, I think they are mostly wanting to cook meat in it. There is an ancient efficiency style stove in the apartment. I've never cooked on it but they seem to have trouble get it it do more than basics. I chalk it up to inexperience.

This was the recipe that inspired awe from her. Rice & chicken done in around 30 minutes and no clean up to speak of (the don't have a dishwasher either).

http://instantpot.com/teriyaki-chicken-and-rice/ (http://instantpot.com/teriyaki-chicken-and-rice/)

Real food. Pretty healthy (not a fan of so much sugar myself) and she was like I CAN DO THAT. So, I was like, cool. Still thinking but 90% of the way there. Only wish we'd had this discussion BEFORE Christmas.  :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on December 28, 2016, 10:03:28 AM
Pressure Cooker Dad cooks eats a lotta meat! Hope Dad doesn't die of clogged arteries!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 28, 2016, 12:08:19 PM
Pressure Cooker Dad cooks eats a lotta meat! Hope Dad doesn't die of clogged arteries!

That's why I use his site. If I'm cooking meat his times are usually pretty spot on.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 30, 2016, 03:38:30 PM
DD told me she never heard of tapioca pudding! So into the Instant pot the ingredients just went per the Hip Pressure Cooking site. Will report back.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 30, 2016, 03:39:40 PM
Mmm, fisheyes!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 30, 2016, 05:08:07 PM
Tasted good as I put it in the fridge! Made tricky carrots from Hip Pressure Cooking too!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: floridagal on December 31, 2016, 01:18:34 PM
Made my first recipe last night - rice -- I think it was called mexican rice -- had brown rice and onions, garlic/cumin/chicken broth/tomato sauce -- fairly successful.  I think it could have used a touch more water - it was a little chewy. 

Today I made 5 hard boiled eggs.  Done in 7 minutes.

Both were fun and it's not nearly as scary as I thought it would be.  I watched a youtube video or two before I got started.

Looking forward to all your recipes and hints and tricks - this was a great buy!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on January 01, 2017, 06:06:25 PM
I made Chiipolte cofee short ribs last night, 45 min high 15 min natural release. They were tender as could be.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 01, 2017, 06:09:10 PM
"Baked" apples! 5 mins HP QR. just apples and cinnamon in the bowl, 1 cup water under trivet under the bowl.

(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170101/8e1dca50b53c312ccd07b3290104b1c4.jpg)


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on January 02, 2017, 08:01:35 AM
The bowl goes in the IP?  what kind of bowl?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 02, 2017, 08:03:03 AM
Yes bowl in IP. It is an oven safe Corelle pot from target.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on January 02, 2017, 12:04:02 PM
Yep, anything oven safe so corelle, pyrex, steel.  Very useful for one pot stuff where you dont want everything to cook togethere
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 02, 2017, 04:07:01 PM
I've got some yogurt incubating in mine right now. Fingers crossed.


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 02, 2017, 04:37:01 PM
I've got some yogurt incubating in mine right now. Fingers crossed.


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:fingers:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 02, 2017, 09:11:56 PM
IP Fail #2 = yogurt. Never formed, just stayed warm milk. I've made yogurt in a traditional yogurt maker over a hundred times without a problem.

So far, I am very unimpressed by this thing. As a slow cooker, it turned my food into a wet, flavorless mess. Soups and stews have worked, but the IP doesn't save me any time over the stovetop method.

Sorry guys, thumbs down.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 02, 2017, 09:13:39 PM
IP Fail #2 = yogurt. Never formed, just stayed warm milk. I've made yogurt in a traditional yogurt maker over a hundred times without a problem.

So far, I am very unimpressed by this thing. As a slow cooker, it turned my food into a wet, flavorless mess. Soups and stews have worked, but the IP doesn't save me any time over the stovetop method.

Sorry guys, thumbs down.
So weird, every attempt at dairy yogurt has been a success for me. What did you do, exactly, and what did you use as your starter? Did you use low fat milk?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 02, 2017, 10:56:40 PM
Whole milk, used yogurt from my previous batch as a starter. Heat up milk, cool to 110-115 degrees, mix in my starter, yogurt setting at  9 hrs. I ended up with warm milk.


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: duckgeek on January 03, 2017, 01:03:22 AM
We got one for Christmas.  I made roast beef yesterday and tonight I cooked frozen chicken tenders, then steamed whole carrots and tamales afterwards, while the chicken warmed on top of rice I made in our rice cooker. 

So far so good. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 03, 2017, 06:38:27 AM
Whole milk, used yogurt from my previous batch as a starter. Heat up milk, cool to 110-115 degrees, mix in my starter, yogurt setting at  9 hrs. I ended up with warm milk.


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I wonder if the milk was not cooled enough?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 03, 2017, 10:17:29 AM
I wonder if the milk was not cooled enough?

The IP wasn't keeping it warm enough.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 03, 2017, 10:19:43 AM
The IP wasn't keeping it warm enough.
I would contact IP about it! I usually do mine overnight, so it ends up being around 12 hours.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 03, 2017, 10:25:49 AM
On the West Coast the IP to turns yogurt into milk.  It's the counter-culture.   
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 03, 2017, 12:13:39 PM
On the West Coast the IP to turns yogurt into milk.  It's the counter-culture.   

 >:(
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on January 04, 2017, 10:56:12 AM
On the West Coast the IP to turns yogurt into milk.  It's the counter-culture.   

 :roll:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on January 04, 2017, 11:58:15 AM
On the West Coast the IP to turns yogurt into milk.  It's the counter-culture.   

 :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on January 04, 2017, 12:44:45 PM
CA: I would try again with store bought yogurt.  Also, I found that it's harder to make a full gallon at once.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 04, 2017, 12:59:26 PM
CA: I would try again with store bought yogurt.  Also, I found that it's harder to make a full gallon at once.

I only make a quart at a time because that is the size of my storage container.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on January 05, 2017, 03:13:54 PM
I have never not had my yogurt turn into yogurt, I have used skim and 1%, store bought starter, starter from another batch and whey as well. A gallon or a half gallon.
Wonder what happened,
As for slow cooking, I have never made anything in the slow cooker that didn't turn into a pile of mush. So would never try it. I got it for the speed and the yogurt.
Short ribs 45 mins, high 15 natural release. Chili from cubed meat, 30 mins.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 06, 2017, 09:44:27 AM
The only time I had a yogurt fail was when I tried to make an entire gallon.  I also can't eat that much before it goes bad.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 06, 2017, 09:56:57 AM
OK, I need to hardboil a dozen eggs today for deviled eggs. Recipes seem all over the map. What's the best technique?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 06, 2017, 10:10:23 AM
OK, I need to hardboil a dozen eggs today for deviled eggs. Recipes seem all over the map. What's the best technique?

Put the basket thingie in the pot.  Add a cup of water, pile the eggs on top of the thingie, and close it up.  Use the manual feature to punch in 5 minutes of high pressure cooking time.  10 minutes later, release pressure and cool off the perfectly hard-boiled eggs.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 06, 2017, 11:13:49 AM
OK, I need to hardboil a dozen eggs today for deviled eggs. Recipes seem all over the map. What's the best technique?
1 cup water, trivet, eggs on top, 5 minutes (6 if extra large) Low Pressure, 6 minutes NR, 6 minutes ice bath.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on January 06, 2017, 11:23:28 AM
The only time I had a yogurt fail was when I tried to make an entire gallon.  I also can't eat that much before it goes bad.



I make the gallon, but then I strain it overnight. It comes to not that much, I have not had it go bad on me yet.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 06, 2017, 11:55:05 AM
I make the gallon, but then I strain it overnight. It comes to not that much, I have not had it go bad on me yet.

Same here.  If I'm going to fuss with yogurt, I want to make enough of it so I don't have to fuss with the process again for a while. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 06, 2017, 12:27:26 PM
Put the basket thingie in the pot.  Add a cup of water, pile the eggs on top of the thingie, and close it up.  Use the manual feature to punch in 5 minutes of high pressure cooking time.  10 minutes later, release pressure and cool off the perfectly hard-boiled eggs.


1 cup water, trivet, eggs on top, 5 minutes (6 if extra large) Low Pressure, 6 minutes NR, 6 minutes ice bath.


SEE?!?! These recipes are really different!!

 :panic:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 06, 2017, 12:28:00 PM
Go half and half and report back :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 06, 2017, 12:29:35 PM
Eff it. I'm making up my own recipe. If they all explode in there, it will be egg soup. :roll:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 06, 2017, 12:31:34 PM
Report back! I have seen it done both ways and both ways claim success. I did it my way the first time and it worked so I do not mess with it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 06, 2017, 12:31:35 PM
High pressure works quicker.


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: duckgeek on January 06, 2017, 12:41:56 PM
Cooked a half dozen medium large russet potatoes last night.  Cup of water, salt,  manual set to high for 20 minutes, release pressure, perfect!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 06, 2017, 12:59:32 PM
High pressure works quicker.


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I tis 5-6 mins LP, so not any quicker :p
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on January 06, 2017, 02:12:31 PM
Same here.  If I'm going to fuss with yogurt, I want to make enough of it so I don't have to fuss with the process again for a while. 
a half gallon takes the same amount of time except the boil and cool down, I feel the same way why you do, radial.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 06, 2017, 02:16:36 PM
I tis 5-6 mins LP, so not any quicker :p

We should race some time!  We could call it The IP Games and stream it live on Facebook :D   
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 06, 2017, 02:18:04 PM
I do 5/5/5.  What i've noticed is that if I use the silicon steamer basket, no cracked eggs.  If I use metal, several cracked.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 06, 2017, 02:33:06 PM
OK, so I ignored everyone's advice, because I was worried about the eggs being underdone. :D

So I did it for 7 minutes on high pressure, and then natural release (I was going to do 15 minutes, but I got distracted by work so about 20 minutes went by and it was all done by then). Only one egg cracked, and they came out perfectly cooked.

The yolks were maybe a shade on the well done side, but that was actually fine by me. Usually I like eggs more on the less cooked side, but I was making deviled eggs and I wanted the yolks pretty dry for that.

Peeling the eggs was easy enough, but not the dream experience I'd been promised. They were store bought, too -- not from the farm.

Overall, I'm happy with how they came out. I love deviled eggs but green yolks and picked apart whites are not my idea of a nice presentation, so I got what I wanted -- good looking eggs with minimum fuss. IP FTW!

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 06, 2017, 03:12:40 PM
Since I seem to forget about them when boiling, the IP works well for me.  Plus, i just dump out the water, rinse, and put it away.  Seems to be less cleanup. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on January 07, 2017, 02:53:24 PM
I still do eggs in my steamer.  It has a timer, so I don't have overbuild eggs.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 07, 2017, 03:15:34 PM
Made a dozen in the IP this morning, recipe as ℞, except I got distracted and didn't do quick release.  They were perfect.  Tender whites, brilliant yellow yolks.  I could never get them to come out this way when I boiled them.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 08, 2017, 01:38:16 PM
Latest IP fail: my steamed broccoli turned into sad, grayish mush. 5 minutes on high pressure. What happened?

On the positive side, I used the IP for spaghetti squash while I had something else in the oven and it turned out fine.


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 08, 2017, 01:49:19 PM
Latest IP fail: my steamed broccoli turned into sad, grayish mush. 5 minutes on high pressure. What happened?

You cooked it about 5 minutes too long.  Recipes I've seen call for setting the IP to zero minutes.  The cooking that occurs as the pot comes up to pressure is all that's required for stuff like broccoli. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 08, 2017, 03:36:51 PM
Latest IP fail: my steamed broccoli turned into sad, grayish mush. 5 minutes on high pressure. What happened?

On the positive side, I used the IP for spaghetti squash while I had something else in the oven and it turned out fine.


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yep, zero minutes would have been my suggestion. Where did you see 5??? Spaghetti squash cooks in 7!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 08, 2017, 05:29:01 PM
Well, at least it worked for broccoli pesto.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 08, 2017, 05:38:53 PM
Well, at least it worked for broccoli pesto.
good use of it!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on January 08, 2017, 07:24:01 PM
I'm still curious about the yogurt fail. Maybe try it again and check the temperature during the cycle? If it's not working right, I'd return it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: duckgeek on January 10, 2017, 10:15:58 PM
Cooked a few lbs of rabbit last night, along with celery, carrots, ginger, onions, garlic and spices.  It turned out well. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 11, 2017, 10:22:35 PM
OK, today I tried one of those one pot meals. I did chicken thighs, pasta, and red sauce. I started out by sauteeing an onion, then I sauteed the chicken (the thighs were frozen). Then I put pasta on top, poured a jar of sauce over, and added some water. I tossed some chopped parsley I had on top. 20 minutes at high pressure and then manual release. I topped with grated pecorino when it was done.

