Step-By-Step Beginners Instant Pot Cookbook (Vegan) E-Book

Rohit Sahu

• Herausgeber: Rohit Sahu
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2021

Beschreibung

Whoever said healthy food can’t be delicious clearly hasn’t explored this cookbook!

If you’re health-conscious like me and crave tasty, nourishing meals, then you’re in for a treat. Inside this cookbook, you’ll discover over 100 mouthwatering instant pot recipes that are not only incredibly delicious but also backed by the principles of Ayurveda for optimal nutrition. The best part? These recipes won’t break the bank as they utilize readily available ingredients found right in your own kitchen.

With each recipe thoughtfully portioned and designed to be ready in 30 minutes or less, you’ll have wholesome meals on the table in no time. Say goodbye to tasteless health food and hello to flavor-packed dishes that will satisfy your cravings and nourish your body.

In This Instant Pot Cookbook, You Can Expect to Find:
✔️ Insider’s Tips and Tricks to Maximize Your Instant Pot’s Potential
✔️ Common FAQs and Essential Facts to Master Your Instant Pot
✔️ Pro Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Instant Pot
✔️ Mistakes to Avoid While Using Your Instant Pot
✔️ Completely Vegan Recipes with No Non-Veg Ingredients

Whether you’re cooking for yourself, your family, or hosting friends, these easy and healthy recipes are sure to impress. From delightful breakfast meals and comforting stews to hearty soups, flavorful beans, and satisfying main course options, this cookbook has it all. You’ll also discover tantalizing appetizers, refreshing salads, delectable desserts, and even some popular Indian dishes to spice up your culinary adventures.

Don’t wait another moment to enjoy the perfect blend of health and taste. Grab your copy of this Instant Pot Cookbook today and embark on a delicious journey of nutritious eating.

Leseprobe

Step-By-Step Beginners Instant Pot Cookbook (Vegan)

100 Easy, Delicious Yet Extremely Healthy Instant Pot Recipes Backed By Ayurveda

- Rohit Sahu

Copyright

Copyright © 2020 by Rohit Sahu. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, write to the publisher at the address below. 

Published by:  Rohit Sahu 

Contact: [email protected]

Published Worldwide

Content

Introduction

Some Common FAQS and Other Essential Information

What All Buttons Do?

Pro Tips to Get The Most Out of Your Instant Pot

Things Not to Do with Your Instant Pot

A Few Things to Know Before Moving Ahead

Breakfast Meals

Stews and Chillies

Soups

Beans

Lunch/Brunch

Side Meals

Main Course Meals

Appetizers and Snacks

Light Dinner

Deserts

Bonus Recipes: Some of the Most Popular Indian Dishes

Salads

Drinks

Your Opinion Matters!

Here's Your FREE GIFT!!

Author Note

Dear Reader,

With great excitement and appreciation, I offer to you this recipe book, the culmination of my Ayurvedic studies compatible with Instant Pot. It’s been a labor of love, knitted together to impart timeless knowledge and practical insights to improve your knowledge of cooking. Explore the delicious recipes and Instant Pot insider's knowledge that you may incorporate into your everyday life.

Your thoughts and opinions are really valuable to me. I would be grateful if you could take a few seconds to leave a review and share your ideas and experiences. Your review will not only help other readers make an informed decision, but it will also give vital insight into how this book has touched your life.

I sincerely ask you to share your thoughts, observations, and any recommendations you may have. Your thoughts will not only encourage me but will also help to evolve and refine the information and wisdom contained inside these pages. May this recipe book serve you wellness and taste.

Cheers,

Rohit Sahu

Introduction

Who said healthy foods can't be tasty; I am a health-conscious person and love to eat healthy food, as well as tasty food.

"You Don't Have to Cook Fancy or Complicated Masterpieces. Just Tasty Food from Simple Healthy Ingredients"

If you follow Ayurveda, you know why we shouldn't eat meat or non-veg, so finally here is a Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook. Plus, these do not require ingredients that'll hurt your budget; most of the ingredients are readily available in your home.

