FAQs | Instant Pot (2024)

Which Instant Pot is right for me?

“Most models come in a variety of sizes, measured by their capacity in Liters: 5,7 or 8 5,7 Liters (6 Quart): This size is suitable for feeding a family of 3 to 6 people and is our most popular size. 8 Liters (8 Quart): Cook for up to 8 people with this size or use it for large batch meal preparation. Visit our Product Comparison Chart for details on all models. “

Is Instant Pot Safe?

“Yes! We at Instant Brands pride ourselves in designing best-in-class appliances that are convenient, dependable and above all, safe. Instant Pot electric pressure cookers are designed with at least 10 safety mechanisms to ensure your safety.”

How many appliances does the Duo replace?

“The Instant Pot Duo is a 7-in-1 electric pressure cooker, capable of replacing your traditional pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, rice cooker, yogurt maker and food warmer. It alsho has 14 Smart Programs: Soup, Meat/Stew, Bean/Chili, Poultry, Sauté/Simmer, Rice, Multigrain, Porridge, Steam, Slow Cook, Keep Warm, Yogurt, Manual, and Pressure Cook. Now, your favorite dishes are as easy as pressing a button”

How many appliances does the Duo Plus replace?

“The Instant Pot Duo Plus is a 9-in-1 electric pressure cooker, capable of replacing your traditional pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, rice cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, sterilizer, Sous Vide, and food warmer. It also has 15 Programs: Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew, Sauté, Rice, Porridge/Oatmeal, Steam, Slow Cook, Yogurt, Keep Warm, Sterilizer, Egg, Pressure Cook, Sous Vide, Cake, and Bean/Grain”

Why do I need to do the initial test run?

The Initial Test Run helps you become familiar with how your Instant Pot works, ensures the cooker is operating at peak performance, and sterilizes the cooking chamber so you can start preparing your delicious dishes right away.

What is the inner pot made of?

“The stainless steel inner pot is made primarily from 304 (18/8) stainless steel and is dishwasher safe. The 3-ply bottom has an aluminum core for optimal heat dispersal, but no aluminum comes into contact with your food. With no chemical coating, the inner pot is compliant with FDA food safety standards. The steam rack is also made from food grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, so you can be sure that all of your food is cooked safely.”

How do I know that it’s safe to open the lid after pressure cooking?

“Before opening the lid, make sure the float valve has dropped. Do not attempt to open the lid if the float valve is still up. Do not attempt to open the lid if it is locked and cannot be easily opened. Do not force the lid open at any time. If you cannot tell if the float valve has dropped, first turn the steam release handle to the Venting position. If no steam releases, use a long utensil to nudge the float valve down. There is an additional safety feature which won’t allow you to open the pot when it’s not safe to do so. Note: When opening the lid, the inner pot may adhere to the lid. This is caused by vacuum due to cooling. To release the vacuum, move the stream release handle to the Venting position.”

Are there foods I can’t put into the Instant Pot?

“Ingredients that are high in sugar content may trigger the burn warning. We recommend caution when cooking food such as applesauce, cranberries, pearl barley, oatmeal or other cereals, split peas, noodles, macaroni, rhubarb or spaghetti, as they tend to foam, froth or spatter and can cause clogging. When preparing these foods, do not fill the inner pot higher than the — 1/2 line as indicated on the inner pot and followed a trusted recipe. Note: Regular cleaning of the lid and its parts (e.g., steam release handle, anti-block shield, steam release pipe and float valve) is important for proper function and to ensure the cooker’s longevity.”

How much food and liquid should be in the inner pot when cooking?

“For pressure cooking, if you aren’t following a trusted recipe, pay attention to minimum liquid requirements and maximum fill lines as indicated on the inner pot. For non-pressure cooking, the minimum liquid requirements listed below do not apply. Minimum The recommended minimum amount of liquid for pressure cooking, unless otherwise specified in a recipe, depends on the size of the cooker. If a recipe specifies a certain amount, always follow the recipe. 5,7 Liters (6 Quart): 1 ½ cups (12 oz / 375 mL) 8 Liters (8 Quart): 2 cups (16 oz / 500 mL) Note: These liquids should be water-based, including stock, broth, juice and cooking sauces. Oils and oil-based sauces do not have enough water content to account for the required liquid volume. Add suitable liquid to thin condensed cream-based soups and thick sauces. Maximum When pressure cooking, do not fill the inner pot higher than the PC MAX — 2/3 line as indicated on the inner pot. When cooking foods that expand (e.g., rice, beans, pasta) do not fill the inner pot higher than the — 1/2 line as indicated on the inner pot. Overfilling the inner pot may risk clogging the steam release and developing excess pressure. This may cause leakage, personal injuries, or damage to the cooker.”

