OK, anybody have an "Instant Pot"?

[Paladin]

They're all over, on-line; lots of recipes and cookbooks, lots of great reviews. Hey---any slow/pressure cooker with button settings such as "porridge," "multigrain," and "yoghurt" gets my attention. As much as we enjoy Indian cooking around our house, we very well may end up getting one.

Anybody else using one of these contraptions yet?

[procon]

1. Its just an overpriced and under powered pressure cooker.

The Instant Pot operates at 11.6 psi (about 242°F), whereas other pressure cookers tend to operate at 15 psi (about 250°F). If you have an recipe collection you already know that many Indian recipes take advantage of pressure cookers to quickly develop the depth flavor the cuisine is known for. You can use a regular pressure cooker to make everything the Instant Pot does, and much more, and faster, and they cost less.

I use my pressure cooker for everything. Breakfast this morning was a 10-grain hot cereal mix (3 min), and for dinner I'm going to cook a 7lb picnic shoulder for fork tender BBQ pulled pork sandwiches (60 min), and I'll save the rich broth and some of the shredded meat for Tortilla Soup (8 min) later in the week. Today's menu also includes potatoes (3 min) for potato salad, Spicy Ranch Beans (11 min), and eggs (3 min) for deviled eggs and egg salad sandwiches. Dessert is a lemon cheesecake (12 min) with fresh mango jam (4 min).

[TreasonousBastard]

2. The "instant pot" seems to be just a pressure cooker with extra settings...

I've been using a pressure cooker for years, and if you get one that allows you to adjust temps and pressure, it will do the same thing. Mine's a Cuisinart I picked up for under a hundred bucks on sale somewhere.

Browning is tricky, and the thing can take a while to get up to temperature, but once you figure it out it does a great job with very little mess or waste. Haven't tried yogurt in it, but yogurt is cheap enough for me to buy.

If you don't pay too much, and have room to store it, it's a handy thing to have around and you will probably use it at least a couple of times a month.

[Paladin]

3. I appreciate everybody's input on this. (nt)

[Dr Hobbitstein]

4. My cousin has one and loves it.

I'm "old fashioned" and don't use most newer/fad kitchen gadgets.

[iamateacher]

5. I got one

The big difference between the Instant Pot and a regular pressure cooker is that it is digital (which means it shuts off automatically--you can do walk your dog) and has slow cooker, yoghurt, rice, etc settings. It is intimidating to start but there is a Facebook page and You Tube videos.
If you cook Indian food, it would be perfect. And mine has low pressure cooking (for veggies) and high pressure (like a regular pressure cooker)

[Warpy]

6. Foul mouthed knitters seem to love them

I don't have the counter space, so I use a stainless steel bowl in my pressure canner.

[The empressof all]

7. I have two and love it

No kitchen tool is perfect...but for regular home cooking the instant pot comes close. You can get less expensive electric pressure cookers but the instant pot has a stainless steel inner pot which gives you a better sear on meats and you won't have to worry about non stick coatings wearing off. I use it at least four or five times a week. It makes a quick "baked potato" and is handy for heating leftovers as well. I make soups and stews of all sorts in it and does a beautiful job with ribs. (I finish them in the oven). I do make yogurt in mine as well.

Honestly I would give up my microwave before I would give up my "magic pot"

There is an enthusiastic facebook group that is full of ideas and recipes....Just be aware----if you go into cheesecake mode you will put on a few pounds.