It was a total experiment, based on what I had in the house and a few different recipes I saw online. Just to be safe, I made a frozen pizza too, in case the one pot meal came out completely awful and there was a mutiny against it.

It was actually decent, for my first attempt. I only had a taste of the pasta (I'm off carbs right now for the most part), but it cooked properly and wasn't too dry or too mushy. The chicken cooked properly, but needed more seasoning -- I should have salted/peppered the thighs before sauteeing, but I kind of forgot because they were frozen. So it was a little bland.

BUT I think I have a good general sense of this technique now. I'll tweak it a bit. Seems like a fast and easy way to get a casserole going, and not having to cook the pasta separately is appealing.

My gut is that I will need to learn to cook without recipes if I'm going to use this thing a lot. That's how I generally cook -- making a specific recipe is too fiddly for me for a weeknight. I mostly just throw stuff together. So, this was a good experiment.

DH liked it, the kids thought it was okay. But that's pretty par for the course whenever I make a casserole, so I guess I did fine.


Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on January 13, 2017, 11:32:11 AM
This showed up on FB today and is a pretty good basic primer, I think: http://www.citymomsblog.com/blog/top-40-instant-pot-recipes/ (http://www.citymomsblog.com/blog/top-40-instant-pot-recipes/)

Bonita-- now that I've used it a lot more, I am pretty comfy cooking without a recipe in it. I will still sometimes look up a similar recipe on a blog and then use that to go off of for times and liquid amounts. I'm finding that the time at pressure is usually between 30 & 50% of whatever time it would normally take to cook (veggies are the exception). I do like the "cook it all together" aspect and I also feel you get a little more wiggle room in terms of not ruining one thing because something else needs to cook a little longer-- for example, the pasta wasn't disgusting after 20 minutes, even though by all rights it should have been.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: floridagal on January 13, 2017, 11:27:19 PM
 I am still a newbie. And I have not read through all the posts in this thread. However, tonight I tried a head of cauliflower cut up with water 4 minutes quick release. When it was done I added butter and use my immersion blender. Put some shredded sharp cheddar  on it in the bowl and stir it around till it melted. Supposed to be fake mashed potatoes. I wouldn't call it that, but it was really tasty. And I'm not a cauliflower fan
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: duckgeek on January 17, 2017, 04:13:43 PM
I tried making tuna noodle casserole last night.  I overcooked it a bit, so the noodles were a bit mushy.  I think I had the water content pretty well balanced and it tasted ok despite the mushiness.

I also made lava cakes in the regular oven.  Those turned out absolutely perfect, so I was cool dad last night.   
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on January 17, 2017, 04:58:31 PM
This thread caused me to drag my pressure cooker out. Pot roast in under an hour!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 17, 2017, 05:51:04 PM
This thread caused me to drag my pressure cooker out. Pot roast in under an hour!
yay!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 17, 2017, 10:51:21 PM
This thread caused me to drag my pressure cooker out. Pot roast in under an hour!

Recipe?  I have about 300 pounds of venison in my freezer, in roast and ground form and I need to get creative.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on January 18, 2017, 09:59:31 AM
I made the pressure cooker chicken salsa tacos from Nom  Nom Paleo the other night.  I used thighs and they were perfect - easy to shred and flavorful.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on January 18, 2017, 10:00:35 AM
Recipe?  I have about 300 pounds of venison in my freezer, in roast and ground form and I need to get creative.



Send it to a processor and have it made into sausage and tamales.   :P
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 18, 2017, 11:00:51 PM
I have mostly sausage and ground venison...this year the ground is mixed with suet which is amazingly good. Last year it was 100% venison, and while it was super lean, it was pretty gamey. I don't even know how many roasts we have. We have 4 deer in there.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 18, 2017, 11:08:04 PM
Time to start shooting more targets, fewer critters. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on January 19, 2017, 07:24:39 AM
I have mostly sausage and ground venison...this year the ground is mixed with suet which is amazingly good. Last year it was 100% venison, and while it was super lean, it was pretty gamey. I don't even know how many roasts we have. We have 4 deer in there.

I've heard that suet brings a lot to venison. 

I don't miss killing deer, but I really do miss the sausage and tamales.  The big processing place here will sell any unclaimed venison and for a couple of years i would go up and try to get some.  This is about the time of year, too... I need to go check!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 19, 2017, 07:28:05 PM
Time to start shooting more targets, fewer critters. 
IKR?

My sister would usually take one, but they moved and didn't want to haul all of that meat 600 miles away. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 19, 2017, 11:16:06 PM
Venison sausage is my favorite! I agree, it benefits from a little added fat. My brother grinds his own. Last year he did three different seasoning mixes and they were all crazy good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 30, 2017, 08:53:13 PM
My 13-year-old made dinner tonight in the IP!!!  It was just pasta and sauce (he forgot to add the browned meat) but it was awesome to walk in and have dinner ready!

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 31, 2017, 06:34:08 AM
My 13-year-old made dinner tonight in the IP!!!  It was just pasta and sauce (he forgot to add the browned meat) but it was awesome to walk in and have dinner ready!
:banana:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on January 31, 2017, 03:34:39 PM
 :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on February 02, 2017, 10:38:44 PM
I did an experiment in the IP yesterday that came out pretty good, and it took almost no effort -- tom yum Thai style soup.

It was basically shrimp and mushrooms with water poured over it, and then all the Thai seasonings -- garlic, galangal, keffir lime, chilis, lemongrass, fish sauce. I hit soup and let 'er rip. After natural release I added coconut milk, and finished it with lime juice and cilantro.

It was a little weird making soup without tasting it as I went (it was my first time making it in the IP), but I had a general sense of the flavor profile I wanted and the proportions, I threw it all together and it worked. At least, my guests all ate it happily!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on February 03, 2017, 04:48:00 PM
That sounds yummy.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: floridagal on February 03, 2017, 11:26:31 PM
I am going to try spaghetti squash tomorrow...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on February 04, 2017, 06:18:48 AM
I am going to try spaghetti squash tomorrow...
I cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, put 1 cup of water and the trivet in and set HP 7 mins, QR.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: duckgeek on February 10, 2017, 02:56:15 PM
I'm getting braver and trying things as experiments.  Last night I made a chicken/rice dish with leftover cooked chicken thighs.

I sauteed onions, carrots and celery, then added in the meat from 5 thighs, some canned corn we had open in the fridge, two cups of rice and 5 cups of water.  Seasoned with salt, pepper, thyme, basil, bay leaves, etc.  Stirred well. 

Cooked it for 10 minutes under pressure, natural release for another 5 or so, then fully released.  It turned out great.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on February 12, 2017, 10:56:31 PM
Wow, I had mine going all day!

I made a whole chicken to use in soup later this week. While that was going, I started a batch of yogurt. I also made rice pudding, some hard-boiled eggs, and the Mississippi pot roast that Mason said was amazing.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on February 14, 2017, 07:08:45 AM
I need to get more adventuresome.  I basically do the same thing over and over....make a big batch of brown rice on Sunday and then on three or four weeknights some kind of cubed meat and chopped veggies... just change some seasonings to run through the cultural gambit of peasant foods and then do it all again the next week. 

I'm still impressed though.  8 mins after it comes to pressure is just amazing. 

I don't think the same day brown rice is as good as Alton Browns oven method, but for anything that goes in the fridge and freezer I really can't tell the difference.   And I do three dry cups at a time in the IP which is double the Alton brown method.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on February 14, 2017, 02:01:39 PM
Brown rice last night was perfect.  And in about half the time of stove top.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on February 20, 2017, 07:52:20 AM
My instant pot did not work properly yesterday: steam coming out of the sides.  I hope it was just the silicone ring not placed in there properly.  Trying potato soup today.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on February 20, 2017, 08:10:19 AM
That is probably what it is! I check it every time i use the pot.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on February 21, 2017, 08:02:23 AM
IP worked well last night, so it was the ring.  I have three rings.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on February 26, 2017, 06:08:00 PM
I made applesauce today in a bowl inside the IP liner. It tasted great except the hint of chili powder :o maybe I need a sweet liner and savory liner? I have an extra ring that I never used and probably should have. I washed the pot thoroughly before use and purposefully used a bowl inside to prevent that :(
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on February 26, 2017, 06:23:59 PM
what is an IP liner?

I have three rings, and I use them all.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on February 26, 2017, 06:40:43 PM
The big metal thing you put the food in to cook.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on February 26, 2017, 07:07:38 PM
The big metal thing you put the food in to cook.

I can't imagine that the stainless steel liner is the problem.  Most likely the silicon seal or all those nooks and crannies in the lid where the flavor from the last thing you cooked can hide out.  On the other hand, adding a little kick to apple sauce might not be such a bad thing. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on February 26, 2017, 08:16:38 PM
I can't imagine that the stainless steel liner is the problem.  Most likely the silicon seal or all those nooks and crannies in the lid where the flavor from the last thing you cooked can hide out.  On the other hand, adding a little kick to apple sauce might not be such a bad thing.
In retrospect I should have swapped out the rings. I ran 2 cups of water in it for 2 minutes high pressure after washing it and before making the sauce. And no it is not the metal liner because my food was in a separate container, but yes, probably something in the lid, though the liner smells of refried beans.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on February 27, 2017, 07:46:02 AM
I thought a liner was one of those that you can buy for the crockpot to avoid mess.  I don't see how metal can keep odor.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on February 27, 2017, 11:24:41 AM
I do think it's possible the lid retains smells. I do try and store my IP "open" but I do not cook that many sweet things in  it. I was a little worried when I made applesauce and again when I made plain pasta the other day, but it came out ok. Two rings is probably a good idea. I do like to make applesauce in the IP because it is so quick!

I was impressed with the pasta I made the other day. Half a bag of spirals, enough water to just cover, 6 minutes, and IR. They came out not mushy and I think it was less than 10 minutes start to finish, and used way less water than boiling. I don't know if I'd use it to make a huge pot of spaghetti or something but M is really the only one who eats pasta in the house and she only likes spirals-- so I was able to make her a quick meal just for her while I was making dinner for everyone else, without it being a big production.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on February 27, 2017, 01:39:31 PM
The metal liner smells to me, like savory spices. I have cleaned it tons. But the ring and lid were probably the issue.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Coyzmum on February 27, 2017, 09:48:13 PM

I made this last night for dinner. 

http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2016/09/04/instant-pot-pressure-cooker-french-dip-sandwiches/ (http://www.number-2-pencil.com/2016/09/04/instant-pot-pressure-cooker-french-dip-sandwiches/)

It turned out very good!  The roast was frozen so I defrosted and seared it like instructions suggest (I usually don't sear it before crock pot, just put in frozen) and followed the recipe and it turned out great.  Now I've got to get up the nerve to try something different like fish or rice or something that scares me a little bit.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on February 28, 2017, 07:46:01 AM
The metal liner smells to me, like savory spices. I have cleaned it tons. But the ring and lid were probably the issue.

You can buy a second liner and use it for sweet things only.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: duckgeek on February 28, 2017, 03:53:14 PM
I made an impromptu beanless chili for a chili chomp party at a friends house this weekend using stuff we had in the fridge and pantry.  Onions, peppers, garlic, bacon, chicken breast, hamburger, homemade tomato sauce, lots of spices.  It turned out good and only took me around 30 minutes to cook. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on March 01, 2017, 03:00:03 PM
You can buy a second liner and use it for sweet things only.

I have a liner and glass lid that I use only for yogurt.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 02, 2017, 06:35:14 AM
So I used the pot last night to cook up some potatoes for DD and the issue is definitely the ring. I scrubbed it with dishsoap and it seemed better. What sucks is that I have an extra ring and did not even think of swapping them out!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 02, 2017, 08:05:33 AM
I find that just letting the rings sit for 2 weeks or so after washing them (not using them) reduces their odor, too. 

