I must send out a huge THANK YOU AUNTIE LAIMA!!! It was because of her that this product of the year is being brought to you because she bought me the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker (Instant Pot on Amazon.ca) for my birthday last year. It has changed my life and my kitchen forever! And definitely for the better.
Demonstrating & Learning the Product
At the time I am writing this my first Instant Pot video has over 6000 hits! I received so many comments from people who appreciated my real-life experience with the pressure cooker.
Including all my personal confusion on how to program it at first! Sandra wrote, “I just got an Instant Pot and haven’t used it yet. I was laughing so loud at your video that I was crying!!!! Same fears that I have, but now that you did it I’m ready!”
Yay!!! That is why I love doing videos. Food should be fun and I try to make my videos entertaining to watch and helpful at the same time.
In my second video I make chicken stock and everything goes without a hitch.
I cook a bunch of chicken and make broth once a week now in my Instant Pot. In fact, I just made some today too. You put the ingredients in, close the pot, put it on the soup setting and let it sit. You can either let it depressurize on its own and if you are brave enough (and I am!) you can carefully and cautiously release the pressure valve.
It makes the best stock!
Troubleshooting
The first time I used it the bolt fell off into the pressure cooker which was very nerve-wracking and embarrassing to happen on video. Since then I always make sure it is on tight enough and have had zero problems since.
Product Discoveries
I love using it to cook legumes and I do not even have to pre-soak them. I am serious! I just make sure to add a ton of water and let it depressurize on its own after cooking for around 40 minutes. It is absolutely amazing.
Getting Out Of My Comfort Zone
My Facebook Foodie Friends encouraged me to skip roasting beets and cook them in the Instant Pot instead. I added about a cup of water, then the scrubbed and trimmed beets and had them in there for 40 minutes. They were perfect!
Food Conclusion
After using the Instant Pot for a year there is still so much for me to explore. I can not think of a better product than one that works so great and offers so much. It is by far the most impressive product I have tried in 2014 and there is still so much more to test in 2015.
When my stove and oven are packed with cooking food I love having my Instant Pot as another cooking process available to me so I can still make soup even though my burners are completely covered. I can cook a roast even if my potatoes are browning in the oven.
Thank you Auntie Laima and the Instant Pot for making my life better! I feel like I have grown as a foodie because of all the options available to me now and all the exploring I am going to do in my kitchen next year. This would make the best holiday gift for a favourite foodie in your life or maybe, ahem, just for you!
Your lab looks super fun to play in.
Here’s to 2015 and all the yummy things that you’ll create.
It is my lab! And yes, super fun. Thanks and may you have a yummy 2015 too!
Thanks, Suzie.
Happy Monday. We just finished up supper and now I have a few chores I want to finish before I shower and hit the Christmas Room.
It’s Tim’s Game Night, and him and the Goobers are just getting started.
Happy Christmas.
You encourage a lot of people in the kitchen, Suzie! You cooking rebel, you!
Thank you so much Debra! 🙂 I try.
I couldn’t agree more with your choice. I love that after seeing your posts and first video about the instant pot you inspired me to give it a try even though I was a little scared to own my first pressure cooker. Now I couldn’t go without it.
Heidi, thank you so much for your comment regarding the Instant Pot. I am THRILLED that you did not give up on your pressure cooker and it is true, life without one? No thanks! Yay. Your comment inspires me to keep adventuring in the kitchen. Thank you!