Confession: I still haven't learned to use my instant pot (affiliate link) with regularity. So I've decided to devote what remains of 2020 to overcoming my resistance with a challenge!
It's been nearly two years since I assembled this list of 50 WW Friendly Instant Pot Recipes in response to requests from readers. At the time I admitted that while I have an Instant Pot, I used it mostly for it's saute and slow cook functions. I promised myself I would learn to use all its other functions, especially pressure cooking.
I'm embarrassed to admit I've made virtually no progress. I know it would make life easier, especially with meal prep. But as the saying goes:
A goal without a plan is just a wish. ~
So, I've decided to take the Tiny Habits: The Small Changes That Change Everything (affiliate link) approach by setting teeny tiny goal(s) for myself.
Tiny Habits Instant Pot Challenge
- Place my Instant Pot prominently out on my counter and open & close the lid while my coffee is brewing.
- Learn something new about the Instant Pot every day (right after I read my morning devotional) and record it here.
- Use this 7-1 multi cooker once a week (Sunday afternoons) and share the recipe on Simple Nourished Living.
- Celebrate these accomplishments.
I'm guessing I'm not alone, that there are others out there who purchased this trendy shiny appliance who never use it because they're nervous about pressure cooking, or intimidated by the multitude of buttons on the control panel.
Or they're like me, using it sporadically as a slow cooker or yogurt maker. I hope this Instant Pot Study Guide/Journal helps you too.
My Daily Instant Pot Study Guide Journal
Day 1: This is the Instant Pot (affiliate link) I purchased. The Amazon Instant Pot sales page has tons of information including 1000 questions and answers.
What Does An Instant Pot Do?
Day 2: I read this comprehensive article, How to Use an Instant Pot, by NYT food writer and cookbook author, Melissa Clark. She covers all the basics including details about what it is, what it does, how it works, pressure cooking, natural release vs. quick release, slow cooking, yogurt making, what to cook in it, what not to cook in it, and rough guidelines for converting recipes.
Day 3: I Read this article, "I've Been Using an Instant Pot for Nearly 4 Years Now-- Here's My Honest Review of It" on The Kitchn. She talks about how she uses it and includes favorite recipes, including one for spaghetti and meat sauce I plan on trying. My excitement about the possibilities of incorporating this device into my life is building 🙂
Day 4: The official Instant Pot site, has lots of helpful videos, FAQs, and a 1000+ official recipes.
How Do You Use The Instant Pot?
Day 5: I watched this video on unboxing your Instant Pot:
Day 6: Here's a link the Official Instant Pot Duo Manual, if like me you have trouble keeping track of them. The Instant Pot is NOT intuitive, so I wouldn’t recommend trying to just figure it out. There are a lot of buttons, functions, and features.
And although it is one of the safest pressure cookers around, it is still a pressure cooker, so you'll want to make sure you understand how to properly seal and release the pot before diving in.
Day 7: Here's a great video with everything you need to know for getting started with your Instant Pot Duo or Ultra:
This video does a great job explaining all the features of both the Duo and Ultra models in a direct, easy to understand way. He also demonstrates the water test, a really good way to try out your understanding of how the device works before moving to your first recipe.
How Do I Do the Initial Instant Pot Water Test?
The initial test run using water is a quick and easy way to get to know your Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. With 20 minutes and a few cups of water, you can ensure everything is working properly and that you understand how steam release/venting works.
Here's a great short and to the point video demonstrating How to Do the Initial Water Test:
If you prefer, here are written, step by step instructions for doing the initial water test.
What Are the Best Blogs & Websites for Instant Pot Recipes?
Day 8: Here are some informative Pressure Cooker blogs & websites I've discovered: Pressure Cook Recipes, 365 Days of Slow & Pressure Cooking, Pressure Luck Cooking, Hip Pressure Cooking, Pressure Cooking Today, I'll add to this list as I discover more.
What Are the Best Instant Pot Cookbooks?
Day 9: Here's a list of cookbooks authorized and recommended by Instant Pot.
Day 10: Picked up The Instant Pot Bible (affiliate link) at Barnes & Noble. With more than 350 Recipes and Strategies: The Only Book You Need for Every Model of Instant Pot! It's got tons of great reviews and was authorized by Instant Pot. I've got several tasty looking recipes tabbed to try.
