Instant pot is it worth it?

Rosa_Damascena

I think I'm going to give this a go when I get back, am guessing that the PKP would make fast works of any slow cooker recipe. I can't believe there is no sauteing though, we shall see how it turns out!

Fruball

Rosa_Damascena said:

I think I'm going to give this a go when I get back, am guessing that the PKP would make fast works of any slow cooker recipe. I can't believe there is no sauteing though, we shall see how it turns out!

That is annoying.  One of mine has a saute function but the other one doesn't.  Although the one with a saute function doesn't have a yoghurt function.

I guess I can now justify having two when the uni kids come back and berate me for yet another appliance in my tiny kitchen  

I've never made yoghurt before.  I want a thick, rich and creamy one, and may strain it.  Anyone else make yoghurt in an IP or PKP?

maddiemay

Quick head around door visit, I have made yogurt in Ninja 15 in 1, very good, easy no fuss - strain to get as thick as you need. I bought a cheapie strainer/jug as sieve over jug in fridge didn't work too well their sizes not a good fit.  For me it is the easy option of long life milk and part of a small good brand yogurt pot as starter. I just blindly followed the pot's instruction book for yogurt setting and it is great.

Rosa_Damascena

@Fruball - you sent me back down into the utility room to inspect my PKP - doesn't have a yoghurt function, as you might have predicted. Yoghurt is straightforward to make as long as you have some starter culture (ie old natural yoghurt) in the fridge, but I would imagine an Instant Pot equivalent would make it even less hassle.

You have tempted to have a go myself now. I will heat the milk to 37decC using the saute function, stir in some culture (beat first to get a smoother result) and then just stick the lid on to keep it warm overnight. Great for using up milk that might be on the turn anyway.

Fruball

Rosa_Damascena said:

@Fruball - you sent me back down into the utility room to inspect my PKP - doesn't have a yoghurt function, as you might have predicted. Yoghurt is straightforward to make as long as you have some starter culture (ie old natural yoghurt) in the fridge, but I would imagine an Instant Pot equivalent would make it even less hassle.

You have tempted to have a go myself now. I will heat the milk to 37decC using the saute function, stir in some culture (beat first to get a smoother result) and then just stick the lid on to keep it warm overnight. Great for using up milk that might be on the turn anyway.

Do let me know how it turns out! 

Cherryfudge

I make IP yogurt a lot and it always works (unlike all previous attempts). The method I use is different: heat the milk to 80C to sterilise it, and allow to cool to blood heat. Stir in some live yogurt once it reaches that temperature (hotter and you risk killing the yogurt culture). Then just let the IP do its magic.

I do mine overnight - it will stand quite safely in the IP while you wake up etc - it's alive, warm and comfortable.

Personally I don't strain mine but you can do for thicker yogurt - you can also use the whey that's strained off as it's nutritious - or I've seen advice to add dried milk, stirred in before you set it to warm. That's supposed to thicken it.

I also discovered by accident that you can use fortified milk that's sold for young children and that produces a lovely thick yogurt.

Rosa_Damascena

I made this mushroom masala recipe last week, but also slung in some peas and cooked chickpeas - delish! What wasn't eaten at a family dinner went straight into the freezer for an easy meal later this winter.

Rosa_Damascena

I have found the PKP to be a blessing and try to get at least 3 uses out of it when I take it out of the cupboard, staring with a curry and ending with boiling / steaming rice or vegetables.

Yesterday I made a curry - which I sauteed off for a good 25 minutes after cooking, followed by rice (nice and fluffy!) and then boiled some spuds and washed the pot. The problem is that it still smelled strongly of curry paste after washing thoroughly, which is particularly problematic as next week I plan to cook something sweet in it! So I filled with water and dropped some slices of grapefruit and lime in before heating again for 10 mins and leaving to steep overnight in the hope that the citrus fruit might deodorise it. Now the pot smells of curry and citrus! Any ideas?

findingflowers

I make a beef stew in mine Nd the kids love it well worth it

leftatthetrafficlights

Rosa_Damascena said:

I have found the PKP to be a blessing and try to get at least 3 uses out of it when I take it out of the cupboard, staring with a curry and ending with boiling / steaming rice or vegetables.

Yesterday I made a curry - which I sauteed off for a good 25 minutes after cooking, followed by rice (nice and fluffy!) and then boiled some spuds and washed the pot. The problem is that it still smelled strongly of curry paste after washing thoroughly, which is particularly problematic as next week I plan to cook something sweet in it! So I filled with water and dropped some slices of grapefruit and lime in before heating again for 10 mins and leaving to steep overnight in the hope that the citrus fruit might deodorise it. Now the pot smells of curry and citrus! Any ideas?

Try adding some bicarbonate of soda and hot water and leave overnight. In the morning, give it a quick scrub without emptying the fluid then rinse it and add more bicarbonate of soda to the damp pot. Leave for a few hours then wash as normal - I had a similar problem a while back and that worked for me!