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Instant Pot Tips and Tricks

Instant Pot Unboxing Video

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Have you just bought an Instant Pot? Have you had an Instant Pot in the box for way too long? Are you thinking of buying an Instant Pot but unsure what to expect? Let’s get it out together so that you can gain a bit more confidence with my Instant Pot Unboxing Video.

In the video I film myself opening the box of the Instant Pot DUO80 8 quart / 8 litre (affiliate link*), the biggest member of the DUO family and unpacking its contents.

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Instant Pot Whole Butternut Squash – make peeling easier!

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Do you hate peeling Butternut Squash? I do! I used to have to prepare myself for it. Clear the area. Breathe deeply. Hope for the best (like no trip to the hospital for stitches….). Then this Instant Pot Whole Butternut Squash is perfect for you (and me!).

What if I told you that pressure cooking whole in your Instant Pot softens it making it super easy to peel?

The skin is so soft after pressure cooking it whole that some people actually decide to not peel it at all.

Whole butternut squash on the trivet of the Instant Pot ready to pressure cook to make peeling easier
Whole butternut squash on the trivet of the Instant Pot

So, do you want to know how to pressure cook a whole butternut squash to make it super easy to peel? It’s extremely easy!

Ready for the method? Below you’ll find both the recipe and a handy video! I hope it’s handy anyway!

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The Instant Pot UK Beginners’ Guide – The best source to learn to use and make the most of your Instant Pot®

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New to Instant Pot®? Not sure where to start? As part of the work I do with Instant Pot UK, I’ve put together a Beginner’s Guide for new users like you. It’s the best source to learn to use and make the most of your Instant Pot®.

Download Instant Pot UK's Beginners' Guide. The photo shows a screenshot of the cover which has the words Beginners' Guide and a photo of the control panel of an Instant Pot DUO as well as the words "Buying an Instant Pot is just the start of our journey together". Really useful fr
Instant Pot UK’s Beginners’ Guide – Make sure you download it

The Instant Pot UK Beginners’ Guide is all written, compiled and designed by me so you know it’s a no-nonsense kind of guide.

This Instant Pot UK Beginners’ Guide is the best source to learn to use and make the most of your Instant Pot®

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Perfect steamer baskets and inserts for your Instant Pot

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I am often asked about perfect steamer baskets (sometimes called steamer inserts) for the Instant Pot available here in the UK so I thought I’d compile them in one place, the Feisty Tapas blog (of course).

The inner pot of the 5.7 litre / 6 litre / 6 quart Instant Pot has a diameter of 20 cm so you need something that will fit in there (some of them actually indicate that they are suitable for 20 cm pressure cookers, like the Kuhn Rikon).

The inner pot of the Instant Pot 8 litre has a larger diameter and you can choose pretty much any steamer basket for that one.

For the 3 litre / Mini Instant Pot, you’ll need something smaller. The umbrella / collapsible type of steamer is perfect for this.

Of course, your Instant Pot also comes with a trivet which you can use to steam ingredients but a steamer basket will make life much easier.

Below are the steaming baskets and inserts that I have and use all the time, as well as the ones that have good reviews from the people who use them regularly.

If you are happy with your steamer basket and it’s not included in this list, please let me know and I’ll add it to the post and probably to my basket collection!

Have you taken the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker leap?

You havent? You must know by now that there is nothing to be scared of, that it has ten safety mechanisms, that it’s virtually silent and that you can set it and go, right?

Even better, it pressure cooks and slow cooks (and at the end keeps your food warm). B

ut not just that, I run a Pressure Cooking group on Facebook to support you and I’m Instant Pot UK’s social media girl. So, basically, you will use it! Oh and I blog Instant Pot recipes with familiar UK measurements and ingredients right here.

Ready for my list of perfect steamer baskets for your Instant Pot all available in the UK?

**This post contains Amazon affiliate links, this means that, if you buy through these links, it doesn’t cost you any extra money and I get a small kickback to help me support Feisty Tapas**

Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Trio Separator Set 20 cm

I personally have (and love) the Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Trio separator, the separator pops out for those times when you don’t need it.

To use it, all you need to do is pour a cup of water (250 ml) in your inner pot.

Place your veg in it.

