Hey friends, what’s cookin’? There is NOTHING cookin’ over here right now! First of all it’s 100 degrees in the shade! Second, our stove is not hooked up as we are in the middle of laying the brick floor as as part of our kitchen renovation. It will be a couple more days before we can use the stove again, so after some research I have made the decision to purchase up an Instant Pot tomorrow. I definitely think the Instant Pot will come in handy during our renovation, as it will save time and cut down on big messes (and the heat!) from traditonal cooking. Today I am sharing a round up of fast and healthy Instant Pot recipes that I can’t wait to try. All of these recipes are allergy-friendly or have ingredients that can easily be substituted to make them allergy friendly.
Ever since the Instant Pot craze started I have been a little confused. These were my questions: “Is an Instant Pot a slow cooker? Or is it a pressure cooker?” I am a big fan of my slow cooker crock pot, but sometimes I need to whip up a meal much faster. Apparently, an instant pot also works as a slow cooker, so perhaps I could replace my older crock pot????
I started off looking for delicious and healthy Insant Pot recipes on Pinterest like this Insant Pot Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. This recipe is also gluten free. Yay for me! Okay, I was sold. Time for an Insant Pot! I would figure all the other details out later!
But then I noticed pressure cooker recipes coming up in the searches for “Instant Pot Recipes,” like this yummy recipe for Apple Cinnamon Pressure Cooker Steel Cut Oats.
This brings me to some honest confessions…First, I have never used a pressure cooker in my life. They intimidate me! Secondly, I have been confused between all the Instant Pots and pressure cookers and how they work, which is why I am late to the Instant Pot game.
Kook-Kwik Pressure Cooker Recipes 1850-1920
Obviously pressure cookers have been around for long time. After reading more about them, I found that a pressure cooker is essentially a pan with a sealable lid and valve to control the buildup of pressurized steam. The creation of a high pressurized atmosphere in a sealed unit allows for quicker cooking, concentrated flavors and the preservation of nutrients. It is a time-saving gadget that is ideal for cutting the cooking time of slow cooked meats, sauces, stocks, soups, casseroles and stews.
Easi-Work Pressure Cooker~WWII Kitchen
Thankfully, modern products are no longer dangerous pots that you expect to explode at any moment! Today’s available models range from simple single-purpose units to highly functional customized machines which can create a whole dish on its own. A major benefit when compared to an electric type is the ability to heat on any stovetop, including gas, induction or barbeque.
T-fal P45007 Clipso Stainless Steel Dishwasher Safe
A top choice for a traditional stovetop type of pressure cooker seems to be the T-fal Clipso priced at around $85. It provides a light practical design along with a 10-year warranty. It has 2 pressure levels and easy-grip handles for making it easy to transport. It also has all the modern capabilities of a stovetop version, and it comes with a simple lock seal and additional steamer basket for multi-purpose cooking.
Instant Pot
Essentially, and Instant Pot is an electric version of a pressure cooker. They are easier to operate but slower to reach pressure levels and therefore longer for overall cooking time (but not as long as a slow cooker.) An Instant Pot’s easy operation includes heat regulation that is automated, whereas with stovetop models the heat must be adjusted to maintain constant pressure while cooking. For most home cooks (like me), an Instant Pot is the best suited of the two options for its multi-function ability and ease of use.
One top choice for electric pressure cooker is the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 9-in-1 Multi Use priced at around $150. This price seems to be particularly competitive as they’re generally more expensive than the stovetop options. This Instant Pot comes with an app providing hundreds of instant pot recipes to inspire pressuring. I like that it has multi-purpose capabilities as a rice cooker, slow cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sous vide, sauté, food warmer, cake maker, and stock pot. The Duo Evo Plus also boasts 48 pre-settings to allow the machine to set times and temperatures depending on your dish.
After the doing the comparisons, I am definitely going with the Insant Pot, especially since it has a slow cooker option too. I have some delicious slow cooker recipes that I have perfected over the years, and I don’t want to change a thing!
Now here are some more healthy Instant Pot recipes I would love to try.
Instant Pot Whole 30 Broccoli Chicken Stir Fry ~ Whole Kitchen Sink
All of our family loves all different kinds of ethnic foods. With going back to full time teaching in the fall, I don’t have the time to spend in the kitchen cooking over a wok or baking for hours. I love that I can throw these recipes in the Instant Pot and have them hot and ready in no time.
Instant Pot Quinoa Enchilada Casserole~Sweet Peas and Saffron
Mexican, Southwest and Tex Mex meals make up a big part of our menu, but everyone is getting tired of my same old chicken fajitas. I can’t wait to surprise my family with some new meals!
Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Chicken~Domestic Superhero
Cilantro…one of my favorite herbs! Looking forward to this recipe for sure!
Instant Pot Curried Sweet Potato Chickpea Quinoa~Cook with Manali
Everyone in this house is crazy for curry and sweet potatoes. We don’t eat any read meat, so quinoa is one of our main protein staples. Looking forward to this recipe too!
Instant Pot 15 Bean Soup~So Very Blessed
Fall will soon be here and that means it will be time for soup and chili. I am a big fan of all beans, so a 15 bean soup sounds delicious to me.
Instant Pot Chicken Meatballs~Whole Kitchen Sink
I know my teenager is going to love these instant pot chicken meatballs. We can eat them with gluten free spaghetti.
Instant Pot Honey Chicken Garlic and Rice~Easy Weeknight Recipes
I think this honey chicken garlic rice will be the first recipe I try with my new instant pot. YUM!
Instant Pot Veggie Loaded Turkey Chili~The Real Foods Rds
Even though it is sweltering hot, I still enjoy turkey chili on rainy summer days. Veggie chili sounds delish!
Gluten Free and Dairy Free Instant Pot Dinners~The Foodie and the Fix
As a bonus, here is another great round up of gluten and dairy free Instant Pot dinners or for those who are on weight watchers. I also found an awesome Downloadable Instant Pot Cheat Sheet from Recipes from a Pantry.
Well I have to say that working on this post has made me quite hungry, and I am certainly ready to go out and buy and instant pot tomorrow! Do you have any instant pot or do you prefer a traditional pressure cooker (or both?) Which of these Instant Pot recipes would you try? I love hearing from you, dear readers!
Thanks for visiting today!
Amber
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