It’s t-minus two days until Thanksgiving!!!!
Eeeeeks! I don’t know about you, but we’re excited over here!
Today is also Tuesday Talk where once a month, I link up with Ashley and Erika who host this fun little blog link up. Every month, you are supposed to chat about anything and everything.
In January, we chatted about whether or not I should keep my home phone. (You overwhelmingly told me TO keep it!)
In February, we chatted about preparing for sitters at your house.
In April, we chatted about a book I read called Unstuffed.
In May, we chatted about what TV shows are good for kiddos.
In July, we chatted about bows and clothes for little girls.
In August, we chatted about whether or not I should get an e-reader (Whoa! Lots of opinions!!)
In September, I showed you guys my sign wall.
And today, we’re chatting about INSTANT POTS.
Again.
But this time, I’m coming from a different angle.
But seriously though…I did 🙂 . And you know me, I take my pinning VERY seriously. Ha!
So, here’s my question…when I’ve asked before, I’ve always asked whether or not I should buy one and I would say the reaction is split 50/50. Today, I’m not asking if I should buy one, I’m asking all of you who love yours, WHAT DO YOU USE IT TO MAKE? That’s what I want to know. I’ve been pinning recipes, but sometimes I think, “I could just make that in the slow cooker” and stuff like that, but I know you Instant Pot people are yelling at your computers saying “Nooooooo!” right now. So, tell me…what do you make? I would love to know!! I’m thinking Santa might need to bring me one…but I want to know exactly what you’re using yours for.
Okay…comment please and share!! xo
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
I’m STILL thinking whether or not to get an Instant Pot. It sounds like a miracle worker, perfect for a lazy person like me, but there’s barely any space in my kitchen left, argh!
–
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Heather Bramlett says
I have an instant pot and do not love it! Maybe I’m using it wrong, so I can’t wait to read these comments.
Emily says
Same!!
Jessica Bates says
Agree! I just tried mine for the first time last night, and I am still confused. I need some enlightenment. 🙂
Meg says
Same!
Susan Jeffries says
Oh my goodness I don’t even know what an insta pot is!! I will be researching this today! Could be a life saver for our family(: Thanks!
Sarah says
Hahah I love this question and will be checking the comments religiously!! I do not have an Instant Pot, but have also been debating heavily about adding this to my Christmas list.
I will say – my slow cooker cooks FAST, so I kind of feel like I already have an Instant Pot?!?! And I worry the food will turn out, mushy?? I don’t know!! People swear by them though, so I’m really torn!
Happy Tuesday!! And looking forward to these comments!!
-Sarah http://www.thefrugalmillionaireblog.com
Amanda says
I’ve had mine for a few months now, and I’ve done anything from Indian curry to Thai Chicken Rice Bowls…it’s so nice because you really can make almost anything 30 minutes before you’re ready to eat!
Amy says
Amanda – can you please share your Thai Chicken Rice bowl recipe? I have an instant pot and rarely use it. May try to sell it.
Amanda says
https://wondermomwannabe.com/instant-pot-thai-chicken-rice-bowls/
I would recommend doing the rice separately if possible…bit if you do it all together add a bit less water (it gets mushy easily if too much water). Enjoy!!
Ashlee says
Amanda, would you mind sharing your Indian curry recipe too?
Megan says
I love mine! It’s like a slow cooker for those of us who forget to start their slow cooker meal in the morning! Aside from the recipes I’ve adjusted from the slow cooker, I make delicious soups, shredded chicken for tacos, sweet potatoes, fluffy rice, and risotto to perfection. Oh, and I can make about 8-10 hard boiled eggs at once in very little time and they are cooked perfectly.
Allison says
I second Megan’s message. A slow cooker never worked for me for two reasons: 1. I wasn’t organized enough to get everything in the pot before I left for work in the morning, or 2. the recipe I wanted to make called for 4-6 hours in the slow cooker, and I was going to be gone for 11 hours. I didn’t really want my food to sit on warm for 5-7 hours. The IP allows me to not plan ahead and just throw something in (refrigerated or frozen) right when I get home.
Laurie says
I use mine for many different types of recipes. I didn’t know if I needed a device that I could just use as a slow cooker either, but I am glad that I have it to use. Lots and lots of chicken is cooked in mine, along with beef & pork roasts. I find it very time efficient to cook meat for my busy family.
Eileen says
Thank you for this!!!! I feel the exact same way. I’m feeling like I may need one, but I’m not sure why when I can make all of that in my crock pot. Can’t wait to read these comments!
Cheryl says
This is so me right now. Very timely subject. Do I really need another machine?
Jennie says
I use my IP for vegetable soup, honey bourbon chicken, Mexican chicken and rice, stuffed peppers, spaghetti, shrimp Alfredo pasta, and I will never again cook the following foods again without an IP: hard boiled eggs (even our fresh chicken eggs peel so easily!), sweet potatoes and whole squash. I joined a national and local IP FB group and that’s helped me use it more regularly!
Tamara R. says
Thank you for posting this because I want to know too!! All I keep hearing about lately is people using and loving their insta pots and I’m thinking Santa might need to bring me one too. One of my friends recently made Pho in it. Can’t wait to read others’ responses!
Janelle says
Best thing I’ve ever received! Made a roast in 40 min and it had the best flavor ever! Also use to make chicken to shred and it takes less than 15min even when frozen.
Heather says
Does the 15 min include the time to build up pressure and to release the pressure?
Michelle B. says
No that doesn’t include the time it takes for that so it is longer but I would rather cook my chicken in my IP than bake it because it’s not dry at all like when you bake. I’ll brown the sides on sauté then cook it and it’s perfect.
Meg says
How does chicken take less than 15 min? It takes the IP nearly 10 minutes to reach pressure and then the chicken setting is 15 minutes.
Jodie Kingsbury says
I’ll be watching these comments too. I’ve been thinking about an IP for awhile now. Cant wait to read the good and maybe bad about it.
Sheaffer Sims says
A roast in 40 minutes? NO FLIPPING WAY!!!!! Frozen chicken in 15 minutes? YOU’RE KIDDING ME!!!!! Well, looks like I need one too. And now I’m excited!!!!!
Courtney says
Reading comments as well because I don’t love my Instapot. Hopefully I find some helpful tips otherwise I am giving it away.
