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Hello everyone! Today, I was thinking about making Instant Pot soup, but one of my girlfriends mentioned she finds the settings a bit challenging.
So, I thought it'd be helpful to explain all the steps to ensure you don't mess up your dinner.
The Instant Pot has revolutionized kitchen convenience, especially for soup lovers. Its user-friendly design and versatile settings make it a go-to appliance for delicious soups.
In this article, I'll guide you through the process, making it simple and enjoyable.
How Do I Set My Instant Pot for Soup?
Setting your Instant Pot for soup is pretty straightforward. Let's break it down into simple steps so you can get your soup cooking without any hassle.
Here’s what you need to know:
Get to Know Your Instant Pot: First, it's important to understand your Instant Pot. It has a bunch of buttons, but don't let that intimidate you! For soup, you're mainly going to use the 'Soup' button. This special setting is made just for making soups and broths.
Prepare Your Ingredients: Chop up all your ingredients and have them ready. This could be vegetables, meat, or whatever your recipe calls for.
Start Cooking: Put all your ingredients into the Instant Pot. Add the right amount of water or broth – not too much, not too little. Your recipe should tell you how much you need.
Close the Lid and Check the Seal: Put the lid on your Instant Pot and make sure it’s locked. There’s a sealing ring inside the lid – check that it’s in place. This ring is important to keep the steam inside.
Press the Soup Button: Now, press the 'Soup' button. This button automatically sets the right temperature and pressure for cooking soup. Some Instant Pots let you adjust the time depending on the recipe. If your soup needs to cook longer, you can add more time.
Wait and Release Pressure: Once your Instant Pot starts, it does all the cooking. When it’s done, it’ll beep. Then you need to release the steam. You can do this quickly by moving the valve to ‘Venting,’ or let it release slowly on its own.
Open and Serve: After the steam is released, it’s safe to open the lid. Give your soup a stir and it’s ready to serve!
Using the Instant Pot for soup is super easy once you get the hang of it. It's like having a helpful friend in the kitchen who does most of the work for you.
So, gather your ingredients and give it a try – you might just make the best soup ever!
What Are the Best Instant Pot Soup Recipes for Beginners?
If you're new to cooking with an Instant Pot, you might wonder what soups are best to start with.
Here are two simple and yummy recipes that are perfect for beginners:
Easy Chicken Noodle Soup:
Ingredients: You'll need chicken (breast or thighs work well), carrots, celery, onion, noodles, chicken broth, and some basic seasonings like salt, pepper, and thyme.
Steps: First, chop your veggies and cut the chicken into pieces. Then, put everything into the Instant Pot. Pour in the chicken broth until it covers the ingredients. Close the lid, press the 'Soup' button, and set it for about 7 minutes. Once it's done and the steam is released, open the lid and add in your noodles. Close the lid again and let the noodles cook in the hot soup for a few minutes. Your chicken noodle soup is ready!
Hearty Vegetable Soup:
Ingredients: Grab some of your favorite veggies like potatoes, carrots, green beans, corn, and peas. You'll also need vegetable broth and some seasonings.
Steps: Chop all your vegetables into bite-sized pieces. Put them in the Instant Pot and add vegetable broth. Season it to taste. Close the lid, hit the 'Soup' button, and set it for about 8 minutes. Let the steam release, and your vegetable soup is done!
These recipes are super easy and perfect for getting comfortable with your Instant Pot. Plus, they're delicious and sure to be a hit at your dinner table!
Also, get these other delicious recipes here:
Low-carb olive garden zuppa toscana & Keto taco soup recipe
How Long Does It Take to Cook Soup in an Instant Pot?
Cooking soup in an Instant Pot is a real time-saver! You might be wondering just how long it takes. Well, it depends on the type of soup you're making.
Here's a quick guide:
Vegetable Soups: These are usually quick. It can take about 5-10 minutes. Since veggies cook fast, your Instant Pot will whip up a tasty vegetable soup in no time.
Chicken or Meat Soups: These take a bit longer, around 10-20 minutes. Meat needs more time to get tender and fully cooked, but it's still way faster than cooking on the stove.
Bean or Lentil Soups: If you're using beans or lentils, it might take around 15-30 minutes. These need more time because beans and lentils are hard and need to soften up.
Preparation Time: Don't forget about the prep time! This is the time your Instant Pot takes to build up pressure before the actual cooking starts. It usually takes about 10-15 minutes. So, add this to your total cooking time.
Natural Release Time: After your soup is cooked, the Instant Pot needs a few minutes to release the built-up steam. This is called 'natural release.' It's part of the cooking process and can take about 10-20 minutes.
Can I Adjust Soup Recipes for Different Instant Pot Sizes?
Absolutely! You can adjust soup recipes for different sizes of Instant Pots. Whether you have a smaller or larger pot, you can still make your favorite soups.
Here’s how you do it:
Understanding Pot Size: Instant Pots come in various sizes, like 3-quart, 6-quart, and 8-quart. The 'quart' number tells you how big the pot is. A 6-quart pot is the most common size.
Adjusting Ingredients: If you have a recipe for a 6-quart pot but you own a 3-quart pot, you just cut the recipe in half. So, if the recipe says 4 cups of broth, you use 2 cups instead. The same goes if you have a bigger pot - you can double the recipe for an 8-quart pot.
Watch the Max Fill Line: Every Instant Pot has a line inside that says ‘Max Fill.’ Never fill your pot above this line, even if you’re scaling up a recipe. This is really important for safety and making sure your Instant Pot works right.
Cooking Time Stays the Same: The cool thing is, even if you adjust the recipe size, the cooking time usually stays the same. So, if the recipe says cook for 15 minutes, it’s still 15 minutes, no matter the pot size.
Stir Well: When you change the recipe size, make sure to stir everything well so all the flavors mix.
