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Veteran
Posts: 150
 
| So I’ve been tossing around getting an insta-pot. They are all the rage now & in theory they seem awesome! I have very limited kitchen space so every kitchen purchase for me requires lots of thinking lol! I do have a crock pot will I want to throw it away after the insta-pot? If anyone has any input please share. Was it worth the price of admission? Favorite recipes/tricks? Are the off brands ok or just get it over with and spend the $100+ for the name brand? TIA. Edited to add what size is best 6 or 8 quart?
Edited by I'mlost 2018-01-05 7:50 PM
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
   
Location: sunny california | I used mine in the LQ because the generator only had to be on like 30 minutes!I used the natural release and just turned it off. i am fixing to use mine right now. making chili verde.
also you can cook dried beans in it so fast! |
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| I had an Amazon gift card, so I ended up only paying for the tax on mine (since it qualifies for free shipping).
So far, we have used it to cook meat from frozen to perfectly cooked for numerous meals and I am obsessed. It cooked a huge frozen pork roast in 75 minutes, and then I "sautéed" some veggies in the juice for 5 minutes and it was delicious. I still like my crock pot, but the Instant Pot is great for when you forget to take food out to cook, or to cook nice meals quickly. The steamer, pressure, warm, sauté and rice cooker aspects work great; I haven't tried the yogurt setting, but I cannot wait!
I would love to hear what others have to say, as I haven't used mine to its full potential (living with the in-laws is really cramping our cooking style, but we have forever to use it). There are a lot of Pinterest recipes and blogs out there just for the Instant Pot, we even used a YouTube video tutorial the first time we used it, as some of our pieces looked different than in the manual.
ETA: I have made porkchops in it, where I seared the chops on the bottom of the pot, and then pressure cooked them-- everything I have made is delicious, but I love eating, so I may be biased 
Edited by madredepeanut 2018-01-05 8:06 PM
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I got one for Christmas, but since my husband is off work right now and loves to cook, I've only used it twice so far. Made veggie soup and some great northern beans. Worked awesome. Tasted like all day crockpot simmer in 30-40 minutes. |
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 My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | I'm thinking I need one of these! How much do they cost? (Y'all probably already said and I missed it!) |
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| Chandler's Mom - 2018-01-05 7:20 PM
I'm thinking I need one of these! How much do they cost? (Y'all probably already said and I missed it!)
Hi D!! My Instant Pot is the 8qt 7 in 1, which it looks like Amazon is currently out of, but mine was $129. I think you can get the 6qt 7 in 1 for $99! |
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My Heart Be Happy
Posts: 9159
Location: Arkansas | madredepeanut - 2018-01-05 9:37 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-01-05 7:20 PM
I'm thinking I need one of these! How much do they cost? (Y'all probably already said and I missed it!)
Hi D!! My Instant Pot is the 8qt 7 in 1, which it looks like Amazon is currently out of, but mine was $129. I think you can get the 6qt 7 in 1 for $99!
Hey right back to you my dear!! I think I can swing that price! Is it complicated? Like to me, 7 in 1 makes me think there are more buttons and things to do than I can process  |
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Regular
Posts: 89
| We just got in the the new Insta-Pot mini it's a 3qt size perfect size for smaller families or just couples. We actually can't keep them in stock at my store. We have the big ones on sale for 79.99 right now. I think the mini's are 59.99. If you have a Kroger or one of the kroger owned stores check there I know we run sales on ours all the time. |
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Location: South Dakota | I use mine several times during the week, it is easy to use, easy to clean, makes great hard boiled eggs, rice, meat and veggie meals...the list goes on and I am still learning how to use all the features! Worth every penny in this house....also love the keep warm setting, for those times when the roast is done.....and you are still out riding or at the barn  |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 380
| I have been reading off and on about them. I like the idea of cooking a whole dinner from frozen to cooked in a short time. |
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| The newest one is a 9n1 which is great .. adds more push button features that you
can change time and steam pressure once you get familiar with how well done you
want your food to be.
Read the directions .. one major .. on saute or searing .. do not put the lid on the pot!!
AMAZON ... $119... 6 qt w/the extended ring will cook hens, pork roast, turkey etc
https://www.amazon.com/Instant-Pot-Plus-Programmable-Sterilizer/dp/B...
AND this lady on youtube knows her stuff and is honest with her information ..
https://youtu.be/AEu6o5QLT6I
https://youtu.be/Y1wmB1PZUKI
You need an open counter top with no cabinets above due to the steam ...
and you can throw a light weight towel over the steamer outlet to reduce
the blast of steam going into the air.
One other thing .. cut your spices in half vs what you would usually use ..
the sealed pressure really contains and adds the spices into the meat or whatever.
