Easy Instant Pot Quick Start Guide

I don't know if there are other's like me, but I purchased an Instant Pot THREE times and returned each one. Without even trying it! I was SO intimidated by this kitchen appliance, that as much as I wanted it, I kept talking myself out of trying it! Even with the provided Instant Pot quick start guide!

I had a great deal of fear over the "pressure cooker". I was taught by my mom and grandmother to can using both a water bath method, and a pressure cooker method. The safety briefings were filled with how pressure cookers could EXPLODE if not used properly.

That fear and anxiety prevented me from hoping on the Instant Pot bandwagon for the first 4-5 years that they were readily available.

What Changed My Mind?

Well, Lowes had a Christmas holiday display of Highland brand kitchen appliances. Everything from toasters, blenders, to a knock-off Instant Pot of cooker. And, it was ONLY $39.99!

I decided I could learn on the cheapie and if I busted it, it was a small investment.

So with trepidation, I took it home and read the manual three times before I got the nerve to make a simple pot roast in it. Then, I was totally hooked! But, there was still limited information on how to use this new fangled cooker, much less a detailed, insiders quick start guide.

I hope this quick start guide helps you, and if you're still on the fence over getting any variety of Instant Pot style cooker, just jump in! You'll be so glad!

What Is An Instant Pot Cooker?

If you ask someone who owns an Instant Pot, they will probably say something like “it’s like a slow cooker, but fast!” - and that is true. While it can be a bit more intimidating than a slow cooker, the benefits (and time saved!) are so worth it that you’ll want to use your cooker every single day.

Some Instant Pots are actually more accurately described as multicookers. Instead of needing several appliances, like a rice cooker and a slow cooker, you can use the multicooker for both - and more!

Instant Pots are perfect for those who are just beginning to learn how to cook. This appliance delivers flavorful food in a jiffy, and free recipes are plentiful online. You can even convert slow cooker recipes into recipes to use in your Instant Pot!

Why Do I Need An Instant Pot?

Using an Instant Pot can cut your cooking time down by as much as 70%! If that isn’t enough reason, I don’t know what is. However, there are plenty of other benefits of using an Instant Pot:

• Save energy: the cooking pot is fully insulated, so it takes less energy to heat up.
• Save time: Instant Pots use less water, so it takes less time to boil.
• Retain nutrients: boiling can cause vitamins to leach out of your food. The Instant Pot cooks food quickly and evenly, allowing your food to retain up to 90% of water-soluble vitamins.
• Convenience: cook almost anything, including rice and meat.
• Save space: this cooker replaces multiple appliances!

Unboxing your Instant Pot

What comes in the box of your pressure cooker will depend on the brand and model you purchased, but generally speaking you can expect to see:

• Manual
• Instant Pot
• Accessories

How To Use An Instant Pot

Follow the instructions in your manual, watch some YouTube videos, and be sure to follow recipe instructions carefully.

The sauté setting on my Instant Pot gets used quite a bit. It’s nice because you can use it just like you’d use a skillet, without dirtying up an extra dish. The Instant Pot heats up fast and is a breeze to use.

Depending on the brand and model you get, you’ll find your Instant Pot has several cooking modes. Mine has:

• Soup: High Pressure for 30 minutes.
• Meat/Stew: High Pressure for 35 minutes.
• Rice: Low Pressure, time depends on amounts of water and rice.
• Poultry: High Pressure for 15 minutes (more for frozen poultry).
• Steam: High Pressure for 10 minutes.
• Sauté: No specific time for this mode.

You can adjust all cooking times. For example, when I cook frozen poultry, I set it for 20 minutes and let it manually release. Find a few blogs you can trust for recipes, because pressure cookers can be a bit temperamental if you aren’t used to them.

You'll find our Instant Pot recipes, all tried, tested, and loved by my family here: Instant Pot Recipes (opens in a new page).

How To Release Pressure

There are two ways I release pressure from my Instant Pot:

• Quick Release (QR): Release the valve as soon as the timer goes off. This will ensure your food is ready to serve faster.

• Natural Pressure Release: Takes the longest, but also gives the most flavorful, tender result.

If you can, allow your Instant Pot to do a Natural Pressure Release - unless the recipe calls for a Quick Release. I love how tender the food is when using Natural Release. It’s just like cooking with a slow cooker, but so much faster!

What Size Should I Buy?

The size you need depends on how big your family is and what you like to cook. If you have a family of 4 or more, the 6-quart may be your best bet. If you’re just cooking for yourself and you don’t like leftovers, or you’re running low on counter space, there’s also a 3-quart option.

Almost everyone I’ve talked to is happy with the 6-quart, but they said they’d buy the 8-quart if they had room and got to buy it all over again. If you have the space and the budget, the 8-quart is worth consideration.

Instant Pot Cooking Time and Temperature Chart

Sign up below for my Instant Pot chart showing how long to cook and at what temperature for just about anything! You'll get weekly cooking tips as well, and you can unsubscribe ANY time.

My Favorite Options

These are the links that go to the Instant Pot, MegaChef, and Ninja Foodi that I or members of my family use and love.

• The Instant Pot Bible
• Instant Pot Accessories (take your pick!)
• Instant Pots (take your pick)
• Ninja Foodi (I have one that has a crisper from Ninja Foodie)
• MegaChef (my son loves this one)

Must-buy Accessories

One you get rolling with your snazzy electric pressure cooker, you'll want some accessories to try out recipes like my Low Carb Cheesecake, a egg stand for making perfectly centered hard boiled eggs, and more.

• Springform pan
• Sealing rings
• Steamer basket
• Bakeware sling
• Egg bite molds
• Hard boiled egg rack

Keep It Simple

When you first get your Instant Pot, you may be intimidated. You may leave it in the box for a while, or you may get it out right away. Either way, wash/rinse your pot before you begin cooking. Start with something simple like hard boiled eggs.

Soups are also easy to make, with little learning curve, but can get messy if you use too much liquid. Don’t let the liquid go over the ⅔ line in your pot. Even if it doesn’t make a mess, too much liquid means bland food… and nobody wants a flavorless meal!

How To Store Your Instant Pot

Because silicone material absorbs the smell/taste of the food, make sure you’re cleaning the ring inside the lid on a regular basis. After washing, store your clean lid upside down, or using the lid holder (many models have this option). This helps minimize the smell.

What NOT To Cook In Your Instant Pot

While pressure cookers now have crisping lids, it’s important to know what should and shouldn’t be cooked in pressure mode vs crisping mode.

Breaded meats and veggies should be cooked with the crisping lid, as pressure cooking them could make them soggy.

Dairy can be cooked in your pressure cooker, but should be added towards the end of the recipe in most cases. Dairy can foam at high temperatures, clogging your pressure cooker.

Should You Buy An Instant Pot?

If you're looking to save time and space in your kitchen, an Instant Pot may be the perfect solution. Instant Pots do more than just replace a slow cooker, they also work as rice makers and yogurt makers, too!

There are so many options on the market these days that it can be hard to choose one. Which type of Instant Pot do you have? Let me know in the comments below!

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