How do you convert cooking times in Instant Pot?

Take the total cooking time of the recipe and divide it by 3 . So, for a dish that has a total cook time of 30 minutes in the oven, you'll need to cook it for 10 minutes in the Instant Pot®. Similarly, a recipe that takes an hour to cook in the oven, would need 20 minutes in the Instant Pot®.

How to use an old fashioned pressure cooker?

For an old-fashion-type pressure cooker, place the cooker on medium-high heat and brown the foods. Then add liquids and remaining ingredients, cover, bring pressure up, and complete the pressure cooking . For newer cookers, most have a brown function—see manufacturer's instructions.

Can you make everything in an Instant Pot?

Instant Pots are terrific for some dishes. Others are a big no-no. If you own an Instant Pot, you know how convenient it is when it comes to cutting down the time it takes to cook food, all through the magic of heat and steam. But while your Instant Pot has kitchen prowess, it can't cook everything safely .

How does pressure cooking time compare to normal cooking time?

Pressure settings The higher temperature causes food to cook faster; cooking times can typically be reduced to one-third of the time for conventional cooking methods .

How do you calculate the time for a pressure cooker?

Oven/Stovetop to Instant Pot Conversion: Divide the cooking time by 3. Cook on high pressure for that time and allow for natural pressure release when cooking soups, chili, or meat.

How much time does a pressure cooker take compared to stove top?

To convert pressure cooker time to stove top time, you can roughly expect that using the pressure cooker takes about 3 times faster than on stove top .

What is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker?

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail .

Is cooking in a pressure cooker unhealthy?

Cooking with a pressure cooker is the healthiest way to cook food when compared to other pots or pans .

How long should you cook meat in a pressure cooker?

I like to assume 20 minutes for every pound of meat . So, for my 3-pound beef chuck, I will need to cook at high pressure for 1 hour. After the hour, I release the pressure and shred the tender beef. When the beef is done, you can make our optional gravy.

What happens if you pressure cook longer?

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat . Earlier, I explained how ingredient size affects the cooking time.

How do modern pressure cookers work?

A pressure cooker (or Instant Pot ) traps steam that's released during the cooking process . The steam is pushed back into the food for moist and tender results as the pot builds pressure. Instant Pots do more than pressure cook foods. Most models also sauté, steam and keep foods warm.

How much water do you use in a pressure cooker?

Amounts will vary between pressure cookers and recipes, but in general, 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid is need to get cooking.

How long does it take for a pressure cooker to depressurize?

Simply wait for the float valve (aka pin) to drop ( 5-40 minutes ) indicating the pressure has gone down and it's safe to remove the lid. In other words: Time counts down to 0 and Instant Pot beeps 10 times. Don't do anything, the Instant Pot will depressurize naturally by cooling the inner contents.

How To Convert Any Recipe To The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (2024)

How to convert any recipe to the instant pot. If you are looking to convert your regular recipes to the instant pot, or other brand of electric pressure cooker then this instant pot cooking times guide is perfect for you.

Our instant pot conversion guide was originally published in 2017 and updated with more information and some extra cooking charts.

How To Convert Any Recipe To The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (1)

When you get started with the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker, you are often told that it is like going back to school and learning to cook all over again.

In fact, that is one of the main reasons why I created the instant pot mini course, because going back to the beginning is how you get the best out of the instant pot when you first buy one.

That beef stew that has been a family favourite is all of a sudden, a lot quicker to make. You are then freaked out because you overcooked it and now your stew has turned to mush.

What you really need is anInstant Pot Converterthat will do all the work for you, so that you can stop serving up baby slop and enjoy the speed that an Instant Pot Pressure Cooker brings you.

That is why I have collected all my notes together to bring you an easy to use guide that you can use as you cook.

Table of Contents

How To Convert Any Recipe To The Instant Pot?
#1 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Is Just Like Baked BUT Much Quicker
#2 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Can Be As Healthy Or Unhealthy As You Like
#3 – The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Doesn’t Have To Be Full
#4 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Up To The Line
#5 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking From Frozen
#6 – Instant Pot Pressure Cookers Needs Accessories
Quick Instant Pot Conversion Chart
Instant Pot For Beginners PDF Cookbook
Can’t read it now? Then pin it for later!

How To Convert Any Recipe To The Instant Pot?

Of course, we all like our food differently. Some of us prefer to cook their mashed potatoes in the Instant Pot so that they are super soft and then the job of mashing them is super easy.