What is the voltage of the machine is it compatible in the Gulf countries?

Yes, the Instant Pot cookers we carry are all GCC compatible running on 220-240 Volts and 50 to 60 Hz.

FAQs | Instant Pot (2024)

FAQs

Is 2 cups of water too much for a pressure cooker? ›

Follow this tip: While at least 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid is essential to well-cooked food in the pressure cooker, too much liquid will pull the flavor out of foods. Unless otherwise specified in the recipe, use just enough liquid to bring the cooker to pressure.

How much liquid is too much in an Instant Pot? ›

“Add more liquid as needed, up to one cup, but not too much!” To avoid making this mistake, make sure to properly deglaze the inner pot after sautéing if there's food stuck to the bottom, or if the bottom of the pot looks lightly browned or burned.

How much liquid per pound of meat in an Instant Pot? ›

Add 1 1/2 cups of liquid (water, stock, etc.). Cook for 20 minutes (per pound of meat) at high pressure for large chunks and 15 minutes (per pound of meat) for small chunks. Use a quick pressure release method.

How much liquid do you need in the bottom of an Instant Pot? ›

Your Instant Pot needs liquid to work. If there's not enough, your pot won't be able to create enough steam to build pressure. About 1 cup is the minimum amount of liquid, so if you're cooking a recipe that will absorb water, like rice or beans, you'll need even more.

What happens if there is not enough water in the pressure cooker? ›

It cannot cook your food properly without water, and the pressure will build to such an extent that the lid, pressure valve, plugs, and hot food could be thrown all over the kitchen. This can seriously harm you, your kids, and your pets, not to mention property damage that comes from flying projectiles.

How full is too full for a pressure cooker? ›

Never fill the pressure cooker more than 2/3 full (for most foods). Do not fill the cooker more than half full when cooking foods like rice, beans (dried vegetables), grains, and soups.

Does liquid need to cover meat in an Instant Pot? ›

While you may cover meat almost completely for a conventional braise, use just enough liquid for the cooker to reach pressure – during pressure cooking the meat will release it's own juice and braise in that flavorful liquid, instead. DO use fresh herbs.

How much liquid do you need to slow cook in Instant Pot? ›

It's also important when using your Instant Pot as a slow cooker. You'll need at least one cup of liquid in the recipe when using an Instant Pot as a slow cooker. There's no need to add more liquid, though, since you're not using the pressure cooker function.

Do you need to add water when cooking chicken in an Instant Pot? ›

You can cook chicken breasts in whatever size instant pot you have. Just make sure you add at least 1 cup of liquid, and then place the chicken in the pot in a single layer.

What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

6 Things You Should Never Cook in an Instant Pot
  1. Creamy Sauces. If there's one food group you should avoid in the Instant Pot, it's dairy. ...
  2. Fried Chicken. The best fried chicken is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside and perfectly golden brown. ...
  3. Cookies. ...
  4. Burgers. ...
  5. Pie. ...
  6. Steak.

Should steam come out of Instant Pot while pressurizing? ›

It's normal for a small amount of steam to leak from the valve while the pot is heating up, but if it continues to leak steam during the pressure-cooking cycle, you may have a problem. This issue could be a sign that you need to clean out and reposition the valve.

What happens if you forget to put water in an Instant Pot? ›

Not adding any liquid to the Instant Pot.

It's necessary for steam to build up, ultimately creating a high-pressure environment used for faster cooking. Without sufficient liquid, pressure won't build — and you'll likely get the dreaded “burn” error.

How much water is safe in pressure cooker? ›

“Jiggle top” cookers need a minimum of one cup of water, while valve cookers need at least half a cup. Put food in the cooker first, then add water. When learning how to use a pressure cooker, make sure the unit is never more than two-thirds full of liquid, so the steam has enough space to accumulate.

What is the maximum amount of liquid in a pressure cooker? ›

Pressure Cooker Max Fill by Ingredient
Pressure Cooker SizeMax Soup/StockMax Beans*
12 1/2 cups (500ml)1/4 cup (30ml)
1.54 cups (1L)1/2 cup (125ml)
25 1/4 cups (1.25L)3/4 cup (180ml)
2.56 1/2 cups (1.5L)1 cup (250ml)
17 more rows

Can you put too much water in a pressure canner? ›

It is perfectly fine to have your jars completely exposed to air when pressure canning. However, if you find you have too much water in the pressure canner and you see that the water is creeping up toward the neck of the jars, go ahead and remove some of that water before processing your jars.

Can you overfill a pressure cooker with water? ›

A pressure cooker shouldn't be more than 2/3rds full. With liquids, avoid filling more than half full. Overfilling leads to food being ejected from the pressure release valve – a messy business. If this does happen, you'll need to take apart and clean the parts thoroughly.

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