I researched frozen vs thawed meat, and could not get the answer I wanted...maybe I wasn’t asking the right question!

In any case, frozen meat takes just a bit longer to cook; that is great when you forget to take something out ahead of time! I have cooked frozen chicken and frozen beef roasts, so I know it can be done; the article I found recommenced that meat be prepped before being frozen, in the event it were to be used in this manner...ie: cut roast into pieces for stew, separate chicken into amounts to cook individually, etc.

You learn something new everyday!

i love my crock pots so much, i’m good with using them and not the IP

The more I read about this thing, the more I question whether I should have just replaced my (old-fashioned) pressure cooker with another (old-fashioned) pressure cooker.

I got this InstaPot thing to replace my slow cooker, my rice cooker, and my pressure cooker, to free up some space in my kitchen. I actually have used a pressure cooker regularly since I learned to cook - it infuses flavor like nothing else. My old school pressure cooker recently started giving my food a funny flavor though, as though the metal was leaching into the food. The handle was wobbly and the weight was chewed up from being accidentally dropped in the sink garbage disposal. It's probably 30 years old. So I decided to go the InstaPot route instead of just getting a new pressure cooker.

I set aside this afternoon to get acquainted with my new InstaPot. I only got it unpacked and got so far in the directions, maybe an hour and a half later, before I decided to wait until tomorrow to give it a go. It's so much more complicated than my old pressure cooker. Maybe I am just a dinosaur in the area of cooking.

You got this! IP is the way to go.

I know what you mean. When I first got mine I looked at it for awhile wondering if it was a good decision.

I found YOUTUBE videos on opening the box, on the features for my specific model, and video reviews useful. Please search for your model on YouTube to see what comes up.

I also found blogs and websites like Hipcooking to be useful. She has a six-video pressure cooking series that I like. She has good knowledge on these new-style pressure cookers and you may want to check her out.

If these don’t work for you, you can do some searches based on your model. There is a lot of information on the internet about Instant Pots to help ease you into using it.

i suggest anyone just starting out with an instant pot join the Instant Pot 101 for Beginners on FB. Lots of newbie questions and references.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/InstantPot101forBeginners/?ref=bookmarks

And i concur with Orema.... watch youtube videos. The more you know the more comfortable you will be.

i had never really learned to cook and the instant pot has changed that. i truly enjoy planning, preparing, and making our meals now.

(Don't tell my IP but i even made something in the oven the other day.)

J got hers. It's pretty. Thou Shall Not Covet. She hasn't had a chance to use it yet because of the move. I guess it would be kind of tacky to ask to borrow it before she's had a chance to use it, or even taken it out of the box. Patiently we sit and wait, sit and wait.........

After following y'alls recommendations and watching some YouTube videos, I did it! I pressure cooked a ham bone and then cooked some butterbeans. I feel a lot more confident now that I have used it and have an idea how it works. It's not so different from my old pressure cooker as I thought - high or low pressure, and number of minutes. Easy!

The only thing I don't like about it is the quick release pressure valve. I'm used to being able to pick up the whole pot, put it in the sink, and run cold water over the lid to quickly reduce the pressure with the old school pressure cooker. The IP has to stay in place on the counter and because of how my cabinets are built, they get sprayed with the steam and whatever is in the pot. Fortunately, one of the YouTube videos I watched recommended putting a dish towel over the quick release valve when you open it. I will try that next time.

At least it's safer than opening a hot car radiator.

The ham and beans were delicious, BTW!

I use the dish towel over the valve as well....I have so little kitchen space that I have wet stuff flying everywhere otherwise! :)

YAY!!! Yes i keep the steam away from the cabinets etc, and my face. LOL

The 5-5-5 method was too much for the size eggs I get. I usually get "large, grade AA" eggs which are smaller than the extra large and jumbo eggs. I have found 4-4-4 on low pressure works well for me. They're still hard boiled but the yolks don't have a green coating and whites are digestible.

I think it all depends on the size of the eggs.

Lovin' my IP.

:pursebee:

Ninja Foodi Crisper
 

I have been wanting an Instant Pot cooker and an air fryer for a while now but just never got around to getting either of them. So I have been seeing commercials/infomercials for the Ninja Foodi crisper the last couple months and was doing some research on that vs the instant pot. Well today I decided to go for it and I ordered the Ninja foodi. I am excited to have an appliance that does all the instant pot does but crisps/air frys as well. I will post my review after it arrives.

I may be naive about just how many deviled eggs the B-F community eats or how many pot-lucks we get invited to but seems to me that the 1-10-1 method is best ( and no muscle strain lifting an I.P.).

1 min to fill pot with water and put egg (eggs )
10 min to boil
1 min to remove, run under cold water.

1 pot, one soupspoon required.