I use Hally's advice about removing the ring for yogurt.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 02, 2017, 10:02:08 AM
I use a glass lid for yogurt, you do not bring it to pressure, so no reason to use the provided lid!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on March 10, 2017, 09:25:02 AM
I made this split pea soup last night. I was intrigued by the 5 minute thing.
I didn't have pancetta, but I keep a slab of frozen uncured applewood bacon in the freezer. I used 2 oz of that and 1 oz of ham steak. Had to add a bit of oil to sautee the veggies.
Normally I would not use bacon but what the heck, I had it so used it.
Sure enough after leaving it natural release, I had perfectly delish split pea soup.
https://www.hippressurecooking.com/creamy-split-pea-and-pancetta-soup/ (https://www.hippressurecooking.com/creamy-split-pea-and-pancetta-soup/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 11, 2017, 07:02:43 AM
That looks good, Hally.  I usually make mine in the slow cooker.  I also add some liquid smoke.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on March 13, 2017, 09:52:15 AM
That looks good, Hally.  I usually make mine in the slow cooker.  I also add some liquid smoke.


But why would you when you can cook it in the IP?

Yes, liquid smoke would be good especially if you don't use any ham or bacon.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 15, 2017, 08:38:29 AM
But why would you when you can cook it in the IP?

Yes, liquid smoke would be good especially if you don't use any ham or bacon.


I just put all the ingredients in there in the morning and can forget about it. I suppose that would work with the IP, too, but if you are in no hurry.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on March 15, 2017, 11:56:19 AM
I have fallen off the IP wagon, and want to get back into it.

I have tons of root vegetables, any suggestions for using those up? Turnips, parsnips, carrots, celery root.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 15, 2017, 12:09:45 PM
I am a fan of roasting root veg, sorry :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on March 15, 2017, 12:10:54 PM
I am a fan of roasting root veg, sorry :D

That's what I usually do, too -- but I have a TON so I'm looking for other ideas. I might roast and then make soup with the roasted veggies.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on March 15, 2017, 12:33:56 PM
I mean, you can turn any of those into a soup/puree. I always prefer my root veg roasted though!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on March 15, 2017, 03:16:20 PM
Carrot parsnip mash is pretty good. I'd probably steam them in the instant pot for like 12 minutes (maybe more? I do potatoes for 11 but it seems like they'd need more time. Also I live at altitude so my cooking times are longer), then mash with butter and cream just like you'd do mashed potatoes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: duckgeek on March 15, 2017, 03:34:54 PM
Created an egg dish for dinner the other night.  We had some italian sausage to use up, so I fried it up with onion and green pepper in a pan, then layered it with cojack cheese in a greased metal bowl that fits in the instant pot.  Poured 8 scrambled eggs over the top and let it soak down through.  Just a little cheese, salt and pepper on top.  Covered the bowl with foil, poured 1.5 cups of water in the IP and placed the bowl on the rack.  Cooked for 16 minutes and quick release.

It turned out very good and we ate it with english muffins for dinner.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on March 16, 2017, 08:32:49 AM
That's what I usually do, too -- but I have a TON so I'm looking for other ideas. I might roast and then make soup with the roasted veggies.

I dice and put them in the crockpot with onion, olive oil, thyme, and a bit of water, on high for 3hours. I like roasting, too, but it takes too much time.  I don't use the oven very much, I just don;t seem to like using it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on March 19, 2017, 09:27:06 AM
I made corned beef in the IP and it came out awesome.

We don't love boiled dinner, but I wanted corned beef, so we decided we'd have reuben sandwiches.

So easy -- I put the rack in the IP and put the corned beef on the rack. It came with a seasoning packet (looked like peppercorns, mustard seeds, bay leaves... the usual stuff) so I sprinkled that on top. Poured maybe a cup and a half of water in. Manual on high pressure for 70 minutes, natural release.

It sat for a good while in keep warm mode before I even opened it. It was so perfectly done.

Oh, and for the reubens I did them grilled in a pan, with pumpernickel bread, kraut, swiss cheese, and thousand island dressing.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: ihop on March 20, 2017, 11:49:05 AM
Yum!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on May 18, 2017, 04:51:02 PM
OK, it's too hot too cook, but I defrosted a whole chicken so I need to make it today. I'm doing it in the IP, and then I'm just going to shred it and make... something. Ideas?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on May 18, 2017, 05:09:37 PM
Following...  I have a whole defrosted roaster at home.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on May 18, 2017, 05:16:39 PM
I found a recipe for 4 pound chicken, but mine was kind of small (3.5) so I reduced the time a little. I put some oil in the pot, seasoned the chicken, and sauteed breast down for 5-6 minutes. Then I flipped it, added some liquid (recipe said stock but I just used water and I think it will be fine) and a little lemon juice and garlic. Manual high pressure for 23 minutes and then natural release. It's cooking now.

I'm thinking of doing chicken tacos, or chicken salad sandwiches, or maybe a green salad with shredded chicken added. I guess I'll let the kids pick. Unless anybody suggests anything else...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on May 18, 2017, 07:35:34 PM
Okay, so it was nicely cooked, fell right off the bone, but a little boring (I guess stock would have been preferable, but mine was frozen so I was lazy). Boring was exactly fine for the kids. I wound up perking mine up a bit with some heat and salt.

It never really wound up being a meal, everyone just made plates of random leftovers plus their chicken. Woot!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on May 18, 2017, 08:28:52 PM
I ended up butterflying the chicken and roasting it in the oven.  The combo of seasonings really worked out well.  Aleppo peppers, Spanish paprika, a blend from Volcanic Peppers called Volcano Dust, salt, pepper.  Oh, and a sprinkle of Old Bay, just because I'm old and live near the Chesapeake Bay :D.  It was not boring, but then I don't have any juvenile palates to worry about. 

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4156/34703963766_56d9aaf43c_o.jpg)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: rocketgirl on May 19, 2017, 11:09:02 AM
Created an egg dish for dinner the other night.  We had some italian sausage to use up, so I fried it up with onion and green pepper in a pan, then layered it with cojack cheese in a greased metal bowl that fits in the instant pot.  Poured 8 scrambled eggs over the top and let it soak down through.  Just a little cheese, salt and pepper on top.  Covered the bowl with foil, poured 1.5 cups of water in the IP and placed the bowl on the rack.  Cooked for 16 minutes and quick release.

It turned out very good and we ate it with english muffins for dinner.

So for some things is it like cooking in a crock pot but faster?

Also, having recently had some amazing Japanese beef sous vide, can this do sous vide?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on May 20, 2017, 07:22:13 AM
So for some things is it like cooking in a crock pot but faster?

Also, having recently had some amazing Japanese beef sous vide, can this do sous vide?

someone posted about this a while ago. apparently, there is a special tool you can buy for the IP to do sous vide.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on May 20, 2017, 09:13:06 PM
So for some things is it like cooking in a crock pot but faster?

Also, having recently had some amazing Japanese beef sous vide, can this do sous vide?

My brother has both an IP and a sous vide thingy (not for the IP, he just uses a big stockpot) and he is way more in love with the sous vide.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on May 29, 2017, 09:39:55 AM
We went camping over the weekend and I took my IP. It was brilliant! I made potato salad for the first night to eat with burgers and dogs, and the second night made Mexican rice to go with fajitas.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on June 23, 2017, 08:06:49 PM
Great idea Rochey!

I keep making these black beans which were born of desperation: 1 cup dry beans, 1 T each salt, dried garlic, chili powder & cumin + a chipotle in adobo (or 1 T chipotle pow) . 15 minutes, QR, stir, then 30 more minutes.  Drained they are great in burritos,  as a side, etc. Or, we just eat it with the cooking liquid as blavk bean soup.  Not quite as good as making soup the proper way but pretty decent!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on June 23, 2017, 08:15:01 PM
You don't add any liquid?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on June 24, 2017, 02:39:15 PM
Oh yeah! 4 cups of water!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on June 25, 2017, 10:02:57 AM
This gigantic contraption is taking up valuable space in my kitchen and gathering dust. It's been a total waste of a purchase for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on June 25, 2017, 10:25:15 AM
I bet you could sell it & get most of your money back.  I'm surprised how much use it gets around here. Love mine.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on June 26, 2017, 06:28:22 AM
I used mine a couple times a week on average.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on June 28, 2017, 03:04:15 PM
That sucks CA. But you travel a lot, so maybe that's part of it? You have to be able to plan, in most cases, I've found.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on June 29, 2017, 09:31:10 AM
That sucks CA. But you travel a lot, so maybe that's part of it? You have to be able to plan, in most cases, I've found.

It's also too big for one person. If I were feeding several people, I'd get more use out of it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Iscream on June 29, 2017, 11:48:23 AM
It's also too big for one person. If I were feeding several people, I'd get more use out of it.

I can see that.  I think a small fuzzy logic rice cooker from zojirushi would be a better choice for a single person.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on June 29, 2017, 03:28:24 PM
It's also too big for one person. If I were feeding several people, I'd get more use out of it.
I am ok eating the same thing every day for a week, many times I just make food for me, or freeze half for later.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on June 29, 2017, 03:44:08 PM
I am ok eating the same thing every day for a week, many times I just make food for me, or freeze half for later.

Me too.  I would never even bother with the IP if the only thing it could do was make a single meal's worth of food.  I use it to make a week's worth of yogurt, 2 weeks of brown rice, three days of pork carnitas, etc. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on June 29, 2017, 08:35:07 PM
I like to pressure cook dried beans and they freeze really well!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on June 30, 2017, 12:20:41 PM
The fridge/freezer in my apartment is the cheapest model the landlord could find. The freezer is too warm and the fridge is too cold so I end up with half frozen food covered in frost.

So I don't tend to freeze much of my food.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: picote on June 30, 2017, 01:53:09 PM
This gigantic contraption is taking up valuable space in my kitchen and gathering dust. It's been a total waste of a purchase for me.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wish I'd seen this before--we *just* bought one. Would have bought it from you instead! Will be going back through this thread to look for favorite uses.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on July 03, 2017, 11:28:10 PM
I am ok eating the same thing every day for a week, many times I just make food for me, or freeze half for later.

I do this too. Pork, chicken, rice, eggs, spaghetti squash. I like to take lunch to work.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on July 05, 2017, 03:04:17 PM
I took the IP camping again. This time I steamed corn on the cob. It was delicious. I shucked and cleaned the corn, broke the ears in half, and added a cup of water. 2 min, quick release. I ate mine straight out of the pot, and it wasn't any special corn.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on July 05, 2017, 03:15:26 PM
I took the IP camping again. This time I steamed corn on the cob. It was delicious. I shucked and cleaned the corn, broke the ears in half, and added a cup of water. 2 min, quick release. I ate mine straight out of the pot, and it wasn't any special corn.

Oh! That's a fantastic idea, I hadn't thought of doing corn in there.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on July 05, 2017, 03:15:58 PM
Oooh! That's a great idea. I bet artichokes would also be really good in this thing.

I think the other thing is that people just have different cooking and eating habits. Some people LOVE their slow cooker and I have never been able to fit that one into my life. Same with the vitamix and kitchenaid mixer. Stuff people use all the time and LOVE-- but just not used a lot in my kitchen. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on July 06, 2017, 12:38:51 AM
Oh! That's a fantastic idea, I hadn't thought of doing corn in there.

Corn in the IP is the best. So fast! Brussels sprouts too. I haven't had a lot of success with other veggies, as I'm super picky about overcooked broccoli and whatnot.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 06, 2017, 09:44:35 AM
Oooh! That's a great idea. I bet artichokes would also be really good in this thing.

I think the other thing is that people just have different cooking and eating habits. Some people LOVE their slow cooker and I have never been able to fit that one into my life. Same with the vitamix and kitchenaid mixer. Stuff people use all the time and LOVE-- but just not used a lot in my kitchen.
I do not use my slow cooker or Vitamix very much. The mixer and IP more, the IP the most. The nutribullet daily too.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on July 14, 2017, 01:33:52 PM
I'm giving it to my coworker - she has two year old twins and is stoked!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: LizardMixture on July 15, 2017, 08:43:50 PM
Corn in the IP is the best. So fast! Brussels sprouts too. I haven't had a lot of success with other veggies, as I'm super picky about overcooked broccoli and whatnot.

I finally got an IP!! What recipe are you using for Brussels sprouts? I tried corn, and it was really good!

I'm mostly making marinated chicken and then the sides on the stove. Do you guys make more than one thing in the IP for a Meal? I mean 2 different veggies (like corn and something else) or chicken and a veggie not cooked together. It seems like a pain to cook one thing, then clean it, then put the next thing on in a reasonable amount of time.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 16, 2017, 06:41:00 AM
How do you do the corn? DD just got her braces off and we already bought her some that she ate the first night.

