Figuring out how to get started with your Instant Pot can be intimidating– which is why many people just leave it in the box! This easy-to-follow beginners Instant Pot guide will help you understand all those buttons, learn the most important rules about pressure cooking, give you five EASY recipes to try first, and more.
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Did you get an Instant Pot recently? (If you missed the sale, they’re on sale again right now!)
Are you wondering where to start or whether you’re brave enough to take it out of the box?
I’d love to help!
How to Get Started with Your Instant Pot
I have been cooking in my Instant Pots for a couple of years now, and this summer since I am writing a cookbook FULL of Instant Pot recipes, I am often using it 3 or 4 or 5 times a day!
I am obviously a big fan, and I want to help you become a devoted pot-head too. 😉
Since I have a habit of being long-winded (you can see this Instant Pot Top Ten Must-Have Recipes post for proof), I have really tried to keep this how-to guide short and sweet for you. Keep reading and you will find 5 must-know rules for using your Instant Pot, the 5 buttons you will use most often, 5 fool-proof recipes to try first, and 5 accessories worth owning.
If you prefer videos, you can also watch all of this content on my YouTube channel!
- Getting Started with Your Instant Pot :: Part 1, Rules & Buttons
- Getting Started with Your Instant Pot :: Part 2, 5 Fool-Proof Recipes
AND because I have a love of printables (especially ones I can laminate and keep in my kitchen), I created a printable with all this info that you can download for free to refer back to when you need it!
Download and print the reference sheet.
5 MUST-KNOW Rules to Using the Instant Pot
There’s a lot you can (and will) learn about using your Instant Pot. (The manual is a great place to start, too). But here are five simple rules to get you started.
1. Pressure cooking requires a thin liquid.
Any time you pressure cook with your Instant Pot, you must have enough thin liquid in your pot. Water, broth, and wine are all great options. Not using enough thin liquid, or using liquids like cream based soups, thick sauces, or pasta sauce without a thin liquid at the bottom can prevent your Instant Pot from coming to pressure and can result in seeing a “BURN” message on the Instant Pot screen.
When in doubt, always start with at least 1/2 cup of thin liquid at the bottom of the pot before adding other ingredients.
2. Quick release/ Natural release & Sealing/Venting Valve
Every Instant Pot lid has a valve to control whether the Instant Pot is sealing or venting. It seems loose when you move it, but don’t worry, it’s doing its job. This is the valve you move to release pressure after cooking with your Instant Pot.
Recipes for the Instant Pot will either call for a quick release of pressure, or a natural release. Quick release means as soon as the cook time is complete, you turn the valve from sealing to venting to let out the pressure. This doesn’t have to be intimidating, though. Just keep your hand/arm out of the path of the steam and you will be fine.
Natural release means you let the pressure release on its own. Depending on how much liquid you have in your Instant Pot, naturally releasing the pressure can take from five minutes to twenty or thirty. A good general rule of thumb is to always let meat naturally release, at least for ten minutes, to prevent the meat from drying out. Beans also should be allowed to naturally release so the foam does not spray out.
3. Always deglaze after sautéing.
Being able to brown meat and sauté vegetables is one of the best features of the Instant Pot! Don’t skip this step when a recipe calls for it! The few minutes of extra time are worth it.
Whenever you use the sauté feature before pressure cooking, it is very important to deglaze the bottom of the pot before you start pressure cooking. This simply means you need to use a spatula to scrape the bottom of the pot when you pour in the cooking liquid and release any food that is stuck to the bottom. If you skip this step, your Instant Pot can think that food is burning and give you the dreaded “BURN” message.
4. Cooking from frozen & Cook Time, size and weight
People love that you can put in frozen chicken breasts, or a frozen roast in their Instant Pot, press start, and walk away. It’s amazing! When you cook from frozen, just remember to account for a much longer time for the Instant Pot to come to pressure!
Another important rule to remember is that the cook time for meat is determined by the size of the meat, not the quantity. That means that a pot roast that is intact– one large 2 to 3 pound piece will take much longer to cook than if you took the same roast and cut it into 2 to 3 inch pieces. The same applies to chicken breasts. A whole chicken breast takes 8-10 minutes, but if you cut the chicken breast into cutlets or 1 or 2 inch pieces, you can cut the cook time in half.
5. Calculating a complete cook time & The timer
This final rule can be the most frustrating for new Instant Pot users! They see that the recipe needs to cook for fifteen minutes under pressure, and then plan accordingly. They soon realize, though, that the time under pressure only accounts for a third of the overall cooking time!