Every recipe is properly portioned and will be ready in under 30 minutes or less. These quick and simple recipes will get your meal ready on the table in no time.

The Glory of Instant Pot

The Pressure Cooker and slow cooker were paired to create a new machine named the Instant Pot. It's perfect for making a quick, healthy meal when you get home from work in the evening, or when you get to work in the morning.

It's a great kitchen gadget that saves you hours every week. Who wouldn't want that? Instant Pot also offers you the freedom to cook your meals and to do whatever you need or want to do in the meantime.

Thanks to this smart kitchen appliance, you can go clean your home, go to the gym, or even go to work for a whole day when your food (and your house) is all in one piece. And all this without cheating on the taste and quality.

One of the many important benefits offered by Instant Pot is that it keeps meals warm for up to ten hours. And that's a couple more minutes saved right here if the reheating of meals isn't what you really love doing.

Plus, if you're cooking for the entire family, the cooking Pot (the Inner Pot) is big enough to take in several portions comfortably. The best thing about it is even if you fill the Pot to the top, it will always take the same amount of time to cook it all up as it will in a quarter or half-filled Pot. (But it’s not recommended, we’ll cover the reason in the next chapter)

In short, Instant Pot is the greatest investment you can make in your kitchen if you're short on time and can't slave over a Pot for hours.

Some Common FAQS and Other Essential Information

What is Instant Pot?

If you spend any time in the kitchen, you may have heard about the Instant Pot. However, until you've tested it out yourself, you don't really realize how much of a lifesaver it is. Think of Instant Pot as the reverse of a slow cooker—an electronic appliance that utilizes pressure to serve your favorite dishes in minutes.

It's a single appliance that does the job of seven separate kitchen appliances—a slow cooker, electronic Pressure Cooker, rice cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, Sauté/browning pan, and warming Pot. Sounds pretty good, doesn’t it? There’s still more, you can choose from about 20 different Instant Pot models and sizes ranging from 3 to 8 quarts.

The 3-quarter size is suitable for a small family of two or three, the 5-quarter and 6-quarter sizes are perfect for four or six, while the 8-quarter is big enough for families of six or more. Certain Instant Pot versions, such as the smart Wi-Fi model, allow you to track and manage your Instant Pot from your Smartphone or Tablet.

How Does Instant Pot Work?

Instant Pot is an electric Pressure Cooker that produces a rapidly pressurized atmosphere by mixing heat and steam to cook food quickly. While Instant Pot is a fairly recent brand, Pressure Cooking has been around since the 1600s.

The seal ring of the Instant Pot provides an airtight space that enables pressure and heat to build up safely. The usage of the Instant Pot is fairly simple since it is an all-in-one device that cooks several (and sometimes all) meal components at the same time.

Does Pressure Cooking Destroy Nutrients?

To a point, all cooking techniques minimize the nutritious content of food, but research provides reasons for and against Pressure Cooking.

Although certain people equate high temperatures of Pressure Cooking with a lack of nutrients, this is the reverse of reality. Pressure Cooking helps heat to be distributed uniformly and rapidly, meaning you don't need to immerse foods like frozen veggies in the water. Just enough water is required to produce adequate steam, and most recipes use only one cup of water.

Since food is not immersed in water, vitamins will not be lost and should then be retained for consumption. Moreover, the steam that surrounds the food stops it from being oxidized by exposure to air. You can notice that your green vegetables will emerge from the Instant Pot looking just as fresh as they were when they went in and retaining their natural flavors as well.

Some researches that prove Pressure Cooking is good are:

One 1995 research declared Pressure Cook

ing the best out of other cooking techniques, as the pressure-cooked foods retained more nutrients than the others. 

A report in the Journal of Food Science found that pressurized broccoli retained 90% of its vitamin C, relative to 78% of preservatives from steaming and 66% of preservatives from boiling.

Scientists observed that boiling and steaming decreased the antioxidant activity of legumes while boiling pressure and steaming pressure enhanced the antioxidant activity.

