You don’t want the water to go up over the food, since it will boil your meal instead of steaming it.
If the water comes up over the trivet, scoop a bit of it out to lower the level down below the top of the trivet.
Root vegetables take longer to steam than green veggies. Similarly, seafood also steams pretty quickly. For instance, you might put potatoes on the bottom, carrots in the middle, and broccoli on top. Instant Pots don’t come with a steam basket, but you can use most steam baskets with your Instant Pot. If you don’t have a steam basket, you can try using a small colander or simply placing the food on the trivet. However, it’s best to use a steam basket to ensure your food cooks correctly.
If your basket seems overly full, it may be best to cook your meal in 2 or more batches. Since your Instant Pot is so fast, dinner will still be ready soon.
You can use most steam baskets in an Instant Pot.
If the lid isn’t sealed, the steam can escape. If this happens, your food won’t cook correctly.
If you don’t put the vent in the sealing position, the steam escapes out of the vent and your food won’t cook right.
If you can’t find the right button, check the instructions that came with your Instant Pot or look up the online guide.
You can find Instant Pot’s time guide here: https://instantpot. com/instantpot-cooking-time/#tab-id-1. In general, most veggies steam in as little as 1 to 5 minutes, but root veggies typically take longer. However, frozen veggies will need a longer steam time than fresh veggies. Similarly, most seafood cooks in 1 to 5 minutes. If you’re following a recipe for a traditional pressure cooker, add 7% to 15% more time to the recommended cooking time because Instant Pots have lower pressure. For instance, if the cooking time is 15 minutes, you could multiple it by 1. 07 to add 7% more time and 1. 15 to add 15% more time. This gives you a cooking range of about 16 to 17 minutes after rounding.
Place your oven mitt or kitchen towel nearby so you have them handy. You cannot check on your food while it’s steaming under the steam function. If you do, it’ll release the pressure and end the cooking process. If you want to check the food mid-way through steaming, it’s best to use the saute function instead of the steam function.
Be super careful as you do this. The steam will rush out and could burn your skin.
Normally, you don’t need to use a lid at all when you’re using the saute function. However, you’ll need a lid to steam your veggies.
Normally, you’d use this function to heat sauces, toss veggies or meat in oil, or season cooked food.
If you’re using a recipe, use the recommended steam time listed on the recipe. Otherwise, check the recommended steam time for the type of veggie you’re cooking. It’s okay to set the time high as long as you stay with the Instant Pot. When you’re happy with the texture of your veggies, hit “cancel” to turn off the Instant Pot. The preheating time won’t count toward your cooking time, so don’t worry about that.
Your veggies will start cooking when the steam forms.
After you put the lid on the Instant Pot, always use an oven mitt or towel to handle it. The lid will likely get hot, and steam will escape from the pot when you shift or remove the lid.
If you’re using a recipe, you might wait until the timer is almost out. However, it’s best to check the veggies before the time runs out so they don’t accidentally overcook and get mushy.
The “cancel” button turns off your Instant Pot, even if there’s more time on the clock.
