Video: How to Use an Instant Pot IP-Duo
Learn how to use an Instant Pot multicooker easily, thanks to this video tutorial on the Instant Pot Duo. Many of the tips here apply to all models of Instant Pot, as well as other makes and models of electric pressure cookers. Learn everything you need to know about electric pressure cookers here!
I know many of you have a pressure cooker wrapped and waiting for you under your tree this Christmas! Last year at Christmas time, I posted a How to Use the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker video that helped beginners learn how to use the electric pressure cooker.
This year, I reviewed the Instant Pot IP-Duo and it’s quickly become my favorite pressure cooker. It’s a great pressure cooker, quiet, safe, easy to use, and I love the stainless steel pot.
This year, I have a video tutorial to help you learn how to use an Instant Pot IP-Duo. In the video, I showcase some of the great features of the Instant Pot Duo by making Beef Stroganoff. I think watching it will give you the confidence you need to start making quick, fabulous meals in your new Instant Pot.
How to Use an Instant Pot IP-Duo
You may want to start using your new electric pressure cooker with the test run, explained on Hip Pressure Cooking. Basically, you boil water in your pressure cooker just to get familiar with how your pressure cooker works.
If you received a Cuisinart pressure cooker, congratulations! It’s a great, more affordable pressure cooker that I’m still crazy about too. Here’s a link to the Cuisinart video: How to Use the Cuisinart Pressure Cooker video. I think there’s also info in the Instant Pot video that will help you when cooking in the Cuisinart, too.
Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!
Nice video but the audio is not good. You may want to try a clip on mike.
This weekend i bought an IP wow love love. I made Hungarian pork goulash. ( Porkoilt) fabulous
Hi Claudia – sounds delicious! Have fun 🙂
I love beef stroganoff, now that I am able to see some of the actual things that I need to do I’m sure that I’ll use the IP more
I have never used a pressure cooker. I got one for my 60th birthday and made pot roast the next day, It turned out so delicious and tender, gravy and all. I am already in love with this pressure cooker and excited to cook more recipes in it. I have had it 2 days and am enjoying the videos and helpful hints from other users.
Hi Kathleen – what a great birthday gift. I love that you just jumped in and made pot roast. Have fun with your new pressure cooker 🙂
I have been looking at electric pressure cookers for a few week as everyone seems to like them. I have an 8 qt. Fagor stovetop that is a beast to wash. Amazon Prime had this one discounted to $70 for this one day only sale so I had to pick it up.
I am into low carb-high fat— Paleo-Primal —eating so pastas, potato rice are a low priority.
Hi Brooks – the Instant Pot does a great job cooking high meats. Beef chuck and pork shoulder are great cuts for the pressure cooker – tender and juicy. https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/pressure-cooker-kalua-pork/ https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/pressure-cooker-beef-and-broccoli/ Have fun!
Trying my first Instant Pot recipe tonight. The video says 2 cups of beef broth, but the recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups. Which is correct?
Hi Sandy – use 1 1/2 cups. Enjoy!
I have an Instant Pot. Looking for a recipe for old fashion Beef N Noodles with homemade noodles. I’m an old fashion cook ( Meat, potatoes and a simple vegetable) and don’t like a lot of recipes todays.
Hi Kimmie – how about a beef and rice soup? https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/pressure-cooker-vegetable-beef-and-rice-soup/ I’ll put a Beef N Noodles soup on my to-do list. Thanks for the request.
Hi. I’m new to using a pressure cooker and well, cooking in general. I’m just curious why you don’t also sauté the mushrooms in the Instant Pot?
Hi Nick – I’m not a huge mushroom lover but I do like them if they have lots of caramelization on them. So you can’t crowd your mushrooms or they’ll steam and not brown.
can’t you brown them with the onions? and then just leave them there under the meat to cook all together?
Sure – if you don’t mind your mushrooms really soft.
This is just amazing! I have a stovetop pressure cooker, but this is so much more versatile. I love all the different functions, and the fact that it doesn’t take up a burner on the stove, it can be used on the countertop. I can easily imagine a hundred different ways to use it. Thanks for the demo!
I would love to have an electric pressure cooker – my stovetop version has been wonderful, but I can see how a countertop version would be very handy. Thank you for this opportunity.
Thanks for the video. I just bought my first pressure cooker and plan to try many of your recipes.
Can you tell me the brand of salt and pepper grinders you use in the video and would you recommend them?
Thank you
Hi Richard – welcome to the world of pressure cooking! They’re made by OXO and I’ve really enjoyed them. I’ve had a pepper grinder for lots of years and when it broken I bought this set and have really enjoyed having the salt grinder as well. My son gave me pink salt for Christmas. I believe mine is similar to this set http://amzn.to/1fzyDbP.
just wanted to thank you for posting this video and for the recipes. i bought my first-ever pressure cooker this week (the instant pot ip duo), and while I am stoked to use it, having seen your video, i now feel more confident, too.
thank you!
Thanks Art! Glad I could help you feel more confident. Have fun!
Is there a substitute for onions, or would it still turn out fine if I omit the onions?
You’re fine to omit the onions.
Hi! Just received my Instant Pot today and can’t wait to begin using it. Curious to know about cooking meats from frozen. Can roasts, while chickens, etc be cooked from frozen and if so, how long would I need to add to cooking times? Thank you in advance for your help!
I received an advance copy of this electric pressure cooker so I could film an instructional and recipe videos for Instant Pot. I was all set to buy myself a yogurt maker for Christmas and this cooker ruined my plans – in a good way!
