fbpx
Rochester Local

Instant30: My First 30 Days Living An Instant Pot Life

Cheesecake, Cooking Fears, dinner, dinner time, how to use an instant pot, instant dinner, Instant Pot, instant pot intimidation, IP recipes, Journal, Pressure Cooker, recipes, what's for dinner

Whenever I am on social media lately, I see people’s chronicles of their Whole30 journey.  I have found some of their journey posts pretty amusing as they try and last the whole 30 days.  I’ve heard from numerous people about how much they all-capital-letters LOVE their Instant Pot, so I decided to go on an Instant30 plan.  Will I make it all 30 days?  Read on and see…

Instant30 Journal 

Day 1 : Buy 6 quart Instant Pot at Kohl’s.

Days 1-14: Instant Pot sits in box on floor in kitchen, mocking me.  

Day 14: Feeling brave, I buy an extra gallon of milk, plus plain yogurt as a starter, so I can make yogurt in my Instant Pot like my amazing friend Christine.

Days 15-18: Instant Pot still sits in box on floor in kitchen, mocking me. It seems to be pointing at the milk and yogurt in the refrigerator, wondering when they are going to get together.

Day 19: Finally take the Instant Pot out of the box.  Notice the 3(!!) warning labels on the appliance.  Back away slowly.

 Cheesecake, Cooking Fears, dinner, dinner time, how to use an instant pot, instant dinner, Instant Pot, instant pot intimidation, IP recipes, Journal, Pressure Cooker, recipes, what's for dinner

Day 20, afternoon: Take out user manual and start to read. Reach out to friends who have Instant Pots when the picture in the manual does not match what mine looks like.  Get reassurance and soldier on.  

Complete water test as recommended in the manual.  Instant Pot appears to be functioning normally.  Decide to make first foray into food preparation and hard boil 5 eggs, except there are approximately 32 different ways to make perfect hard boiled eggs in the Instant Pot, according to Pinterest.  Pick one (5 minutes pressure, 5 minutes natural pressure release, 5 minutes in ice bath) and take the plunge.  Eggs end up just a tad soft-boiled in the center, but they do peel as easily as everyone claimed.

Day 20, evening: Join the official Instant Pot on Facebook group.  Start getting flooded with pictures of Cheesecake (?!) made in the Instant Pot, and something called Butter Chicken.  Start getting bleary-eyes from all the acronyms in the group: IP, NPR, QR, PIP….if you know all those, give yourself 4 points!

Day 20, later evening: Order 7 inch springform pan from Amazon to try making cheesecake.  Read approximately 15 instant pot cheesecake recipes.

Day 21: Cook Mac & Cheese for lunch, after running to the store to get cheese to shred.  We struggled a bit stirring in the final ingredients because the stainless steel insert kept spinning in the base.  But this recipe was YUMMY.  

Day 21, evening: Start going crazy on Pinterest with the Instant Pot recipes.  Order additional silicone sealing rings so I have different ones for spicy/savory recipes and sweet recipes.  In case I ever get around to making yogurt, I don’t want it to taste like the curries and carnitas we are planning to make in the near future, right?

Day 23: Read dire warning about using silicone sealing rings that are not officially made by Instant Pot, as it voids the warranty.  Head back to Amazon to order another set of silicone sealing rings actually made by Instant Pot.  Open unofficial set when it arrives, then prepare it to send it right back to Amazon.  Oops.  Then open the 7 inch springform pan, hugging it to chest, thinking of the amazing cheesecake in my future.

Day 24: Make Salted Caramel Cheesecake.  Make rookie mistake and leave crust too tall, so it gets a little weepy.  I weep a bit too, but put it in the refrigerator and hope for the best.

Day 24, dinner: Cook Pork Carnitas: AMAZING!!  My children who love Chipotle said this tasted WAY better.  

Day 25: Add Trader Joe’s Dulce de Leche to the top of the cheesecake and have a piece for lunch.  It did not disappoint.  I refrain from having a second piece as my lunch dessert.

Day 25, late afternoon: Realize that silicone sealing ring is still giving off a strong scent of pork carnitas.  Good thing my second order of helpful color coded silicone rings should be delivered today.  Now my next cheesecake won’t taste like pork carnitas.  Shake my head that I am already planning my next cheesecake.

Day 26: My husband, our household chef 90% of the time, says in a blasé tone as we are discussing recipes to try, “I’ll let you be the Instant Pot expert.”  I feel duped.  I have to cook more now?!

Day 30: Cook second batch of Mac & Cheese.  Top with bacon this time for over-the-top deliciousness.  

We made it through Instant30 , with no pressure cooker burns!  We are still getting to know our Instant Pot, but I think with school starting up, we will definitely put this to good use. I still have not gotten brave enough to try making yogurt…

Related posts

Guide to Moving to Rochester MN

Rochester Local

15 Vegetarian Dining Options in Rochester MN

Rochester Local

A Charcuterie Board for the Holidays (or a plain old Tuesday) With My Favorite Things

Becky Montpetit