I made yogurt this weekend using local raw milk (brought it up to 180F first, no worries there) and it made the most delicious yogurt I have ever tasted AND it made at least 1 cup more than 1 gallon of regular organic whole milk. I strained it for most of the day too :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 16, 2017, 06:57:29 PM
DH put cauliflower in the IP today for 2 min.  It was so soggy we mashed it. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on July 17, 2017, 11:58:49 AM
I don't really use a recipe for brussels sprouts, I just cut them in half, put them in a steamer basket with a cup of water, and cook them for however long the manual states. I think it's two minutes, but it's been a while so I'd have to look it up. I live at high altitude so my cooking times are different, if you like your veggies more al dente than soft maybe cut back a minute on the time it says to use.  Then season with salt and pepper and either a squeeze of balsamic glaze from Trader Joe's or else a bit of parmesan cheese. Sometimes I cook up a big batch and when I reheat them, I saute them on the stove with some butter, cut side down, until they're a little crispy. Yum.

Same with corn. Steamer basket, cup of water, however long the manual tells me to cook it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on July 17, 2017, 09:26:36 PM
I didn't even use the basket for corn. Used a cup of water and as much corn I could stuff in the pot. 2min quick release.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 18, 2017, 12:30:46 PM
DH put cauliflower in the IP today for 2 min.  It was so soggy we mashed it.
I was under the impression most veggies were 0 mins QR. I have never done anything just plain veg besides brussel sprouts before.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 19, 2017, 07:42:28 AM
I was under the impression most veggies were 0 mins QR. I have never done anything just plain veg besides brussel sprouts before.

Oh thanks for this tip.  Will try it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on July 19, 2017, 09:17:53 AM
Oh thanks for this tip.  Will try it.
Report back!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on July 20, 2017, 08:00:38 PM
Report back!

will do when i am healed.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 01, 2017, 03:34:05 PM
I just ordered the 3qt version for our RV. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 05, 2017, 09:31:12 AM
I just ordered the 3qt version for our RV. 

I am tempted to get one for the office, but I really don't need one...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on August 05, 2017, 01:50:07 PM
I am tempted to get one for the office, but I really don't need one...

Of course you do.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 06, 2017, 09:30:54 AM
Of course you do.

 :)  I am not buying anything until my ankle is healthy again.  I have a lot of time to think about this purchase...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: harmony on August 27, 2017, 04:40:08 PM
Gosh, I love this thread!  Just read the whole thing.  I will have to hang out in Food Forum more! 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 28, 2017, 06:29:52 AM
btw for anyone who missed my post in the Healthy check in thread, my Instant Pot started to malfunction and IP, after having me answer a bunch of questions and running all these tests, is sending me a new base to replace mine. It is coming Thursday, so 2 weeks without a working IP, but great customer service!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 28, 2017, 07:26:49 AM
Gosh, I love this thread!  Just read the whole thing.  I will have to hang out in Food Forum more! 

It's not been as active as it used to be, though.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on August 31, 2017, 02:40:04 PM
I am not really understanding why anyone would cook corn in the IP. I boil a pot of water then put the corn in. When it comes back to the boil I put the timer on for 2 mins then take it out to drain.
<shrug>
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on August 31, 2017, 08:37:04 PM
I don't get corn either. The pressure cooker seems like more work.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 02, 2017, 11:28:24 AM
I am not really understanding why anyone would cook corn in the IP. I boil a pot of water then put the corn in. When it comes back to the boil I put the timer on for 2 mins then take it out to drain.
<shrug>

We put it in the MW; no pot to clean.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on September 03, 2017, 01:13:51 PM
I cook corn like I boil eggs. I get the water boiling, put them in, find 23 other chores to do, and forget them. The IP prevents that and screams at me when it's done.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on September 03, 2017, 02:42:32 PM
I like IC's idea about doing corn in the microwave but I haven't tried it yet.  That would work great for me because I'm mostly cooking for just one or two people.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on September 03, 2017, 10:24:46 PM
I always cook corn in the microwave and did so tonight.  My mw has a steam cook setting so I use that.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 04, 2017, 10:53:24 AM
I like IC's idea about doing corn in the microwave but I haven't tried it yet.  That would work great for me because I'm mostly cooking for just one or two people.

You place then in the MW with the husk, 3-4 min, then turn and another 3-4 min.  Then remove husk and cool. 

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 04, 2017, 06:10:36 PM
I made this tonight and it was tasty.
http://instantpoteats.com/sri-lankan-coconut-cabbage/ (http://instantpoteats.com/sri-lankan-coconut-cabbage/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on September 04, 2017, 06:14:42 PM
I made this tonight and it was tasty.
http://instantpoteats.com/sri-lankan-coconut-cabbage/ (http://instantpoteats.com/sri-lankan-coconut-cabbage/)

Hmm, that looks good.  I wonder how it would turn out without the shredded coconut.  I have all the other ingredients. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on September 04, 2017, 06:38:13 PM
Now, who needs this?????

https://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Electric-Pressure-Cookers-Accessories/dp/B06XW31YZQ/ref=pd_ys_c_rfy_13397451_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XW31YZQ&pd_rd_r=PKHTFT567QCTQNRZV6WT&pd_rd_w=4Ib6e&pd_rd_wg=5Ndx8&refRID=YXNT3NTFBXANNC3FQPV0&th=1 (https://www.amazon.com/Decorative-Electric-Pressure-Cookers-Accessories/dp/B06XW31YZQ/ref=pd_ys_c_rfy_13397451_2?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B06XW31YZQ&pd_rd_r=PKHTFT567QCTQNRZV6WT&pd_rd_w=4Ib6e&pd_rd_wg=5Ndx8&refRID=YXNT3NTFBXANNC3FQPV0&th=1)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on September 04, 2017, 07:01:46 PM
Hmm, that looks good.  I wonder how it would turn out without the shredded coconut.  I have all the other ingredients.
probably totally fine!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on September 06, 2017, 03:42:34 PM
I cook corn like I boil eggs. I get the water boiling, put them in, find 23 other chores to do, and forget them. The IP prevents that and screams at me when it's done.

Two minutes, and the timer on my microwave beeps until I turn it off. I can't accomplish much in two minutes and don't go that far from the kitchen because of it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Coyzmum on September 30, 2017, 08:38:26 PM
So, I finally joined/followed an Instant Pot site on Facebook and have tried a few recipes.  The first ones were pretty safe in my opinion, a roast and also beef bourguignon which is basically a cut up roast as far as instructions go.  But tonight I did jambalaya with Andouille sausage and shrimp.  And the rice went in also.  I was afraid the rice would not cook correctly, but I followed the instructions and it turned out awesome.  I've never made jambalaya period so I can't compare to making it stove top, but I was impressed with the result.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 01, 2017, 07:40:23 AM
yay!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 02, 2017, 10:33:22 AM
Deal of the day!!!  69.99 with prime

https://smile.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Multi-Use-Programmable-Pressure/dp/B00FLYWNYQ/ref=gbps_tit_s-3_3c7e_dc119a5a?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=229d61c8-3716-4a01-bfa8-38a7a0bd3c7e&pf_rd_s=slot-3&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=5JKKP8NE19FVARFNMEZG
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: leggova on October 02, 2017, 10:47:50 PM
I have stopped using mine. Never really got into it. Maybe it is because my kitchen is too small it needs to be put in the cupboard.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on October 03, 2017, 08:52:08 AM
That's why I haven't purchased one: no space on the counter means I'd be lugging it out and in...and then wouldn't.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on October 03, 2017, 01:57:01 PM
Mine doesn't live on my counter. But I do use it often enough to lug it in/out. Of course, I haven't cooked a single meal in weeks. And it will probably be a few weeks yet before I do.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on October 04, 2017, 07:42:26 AM
Mine isn't on the counter, either, but I use it at least three times/week.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on October 04, 2017, 11:47:48 AM
Mine isn't on the counter, either, but I use it at least three times/week.
1 same
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: onawhim on October 05, 2017, 07:18:55 PM
That's why I haven't purchased one: no space on the counter means I'd be lugging it out and in...and then wouldn't.

yep
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on October 08, 2017, 11:54:02 AM
It's a bit of a beast, no doubt.  Our laundry room is basically attached to the kitchen so i can use shelves in there to house stuff.  I bought an extra interior pot and glass lid so even more storage room needed.

So far it's been worth it.  I'll go months without using it and then use it 3 times a week for a month. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on November 04, 2017, 04:56:47 AM
So I see them priced from $60 to $160.  Clues? Differences?  Thanks.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 04, 2017, 10:29:38 AM
So I see them priced from $60 to $160.  Clues? Differences?  Thanks.
probably size and # of functions, not all have yogurt function for example.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on November 04, 2017, 03:54:27 PM
probably size and # of functions, not all have yogurt function for example.
Gotcha. I just pulled out my low tech pressure cooker.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 04, 2017, 04:36:07 PM
Gotcha. I just pulled out my low tech pressure cooker.
I had used a stove top one for 10 years prior to the IP and what I like about the IP is that i do not have to baby sit it and that i can make yogurt in it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: harmony on November 05, 2017, 07:55:26 PM
Instant Pot French Onion Soup....was delicious.
http://pressureluckcooking.com/recipe/instant-pot-french-onion-soup/ (http://pressureluckcooking.com/recipe/instant-pot-french-onion-soup/)

I grated a combination of provolone and gruyere to put on top.....and sliced French Bread, one slice in the bottom of the bowl, the other on top.  The onions were sweet, absolutely delicious.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 06, 2017, 10:44:44 AM
The IP seems ideal for cooking onion soup. I made it on the stove once and could not get the smell of onions out of my house forever!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 06, 2017, 04:38:38 PM
My neighbor loves his IP more than I love mine :D Sometimes DD has dinner over there (especially when neighbor's niece is there, she is 4?) and he makes her a bean soup in the IP, I am trying to recreate here for her, since I cannot get her to eat much some days. It was a bag of 15 bean soup mix, broth, seasonings and then a bag of frozen veg and cabbage.  :fingers: mine turns out as well as his! It is about half done in the IP.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on November 06, 2017, 04:57:48 PM
I had some cubed pork shoulder thawed out in the fridge.  Tired of looking at it, so I threw it in the pot.  One rough chopped onion, several minced garlic cloves, some oil-cured olives, bunch of spices and herbs, a can of mild green enchilada sauce and a can of hot red, and probably some other stuff I'm not remembering.  The plan is to serve it over rice with chopped cilantro and lime juice squeezed on top.  Blob of super thick yogurt and slices of avocado on the side.  It smells amazing, but we shall see.  #freestyling
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on November 06, 2017, 06:14:57 PM
Oh, so good!  A little more heat than I was counting on, but that's why I put yogurt and avocado on the side. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 07, 2017, 06:40:19 AM
The soup took FOREVER even in the IP but DD had 2 bowls last night, 2 for breakfast and a thermos of it for lunch  :roll:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 07, 2017, 11:32:54 AM
which soup, Meri?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 07, 2017, 03:54:29 PM
which soup, Meri?
A recipe my neighbor gave me using 15 bean soup mix. He feeds it to DD when she goes over for dinner and LOVES it. I sauteed onions, added the beans and covered with veggie stock, 30min NR, added a bag of frozen soup veggies and shredded cabbage and some seasonings (garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, oregano, paprika) and added some more liquid and set for 30 more minutes QR and seasoned to taste with salt and whatever else.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 07, 2017, 04:08:37 PM
I know you think she is picky but I am always impressed at how adventurous she is! No way on god's green earth would M ever go near a bean.  :D I saw a meme on FB the other day that we should call kids "refusey" instead of "picky" and I completely agree.
 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 07, 2017, 04:29:02 PM
I know you think she is picky but I am always impressed at how adventurous she is! No way on god's green earth would M ever go near a bean.  :D I saw a meme on FB the other day that we should call kids "refusey" instead of "picky" and I completely agree.
My kid won't eat cereal, pancakes, oatmeal, sandwiches of any kind, most vegetables if they are not in soup or dip, yellow mac n cheese, etc..... She just has very few foods she will eat BUT those foods include bean soup, indian food, lentil pasta, etc  :rotfl: I call her PARTICULAR not picky. But jeez child, eat a PB&J for lunch.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on November 07, 2017, 08:31:47 PM
OMG, RA. I would lose my damn mind.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 08, 2017, 06:11:29 AM
OMG, RA. I would lose my damn mind.
1!!