Press the Steam button and set the time. For example, for a selection of unpeeled new potatoes and chantenay carrots, I press Steam and set it to 5 minutes. steam release is pointing to Sealing. Then do a quick release at the end.

One great thing about this one is that the Instant Pot trivet fits very neatly on top for layered cooking.

Fits in the 5.7/6 and 8 litre Instant Pots. Doesn’t fit in the 3 litre / Mini.

Feisty Tapas' Perfect steamer baskets for your Instant Pot - Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Trio Separator 20 cm
Feisty Tapas' Perfect steamer baskets for your Instant Pot - Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Trio Separator 20 cm
Multiple purposes. On this occasion I was keeping food warm. I do love that Keep Warm function

*Unfortunately the photo is not appearing in the amazon.co.uk pic above but it leads you to the exact same one I bought*


Silit 1529602201 Insert Basket 19 cm

A lot of Instant Pot users have this Silit basket to use with their Instant Pot (it has a slightlhy larger capacity).

Many people use this Silit basket for their bone broths as they can easily strain them at the end just by lifting the basket.

This one changes price all the time, the lowest I’ve seen it for is probably around £16.

Fits in the 5.7/6 and 8 litre Instant Pots. Doesn’t fit in the 3 litre / Mini.


RSVP Wide Rim VEGETABLE STEAMER Mesh Basket Stainless Steel Strainer

Then there is the RSVP (official name RSVP Wide Rim VEGETABLE STEAMER Mesh Basket Stainless Steel Strainer). It has a good price BUT you have to use pliers to gently bend the handles up and down to snap them off, otherwise the basket doesn’t fit. It’s very important to bear this in mind. Some people have successfully bent the handles inwards to make it fit. I’m not too familiar with this one but people who have it seem happy with it.

**Edited to add: I now have this one, I managed to snap the handles myself after a bit of trying, despite the fibromyalgia so it can be done, I use it a lot**

Fits in the 5.7/6 and 8 litre Instant Pots. Doesn’t fit in the 3 litre / Mini.


Wilko Saucepan 3 Division Separator

For a tenner, this Wilko separator is gaining lots of followers among the Instant Pot crowd.

If you don’t find it at your store, you can order it in, or order online. Find it here.

Fits in the 3 litre/Mini, 5.7/6 and 8 litre Instant Pots.

Instant Pot Silicone Steamer Basket or Steamer Set

The Instant Pot Silicone Steamer Basket and the Steamer Set.

They fit neatly on the new long-handled Instant Pot trivet (which has higher feet than the trivet supplied with your Instant Pot).

Fits in the 5.7/6 and 8 litre Instant Pots. Doesn’t fit in the 3 litre / Mini.

            

Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer Plus

If you prefer a collapsible style one, this Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer Plus does the trick as will an stainless steel one like this Wilko one or this Ikea one, for very little money.

You just have to bear in mind that your Instant Pot’s inner pot has a diameter of 20 cm if it’s a 6 litre and 22 cm if it’s a DUO 8 litre so it has to be able to fit in there.

*Edited to say* I picked up the Joseph Joseph for £7.99 at TKMaxx recently and I’m really liking it. It has a good grip to get things in and out.

The Joseph Joseph Lotus Steamer Plus fits in the Instant Pot Duo Mini, 5.7 / 6 litre and 8 litre.

Perfect steamer baskets and inserts for your Instant Pot: Joseph Joseph Lotus Folding Basket in grey

OXO Good Grips Pop Up Steamer

Another collapsible stainless steel steamer basket is this OXO Good Grips Pop Up Steamer, preferred by many Instant Pot users because of the large, tall, sturdy handle.

Fits in the 5.7/6 and 8 litre Instant Pots. My guess is it fits the Mini too but haven’t confirmed it as I don’t have it.

Kuhn Rikon 2-in-1 Stackable Steamer Basket (two-tier)

Fits in the 5.7/6 and 8 litre Instant Pots. My guess is it fits the Mini too but haven’t confirmed it as I don’t have it.


Finally, Steamer baskets and inserts you may have lying around the house already!

I am reliably told that, should you have any steamer inserts from an old stove-top pressure cooker you may have had before your Instant Pot, they work well in the Instant Pot too. People have been singing the praises of Prestige in particular.