Lois Jenison says
It’s a life changer!!! Meals taste as good, if not better, than if they cooked all day long but in the fraction of the time. Pulled chicken using frozen chicken in 10 minutes! The most amazing beef stew in 30 minutes. I just got mine last month after waiting and debating on it for a year, and I’m so glad I did. It’s a slow cooker also! Oh and best part, it has a sauté feature, so you can brown your meat in it first. So only one dirty dish!!
Sarah says
This is just about everything I was going to say. Meat never dries out like it can in a slow cooker. And you can underestimate the power of only having one dirty dish! I get annoyed when everything I make isn’t in the slow cooker.
In addition to dinners (chicken and dumplings, broccoli cheese soup, and beef stew have been some favorites), I’ve been making pumpkin oatmeal in a big batch (3 Minute cook time) and eating it all week. A lot of people make cheesecakes in it, which intrigues me, but I haven’t made that leap yet.
I’m a former slow cooker devotee who has only gotten it out once since getting the IP in the summer.
Emily says
Brown your beef in it??? Sold.
Mandy Placke says
We love our instant pot! I kept it in the box for a year before I finally opened it. Now we use it every week. It’s great for those nights you forgot to thaw anything out and can throw it in there and have dinner 20 minutes later! Our favorites are applesauce, beef and broccoli, roast chicken and spaghetti.
Molly says
I’m glad to see these comments, like the others and you, I’m split between whether it’s worth it over a slow cooker! I’ve heard great things, but wondering how it will adapt to our family meal times. Excited to hear more!
Elizabeth says
I got one when it was a deal on Amazon last fall and love it!
I probably use it most for things like cooking chicken that I’m going to use in other recipes. Plop some frozen chicken breasts (no need to thaw them first) in with some cooking liquid and seasonings and you’ve got your major ingredient for so many other quick dishes. For example, I may cook chicken breasts in chicken broth or stock along with cumin, chili powder, onions, and garlic to use for tacos, enchiladas, stuffed peppers. Or I’ll do chicken breasts with tomatoes, onions, garlic, basil, and oregano for stuffed shells. Or I just go basic with stock, white wine, salt, pepper, and some onions to use in chicken pot pie, chicken noodle soup, etc. I use the same concept with pork to do pulled pork or any number of ways to make a pork tenderloin.
I use the instant pot to cook a frozen turkey breast in an hour. I’ve used it to make french onion soup, clam chowder, corn chowder. I use it to make a pot roast by first browning the beef with the saute part and then adding potatoes, carrots, onions, and beef broth, and the roast I used to slow cook all day is done lightning fast. Barbecued ribs. Homemade applesauce.
I don’t use it to make rice or quinoa – I feel like a rice cooker is much better in this regard.
Jill says
My neighbor uses hers every single day so we bought one too but used meal delivery service for awhile so we have only cooked a roast in it (so so good). We just cancelled so I am going to attempt to use it twice a week. I just bought the ingredient for ramen and it calls for a 4 lb whole chicken and isn’t supposed to take very long. Can’t wait!
Robin says
For me with the IP it is all about the time. I leave for work at 7:15 and usually don’t get home til 4:45. I don’t want to leave a slow cooker unattended for that long. The IP allows me to cook meat quickly. I have done soup, rice, sweet potatoes, baked potatoes, and hard boiled eggs. It is just so darn quick and nothing dries out because it is steam heat. I do still use the slow cooker on weekends, but the IP has changed how I cook during the week!
Heather says
Robin, I am the same way – I don’t want to leave my slow cooker on that long while I am at work. I think you sold me on this IP thing as a working Mom!
Leah says
I was given an IP almost a year ago, and I’ve only used the sucker twice. I love to meal plan, so I typically know what we’ll be having that evening for supper…meaning I’m not usually scrambling trying to get a frozen piece of meat thawed and cooked within 30 minutes. So for me, I’m still trying to figure out the craze. My mom uses hers and raves about it every time to me…but I just don’t get it because I love to use my slow cooker and smell how delicious supper smells all day long. I have kept mine in the cupboard, though, because I’m waiting for the magical answer of why I should love this thing!
Nicole says
I’m in the same boat here… Debating adding to my christmas list.
I’m a serious slow cooker/crockpot junkie so it really needs to be able to knock my socks off to purchase/request one… Looking forward to all the answers
Kari B says
Love my IP. I make brown rice, pasta, roast, chicken breast, mini pumpkin pies, cheesecake, hard boiled eggs and homemade yogurt…just to name a few. One of the things I love is that I can set it and walk away , yet most meals are done in about 30 minutes. I work 10 hour days, so most meat in the crockpot ends up overdone and dry.
Kelly says
How have I not heard this??? I’m starting my research now. Thank you for posting this!
sydnee says
I use my IP almost every day, from boiling eggs (like the previous commenter said, it peels so nicely!) to beef stew to chili. It’s not that my slow cooker couldn’t do any of these, it’s the TIME that’s saved by using an IP instead. Best appliance ever!
Design by Sydnee | A Lifestyle Blog ?
Megan says
I have to be honest that I definitely under utilize mine but when I do use it I’m amazed by how quickly dinner is done. Soups, risotto, chicken all have turned out yummy and fast. But the biggest win for us is simply hard boiled eggs. Between my two girls they eat about 18 eggs every three to four days. The IP makes them perfectly every time.
http://www.lettinginthelightblog.com
Lori says
Too 3 things I make: 1. pulled pork (with any variety of sauces or spices) — 90 mins and it is perfection. 2. Bone broth. 3. Salsa chicken. (Chicken breasts + jar of salsa + 6 mins = perfect chicken for tacos or a salad.
Amanda says
Hmm, already these comments are making me think I need one. There is a blogger (mostly present on Instagram) who posts instant pot recipes alongside regular and crockpot recipes. Her name is speedy spatula. I think she also has a lot on Pinterest. May be worth the follow.
As someone who frequently forgets to start or even prepare the crock pot, in pretty enticed by this frozen chicken cooked in 15 minutes situation!
Nikki says
Not sure if you like sushi, but it’s incredible for making sushi rice. Anyone who has made sushi knows “it’s all about the rice.”
