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

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! FAQs References

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.

#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

Can’t read it now? Then pin it for later!

How To Convert Any Recipe To The Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (7)

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

FAQs

How much liquid do I need to Pressure Cook in an Instant Pot? ›

Your Instant Pot needs liquid to work. If there's not enough, your pot won't be able to create enough steam to build pressure. About 1 cup is the minimum amount of liquid, so if you're cooking a recipe that will absorb water, like rice or beans, you'll need even more.

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How do you convert cooking times for instant pots? ›

Converting recipes from oven/hob method to the Instant Pot®:

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®.

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Can I use a pressure cooker instead of an Instant Pot? ›

Ultimately, what you need to cook and your tastes are what matter. An Instant Pot can be the best option if you value versatility and convenience. But if you'd like to go the more conventional route and don't mind taking some time to learn, a pressure cooker would be a better choice.

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Can I switch from slow cook to Pressure Cook? ›

As long as you keep a few basic rules in mind – like how much liquid to use and how to adjust the cooking time – turning your favorite all-day slow cooker recipe into a 30-minute pressure cooker special is straightforward and simple.

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What happens if there is not enough liquid in the pressure cooker? ›

It cannot cook your food properly without water, and the pressure will build to such an extent that the lid, pressure valve, plugs, and hot food could be thrown all over the kitchen. This can seriously harm you, your kids, and your pets, not to mention property damage that comes from flying projectiles.

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What is the liquid rule for Instant Pot? ›

Follow this tip: Unless otherwise specified in the recipe, use just enough liquid (usually water or broth) to bring the cooker to pressure. Amounts will vary between recipes, but in general, 1/2 to 1 cup of liquid is needed to get cooking.

How to calculate pressure cooker times? ›

Just multiply all the ingredients by 1.5 or 2 times, but keep the cooking time the same. It may take longer for the cooker to come to pressure since it takes longer to bring more food to a boil, but the cooking time should be the same.

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Do all instant pots pressure cook? ›

The main cooking function on every Instant Pot is pressure cooking. You can customize the pressure level and cooking time depending on what you're cooking, or press buttons with cooking settings specific to certain foods, like poultry, multigrain, rice, bean/chili and more.

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What's the difference between a pressure cooker and an Instant Pot? ›

They just go about it in slightly different ways. Stovetop pressure cookers build pressure through heat from your stove, while electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot use built-in heating elements to get the job done. So, when it comes down to it, the main difference is in the level of convenience and control.

Is an Instant Pot a glorified pressure cooker? ›

But an instant pot is more than just a glorified pressure cooker. You can do so much in these pots, and they save can you so much time. Here are the top four reasons why you need to add an instant pot to your cooking arsenal.

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Which is better, a crockpot or an Instant Pot? ›

Ease of use: Crockpots are generally easier to use because you just adjust the time and heat (low, high, and warm). Instant Pots have many more functions and steps, which add more potential points of confusion. Cleanup: This depends on the brand and model.

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Is slow cooking meat better than pressure cooking? ›

Slow cookers are much better for cooking root vegetables and tough cuts of meat because the long, low-temperature cooking process is great for adding moisture and breaking down fat. Pressure cookers can get hot enough for meats and vegetables to brown in them when cooking, but slow cookers can't.

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Does food taste better in a pressure cooker or slow cooker? ›

Slow cookers utilize long cooking times to develop these richer flavors, while pressure cookers use high heat and pressure to impart as much flavor as possible in a shorter time.

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Is it better to slow cook or high pressure? ›

If you enjoy prepping your meal in the morning and letting it cook all day so that it's ready by dinner time, go with a slow cooker. Conversely, a pressure cooker might be the better option if you want an easy way to make healthy meals without much planning.

How much liquid is needed for a 6 quart Instant Pot? ›

That depends on what's being cooked, and how much water is in the food/s that gets released quickly when they're heated, and some other things. For the electric pressure cookers called Instant Pots, the minimum amt for most foods is 1/2 cup in a 6 qt unit, and 1 cup in an 8 qt though.

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How full can you fill an Instant Pot for pressure cooking? ›

A pressure cooker shouldn't be more than 2/3rds full. With liquids, avoid filling more than half full. Overfilling leads to food being ejected from the pressure release valve – a messy business. If this does happen, you'll need to take apart and clean the parts thoroughly.

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Can you put too much liquid in a pressure cooker? ›

Too much food or liquid in your Instant Pot while pressure cooking can lead to dangerous pressure levels. As a rule of thumb, don't let the total amount of precooked food and liquid in the inner pot go over the two-thirds line.

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What is the minimum water level in Instant Pot pressure cooker? ›

Always add liquid when Pressure cooking. Liquids should be water-based, such as broth, stick, soup or juice. If using canned, condensed, or cream-based soup, add water to ensure you meet the minimum liquid required: 3L – 350ml, 5.7L – 375ml, 8L – 500 ml.