Our Moms, alive or passed, must be laughing their heads off.

Call me a Luddite but I really don't see the benefit of this technology.

BTW, my tone here is not hostile LOL

I too am a 1-10-1 in the pot egg cooking kinda gal, but it is an art lost to the young folks who think that buying food in a pkg for big bucks and having it delivered so you can eat tiny portions you have to cook is a good thing! All kidding aside, I love the way food cooks and tastes in my insta pot... I have so little space that I need something that can do so many things, and do them quickly.

I saw these at Amazon:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon....IL._SX425_.jpg

and have been thinking of getting one.

Click here to view one at Amazon for anyone who's interested.

Bought one of those but found the spray still needs to go someplace so put it in a drawer and just use a towel now.

A little disappointed it may be up to 6 weeks to receive my order. Item is on backorder.

The local library is offering a free 3 course class on instapot cooking. I am thinking about taking it even though I don't have one yet.

Ninja Foodi
 

I was pleasantly surprised with my Ninja Foodi this weekend. So I have cooked a few things in it and I love it. I bought the 6.5 quart version and its perfect for just the two of us. I love that I can pressure cook something then switch lids and air fry/broil or bake it to finish it to my liking. Lots of cool little features. Definitely recommend. I will be buying additional pans to use in it.

So is there a better brand of instapot or are they all basically the same. I bought an airfryer for the house and one for the camper. Don't use it as much as I thought I would and not sure it will be a good camping cooker, but the instapot seems like it might be.

I have no idea about other brands, but I’d start by searching “Instant Pot vs other brands” on Google and YouTube. I don’t have FACEBOOK but there may be some info there, too.

I got info from Consumer Reports online before I bought mine. I'm really happy with it. It's the Crock-Pot brand of multicooker. It was about $20 less than the same type of InstaPot.

So far, I've made a Bacon and Egg breakfast bake, and Cauliflower and Chicken Casserole.

Sometime I want to make the Mexican meatloaf and Beef Stroganoff.

I've hard boiled eggs in it, and cooked spaghetti squash.

What do make most often?

6 large eggs
6 slices bacon
1/4 c unsweetened coconut milk
1/2 c shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp pepper (I skipped this)
1/4 c onion, chopped
1/2 c mushrooms
1 tsp Siracha (I skipped this)

Set instant pot to saute, dice bacon and place into pot, cook until crispy
Add chopped vegetables and saute for 2-3 min
In medium bowl whisk together eggs, cheese, pepper and milk
add bacon and veggies to egg mixture and stir to combine
Grease a Pyrex dish that fits into instant pot
Pour mixture into iPyrex dish
Pour 1-2 cups of water into instant pot, intert steamer basket/trivet in pot and place dish on trivet
Cover pot with lid and cook on manual high pressure for 20 minutes, then do a quick release.
Serve topped with Siracha and more cheese

We should try it when you are here!

Yes! I'll bring the cookbook! Maybe you'll want to photocopy some of the recipes!

Made vegetarian chili with sweet potatoes and black beans today. It was yummy delicious. My mouth wanted to keep eating after my tummy was full.

https://www.wellplated.com/instant-pot-vegetarian-chili/

Did not add green peppers (honey can't eat them) or sugar (sweet potatoes were sweet enough). Also used two cans of black beans and no kidney beans.

Finally tried one of my mom's recipes in the IP - vegetable beef soup. It didn't come out _exactly_ the same, and I'm not sure why. It may just be the difference between the metals of the pans and the way it reacted with the tomatoes. I also may just need to let it sit in the refrigerator overnight - it's always better the 2nd day. But it was still very delicious!

I learned what the flashing "E6" code on the IP means today! It means I didn't put enough water in, and my beans burned on the bottom. Fortunately, the IP cut itself off before it got really gross. I was impressed; it cut off the "warm" function, too.

Also fortunately, my IP has a non-stick coating, so it was easy-peasy getting the burnt stuff out.

i make this chicken in the oven, but it has an instapot option, my daughter got an instapot for christmas and i sent her this recipe...sooo goood

https://www.favfamilyrecipes.com/easy-apricot-chicken/

Instapot Cheesecake!!

It’s amazing!

I used this recipe, but added cinnamon and some brown sugar to the crust.

It is SO easy!

https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com...er-cheesecake/

they look delicious !

Okay, my last possible objection to the IP is gone. I finally made rice in it, instead of getting out the rice cooker. I needed a big quantity of rice (2 cups uncooked) and the rice cooker doesn't handle making that much rice very well. It comes out partially uncooked in the rice cooker if I try to make more than about 3/4 cup of uncooked rice (it's a cheap rice cooker). I'm happy to report that the rice turned out absolutely beautifully in the IP! I will be getting rid of the rice cooker.