We’ve ordered an Instant Pot

[CruCru]

Do you have one? What do you like to make in it?

I used to have a slow cooker, which was great for making stock and mulling wine.

Steaming is done with the vent open GrannyHaddock. So you're using the heating element to heat the water and create steam (make sure you have enough water), but the vent is open so pressure doesn't build up and seal the pot.

Risotto update-did another today on 6 mins & it was fab! Just did plain risotto in the IP & added other stuff at the end.

Dear Lougle, thanks for your reply, but it does not accord with my User Manual, which on pages 10 and 15 refers to "Steam" as a pressure cooking mode, which is what has been puzzling me. It does appear that there are three levels of steam, (less, normal, more), as opposed to high/low pressure cooking.
Whatever the difference might be, I am utterly delighted with the IP. Before it arrived, I mysteriously told the family that this new device would transform our lives. I was being dramatic, but it has turned out to be actually true. Familiar recipes taste better, and the whole process is slimmed down to a minimum of time taken and clearing up. I find I have gone back to using my trusty Netherton Foundry wok to fry ingredients before pressure cooking. It's roomier and I can strain off the meat fat. Also there is a reduced likelihood of hearing the burning klaxon!
Thanks to all of you and Mumsnet for bringing the Instant Pot to my notice. I use It at nearly every mealtime. It is taking a little practice to get the best from it, but it is great fun learning.

www.instantpot.co.uk/faqs/ You're right. I've just looked it up here and found a video FAQ that explains it fully. Hope it helps

Also I was late harvesting my few beetroot but pulled them out yesterday & cut up & cooked in the steamer for 7 mins & they were great too!

Also did bulgur wheat which the IP said towards the end was burning, (I was quite pleased to have something go wrong!). It was fine but a bit stuck to the bottom. When it burns does it just stop cooking?

Thanks for that link, Lougle. I've watched it now but it didn't explain how steaming differs from regular pressure cooking. I thought it might say that steaming occurs at a lower pressure than the usual, but nothing like that was mentioned. I think it must be something to do with that though.

I used my instant pot this morning to make porridge, it was absolutely amazing! I'm a total convert.

Ok, @GrannyHaddock, just for you, I searched the internet high and low and have found an explanation for you:

"All of the pressure modes create steam (lower case s) to create pressure, including the Steam mode (upper case S).

The difference is that the Steam mode keeps the temp at full blast for the whole duration it's being used, where the other regular pressure modes vary the temp/etc up and down through the cycle.

That's also why the Steam mode is the only pressure mode that must use PiP (pot in pot) so no food or pot will be sitting directly on the bottom of the liner (which would be too hot for many things)."

Does that help?

That was from here

Lougle, thank you! How interesting. I wonder why that information is hidden away.

Just coming back to say the IP is in Black Friday on Amazon, £79.99, down from £115 a couple of months ago.

Meet You beat me to it! I’ve been watching it all week and just ordered one!

Excellent!

Ha! I came on Mumsnet to share the Amazon news. Love how when I spotted it my first thought was ‘I must tell MNetters!!’

I had a delicious 2 meal combo last week. I used a kilo of chicken drumsticks with baby potatoes, onion, carrots, red peppers, and chicken stock cube. I set that on time delay for an hour, then 30 minutes cook, so that it would be ready for when we got in from DD2's Brownies' meeting. That served 5.

The next lunchtime, I blended the left over vegetables & stock, and it made the most lovely, thick soup, enough for 2 portions for DH and me.

So yesterday was prime day. Today macaroni cheese (delicious and amazingly quick) and lots of recipe hunting. Tomorrow I'm going to parboil the roast potatoes and cook broccoli to go with the chicken, and will then pop the bones in for stock. And then I need to do some planning/shopping. So far I have bookmarked honey sesame chicken and veg biryani, plus carrot cake and cheesecake. I can see this becoming addictive and I totally blame mumsnet....

I've bought my mum an IP. She's not great with internet hunting, not too bad but I'd like to print some tips & recipes - I'll do my go tos of macaroni cheese & risotto but if anyone has any links for yogurt, other recipes, potatoes, veg, cheesecake etc, I'd love some links 😁

@werekitty do you have your porridge recipe? Or does anyone have a tasty porridge recipe?

For one portion I use 40g porridge oats and 180ml milk, I cook it pot in pot for 4 minutes with about 200ml water. Then give it a good stir when it is ready and leave for 2/3 minutes to thicken up. Then serve with fruit and cream. I now eat it most mornings and prefer it to other cereals!

I can recommend every Nook and cranny recipes especially the risotto and cheesecakes.

Fab thanks. Will try the porridge in the morning. Just opened ours today and already made the risotto recommend on here and some lentil soup. Both delicious. Really enjoying reading through this thread.

Sorry @werekitty do you stand the pot in the 200 mill of water like I would do when I’ve made porridge in the slow cooker? And is it 4 mins on high pressure. Can you tell I am new to this?!

Yes and yes, stand the pot on the trivet and pour the water around it. It's trial and error for the cooking time, I find that 4 minutes is enough time but I do allow a natural pressure release afterwards. If you join the UK instant pot Facebook group then that's really good with tips and recipes.

Thank you again. Worked really well needed to add a bit more milk at the end but that’s how I like it. So easy.

Super thanks - I'm no porridge lover but my mum likes it so that's a good one