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!

If I recall correctly it was approx a 14" cube (6L Duo).

Not sure about weight, sorry. It's not heavy for its size IYSWIM.

Thanks pickle!

Thanks Meet

will be getting one but currently undecided between the instant pot & the pressure king pro.

How is the slow cook function on the instant pot as I have read reviews that it isn't great?

I have never found myself needing to use the slow cook function, I pressure cook eveeything and leave it on keep warm afterwards. But I have heard that the slowcook is quite a high temp in the IP compared to normal slowcookers.

Day two with the Instant Pot... chicken casserole!

Two much water to start with, but still tasty and quick!

I’m thinking about one of these now. I have a steamer I never use so it could take the cupboard space of that.
Did I read that it can be a steamer too?

This Mongolian Beef is fantastic, I make big batches and freeze it in zip lock bags and we have it every Sunday.

Instant Pot Mongolian Beef

It also does perfect, tender brown rice which I have never been able to get on the stove top.

Perfect Brown Rice

The only issue with that Mongolian Beef recipe is that it's a bit short on vegetables so I saute some red and yellow peppers, onion and zucchini then goes them in after the pressure cooking is done.

That looks delicious! I'll have to give that a go! I've made it two days into the week and we have yet to eat oven chips! We're doing well!

Sorry about the U.S. measurements in the recipe . 😁

@LadyFlumpalot

Keep a stash of cornflour in the cupboard and throw it in on sauté mode.

Keep a stash of cornflour in the cupboard and throw it in on sauté mode

If you're referring to the Mongolian Beef recipe, cornflour is the cornstarch that the recipe calls for. I use a bit more than the recipe calls for to get a thicker sauce.

I have no remorse!

I made the filling for a chicken pie today in half the time I normally would - also steamed the potatoes at the same time. It was bloody lovely. The thing I love most about it is walking away and letting it do its thing without watching it constantly.

I’ve been reading through recipes but I can’t see it saving much time. But I don’t eat meat so perhaps it’s better for meat recipes.

@ChesterGreySideboard I have the same issue. Someone up thread told me that it cooks fish very quickly but frankly that’s only 15 mins in the oven anyway or less in a pan. I might use it for risottos and lentil bolognaise etc. It could save some stirring time but I’m worried that veggie dishes will end up mush. I will google more recipes and try to convince myself!

Oh damn, I talked myself out of getting one of these in the Black Friday sale but now I really want one!! However I have the worlds smallest kitchen and really no space for another gadget....

I’ve used mine 3 times today. I love it! Porridge for breakfast, split pea soup for lunch and pea risotto for dinner. All v tasty. I’m veggie and do tasty curries, soup, rice, veg etc

Following

How is it any quicker for porridge? It only takes moments on the hob (no microwave).

It’s the curries that interest me.

@chester. No, not quicker but means I can get on with other things rather than watching it on the hob. That’s why I like it, it’s not always quicker soup for example but sauté, add stock and leave.

Ah, I see. I don’t have DC so I can spend 45 uninterrupted minutes cooking dinner.

Yes, multi tasking. I made a curry the other day, sauteed the chicken and onion in the IP while preparing ginger, garlic, spices etc, popped it all in witn some stock, cream and tomatoes, lid on, buttons pressed, went off and did my ironing and came back half an hour later to a perfectly cooked curry.