Instant Pot - should I get one?

[BeverlyCleary]

Does anyone have one? Would you recommend it? What do you use it for? We don't have a big kitchen - is it worth the space it will occupy? If I get one how big should it be? We're a family of 4. Options are 3l, 5.7l and 8l. Thank you

here

@TrickyD

I gave DS1 and DIL an Instant pot Duocrisp for Christmas. I was a bit peeved because I had been asking what they would like, gave up when no answers were forthcoming, bought other presents, then DS suggested DIL had been longing for one of these.

They were by that stage hard to track down but I found one at Lakeland, and as I had a £10 voucher, I went for it. Just as well, as I just looked and they have gone up by £30.

The good news is that they are loving its many functions. Obviously great chips but excellent stews and soups. They are going to test its sous-vide function.

A very successful present. (DS2 got a Eufy Robovac, equally delighted).

Get one, OP.

Mine is the Duo Crisp as well and it's fab.

So, it looks like it's going to be the Instant Pot. Thanks everyone for your advice.

I love mine so much I've just bought a second - the newer model evo duo plus-I can try sous vide in it! Any other tips on the newer model welcomes 😁

I make my own yogurt in the instantpot so will be good to have a second in case I want to do 3 things at once.

I am so excited for it to arrive / it's been out of stock for ages & a reduced on amazon & I had a Christmas voucher to use.

I just came here to start a thread on instant pots!

I have a new one (my old, other brand, more basic version died) and I am just boiling some eggs (first time - there may be some cleaning up to do!).

Anyway - I got the baby 2l one because of space and find it hard to get accessories for it (cake tins, egg bite moulds, silicone ‘sling’ lifters etc.). It’s big enough to make pasta/soup for 3 through.

@AlwaysLatte - I used to make Dahl every week in my old pressure king pro and it does come out really nice - just keep an eye on the liquid amount you put in and I used to cook it for a little with the lid off I’d it was too sloppy.

I have the 3l Version, not 2l...

Oh yes and the small one doesn’t accommodate an air frier either!

I have a ninja foodi version that does the same things but also air dryer, grill, steam among other things, it's amazing, I've used it everyday since having it!

I bought mine a few years ago after reading about them on another thread . I ended up going for the crockpot version as it was on offer at the time.

It is big and is permanently on the worktop but I have the room so it's fine. I worried it would be a fad and I'd get bored with using it but it's brilliant.

I wouldn't be without it and use it a few times a week.

Stews , chicken , risotto , vegetable tagine , bolognese and chilli are the main things I cook in it.

I keep mine on a big old pizza stone on a back hob ring (you have to be careful that it isn’t too close to the other rings when they are on).

boymum9 I have the Ninja Foodi also. It was a bit daunting at first but I love it now.

Thanks @ThatIsNotMyUsername It's curry night tonight so I might just be brave and try it out!

I don’t love mine. I preferred my big old slow cooker which bit the dust last year.

Not sure what I’m doing wrong but stuff tends to be tough.

@JKRismyPatronus oh yea agree! I think I've only managed to work out a small selection of what it can actually do, but right now I love the pressure cook, air fryer and sauté function, I need to done some other stuff too!

This yellow split pea dahl is lovely & freezes well.

Would love any great fried & tested recipes 😁

https://www.platingsandpairings.com/instant-pot-dal/#wprm-recipe-container-13303

@amusedtodeath1

I have a Pressure King Pro (the same as instantpot but British made and a bit cheaper), I love it, I use it to cook veg/potatoes almost daily, I also do stews, casserole dishes, baked cakes,etc. I have no room for it in my kitchen so it sits on a sideboard in the dinning room.

Me too. One of the best gadgets I’ve bought. It is really good for making stock and soups as you don’t have to stand over them, it seems to extract more of the gelatine from the bones too.

You can also cook meat from frozen, great for when you have forgotten to take chicken thighs out if the freezer in time. Mine is only a 3L (2of us) and doesn’t take up much room.

Have you looked at Ninja foodi?
I have an instant pot and use it every day.

Ninja foodie looks great but seems more of a pain to make yogurt in it for me

There’s a Facebook group called Instant Pot UK Community which I’ve found really useful for recipes and ideas.

I have a crock pot and I love it!! One of the best kitchen gadgets I've ever bought.. always looking for new recipes so I'll look at the daal one above, thanks!

I went for the IP because of the yoghurt option, and I'm glad I did because I use it a lot - it's as simple as mix 1l uht milk with 1dsp live yoghurt in pudding basin, put in the pot and leave 10-12 hours on yoghurt setting. Risotto is great. The Facebook IP group Sammysquiz mentioned above has some great tips for getting the most out of the pot, including tips on avoiding burn errors and tried and tested recipes using UK ingredients.

I use my instant pot either loads or not very often, but I wouldn’t want to be without it.
I chuck in a gammon joint some veg and stock, herbs and within 30 mins you’ve got an amazing soup.
I love the fact I can cook from frozen if I’ve forgotten to take meat out of the freezer. I like being able to sauté things before I put it on either slow cook or pressure cook.
I would say that the seal does get smelly so on the recommendation of an PP I think I’ll get a spare one for when I make yoghurt etc.

Can anyone explain why some types can do yoghurt while others can't?

It might sway any decision!

Maybe it’s the length of program? Maybe you can make it in there even if it’s not for the ‘button’ for it? I’ve made yoghurt in thermos flasks and electric Yoghurt maker machines before.

I suppose I was just wondering if you could make it on the others but they haven't got round to giving specific instructions!

I've done yoghurt in a thermos flask.