Kathryn Katz says
It’s seriously life changing… that an my Vitamix 🙂 Frozen ground beef that crumbles nicely. I think besides all the types of food – eggs, frozen chicken, great actual meals that don’t taste like a slow cooker (because a lot of slow cooker recipes all seem a little mushy and tend to all be the same to me – sorry!) I love that it is one pot clean up. I love that I can make spaghetti that is infused with flavor, add everything – including raw noodles, put the lid on it and walk away and play with my kids. No boiling over, babysitting a stove. The yogurt is amazing…. you’ll buy it again and the cheesecake is heavenly – better than the cheesecake factory. I think that people think of it as a time saver – which it is… but it does take time for it to come to pressure – but the biggest reason to love it is that the infusion of the flavors is so good… but you don’t have to babysit something in your kitchen – and of course it is so easy to clean up. Just last night I made scalloped potatoes…. 1 minute (yes 1 minute in the instant pot) transferred the potatoes to a baking dish…. used the same pot and made my sauce, covered the potatoes and broiled the top. So so good. Can’t wait to see your recipes. You also should join the 700,000 member group on Facebook 🙂 Clearly I’m passionate about my IP.
Holly says
I completely agree with you! It’s not necessarily about the time saved on the IP for me, but the infusion of tastes! I’m a stay at home mom and LOVE the IP for the way it makes the food taste so much better than crock pots or traditional cooking methods. (And I own 7 crock pots!) . Love my IP!
Christine says
What is the name of the facebook group?
Laura A. says
My favorite thing to make is hard boiled eggs…..7 minutes from start to finish. Pulled pork is amazing too.
Megan Z says
Green Chile pork, tomato basil soup (using fresh tomatoes), red lentil chili, and the best hard boiled eggs (so easy to peel)!
Carol says
Love mine! Roast in 40 minutes, chicken in 10, and one of my favorites, dried beans that I forgot to soak overnight in less than an hour. Oh, and “boiled” eggs in 7 minutes that the peels NEVER stick to!!! The peel like a perfect dream every. Single. Time
Elizabeth says
My instapot sat in a box for 6 months before i opened it…but now that i have its great! Best rice, hard boiled eggs, Mexican beans from scratch (in 30 min!!).
My family’s go to recipe on a busy day: jar of spaghetti sauce plus a bag of trader joe frozen meatballs plus a pack of uncooked spaghetti noodles and same jar full of water. Cook for 8 minutes and then you have delicious even picky kid approved spaghetti and meatballs!
Mother Henn says
I don’t think I’m using mine for everything I could be, but I love to use it as a rice and quinoa steamer! So easy and comes out perfect every time!
Elizabeth Heinze says
Because we are fighting autoimmune disease in my family, we follow a Paleo diet and the instant pot is great for that. I make a lot of bone broth and various types of roasts. Pork carnitas is my absolute favorite. It does make perfect rice, but I find it easier to just get out a pot from the cupboard rather than the big Instant Pot. I have a blog with lots of recipes and have done tons of videos and if you watch any of those, you’ll see I’m pretty mixed on it. Somethings turn out great and some aren’t worth the trouble. I would suggest you carefully evaluate what you eat, the flavors your family enjoys and see if you think it will be valuable. I will say that I hate crock pot food and Instant pot food does not taste like crock pot food. Does anybody else agree? I think everything out of the crock pot is dry and tastes the same. i might be the only one! Oh, my favorite thing about the Instant Pot is the sauté feature. By sautéing your meat or veggies first, you add tons of flavor and it’s super easy to do that with the IP. I love it, but it’s definitely not for everyone. You could check out some of my recipes on my website for ideas, which links to my YouTube channel if you want to see it in action. ? http://Www.ourpaleofamily.com
Ashley says
The best part is going from frozen meat to dinner in 30 minutes or less. If you forget to take meat out to thaw, you can still have a homecooked meal ready to eat in 30 minutes (avoiding fast food).
I cook chicken breast, shredded chicken, taco meat, chili (this is my favorite), soup etc.
I prepare a lot of freezer meals (usually once a month) and make those in the instant pot.
I recently made potatoes in there and I had VERY creamy mashed potatoes done in 14 minutes flat.
Oh Spaghetti Squash is great in there too – it takes 14 minutes (20 minutes with pressure time) and literally falls off the skin. My son doesn’t like regular pasta so we make this several times a week.
When I have a lot of extra tomatoes, I will make big batches of spaghetti sauce and freeze in ziploc bags (flat). When I want a homecooked pasta meal, I will heat up the sauce in 2 minutes.
The sauce feature is nice because you can brown your meat and onions in there (it gets to be a very hot saute pan) and then add the beans and anything else for the chili and you can get the whole chili done (start to finish) in about 35 minutes. It is comes out HOT.
…ok I need to stop. Clearly I have an Instant Pot obsession.
Marion says
Since last Christmas have I used my 214 times :). To say I love it is an understatement. I have 4 kids and I cook 6 nights a week. It’s my life saver. Quick meat- easiest most fine crumb ground beef or sausage; shredded chicken or pork
rice (or other grains) in 5 mins
whole squash (like you put in a whole acorn, butternut or spaghetti squash)
Boiled eggs
Soups
Spaghetti sauce
Veggies- broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, potatoes
It’s nice that you can brown meat if you need to in the pot so you only have to wash one thing.
You can use frozen meat.
And the pot is much easier to wash than the crockpot.
Chelsea says
WARNING**This could be (is) a long comment**
I love my instant pot for many reasons but the big two are 1. The sauté setting. This way when I am making any meat, dish, soup, or casserole I literally only dirty up one thing. I sauté my onions and garlic, other veggies, my meat, add broth and noodles/rice and voila whole meal in one pot in way less time than stove top. 2. I love the texture of the meat. I love crockpot for ease, but always end up shredding the meat because if I don’t the texture feels like I should have. With IP it’s more of a baked, juicy texture with chicken breasts, pork chops, etc.
I’ve made big batches of pumpkin steel cut oats (in 6 minutes!) , roast, stroganoff, faux-tisserie chicken, extremely easy to peel boiled eggs, chicken/pork cacciatore, Mongolian beef, winter squash/potatoes in no time, basically anything that calls to be baked or cooked stove top. I still used my slow cooker for pulled pork or meats I want to shred.
