Instant Pot - Buyers Remorse

[LadyFlumpalot]

I've been lusting after an Instant a Pot for months now, just had a look on Amazon and as they are on sale I caved and bought one. It's still A Lot Of Money for something though and now I'm worried I'll never use it and it'll be one of those things that gathers dust in the corner of my kitchen.

Please can all you lovely people regale me with reassuring tales of Instagram/Pinterest worthy kitchens and cooking now that an Instant Pot has arrived in your lives to help persuade DH me that I've not just spaced away £100?

Thanks!

Do you leave the steam vent open for steaming?
What do you do with the vent for slow cook it?
Both types of cooking were unsuccessful for me.

I leave the vent closed but I am not sure if you HAVE to

No the steam vent is for releasing the pressure after cooking.

I love mine too, much better than my ex slow cooker.
Has anyone done yoghurt in theirs with non dairy milk? Planning on trying that but recipes on line seem to vary so much!

No, I use UHT cows milk for my yogurt.

I have no problem using uht when making yoghurt for my dc, but think I may need to experiment

Love the idea of one of these, as I use my slow cooker so much. Can I ask, what do you think about getting one if you're vegetarian? Is it worth it or not? Also, can you make bread in it, like you can in a slow cooker?

I believe you can prove bread in it @Vebrithien not sure about actually baking it though.

You can make vegetarian food in them, have a google online for instant pot recipes and it'll bring up some vegetarian meals as examples

I had to leave because of the cheesecake recipes & the infighting

I think that might be my favourite mn post ever @Whatdoyouknowwhenyouknownowt 

I never used mine (just never found time to sit down and work out how to use it properly as I understand it has 'special ways'). Sold it for £20 more than I'd paid when the website sold out though so no harm done. The box just sat on the worktop for a year making me feel guilty though.

I've got the crock pot express. I love it. As others have said, the risottos are amazing and so easy. Makes lovely chilli and bolognese in no time at all and yet it tastes like you've slow cooked it for hours. Vegetable tagine is one of my favourite things to cook in it. I must use mine two or three times a week at least.

What was the infighting about?

Thanks meepmoop if I get one, I'd need to get rid of my slow cooker. Being able to bake bread in it is pretty key, so if it can only prove bread, maybe will give it a miss.

Have a look online @Vebrithien they might have ways to do it. I've never really looked into it I've just seen proving pop up on FB.

Vebrithien, I've never done it, but you can use it as a slow cooker. Use a random saucepan lid instead of the weighted one, and use a tea towel I would think.

Go on the FB Page Instantpot UK and ask!

I'm imagining myself as an organised, elegant super mum domestic goddess when this thing shows up. No more will we have weekday dinners of beige shit because I haven't got the time or energy to cook proper food!

TBF, my risotto tends towards the beige... but it's still delicious!

IT HAS ARRIVED! Question for the knowledgeable amongst you, when it says "a cup" in recipes do they mean the measuring cup that comes with it?

The cup that some with it. Mines lost dammit!

@Therewere5inthebed please tell me timings for rare roast beef, thanks

I'm attempting a lemon salmon vegetable thing. Wish me luck. I can't cook at the best of times...

I'm pretty sure that the cup that comes with it is a standard American cup measurement, which is about 230 ml. Many measuring jugs show cups in addition to ml and fl oz. I think I lost the cup that comes with it within the first week.

Good luck, Flump!

I think the cup is for when you do rice, so it's not a standard cup. I use an actual cup when I use it.

Good luck, I'm sure it'll be great