Remember, if you have a good steamer basket that is not mentioned here, please let me know and I’ll add it.

You might also be interested in my What is Pot-in-Pot (PIP) Cooking post.

How to get started with your Instant Pot. A guide for beginners

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So, you bought an Instant Pot, it’s already at home or on its way and you’re panicking that you’re not going to use it enough or that you won’t know how to use it, that it might be difficult to use…

Fear not! It’s really easy to use and help is at hand at all times. As social media girl for Instant Pot UK that help might often come from me on their Facebook, Twitter or Instagram as well as the official Instant Pot® UK Community (an extension of Instant Pot UK’s customer care) but don’t forget that I also run my own Pressure Cooking with Feisty Tapas Facebook group.

Basically you will have no choice but to use it. No kitchen gadget worth the money will sit gathering dust on my watch!

The two models in the UK market (and markets covered from the UK) are the Instant Pot DUO 7 in 1 and the Instant Pot LUX 6 in 1. They work in similar ways. The DUO has a low pressure setting and a yoghurt function. They both can pressure cook, slow cook, steam, cook rice, cook porridge and keep your food warm at the end. The DUO also has a low pressure setting and a handy yoghurt function.

Feisty Tapas tells you the first steps to follow, recommended first recipes, tips and tricks

Both are really easy to use. They save time and money and, in my case, they totally save my sanity (I have one of each at home). They work silently for you while you have more time to get on with other stuff. Then they keep your food warm automatically at the end, even if you open the lid and help yourself to some of it, it will stay on Keep Warm for the next person. This is ideal in a household with a 6 year old (the little Tapita is six now!) who eats around 6pm and a commuting husband who doesn’t get home until 8.30-9 most days. I can cook for my daughter, then I eat whenever I am ready (6pm is way too early for me to eat dinner), then food is kept warm for my husband when he gets home.

Now, I know I own a lot of kitchen gadgets and that I now work with Instant Pot but this is me being totally honest: it’s a great kitchen gadget that can make life easier so a great investment. Above all if you are stressed out trying to juggle work and family. If you happen to have a health condition like me and my chronic pain and fibromyalgia, you will appreciate how easy it is to use and how much it can save your sanity on a daily basis (and the fact that it’s so silent it’s a huge bonus if you have a problem with background noise).

There are a ton of recipes for it. Another bonus.

Now, what to do when you first receive it? Here are my tips.

First steps

 

1. Take it out of the box, admire it, isn’t it shiny? Is that Michel Roux Jr on the sticker? Oh yes it is. Ooooooh.

2. Download The Beginners’ Guide that I’ve written for Instant Pot UK, here.

2. Do the WATER TEST, it’s called Initial Test Run on the instruction manual. If you have an 8 litre Instant Pot DUO, then do the water test with at least 1 litre of water. You’ll find a handy water test video in my Pressure Cooking Facebook group, it’s really easy! All you need is water.

3. Get cooking. Don’t delay. Below are my recipe recommendations, a few types for different tastes. The key for many people is to find a couple of tried and tested recipe recommendations, follow those to get to know their Instant Pot and then get creative. Some other people prefer to always follow recipes. There is no right or wrong way but there are a few things to take into account so keep reading to find out what they are.

4. Keep cooking, you’ll find all my Instant Pot recipes here.

Learning curve

Yes, there is a tiny learning curve as part of the Instant Pot way of cooking. To make things easier I have created a couple of PDF documents for Instant Pot UK which you can print out, save to your mobile or tablet and have handy:

How to adapt/convert conventional pressure cooking recipes to the Instant Pot

Download the guide to adapt conventional pressure cooker recipes to the Instant Pot
Click the photo to download the file

The Golden Rules of the Instant Pot Way of Cooking

Download the Four Golden Rules of the Instant Pot way of cooking
Click the photo to download the file

Recipes

I always recommend you start your Instant Pot journey by reading the manual (yes!), doing the water test, reading the above documents and then cooking a couple of tried-and-tested recipes.

