Do you have an Instant Pot? Do you know what an Instant Pot is? If you like cooking, or maybe if you hate cooking but try to find motivation to avoid takeout, you do.
Its a recent (Canadian) invention that has taken the cooking and food prep world by storm. It is a multi-function, small appliance that can pressure cook, saute, steam and more. It is programmable and can cut down dramatically on the time required to prepare all sorts of different dishes.
I do not have one. Why? The reason is that I just don't feel the need at this point in time. I have used the slow cooker we got as a wedding gift once in almost 18 years. But I have family and friends that are obsessed with it.
For that reason, I agreed to review the 5-Ingredient Instant Pot Cookbook by cookbook author, Marilyn Haugen.
People who like simple recipes and/or are short on time will appreciate the simplicity of these recipes.
The first section of the book provides tips and information about using an Instant Pot. The following section is"Instant Pot Staples" and contains recipes such as broth, and stocks, quinoa, brown rice, marinara sauce and BBQ sauce. I know a lot of people find cooking brown rice daunting because it can take a long time and end up too chewy or too mushy. In the Instant Pot, it takes less than 30 minutes, which is pretty impressive. Though you still have to soak dried beans, you only need to cook them for a few minutes! That's amazing.
Other sections include:
- Breakfasts
- Soups, Stews and Chilis
- Beef and Pork
- Chicken
- Fish and Seafood
- Beans, Grains and Pasta
- Vegetables and Sides
- Desserts
Each recipe includes tips and many have variations as well. But only a handful are photographed, so this book isn't great for people who need visuals.
This isn't a healthy cooking book so things I try to avoid like added sugar and refined flours show up in some recipes, but you can probably make substitutions. It also is limited in terms of vegan/vegetarian recipes but is great for anyone who eats a varied diet.
A few standouts are "Almost Rotisserie Chicken", "Maple Rice Pudding" and "Hearty Steel-Cut Oats" which all cook in much less time than conventional recipes.
So do I plan to get an Instant Pot? Nope. But I do recommend this book if you have one. There are 150 recipes that cover the gamut and are all relatively simple and easy to follow. I am going to give my copy of this book to my sister-in-law who has an Instant Pot, and adores it. I know she will love it!
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