Knowing that a computer controlled pressure cooker can make rice, pasta, etc. is nice, but how much water? Which pressure setting? How long to cook at pressure? Natural or Quick Pressure Release? And since we typically cook for two people, what do I need to know when making fewer portions?
In a Travel Trailer an Instant Pot has the added advantage of minimizing steam and hence minimizing humidity inside our small home.
In this post are the following basic recipes:
- Pasta for 2
- Steamed Green Beans also Corn on the cob
- Basmati Rice
- Brown Rice
- Steel cut oats
- Rolled Oats
Pasta for 2
Melanie Mendelson details this method at MelanieCooks.com. Her recipe starts with a pound of pasta which is far more than we typically eat at a meal. I like this recipe as it yields creamy pasta without any water to drain.
- Put 4 oz. pasta (spaghetti, rotini, penne, etc.) in the inner pot breaking longer noodles (e.g. spaghetti) as needed so they lay flat on the bottom.
- Add at least a cup of water plus enough to cover the pasta. 10 oz works well for 4 oz spaghetti.
- Pressure cook for 1 to 2 minutes on Low Pressure (6 psi). Use longer times for whole grain pasta or thicker noodles.
- Natural Pressure Release (Keep Warm off) for 5 to 4 minutes and then quick release.
Steamed Green Beans
This process also works for corn-the-cob.
- Place steamer basket inside inner pot. Option: If delaying cooking for more than a few minutes, put a few ice cubes under the basket.
- Add cleaned and trimmed green beans.
- Add 1 to 2 cups of water (less any previously add ice) over the beans.
- Pressure cook on high for 2 minutes.
- Quick Release pressure then serve.
Basmati Rice
- Rinse 1 cup of Basmati or Jasmine Rice either in a fine sieve or with 3 to 5 changes of water.
- Put the wet Rice and 1 1/3 cup water in the inner pot. Season with 1/2 tsp salt.
- Pressure cook, high pressure, for 4 minutes (5 minutes for less fine grained rice). Turn off “Keep Warm”.
- Natural Pressure Release for 4 minutes (5 for other varieties).
- Open the vent. When the pressure has fully released, open the pot and fluff with a fork.
Brown Rice
- Saute 1 tsp olive oil and 1 cup brown Rice for 3 minutes.
- Add 1/2 tsp salt and 1 1/2 cup water.
- Pressure cook on high pressure for 22 minutes. (Turn Keep Warm off.)
- Natural Pressure Release for 7 minutes.
- Quick Release then fluff with fork and serve.
Steel Cut Oatmeal
One can readily find several oatmeal recipes. The ones I read agree that the Instant Pot saves little time over the stove top method. The Instant Pot advantage is hands-free cooking. Otherwise they vary widely.
The list below is subject to experimentation and may be revised. At 4 minutes cook time the oats were a bit crunchy. Over the next several attempts incremental increases in the cooking time yielded the following.
- Spray pot with cooking oil.
- Add 1 cup water, 2 cups almond milk, 1 cup steel cut oats, 1/2 tsp salt, 3 Tbsp maple syrup, 1 Tbsp butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1 apple chopped.
- Pressure cook on high for 7 minutes.
- Natural Pressure Release for 10 minutes.
- Quick Pressure Release by opening the vent.
- Stir until ingredients are evenly distributed.
Rolled Oats
After purchasing a large bag of rolled oats I began experimenting. This is my latest version.
- With pot set to Saute, melt 1 Tbsp of butter. Add 1 1/3 cup of oats stir frequently for 1 minute.
- Add 1 apple chopped, 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup water, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp ground cinnamon.
- Lock the lid, pressure cook on High for 3 minutes.
- Quick release then stir until uniformly thickened.