Why should I get a pressure cooker?

[WI Bubba]

I had an IP and swapped it out for something similar to this. Not that exact one, but with two pots. The small pot is perfect for doing smaller portions and I get much better searing on the stove top than I ever did with the electric one. The large pot is perfect for doing stocks like this.

Any pressure cooker will turn those long slow crock pot meals into something that is on the table in under an hour. If you want middle of the week pot roast, whip out the pressure cooker and it can happen.

4 chicken thighs
1/2 cup chicken stock
herbs and or spices to match what you are making.
I often use chili powder, cumin and oregano to make chicken quesadillas.

Brown the thighs in a little oil, then 15 minutes on high pressure and let it naturally release for at least 5 minutes. You will have moist, easily shredded chicken. Reduce the cooking liquid and you have a great sauce.

Cube up some beef, and use the same timing, you are rocking shredded beef sandwiches on a Tuesday.

Want to do a whole chuck roast? Try this one. Another favorite around here.

I think the Instant Pots got popular because people were afraid of the old style pressure cookers that their grandmas used, and prefer to just press a button. But, being the accomplished cook that you are, you will benefit from the added versatility of a pot that you control, and modern pressure cookers are much safer and easier to use than the old jiggle tops that came before them. The learning curve is very shallow. I dare say even Panhead John could figure out how to work one. Not nearly as fast as you will, but eventually he could figure it out.

So which one did you end up buying?

[Carolyn]

My Mom made roast in an old jiggle top pressure cooker. She seared the entire roast and then pressure cooked it, and she made awesome gravy that I have never been able to replicate.

[bbqLuv]

Panhead John What? I thought you didn't like me.
I hang my head in shame.

[bbqLuv]

Panhead John and WI Bubba

I hope you both don't like me.

[Michael_in_TX]

The Instant Pot can take upwards of 20-40 minutes to reach pressure, depending on the amount of food and what temperature the food is to start with. If I use the Sauté mode, the contents are already pretty hot, so it doesn't take long to come to pressure. Alternatively, if most of the contents are frozen, it can take much longer. That pressurizing time, when added to the cook time, means that the IP is not as snappy as it seems.

This is an incredibly important point. The time-to-get-to-pressure is omitted from nearly all recipes and it can take some time depending on what you're cooking and how much liquid.

In fact, I actually thought my IP was broken the first time I used it. I couldn't believe it took 40 minutes to even get started cooking.

Still eighty minutes vs six hours? I'll take it!

[Carolyn]

Yes, that is a good point. Then entire prep time should be considered, and that includes the time for the pressure to build up in the pot.

[jayjordan]

Another reason to have multiple sizes! The fuller the IP the less time it takes to get to pressure.

[Michael_in_TX]

jayjordan That was something that was so paradoxical to me and why I thought my pot was broken the first time I used it (it was filled to max). I thought that as there was less air, it would pressurize very quickly. Nope! Other way around!

[RolfTaylor]

I use mine for corned beef. And for a comfort food Beef Stroganoff recipe that I think I have shared before (sort of magical in that it cooks the noodles along with the sauce and beef). Not special but definitely nice comfort food. I should make some soon. And for oatmeal - for a while I would make a batch once a week and put it in containers in the fridge.

I may try beans sometime as canned beans are more expensive than dried. Work well for rice but I have a rice cooker and it is easier.

Mine was a gift and I do find it useful, but only a few times a year, especially since I stopped making oatmeal..

[glitchy]

Mine went up to the camper to serve mostly as a crockpot there. I’ll eat some beans, but I am not a connoisseur or lover and the girls won’t touch them. We have a microwave rice cooker. So, I used it a couple times at home to make Mexican chuck roasts, but the recipe I used made the seals stink so bad I had to replace them (it was delicious though). So, for me wasn’t worth the space it took. With chuck roast pushing 9-10/lb, I haven’t missed it at all.

If you make beans, a lot of braised dishes, or need to replace your crock pot, probably a great tool. I didn’t love it as a crockpot though because my chili always scorched a bit in it, which never happens in my regular crock pot.

[texastweeter]

Beans, grits, stock, soups, quick sauces, peas, rice, barley, groats...im sure im missing something. If you get a pressure canner then the options get even wider.

[Huskee]

I love how our Instant Pot cooks eggs, perfect hard boiled eggs, perfect egg bites (if those are your thing, or they may become if they're not), and it's a kick butt machine for pot roast and pork butt for carnitas.

[DavidNorcross]

We have one and never use it. Still use a crock pot and have a canner for our vegetables. There are a lot of folks that love insta pots. We are just creatures of habit, I guess.

[hoovarmin]

Bro, get one. You won't be sorry. And get the biggest one you can find. Sorry for all the technical detail in this post.

[JCBBQ]

🤣😂🤣😂

[drobinson]

Gotta have one-------------if just for boiled peanuts.

[JCBBQ]

Well hell, I didn’t realize I needed boiled peanuts. 👍👍

[SheilaAnn]

I was just talking about boiled peanuts today!

[RolfTaylor]

Are boiled peanuts what is used to make peanut soup? I tried that (IIRC it was at Mount Vernon) and did not enjoy it at all.

[Thunder77]

I have three of them. 3,6, and 8 quart. I use them
for making large batches of broth, pot roast, etc. The 3 quart is used a lot for rice, barley, farro and other grains. Also use them for hard cooked eggs. They also have a sear/sauté setting which helps for making one-pot meals. Slow cooker function as well. My 3 and 8 quart are instant pot. My 6 quart is a Ninja Foodi. They also can be used to make homemade yogurt.

[JCBBQ]

Thank you.