Compared to microwave-cooked meals, pressure-cooked meals tend to be easier to digest, which may mean that the body can absorb more nutrients from your food.

How to Cook With the Instant Pot?

How you use your Instant Pot depends on what you're cooking for. Check the recipe and adjust the device to the right pressure point (High or Low), then add the amount of time you'd want stuff to cook. High Pressure is used for most recipes, with Low Pressure used most commonly for quick cooking and more delicate foods, such as yogurt, custards, and certain rice dishes.

Once the device is set, the clock does not continue to count down automatically. The Pot needs to build up the pressure first. Based on the contents, it should take 5 to 20 minutes. Also, double-check whether the steam valve is in the locked, sealed position. (Incorrectly Sealing the vent is a common error for multi-cooker novices. Pressure cannot be created while the system is Venting.)

Here is a basic idea:

Set the Instant Pot default to Sauté mode. Add oil (or other fats) and brown your food. During this stage, aromatics, including garlic and onion, are also browned.

Click the Cancel icon, then. Now hit Manual, followed by Pressure. Click it again to switch to High-Pressure mode (which most recipes require). Use the Plus and Minus buttons to adjust the cooking time.

Place the lid on the Instant Pot and lock it in place. You will hear a nice little click that lets you know its shut.

Make sure the valve in the lid is in the Sealing position.

When adequate pressure is built in the Instant Pot, the red button will light up. Now the cooking time will officially begin. The above steps can vary quite a bit, depending on the recipe, but most of what I cook in my Instant Pot follows this sequence. 

Benefits of Cooking Your Meals

When you visit an Ayurvedic doctor for a health evaluation, it is generally found out how important it is to cook your food, ideally fresh every day.

There are also advantages to preparing your meals.

You can choose your own cooking oil

—

ghee or healthy vegetable oil as opposed to canola oil in most restaurants.

You can decide how much and what type of salt you want to add to your food.

You can make sure that only the best quality certified ingredients go into your body.

You can use fresh herbs and spices to your taste as per your liking and Ayurvedic constitution.

Cooking is more cost-efficient than dining out.

Safety Points to Consider:

Fill Your Cooker the Right Way

What you bring in the Instant Pot all matters. Too much food or liquid in your Instant Pot when Pressure Cooking will contribute to hazardous amounts of pressure. That's why you're not supposed to fill the Instant Pot to the rim.

As a rule of thumb, do not let the total amount of pre-cooked food and liquid in the Inner Pot go above two-thirds of the line. If you are Pressure Cooking food that expands—rice, beans, pasta, or dried veggies—be even more careful; fill the Inner Pot to half full only.

Additionally, always add at least 2 cups (500 ml) of water or other liquids while Pressure Cooking or the device does not pressurize properly.

Cranberries, apple sauce, cereals such as pearl barley, split peas, noodles, and rhubarb can sputter or foam. This will trigger the steam escape valve to clog, creating too much pressure. Instant Pot advises using such products only when the Instant Pot recipe recommends it!

Be Careful With the Lid

It is necessary to lock the lid properly before any Pressure Cooking. A lid that's off the kilter or unlocked will explode and ignite.

Also, double-check whether the Sealing ring is correctly placed under the lid, clean and free of contaminants before cooking. Otherwise, the lid may not seal.

Finally, rotate the lid in the clockwise direction and match the arrow with the locked icon to keep the Pot locked properly. Your display will blink "Lid" if it is not correctly aligned.

Note: Programs continue cooking for 10 seconds after you hit the button. So make sure that you have the lid locked and the steam release handle where it needs to be before you press Sauté, Slow Cook, Pressure Cook, Yogurt, or any other program keys.

Let the Instant Pot Do Its Job

In the old days of Manual Pressure Cookers, my mom had to wait for the pressure to build up and when to take off the lid. Things become a bit better with the Instant Pot since it will schedule it for you; just let it do its job.

