5 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Cook In The Instant Pot

There are a lot of things you can cook with an Instant Pot from stews to soups and from delicious chicken to pork and beef. But if you think you know all its secrets you are in for a big surprise!

Instant Pot users everywhere keep finding new and ingenious ways of putting this amazing multicooker to work and it’s mindblowing. Today we’ll show you five ways of thinking out of the box as an Instant Pot owner, so make sure to pay attention!

#1: Flan in Jars

Flan or caramel custard is a delicious and light dessert with a rich history and an even more interesting flavor. However, it’s not exactly easy to cook it if you’re a beginner or if you don’t have the right tools for it.

Luckily, there is a way to simplify the process and get the best individual flan-sized portions in a 6 or 8 quarts Instant Pot. For this, you’ll need your own flan recipe (each cook has his/her own secrets with this one), 4-ounce jars (one for each guest), and the trivet that comes with all Instant Pot products.

Start by coating the inside of each jar with caramel and add the flan mixture into each jar (make sure the jars are hot before you start the process). Once this step is complete, screw the lid on each jar and make sure everything is tight.

Continue by adding 1 cup of water in the pressure cooker and then place the trivet. Add the jars on the trivet and finish by locking the lid of the pot in place and closing the pressure-release valve. Set the pot to pressure cook on high for around six minutes and let it do its job without worrying that the flan may get burnt.

Once the cooking process is complete, remove the jars from the cooker and cool them down at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Next, refrigerate them for about one hour, until cold. When everyone is ready for dessert, use a knife to separate the flan from the jars and invert it on a plate (make sure to add the sugary sauce on top) and serve.

#2: French Fries & Other Fried Foods

Instant Pot owners know just how versatile these products can be. However, while you can cook all sorts of delicious and nutritious dishes, they are not created for making fried foods.

So where does this leave you when you find yourself craving for a side of crispy french fries or golden-brown crispy chicken? Well, the only options would be deep-frying in a ton of oil at home or going to a fast-food restaurant and eating their deep-fried version of fries.

In both cases, you would be giving up the healthy eating habits you managed to establish with the help of an Instant Pot pressure cooker. Of course, you can always use the oven, but the taste is not the same.

Luckily, there is a way to use an Instant Pot with a stainless steel inner pot as an air fryer. With a cool accessory like the Instant Pot Air Fryer lid or the CrispLid, you can enjoy crunchy, tasty, and healthy fries with only a fraction of the oil required for deep frying. In fact, many of the foods cooked in an air fryer are healthier than traditional frying and don’t lose anything from the taste.

So, if you’re interested, check out this Instapot recipe for fries! Still, you need to keep in mind that fried foods (regardless of how they are cooked) should only be consumed on occasion in order to maintain a healthy and balanced diet.

#3: Frozen Meat

Do you know that moment when your partner asks you to get the chicken/beef/pork out of the freezer a couple of hours before they get home so the meat would be ready for cooking?

While you have the best intentions at heart, there are situations when you simply forget. Luckily, with an Instant Pot, this is not such a bit deal! As it turns out, these bad boys can work with frozen meat and still deliver a fantastic dinner that will melt in your mouth.

The secret is to increase the regular cooking time by 50%. So, if it usually takes about one hour to cook a defrosted chicken, it will take about an hour and a half to cook one that’s frozen. However, it’s best if the meat is cut in smaller portions, so the heat can penetrate the frozen interior.

Also, make sure to remember that meat should always be placed at the bottom in an Instant Pot (since it can take in more heat without scorching).

#4: Bread Baking

Who doesn’t like the smell of freshly baked bread? It reminds you of all that’s good and pure in this world and it’s so much better than the low-quality facsimile you find in stores!

Even more, freshly baked bread works with a wide range of dishes, from soups to sandwiches, and it can be eaten at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. However, it is incredibly time-consuming and requires a lot of effort and focus. So, many times we just surrender and go to the local supermarket for something that only vaguely resembles bread.

But, now that you have an Instant Pot, you can use its cool features to make bread without going through all that kneading, proofing, and baking. The pot will do all this stuff for you (well, it won’t knead the dough) and the result will be an amazing and tasty loaf.

The easiest recipe just calls for a mixture of yeast, water, flour, and condiments that needs to be proofed in the Instant Pot for the dough to rise. Once this happens, you can put it at high heat, and the bread will be baked.

#5: Strawberries Covered in Chocolate

Well, it’s not about the strawberries (which you don’t cook) but the melted chocolate you use on them. Of course, this means you can have any type of sweets covered in melted chocolate, not just strawberries, but let’s use this as an example.

Start by using the right type of chocolate (usually dipping chocolate or chocolate chips mixed with coconut oil). Next, make sure to have your Instant Pot ready and a glass bowl that’s slightly larger than the Instant Pot. The bowl needs to fit inside the pot but the top should stay out.

Put a cup of water in the pot and place the bowl (with the chocolate) over the pot. Next, turn the pot on, with the saute setting on Normal or Low. Let the chocolate melt and stir occasionally until it’s creamy smooth. Once you’re happy with the result, turn off the saute and turn on the Keep Warm setting. This keeps the chocolate melted but not hot so you can use it for whatever you need.