How My Instant Pot Obsession Began: A Love Story

Instant Pot. I bet you’ve seen one, heard about one or even own one.

My obsession began as a seed. A flick through my Facebook feed late at night. While I stood cooking dinner at 9 pm. Again.

After working all day long the last thing I wanted to be doing was cooking. But plan as I may I never quite mastered meal prepping for dinner.

Lunches were not a problem and we still plan those weekly.

Dinner was the bane of my existence and kids, well cute as they are, they need to be fed. So did the hard-working adults.

Last fall a friend started talking about her Instant Pot. Honestly, I didn’t get it. It was just a slow cooker, right?

I had one of those. I also had problems with one of those.

Slow Cooker Problems

The number one problem was we hated beans. A lot of slow cooker recipes have beans. We are okay with beans in chili but that is about it.

Or there was a long list of ingredients and food doesn’t grow on trees. Okay, it does sometimes but my point is it isn’t cheap to feed a family.

In fact, a friend of mine is always shocked at the price of food especially meat here in Canada. Therefore, even if I found a bean-free meal it was often hard to decide to throw half of our grocery budget in a slow cooker in hopes it might taste good.

Trust me I’ve made a few fails. Not that I have anything against cereal for dinner but throwing out food my dog won’t even eat doesn’t sit well with me.

Or the super fun problem since my slow cooker was a wedding gift it was old, like 17 years old.  It didn’t have one of those cool timer thingies.

Which means you aren’t home to turn in on or if you don’t remember to plug it in, ahem. Then it doesn’t work. Go figure, right?

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Instant Pot Research: Going To The Pros

I continued to watch as friends shared and raved about this seemingly glorified slow cooker while I worked hard looking for a solution to my late night cooking problem.

I gathered my favorite recipes with fewer ingredients for these light nights, which did help somewhat. Even though I was still cooking late at night but at least it was going faster.

My problem was persisting. I needed a way to make food when I wasn’t home or fast when I got home. Or when I forgot to defrost the food. Or.

I like food. I wanted to eat. And I didn’t want to be up all night cooking and cleaning up.

I went to the pros and started conversations. I asked busy homeschool moms who were using the product day after day. I started looking at reviews.

I asked, what was the difference between a Slow Cooker and an Instant Pot?

I asked them, what they loved about their Instant Pot? What they hated?

What did they feel was needed? What tools did you wish you had? What did they wish they bought? Brand? Sizes?

Can I just say I never once had to twist anyone’s arm to get them to talk? People love their Instant Pot.

Then I waited. (ha!)

Anniversary Request A Love Story:

Every year my husband and I ask each other what we want for a gift. He always says “I don’t know” which is cheating in my opinion.

Each year I pick something practical I want. This year I said an Instant Pot, a very specific Instant Pot.

He asked for the link to be sure he got the right one but I would only send it to him on one condition. It had to be on sale. He agreed.

I picked the Instant Pot DUO60 6 Qt 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer based on the answers I got back from others.

Also I really suck at making rice. I know how hard can it be?? So I was super excited to see Rice Cooker as part of the deal.


I assumed it would be a Black Friday sale, or maybe Amazon Prime Day because ya know. Deal.

Last week he said something was coming for him, just throw it in his room. No biggie. He often buys little outback camping things on Amazon such as our mini stoves or sporks.

During my Facebook Live on my Facebook Page, I was stressing this delivery was going to show up during the video recording and a few times the dog went nuts I was freaking out. LOL

As soon as I turned off the camera, sure enough, he showed up.

The guy dropped off the box and as you can see it says on the box, INSTANT POT.

I was thinking: He’s a dead man!! He promised to wait! (Actually, I said this out loud and the delivery guy looked slightly scared ha!)

Turns out he got a great deal (and no I don’t know what it was) but he was really upset he forgot to hit the “this is a gift” box so heads up for upcoming gifts. He wanted it to be a surprise and it sure was!

Shopping for someone who has an Instant pot? Be sure to check out this list for the best items to go with your Instant Pot! 

Why I Got An Instant Pot:

In this video I share about making “steam”. Here is the Getting Started videos I found the instructions so you can do your own steam making. I am still not sure what the point of doing that step but it did help me overcome my initial fear of a pressure cooker.

One thing I did note that the steam comes up with great force. I moved my Instant Pot away from my cupboards so it vented into the air and not under the cupboard trapping a steam.

Also my husband discovered that when it says “Hot” on it, it is hot. 😉 Not the kids mind you, so you might want to double warn big kids and littles not to touch.

After sharing this one mom said she has 12 Quart Instant Pot, like this one but her’s has the non stick pot. She wishes it had stainless steel pot as she is always worried she will scratch it.

I didn’t think I’d need 12 Quart for a family of 4 but her idea of “cooking once and eating twice” appeals. Plus, she can do a whole turkey!

A week has passed and I am having fun in my kitchen again. Testing, trying and changing recipes. I am excited and a little scared to be honest.

Many readers have asked me to share how it is going. I can’t wait to share what I am learning with you, along with recipes we have tried, what worked and what didn’t.

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I’ll be even getting my kids involved and putting their cooking skills to use. ((Update)) In fact, Katie now has an Instant Pot Course For Kids that we started. The kids have made Gluten Free Mac and Cheese and a Beef Roast. If you are a busy mom you are going to want to check this out for your kids! Click here to see the Instant Pot Cooking Course. 

I downloaded the Free Instant Pot App but I would love to know what your family favorite recipes are?

And yes, I’ve got a new list waiting for next year. All practical but of course 😉 If you are curious on what I’ve added to my list to save me time and make my life easier with my Instant Pot you can read it here! 

Take care

Jen

PS. If you want to join in on the fun this is the Instant Pot I’ll be using, if you have a larger family this 12 quart one has come highly recommended. 

PSS. If you are a busy mom like me be sure to grab these Instant Pot Cooking Lessons for your kids. Trust me, it is so nice to have someone else make dinner <3