The Pressure Cooker will take at least a couple of minutes to 40 or more to get to where it needs to be.  Do notopen the cooker until it has depressurized completely to avoid explosions, even if you just want a quick peek.

Pro tip: If the float valve is still up or the lid is difficult to turn, the cooker is most likely still pressurized. Give it time and follow the recipe instructions for releasing pressure.

Stay Away From the Steam

This is a tip that stayed true for my mom's old Pressure Cooker to the modern digital versions. Don't put any exposed body parts over the steam valve unless you want a nasty burn. Be sure to keep your Instant Pot out of the reach of children, too. 

What Do All Buttons Do?

Plus and Minus

You'll find that your Instant Pot has a Plus and Minus button in the middle of it. They are potentially the most frequently used buttons. Use the Minus button to lower cooking times and the Plus button to add time after you press a program key like Rice, Chili, or Soup.

Over the Plus and Minus keys, there is a monitor of three lights labeled Less, Normal, or More. Pressing the Minus button to turn the Less mode on and the Minus button to get to the More mode doesn't work. Instead, repeatedly press the program button.

Soup/Broth, Meat Stew, and Chili Buttons

The Soup/Broth, Beef Stew, and Chili buttons are pretty obvious, but you can mix them with the Plus and Minus buttons to achieve great cooking.

For example, if you are cooking soup without meat, press the Soup/Broth button and the Minus button to start the Less mode. Click the Soup/Broth button before the More mode lights up while you're making rich bone broths.

Start with the Less mode with the Meat Stew button to give the meat a soft texture with some chew or More mode if you want the texture to fall off.

It's the same for the Chili button. If you like your beans to be a little stiffer, reduce the cooking time. If you like your beans to be super soft, ramp it up.

Poultry

This button can cook birds to perfection, as long as you learn how to prepare them. As with stews, you can incorporate more cooking time to make the meat fall-off-the-bone soft and tender, or you can select less time for the chewier texture.

Porridge and Steam

For both the Porridge and Steam buttons, you click the Plus or Minus button, as well as the program button, based on what you're preparing.

If you're preparing white rice porridge, then it's a smart idea to just click the Porridge button. On the other side, if you are cooking oatmeal, click the Porridge button to set the Less mode. When you are making congee with rice and beans, you may need to click the Porridge button to enable the More mode for a longer cooking period.

Similarly, if you're steaming fish and shrimp, just hit the Steam button. If you are cooking vegetables, use Less mode, and if you are steaming meat, use More mode.

Rice and Multigrain

The usage of Rice and Multigrain buttons is close to Porridge and Steam. You can literally click the Rice button if you're cooking white rice. It's instant, there's no need for Plus or Minus keys. However, whether you're cooking brown rice or wild rice, you'll need to press the Multigrain button. Rice cooked using the Multigrain button will end up being hard if you use Less mode and it will be extra soft if you use More mode.

Sauté

Sauté is almost like Sautéing in a pan. It browns onions/garlic and may pre-cook vegetables to improve the tastes of soups, stews, and chilies. You may also use it to thicken sauces by using the Less mode or by using the More mode to stir-fry.

Yogurt

You don't just press the corresponding button and walk away while you make yogurt. First, you'll need to pasteurize the milk by clicking Yogurt to the More mode. Then, click the Yogurt button to ferment the milk. Only click the Yogurt and Minus button if you want to make Jiuniang.

Slow Cook

If you haven't already noticed, this cooks little by little whatever you put in your Pot. Slow cooking will allow food the time to cook when you're at work.

For best results, after pressing the Slow Cook button, use Less mode for mild heat or More mode for high heat, according to your recipe. Pressing the Slow Cook button should offer you a low-heat setting equivalent to the Low setting on a slow cooker.

Pressure Level and Pressure Cook

Pressure Cooking is exactly as it sounds. Instant Pot boils the liquid that has been added to the Pot to build pressure. This Pressure Cooks food quicker than other cooking methods, this also keeps food juicy throughout the cooking process.