So now I will no longer complain about my DD, who likes cheese but will often think it is the MOST DISGUSTING THING ON EARTH. She will consume any form of potatoes happily. it is just hard to provide her with three meals a day that are actually nutritious, but 4 bowls of bean soup yesterday, not gonna complain!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: caribougrrl on November 08, 2017, 11:46:17 AM
I know. But, I can't lose my mind, because then I would be the evil step-mother. It used to be worse (believe it or not) and sometimes I would suddenly have the very urgent need to go for a walk. Or scrub the bathroom.

How old is M? 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 08, 2017, 12:04:26 PM
She's 10. So, starting to get to the age where a lot of kids give up their pickiness. We always hope she'll try something based on peer pressure and like it. That's how she learned she likes salmon, for example.
 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 08, 2017, 12:40:12 PM
I am just going with it is ok for my kid to only eat bean soup, it is healthy  :roll:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on November 08, 2017, 01:19:43 PM
insanely picky eater stories


Jesus fucking yellow penguins.  That was exhausting to skim.  M eats PBJ nearly every day and it annoys me that she wants the crusts removed.  No more. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: caribougrrl on November 08, 2017, 03:00:05 PM
She's 10. So, starting to get to the age where a lot of kids give up their pickiness. We always hope she'll try something based on peer pressure and like it. That's how she learned she likes salmon, for example.
 

I asked because I was wondering (a) is she old enough to participate in cooking and then, (b) do you have the patience to cook with her?  My nephew who is 12 was the world's most reluctant eater... at about 8 years old, my sister started getting him to help with the cooking... he didn't like everything he helped prepare, but he was much more willing to try it and much more likely to decide he liked it if he had something to do with making it.  But that's a whole other level of commitment if you are happy with just eating out to make things more manageable...  :d
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 08, 2017, 03:43:56 PM
She's will to help but it has no impact on her willingness to eat. But, good suggestion.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on November 09, 2017, 06:26:44 AM
Really good suggestion 'bou.  By 10 they can make a lot of basic things on their own and motivated children can really cook a lot of items.  Sometimes that results in nibbling on ingredients.  Sorry it doesn't help for now, RA.  For what it's worth, you have the patience of a saint.

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on November 10, 2017, 08:20:35 AM
RA: I would not throw away those $4/pound apples. Have you tried one of these?

https://www.amazon.com/Newness-Stainless-Steel-Serrated-Ergonomic/dp/B074KGD2TC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1510319937&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=apple+slicer+and+corer&psc=1 (https://www.amazon.com/Newness-Stainless-Steel-Serrated-Ergonomic/dp/B074KGD2TC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?s=kitchen&ie=UTF8&qid=1510319937&sr=1-1-spons&keywords=apple+slicer+and+corer&psc=1)

I sometimes take a few bites in an apple and find I do not particularly like it for whatever reason.  I place it in the fridge and add it to the next batch of apple sauce.  Apple sauce freezes dry well, too.  But I have apple sauce every day with my yogurt.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: witchypoo on November 10, 2017, 09:21:56 AM
OMG, RA. I would lose my damn mind.

1.  holy toledo.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on November 10, 2017, 11:49:45 AM
She's will to help but it has no impact on her willingness to eat. But, good suggestion.
Before she comes assemble a bowl of washed, ready-to-use romaine. Nuke some chicken strips.  Steam a big piece of salmon. Slice a few red peppers. Peel and slice an apple. Wash it in lemon juice so it doesn't brown. Put everything where she can reach it and let her graze. She actually will get enough basic nutrition from what she likes that I'd just let her alone.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on November 10, 2017, 01:19:01 PM
assemble a bowl of washed, ready-to-use romaine. Nuke some chicken strips.  Steam a big piece of salmon. Slice a few red peppers. Peel and slice an apple. Wash it in lemon juice so it doesn't brown. Put everything where she can reach it and let her graze. She actually will get enough basic nutrition from what she likes that I'd just let her alone.

this would make my DD very happy, though there are plenty of other things she'd eat :heartbeat:  She'll kill a full container of romaine in 2 minutes
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: witchypoo on November 10, 2017, 02:01:37 PM
this would make my DD very happy, though there are plenty of other things she'd eat :heartbeat:  She'll kill a full container of romaine in 2 minutes

does she like grilled romaine?  i made a whole bunch of it one night while my brothers were over and they *inhaled* it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on November 10, 2017, 02:43:34 PM
she loves it.  but...raw is still her preference

When DD was a tot we participated in a CSA program (which we did for a number of years).  I'd bring the box home, put it on the floor of our kitchen (best height for her) and let her have at it.  She got first pick.  She'd graze on the greens then second choice was for the bunny in her daycare classroom.  Sometimes she'd grab things I had hoped to cook but it never really mattered.

Now she's a raw vegetable eating machine.  If I take her to a farmer's market she'll buy a bouquet of kale to eat while we walk around.  (it's pretty funny to see).  I did a lot of things wrong when she was a wee one (and still do!) but giving her first pick of the box in that way was one of the few things I think was just right for her.

And now every time I want to throw all the vegetables into the oven or pot, I stop myself so she can have some raw.  (even sliced sweet potato and other things you wouldn't eat raw)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 10, 2017, 02:59:34 PM
I love that story, Dev!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on November 10, 2017, 04:14:46 PM
does she like grilled romaine?  i made a whole bunch of it one night while my brothers were over and they *inhaled* it.
You know what I love and you can't find it here?  Escarole. Pan-fried with olive oil, salt, and garlic.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on November 10, 2017, 04:28:30 PM
You know what I love and you can't find it here?  Escarole. Pan-fried with olive oil, salt, and garlic.
Mmmm. The Italian greens served in NY are really crave-able and not something you can find just anywhere.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 10, 2017, 07:22:57 PM
When we go to the CSA DD likes to eat the beet greens and fennel stalks (she chews on them) while we are picking and weighing our share.

I made this per a request of a sick friend tonight to give her this weekend.

http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2012/11/lentil-soup-with-coriander-and-cumin.html (http://blog.fatfreevegan.com/2012/11/lentil-soup-with-coriander-and-cumin.html)

It was good, not my favorite, but good to mix it up and very easy.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on November 10, 2017, 07:30:53 PM
my mom bought dh an instant pot for Xmas!  we can't wait :D

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on November 10, 2017, 08:51:34 PM
mmm.  escarole is delicious.  swiss chard is good but not nearly as good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on November 19, 2017, 08:35:46 AM
Instant Pot French Onion Soup....was delicious.
http://pressureluckcooking.com/recipe/instant-pot-french-onion-soup/ (http://pressureluckcooking.com/recipe/instant-pot-french-onion-soup/)

I grated a combination of provolone and gruyere to put on top.....and sliced French Bread, one slice in the bottom of the bowl, the other on top.  The onions were sweet, absolutely delicious.

Oh man!  Gots to try that!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on November 27, 2017, 04:14:14 PM
Well,  I now am the owner of an 8 quart Instant Pot, a gift from BFF who is convinced that I need this gadget.  The damn thing is HUGE and looks like it should be counting down to detonation in a James Bond film (the Roger Moore era).  I guess the first thing to do is the water test.  Wish me luck...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on November 27, 2017, 04:34:11 PM
My mom never let us in the kitchen while she was using the pressure cooker, and even now I'm still a tiny bit afraid of the thing exploding... good luck Doc!!!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 27, 2017, 06:10:51 PM
Well,  I now am the owner of an 8 quart Instant Pot, a gift from BFF who is convinced that I need this gadget.  The damn thing is HUGE and looks like it should be counting down to detonation in a James Bond film (the Roger Moore era).  I guess the first thing to do is the water test.  Wish me luck...
  :heartbeat:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: hally on November 30, 2017, 04:01:33 PM
You know what I love and you can't find it here?  Escarole. Pan-fried with olive oil, salt, and garlic.

You can't buy a head of Escarole?
So grow some.
I have cooked many types of lettuce like that, there is a farm stand on the corner by work and I buy all types. I sometimes over buy so into the saute pan with it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on November 30, 2017, 06:58:33 PM
Success!  Not for me.  I haven't even turned the darned thing on yet, but I came home last night from work to find that the Mister made delicious pork chile verde in the new IP.  He's an IP convert.

Our IP now has a name: The Beast
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on November 30, 2017, 08:25:09 PM
YAY! Even better :)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on December 01, 2017, 12:14:16 PM
Success!  Not for me.  I haven't even turned the darned thing on yet, but I came home last night from work to find that the Mister made delicious pork chile verde in the new IP.  He's an IP convert.

Our IP now has a name: The Beast
Sweet!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 07, 2017, 12:20:17 PM
Sweet!

So far, I have made the following:

Chicken tortilla soup. :eats:
Beef Stroganoff.  :nono: 

Conclusion (n=2):  Some things lend themselves to the IP; others do not.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 07, 2017, 01:37:02 PM
what happened with the beef stroganoff? I've had really good results cooking pasta in the IP. I didn't think it would work at all but has been great!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 07, 2017, 03:02:26 PM
what happened with the beef stroganoff? I've had really good results cooking pasta in the IP. I didn't think it would work at all but has been great!

The recipe I used does not add pasta along with the other ingredients; it's cooked separately.  There was too much fluid in the end result (I thickened it), which likely derived from the mushrooms.  That could readily be mitigated by adding less beef broth or by sautéing the 'shrooms separately.  However, the biggest minus for me was that browning the meat (I use sirloin tip) was awkward and time-consuming because to avoid overcrowding the meat, I had to brown in several batches.  My large/deep Le Creuset  sauté  pan allows for better searing in fewer batches; easier to turn the meat, too.  Plus the flavor was too "melded" in the IP vs sauté pan, if that makes any sense.  The meat was super-tender though! 

At any rate, I can definitely see some major benefits to the IP vs my pressure cooker (the automation is great, and it is so quiet), but not everything lends itself to pressure cooking.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 07, 2017, 05:21:56 PM
I agree.  I love my IP for the things it does well, but sauteing any sizeable quantity of meat isn't one of those things. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on December 07, 2017, 05:34:57 PM
Yes, definitely true. Although there are things I've come around to figuring out how to make them in the IP because it's so easy to just toss it in and walk away from. But, I hear ya.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 08, 2017, 03:53:44 PM
Yes, definitely true. Although there are things I've come around to figuring out how to make them in the IP because it's so easy to just toss it in and walk away from. But, I hear ya.

On the other hand, the leftover IP beef stroganoff was pretty darned tasty!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on December 08, 2017, 05:15:44 PM
On the other hand, the leftover IP beef stroganoff was pretty darned tasty!
So what size did you get?

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 08, 2017, 05:24:51 PM
So what size did you get?

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8 quart! It’s a big beast!


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on December 08, 2017, 06:49:14 PM

8 quart! It’s a big beast!


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I'll check it out. Any bells and whistles?

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on December 08, 2017, 07:57:29 PM
I'm thinking that I'll pick one up during the post-Christmas sales if I see a good deal.  What size do I want for the 3 of us?  6 quart? 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 08, 2017, 08:13:20 PM
Yes, that seems right. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 09, 2017, 07:35:41 AM
I'm thinking that I'll pick one up during the post-Christmas sales if I see a good deal.  What size do I want for the 3 of us?  6 quart? 

the large.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 09, 2017, 10:05:12 AM
I'll check it out. Any bells and whistles?

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Plenty of bells and whistles when compared with my standard pressure cooker.  It's the IP Duo80 V2 (https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/new-features-instant-pot-duo-version-2/).  If I had purchased the IP myself, I likely would have bought a 6 qt (my Fissler pressure cooker is a 6 qt , which is pretty much the prefect size for most of my pressure cooking), but BFF gave me the biggest model, knowing that I will use the IP for fermenting idli batter (https://pipingpotcurry.com/instant-pot-idli-batter/) so the 8 qt allows more room for expansion of the batter.  I'm also looking forward to making yogurt in The Beast!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on December 09, 2017, 02:18:44 PM
Ooohhh, dosas !  Mike and I were so tired of shity pizza that yesterday I decided I was going to make pizza dough and a New York pizza and I nailed it. To get it perfect requires the semolina that I ordered as well as the pizza stone that is also on order.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 09, 2017, 03:26:52 PM
Ooohhh, dosas !  Mike and I were so tired of shity pizza that yesterday I decided I was going to make pizza dough and a New York pizza and I nailed it. To get it perfect requires the semolina that I ordered as well as the pizza stone that is also on order.

