Here’s How To Cook Multiple Meals In One Instant Pot

When thinking about cooking in the Instant Pot, you probably think you can only cook one thing at a time. 

It may not be worth the purchase if you still have to make the rest of your dish on your stovetop.

Plenty of the Instant Pot recipes that you will come across at first will most likely be a one-pot meal.

But, there is a way to cook multiple meal items in your Instant Pot. After learning how to use the proper method, you’ll have no regret about your Instant Pot investment.

To achieve cooking more than one meal in your Instant Pot, you must pair foods with similar cook times so that all items will be cooked entirely by the end of your desired cook time. 

This knowledge will allow you to create an entire cohesive meal you and your family will enjoy. 

And the most important thing is that it will save you lots of time spent cooking in your kitchen.

Equipment

To cook multiple meals in your Instant Pot, you will require using the trivet, which came with your pot, and possibly another pot that is safe to cook in.

The trivet which came in along with the Instant Pot does tend to be short, so you could purchase a taller trivet if you feel that suits your cooking needs.

There are several options you can do. If you already own a 7-quart pyrex glass bowl, then some dishes that you make, you can use this to cook with. 

If you already own another 7-inch pot, such as a springform, or round cake pan, you can use these when cooking multiple items.

You will have to separate the multiple containers with a wire rack or trivet so that they can stack on top of each other.

Alternatively, for more convenience, you can purchase a stackable pot insert, which is at least two stainless steel pots, which allows you to simultaneously cook separate dishes.

Click here to check out stackable steamer insert pans on Amazon!

Similarities between the different recipes

When cooking two different recipes together in one pot, there are things you should consider that are the same for both recipes.

1.  Cooking time
   
2. The pressure level (low or high-pressure cooking)
   
3. Pressure release method (quick release [QR] or natural pressure release [NPR]).

Know the different cook times

When considering cooking multiple dishes to make a whole meal in your Instant Pot, there are a few general pairings of food that go well together, cooking time-wise.

Generally, seafood, vegetables, and rice cook well together.

Frozen seafood and soaked beans cook well together.

Most meats, dried beans, and grains cook well together.

Check out this chart, similar cook times for different foods. You can mix and match the various dishes you want to make by following the chart below.

For a detailed list of cook times directly from the Instant Pot company, check out this chart:

Ideas for combinations for pot-in-pot cooking

• Fish fillet and green beans
  
• Potatoes and salmon
  
• Beef short ribs and yams
  
• Thai green curry and jasmine rice
  
• Lobster and asparagus
  
• Chicken breasts and mixed vegetables

Steps for cooking multiple meals

Cooking using the inner pot

1. Place the inner pot into the main cooking pot
   
2. Place the first item you are cooking at the bottom of the inner pot
   
3. Place the trivet on top of the first dish
   
4. Place the second item on the trivet
   
5. Close the lid set your cook time and pressure, and allow the Instant Pot to cook your meals
   
6. Natural Pressure Release (NPR) or Quick release (QR), your food, depending on what the recipe calls for

Cooking using pop-in-pot

1. Add your liquid to the bottom of the pot. Use a minimum of one cup
   
2. Place your first container on the trivet with handles
   
3. Gently lower the trivet with the first container into your Instant Pot’s inner pot
   
4. Place a second trivet on top of the first container
   
5. Place your second container on top of the second trivet
   
6. Alternatively, you can stack them both on top of each other first before gently placing them in the inner pot
   
7. Close the lid set your cook time and pressure, and allow the Instant Pot to cook your meals
   
8. Natural Pressure Release (NPR) or Quick release (QR), your food, depending on what the recipe calls for

Combination of above

1. Put the first dish you are cooking directly in the Instant Pot’s inner pot
2. Place the second dish in its own container
3. Place the container on the trivet and then place the trivet over the first dish
4. Close the lid set your cook time and pressure, and allow the Instant Pot to cook your meals
5. Natural Pressure Release (NPR) or Quick release (QR), your food, depending on what the recipe calls for

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Cooking two recipes with different pressure cooking times

Ideally, the best way to cook multiple dishes is to have similar cooking times.

But, to keep things realistic, there are many dishes we want to make that go better together, but they have different cooking times.

So you’re probably wondering if this is possible to do. The answer is, of course.

Here is some general advice you can try when cooking multiple meals with different cook times:

• Know the different cook times of both meals and partly cook the item, which takes longer to prepare, then use the quick release (QR) method to release the pressure.
  
• Then add the second item and continue cooking both items. Timing is critical, So you’ll want to put your second item at the time when both of them will end up finishing at the same time.
  
• For example, If your one dish takes 20 minutes to cook, and the second dish takes 15 minutes to cook. 
  
• You would cook the first dish for 5 minutes, then do a quick release (QR). 
  
• Once the pressure is released, open the Instant Pot, then put the second item in the container, close the lid, and pressure cook both items for 10 minutes.

• Usually, it is meat that takes longer to cook, so you would cut the meat item into smaller pieces to take less time to cook.
  
• Instead of using a stainless steel container, you can place the faster-cooking item in a glass, ceramic, or silicone container. Doing this will slow down the cooking time a little bit.

General tips

• use silicone gloves to remove your pots and trivet
  
• If your trivet doesn’t have handles, you can make your own make-shift handles by folding aluminum foil into a sling
  
• Make sure to use oven-safe containers – stainless steel, oven-safe glass, silicone, or ceramic/porcelain
  
• Containers should not touch the walls of the inner pot
  
• Make sure the Instant Pot lid closes easily
  
• If you’re not putting food directly into the inner pot to cook it, then make sure the container is not placed directly on the inner pot but, rather on a rack/trivet.
  
• Starches can cook longer than the suggested cook times and will still turn out good

Here are some simple recipes to try

Instant Pot Salmon with Garlic Potatoes and Greens

Instant Pot Teriyaki Chicken

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to cook a complete meal in your Instant Pot. 

It does take a little creativity and knowledge. But, using the tools provided here will help you along the way.

You can even make dishes you are already familiar with in your Instant Pot. 

In the beginning, it may be a little challenging, but you will find your groove the more time you use your Instant Pot.

It’ll all be worth it when you can make some seriously delicious complete meals in your Instant Pot that everyone will love to eat.