Others prefer to do them so that they are just soft and then use a hand mixer to finish them. Neither of them is wrong, they are different ways of going about to do the same thing.

#1 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Is Just Like Baked BUT Much Quicker

If you imagine that you would normally cook a stew in the oven. You might start it on the stovetop and then transfer the cooking into the oven.

The stovetop is the same as cooking on the sauté settingin the Instant Pot. It will take the same amount of time, though is like using an electric burner on the stove, so if you leave it then it will burn.

But what would spend an hour afterwards in the oven can be done in the Instant Pot (or any other pressure cooker) for about a quarter of the time.

If you think of anything you cook in the oven, on the stove, microwave, steam, rice machine,soup machine, pasta machine, then it can be done in the Instant Pot.

I am sure at such a thought, that your mind is going crazy with ideas of what you can cook in your Instant Pot!

#2 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Can Be As Healthy Or Unhealthy As You Like

With a lot of kitchen gadgets (well minus the ice cream maker) the reason for getting them is the opportunity to eat healthier.

You buythe spiralizerto cut carbs, thebread machineto avoid processed foods and the air fryer to reduce fats. Well with the Instant Pot this is not the case as there are a lot of unhealthy recipes that do the rounds.

But this is balanced out with a lot of healthy recipes too. We love to cook Instant Pot Broccoli, instant pot whole butternut squash and love to make instant pot egg roll in a bowl.

To me the Instant Pot is all about speeding up the cooking process.To cook a stew a lot quicker and as a mum to get a meal quickly on the dinner table.

You just choose what kind of cooking you want to do in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker and start by learning how to cook those dishes.

Don’t get into a situation when you want to learn to cook 20 new dishes a week. Instead slow it down, crack one of your favourite dishes in the Instant Pot and go from there.

#3 – The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Doesn’t Have To Be Full

You can cook with your Instant Pot full or not full and the great thing is that the cooking time doesn’t change.

The biggest change is how long it will take to come to pressure if you have added a lot of food. I have found that my 8qt full with beef stew will take some time to go to pressure compared to steaming some broccoli for a quick lunch.

#4 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking Up To The Line

Another rule of the thumb is to make sure that you check and make sure that you don’t go over the max mark on the Instant Pot.

The lid needs to fit on, the Instant Pot needs to seal, and it needs to come to pressure. All of which require space so don’t take it over these lines.

But even the 6 litre one is huge and unless you are cooking something super sized there is no reason why you should go over this limit. In which case maybe an upgrade tothe 8 quartis in order?

In our house for example, we have both the 6 quart and the 8 quart.

#5 – Instant Pot Pressure Cooking From Frozen

I often get asked if I can cook from frozen in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker. The answer isYESyou can.We have been cooking frozen food in the instant pot for a number of years and have fallen in love with it.

Back in 2017, if someone had asked me, I would have said no, having not tried it and just not liking the idea.

BUT OMG I am so glad I did as instant pot frozen food is amazing.

A few of my instant pot frozen favourites are:

Instant Pot Frozen Steak
Instant Pot Frozen Hamburgers
Instant Pot Frozen Broccoli
Instant Pot Frozen Pork Chops

#6 – Instant Pot Pressure Cookers Needs Accessories

You need a few things to make Instant Pot Pressure Cooking work for you. I can’t live without myInstant Pot Steamer Basket,Spring Form Pansand of coursemy Ramekins.

When you invest in them once (just like the Instant Pot) they will last you years and save you a huge amount of time and make pressure cooking so easy.

The instant pot accessories I bought in late 2016 still do the trick now and if you are just getting started, I recommend you take a look at our instant pot accessories list.

Quick Instant Pot Conversion Chart

I have also put together a quickInstant Pot Pressure Cooker conversion chart.

That way if you want something quick for dinner and you want to pressure cook it then you can quickly turn to this list.

It features a lot of my favourite foods and it is great for referencing later.

It includes 25 of the most popular instant pot foods that is saved in PDF for easy printing:

How To Convert Any Recipe To The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (5)

Even better, you can print it out and grab it in our members area. In our members area which is for members of kitchen gadgets, we have lots of free instant pot, air fryer, slow cooker and soup maker printables and ebooks.

Instant Pot For Beginners PDF Cookbook

Did you know that we also have an instant pot ecookbook that you can download instantly? It features 101 easy to understand instant pot beginner recipes.

Millions of people have downloaded and viewed these 101 instant pot recipes since it was originally created back in 2017. Though of course, it has been updated many times since then to bring you the best.

Click Here + Get 101 Instant Pot Recipes For Beginners