Being the type of person that loves multi-function items, I was intrigued by the instant pot. I think it’s the ultimate breakfast, lunch, and dinner hack!
I’ve been minimizing the items in my home and clearing up space, so why on earth did I bite the bullet and purchase another kitchen appliance?
It is a pretty big kitchen appliance! With the lid on, the dimensions are 13 x 12 inches.
Before purchasing the instant pot, I made a deal with myself that if I can replace my slow cooker, rice cooker, and can store it away, then I will be sold.
Lo and behold, I was able to fit it in one of my cupboards. Yes, I know it’s something I am continually using but, putting it away makes my kitchen less cluttered.
With the instant pot, everything I need can be stored inside of it, so it is easy for me to put it in and take it out of the cupboard.
I’m here to share with you why I think this kitchen appliance will save you money and time. At the same time, make some of the most delicious dinners, you’ve tasted!
After experiencing the instant pot, my reasons for purchasing it in the first place have been validated.
Less Thinking for Me
You may not think this is a good reason, but this was honestly one of the reasons why I purchased the instant pot.
The instant pot has been around for many years now, and there are many recipes online for it. There is honestly no excuse why anyone cannot cook with this thing.
After a long day of work, making dinner is usually the last thing we want to do.
Being able to do a quick search online for a recipe makes it a no-brainer to make simple, delicious meals.
Being someone who likes to be super productive, I love the fact that I don’t have to spend too much time thinking up recipes to make.
Having access to what feels like endless recipes online, takes the thinking out of things.
I search for recipes that sound good to me, and I start cooking.
Saving Money by Eating Less Take Out
I enjoy going out to eat, but I do also love and appreciate a nice home-cooked meal.
Being able to make meals at home saves money, and there is less food waste.
There have been many times I go out to eat, and I cannot finish my meal, but what I would have leftover would be too tiny to take home, so it would go to waste.
The great thing about making home cook meals is that there is a much higher chance that you are eating everything you make at home. Therefore there is less waste, foodwise and moneywise.
Easy to Follow Recipes and Ingredients
I mentioned that there are tons of recipes available online, many of these recipes are great, and what I love about them is that you make them with ingredients you’re probably familiar with.
Sometimes when I want to learn a new recipe, I’d go to Gorden Ramsey or Martha Stewart’s websites or read their cookbooks.
I find that at times, there are ingredients of things I’ve never heard of and don’t know where to buy them!
It takes way too much of my time trying these new recipes! Especially when you want to get a delicious dinner done for a room full of hungry monsters. 🙂
Yet, whenever I want to learn a new instant pot recipe, they’re usually the basic ingredients that you find at your local grocery store, and many of the ingredients I already have in my pantry.
With all these amazing recipes and simple ingredients, it saves me lots of time prepping my meals for the week.
Saves Electricity
The instant pot is heavily insulated so that it doesn’t lose heat. When you cook over your stove and oven, every time you open up the lid and door, you lose heat, and the appliance has to bring the temperature up again.
Cooking meals in the instant pot reduces energy consumption in your home.
According to the instant pot website, you will be saving up to 70% on electricity when compared to other appliances such as your oven, stove, and steamer.
There are four main ways that the instant pot saves electricity. Food is cooked faster under high temperatures, which means less cooking time and less energy consumed.
Since the Instant pot also functions as a pressure cooker, this is how you can reduce your cooking time by up to 70%.
Since the pots are insulated with two layers, it makes them more energy-efficient than conventional pressure cookers.
Between the two insulation layers, there are air pockets, so the exterior stays cool and online, the inside gets heated, and the heat is therefore concentrated on the food.
The way the Instant Pot is designed, it can monitor the heat of the inner pot so that it can maintain a certain pressure level.
Lastly, since the pot is fully sealed while cooking, you lose less water, so less water is required when you are cooking. Therefore, you use less energy when making a meal.
Instant Pot Energy Efficiency(link)
Cooking Times Are Pretty Fast
Now, don’t be fooled; it doesn’t mean your meals will be ready in minutes. The pot still has to heat up, and that takes time. What I usually do is prep my food while I wait for it to heat up.
Depending on the recipe, I just throw everything in the instant pot and leave it, and then I might do some prep before turning on the instant pot.
But with recipes where you need the saute function first to cook some ingredients, then I’ll turn it on, and prep some items while it’s warming up.
Throw the pieces in, move them around a bit, prepare the other items, etc. The great thing is I keep myself busy while it’s warming up.
Not every recipe calls for you to dump everything in the pot, so while the pot is doing its thing, I’ll do more prepping.
Also, when it is in pressure mode and cooking, then I use the time to tidy up.
When you’re cooking with the instant pot, you don’t have to hover over it constantly. This frees you up to do something else.
If you’ve been using a slow cooker for a while, then you will definitely notice the difference in time-saving with the instant pot.
I used to believe in the slow cooker, throwing in all the ingredients at night or during the day, and leaving it for hours while I do other things and then get home, and my meal is ready.
The instant pot is very similar, but you have less time that you have to “kill.” So, if you work, Monday to Friday, let’s say.
Then you don’t have to rush in the morning the prep your food. When you come home, you can still get your meal ready pretty quickly.
Once the pot is pre-heated, then cooking time is fast. You are able to make salmon and seafood dishes in a matter of minutes.
Cleaning Up Is a Breeze
Cleaning this thing is fantastic. The instant pot is pretty intuitive, so if your food is burning int the pot, it will notify you.
But even when I have burnt food in the pot, I soak it with hot water and some liquid dawn soap, and it will slide right off.
You can also use a little elbow grease, but overall, the stainless steel pots are pretty easy to clean.
What I like to do, is if I’m serving up the dish right away, I make the most out of the instant pot, so that I don’t spill food around the pot itself, and then I don’t have to clean the insulated holder, just a wipe down.
I clean the stainless steel pot, and I have been able to put it away easily.
Plus, I also clean while it’s cooking, so there is less mess to clean up after the meal is over.
All in One Minimalist Tool
If you’re someone who is starting in your new home or moving out on your own, then this will save you money and space.
Instead of buying a bunch of other appliances, you can have this all-in-one appliance.
Not only can you saute and cook with pressure, but you can also pasteurize yogurt, make rice, and even sterilize.
If you’re a new mother or one to be, then you can make great use of the Instant Pot for many years.
I know I look forward to using this feature when I have little ones because I never liked the idea of having so many appliances all over my counter space.
The Instant Pot is a great investment to make. For people moving into their first home!
But for me, I have been using it consistently, and it’s been saving me money from ordering take-out and having groceries that go bad because I wasn’t sure what to cook.
It saves me time from thinking too much and having to plan my meals and what to purchase for groceries. And the bonus is that it saves space. I was able to replace two other appliances.
Save Even More Time With Accessories
One of the downsides of the instant pot is that you can only make one meal at a time. And most of us wouldn’t want to have two of these things in our home unless we have a huge family.
There are some cool accessories that you can purchase to save time instead of cooking one dish at a time. You can get the pot-in-pot where you can make two dishes at the same time.
Conclusion
Life can be hectic sometimes! Every minute that passes, you’ll never see it again. Any tool that helps you reclaim your time is a win in my book.
At the same time, you’re saving by reducing waste. If you’re the type of person that values your time and your hard earn money, then the Instant Pot might be for you.
