Heads up : Amazing bit of kit
Discussion
Newbie but been lurking for years...
I had to retire my old stove top pressure cooker a month or so back and after a bit of research got one of these http://www.instantpot.co.uk
Honestly it's bleeding fantastic. Not only does it pressure cook, it slow-cooks, steams, has a sauté setting and you can even make yogurt in it (not tried that bit yet). It's allowed me to throw out my slow cooker and my rice cooker - saving lots of cupboard space and, unlike most other electric pressure cookers it has a good thick stainless pressure vessel - which can go directly on to the hob if necessary.
But the best bit is how well it cooks. Far less faff than the old stove top, it has programs for things like meat/rice/beans so basically you just fill it up, hit the appropriate program and walk away. It keeps things warm for about 8 hours once the pressure cycle is finished. The minimum amount of liquid you can use is 160ml - which I'd have never risked with the old cooker - meaning I can get non-sloppy results without having to reduce liquid, filling the kitchen with condensation. It's also fantastic for making clear stock because the heating cycle is gentle and doesn't emulsify fat or kick up much 'sediment'.
I never thought I'd ever be able to do stuff like risotto in a pressure cooker but it's a piece of piss, same with pasta... Just create a 'sauce' first, release the pressure then throw in some rice or pasta for a few more mins under pressure. It's also great for pulled pork and slow cooked brisket for BBQ type recipes but done quickly under pressure.
Best kitchen gadget I've bought in over 30 years.
Anyone else got one? Any good recipes?
I had to retire my old stove top pressure cooker a month or so back and after a bit of research got one of these http://www.instantpot.co.uk
Honestly it's bleeding fantastic. Not only does it pressure cook, it slow-cooks, steams, has a sauté setting and you can even make yogurt in it (not tried that bit yet). It's allowed me to throw out my slow cooker and my rice cooker - saving lots of cupboard space and, unlike most other electric pressure cookers it has a good thick stainless pressure vessel - which can go directly on to the hob if necessary.
But the best bit is how well it cooks. Far less faff than the old stove top, it has programs for things like meat/rice/beans so basically you just fill it up, hit the appropriate program and walk away. It keeps things warm for about 8 hours once the pressure cycle is finished. The minimum amount of liquid you can use is 160ml - which I'd have never risked with the old cooker - meaning I can get non-sloppy results without having to reduce liquid, filling the kitchen with condensation. It's also fantastic for making clear stock because the heating cycle is gentle and doesn't emulsify fat or kick up much 'sediment'.
I never thought I'd ever be able to do stuff like risotto in a pressure cooker but it's a piece of piss, same with pasta... Just create a 'sauce' first, release the pressure then throw in some rice or pasta for a few more mins under pressure. It's also great for pulled pork and slow cooked brisket for BBQ type recipes but done quickly under pressure.
Best kitchen gadget I've bought in over 30 years.
Anyone else got one? Any good recipes?
flatsix3.6 said:
What's it actual cooking capacity in litres.
Mine's 6 litres but I think there's a 5 litre version. Can't recommend it highly enough. I was replacing a two vessel stainless kit from Prestige (two pots; 4 litre and 6 litre with one pressure lid) but the plastic housing around weight cracked (from heat!) and they don't make spares any longer (bar stewards, it would have been perfectly serviceable with a spare). Anyway, I wanted to get something high quality like a Kuhn Rikon, because I didn't want to get burnt by built in obsolescence again, but they're over a hundred quid so I started looking around and found the Instant Pot.
I wasn't expecting to be so Impressed but the electronic functions take out all the faff.
Gassing Station | Food, Drink & Restaurants | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff