If you didn’t get an Instant Pot as a gift this holiday season, it’s probably because you already have one (or you because you don’t cook that much and didn’t ask for one). The tabletop pressure cooker has been quite popular for several years now, which means the internet is full of related recipes, but I’d like to think I have a few your probably haven’t seen, and I think you should see them right this instant.
Korean sauna eggs
These “toasted” eggs usually take about seven hours to reach this nutty, tender state, but you can get there in two with the Instant Pot. All you need is eggs, water, and a little salt. Put it all in the pot, cook for 90 minutes under high pressure, then peel away the shell to reveal a toasty, browned white and fluffy yolk.
Flaky finishing salt
Pyramid-shaped salt crystals add flavor and texture to your food, and you can use the Instant Pot to DIY them. Make a saturated saline solution (aka really salty water) with kosher salt, pour it in your Instant Pot, and hit the “Slow Cooker” button. Leave the lid off and walk away. After about an hour, you will see crystals forming. Leave them alone, and let the water continue to slowly evaporate until you have a pile of flake salt. Let dry on paper towels. (You can also use a regular slow cooker, though you will have to make the saline solution in a separate pot.)
An easy kimchi pork roast
Pork shoulder is not an “unexpected” thing to cook in your Instant Pot, but this recipe is unexpectedly easy (and one of my favorites). Kimchi, vinegar, soy sauce, and sugar coat the pork, creating a sticky, flavorful sauce for the mass of tender meat. I love it more than is decent, particularly over a scoop of mashed potatoes.
Grits
Do you love grits but hate stirring? Use your Instant Pot’s porridge setting to cook the them. Worried about clumping? Bring the water (and the grits) to a boil before closing the pot, so they’re constantly moving, even as they come to pressure. Serve with lots of butter and a little hot sauce.
Hot pot
While it’s not quite the same as a pre-pandemic hot pot night, you can use the Instant Pot’s “Sauté” function to keep a pot of broth very hot—hot enough to cook piles of thinly sliced meats, vegetables, and noodles. Other than the food you wish to cook in a swirling pot of broth, you’ll need some dipping sauces and some very long chopsticks (look for them at your local Asian grocery store).
Proofed bread
Hot bread is wonderful thing, particularly on a cold day, but getting dough to proof in a chilly kitchen can be a challenge. Luckily, the Instant Pot’s “Yogurt” setting creates the exact warm and damp environment your yeast needs to thrive. Just keep an eye on it, as it may rise even faster than you’re accustomed.
Steamed hams (cheeseburgers)
Steamed hams (aka Instant Pot cheeseburgers) are more than a Simpsons reference—they’re the easiest, beefiest burger you can make on a weeknight. They’re like fast food burgers, but better, and they require little clean up (all you have to do is throw out the foil packets).