Just click the corresponding key to start Pressure Cooking. The Pressure Level button sets the pressure point between low and high. You'll need this button to change the amount of pressure as guided by your recipes. Use the Plus and Minus keys to modify the timer.

Delay Start

Do you want to pause before you continue cooking? Click any of the program buttons that you typically desire, and then hit the Delay Start button. Using the Plus and Minus keys to select the time you want to wait. Once the time runs out, the Instant Pot begins cooking with whatever information you've programmed for cooking.

Keep Warm

Normally, you don't need to press this button. The warming mode is turned on automatically during all programs except Yogurt and Sauté. You will have the option to turn the Keep Warm function on or off by simply pressing the button after you choose the program.

Don't Forget, Instant Pot Remembers

After putting your preferences on the Plus or Minus button, the Instant Pot will recall and use them the next time you press Soup, Stew, Chili, or whatever. So don't adjust the time unless you didn't enjoy the way your last dish turned out to be.

Pro Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Instant Pot

If you are new to Instant Pot, adopt these tips for a better Instant Pot experience.

While Instant Pots are versatile and multifunctional, they can also be complicated and daunting for a newbie in the kitchen. Luckily for you, I've mentioned some of the best tips and tricks to get the most out of your Instant Pot.

Clean the Nooks and Crannies Frequently

After a few uses, the brim of the Instant Pot (where the lid sits) will get very dirty. Rice, gravy, and juices will pile up, making your Instant Pot appear pretty disgusting. After each use, clean out all the nooks and crannies to keep your Pot looking and running at its finest.

Use a Steam Rack for More than Just Veggies

Most Instant Pot versions come with a steam rack. And yes, the rack fits well for steaming vegetables. Yet you can still use the rack for countless other purposes—basically, at every moment you don't want the foods to come into touch with so much of the liquid at the bottom of the Pot. It's especially useful when you decide to make cakes that you want to keep whole and not shredded.

Take Advantage of Aluminum Foil

You will find a range of attachments for your Instant Pot—springform pans, silicone muffin cups, safety gloves for your hands, colanders, and more. But one of the best tools for your Instant Pot is already in your kitchen: a plain old aluminum foil. You can use it to make a sling to help you get something out of your Pot; you can use foil to create packets for your food, and so many more.

Use Multiple Apps When Cooking

Don't assume you need to use only one button in each cooking session. You may begin with the Sauté button to help you caramelize your onions at the start of the cooking cycle and use the Pressure Cooking button when it's time to introduce the remaining Ingredients. When the meal is about to be served, you can maintain the Pot on Keep Warm mode until everybody in the family is ready to eat together.

Be Cautious With Dairy Products

Though many Instant Pots have a yogurt-making feature that works extremely well, this cooker does not often make creamy and cheesy sauces quite well. It's because the milk can scald easily, and the cheese will become watery and even congeal.

If you're trying to prepare a cheese sauce, it will spill and escape from the vent as you relieve the pressure. If milk items are used to produce a creamy or cheesy dish, add the milk ingredients after the cooking phase is over. You'll be left with a creamier dish that isn't watery and curdled. Plus, you're not going to get a big mess in your kitchen if the cheese sauce spill out of the Sealing value.

The Thickness Trick

One thing the Instant Pot does very well is to hold liquid. However, that will potentially turn into something unpleasant when you wind up with dishes that have a bit too much liquid. If this occurs, apply a little cornstarch combined with water to help thicken the dish. During the cooking process, make sure to add the thickener, but not at the beginning. It is because cornstarch or other thickening agents can interfere with the steam produced by the Instant Pot.

Get the Temperature Right

You might assume that once you have selected a cooking method, that's it. But by utilizing the Sauté or Slow Cooker modes, you can adjust the temperature. This helps to ensure that the optimal cooking temperature is customized precisely to every dish you make. Some dishes will require a slightly higher temperature, whereas others will want to turn the heat down.