Amber Gooch says
I received the instant pot as a gift for Christmas last year and it’s still in the box! ? I’m so overwhelmed by all the buttons on it! Thanks for this post. The comments are giving me some courage to take it out soon:)
Angelique says
And now I need an Instant pot! LOL! I’ve been putting it off because do so really want one more appliance in my kitchen? Sigh … This is great timing, though, because we can likely all find great deals this week. Thanks Shay!
http://www.FOURPOINTSMOM.com
Aundrea says
I have the Cook’s Essential electric pressure cooker from QVC and ditto to the boiled eggs peeling easy (and a dozen at a time) from above. I also love I can brown the ground beef in the cooker, then just add my ingredients for lasagna or cheesy beef & mac…less dishes is always a win for me. Keep in mind the “ready in 6 minutes” tag line does not include the prep of getting everything in the pot, the time it takes the pressure cooker to reach the pressure it takes to start the timer, or the rest time once it’s finished. While it’s great for getting frozen chicken to the table when you forget to thaw it out, it’s still at least a 30 min process. Blue Jean Chef Meredith Laurence has great videos on you tube and cookbooks that helped me find yummy things to make!
Heather Saloom says
Beef stroganoff, chili Mac, Mississippi pot roast. I love finding new recipes on Pinterest and it still boggles my mind how fast it cooks. Oh, and hard boiled eggs, so easy. It’s awesome!
Stacy says
My favorite specific item to make is a whole chicken. I put the whole chicken in with some water and in about 90 minutes total I have a whole chicken AND bone broth made. I probably make one a week.
My favorite feature is that I can saute in the instant pot (cook hamburger, onions, brown a roast, whatever) in the pot and THEN put it on pressure cooker mode and be done with the meal fast and with only one pot.
I’ll be honest, the slow cooker mode on my IP doesn’t actually cook as well as my true slow cooker (carrots will still be hard after 6 hours), so I use the pressure cooker mode to cook and then the keep warm function. We are in the midst of a kitchen remodel and the IP has been a huge blessing in the middle of the crazies. Definitely worth the purchase.
Alexis deZayas says
So excited to come back and read these comments! I’ve been so curious about it too!
Gitisha says
I have had my instant pot for a year and I use it atleast 2-3 times a week. I absolutely love it. I made lentil soups, stews, plain rice, fried rice, mexican rice, chilli, different curries, plain yogurt etc. I also make 2-3 things in one go which saves me a lot of time. Of course cleaning is a breeze but the best part is my 4 year old likes to cook in it and I dont have to worry about his getting burnt.
denise garibay says
I have had my IP for about 1 year. Overall it is a great little cooking device. If you forget to thaw your chicken, no worries it cooks frozen very quickly and ready to be shredded. I like it because you can saute in the pot if a recipe calls for it and then throw the rest of your ingredients in. Also, you can cook pasta in it without needing to boil water. I am very pleased with the wide variety of recipes you can make with it. It can also be used as a slow cooker! It is a definite must in my opinion!
Stacey says
I use it for lots of things but the best is dried, unsoaked beans cook to soft in 20 minutes.
Trisha says
I am obsessed with mine. For me it’s worth it just for the hardboiled eggs, chicken stock, chicken noodle soup and spaghetti squash! Last night I cooked a green chile and potato stew and the actual cook time was only 7 minutes. I love that you can sauté onions or whatever in it first and then dump in the rest of your ingredients. As another commenter said, when I use my crockpot I’m often not excited to eat the food because it has that certain taste and the IP is not that way at all.
DeAnn says
Would you share the recipe for green chile and potato stew? That sounds yummy!
Andrea says
I have also thought about this, as a lot of my friends have one and love it. But honestly, I just can’t wrap my head around it. I’m up early, so it’s not that big of a deal for me to put things in my slow cooker. Besides, I like the way my house smells when I have it going all day. I feel like it kind of takes away the joy and the art of homemade meals. Maybe I’m thinking too deeply about it, haha!
Amy Bernards says
I totally love mine! We use it for ribs and they cook in 20 minutes! Then we put bbq sauce on them and broil them for a few minutes in the oven to make a glaze. Mashed potatoes are super easy and fast to make as well. I am a busy working Mom, so this makes homemade meals easy and fast!!
Chrissy says
Wondering about this also but I feel like for most of these things, Ill just take the extra 5-10 minutes. Example hard boiled eggs for 7 min, well they traditionally take 13 min so scratching my head there, l guess I don’t need my eggs that urgently? This is funny to type 😉 Also with chicken, I put it on an baking sheet or in a dish in my toaster oven and it already only takes like 20 min so I’m worried in a pot Id be sacrificing something by speeding it up? This is a serious debate!
ColleenB.~ Tx. says
Every appliance has it’s pros and Cons.
This link may help you decide on whether or not to purchase an Instant Pot.
https://mythriftyhouse.com/instant-pot-pros-and-cons/
Valerie says
Thank you for the link! Great read if you’re on the fence!
Kyndra Gillory says
I absolutely LOVE mine. I have not used my slow cooker since I received it. I’m notorious for forgetting to defrost my meat or put the food in the slow cooker, so this was a game changer for me. I love that I can put frozen chicken breasts in and 30 mins later (including the time it takes to come to pressure) I have chicken that tastes like it’s been in a slow cooker all day. I also love that you set it and walk away. No stirring, no thinking— just wait till it’s done.
My favorite things to cook are salsa verde or salsa chicken (frozen chicken and a jar of salsa verde or regular salsa; add cream cheese after it’s done for a creamy chicken dish). I put it on tortillas for the kids and over lettuce or just by itself for me.
I’ve also made some great chili’s, soups, and even cooked a full pork roast in 90 mins. It was so tender it just fell apart. You can convert pretty much any slowe cooker recipe to be done in the IP. I know many people who use it to make yogurt and retried beans as well.
Pam says
I do a seafood boil in my instant pot. I love it and everyone I make it for loves it! So quick and it’s a whole meal in one pot.
Katie says
I love using it for sweet potatoes (it cooks them perfectly in 7-8 minutes!) and we use it for rice a lot. I actually got rid of my crock pot since there is a slow cooker option on the instant pot.
Amy says
I’ve had mine for almost 6 months and never used it yet. Just got a few cookbooks last week, can’t wait to read all of these comments. I too just gravitate to my crockpot!
Kristen says
I use it so much for everything from bolognese sauce to beef stew to perfect hard boiled eggs that peel in 10 seconds to brown rice and everything in between. I got rid of my slow cooker 2 weeks ago because I just wasn’t using it anymore and it was taking up too much space. I will never cook hard boiled eggs any other way again because they never peel as good as they do from the instant pot. Santa is bringing my husband the mini one so he can cook his crazy stuff that the rest of the family won’t eat like tongue and bone marrow and we don’t have to fight over who gets to use the big one.
