I’m not exactly sure when I first became aware of the Instant Pot. It was sometime around the middle of December. Or maybe earlier. I started seeing it mentioned now and again by a friend or two on Facebook. You know the posts, “hey, I made this for dinner and it was fantastic.” I paid little attention because a pressure cooker? Me? Nah.
But those posts became more frequent and harder to ignore. Suddenly it seemed like every knitter I knew had an Instant Pot. Okay, so it was like 3 or 4. Still. I started researching. And thinking. I even mentioned to Dale that perhaps I’d like one of these for Christmas. He did not take the bait.
However, within a day or two after Christmas it became apparent that everyone else got one for Christmas. Okay, so it was like 3 or 4. Still. I really started jonesing for an Instant Pot. And before you could say what-the-hell-are-you-buying-another-appliance-for I had spent 2 Amazon gift cards and some Amazon Visa points and ordered one for my own self.
I have not regretted this decision for a second. I have used it a bunch of times already. Hard boiled eggs? Worth the cost right there – they peel like a dream. I’ve also made some great dinners.
And also – not pictured because some food stuffs just aren’t that photogenic – pork tenderloin and pork chops with mushroom gravy. I also plan on trying a whole chicken and making my own yogurt.
Am I a lemming? Perhaps. But I’m a lemming who can now make really great food really fast.
Makes great long-grain rice, and family loves the pulled pork I get from a pork loin roast.
I learned to cook on a stove-top pressure cooker, getting a roast with veg going when mother had to stay after school for play practice. (I was in 5th grade.) I even asked for and received a pressure cooker as a wedding present. All was well until we found places to live that came with electric stoves; I couldn’t get the heat regulated to keep the cooker happy.
Enter these wonderful digital pressure cookers. Bought one for myself, and one for my adult daughter who is not much of a cook. Glad you found one, too!
Well, this is interesting! I had a stovetop pressure cooker that I never used since I had heard too many stories about them blowing up, but this doesn’t look terribly explosive 🙂 Enjoy cooking and eating all that great food!
I might have to join you on that wagon. That beef and broccoli looks so good!
Love to read a follow up review in a month or two and see if you still use it regularly. Space is a big issue in my kitchen, so it would have to replace something. OTOH, I can sort of imagine it being useful. It can’t be used to brown something first like the old ones, right?
Because of the uh…challenging eater I live with I will not be getting one. BUT it does look awesome! Enjoy! 🙂
Okay, it’s like one. However, this one has made a rule–if this one adds something, she must subtract something. The food does look delicious….
I ordered my Instant Pot on Black Friday. Got it a few days later. I LOVE it!! I’ve used it so many times. Everything that I’ve made has come out great. I also made the Beef with Broccoli and hubby and I both loved it! Waiting for my mini spring-form pan to ship from Amazon (back ordered) so I can make a cheesecake in it ?
I have a pressure cooker/slow cooker/steamer, all in one, and I use it quite often. I have not cooked eggs in it though. How do you do that?
I admit to looking at this more than once, and I would love to make yogurt versus buying something highly over-processed.
My problem is another appliance and where to put it!!
It looks like a super fun gadget. I would just have to find a place to put it. Sigh……
I know I will end up getting one in a month. I’m so bad at resistance.
This is like a crockpot only better!
I bought (I mean SANTA bought) us an Instant Pot for Christmas. I saw it on Skinnytaste.com.
We’ve done pulled pork, korean short ribs (seriously tender in less than an hour!), steel cut oats, rice, chicken stock. Hard boiled eggs! So easy to peel.
Tonight I want to try making Smitten Kitchen’s lentil and sausage soup in the Instant Pot.
Hmmmm. Think I’m going to watch your fast-cookin’ from afar. (I need another appliance – even a small one – like I need a hole in my head.) (Your dinners look GREAT. Mmmmm.)
Carole, tempt me not – I’m such a sucker for kitchen gadgets and appliances because I love to cook! The new pressure cookers sound wonderful…compared to the one that exploded in our kitchen when I was a kid and sent applesauce flying everywhere…ceiling, walls, appliances, cabinets, floor – nothing was left untouched! I’m going to let this idea percolate for just a little while, and please keep us posted in the meantime!
Hm. It’s a lot smaller than our old microwave that just died… and may not be replaced. I’m enjoying the more open feel of that counter area, though. I’d also be interested in follow-up in a month or two!
Looks delicious! I’m a late joiner when it comes to food prep – I just got a slow cooker a few years ago. But it’s been a game changer and another fast-cooking appliance might not be a bad idea. Please do keep us posted on what you think!
Oh if you will plz share that lentil soup recipe. Looks exactly like the one I want to make. Remember my German O’ma making it and loving it I am a Jersey girl well rooted in Ut. A big fan of yours and Margene though I never comment. Love hearing about the Cape as I Spent many childhood summer vacations there.
We had dinner at a friend’s house last Saturday, and I think she made the chili in an Instant Pot — it looked an awfully lot like your photo. She said another friend got one, loved it, and persuaded her to get one. I guess that bandwagon extends all the way to WI!
I try really hard not to buy appliances because I don’t have storage room in my little house. But this looks really interesting. I’m going to go do some research on it.