Add 10-15 Minutes to the Meal Planning Timeline While Using Pressure

The Instant Pot should take around 10 minutes to create the requisite pressure within the Inner Pot. So whenever you use one of the pressure buttons, you'll want to add around 10-15 minutes of cooking time to allow the Pot to pressurize enough. For example, if your Pot roast dish recipe mentions 30 minutes of cooking time, you'll want to let your family know that dinner will be ready in around 45 minutes.

Don't Place Your Face over the Steam

Though the Instant Pot is a really healthy kitchen gadget to use, you'll want to take common-sense protection precautions while utilizing pressure modes. When you manually loosen the pressure using the Sealing valve, hot steam begins to flame out of the valve. Don't peep down at the valve, or you're going to get a face full of steam. We saw it happen, and it's no fun at all!

Use At Least Half a Cup of Liquid While Pressure Cooking

A Pressure Cooker utilizes steam to build up pressure that eventually cooks the food. The Inner Pot must have at least half to 1 cup of liquid to build the pressure. That is the only way to pressurize the machine, and that is a key trick that you'll want to note while you use the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker settings.

Use Liquids Other Than Water to Add Flavor

Using flavored liquids such as broths, juices, and stocks will bring a lot of flavor to your dishes. You may transform simple rice into a delicious side by simply replacing the water with a mixture of tomato and vegetable broth, and then incorporating a bit of Sautéed onions and garlic.

Don't Overcook

Your Instant Pot will cook your meal very rapidly. You can cook most vegetables in less than five minutes (with the exception of onions, artichokes, beets, and a few others). If you, out of fear of consuming undercooked foods overcook your food; your meal won't turn out as good. Keep in mind that if you need to, you can add extra cooking time, but you can't go back in time and cook the food less.

Keep an Additional Inner Pot on the Hand

The Instant Pot comes with an Inner Pot that you use to cook your food, although other Instant Pot owners prefer to have several Inner Pots at their fingertips. This helps you to prepare several dishes in one cooking session without needing to wash the Pot in between. It makes it easy to prepare several dishes in a single Instant Pot.

Buy Extra Sealing Rings

You can buy a pair of extra Sealing rings, one ring for savory dishes and one ring for sweet dishes. That is because the Sealing rings tend to lock on to the tastes of previously made food, and I don't think you'll want your Khichdi that you prepared yesterday swimming in the perfect cheesecake that you're baking today.

Use the Dishwasher

Most of the non-electronic parts of the Instant Pot, like the Inner Pot and the steam rack, should be included in the dishwasher, making the washing cycle very simple and timesaving. You can quickly dry the exterior of the Instant Pot with a wet towel. Just keep in mind that your lid has to be washed by hand.

Things Not to Do with Your Instant Pot

Don’t Use Too Much Oil

Adding oil to your dishes will carry your flavor, texture, and quality to the next level. The downside is that anytime you use too much, you fall into the same dilemma as using sauces to prepare the food instead of water: there is just not enough water to make sure that Pressure Cooker will do its job. Never use more than 1/4 cup of oil or fat content to make sure the Pot can come to pressure properly.

Don't Skip the Yogurt Starter

Over the past 2 years, I've been making yogurt in my Instant Pot almost every week. And there have been a few occasions when I've failed to add the yogurt starter to the milk. Then the next morning, as I go searching for my yogurt, it's still milk.

Don't Overfill the Pot

Your Pressure Cooker liner will have a "Max Fill Axis" of around 2/3 to 3/4 of the way to the top of the Pot. Make sure you're never filling any liquid above that level. The explanation for that? You need some room for the Pot to build up the pressure. If it's filled up all the way to the rim, there's no chance the Pot will build up steam and get under pressure because it's too full. 

Don't Forget the Thickness

Thickness is a critical determinant of how long you're going to have to Pressure Cook. For example, if you have shredded vegetables, it would take a lot less time to cook than some bigger chopped veggies. 

