On a mission to start a plant based diet to better my health and the health of my family I realized I was going to have to learn how to cook. Sure I could sometimes pull off making a box of mac and cheese but even just following the directions on the back of the box seemed to some how challenge to me. Who likes their noodles crunchy? All our favorite foods came delivered from the local sub shop. I needed help so I turned to you tube and I found some amazing Chefs to learn from. One thing I kept seeing in so many of the the best videos was something I had never heard of. What the heck is an Instant pot? I was intrigued and I researched further and before you know it I found myself looking to buy my own instant pot.
Somethings to consider before hitting add to cart is that instant pots come in a lot of different sizes and models. First you are gonna have to think about how many people you are feeding? Are you single or just the two of you? The Instant Pot 3qt Duo might be the perfect size for you. Are you feeding a family of 3 or 4 look into the Instant Pot Viva 6 quart 9-in1. Feeding growing teenage boys, a large family or entertaining guests then your gonna want to consider the Instant Pot 8 QT Viva 9-in-1. Now you may be asking yourself what does the 8-in-1 or 9-in-1 mean? Well that is how many functions your instant pot can do. The 9-in-1 is an electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, rice cooker, yogurt maker, cake maker, sterilizer and food warmer. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Air Fryer, 6 Quart 11-in-1 even has an air fryer. That would be in my dream kitchen! So think about what you want to use your instant pot to make or else you might be as disappointed as I was when I realized my model couldn't make yogurt. Think before you hit check out or just wing it and buy the biggest one with the most features that you can fit into your budget. Mine is 3 years old and it is a model they don't sell anymore it's a 6 quart and it still works as well as the first time I used it.
Once it arrived I thought I was ready. I had a basic knowledge of how to use it, clean it, and care for it but I was still intimidated about using it. I pushed past the worries of how I would mess this up some how and after doing the initial pressure test I was excited to cook. Which was never something I had been excited to do before. The manual was clear and easy to read and understand. It provided all the information on how to make the basic grains, vegetables and more.
I started out with jasmine rice and after one batch I was already in love. It was way better then the burnt uncle Ben's instant rice I had been making for years. After that I tried steamed veggies and they turned out perfect. I as able to make a whole batch of potatoes in a fraction of the time. Corn on the cob used to take so long to boil but in the instant put it is so quick and perfectly delicious.
I was using the instant pot daily. I started buying instant pot accessories which made cooking even easier. I even took my instant pot along with me on vacation. Don't pay extra for a hotel room with a kitchen. The instant pot is the only thing you need to make delicious nutritious meals on vacation. You can save space buy storing your spices or even your veggies inside the instant pot while traveling which I've heard is especially useful for the people that fly with it.
Before long I was able to save up to get myself a second bigger instant pot with even more functions. I was especially excited because I'd be able to make my own soy yogurt. My first batch didn't turn out and it was disappointing but I gave it another go this time making sure to follow the directions more carefully and what do you know I had made delicious, thick soy yogurt. I could sweeten it, add some fruit, or some flavored extracts. My kids ate it up. I could use it as sour cream, a base for dips and salad dressings, I even learned how to make a cream cheese out of it.
I've made soups, chilies, stews and so much more. I especially love using the saute feature to make a stir fry from veggies I grew in my garden. Over the last three years I've only burnt one thing and It was my fault. Don't forget to add enough water, folks. Here it is three years later and I still use the same instant pot's almost every time I cook. I get really excited to get both going at the same time. The instant pot made cooking faster and more fun. It made it easier then ever to cook fresh healthy meals. Now my family considers me a pretty good cook! We don't even want to order out because the fresh meals in the instant pot taste better.
Here are some links to some cookbooks that helped get me started:
The High-Protein Plant-Based Instant Pot Cook Book