Letâs talk about the elephant in the kitchen. Or rather, the stainless-steel cylinder that took over countertops everywhere a few years ago: the Instant Pot.
For a solid two years, you couldn’t browse the internet without someone claiming that this multi-cooker would solve all your problems, cook your dinner in five minutes, and probably do your taxes. The hype was deafening. And whenever the hype gets that loud, my skepticism naturally kicks in.
I avoided buying one for a long time. I like my Dutch oven. I like the slow, methodical process of a Sunday braise. But eventually, curiosity won. I bought one, I tested it relentlessly, and I figured out exactly what it isâand what it isn’t.
What It Actually Is
The Instant Pot is an electric multi-cooker. It can sautĂ©, slow cook, make yogurt, and cook rice. But letâs be honest: you didn’t buy it to make yogurt.
You bought it because itâs an electric pressure cooker.
Pressure cookers work by trapping steam inside a sealed chamber. As the pot heats up, the steam builds, raising the atmospheric pressure inside. This increased pressure raises the boiling point of water from 212°F (100°C) to about 250°F (121°C).
Hotter liquid means faster cooking. Thatâs the entire magic trick.
Where It Fails (The Honest Truth)
Let’s clear the air and talk about what the Instant Pot is terrible at doing.
- It Does Not Make “Instant” Meals: A recipe that says “5 minutes at High Pressure” is lying to you. It takes 15 minutes for the pot to come to pressure, 5 minutes to cook, and another 15 minutes to naturally release the pressure. That’s 35 minutes. It’s a hands-off 35 minutes, sure, but it’s not instant.
- It Cannot Brown Meat Properly: Yes, it has a “SautĂ©” function. Yes, you can sear a chuck roast in it. But the pot is deep and narrow, trapping steam and turning your sear into a sad, grey steam-bath. If you want a deep, caramelized crust on your meat, you still need a heavy skillet on the stove.
- It Cannot Thicken Sauces: Because the lid is sealed, zero evaporation happens during cooking. If you add 2 cups of chicken broth to your stew, you will end up with 2 cups of chicken broth at the end. You’ll often have to simmer the sauce down after the pressure cooking is done.
Where It Shines (The Holy Grail)
If it has so many flaws, why is it still on my counter? Because the things it does well, it does unbelievably well.
1. The Toughest Cuts of Meat
Pork shoulder, beef short ribs, oxtail, chuck roastâthese cuts usually require 3 to 4 hours of low, slow simmering in a Dutch oven to break down their tough connective tissues into melt-in-your-mouth gelatin. The Instant Pot does it in 45 minutes to an hour. For a weeknight ragĂč, it is completely unmatched.
2. Dried Beans Without Soaking
If you’ve ever wanted to make black beans but forgot to soak them the night before, you’re usually out of luck. The Instant Pot cooks unsoaked, rock-hard dried beans into perfectly creamy submission in about 40 minutes.
3. The Best Chicken Stock You Will Ever Make
This is my favorite use case. Traditional stock needs to simmer on the stove for hours, requiring skimming and babysitting. In a pressure cooker, you toss in your chicken carcasses and vegetable scraps, seal the lid, and cook for 60 minutes. The high pressure extracts every ounce of gelatin and flavor from the bones, resulting in a stock that sets up like jello in the fridge.
4. Perfect Hard-Boiled Eggs
The pressure cooker makes eggs that are absurdly easy to peel. Even farm-fresh eggs, which are notoriously stubborn, slip out of their shells effortlessly after a quick pressure steam.
The Verdict
Is the Instant Pot a miracle? No. It won’t replace your skillet, and it won’t make a crispy roast chicken.
But is it worth the counter space? Absolutely.
It is the ultimate tool for breaking down tough ingredients in record time. It turns weekend-only projects like braises and stocks into weeknight possibilities. You just have to respect its boundaries. Stop trying to bake cakes in it, and start making better stews.
Grab a pork shoulder, set it to high pressure, and see for yourself. đ