If you are doing something like stew with several items.. do meat half the time
and then add your pre-prepped veggies ... not enough time to prep while cooking
your base ingredient ...
I plan to use mine to cook outside while RVing ..
along with a NuWave Oven cooker ...
and a small aluminum propane grill for steaks
HAVE FUN ..
Edited by BARRELHORSE USA 2018-01-06 11:58 AM
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| Chandler's Mom - 2018-01-05 9:54 PM
madredepeanut - 2018-01-05 9:37 PM
Chandler's Mom - 2018-01-05 7:20 PM
I'm thinking I need one of these! How much do they cost? (Y'all probably already said and I missed it!)
Hi D!! My Instant Pot is the 8qt 7 in 1, which it looks like Amazon is currently out of, but mine was $129. I think you can get the 6qt 7 in 1 for $99!
Hey right back to you my dear!! I think I can swing that price! Is it complicated? Like to me, 7 in 1 makes me think there are more buttons and things to do than I can process
They’re pretty darn easy, it’s like that slogan “set it and forget it!” But they are so quick and efficient! You can customize the time for cooking, and the seven buttons are just the different features (warm, sauté, rice, yogurt, pressure, etc.), so you just pick which one you want to use, and there’s an included manual as well. Pretty easy peasy  |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| If you get an instant pot it will also be used as a slow cooker. Really this is just a pressure cooker. I have one I have used for years. My mother cooked something in hers everyday. |
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 "Spaz-tacular"!!
Posts: 20309
Location: Bennett, CO | Ive been using my instant pot for a couple of years now... Love it for dry pintos, and it is really handy when I need to make a real dinner
Ive not had to change the amount of spices as mentioned above... I make my recipes the same... One of my go to's is frozen pork chops.
Season them and then sautee them in some oil while frozen with a sliced onion.. be sure to peel them up from the bottom.. add 1 cup chicken broth or water with a bullion in it. then throw 4 whole potatoes in on top.. switch from sautee to manual... Set for 18 minutes, and thats it.. the gravy was awesome, chops were perfect
Biggest thing is to be careful with the pot.. dont drop it! Its easy to get a ding in the lip, which will cause issues with getting it to seal.
If your nervous- after doing the water test the first time.. make pasta .. sautee 1 lb beef or sausage in pot... then switch to manual- add 1 box of rotini or similar noodles... 1 jar your favorite spaghetti sauce, 1 jar of water.. set for 7 minutes and you have one pot pasta!
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  Elite Veteran
Posts: 1176
Location: Nor Cal | I got one for my birthday back in September. I have been using it 4-5 times a week since then. I can't tell you the last time I used my oven! Everything cooks so much faster and all the meats turn out much more juicy and tender! I made the most DELICIOUS fall-off-the-bone baby back ribs last night - my 2 year old doesn't eat much meat but he ate probably 5 ribs to himself. Highly recommend!! |
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Expert
Posts: 1207
| I've had one for almost a year now and still have not used it. |
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Meanest Teacher!!!
Posts: 8555
Location: sunny california | Sandok - 2018-01-08 10:23 AM I've had one for almost a year now and still have not used it.
just stick some diced pork with a bottle of green chili salsa in it, then go clean stalls, come back in and bam! yummy burritios. That is how I got started |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | I've decided between my insta-pot and the new air fryer I got for Christmas, all other cooking gagdets could disappear! (Not really but I'm impressed and I love to cook)
To the OP if you're used to minute rice now, the instapot will make your mouth happy, I love basmati rice, quick and painless. I always make plenty so I have enough rice leftover to make fried rice later in the week (I use my big electric frying pan for that so maybe that can't disappear :) )
One of my favorites is to dice round steak and saute' with onions, garlic and carrots, cover with water to the highest level in the pot , a bouilion cube or two and cook for 30 minutes, when done add egg noodles or old fashioned noodles and let simmer until noodles are done-soup in about an hour-and you don't have to stand around waiting! I make ring sausage in the pot in about 8 minutes-add just a touch of water to the bottom, put the sausage in cook for 6 minutes if it's thawed or 8 if it's frozen and come back-done!
there are so many instapot facebook pages to follow OR google whatever ingredients you feel like throwing together and add instapot at the end and you will find a recipe you can live with!
I love the fact that the pot keeps things warm until you shut it off too! |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | I am intrigued by the Instant Pot. How long does it take to build pressure before you can start your cook time? If I were to use it to make white rice, how long does it take? Is that after it pressurizes? |
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Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| horsegirl - 2018-01-09 8:43 AM
I am intrigued by the Instant Pot. How long does it take to build pressure before you can start your cook time? If I were to use it to make white rice, how long does it take? Is that after it pressurizes?
Probably about 5-7 minutes to pressure up. |
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