The Instant Pot is a great kitchen tool and even though it is one small pot it can do so much. Here are 7 reasons to be grateful for the Instant Pot.

7 Reasons I’m Grateful for the Instant Pot
I’m so grateful I purchased and started using an Instant Pot* 3 ½ years ago! It has completely transformed the way I cook and get dinner on the table. November is here, Thanksgiving is right around the corner…it is a great month to be GRATEFUL! It’s good to be grateful for everything even the kitchen appliances that we have in our kitchen. I’ve compiled a list of 7 reasons why the Instant Pot rocks and then also a few comments from readers on why they love their Instant Pot.
It saves time
Because the Instant Pot is a pressure cooker foods can get done faster than in traditional ways of cooking them. (Of course this isn’t always the case because of pressure build-up time and pressure releasing time). But besides the fact that it’s a pressure cooker it’s also a set it and forget it type of cooking (which I love). I am not fond of standing around the stove babysitting a pan or a pot. I am fond of throwing stuff in a pot and walking away. I love putting everything in the pot and then cleaning up dishes, setting the table, throwing some laundry in the washing machine and then coming back to a cooked dinner. It’s a blessing!
It’s Portable
Don’t you love how the Instant Pot lid locks into place? It comes in handy when traveling in the car with food in tow to bring to a family dinner or potluck. You don’t have to worry about your soup sloshing around and getting your car dirty.
Needing to bring a dish to a potluck? Check out 10 Instant Pot And Slow Cooker Potluck Side Dishes.
It’s Multifunctional
Think of how many different types of foods you can cook in your Instant Pot! Just watch this video from Six Sisters about cooking an ENTIRE Thanksgiving Dinner Inside An Instant Pot! I cook weeknight dinners in my Instant Pot. I also make yogurt every couple of weeks. I make oatmeal for breakfast. I use it as a rice cooker. I use it as an egg cooker. I use it as a double boiler. I have used it to pop popcorn, cook corn on the cob, boil peanuts, proof bread and to bake potatoes.
If you travel in an RV, your Instant Pot is the perfect travel companion.
It can cook from frozen
I’m a procrastinator/not a planner. Therefore I usually have not thawed my meat. There are many ways you can use meat straight out of your freezer in the Instant Pot. Check out 44 recipes you can make in the Instant Pot with frozen chicken breasts. And try cooking a pot roast from frozen!
One Pot Cooking (and cleaning!)
Because the Instant Pot has a sauté setting and a pressure cook setting you can pretty much leave all the cooking to one pot. And that means you only have to clean one pot too! Bonus! Some of my favorite one pot meals are Instant Pot Smoked Sausage Country Boil, Instant Pot Sausage Rice and Instant Pot Shepherd’s Pie Casserole.
It’s got a big, supportive community
Because SO many people have Instant Pots you can find help easily! Have you joined the 365 Days of Instant Pot Facebook Group yet? There you can find lots of friendly helpers to give you confidence and support as you learn how to use your Instant Pot. You can also google or YouTube practically any question or issue with the Instant Pot and find an answer. Plus I am here for you too!
It can reheat leftovers
You can use your Instant Pot to heat up leftovers. It’s so easy! See how I do it here:
Here’s what you’re grateful for…
Beth says, “My husband fights rush hour plus has to leave a little later than he used to to drive on an interstate reserved for carpoolers – or pay a huge toll – up to $25-40! – until after 7:00 p.m. It’s wonderful to cook as early as I want, clean up the prep dishes/utensils and leave the food on The Keep Warm setting. Plus I can eat earlier if I want and it’s ready when he gets home.”
Renee says, “As a single person who lives in a tiny home, I love, love my instant pot. Don’t have room for a lot of gadgets. Love the 8 minute spaghetti. Omgosh!”
Marge says, “I cook for my 15 lb Boston Terrier and 6 lb Chihuahua. My 8 qt Ultra is a superb piece of equipment. I also cook for two of us and when the family of 13 descends on us I am prepared!! Hard boiled eggs are cooked every 2 or 3 days. How I love doing perfect eggs every time!”
