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How to Use Your New Instant Pot, Tutorials and Recipes to Get You Started

So, you got an Instant Pot, Maybe you got one for Christmas! Now what? Here is a list of some great how to guides on using your Instant Pot and some suggestions of things to try with it.  Note: all external links and photos are used with the permission of the wonderful bloggers who created the materials. So please visit them and share their hard work! Bloggers, some of you I got from the Mediavine custom search where you gave permission to be included in posts. If that has changed and you no longer wish to be included, contact me and I will remove you from the post.

Also, join our Facebook group for more recipes and tips from this site and from other Instant Pot users and other bloggers! 

Starter Instant Pot Tutorial

First and foremost, you probably would like a tutorial on how to use the Instant Pot. Maybe one with lots of great photos and step-by-step instructions. I keep meaning to write one myself, but haven’t gotten around to it yet. So, here is a top-notch Instant Pot tutorial for you to visit instead. This is one of the best how to use an Instant Pot resources on the web!  It also includes how to do a water test and video. Head over to the Instant Pot Beginners Quick Start Guide from Paint the Kitchen Red for a great way to get started.

Instant Pot Functions

 

Next, how about all of those functions? Everyone knows that the main thing you can use an Instant Pot for is pressure cooking, but there are buttons there for a lot of things! Yogurt, soup, rice, manual, etc. What do those Instant Pot Buttons mean? A Mindful Mom has a great post on all of the Instant Pot functions: Instant Pot Functions (What do all these button mean?!)

Instant Pot Recipes

For a really good ebook of beginner recipes, check out this one from some fellow bloggers who write good recipes. 

OK, so now maybe you want to try some things. I suggest starting with some easy pressure cooking recipes.  Here are my favorite easy recipes here on the site:

Instant Pot Bacon Corn Chowder: Hands down, my favorite soup.

Instant Pot Chicken and Wild Rice Soup: An easy and unique take on chicken soup to get you started.

Instant Pot Korean Pork Chops: I adapted this for the Instant Pot and it actually improved my favorite pork chop recipe!

Instant Pot Cabbage and Sausage: One of the most popular recipes on this site!

Instant Pot Bacon Ranch Pasta: Super easy and super delicious!

Instant Pot Apple Crisp: Because you can do dessert in the pot too!

By the way, if you peak over at our sidebar or on our homepage, you can sign up to get our recipes by email as they come out.

Instant Pot Yogurt

Now that you have learned pressure cooking meals, what about some other things? Many people like to try their hand at making yogurt. Whole Natural Life has a good basic guide here: Instant Pot Yogurt.  Meanwhile, Piping Pot Curry has a tutorial on No Boil Cold Ingredients Yogurt. This will be closer in consistency to Greek Yogurt. Then, speaking of Greek Yogurt, This Old Gal has an excellent tutorial on that: Instant Pot Greek Yogurt.

Instant Pot Rice

Another favorite use of the Instant Pot is to use it as a rice cooker. It really is a great machine in how it replaces both your rice cooker and your slow cooker.  Read our How to Make Instant Pot White Rice for a recipe. Risotto is also wonderful in the Instant Pot. Here is an Instant Pot Mushroom Risotto recipe.

Recipes From A Pantry also has a great tutorial on make the perfect Instant Pot Quinoa.

Instant Pot Slow Cooking

Now, on to slow cooking. Yes! Your Instant Pot is also a slow cooker! A Mindful Mom has you covered there as well with her article on How to Use the Instant Pot as a Slow Cooker.

What about moving the other direction and converting crock pot recipes to pressurize cooking recipes?  Personally, I have adapted a number of recipes, mostly with some trial and error. Some like my Korean Pork chops (linked earlier) and Instant Pot Gumbo, have come out even better in the Instant Pot!

Instant Pot Hard Boiled Eggs

Do you like hard boiled eggs? That is another favorite use of the Instant Pot. Cook Eat Paleo shows you how to make Instant Pot Hardboiled Eggs.

Instant Pot Baking

The Instant Pot can also bake! Yep, using a trivet and spring form pan, such as in this set (affiliate link). you can bake things! Here on the site, our Instant Pot Lasagna is popular. But you can also do great desserts. See our Instant Pot Desserts roundup for 16 great recipes!

Cleaning the Instant Pot

Finally when it comes to cleaning your pot, a common complaint is that the sealing ring holds in odors. It can get downright stinky! Cooking With Janica shows you exactly how to deodorize a smelly Instant Pot sealing ring.

So, there you have it. A good selection of links to get your started on your way to enjoying your new Instant Pot!

 

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momakid

Friday 6th of March 2020

I am getting the Instant Pot Omni Plus Toaster Oven, 26L for our camper. We are going to take out the stove, oven and hood and replace it with your Toaster Oven. Is there a way to email me every recipe for the Toaster Oven or be able to download them? There is no internet so I need the recipes on my computer or tablet. I would appreciate being able to get all of the recipes by a download or email.

Carleen

Friday 6th of March 2020

I do not have a bulk download available, but you could go to the category for air fryer recipes and take a screen shot of each recipe card. You can also print the recipe cards.

25 Sweetpeas

Thursday 20th of December 2018

They are most popular right now and so many good recipes for it!

Polarbelle

Wednesday 19th of December 2018

Very timely post!!! your food pics are excellent

Glamorable

Wednesday 19th of December 2018

Instant Pot is amazing, it makes cooking so fast and convenient!

Jen Walker

Wednesday 19th of December 2018

I have been thinking of getting one of these, and may have to pick one up after the holidays!

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