Don't Get Burned By Steam

The Instant Pot is fitted with a lot of protection mechanisms. And basically, it's very safe. The one thing I will warn you about is when you switch the valve from Sealing to Venting. There's going to be a fast escape of steam. Shift your hand aside so you don't get burnt. Many people I know prefer to use a spoon to switch the valve from Sealing to Venting.

Don’t forget to turn the Pressure Valve to the Sealing Position

There's one thing you need to remember before you start cooking your food: Make sure your pressure valve is in the right position. As soon as you reach the Pressure Cook mode, you need to adjust the valve to the Sealing position.

Most people accidentally put it in the Venting position, so if it's not sealed, it's not going to be pressurized properly. Essentially, you'll lose all the time because your meal would not be cooked.

Don’t Use Too Much Liquid

Although not having enough liquid is a 'Big No' as it may cause your food to burn, using too much liquid is also an issue. The food will be too watery but you certainly won't get an error message—but the meal is likely to turn out to be completely tasteless, much worse than consuming burned food. So don’t put too much liquid.

Don’t Put Your Instant Pot on the Stove

Anything you do, keep your Instant Pot far away from any other hot surface, otherwise it will be damaged before you know it. You can't place the Instant Pot on the heat source or the burner because the bottom of the Pot melts.  It's only for countertop use, but often people neglect or place it on the stove, so someone who doesn't know turns it on. Sadly, this mishap is potentially going to cost you a new Pot.

Don’t Use the Wrong Pressure Release Option

There are two choices for letting the Instant Pot unleash all of its pent-up pressure: the Natural Pressure Release (NPR) or the Quick Pressure Release (QPR). Although QPR is ideal for vegetables and seafood because it avoids quick-cooking food from overcooking, NPR is meant for liquid foods such as soup and slowly reduces pressure on its own to keep the kitchen clean and food healthy and of the highest standard.

Just make sure you have the right option, because going for the wrong choice could lead to liquid spitting all over the place and burning yourself if you're not careful.

Don’t Forget To Do the Water Test

The water test—which basically helps you to get to know the Instant Pot and ensure that everything is working smoothly—may not seem necessary, but not doing could spoil a ton of potentially good food. It's there to help you get familiar with your cooker. You press the buttons; you see what happens as you do Quick Release... it's very necessary.

Don't Add Thickeners Too Early

You would be tempted to add flour or cornstarch to your Instant Pot to thicken your soup or sauce. And you'll be able to do it soon; just don't add such thickeners at the beginning. Add the thickeners after the food has been cooked under pressure. When you add these Ingredients in the beginning, they may burn to the bottom of the Pot, so you will get a burn error message.

Don’t Forget to Put the Sealing Ring Back In

When you remove the silicone sealing ring from the Instant Pot and give it a good rinse, make sure to bring it back in: It's essential to the cooking process; it can cause a mess if it's left out. It's easy to overlook, but if you don't apply the silicone ring, the liquid is going to come out from the sides.

Don’t Forget to Turn Off the Warm Button

You like your food to be moist while you're eating, don't you? You do, of course. Only be careful of the Warm button on the Instant Bowl, since it's pretty strong. Yeah, it'll keep your food warm and toasty—but it's also cooking throughout that period, and you could end up with overcooked food. Instead, leave the Pressure Cooker sealed in the heat until you're ready to eat.

Don’t Use Sauce instead of Liquids

If there's only one thing you need to remember, it's that the liquid is the key when cooking with the Instant Pot. That's what helps things work and makes the food taste so good. That's why adding a sauce instead of liquid is a major No-No! I suggest that you only use liquid—water, broth, stock, or something like that, not sauce! 

And if you're using sauce, you've got to dilute it. It's very important because if you're using a thicker sauce, you're going to get the Burn message. There's not enough fluid in it and the unit's going to think something's wrong, so it can't put up the pressure. Depending on the type of Instant Pot you've got, there's usually a minimum requirement of around 1.5 to 2 cups of liquid.

Don't Underestimate How Long It Takes To Prepare a Meal

Only because it's called the Instant Pot doesn't suggest its "Instant!" There are 3-time components to the recipe for Pressure Cooking.