Jennie said, “Our home is a 1050 sq ft town house. No room for one trick ponies here. A big selling points for me was that I could use it to both sauté and pressure cook in one pot…slow cook too. The IP is easy to clean. I’m also a “professional procrastinator”! Can’t say how many times the ability to cook from frozen has saved my heinie. 😉 There are lots of options for different types of recipes (sweet, savory) and IP accessories to cook them with.”
Colleen said, “Just sit back & relax you don’t have to babysit your pots & pans, take it easy, no more burnt rice or over boiled pasta. Meat cooked from frozen. Only one pot to wash out. Take the stress out of cooking, everyone deserves this.”
Why are you grateful for your Instant Pot?
Want tried and true Instant Pot recipes?
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*Karen Petersen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
I purchased your fantastic IP cookbook about 9 months ago before you included a table of contents or index in the book. Since then I have purchased 2 extra copies of the cookbook for my daughters, and their books DO have the table of contents and the index. This makes finding a specific recipe so much easier. I have tried printing copies of the necessary pages- with limited success. Is it possible to get official copies of these missing pages that I can print? I do know that the page numbers are not exactly the same as in my original cookbook, but I can always subtract 10 pages. I would just insert any extra pages into the front of my book. By the way, I LOVE the fact that my recipe pages open flat on my counter while I’m cooking. Thanks so much!
Being a widowed empty nester, make many of your recipes that are freezable. Wish the Instant Pot was available back in the late 50’s and early 60’s when my 4 kids were little and Navy husband still here. Now i really like the air fryer lid that goes on my 6 quart IP – just right for one person and I have been using it a lot. Hope you will come out with a recipe book of air fryer recipes soon as I can pretty much always depend on your recipes turning out great.
Karen,
Besides my regular gratefulness in God, family, friends, and like the other folks here I am grateful for you and your recipes. I am thankful to my instapot for expanding my cooking skills. I am a very good cook, not bragging, I take gourmet cooking lessons to expand my palate and try things I deem to expensive to experiment with. It is the same with your website. I look at the e-mails and plan what are the recipes I am going to try this week. I have not yet had one not turn out beautifully. In our uncertain times it is fun to look forward to trying new recipes in the instant pot, Thanks again I am truly grateful.
Ahhh, that was so nice Mary! I would love to try out some of your gourmet dishes! I am a simple cook but my family is okay with that!
Karen, you are very special. I love the recipes you create for the Instant Pot. I use my IP almost every day and many times I check in with you to try something new. You always have something cookin, and it’s always so-o-o-o good! Thank you.
You are so nice Betty!!! Thank you for your kind words. 😊
Karen, you are awesome. I love your recipes. I use my Instant Pot almost daily and if I want something different, I can always depend on you to have something great to try. Your instructions are meticulous and you make using my Instant Pot so easy. I gotta say, I don’t know what I would do without you and my Instant Pot!
You are so nice Betty!!! Thank you for your kind words. 😊
I agree with Irma. I was too intimidated to try a recipe in my IP, until I found you on Pinterest. Your recipes are very easy to follow. And when I watched your daughter make the cheater lasagna I said , omg if a teenager can manage it I’d better try! And it’s my families favorite recipe. So thank you all of your recipes and videos.❤️
ahhh, thanks so much Mimi! I’m glad you found this site!
I would love to love my I P, however…
I have spent at least 3 hours on YouTube trying to get mine to work properly. All I get is “food burn,” and cold food. I’m tired of the frustration of getting it to work. I am not spending my life being frustrated. I am returning the damned thing. Maybe the makers could actually include instructions of use when they sell the expensive pot.
Have you tried calling customer service? They are very helpful.
I have a lot that I’m grateful for and I would include you Karen. You faithfully come up with amazing recipes for my Instant Pot. I would have been overwhelmed without you.
ahhh that’s so nice. Thank you Irma!
Is there any info on receipes, and how much liquid to use in the 10 qt IP? Just got mine and have the 6 qt but can find just basic answers, i.e. how much liquid to use when doing a whole chicken….thanks
I just checked the user manual and it said, “2 1/2 cups (20 oz / 625 mL)” for the 10 quart pot to come to pressure. https://instantpot.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Duo-Nova-English-Full-Manual-2020-05-12-INTERACTIVE.pdf