The Instant Pot can be used for commonly thought of foods such as soup, rice and hard boiled eggs but did you know all of these surprising uses of the Instant Pot?
10 Surprising Uses of the Instant Pot
Making popcorn the old fashioned way instead of in the microwave! You know exactly what goes into it and it’s much healthier. You can see exactly how by watching this video. Have you ever made homemade crackers jacks? Caramel corn with peanuts taste so good!
If you need a bunch of chopped boiled eggs for a recipe I have a great trick for you. Some people call this “egg loaf.” Basically you crack as many eggs in a dish that you need and then cook them very quickly in your Instant Pot. Once the eggs are cooked you can cut them up easily on a cutting board. This saves so much time because there is NO PEELING!!! I like to use these eggs for cobb salad, avocado egg salad, egg salad or potato salad.
The easiest and tastiest corn on the cob! You’ll never go back boiling corn on the stove again. My version has the corn slathered with minced fresh garlic, butter, salt and pepper.
A frozen chuck roast is cooked until moist and tender in your Instant Pot along with seasoned vegetables. This is good for people like me who want to use frozen items but don’t remember to defrost them the day before!
The Instant Pot can speed up this usually long process of boiling peanuts! When peanuts are boiled they remind me of the texture of a chickpea or edamame. They are also salty because they are boiled in salty water.
If you’re a fan of all things sweet and caramelly you’re going to love this dulce de leche that is a perfect dipping sauce for apples or to pour over ice cream. All you need is one ingredient–sweetened condensed milk!
Use your Instant Pot’s sauté function to quickly make a double batch of rice krispy treats. Stir in some m&ms to make them even better. The pot is big enough you can easily double the recipe and the marshmallows will all fit. This is especially true if you have an 8 quart pot.
I made the ramen noodles in the Instant Pot and my son made them in a pot on the stove. Which turned out faster? Watch the video to find out. You can see other boxed and packaged foods that I’ve tried in the Instant Pot here.
Make fluffy, moist baked potatoes in your Instant Pot without foil and in just a few minutes!
I love making baked potatoes in the Instant Pot because they are:
- faster than the oven
- fluffy and moist
- don’t require foil
- you can pile in as many potatoes as will fit (even past the max fill line)
Using your Instant Pot as a double boiler is a great way to melt the chocolate and then keep it warm and melty as you dip, dip, dip until your heart’s content. The Instant Pot keeps the chocolate the PERFECT temperature the entire time that you are dipping. I think that it’s much easier to use than the stove top method or the microwave method because the Instant Pot is placed on the counter and your parchment or waxed paper is placed right next to it. This leads to much less mess and it’s very convenient.
26 More Surprising Uses of the Instant Pot…
Here are some other fun ways to use your Instant Pot! Some are from me and others are from other bloggers. Enjoy!
- Vanilla extract
- Sterilizing bottles
- Cottage Cheese
- Flan
- Cheesecake
- Rasbperry Cordial
- Lemon Curd
- Apple Cider
- Artichokes
- Jam
- Apple Sauce
- Deodorizing house using lemon essential oil on steam
- Whole Pumpkin
- Proofing bread
- Iced Tea
- Potato Salad
- Rice Pudding
- Dog Food
- Boxed Mac and Cheese
- Chicken Wings
- Reheating leftovers
- Bone Broth
- Tamale Pie
- Ricotta
- Apple Butter
- Spaghetti Squash
And while not surprising, these are my favorite ways to use my Instant Pot...
What is your favorite way to use your Instant Pot? Do you have any surprising or weird things you use it for? I’d love to know! Comment below.
*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.
Frank says
I just watched your 8 favorite things video, and while I probably won’t be making yogurt or a dozen eggs, I will try the Mac & Cheese and baked potatoes. Beyond that, I was most impressed with your overall presentation and knowledge of the matter. Very well done.
Karen says
Thank you Frank!!
Frank says
I have made the mac & cheese. I liked it. Very creamy and easy. It needs something more, for me though… spice? …heat? I’ll work on it. It was very good though as is. My wife loved it.
Karen says
sometimes I like to add a few drops of hot sauce on top of my mac and cheese!
Frank says
yes
barbara says
I saw once that you had a tip on reodorizing the instant pot. Would you send it to me again please?
Karen says
https://www.365daysofcrockpot.com/how-to-deep-clean-your-instant-pot/
Debi says
Was watching the video of rice krispy cookies with your son. Quick tip I learned. Use a medium binder clip to keep inner pot stable to stir without pan moving. It’s a life saver for mixing things in instant pot.
Karen says
Good plan!
geri Anthony says
Karen, I made the creamy chicken soup that you sent me the recipe, so good!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Karen says
YESSSSS!!! And you used the cream cheese?
geri says
Yes,yum👍👍