Why I Love My Instant Pot

Ok, I realize I am about 8 years late to the Instant Pot party, but I have to say this handy little invention has really rocked my world.

I was gifted one for my birthday last month, and after hearing so many good things from my friends, I was anxious to see if it lived up to all the hype.

Well, friends, let me tell you…

It does.

Not only is this invention a time-saving phenomenon, but its simple method of pressure cooking pretty much anything from frozen to cooked on your plate, ready to eat, all in a matter of minutes is beyond amazing.

It’s life changing.

Especially to this busy mom of three, who many nights has to quickly throw together dinner in under an hour, amidst homework, music lessons, sports, etc.

The amount of sanity I’ve gained using this to throw together an entire meal in half an hour or less is priceless. Trust me, when you’re a busy mom, sanity is key.

So, I thought I’d share with you the top 5 things I’ve learned I can make in my Instant Pot, which are why I love it so much.

1. Chicken

When I used to want to make a meal with chicken, I’d have to make sure I remembered to take it out of the freezer to thaw the night before, then either bake it in the oven or slow cooker for up to an hour before I could use it in the recipe. Now? I can literally throw the frozen chicken breasts right into the Instant Pot with my seasonings and broth/flavoring and it’s ready and done in 15 minutes!

2. Eggs

Trying to hard boil fresh chicken eggs has always been a challenge for us. Due to the thin membrane, they often peel horribly when boiled the old-fashioned method in hot water. But with the Instant Pot, I can basically add a cup of water, place the eggs on top of the steaming rack, and in 5 minutes, they are cooked to perfection. I simply plunge them into a bowl of ice water afterwards and they peel like a dream.

3. Apples

Have you ever had homemade applesauce or apple butter cooked on the stove top all day? It’s so yummy! And with my Instant Pot I can achieve this same delicious treat in a matter of minutes. I simply spoon the puree apples into jars, seal the ones I won’t be eating right away, and have delicious apple goodness for months to come.

4. Roasted Meat

With winter coming, our family loves some good comfort food for dinner. When I used to want to make a pot roast I’d literally have my slow cooker or stove on low for 10 hours all day cooking the meat. With the Instant Pot, I can put the frozen roast in, and in 2.5 hours, a fraction of the time, its done and tastes no different from if I had been cooking it all day. Falls off the bone, tender.

5. Mac & Cheese

The first time I made this in our Instant Pot I made an oath to never waste my money buying the boxed mac and cheese again! Its cheesy, gooey goodness was enough to have us hooked. And since my kids basically live off this stuff, we eat our good share. Hey, after all, we are ‘Cheeseheads’ from Wisconsin!

These are just a few of the perks I’ve discovered to using this genius kitchen invention. If you are on the fence about it, or think it’s just too good to be true, don’t be. It’s worth all the hype! Instant Pot = Instant Love!