How to Use an Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker

How to Use an Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker

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Wondering how to use your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, Crockpot Express, Power Pressure Cooker XL, or other brand of electric pressure cooker? Let me help you get it out of the box and into your meal plans with this Getting Started Guide! I have all the details you need to get you cooking and loving your machine!

Happy Holidays and Welcome to Pressure Cooking Today!

Here at Pressure Cooking Today, we post easy and delicious recipes and training guides for the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or any other brand of electric pressure cooker! 

Getting Started Guide: How to Use a Pressure Cooker / Instant Pot

Electric pressure cookers like the Instant Pot Duo Nova or the Ninja Foodi make cooking faster and easier than ever before, so I know you’re going to love it!

As with any new tool, there are a few things you’ll need to know before you get cooking!

For your convenience, I’ve created a five-part getting started guide that will walk you through getting your pressure cooker out of the box and into your daily routine!

To begin, I break down the basic parts of electric pressure cookers, with specific details for the Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, Crockpot Express, Power Pressure Cooker XL. 

Quick pressure release or natural pressure release? It’s one of the most common questions I get. Let me explain the difference and when to use each method!

The water test is a no-worry way to familiarize yourself with your machine. You’ll learn hands-on how your pressure cooker comes to pressure and get used to the steps of pressure cooking. 

You’re ready to get cooking in your new electric pressure cooker! For this post, I break down one of my 30-minute meals into detailed steps, including what buttons to push for the major brands of electric pressure cookers.

I’ve compiled a list of easy-to-make pressure cooker recipes for you to start off with and build your confidence using your Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, Crockpot Express, or other brand of electric pressure cooker. 

Before you know it, you’ll be making fabulous pressure cooker meals and wondering how you ever cooked without it!

Instant Pot / Electric Pressure Cooker In-Depth User Guide and Reviews

If you already have a pressure cooker, you can read more details about your specific machine in the links below!

(If you’re still researching, definitely read my guide to the Best Instant Pot to Buy for a full comparison of the different Instant Pot models and features.)

Ninja

• Ninja Foodi and Ninja Foodi Deluxe
• Ninja Foodi Smart XL – coming soon!

Pampered Chef

• Pampered Chef Quick Cooker

Breville

• Breville Fast Slow Pro

Nutripot

• NuWave

Instant Pot or Electric Pressure Cooker Safety Features

Don’t be intimidated by the word “pressure” because new electric pressure cookers are super safe and easy to use! The earliest pressure cookers were created around a simple concept: Food cooks hotter and faster inside a pressure-sealed pot.

(The science behind the pressure cooking magic involves raising the boiling point of water under pressure, which means food in a pressure cooker can cook about 40 degrees hotter than than you could cook on a stove top.)

Today’s electric pressure cookers have built on this science and have added in a slew of built-in safety features to prevent mishaps, including automatic pressure control, heating and pressure sensors, lid detection, and heating plates that distribute heat evenly. These features work together to ensure you get faster cook times and consistent results. 

FOR MORE FROM PRESSURE COOKING TODAY

🥘 Browse our collection of the best pressure cooker / Instant Pot recipes.

💬 Follow Pressure Cooking Today on Facebook and Instagram for the latest updates.  

👥 Join our Electric Pressure Cooker Facebook Group. Our positive community of pressure cooking fans use all brands of electric pressure cookers, so it’s a great resource if you have questions about your particular brand.

🥧 If you’re interested in more than just Instant Pot recipes, follow us at Barbara Bakes. There we post amazing breakfasts, breads, and the best dessert recipes! 

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