 :bow: :bow: :bow:

Recipe, pleeeeeeeeease?   Maybe we need a pizza topic here in the Food Forum!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on December 10, 2017, 01:05:40 AM


Recipe, pleeeeeeeeease?   Maybe we need a pizza topic here in the Food Forum!
Well, simple. Bread flour,  about two cups. First blend a Tblsp of yeast into a cup of lukewarm water, Tblsp salt, couple Tblsp olive oil. Let it proof. Then use the dough hook to blend it all. Knead it a little bit. Put it in a toasty spot to rise. Roll it in oo and cover with a damp towel.

When it's nice and poofy preheat the oven to 500. Spread it into a pizza pan. Cover with 2 cups of any tomato sauce. Sprinkle it with oregano. Layer with a pound of fresh mozzarella. Add toppings as desired. Pour enough oo on top so you need a paper towel to keep if from running down your arm when you eat it.

Bake for around 20 minutes. Turn it to keep it from burning. Let cool a bit then gorge.

I will mix the bread flour and semolina 50/50 next time and I hope the crust is chewier.  We also ordered a pizza stone and peel.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 28, 2017, 08:01:16 PM
OK, I made a pot roast (hunk of really tasty chuck from this farm (http://chestnutfarm.org/)) in the IP, and it was pretty darned awesome.  I still browned the beef in a separate skillet first; IP just doesn't have the size and heat control I like to get that Maillard reaction just right, but the IP was great for the rest.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on December 29, 2017, 10:56:19 PM
OK, I made a pot roast (hunk of really tasty chuck from this farm (http://chestnutfarm.org/)) in the IP, and it was pretty darned awesome.  I still browned the beef in a separate skillet first; IP just doesn't have the size and heat control I like to get that Maillard reaction just right, but the IP was great for the rest.

What liquid did you cook it in? I am always looking for good roast recipes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 30, 2017, 11:55:51 AM
What liquid did you cook it in? I am always looking for good roast recipes.

It was a pretty simple recipe:  browned a 2ish pound chuck over medium-high heat in a large skillet, about 4 minutes per side, then set it on the rack in the IP.  Added about 3 cups or so sliced onions to the skillet and browned them.  Added some dried herbs (oregano, thyme, rosemary - about 2 tsps total of mixed herbs), cooked until aromatic, about 30 seconds or so. Deglazed the pan with 1/2 cup red wine, then added 1 cup beef broth and 2T tomato paste.  Poured this all over the browned beef in the IP, sealed, and cooked for 1 hour under high pressure.  While it was cooking, I peeled about 2 pounds of Yukon gold potatoes and cut them into ~ 1 to 1.5 inch chunks; peeled 6 medium-sized carrots and cut them into 1.5 inch chunks.  At 1 hour, I did a quick-release on the IP, dumped the potatoes and carrots into the IP, sealed, and cooked under high pressure for 12 minutes.  Again, a quick release.  Scooped as much of the potatoes and carrots as I could off the beef then lifted it out of the IP on the rack.  Put it on a platter and kept into warm oven.  Lifted the steel insert from the IP, drained the rest of the potatoes and carrots and consolidated them in a serving bowl that went into the warm oven with the beef, reserving the cooking liquid.  Put the latter back in the insert and into the IP again, reserving about a cup of liquid to mix with about 2 to 3 T of flour.  Set the IP on high sauté and when liquid was boiling, backed it down to medium heat.  Added the flour slurry and cooked, whisking the whole time, for about 5 minutes until thickened then that went in the gravy bowl.  Sprinkled chopped fresh parsley over everything and served.  Nice, warm comfort food on very cold evening.

Only thing I'd do differently is bump up the cooking liquid volume to 1 C of red wine, 2 C of beef broth, 3T tomato paste. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 04, 2018, 02:21:38 PM
Go to FB and search for the Two Sleevers Indian Butter Chicken and make it tonight.  I don't know why I waited so long to make it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 05, 2018, 10:44:03 PM
Oh man I love butter chicken.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on January 07, 2018, 08:43:37 PM
OK, my IP got a good workout this weekend.  The Mister made an awesome Irish lamb stew in it for Saturday night dinner, then I set up yogurt to ferment overnight (using Jersey cow milk - yields a really creamy yogurt).  I made a quasi-Italian wedding soup in the IP earlier today:  sautéd onion and garlic in olive oil, then added precooked Italian style chicken meatballs, chicken bone broth, spinach, and Israeli couscous (8 min under pressure, 10 min natural release).   Had some for lunch, and the rest will be  good for 3 or 4 lunches this week at work.

For dinner tonight, I made butter chicken in the IP - it was a hybrid of the twosleevers recipe and Sam Sifton's recipe (stove top, not IP) in the New York Times.  I thought the twosleevers recipe looked like it would be a little too bland for my taste, so I doctored it up quite a bit using Sifton's approach.  I think I could have just as easily made this in my large Le Creuset Dutch oven as the IP really didn't offer that much of an advantage time wise, but regardless, the result was outstanding.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on January 07, 2018, 08:48:37 PM
I made a whole chicken, and then a dozen hard boiled eggs for deviled eggs. Both were delicious.

I really want to make butter chicken now!!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Rochey on January 08, 2018, 11:31:15 AM
Make it.

The spices in the TS recipe were rich enough for my family and even made my husband sweat, but of course YMMV.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 08, 2018, 07:35:27 PM
I keep reading this thread even though my IP pisses me off. Maybe if it were smaller.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 08, 2018, 07:53:36 PM
I keep reading this thread even though my IP pisses me off. Maybe if it were smaller.

Did you get the ginormous one?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 08, 2018, 11:11:03 PM
Did you get the ginormous one?

It might be useful for gathering signals from space.


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on January 08, 2018, 11:14:08 PM
 :rotfl:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on January 09, 2018, 07:05:13 AM
Uh oh.  Mine arrives tonight.  I hope it doesn't piss me off!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on January 09, 2018, 08:23:57 AM
Amy-- they make a smaller model.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on January 09, 2018, 11:49:54 AM
Amy-- they make a smaller model.

I almost never use the 6 quart that I own so I'm certainly not going to get a second one!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: picote on March 15, 2018, 11:30:08 AM
Now that I have had a little bit of time to experiment, I have *finally* had some successes with the instant pot. Getting perfect rice pretty routinely and the butter chicken was phenomenal. So far though, the biggest hit in our house has been the instant pot bolognese recipe. It's just incredible--far better than any of my stovetop attempts.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 15, 2018, 12:51:33 PM
Now that I have had a little bit of time to experiment, I have *finally* had some successes with the instant pot. Getting perfect rice pretty routinely and the butter chicken was phenomenal. So far though, the biggest hit in our house has been the instant pot bolognese recipe. It's just incredible--far better than any of my stovetop attempts.
:heartbeat:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Chasing Amy on March 15, 2018, 01:17:39 PM
I gave mine away - glad I bought it at a steep discount!
Title: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on March 18, 2018, 01:03:24 PM
I dragged out the IP after months of non-use and made this: https://kaseytrenum.com/ketolow-carb-unstuffed-cabbage-roll-soup-instant-pot-crock-pot/

It is a deconstructed stuffed cabbage roll soup.  It isn’t specifically low carb, that is to say, it’s a delicious soup that happens to be lower carb. I love cabbage rolls (my mom’s are unbeatable) but they are a PITA to make, so glad I found this recipe. It was really, really good.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on March 18, 2018, 07:31:30 PM
My grandma's rolls (halupshes) were soooo good.  I may make this with non-meat ingredients.  Thanks!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: cherietree on March 20, 2018, 08:28:20 PM
Got an Instant Pot for my bday and finally tried it out tonight. Made some hard boiled eggs and the Sri Lankan Coconut Cabbage that someone (Meri?) posted here. HOLY CRAP! This thing is *awesome*! Can’t wait to try more stuff!

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 20, 2018, 08:52:54 PM
Got an Instant Pot for my bday and finally tried it out tonight. Made some hard boiled eggs and the Sri Lankan Coconut Cabbage that someone (Meri?) posted here. HOLY CRAP! This thing is *awesome*! Can’t wait to try more stuff!
:heartbeat:

I probably posted that, with coconut?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on March 21, 2018, 10:21:44 AM
I just spent precious minutes searching Yammering for this thread :D

I have made a pleasant instant pot discovery.  Eggs are porous and take on the smells/flavours.  If you make hard boiled eggs in an instant pot that recently had delicious herbs and spices in it, you get deliciously herbed and spiced hard boiled eggs.

I'm going to try this this summer with fresh garden herbs.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on March 21, 2018, 11:14:38 AM
ooh that sounds delish!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: cherietree on March 21, 2018, 11:24:16 AM
:heartbeat:

I probably posted that, with coconut?

OMG...SO FREAKING YUMMY!!!!

I am madly writing down the recipe/s from Two Sleevers, per Rochey's directive, and plan to make butter chicken next. I'm in love!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on March 21, 2018, 06:02:04 PM
One of my new favorites is this (https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/instant-pot-chicken-taco-bowls/) recipe for chicken taco bowls. I only use half a packet of taco seasoning and cut the rice down to 1 cup because there's only 2 of us, but it's tasty.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on March 21, 2018, 10:35:28 PM
Can someone please post this Sri Lankan cabbage recipe?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 22, 2018, 06:55:44 AM
http://instantpoteats.com/sri-lankan-coconut-cabbage/ (http://instantpoteats.com/sri-lankan-coconut-cabbage/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Dagstag v 2.0 on March 22, 2018, 09:07:08 AM
Thank you! I tried the search function but couldn’t find it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on March 22, 2018, 09:50:54 AM
Yesterday I made baked beans in the instant pot.  Took 60 minutes to hydrate the beans, then 30 minutes to "bake" them.  They are the best baked beans I've ever made.  I've been trying to make them for years and replicate my moms recipe.  This is the first time it worked!  They're so good.  And so quick! 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 22, 2018, 11:52:14 AM
Yesterday I made baked beans in the instant pot.  Took 60 minutes to hydrate the beans, then 30 minutes to "bake" them.  They are the best baked beans I've ever made.  I've been trying to make them for years and replicate my moms recipe.  This is the first time it worked!  They're so good.  And so quick!
recipe? though assuming not a vegetarian recipe......
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on March 22, 2018, 11:59:35 AM
Was it an IP recipe? I have had the darndest time getting baked beans to work in my IP.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: cherietree on March 23, 2018, 04:20:02 PM
recipe? though assuming not a vegetarian recipe......

I second this!

Can someone please post this Sri Lankan cabbage recipe?

Make it. Right now. You will be so happy you did.

I’m making butter chicken tonight...I’m so excited!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on March 23, 2018, 06:17:52 PM
Ooh I'm making butter chicken tomorrow. I can't wait to eat it!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on March 23, 2018, 06:21:51 PM
I literally just googled no soak instant pot baked beans... Def not veg but just omit the bacon and voila!

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 23, 2018, 06:56:09 PM
i saw a buttered chick-pea recipe, maybe i should try that for solidarity :D
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on March 23, 2018, 07:16:45 PM
I think that buttered chicken made with cauliflower would be yummy. Maybe cauliflower & tofu? http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/vegan-butter-chicken/ (http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/vegan-butter-chicken/)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on March 23, 2018, 07:30:22 PM
My friend Karen sells amazing curry spice packets.  We've used the butter chicken packet for everything from butternut chicken to meat replacement to cauliflower.  I've also made fabu cauliflower goulash from one of the Moosewood Books.  Totally doable!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: cherietree on March 23, 2018, 09:00:49 PM
All I know is that butter chicken is the BOMB.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on March 23, 2018, 09:05:16 PM
All I know is that butter chicken is the BOMB.

It was good, but much too garlicky for people who need to work inoffensively with other people the next day.  I would scale back by 1/2 on the garlic next time. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 23, 2018, 09:13:20 PM
I think that buttered chicken made with cauliflower would be yummy. Maybe cauliflower & tofu? http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/vegan-butter-chicken/ (http://www.pbs.org/food/fresh-tastes/vegan-butter-chicken/)
ooooooh! Thanks! Pinned!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: The Turtle Whisperer on March 25, 2018, 07:45:20 AM
Yesterday I made baked beans in the instant pot.  Took 60 minutes to hydrate the beans, then 30 minutes to "bake" them.  They are the best baked beans I've ever made.  I've been trying to make them for years and replicate my moms recipe.  This is the first time it worked!  They're so good.  And so quick! 