How Do You Clean Your Instant Pot?
Day 11: This page provides everything you need to know about the care and cleaning of your pressure/multi-cooker straight from the manufacturer.
FYI: The inner pot of the cooker (the stainless steel cooking pot), the sealing ring, the lid, and the steam rack are all dishwasher safe!
Day 12: Here are great Tips and Tricks for How to Clean Your Instant Pot from Pressure Luck Cooking:
How Do You Convert Slow Cooker Recipes to the Instant Pot?
Day 13: Learn the hows and whys of converting soup, chili, pot roast and curry from the slow cooker to Instant Pot with this article from the Betty Crocker Test Kitchens. Here's a link to Betty Crocker's Best Instant Pot Recipes.
What Is the Best Thing to Cook In An Instant Pot?
Day 14: I used my Instant Pot (affiliate link) to successfully hard boil 6 eggs! They were so much easier to peel, I think this will be my go-to option from now on. (If you don't have one, this is a great technique for perfectly hard boiling them on the stovetop.)
Day 15: Here's What Hungry Girl's Cooking Up in the Instant Pot (affiliate link):
- Hungry Girl's 6 Instant Pot Secrets & Recipes,
- 5 Reasons the Instant Pot is Your New BFF,
- Instant Pot Basic Oatmeal
- Instant Pot Chicken Breasts from Frozen
- Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
- Healthy 5-Ingredient Instant Pot Casserole
Helpful Instant Pot Accessories
Extra Sealing Rings (affiliate link) - The silicone rings tend to take on the scent of whatever you're cooking, even if you clean them regularly. You may want to keep an extra ring or two on hand so you have one for savory dishes and one for sweet.
Steamer Basket (affiliate link) - Great if you're looking to steam veggies, make hard-boiled eggs or chicken stock in your Instant Pot (affiliate link).
Tempered Glass Lid (affiliate link) - If you plan on using your multi-cooker as a slow cooker, you may want to consider purchasing a glass lid. This allows you to peek inside while your favorite slow cooker recipe bubbles away.
Silicone Lid (affiliate link) - That fits on the inner stainless pot makes it easy to store your leftovers in the fridge or transport your food to a party or potluck with less risk of spilling.
Extra Stainless Insert (affiliate link) - If you use your Instant Pot (affiliate link) often, you may want to grab yourself an extra insert (inner pot) to use while your other is in the dishwasher or fridge filled with leftovers.
Silicone molds (affiliate link) - Make egg bites, bake muffins, and much much more.
Leakproof springform pan (affiliate link) - to start making desserts, cakes and cheesecakes that you would normally bake.
How Long Does It Take To Cook In the Instant Pot?
Here are some helpful Charts and Timetables to help you cook your favorite foods in an Instant Pot (affiliate link):
Comprehensive Pressure Cooking Times Chart for beans, grains, meats, poultry, fish, eggs and more (Hip Pressure Cooking)
IP Cooking Times (Official IP)
Downloadable IP Cheat Sheet (One Good Thing from Jillee)
IP Cooking Times Cheat Sheet Magnets (affiliate link) - A convenient alternative to hunting through manuals and the internet to find pressure cooking times for common foods.
Can You Cook A Whole Chicken from Frozen in the Instant Pot?
On a recent trip to the market during the scarcity created by the pandemic, I was able to get a whole chicken. Trouble was that it was frozen solid. So I went to the internet to learn more about cooking a whole frozen chicken in the Instant Pot (affiliate link) and discovered this very informative instant pot frozen chicken post and video from ifoodreal
I set followed the directions, rubbed the chicken all over with a tiny bit of olive and followed by Olena's suggested rotisserie chicken spice blend of salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano and smoked paprika. Since my chicken was a little over 6 pounds I set the cooking time to 75 minutes and hoped for the best.
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
Barbara Schieving
So many great resources in one post. Thanks for linking to mine.
Barbara
You put too much into a single post. I wanted to find some good things to make with my Instant Pot. I gave up looking.....just too much to go through.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Barbara, Here's a link to my Instant Pot Recipes: https://simple-nourished-living.com/weight-watchers-zero-point-meals-recipes/#search/q=instant%20pot Hope it helps. ~Martha