Here are a few recipe suggestions to get you started with your Instant Pot, these all work well:

Risotto

Chicken and pancetta risotto with Black Pepper and Lemon 

Butternut Squash Risotto (Vegan and Gluten Free)

Quinoa

One minute quinoa: from the cookbook that comes with your Instant Pot, try it with stock. It’s very versatile, try turning it into a salad with lime juice, coriander, nuts, avocados, olives…

Meat

Gammon joints/ham

Lemony Whole Chicken

Healing Gourmet’s Whole Chicken

Sticky Sesame Chicken

Lamb Tagine

Nom Nom Paleo’s Kalua Pig (I’ve made it successfully with boneless pork joints and very lovely it is, 5 pounds is 2.268 kg)

Nom Nom Paleo’s Mexican Beef

Beef and Broccoli by Pressure Cooking Today

Forking Foodie has a few recipes that are really good, the Normandy Pork Cheeks in Cider get raving reviews, try her Ragu alla bolognese too. Find all her Instant Pot recipes here.

Pasta

Jayson’s Mac and Cheese this one is so easy and delicious


One-Pot Seafood Pasta

All-in-One Sausage and Tomato Pasta 


All-in-one bolognese (less washing up and very tasty)

Dessert

Lemon Cheesecake! (don’t worry about the Meyer part, we don’t have them here in the UK, just use normal lemons)

You can find all my Instant Pot recipes here.


CUPS

PS-in American recipes 1 cup of water is 250 ml, which is also the rule of thumb for pressure cooking in your Instant Pot: always 250 ml of liquid (water or stock). The measuring cup that comes with your Instant Pot is designed to cook rice. It’s worth getting a cheap set of measuring cups to follow American recipes.

How to reheat frozen homemade food in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot
How to reheat frozen homemade food in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot
You may use your Instant Pot a lot to get organised through batch cooking and, like me, you may tend to forget to take things out of the freezer in time for them to thaw. Here’s a really nifty solution, reheat them from frozen to piping hot in your Instant Pot, it couldn’t be easier. Click here to find out how.

Tips and Tricks

As part of my work with
Instant Pot, I get to chat to a lot of customers and, if you are a
member of my Feisty Tapas Facebook groups you will already know this, I
have two mottos:

– There are no silly questions 
– We all learn together

So
I share a lot of tips but I also learn a lot from other Instant Pot owners so please don’t be shy,
always ask questions. As I always say, if you’re wondering it, chances
are other people are too and you will be helping them too by asking.

There
is a lot of help online, from me and my communities, from me through
Instant Pot UK, from other owners. The Instant Pot has a huge and very
supportive community.

Here are a few tips but you also MUST download the pdf files above, really really important to keep those in mind, soon you won’t need them anyway.

Tip: Always scrape the bottom of your Instant Pot with a wooden spoon and some liquid (water/stock/wine) to deglaze it before pressure cooking. You’ll see me remind you of this a lot!

Tip: tomatoey sauces, flour, packet mixes, sauces like Dolmio, can burn the bottom and make your Instant Pot overheat. So avoid flour, packet mixed and Dolmio and with tomatoes, make sure you have plenty of liquid in there with them, some people place the tomatoes on top of the other ingredients and don’t stir before pressure cooking.

Trick: Download the Manual to your computer, phone or tablet so that you always
have it handy (you can do quick searches for what you’re after too!). Download them here

Tip: if you have version 2 of the Instant Pot DUO 7 in 1, do not wait to add the ingredients until the display says HOT when using the Sauté button, as indicated in the manual. Strong safety feature mean it cuts out for a few minutes if it overheats during the Sauté mode, instead just press Sauté and add your ingredients when it starts getting warm just like you would in a frying pan.

If you bought the Instant Pot DUO and your anti-block shield doesn’t look like the one on the Manual, it’s ok, it is there. It’s just that the lid was redesigned. No need to panic

Accessories

It is handy to accessorise your Instant Pot. First of all with a steamer basket or insert, I have a list of the best ones available in the UK right here.

Another handy gadget to have with your Instant Pot, particularly for cheesecakes, is a springform pan. I use this Master Class 18 cm / 7 inch Springform Cake Tin with Loose Base (I also use it for lasagna cooked in the Instant Pot, no need to turn the oven on!).

If you get stuck, give me or Instant Pot UK or the various fan groups a shout. There is always someone to help.

Ready? Let’s get cooking!

***This post contains Amazon affiliate link(s)***