Jessie says
Love my Instant Pot! It makes perfect brown rice and hard or soft boiled eggs. I also love it to shred chicken. I’ll do a big batch and freeze it in 3 cup portions to throw into soups or casseroles throughout the month. My favorite is to do 1 lb. of boneless skinless thighs for every 1.5 lbs. of breasts. So good! Nom Nom Paleo’s Instant Pot Carnitas are a family favorite recipe and Skinnytaste’s Salsa Verde Chicken.
Michelle DuBois says
Can you reheat the leftovers in the ip?
Karah Stracener says
I have been debating getting one as well. The comments are making me think I should put this on my Christmas list. Frozen chicken done in 10 min would be life changing for me!!!
Sonia says
I highly recommend the Instant Pot for all busy moms (so ALL moms). I work a full time 11 hour job plus an hour of drive time – and so leaving the crock pot on all day is not an option…..everything overcooks. But I love good hearty crock pot meals (LOVE YOUR SLOW COOKER RECIPES SHAY – all the recipes of yours I have tried are down to 20 – 30 minutes cook time!). I have even made Andrea’s meatloaf in under ten in that bad boy. The instant pot allows me to make all those 3 – 6 hour meals in under an hour! I use it to cook roast, chicken, pork chops, stews, chicken pot pie, Paula Dean’s spinach artichoke dip (in less than 5 minutes), I layer stuff and cook my meat and potatoes and veggies all at once, (basically take your cookie sheet meals down to 6 minutes), as a rice cooker…its ready in 3 minutes…..It is a miracle worker on time! There is a yogurt craze in a lot of the Facebook Instant Pot pages I follow….but I have never tried it……LOVE LOVE LOVE it for cooking my family hearty meals in a flash!
Lisa N says
I bought one Black Friday a year ago and it’s still in the box?…and I have a question, the one I bought is another version not Insta Pot brand…does anyone in this community have any experience using another version?
Beth Hess says
I think the term “instant” is misleading. It is fast and it is easy but heating the contents to the temp where you start pressure cooking is not instant. That being said, I love mine and try to get my friends and family to get one! Hard boiled eggs that the shells slide off of. Sweet and white potatoes that are moist and delicious. Mashed potatoes mashed in the pot after cooking with fat less mess-no boiled over pot of potato water on my stove. My favorite soup starts as a bag of hash brown frozen potatoes cooked at two min of pressure. The longest part is waiting for the frozen potatoes to warm up, but I can start the pot and walk away while that is happening. It is truly easy, but is different from a crock pot in wonderful ways. I tried a crock pot chicken recipe the other day and was disappointed because the flavors did not have time to soak into the chicken. It’s not the same, but many things can be cooked either way. Also, you can saute right in the pot so prepping for soup is fantastic! You need one. If for no other reason than to give the rest of us recipes!
Mary A. says
Boiled peanuts, LOTS of shredded chicken, baby back ribs, hard boiled eggs…all of the things. YouTube has the best recipes!
Erin Chavez says
I got an IP in July or August – and I LOVE IT! But I can completely understand peoples feeling of “it’s not that great” There is a learning curve! So I made beef and veggies soup the other night and my soup was chopped and cooked and ready in less than 30 minutes. My dad was worried the potatoes weren’t cooked, but they were perfect and this was the best soup ever. My hubby asked me to make it the next day since we had no leftovers! I make beef and broccoli, pulled pork and mac and cheese frequently. And while I love my slow cooker, I haven’t used it yet this season!
Maggie Frisch says
Skinnytaste has an excellent Instant Pot cookbook called Fast and Slow showing recipes both ways. (Chicken Soup for the Soul is our fave.) Love the Instant Pot for those days that you didn’t plan ahead for the slow cooker!
Dana says
Game. Changer. I use mine mostly for shredded chicken, hard-boiled eggs, pot roast and mac-n-cheese. So much faster and only 1 pot!
Nicole says
I have a IP that is still sitting in the box, I haven’t even taken it out yet to even look at it mainly because I am scared of it (scared I wont be able to make things) so I always turn to my crockpot. I enjoyed this post, really want to go home now and try to make something!
Sonia says
I feel like I’m slowly learning how to use my instant pot, even though there have been a few mistakes along the way! One of my favorite things to make in there (and I realize it’s simple) is beans. I keep hearing about how canned beans have nonsense in them, and I have been able to go from dried beans to cooked and tasty in less than 20 minutes which is awesome in and of itself. I use it for Indian dishes, which works really well, and I’ve even tried a variety of dishes from Pinch of Yum which did a whole instant pot series that was helpful in teaching me on how to actually use my instant pot! One thing to remember with the instant pot is to clean the ring every single time because otherwise it tends to soak up smells which you sometimes don’t want transferring!
Angela Shields says
I have one and have cooked a delicious roast in about an hour. I couldn’t believe it wasn’t tough. I was able to sear the meat in the bottom of the pot and then cook in broth and it was very tender. I added the carrots, potatoes, and onions at the end and they were great too. I honestly though forget that I have it. I think the reason is a lack of recipes and knowing what to do with it. Shay I think you should buy one and make a cookbook of recipes to cook in it. Every mom would love that help?
Evan says
Love my IP. I use it to hard boil eggs every week. They peel so nicely after cooking there. I’ve made so many things in it. I love that i can put frozen items in it and it cooks in practically no time. It’s great for after work because you throw everything in it, walk away and come back and it’s done. Typically in less than an hour from prep to plate. I can get dinner started, play with my kids or do homework and it beeps when it’s done.
Kim says
I was on the fence for months but Aldi’s had pressure cookers for $40 so I thought why not and I love it. Now I still use my slow cooker on the weekends but the pressure cooker is great for weeknight dinners. Most recipes are done within 20 mins. We have made homemade mac and cheese, chili mac, alfredo chicken, honey chicken, sesame chicken, messy lasagna and the best hard boiled eggs ever. I found that noodles cook better in the pressure cooker. What I love is you can put in frozen cubed chicken and it is still done in about 20 minutes. I think it’s worth the investment.
Kristen says
The instant pot is great for things you’d put in your slow cooker but maybe that day you just forgot. I made some amazing cheesy American chop and it was done in no time! It’s something I’d usually just have sit in my slow cooker all day but instead I was able to make it that night. That being said…..my instant pot still intimidates me! HA!