When you are trying to plan for how long a meal will take to cook, you need to remember TOTAL COOKTIME = TIME TO COME TO PRESSURE + TIME UNDER PRESSURE + TIME TO RELEASE PRESSURE.
The more liquid/contents in your Instant Pot, the longer it will take to come to pressure, and to release pressure.
Another confusing element of the Instant Pot for new users can be the timer. The timer reads ON when you press start, and only switches to the cook time once the pot comes to pressure. Then the timer will count down the selected cook time. Once the cook time is complete, the timer will switch and begin to count up. It will continuing counting up until you hit cancel.
Want a cookbook full of tips and healthy recipes your family will love?
Family Meals from Scratch in Your Instant Pot comes out this May!
Find more details and how to preorder here!
5 Most Used Buttons
The Instant Pot has a lot of buttons, and the control panel can definitely seem intimidating when you are getting started. Learn these five buttons, and you will be good to go.
1. Saute
Use this button to brown meat and sauté aromatics and vegetables before pressure cooking. Press the button and wait until the screen reads HOT.
2. Pressure Cook/ Manual
Press this button to cook food under pressure. Make sure the lid is on and the valve is switched to sealing.
3. Cancel/ Keep Warm
Use this button to switch between functions, or to turn the Instant Pot off. Press to keep food warm.
4. Adjust
Use the Adjust or Pressure button to switch between heat settings on sauté, yogurt, and pressure cook.
5. Yogurt
You can use this button to make yogurt, boil milk, and proof bread dough.
(How to make yogurt in ten simple steps)
5 Fool-Proof Recipes to Try First
Each of these recipe is perfect for a beginner! They will make you feel confident and ready to keep going with your Instant Pot!
1. Steel Cut Oats
Combine 1 cup of steel cut oats and 3 cups of water in the Instant Pot. Set the time to 3 minutes under high pressure. Let the pressure naturally release. Stir in whatever toppings you prefer.
2. Hardboiled Eggs
Pour 1 cup of water in the Instant Pot, then place in a trivet or steaming basket. Add your eggs to the trivet/basket, then cover the Instant Pot and set the cook time for 5 minutes under high pressure. Quick release the pressure when the cook time is complete, then transfer the eggs to a bowl of ice water. Cool, then peel the eggs. (Peeling is so much easier with the Instant Pot!)
3. B0x mac’n’cheese
I love making box mac’n’cheese in the Instant Pot. It’s even easier, if you can believe me. Dump the dried macaroni in the pot, then pour in 1 cup of water. Cover the Instant Pot, turn the valve to sealing, and set the cook time for 3 minutes under high pressure. Quick release the pressure when the cook time is complete. Add 1 tablespoon of butter, 3 tablespoons of milk, and the cheese packet. Stir until blended and smooth.
4. Ridiculously Easy Chicken Breasts
This is the easiest way to get tasty and juicy chicken breasts in your Instant Pot! Use it for chicken salad, for topping on tossed salads, and more.
It doesn’t get much easier than this shredded chicken! Visit Instant Loss to get the recipe, and enjoy some delicious chicken tacos with very little effort! (While you’re there, check out some of the other great recipes Brittany has!)
5 Accessories to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Pot
You can go crazy buying extra accessories for your Instant Pot, but these are my favorite. These are the ones that I use most frequently, and can each be used for multiple recipes.
I LOVE having an extra inner pot. It comes in handy so often!
This dish is perfect for shepherd’s pie, lasagnas, meatloaf, egg casseroles, and more.
You can fit all six of these ramekins in a 6qt Instant Pot. They are PERFECT for creme brûlée!
A springform pan is handy for cheesecakes, brownies, breads, and so on. This is the one I have.
The rings in the Instant Pot can take on smells over time, which is why it is handy to reserve certain colors for sweet dishes, drinks, etc. I use my red ring exclusively for Instant Pot iced tea.
Want to go deeper and see several recipes demonstrated? Check out this 3-part video series for beginners!
Want more Instant Pot recipes, tips, and videos?
Click here for more Instant Pot recipes.
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Jennifer Kraft says
I believe you did a review of the different models of IP pots. I need to order a new one and would like to read your review.
Jennifer KRaft
Daisy says
Thank you so much, very helpful
Patti says
I’ve seen quick reference guides posted elsewhere that I think might be yours. If so, would you post them? I really want to print them. They are:
10 must have IP recipes,
IP cooking times for meats,
“The Instant Pot Cheat Sheet” (of various functions for specific foods),
cooking charts,
IP – converting recipes,
IP cooking times (for things beside meats),
5 must-know rules.
Do those all sound familiar? I’d love to be able to print whatever quick reference guides you have. Thank you!!