Instant Pot

I own two instant pots - a 6 Quart Duo and I just bought my pot a baby brother, the 3 Quart Duo Mini. I love them both. It is totally worth the counter space. There is a learning curve and I recommend joining some facebook groups (Instant Pot Community is a great one) to learn how to use it.

Things I make in it - white rice, brown rice, wild rice, quinoa, soups/chilis, hard boiled eggs, cheesecake, lava cake, corn bread, meat loaf, potato salad, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, all kinds of chicken, ribs, turkey breast, yogurt, dry beans, spaghetti, homemade vanilla extract, taco pie. There is probably a lot more that I'm leaving out. Just about any crockpot recipe can be converted and cook in less time (and not be dried out). You can brown a full pound of hamburger from frozen.

I use my instant pot almost every day. I strongly recommend the Instant Pot over other brands of electric pressure cookers because it is easier to find accessories and parts, there are far more recipes and instructions written with the Instant Pot in mind and you have the benefit of the stainless steel inner pot, as opposed to the chemical coated non stick pots with other brands. I also recommend ordering a set of extra sealing rings - and mark one to be used only with sweet items. The silicon rings absorb the odors of what you cook and that can cross over when you cook something sweet. (cheesecake with a hint of BBQ Ribs is not a cook combination!) So, I just keep a separate ring that I use on the lid when I make sweet stuff.

I think you asked about air fryers yesterday - I would buy multiple instant pots before I ever bought another air fryer. Our 6 quart is the perfect size for a family of four - we usually have plenty for everyone and enough for my husband and I to pack a lunch for the next day. (Some recipes can really feed a crowd tho!). There are 3 versions now, all available in different sizes - the Lux (fewer features, no yogurt function), the Duo (7 pre-set functions including Yogurt) and the Ultra (10 preset functions including yogurt). There is a version with Bluetooth also. I haven't found a need for it. I find the Duo to be a nice compromise and is the most popular. I mostly cook on manual and don't use the functions, except I use that Yogurt function all the time!

There are supposed to be some great black Friday deals on them - I haven't seen prices yet. (I heard a rumor about one at Walmart for $49???) The 3 quart mini is normally about $69 and I picked it up at Target over the weekend for $53.

I agree with everything that @tiguer mentioned above. I have been using my instant pot for a year and love it. almost don't even use my crockpot at all. it is great for frozen foods as I do a lot of freezer meals and it also has a timer so you can set things in the morning to have it ready when you get home in the evening. i am super busy every evening with kids activities etc. so this is a HUGE time saver for us.

Glad to see the positive comments on the instant pot, I too just purchased one and have yet to use it, a little intimidated. I will try my first dish this weekend.

No need to be intimidated by it! Start with the basics - do a water test first and then do hardboiled eggs (put a few eggs in on the trivet, add 1 cup water, 5 mins high pressure, 5 minutes natural pressure release, 5 minutes ice bath). Get a few easy wins under your belt before you go for a meal. There will be a few failures with meals and recipes too - don't let it discourage you.

I need advice on what to buy - I started to research and didn't realize how much was out there for consideration! Family of 4 - 2 of whom are teen boys. #alladvicewelcome

Kate, I just got an Instant Pot for Christmas and haven't done anything but the water test yet, but I have seen many posts regarding accessories. I joined a couple of groups on Facebook - Instant Pot for Beginners and Instant Pot Beginners Recipes and Tips. There is also an Instagram blog called instantpot_cooking that talks about accessories, has links to recipes, and even has some videos in her stories with step-by-step instructions. Most of the posts I've seen mention buying extra sealing rings, a steamer basket, and a 7-inch springform pan for cheesecakes.

I have somewhat the opposite response to the others. I don't like the unpredictability of cooking in the instant pot. You have to remember to allow time for the pot to come up to pressure and then release the pressure (can be 20 additional minutes to release). There are lots of variabilities in cooking times even with the tried and true recipes. Trial and error is what I was told many times....I don't like to waste food or time and maybe am odd, but I like to spend time in the kitchen cooking.

I got an instant pot 2 years ago for Christmas. It sat for a while, but then once I used it, I was hooked. I used to think "why would anyone need two", but now I am going to get a second. The options are endless and everything is so much faster to cook, especially with our busy schedules.

I agree. Start with the basics. I haven't bought any accessories yet, but am I ready to make that leap. My family loves my big variety of deviled eggs. So after I made them in the instant pot (or I guess mine is a Presto), I will likely never make them on the stove again. Another easy one that I am making tonight is baked beans. No need to soak them overnight and they are done in 25 minutes!

I am just curious does the food taste the same with each meal like a crock pot.. I know a lady said get a different ring for it will help. I remember using my crock loved all the meal ideas, but after smelling it all day or not by the time it was time to eat it was blah. No matter what I cooked there was a taste to get rid of, so I stopped using one.