I have a pressure cooker already. Not automated at all. Also have a slow-cooker/rice cooker. Do I need an instapot? What is so special about the instapot? Also anyone tried the new ninja thing out? I have never used an air fryer and I am skeptic it will really work to crisp up chicken skin.
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No, you don't need a second pressure cooker if you like that one you have.-
Maybe if I ditch the slow cooker, slow cooker and pressure cooker to save space it makes sense. -
Now it sounds like you want one. I like mine. I still have a traditional pressure cooker that I never use. I also still have a slow cooker that I haven't used since I got my Instant Pot. Keep in mind an instant pot isn't exactly a slow cooker though. It doesn't have a ceramic pot.
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We have a Breville electric PC/slow cooker. We hardly ever use the stovetop PC anymore, but we also don't use the slow cooker function on the Breville. It's great for rice and a lot of other things (stews, risotto, ...). With the Instant Pot, you could get rid of the slow cooker, the stovetop PC, and the rice cooker - would give you some extra space.Comment
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We love our Instant Pot. Never use the pressure cooker anymore. It's like the BluRay player vs the VHS if you ask me.Comment
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We have an old stovetop pressure cooker, and so we didn't feel it was worth the investment in an Insta-pot. Then Costco (don't know whether to praise them or curse them..
) had Insta-pots on sale recently so we got one. Wow. It's really a handy tool, and we've not even come close to using all its functions. Plus, added bonus, it has half-again more capacity than our old cooker.
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So the thing I like best about the Instant Pot is the programming. The second best thing is the auto warm function. Both of those functions let you start a meal when you head to work and it's ready when you get home. You can't do that with a traditional pressure cooker.
Ours is taking a break while I play with my new smoker, but it took the place of our many crock pots and made at least 2 meals a week since we bought it.
Do you need one? Maybe. Just depends how many of the functions you would use. If you are just doing normal pressure cooking it might not be worth it, though in my opinion it's better than a traditional pressure cooker just because of the built in safety and temperature functions.
The only thing I haven't done is make yogurt.
As to the air fryer thing, my wife bought that. I sent her back to the store immediately for a return after reading the reviews. If you have to eat healthy, maybe. Otherwise it just doesn't do anything great, and most things mediocre. Maybe the newer ones perform better, but all the non-paid reviews last year were so-so at best.Last edited by ItsAllGoneToTheDogs; October 24, 2018, 04:54 PM.Comment
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BriggsBBQ I just saw ads for the Ninja one. It is a different design than the ones I looked at last year. I like my Ninja blender but I think it's an overhyped brand, only got it because it was on sale at Sams Club... which is the same reason the wife tried to buy that air fryer thing they had (forget what brand). -
Just watched this vid and have a few concerns. 1. the footprint is pretty massive. 2. two separate lids ad a crap load of accessories... gonna need a lot of space 3. the interior pot is non-stick instead of stainless, way easier to maintain the stainless ones. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RP1gZ_I8sSI
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I love my instapot. I had an older electric pressure cooker that it replaced. I don't have a rice cooker, and it's not going to replace my crock pot, which is much larger and is primarily used to keep chili that I've cooked elsewhere warm, and for making King Ranch Casserole, which doesn't come out as well in the instant pot due to the shape of the pot.
I mostly use it to make soups. On Wednesday, I made a Hatch chile, chicken, and black bean soup that was (still is) pretty amazing and it took me longer to dice the chicken breasts than it did to actually cook the soup. The recipe called for placing the breasts whole in the pot, then pulling them out after cooking, shredding, then returning the chicken to the soup. But that sounded like more trouble than dicing chicken tenderloins and cooking them as is. I also prefer chicken chunks to shredded chicken in my soup.
My favorite use, though, is some basil parmesan orzo pasta that is an outstanding side dish and takes about 15 minutes total to make, and most of that time is the time the cooker takes to come to pressure. It only cooks for 2 minutes after it comes to pressure.Comment
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I'll second an earlier thought. The programming. THE programming.
I tossed my pressure cooker. I have a very simple slow cooker that still gets used a lot - but half the time I use the pull out tub to store something I cooked elsewhere, and sometimes to sort-of faux cambro.Comment
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Love my instapot as well. We got rid of our slow cooker and rice cooker (parents stole my stove top pressure cooker a while ago). Its great for stews etc and anything you would generally use a pressure cooker for. It also does make the best damn hard boiled eggs ever. We have never found the need for any of the accessories yet.Comment
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As you can see it’s just another must have. How did they even manage to survive 70 years agoComment
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Upside: It works really well. In fact, it is one of those rare gadgets that lives up to the hype.
Downside: It costs money and takes up counter space.
Essential? Absolutely not.
Useful? Absolutely.
Once you get into its rhythm, the best thing about it is cleanup. Everything can happen in the Instant Pot. Second best thing is it turns long cooks into short cooks. If you want pot roast and it's 4PM, you will have pot roast at 6PM. Even if you have to go to the store first. (Really, really good pot roast, btw.)Comment
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Along the same lines - we bought a new oven/range a year and a half ago. I wanted an induction top she didn't. Of course she won. They sell plug in induction one burner cookers. I am thinking I would like it near my BBBQ's sometimes and in the house at others. Of course I have 5 electric ones already built in. If you think I would benefit from the single induction unit, then you probably think you could use the Insta-pot. If you think getting the induction burner is a bit over the top, you are probably in the same boat. Let me know what you think I should do. Obviously I think you should get the Insta-pot.Comment
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Thank you for all the information. I talked to my wife and we are going to toss out the old pressure cooker and rice cooker for a Instapot. The main thing I just wanted to make sure it lives up to the hype/commercial. Sometimes you buy stuff and it just does not work that well. Sounds like the Instapot really is cool.Comment
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Instant Pot's a great tool. Check out reviews here: https://www.hippressurecooking.com/p...-buying-guide/
They've got an article on there to help you decide "which instant pot is for you" too. Not to mention lots of great recipes. Enjoy! -
The website EdF posted is probably where I get 90% of my IP recipes. The wife is on some facebook group, and some of the stuff they have looks good but the format isn't conducive to cooking while reading most of the time.
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treesmacker Here is the link to the orzo recipe I adapted for my own use:
1) I put in a bit more broth (not a lot.)
2) I cook it for 2 minutes instead of 1.
3) once I sautee the onions and garlic, I add the broth and let the pot cool down quite a bit. This will keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom and burning. I like to use Better than Bullion instead of canned or boxed chicken broth - I can control the chicken intensity. If you have your own home made broth, that would be better.
4) Instead of tomatoes, I sautee mushrooms separately in butter and shallots, then add some wine and reduce, throwing some minced garlic in for the last 30 seconds.
I usually cook some skinless chicken thigh filets in olive oil and italian seasoning and serve those on top of the orzo.
This recipe's amount of orzo is one box.
It's easy and delicious. You can also use dry basil instead of fresh. I add it before cooking instead of at the end. Or you can use pesto... just drop a couple dollops in after cooking and mix it up.Comment
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