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Follow these four basic steps to steam in an instant pot.
Step 1: Add Water
Adding water to the Instant Pot is rule number one when steaming. Use a cup or a jug to measure at least 240 mL of water and pour it into the bottom of your pressure cooker.
However, note that larger quantities of food, such as a whole basket of veggies, require at least 470 mL of water.
Step 2: Make Sure Not to Overfill Your Instant Pot With Water
Overfilling your pressure cooker with too much liquid might ruin your food. Too much water produces too much steam that clings to the surface of the food. As the pressure cooker temperature increases, these water molecules move rapidly and increase the inner pressure — and eventually cause your food to become mushy and tasteless.
Step 3: Set the Trivet & a Steam Basket
At the risk of stating the obvious, an Instant Pot trivet is a stainless steel rack that allows you to heighten foods above the liquid in the inner pot. Set this tool at the bottom of your pot and just above the water level to hold the food properly.
If you think your food might start falling off when set directly on the trivet, you can place a steam basket above it for more security. When placing the basket, make sure its top is below the top edge of the pot to ensure the lid fits.
Note: Steam baskets don’t come with Instant Pots, so you might want to purchase one. You can also use a small colander instead.
Step 3: Adjust the Timing & Layer the Food Accordingly
All food has a different steaming time to cook well. Veggies such as broccoli require two minutes of steaming time to preserve their nutrients and retain their crisp-tender form, whereas thicker foods like potatoes, carrots, or turnips need much longer. Therefore, ensure you know how much time each vegetable requires to be cooked perfectly.
If you are cooking multiple veggies, layer the thicker foods at the bottom and those that take a shorter time to cook on top, away from the water.
Step 4: Ensure the Lid Is Sealed
It is crucial to seal the lid of an Instant Pot to cook with pressure. Place the lid on top of your pressure cooker and make sure its arrow mark lines up with the open lock icon on the control panel. Last but not least, turn the lid clockwise until you hear a snap to ensure it’s securely closed.
Amazon product information last updated on March 24, 2022. Images, prices and links from Amazon Product Advertising API.