Instant Pot DUO has all of the things I look for in an electric pressure cooker: stainless steel cooking surface, browning function (at three temperatures), dual pressure settings (high and low pressure), manual programming and delay feature. Additional functions include Rice Cooker, Slow Cooker (low, medium and high settings), Steamer and Yogurt maker.
is there a model that has a stainless steel cooking insert? I have numerous allergy problems and cannot use any teflon or no-stick coatings on my pans
Hi Aurora – the Instant Pot does have a stainless steel cooking pot.
I’m so glad I discovered this post, Barbara! I’ve wanted a PC for years (other than the huge one I use for canning) and after seeing your video a few weeks ago, I decided to get this one as my anniversary present. (Who needs flowers when you can pressure cook? 🙂 Anyway, it is so easy to use! I haven’t made this recipe yet, but did try a pork chop one that’s on your site (but is a recipe from another site). Didn’t have the greatest luck with it — the carrots were delicious but the russets were largely disintegrated and the pork was dry without much flavor. The meat was a bit beyond its prime, though, so maybe that had something to do with it. I do wonder about how to adjust the pressure time for recipes. In other words, how can one know if the time specified for high pressure is right when the thickness of meat or size of the cubes of meat, etc. can vary? A lot of recipes don’t specify particular dimensions. Or does that all just seem to work out okay in the end without much adjustment? Thanks!
Thanks Emilie – so glad you discovered this post too. Just like the prefect anniversary present to me.
Pork chops can be tricky because you have to be more careful when cooking lean meats like pork chops and chicken breasts in the pressure cooker. Overcooking it will result in dry meat. The thickness of the meat is crucial to timing, quantity is less important. My favorite cut of pork to cook in the pressure cooker is pork shoulder. It’s much harder to overcook and always comes out tender and juicy for me. Try some of the other recipes and then if you want to come back to the pork chop recipe, try reducing your cook time and perhaps wrapping up the potatoes in foil so they don’t cook so quickly or using small whole potatoes like in this recipe https://www.pressurecookingtoday.com/2013/04/classic-pot-roast-and-potatoes/. Have fun!
Thanks so much for the reply and info., Barbara. I’ll skip chicken breasts and pork chops for now and try the pot roast this week. Really appreciate the tips!
I just have one question…when do the mushrooms get added back in? There wasn’t a mention of it in the video either? Looks delicious!
Thanks Ray – just stir the mushrooms in after you’ve added the sour cream. I’ve updated the recipe in the comments and the post will be up on Wednesday. Enjoy!
great video! and I’ve decided this is the year I finally get a pressure cooker! I know I keep telling you I”m going…but it’s really going to happen!
Hi! Can you cook a whole chicken in this lovely machine? Having a hard time grasping the size of this little guy. Thanks so much!
Hi Anber – you can pressure cooker a whole chicken, but it will be a tight fit. Here’s a link to Hip Pressure Cooking’s experience http://www.hippressurecooking.com/beer-can-chicken-pressure-cooked-whole/ The Instant Pot is a 6 quart pot.
Hi Barbara,
What kind of beef are you cooking there? I apologize if you said it and I missed it. Is the recipe written out anywhere? Thanks always for helping me become a better cook. 🙂
That’s so nice – thanks Penny! The stroganoff recipe isn’t scheduled to post for two weeks. Here’s the recipe for you until I get the post up:
Pressure Cooker Beef Stroganoff
2 pounds beef round steak, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 package (12 ounces) white mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons cornstarch
3 tablespoons cold water
1/3 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Egg noodles, cooked
Season beef generously with salt and pepper. Put oil in the cooking pot and select browning. When oil begins to sizzle, brown meat in batches until all the meat is browned – do not crowd, add more oil as needed. Transfer meat to a plate when browned.
Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until the onions soften and begin to brown, about 5 minutes.
Add the garlic and tomato paste and sauté 1 minute.
Add beef broth and scrap up any brown bits on the bottom of the pot.
Add browned beef and any accumulated juices. Select High Pressure. Set timer for 18 minutes.
While the beef is cooking, heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot. Add oil and butter. When butter is melted, add the mushrooms and cook until golden. Season with salt and pepper.
When beep sounds turn pressure cooker off and let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes use a quick pressure release to release any remaining pressure. When valve drops carefully remove the lid.
Combine the cornstarch and water, whisking until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to the broth in the pot stirring constantly. Select Simmer and bring to a boil, stirring constantly until sauce thickens. Add 1/3 cup of gravy to the sour cream and mix until well combined. Add the sour cream mixture to the gravy and stir until well blended. Stir in the sautéed mushrooms.
Serve over egg noodles.
Thank you so much! I’m going to try it out tonight!
Wanted to take a moment to say how great this dinner came out! My (very picky) husband even loved it and it was done from start to finish in 30 minutes! I will make this recipe over and over!
Made this and everyone loved it. Will definitely make again soon.
Will be one of our best meals yet.
Thanks Carolyn for taking the time to let me know everyone enjoyed it. 🙂
I bought myself one for Christmas! I can’t wait to play with it tomorrow. Merry Christmas from my family to yours!
I’m so excited for you to start cooking with it. Have fun! Merry Christmas to you too.
Tomato paste tip – rather than buying it in tubes, which is expensive, when you open a tin and only use a bit of the paste, measure out the rest of the tin by tablespoosn onto a piece of waxpaper and freeze them. When they’re frozen solid, transfer into a ziploc bag and store in the freezer. You’ll have tomato paste in one tablespoon chunks for future use. I’m looking forward to the stroganoff recipe being posted.
Great tip – thanks for sharing Susan! Merry Christmas!