Sara says
I’m an IP newbie but love it so far! I’ve only made 3 actual meals and all turned out amazing! I did ribs, shredded bbq chicken and a pot roast. The other day I needed some cooked butternut squash for a recipe and I put it in and it was done in like 20 minutes. For me it’s the time factor. I have two kids and work part time so I often times find myself around 4:00 not having anything planned ahead or defrosted for dinner. The instant pot is a lifesaver for these situations. I will still use my crockpot and oven for many things but love having the option of the instant pot to still cook a hearty full meal for my family when I have nothing planned ahead. BTW, I bought mine last year during the holidays on sale and it took me about seven months to finally pull it out of the box and get the courage to use it 🙂
Elizabeth says
The instant pot makes the PERFECT Spaghetti Squash. I don’t know what it is – but I always have a hard time getting a spaghetti squash done correctly when using the oven. But cooking it in the instant pot for JUST 7 MINUTES works like a charm every time.
I also made fried rice in it the other day and it was so good and so easy!
Christine says
Hi Shay! I got an Instant Pot last Christmas and it wasn’t long before it replaced my slow cooker on the counter. I seriously haven’t been able to justify pulling out the slow cooker anymore–and I don’t use the slow cooker function on my Instant Pot. It is wonderful for hard cooked eggs that peel easily every time. It is the best for shredded chicken breasts from frozen in 12 minutes cook time! Don’t even cook a chuck roast any other way now…the Instant Pot rules. Two weeks ago, I made my own yogurt for the first time, and it was a hit! Made it again two days ago. If you want some great Instant Pot tips, check out tidbits-marci.com, abountifulkitchen.com, and of course melskitchencafe.com.
If you get one, you’re not going to be sorry!
Lisa says
It’s so much better, for real! I love it b/c you can saute right in the pot, so don’t need to also clean up the stove and another pot. And that it cooks 30-45 mins. I’m always home at 4 right after school pick up, then gone 5-8 with kid stuff most night. I can get it ready after school and we eat when we get home. I don’t need my crock pot to go from 9 when I leave for work until 8 at night-everything always tastes dry or mushy when I do that, and my kids hate it.
Kaitlyn says
I have had one for about two years now and I will say I LOVE it for when I forget to thaw whatever meat I would like to use especially roasts etc. BUT if it hadn’t been given to me as a gift idk if I would actually spend my money on it. It’s quick, yes. But it does take a good 5-10 minutes to build pressure and then the same for releasing the pressure. A lot of what I would do in it I could just use my slow cooker for. The one thing you should check out (which I don’t have yet but it’s on my list) is the ninja 3-1 or ninja 4-1 slow cooker. You can brown, bake, sautée, slow cook! Now THAT looks like a game changer!
Kaitlyn says
Also, some people love them because they are quick at night when making dinner. For me personally I would rather put it in the slow cooker in the morning and have no work to do in the evening. So I think it also just really depends on your personality and what you prefer!
Deb Weber says
Thanks for posting this. I have been on the fence on getting one for a few months. I’ve always been scared of a pressure cooker after my mother-in-law shared a pressure cooker exploding story with me several years ago. I need fast, hearty meals for my two teenage sons.
Jen says
I do not love mine. I have tried a few recipes and they have turned out well. However what I do not like is depending on how much you put in there and what temperature it is the time it takes to pressure up the instant pot is very unpredictable. Things that would have taken me way less time to cook my usual way took 1 1/2 hours. I saw to cook small potatoes in it. It said to saute them right in the instant pot so I thought great. Do everything in one pot. I normally pre boil then roast them. Well it took three times even though I followed the manual’s time instructions and a total of 1 1/2 hours. Where my regular way would have been just about 30 minutes and I always put multiple things in my oven to multi task. Same thing with chicken soup. It took forever. It would have been way easier on the stove top or slow cooker. I honestly still go to my slow cooker. It is predictable and dependable. And too many time I have had to make other food since the instant pot food is not ready. Total fail!
Tracy says
I love mine. I just search Pinterest or a cookbook I picked up (Great Food Fast) and enjoy trying a variety of things. It’s great for hard boiled eggs (I’ve never seen eggs peel so easily) and I’ve recently started using it for mashed potatoes. Mexican Beef & Salsa Chicken are two of my very favorite recipes. The one thing I DON’T like cooked this way – roast! I know many people do but I still think it’s better in the crockpot. Get one! I’d love to see what recipes you come up with for it. The Great Food Fast cookbook is worth picking up. We’ve loved everything we’ve tried so far.
Melissa says
Mine has been in the box since LAST Black Friday! In all honesty, I’m a bit afraid of it! If Santa brings you one, I’d love not only recipes but a step by step on how to use it and not blow up my kitchen!
aulani morris says
These comments make me want to get one.
Lindsey says
I love mine for lots of things, but I make two things the most: hard boiled eggs and chicken. It doesn’t really speed up the time to make the eggs, but it makes them so much easier to peel. And I love the consistency – they are the exact same each and every time. The chicken is always super moist, and after cooking, I shred it in my mixer to put in a variety of different recipes. It is my most used appliance, and it comes out at least once a week.
Marissa says
Coming from someone who was (still is) hopelessly devoted to crockpots (I had 2, but recently got rid of 1 to make room for the instant pot), I must say that getting an instant pot was life changing. I still use my crockpot for meal prepping for the week, but for weeknight dinners, the instant pot is the way to go. My boyfriend and I will stick a 4-5 lb whole chicken in there with salsa, chopped onions and tomatoes and some salt and pepper and in less than 30 minutes it’s done. We’ve also stuck frozen chicken thighs and breasts in there. A friend of mine has a recipe for mac n’ cheese in 6 (SIX!!) minutes. My most recent discovery is being able to make 6 lbs worth of mashed potatoes in there–The potatoes take 10 minutes to pressure cook and then you just add the rest of the ingredients (milk, butter, truffle salt and pepper) and use an electronic hand mixer to whip it up! It is so user friendly and a weeknight life saver!
Morgan says
I have a love/hate relationship with mine. Love that it cooks recipes so much quicker. I work all day and am usually gone from home for longer than a slow cooker recipe takes so this is a nice option to put together in the evenings. I don’t like that for my kitchen it seems big and bulky. I don’t have a great place to store it, so its kind of a pain to drag out and put back up. So, far that reason, I don’t use it as often as I would like.