If all I ever cooked in this thing was beans I would keep it just for that.  Nothing else comes even close. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on March 25, 2018, 08:46:21 AM
If all I ever cooked in this thing was beans I would keep it just for that.  Nothing else comes even close.
1
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Natasha on March 25, 2018, 12:29:52 PM
If all I ever cooked in this thing was beans I would keep it just for that.  Nothing else comes even close.

Yes. Hummus, beans and rice/cornbread, and breakfast burritos have become daily staples.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on March 25, 2018, 08:45:04 PM
Make it.

The spices in the TS recipe were rich enough for my family and even made my husband sweat, but of course YMMV.

OK, I made the two sleevers' butter chicken in my IP for dinner tonight.  Holy moly, it was goooooood!  I made minor modifications to the recipe:  I doubled it so we'd have leftovers, I used kashmiri mirch in lieu of cayenne and paprika (kashmiri mirch is a hot pepper with an intense red color like paprika and more flavor than cayenne), and bin bhuna hua garam masala (made from whole spices, including a few dried red chilis, that I ground myself).  It was all I could do to keep from tilting the serving bowl and guzzling the sauce.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on April 01, 2018, 12:35:12 PM
So between the Sri Lankan cabbage and the butter chicken, my house smelled like curry for days. :rotfl: yummy though!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on April 03, 2018, 06:14:33 PM
Yesterday I used the delay timer function for the first time on the IP and that ROCKED!!!! I wanted dinner but it would be too late when i got home to cook it, so i set the timer for it to be done around the time we got home and i got home with 7 mins left on the timer!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on April 04, 2018, 08:09:03 AM
Yesterday I used the delay timer function for the first time on the IP and that ROCKED!!!! I wanted dinner but it would be too late when i got home to cook it, so i set the timer for it to be done around the time we got home and i got home with 7 mins left on the timer!

Never used it on the IP, but all the time on the rice cooker.  It's great.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on April 08, 2018, 11:39:34 AM
Planning to make the cabbage dish tonight. Could I omit the shredded coconut?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on April 08, 2018, 11:43:29 AM
I haven't made the cabbage dish, so no advice there.

My instant pot plan for today is to come up with some sort of Mongolian beef recipe. Our favorite Chinese restaurant has a delicious dish that's mostly beef and onions, I have a nice flank steak that I think would work well in the IP for something similar. Need to do some googling.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on April 08, 2018, 08:19:44 PM
I made yogurt today, then black beans, and then baby potatoes.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on April 08, 2018, 08:36:48 PM
You can omit it. But  I think it won't be as yummy.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on April 08, 2018, 09:45:17 PM
Made it and used it (not sure how I forgot that visiting sister loves coconut) but omitted the hot pepper.  I normally love spicy food and can't wait to make it again with the pepper.  But even without it was SO delicious.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Honey Badger on April 14, 2018, 01:24:29 PM
I'm going to make the cabbage recipe. It sounds delicious! 
Heading out to my local Penzey's to pick up some fresh spices.  I have a box full of spice, mostly Penzeys, but much of it is years old. Spices lose their potency, right?  So I should toss all the old stuff?  Some isn't even opened.  My ex had a habit of buying stuff with big intentions but had terrible follow-through so much of it is stuff he bought.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on April 16, 2018, 09:50:43 AM
Yes, they do lose their kick over time.  Maybe you can tell by smelling them?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on April 16, 2018, 12:41:43 PM
I'd buy new and toss the old stuff if it is over 6 months old. Ground spices age quickly. I buy spices in the bulk section unless it's something I know I will use up quickly. That way I can buy a tiny quantity.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on August 17, 2019, 04:34:46 PM
We bought one and I lurve it.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on August 17, 2019, 04:56:54 PM
We bought one and I lurve it.
Thank you for bumping this!  I have ten heads of cabbage I grew this summer and no idea what to do with them.  So now I'll be making Sri Lankan cabbage!

And it was a good reminder of my ip baked beans.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on August 17, 2019, 05:14:10 PM
Aha! They grew? In your garden? Everything fries here.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on August 17, 2019, 05:24:49 PM
Aha! They grew? In your garden? Everything fries here.
Yep, like gangbusters.   

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 17, 2019, 06:28:35 PM
still love  mine :) debating getting the air fryer lid, may be my xmas present to myself this year.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 18, 2019, 10:56:54 AM
Thank you for bumping this!  I have ten heads of cabbage I grew this summer and no idea what to do with them.  So now I'll be making Sri Lankan cabbage!

And it was a good reminder of my ip baked beans.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk
What is Sri Lankan cabbage?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on August 18, 2019, 12:08:27 PM
What is Sri Lankan cabbage?
The cabbage dish they posted about upthread.

I made it this morning.  Not the deliciousness I was hoping for!  It's pretty bland and I even put the hot pepper in.  Not sure what I was expecting but I'll have to find another recipe for the rest of my cabbage.  I followed the recipe exactly.

I feel like there must be some kind of thai recipe for cabbage.  Something spicy sweet.  Or peanutty.

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 18, 2019, 12:41:49 PM
Do you like saur kraut or kimchi?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 18, 2019, 12:44:10 PM
I like doing cabbage stir fry, with ground pork, garlic, ginger... kind of a deconstructed egg roll... serve over rice...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 18, 2019, 12:47:05 PM
Also,  if you search the food forum we've discussed cabbage a lot. Might give you some ideas. Here's one thread but there are several.

http://chrunners.net/forum/index.php?topic=121421.0;all
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 18, 2019, 12:48:10 PM
Apparently I dig the cabbage talk!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on August 18, 2019, 02:02:43 PM
Oh, thank you!  Anything with cloves is awesome... I'll get to the food forum!  And stirfry with cabbage is a great idea.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on August 18, 2019, 03:20:46 PM
RioG that's so interesting.  I haven't made the cabbage recipe in a long time but I don't remember it being bland -- and it calls for so many spices that aren't bland.  I feel like I need to make it again soon to remember.  I do recall it needing to be paired with something else very flavorful.  I think I used vegan sausage maybe?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 18, 2019, 03:50:11 PM
I do not remember it being bland, either and I may have been the first to post it. It is the one with coconut, right?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Run Amok on August 18, 2019, 07:00:18 PM
I made it & liked it. Although I don't remember it being a stand-alone kind of dish. But it's been a while since I made it.

I love roasted cabbage and this looks like a "next level" roasted cabbage recipe-- it'd be on my list if I had a bunch of cabbage on my hands https://www.everopensauce.com/roast-cabbage-with-tarragon-and-pecorino/
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on August 18, 2019, 07:23:51 PM
wow that sounds fabulous
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 18, 2019, 08:02:59 PM
Oh, I’d eat that!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: caribougrrl on August 19, 2019, 07:36:08 AM
The cabbage dish they posted about upthread.

I made it this morning.  Not the deliciousness I was hoping for!  It's pretty bland and I even put the hot pepper in.  Not sure what I was expecting but I'll have to find another recipe for the rest of my cabbage.  I followed the recipe exactly.

I feel like there must be some kind of thai recipe for cabbage.  Something spicy sweet.  Or peanutty.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk




indonesian gado-gado... spicy and peanutty
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 19, 2019, 07:52:57 AM
Roasted cabbage sprinkled with salt, smoked paprika = awesome.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on August 19, 2019, 08:21:32 PM
Roasted cabbage sprinkled with salt, smoked paprika = awesome.

This was such a disappointment when I made it. It's one of the few things I made that we ever threw out.

Cabbage is cabbage.  If you don't like it, it's going to be difficult to make something good out of it.  I don't even buy cabbage anymore.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on August 19, 2019, 08:36:04 PM
This was such a disappointment when I made it. It's one of the few things I made that we ever threw out.

Cabbage is cabbage.  If you don't like it, it's going to be difficult to make something good out of it.  I don't even buy cabbage anymore.
I love Cole slaw, I do like cabbage.  But one can only eat so much slaw!

Thanks Cgrl!

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: caribougrrl on August 20, 2019, 07:49:31 AM
I love Cole slaw, I do like cabbage.  But one can only eat so much slaw!

Thanks Cgrl!

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also, in Newfoundland, chop suey uses cabbage instead of noodles (historic difficulties in getting noodles reliably, so the chinese restaurants just  shredded cabbage)... which gives us permission to use cabbage instead of noodles in any number of bastardized asian dishes... like pad thai, for example... also spicy and peanutty...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 20, 2019, 08:13:08 AM
also, in Newfoundland, chop suey uses cabbage instead of noodles (historic difficulties in getting noodles reliably, so the chinese restaurants just  shredded cabbage)... which gives us permission to use cabbage instead of noodles in any number of bastardized asian dishes... like pad thai, for example... also spicy and peanutty...
I've done the pad thai and its been tasty.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on August 22, 2019, 05:10:04 PM
My only regret is not having bought the 8 quart. I'm a Schmitt. I can't cook small.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on August 23, 2019, 08:36:13 AM
My only regret is not having bought the 8 quart. I'm a Schmitt. I can't cook small.

I have the 8 qt.  It's scary-big, but I like it.

My most recent discovery: Instant Pot cheesecake.  Easy and results in a very creamy cheesecake since the IP kinda substitutes as a bain marie.  Due to size limitations, it's not a huge cheesecake (I use a 7" stainless steel push-pan) so the portion size (cut in eighths) are reasonable.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 23, 2019, 11:57:46 AM
I have the 8 qt.  It's scary-big, but I like it.

My most recent discovery: Instant Pot cheesecake.  Easy and results in a very creamy cheesecake since the IP kinda substitutes as a bain marie.  Due to size limitations, it's not a huge cheesecake (I use a 7" stainless steel push-pan) so the portion size (cut in eighths) are reasonable.

I'm super curious about the cheesecake. I need to get a little pan to try it with.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on August 23, 2019, 08:28:47 PM
I'm super curious about the cheesecake. I need to get a little pan to try it with.

Here's the pan I bought: ekovana stainless steel cheesecake pan (https://www.amazon.com/ekovana-Stainless-Cheesecake-removable-bottom/dp/B078P85DCW).

This is the recipe I adapted (eliminated steps I found too fussy and used parchment paper buttered on both sides): Instant Pot New York Cheesecake #17 (https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-cheesecake-new-york/)

The texture of the little cheesecake is lovely - very smooth and creamy.  It's kind of a blank slate, too.  Lots you could do with it.  Serve with fresh fruit in season, slather with caramel sauce or dulce de leche.  Add lemon zest to the batter.  And so on.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: BonitaApplebum on August 23, 2019, 08:56:26 PM
Thanks for the recs!

And now, I really want cheesecake...
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on August 23, 2019, 11:03:13 PM
Here's the pan I bought: ekovana stainless steel cheesecake pan (https://www.amazon.com/ekovana-Stainless-Cheesecake-removable-bottom/dp/B078P85DCW).

This is the recipe I adapted (eliminated steps I found too fussy and used parchment paper buttered on both sides): Instant Pot New York Cheesecake #17 (https://www.pressurecookrecipes.com/instant-pot-cheesecake-new-york/)

The texture of the little cheesecake is lovely - very smooth and creamy.  It's kind of a blank slate, too.  Lots you could do with it.  Serve with fresh fruit in season, slather with caramel sauce or dulce de leche.  Add lemon zest to the batter.  And so on.

Is it as good as Junior's? It's short 1.5 pounds of cream cheese.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on August 24, 2019, 07:02:53 AM
Is it as good as Junior's? It's short 1.5 pounds of cream cheese.

Dunno.  I've never encountered Junior's.  If the latter is a genuine New York cheesecake, then it probably compares to the IP cheesecake like Russ & Daughters' bagels compare to those round bread things from Lenders.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on August 24, 2019, 08:56:10 AM
I did cheesecake when i first got it, it was great. I have done banana bread as well.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on August 24, 2019, 02:57:06 PM
Dunno.  I've never encountered Junior's.  If the latter is a genuine New York cheesecake, then it probably compares to the IP cheesecake like Russ & Daughters' bagels compare to those round bread things from Lenders.

