What is an instant pot cooker? To start with, this is a wonderful kitchen appliance that will allow you to spend less time ”slaving away in the kitchen. The fact is that, with the help of the instant pot, you can reduce your cooking time by almost 70 per cent! That is quite a lot because some dishes take forever to prepare. While cooking is an art and also thereupatic for some, nevertheless, a bit of help goes a long way in ensuring you more time to focus on the finer details of the dish at hand. Before we proceed, one must know that Robert Wang invented the Instant Pot in the year 2009. The appliance is a ”multi-cooker that brings together the Slow cooker, air-fryer, rice cooker, and pressure cooker together into a single unit of altered convenience.
So, how does this wonder machine works? Let us take a closer look.
Firstly, the Instant Pot is not a brand new invention, to say the least. The appliance has been around for decades. However, with more ”girls going off to work” now, we need all the help we can get. This is essential because time is one of the most prized commodities of late, and millions are made and lost in a matter of seconds. So, every minute that goes by needs to be checked upon. Hence, a wonder-appliance that promises to help you save time, eat healthily, and be delicious is nothing short of a miracle.
Firstly, the Instant pot is available in various models, variations, and sizes to suit all kinds of family sizes. Not many know this, but the instant pot is perhaps the very first pressure cooker machine. Hence there has been enough time to improvise the initial design from the time of its launch. The basic design comprises an inner stainless steel pot, an airtight lid, sealing rings; the main body comprises of touchscreen that contains function buttons and an LCD. Some advanced models also comprise a ”graph display” that allows users to know how far they have reached in their cooking time and process. A temperature display is also available and a steam vent on top of the lid, something that goes off on its own once the cooking reaches its end as programmed by the user. Smart isn’t it? Well, now you no longer have to picture a time bomb every time you think of the instant pot. The latest models are safe, to say the least; something you can throw in a few ingredients, punch a few buttons and go for a short walk outside. Once the food is done, the machine releases the steam and shuts off itself, hence, treating you to a perfectly done meal once you set your foot back into the house.
Also Read: Best Room Heaters in India
What is all the Hype About?
Some experts have stated that the instant pot is the kitchen equivalent to the iPhone! It is that savvy, high-tech, efficient, and easy to use. However, the good news is that your instant pot can survive over a decade of use without giving you too much to run about. These are heavy and sturdy, made of the best quality in material to offer the user utmost safety during use. However, the Silicone Ring that is used to line the lid will need to be replaced every couple of years. Nothing to fret about, as this is easily available and also quite cheap.
But is the instant cooker ready to replace the Stovetop pressure cooker? Well, not yet, and not exactly. To start with, the instant cooker design has not been embraced by the masses in various countries because of numerous reasons. The electric shortage is one of them, lack of knowledge being the other. Also, while the instant cooker is a multi-cooker, it still has its limits. There are a few ingredients you might want to steer clear of when dealing with this appliance. For most, a stovetop version is a more ”default” choice, as one does not have to think too much about what goes into it. However, once again, one can argue this is because of the lack of knowledge about this appliance, because, if mastered, you can practically cook anything in it. Also, the stovetop pressure cookers are less expensive and less intuitive to work with. These also involve high temperature and pressure to deal with, something we have all grown accustomed to.
On the other hand, the Instant Pot might seem like a ”too complicated spaceship of a machine, but it is only designed in the manner to ensure maximum safety and ease. No more burning fingers and food to get the recipe right. As the name suggests, the instant pot can cook up a meal in just 8-10 minutes, also if this involves popping in a frozen Chicken Breast. Yes, it will also defrost for you! What more can a busy cook want? After all, waiting for that meat to ”mellow down after removing it from the freezer is a nightmare in itself.
Also Read: Best Washing Machine in India
Under pressure: Information of Instant Pot Cooker
The fun does not stop just yet. If you do not like your house to be filled with cooking aroma, the instant cooker can help you out with that too. You can set the program to ”Slow Cook’Cook’ initiate the ”lock lid” feature that traps the cooking fragrances within the appliance. Rightly known as the multi-cooker, here are some of the prime preparation functions that the Instant Cooker can take care of:
- They Sauté
- They steam
- They make yoghurt
- They can Brown the food
- Cook rice
- They pressure cook
- It can also bake
- They make soups also
The food ingredients that are best to be cooked in the instant cooker are: - Chicken
- Meat
- Roast items
- Potatoes
- Firm veggies
- Beans
- Soups and Rice
The Food ingredients to be best Avoided in the instant cooker are:
- Pasta
- Sprouts
- Oatmeal
- Fry items
Speaking about ingredients, it is safe to say that an instant cooker is a healthy option. This is mainly because it allows the retention of the nutrients of certain ingredients. This is mainly as it applies the simple law of using ”high pressure to cook by increasing the temperature within”. With just a pint of water for the company, your ingredients are allowed to stew in their juices, hence retaining the flavours and taste. As mentioned earlier, a shorter cooking time further ensures that the nutritional value of the ingredients is maintained within the dishes. Let us take a look at the different cooking methods and how much nutrition is destroyed by each of them:
- Stir-frying- nutrition reduced by 18%
- Microwave – Nutrition reduced by 16%
- Boiling – Nutrition reduced by 27%
- Steaming- Nutrition reduced by 0%
So, you see, when cooked under high-pressure steam, you eat healthy, tasty and get dinner quickly as well. Not just that, it has been found that cooking in an instant cooker also kills the dangerous ”Botulism”. This is a deadly bacteria, though rare, that can be found in improper cooking conditions lead to high health risks due to this microbe. However, when cooked under high temperatures of 185 degrees for more than 5 minutes, this creature is destroyed for good. This is where cooking in an instant pot comes to play.
Also Read: Best Juicers in India
Instant Pot Cooker: The Conclusion
Is the Instant pot worth the hype? Well, yes, it sure has earned its reputation for sure. Here are its advantages and disadvantages for you to get a clearer picture:
The Advantages of Instant Pot Cooker
- Cooking time completed within 1/3rd of the normal cooking time, with a temperature of 242 degrees achieved within minutes.
- Maximum retention of nutrients.
- More energy is saved due to cooking in the instant pot.
- Is less noisy.
- Less fussy.
- Less mess in the kitchen.
- Less production of heat.
The Disadvantages of Instant Pot Cooker
- Is expensive.
- Cannot cook all the ingredients.
- Cannot adjust the seasoning or open the lid in the middle of the cooking cycle.
- The cooking time, temperatures vary according to the altitude you are at.
- You cannot check on your food while it is in the pot.
So, you see, just like everything else in the Universe, the Instant Pot has its own set of limits. However, there is no denying the fact that this is a wonderful piece of kitchen appliance and cooks up a storm in a matter of minutes! Hence, it is worth all that hype.
Related Post: