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.
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?
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.
Therefore, use the information below as a general guide for your own style of cooking.
#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:
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
Can’t read it now? Then pin it for later!