April says
My husband had been wanting a pressure cooker so Black Friday last year we bought one. It has been a huge hit!! We use it at least 2 – 3 nights a week. I don’t think we have cooked chicken any other way since we got it. We were always forgetting to move the chicken to the fridge to thaw. You can just throw it in the pressure cooker frozen and 25 minutes later you have perfect chicken. We use it to cook and shred chicken for chicken casserole, bbq baked potatoes, chicken tacos (just add the seasoning and turn it back on a few minutes) or we leave it in larger pieces to have a chicken salad. I’m sure we aren’t even using it to its fullest potential but its truly made a difference at our house. Going to check out the recipes you have pinned for more ideas.
Jacquerlyn says
We’re in Georgia and we love our boiled peanuts but sometimes we want them quick and the IP is amazing for boiled peanuts in about an hour and a half. Our course we cook other things in it too but honestly our main reason for purchasing one was for quick boiled peanuts during football season!
Stacy Tsoukatos says
Ummm, instapot boiled peanuts. Share your recipe. That sounds perfect!!!
Amy T says
Hmmmm….I think I might need to switch from a slow cooker to an instant pot! Sounds like Magic!
Jen says
I love being able to saute meat and veggies right in the same pot. Hard boiled eggs are PERFECT every time. Quinoa also turns out perfectly each time. I also love being able to cook frozen chicken breasts in minutes when I forget to take them out!
Carrie says
I absolutely love my instant pot. I love squash with my breakfast so at the beginning of the week I plop butternut squash, acorn squash or delicata in there and steam it! I steam yams also in it and they are AMAZING. It infuses the flavor of chili as if it was cooking for 8 hours when it takes less then 40 min. Hard boiled eggs no longer crack and you can cook more at a time. You can saute in the instant pot so I make a moroccan chick pea stew and I can saute everything and then set it to cook. I only need the one pot and it certainly takes less time then the crockpot. Keep in mind too that the instant pot is also a slow cooker and a rice cooker! I also like that for many recipes I can cook beans from dry. Just make sure your beans are not very old. The BIGGEST help for me is when I want to do some freezer batch cooking. If I am doing that with a slow cooker, which I often did in the bast, it takes a long time. If I use the instant pot, I can quickly get 3 to 5 different recipes done in the time I have available. Sometimes I have both the crock pot and instant pot going. When starting off with the instant pot, start with easy. Yams or a chili recipe are a good place to start.
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/moroccan-chickpea-stew
My slower cooker has completely taken back stage and I never thought that would happen. Many crockpot recipes require some sort of pre-cooking of something and since you can do that in the instant pot, I now never do those recipes in the crockpot.
Rosemary says
I used mine twice yesterday! Ribs for dinner and cooking the sweet potatoes to get a head start on Thanksgiving. My favorite is putting oatmeal in the night before, setting the timer and having it ready by the time we get up in the morning (cook time is 2 minutes). I also like cooking rice and potatoes in it. No mess and the cook time is 10 minutes. My crock pot hasn’t been touched on a year and is gathering dust, so I think I’ll donate it.
Kelly says
Mine has been in the box since I ordered it on Amazon Prime Day. Shay, I’m hopeful you will jump on the bandwagon and develop some awesome recipes so that I will finally get mine out of the box and put it to use. The comments about the saute setting on the IP is intriguing as I made a pot roast in my Crock-Pot this week and the stove top portion of the recipe was such a pain and I had such a mess in my kitchen by the time I got the roast in the Crock-Pot.
Christine Culp says
Sometimes, you’re right, it doesn’t make sense to make things in the Instant Pot. When looking for when to use my Instant Pot versus my more traditional cooking method, I evaluate a couple of things – Is it something that I would typically cook for a long time? Is it going to be somehow better (taste better, better texture, juicier meat, or easier process) in the Instant Pot? I typically use it as a time saver or because I forgot to thaw my protein or because I just want to cook everything in one pot. So, things that I have LOVED it for… pot roast, pork roast, ribs, various indian dishes involving chicken thighs (ex. butter chicken), a few one pot pasta dishes. Things I’m wanting to try because I’ve heard great things… hard boiled eggs, egg bites, cheesecake, mac and cheese… Well, that about covers it. We use ours at least once a week sometimes more.
Stacy Tsoukatos says
I cant wait to read this!!! I had it on my christmas list and then thought why??? It really seems it is for people who have frozen chicken and want something fast! While that is a great tool to have, I am just not sure I would really use it or replace my crock pot
Jess B says
It’s my favorite appliance EVER! While it can be argued you can just use a slow cooker, there are def. perks to the Instant Pot
A. a lot of times you need to do some sort of prep work in a skillet before putting it in the slow cooker, which makes for more dishes to clean. You can do it all in the Instant pot.
B. A slow cooker requires everything to be set up in the morning and cook all day, but what if you forget or just don’t have time in the morning? What if you get it all set up and set a timer for it to start and whoops you selected 10 pm instead of am and come home to a cold pot roast that’s been sitting out all day? Yuck! With the instant pot you can throw it all in when you get home and have it ready in the fraction of the time and just as tasty!
Anyways… that’s not your question… The number one thing I make in my Instant Pot basically every week is shredded chicken. Perfect when you need it in other recipes (soups, enchiladas, just as some added protein on a salad) https://therealfoodrds.com/instant-pot-shredded-chicken/?mc_cid=390a3647e3&mc_eid=9fdbb9d886
A Whole Chicken- https://www.mommypotamus.com/instant-pot-pressure-cooker-whole-chicken/
Carnitas- http://paleomg.com/instant-pot-carnitas/
Stew- http://nomnompaleo.com/post/155033019073/pressure-cooker-beef-stew
If you get one, I hope you love it as much as I do 🙂 Happy Thanksgiving!
Julie says
Shay, I predict that after reading all of these amazing comments, that you are going to end up with a pot. My request is that after you try it out a few times and learn all the start up tricks, can you do a post and share what you learned as a first time user? That would be great for those of us that are thinking of getting one too. These pots sound incredible, but I would also be one of the people that gets one and leaves it in the box for months because I didn’t know what to do with it. Thanks!
Emily says
I love my Instant Pot. To be totally honest I let it sit in the box for 9 months before I would touch it and then I said this is ridiculous I just need to try it. I made hard boiled eggs first and they were AWESOME – peeled super easy and NO GREEN. I’ve made chicken dishes and beef dishes . . .There are FACEBOOK groups dedicated just to the Instant Pot . .they have been a lifesaver because I wanted to try recipes that were already tried and true before I start to experiment on my own. My sister and mom both have one too.