Building Pressure

Pressure Cooking

Pressure Release

The period the Instant Pot takes to build up the pressure can rely on a few different variables (how big the Pot is, or what the temperature of the food is, etc.) I generally allow myself 10 minutes to pressurize the Pot. 

Pressure Cooking period for a meal is a simple aspect of the recipe... because you know just how long that step is going to take.

The third phase is the time to relieve the pressure. Watch some videos if you're unfamiliar with Quick Release and the gradual release of pressure.

Add all three components together to determine how long a recipe is going to take to prepare. But you do realize that until the food is in the Pot, you have freedom! Get chores finished, emails checked, dishes cleaned, and all the while your food is cooking.

Do Not Use the Timer Button to Pressure Cook

The Timer button (on certain models called Delay Start) is for a delayed start to your cooking. It may be confusing to certain people, as they believe that "Timer" implies the period they want to cook their meal. If you want to use a delayed start, first set the Pressure Cook time with the Manual/Pressure Cook button and then click the Timer button/Delay Start button and select how many hours of delay you want.

Don't Sauté the Onions until the Pot Says HOT

Several people claim that food sticks to their stainless steel Pot while they use the Sauté mode. Switch the Pot to the Sauté mode and wait for the monitor to read HOT. When it says it's hot, you can add in your cool oil and Sauté the onions or brown the roast. The food is not going to stick!

Don't Keep the Instant Pot in the Box

Take it out and use it. If you’re nervous and you’re still unsure of how to use it watch some YouTube videos on “How to Use an Instant Pot.”

Don’t Get Confused About the Timer Button and the Cook Time

Having listened to the alarm go off and realizing that you haven't cooked anything for the whole time is extremely annoying. If using the Instant Pot, make sure that you use the Manual option and not unintentionally just set the Timer so that you have a steaming hot plate of food when you want it. It's a beginner mistake, but it's also a common mistake nonetheless.

Don’t Forget To Put the Inner Pot Back in the Cooker Base

The Instant Pot comes with two key parts: the base and the Inner Pot made of steel. So if you forget about the latter, you're going to have a problem. You always need to keep the Inner Pot in the cooker base. If you don't put it back and add in the liquid, the water could spill out—then you'll have to be sure the cooker is dry and redo the water test. So don't forget to put the Inner Pot back in.

Don’t Clog Your Steam Release Pipe

You won't have to worry about certain foods, although if you make certain things—like apple sauce, oatmeal, and noodles—you may encounter foaming, frothing, or splattering by clogging the steam release pipe or valve if you fill your Instant Pot too high. Luckily, there's an easy fix: To prevent a mess from going down in your kitchen, just make sure the Inner Pot isn't stacked higher than the 1/2 line.

Don’t Forget to Deglaze the Inner Pot after Sautéing

One of the best features of the Instant Pot is the Sauté feature, where you can pre-cook any Ingredients before Pressure Cooking. The main problem here? If you don't deglaze between—aka squeezing the brown bits off the bottom—your meal isn't going to go very far.

I also suggest that you first Sauté all in the Inner Pot. Once you've finished the Sautéing, you need to deglaze the bottom before you switch over to the Pressure Cooker and ensure that any pieces of food that may have been trapped there are no longer stuck. If you don't deglaze the bottom of the Inner Pot, you'll get the ‘Burn’ warning.

A Few Things to Know Before Moving Ahead

The cup used for measurement in each recipe is 250 ml.

The time to prepare for each recipe is ‘Preparation Time + Cooking Time,’ excluding the time taken in Building Pressure and Pressure Release.

There are various recipes in which vegetable stock is used. Though the store-bought vegetable stock is convenient and I too use store-bought broth sometimes, it’s better to make your own vegetable broth. It tastes a lot better and is fresh. At the end of the book, I’ve also listed an easy recipe to prepare vegetable stock at home in under 10 minutes!

Be careful about the fact that items like ghee, butter, milk, yogurt, and other dairy products used are all vegan!