 :roll:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Suesquatch on December 22, 2019, 05:40:06 PM
So you can make pernil - yummy pork shoulder- in the instant ppt in 3 hours instead of 24.   My life will never be the same. I love this thing.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 26, 2019, 08:36:34 AM
So you can make pernil - yummy pork shoulder- in the instant ppt in 3 hours instead of 24.   My life will never be the same. I love this thing.

 :heartbeat:
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: rocketgirl on December 26, 2019, 03:23:52 PM
Is this the thread where I ask questions?  There seem to be a bunch of different models - 6-in-1 and 7-in-1 and 9-in-1.  I'm not not likely to make yogurt, but I'd definitely want to use it like a crock-pot, use the warmer setting for party food, might cook rice (since I don't have a rice cooker & don't cook rice enough to want one), would probably use the pressure-cooking feature just because fast is good, and wouldn't be opposed to whatever a "cake" setting is, but also don't care that much about it.  (Saving 30 minutes on a cheesecake that still has to sit in the fridge for 8 hours is kind of meh).  And I don't see needing the 8 qt for anything, ever.

Which Instant Pot model do you have?
What features do you use?
What features are overkill? 
Is it worth getting the one with wi-fi?  (Like, what are you making that you can just leave things in it without refrigeration and hit "go" from your phone right before you leave work for home?  Note, my personal commute home is usually only 10-15 minutes).
Would by you buy a different model if you had it to do over, and if so, which one?
Are you happy with the way it substitutes for a slow cooker/crock pot?
Is it more or less likely to spill in transport than a slow cooker/crock pot that does NOT have a locking lid?
Did you buy the extra silicon lid for transport, and does that help?  (And will it fit on without removing the inner pot?  Because for a party where you want to keep the food warm, I'd take the whole thing).
Anything else I need to know?

I am not a separate appliance for everything type person.  It's kind of between replacing my current crock pot with a crock pot that has a lid that locks for transport OR replacing my current crock pot with an Instant Pot (assuming I'm not going to spill during transport).  I don't want (nor do I have room for) 2 things that big in my cupboard.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: redkitty on December 26, 2019, 04:27:05 PM
I bought an IP back in July. Just used it for the first time last week. I have the Duo, I think 6 quart. I like it, but don’t love it yet. We made rice the first time we used it. With it “preheating” (pressurizing) and cooking and depressurizing I felt it saved ZERO time compared to just cooking it 20 minutes on the stove. My kids thought it was too sticky (but if u use oil that apparently solves that issue.) I don’t cook rice enough to really need the IP. Also I did not use the rice setting as apparently that is for plain white rice and used jasmine and basmati (2 separate occasions)

We cooked a whole chicken in it yesterday. Again didn’t save me time as the chicken was spatchcocked but none of the chicken was dried out so that was nice.

I haven’t transported so can’t answer the other questions. I would suggest getting one if it was around $50, which is what I paid. I know people who use theirs way more than I use mine.


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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: diablita on December 26, 2019, 04:38:54 PM
I'm not a good person to answer the majority of the questions as I don't like it enough to even know which model I have.  It's 6 qt and doesn't make yogurt.  I'm loaning mine to a friend tomorrow who will probably borrow it permanently, leaving me space in the pantry for an air fryer.

I will say that I'm just not the target market.  As for transporting, I can't imagine transporting the entire IP thingy with food in it but maybe others have done that?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: rocketgirl on December 26, 2019, 04:45:45 PM
Basically I'm categorizing the choice as between a crock pot (with locking lid so it doesn't spill!) and thing that can act as a crock pot (without spilling!) and do other shit that might be nice. 

I pretty much only use the existing crock pot for parties - either at my house or elsewhere -thus the spillage question.  I'm annoyed with having to saran wrap the lid in place and wrap the thing in a towel for transport.  Unless, I'm craving chili, I don't use it to just make shit for me.  (But if it did more stuff, or did it faster, I probably would).
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 26, 2019, 04:53:48 PM
I have the Duo 60 (7 in 1) model.  I don't really use the push button programs much.  I know (or can easily look up) what manual settings to use for things I tend to slow-cook or pressure-cook, so I just punch in the appropriate settings.  I do use the saute feature when I need to sear something and the yogurt program when I'm making yogurt, but that's about it.  Wifi connectivity would definitely be on my overkill list. 

It's a pressure cooker, so it has a locking lid by definition.  But it only locks up completely when it's pressurized.  So, if it falls over on its side and rolls around on the floor of a moving vehicle there might be some seepage.  No worries about things sloshing out during transport if it stays upright, though.  I did buy a non-locking glass top for it, but that's only because I didn't want any "flavors" from the regular top and sealing gasket polluting my yogurt. 

Instant Pots don't cost very much so it's probably not worth too much analysis.  If you buy one from Amazon, you can just return or exchange if it doesn't suit you.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: rocketgirl on December 26, 2019, 05:11:17 PM
I don't expect anything to fall on its side, but on the traditional crock pot with glass lid, the lid shifts, so carrying the crock pot or taking a turn in your vehicle sometimes will slosh contents and then you have chili on your sleeve or your floor mats or your car seat.

If even the "unlocked" lid for Instant Pot stays put for such things, that's an improvement. 

But per Dev's comment, what is the weight/awkwardness of carrying like, compared to a crock pot?

Also radial - your comment on the pre-program buttons, does that imply that some of the things a more-in-1 version will do with a single button, that a less-in-1 version will do just by looking up the proper settings yourself?
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 26, 2019, 05:48:49 PM
Is this the thread where I ask questions?  There seem to be a bunch of different models - 6-in-1 and 7-in-1 and 9-in-1.  I'm not not likely to make yogurt, but I'd definitely want to use it like a crock-pot, use the warmer setting for party food, might cook rice (since I don't have a rice cooker & don't cook rice enough to want one), would probably use the pressure-cooking feature just because fast is good, and wouldn't be opposed to whatever a "cake" setting is, but also don't care that much about it.  (Saving 30 minutes on a cheesecake that still has to sit in the fridge for 8 hours is kind of meh).  And I don't see needing the 8 qt for anything, ever.

I like my IP for cheesecake not because of saving time, but because the IP acts as a bain-marie that results in a creamy texture with no cracking.

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Which Instant Pot model do you have?

Duo, 8 qt, which is a monster and takes up a lot of counter space when I'm using it (it generally lives on a shelf at the bottom of our basement stairs).  Had I bought one for myself, it would have been a 6 qt, but the 8 qt has ended up being useful all the same.

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What features do you use?

Sauté, high pressure, yogurt, slow cooker.

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What features are overkill?
 

All the other buttons. :D

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Is it worth getting the one with wi-fi?


I wouldn't bother.
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Would by you buy a different model if you had it to do over, and if so, which one?

See above.  Would have bought the 6 qt.

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Are you happy with the way it substitutes for a slow cooker/crock pot?

Yep.  Works very well.

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Is it more or less likely to spill in transport than a slow cooker/crock pot that does NOT have a locking lid?
Did you buy the extra silicon lid for transport, and does that help?  (And will it fit on without removing the inner pot?  Because for a party where you want to keep the food warm, I'd take the whole thing).

I have never used my monster IP to transport anything.  Too unwieldy for my quick turns and stops in Boston traffic.  ;)  A 6 qt might be more manageable, and it looks like carrying bags are available for 6 qts and 8 qts.  However, like radial said, if it tips over, there will be spillage, but isn't that true for a crock pot, too?



Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: radial on December 26, 2019, 06:27:10 PM
The IP top stays on until you twist it off.  It's not going to slide off just from driving around.  It's not likely to fall over either unless you get in an accident or something.  I just mentioned that part so you wouldn't imagine that you could turn it upside down and shake it around without risking some dribble out the vent hole or around the gasket.   

Yes, that's what I meant about the buttons.  I picked the one with the yogurt button because I make a batch of yogurt every couple of weeks and didn't want to fool around with the manual settings trying to get the temperature low enough for the fermentation phase of the process.  But otherwise, I could have done fine with the cheapest six-quart model. 

The IP is pretty hefty.  It has to be sturdy so as not to blow up under pressure, I suppose.  But it's not all that heavy.  The one I use is just shy of 12 lbs.  The original Crockpot brand slow cooker of the same capacity weighs in at over 13 lbs and costs half again as much.  It has a nice carry handle.  But really now, you don't take these devices on a hike or anything.  For moving between vehicle and venue, the handles on the IP work just fine. 
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: rocketgirl on December 26, 2019, 06:30:09 PM
I have never used my monster IP to transport anything.  Too unwieldy for my quick turns and stops in Boston traffic.  ;)  A 6 qt might be more manageable, and it looks like carrying bags are available for 6 qts and 8 qts.  However, like radial said, if it tips over, there will be spillage, but isn't that true for a crock pot, too?

Well yes.  But the crock pots that do not have a lid lock (like mine) spill with just shifting unless you saran wrap the lid.  The whole thing doesn't have to tip over.  So I want to know if the IP lid is more secure.  Secure lid is of greater importance than all the things an appliance can do.  The "all the things" is a nice to have.  The "doesn't slosh out just because I turned" is imperative.

Non-cracking cheesecake would be nice though.  (Not imperative, but nice. )
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: DocBuzzkill on December 26, 2019, 06:32:47 PM
Well yes.  But the crock pots that do not have a lid lock (like mine) spill with just shifting unless you saran wrap the lid.  The whole thing doesn't have to tip over.  So I want to know if the IP lid is more secure.  Secure lid is of greater importance than all the things an appliance can do.  The "all the things" is a nice to have.  The "doesn't slosh out just because I turned" is imperative.

Non-cracking cheesecake would be nice though.  (Not imperative, but nice. )

If the lid is locked, then yes, it's reasonably secure (shouldn't slosh out).
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: rocketgirl on December 26, 2019, 06:33:00 PM
Thanks, radial!

I think if I find a decent price, I may go for the Instant Pot and get rid of my crock pot entirely.  (I will, of course, first read the instructions and make sure I'm smart enough to use it before getting rid of anything else.)
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: nadra24 on December 26, 2019, 06:52:42 PM
I have a 7-in-1 that has the yogurt function. I don't use that function very often but I'm glad to have it. I have transported stuff in it before and it's doable. I haven't ever used it as a slow cooker so I can't comment on that, though I have heard reviews that it doesn't function well as a slow cooker because the heat is just from the bottom as opposed to a crock pot where the heat comes from both the bottom and the sides of the cooker.

It looks like they're only $60 on Amazon so not a huge expense if you end up not liking it as a crock pot. Not too much more than getting just the crock pot, and with much more functionality.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: RioG on December 26, 2019, 10:43:36 PM
What does the yogurt function do?  The recipe I have just used the keep warm button 15 min then unplug.  You scald the milk first.

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Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: merigayle on December 28, 2019, 10:20:06 AM
I have transported food in it once and it was totally fine.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 29, 2019, 08:20:11 AM
When I bought the IP, I thought it was going to make several other things I had obsolete.  Not so.
I still use my zojirushi rice cooker, my steamer, and my crock pot.  I use the IP mostly for yogurt and beans. 
My steamer is better, because I can see throught it.  I steam eggs, potatoes, and fish in it.
I always make soups in the crock pot, except bean soups.
The rice cooker is always on the counter, so that is why I prefer to use it.  I also make oatmeal in the rice cooker. The IP is stored in the guest room, so I would need to get it out of there, and it's big.  (6 or 7 qt.)

I did buy additional silicone rings for the IP.  They absorb smell.

I did not buy a glass lid for the IP like Radial did.  I use the silicone lids that you can use on any pot.  It fulfills the same need.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: rocketgirl on December 29, 2019, 10:22:00 PM
Yeah, so I'm still overwhelmed by all the choices...  I think I am looking at the 6 qt Duo Nova.

I don't have a steamer or a rice cooker, so any extra functionality is a good thing!  I usually only use the crock pot for parties because there's not a lot of daily stuff that will either go the 9+ hours I'm at work or that I could otherwise do quickly when I get home.  I don't have room to leave any appliances out (other than the counter-top grill which is always out and I use regularly, even if it's just to grill sandwiches or make toast).  The crock pot will likely have to go away if I get an IP, because I am not sure I have room for both.
Title: Re: Instant pot?
Post by: Ice Cream on December 30, 2019, 08:42:24 AM
FWIW: Last night,I used my silicone lid on the crocpot and there was no spillage whatsoever.