Rosemary says
I love my Instant Pot. I had a baby a couple of years ago and we started using it to prepare baby food for my then 6 month old. It would have been a lifesaver when I was pregnant as well as postpartum. I steamed my food for him and used an immersion blender right in the pot. So simple. I now use it weekly. I’ve made all sorts of soups, stews, porridge, pasta dishes, cooked chicken/sausage/beef from frozen and then browned them in no time, curries, stuffed bell peppers, goodness it is great for singles and families! I still use my stovetop but consider my IP a great kitchen tool!!!!
Beth B says
I think it’s the greatest invention since the microwave! Mine is Instant Pot brand and is really easy to use. I’ve made spaghetti with bolognese sauce (cooked the pasta with the sauce and it was delicious). I make large batches of rice and freeze in servings for 2 (since there are 2 of us, of course). I just pull out the baggies of cooked rice and heat it in the microwave. So easy. One of the best things is making a batch of hard boiled eggs. Six minutes to cook, six minutes to release, 7-8 minutes in ice water and, voila, they’re done and peel like a dream! Even when chilled, they easily peel. I’m doing a turkey breast in it for Thanksgiving – 25 minutes!
Heidi says
Love mine!
Potatoe bacon soup
Pulled pork
Corn in the cob ( Soo quick and feeling)
Pot roast
Brooklyn says
Beef stew in 30 min that is fork tender, chicken enchiladas, Indian butter chicken, hard boiled eggs, and a cheesecake that was AMAZING! And only took 40 min if I remember correctly. I LOVE my instant pot! I had to take something to school for my daughter today and had to dust off my crock pot.
Bethany says
I just got one yesterday so I am loving all the comments!
Sejal Shah says
Not sure if anyone mentioned it but check out the blog Ministry of Curry – she is an IP super user featured on Dr Oz and her recipes are amazing! I use my IP for lentils and beans and love that it has a timer and is quiet, doesn’t whistle like an old school pressure cooker.
Angela Ellingson says
So I started reading the comments thinking it sounds unnecessary and a bit unnatural, but now I want one!
Anna Was says
I love my instant pot. It took me a long time to pull the trigger but so glad I did. I probably use it at least 4 times per week. I make everything from hard boiled eggs, to steel cut oats to dinner options. I love that I can make dinner in less than 30 minutes. We love chicken sausage with tomatoes, beef stew and shredded chicken. I use it so much that I leave it out on the counter!
Jennifer says
This is my newest, favorite Instant Pot Recipe, it’s so easy and my entire family loves it!
https://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/instant-pot-pressure-cooker-hamburger-stroganoff/
Jocie says
Okay, hi hello!
I AM AN INSTANT POT USER AND I AM PROUD OF IT! 🙂 I love it! I make spaghetti squash in it (hello it take 7 mins to cook!) I make dry beans in it (you can buy a pound for 45 cents and then it takes seriously 30 mins– no soaking for hours!) I make rice in it (wild, white, sticky, jasmine, brown, and the best part is it will not burn or stick to the bottom of the pan!) I have recipes ready to go for cheesecake and greek yogurt! Friends of mine made a roast (30 mins). I love the slow cooker but it cooks slow! The instant pot is like the slow cooker for the forgetful (“Dang it I was going to put dinner in this morning but I forgot” not with the instant pot)
Okay so for you that are saying it is tough to use, I am there with you! There are buttons galore but stop stressing! I watched a ten minute video entitled “Getting to know your instant pot” and bam! Done! I knew the buttons to press and how to make your basic stuff… start there and then get better! The first time you got on a bike you had training wheels, allow yourself some learning time, instead of making rice on the stovetop make it in the instant pot! Then slow but surely you will gain confidence and you will be yanking your training wheels off and heading full force into the more experienced recipes!
Okay, my biggest concern was that I love my slow cooker recipes! But hello Instant pot there is a way to adjust the recipes in order to make the slow cooker recipes in the instant pot! Best way to find out how? Pinterest, my friends, Pinterest 🙂 I made BBQ smokies in 30 mins the other day– yes thats right from the 3 hours to 30! When your husband or kids say “I am having some people over…” you can pop in something and bam it is done by the time they arrive!
Safe to say I am a converted believer in all things instant pot! Doesn’t mean I will be throwing out my slow cooker– but I am a fan for sure! It makes the little things easier- and we all need a little of that! I will be purchasing one for my mom for Christmas and all I need to know is are there any on Black Friday deals!?
Ashley says
Instant pots are for people like me who want to make slow cooker recipes but don’t think about dinner till 3 or 4 and I can still have dinner on the table by 5! It is my absolute favorite kitchen gadget and I’ve gotten rid of my slow cooker because it’s a pressure cooker and slow cooker in one product. I don’t think I’ve loved an appliance ever as much as I love my instant pot!
Diana says
I love my instant pot! I made mashed potatoes in the pot and it took only 8 minutes!!!! I own tons of crock pots, but this instant pot trumps all! You won’t regret it ?
Abby says
Crockpots cook things to smithereens, in my opinion. The Instant Pot cooks at high pressure so it cooks quickly. Your food isn’t cooked down to a paste of chalky whateverness by the time it’s done. Seriously those of you cooking chicken breasts in crockpots all day long… ?
Check recipes from Nom Nom Paleo. She’s got some bangin’ go-tos for the IP.
Tricia says
The Instant Pot! You need this in your life! I am a nanny in CA and I dog sit . I spend at least half the month living in other people’s homes…watching their dog(s). The last two places I’ve stayed, had an instant pot. I cooked an entire chicken in 24 minutes. Then I made bone broth in less time than that. For Thanksgiving, I cooked 7 pounds of potatoes in 10 minutes. It’s crazy! and convenient! Add it to your list!!
Detroit Duchess says
Good topic! We have an Instant Pot, but haven’t used it too much. It’s pretty cool when you do use it though. I will say that we use our Air Fryer a lot more and if I was going to recommend a new appliance it would be that. Looking forward to all the recipes you will share.
Felicia Nguyen says
The item I make the most in my IP is PHO!! Especially chicken pho!! Super easy and fast!!
I also make red beans and rice, i do my char sui meat.
During my house renovation i used my IP to make at least 5 meals a week since i was living out of my 2 lil tiny kids room and 1 full bathroom for almost 3 months!!