If you're a beginner cook or looking to simplify your meal prep, an Instant Pot is a fantastic investment. With its ability to pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, and more, it's an incredibly versatile appliance. However, with so many functions, it can be daunting to know where to start. In this article, we'll provide a comprehensive guide to cooking soup with an Instant Pot by using our soup packets, and share some tips and tricks to help you make delicious soups with ease.
Getting to Know Your Instant Pot
Before you start cooking soup with your Instant Pot, it's essential to understand its components. The Instant Pot has a few key parts:
1. Lid
The Instant Pot's lid locks into place for pressure cooking and has a pressure release valve on top.
2. Inner pot
This is the stainless steel pot that sits inside the Instant Pot. It's removable and dishwasher safe.
3. Sealing ring
The Instant Pot's sealing ring fits inside the lid and helps to create an airtight seal.
4. Control panel
The control panel is where you'll select your cooking mode, set the cooking time, and adjust other settings.
Cooking Soup with Your Instant Pot and Our Soup Packets
Now that you're familiar with the Instant Pot's parts, it's time to start cooking soup. Here are the basic steps for cooking soup with an Instant Pot:
1. Add the ingredients from soup packets:
Simply wash the ingredients and add them into the inner pot of the Instant Pot. If you would like to add additional ingredients, please make sure not to overfill the pot as this can affect the cooking process.
2. Add Water:
Adding liquid is essential when using the Instant Pot for cooking as it creates steam and pressure. If you are using our soup packets, it is recommended to add 1.2 liters of cold water. Learn more about the reason of using cold water. If you use more than one soup packet, you may add water in proportion. Then close the lid.
3. Choose your cooking mode:
The Instant Pot has several cooking modes, including pressure cook, slow cook, and sauté etc. Choose the mode that best suits your soup recipe. If using our soup packets, we would suggest using Soup mode to cook.
4. Set the cooking time:
Use the "+" and "-" buttons on the control panel to adjust the cooking time. If you use the Soup mode to cook our soup packets, you can set the time to 1 hour.
5. Start cooking:
Once you've selected your cooking mode and set the cooking time, and ensured the pressure release valve is in “Seal” position, then wait for a few seconds and it will start. The Instant Pot will take around 10 minutes to come up to pressure before cooking begins.
6. Release pressure:
Once cooking is complete, you'll need to release the pressure. There are two ways to do this: natural release and quick release. For natural release, simply let the Instant Pot sit for 10-30 minutes until the pressure has released on its own. For quick release, carefully move the pressure release valve to the "Vent" position to release the pressure. A delicious soup is now ready.
To achieve a more traditional slow-cooked soup effect, you can switch to the Sauté mode and cook for about 15 minutes after completing the Soup mode and releasing pressure.
Tips and Tricks for Cooking Soup with an Instant Pot
- Always make sure there is enough liquid in the Instant Pot, as this is necessary for creating steam and pressure.
- Don't overfill the Instant Pot and don’t fill over the max line, as this can affect the cooking process and potentially cause a safety hazard.
- The actual cooking time needed is longer than what is displayed on the control panel. This is because the Instant Pot needs time to pressurise before the timer starts. The pressurisation time can also vary depending on the ingredients and their temperature. Additionally, natural releasing pressure at the end of cooking will also take a certain amount of time.
- When doing a quick release, it is advisable to put the Instant Pot a bit far away from your wall to avoid the steam spattering on the wall and make it dirty. Alternatively, you can put a towel over the pressure release valve to prevent the steam and soup from spraying out when releasing pressure.
- Clean your Instant Pot regularly, including the sealing ring and pressure release valve, to prevent any odors or bacteria from accumulating.
- For some models, you may use the handles to hold the lid.
Cooking soup with the Instant Pot is a breeze once you've familiarized yourself with the appliance's basic functions. By selecting the cooking mode, adding the ingredients from soup packets, and setting the cooking time, you can cook a delicious and healthy soup in no time. The Instant Pot's versatility makes it an excellent investment for any home cook looking to simplify their meal prep.
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