One of the many benefits of the Instant Pot is that it makes cooking easy, which enables you to put your energy into making your cooking healthier. You can make low-calorie, high-fiber meals — everything from beans and grains to chicken and meat — in half the time it would take on the stovetop or oven.
There’s definitely a reason the Instant Pot is taking the culinary world by storm. It’s fast. It’s versatile. And it’s easy to use.
1. IT’S GREAT UNDER PRESSURE
Where the Instant Pot shines the brightest is as a sophisticated pressure cooker because it makes healthy cooking more convenient. For example, making lentil soup can take less than 15 minutes; tender braised chicken thighs can be ready in a half hour. Consider steel-cut oats — a morning staple that normally responds best to overnight soaking or a long cooking time — with the pressure cooker function, the end result is satisfyingly creamy and ready in just minutes.
The Instant Pot’s ability to make fast work of protein like lamb shanks or short ribs has made it a crowd favorite for those eating high-protein diets. Yet it’s also a huge hit with vegans, who admire the versatility of a machine that can help them make vegan jambalaya.
Another bonus: It’s easy to make extra so you have plenty for lunch during the week.
2. IT’S A WORKHORSE
Beyond being a pressure cooker, the Instant Pot can also serve as a rice cooker, slow cooker and yogurt maker. Using the slow-cooker function, a hearty beef chili or chicken stew is ready for you after a long day at work. It’s also possible to make risotto or creamy polenta without endlessly stirring over a stove. You can use it to steam or saute vegetables or heat up last night’s dinner without overcooking it or even whip up some soy milk yogurt. It truly is the all-in-one cooking machine.
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3. IT’S NEARLY FOOLPROOF
Unlike old-fashioned stovetop pressure cookers, these plug-in machines are safe and easy to manage. To take the guesswork out of cooking times, the Instant Pot comes equipped with pre-programmed settings for favorites like rice, beans, chicken, soups and stews.
If you’re not doing so already, it’s time to break out your Instant Pot and maximize your chances of making every meal healthier — and more quickly — all year long.
