Instant Pot cooking is extremely popular, but it’s normal to wonder what foods are safe to prepare and how long they should cook. This free printable chart offers helpful, general guidelines for Instant Pot cook times for many common ingredients.
Keep in mind that different Instant Pot models and sizes can vary, so the times on the chart are general recommendations. Your specific unit may require slightly more or less time than listed.
Benefits of Pressure Cooking in the Instant Pot
Using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker speeds up cooking and often uses less energy and liquid than traditional methods. Here are some key benefits:
- The inner pot is well insulated, so it heats faster than many stovetop methods.
- Pressure cooking uses less liquid, which brings liquids to boiling more quickly and shortens cook times.
- Reduced exposure to oxygen during pressure cooking helps foods retain vitamins, minerals, color, and flavor.
- Under pressure, liquids boil at higher temperatures, which can better eliminate harmful bacteria—this feature has historically made pressure cookers useful for sterilizing jars and bottles for canning.
- Modern Instant Pot models include multiple safety mechanisms, making them a safe and reliable option for home cooking.
What You Can Make in the Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is versatile and can handle many types of meat—pulled pork, chicken breasts, beef roasts, and baby back ribs are all excellent options. It also steams vegetables, cooks rice, and prepares pasta quickly and consistently.
Many traditional favorites adapt well to pressure cooking. Recipes like chicken and dumplings or chicken spaghetti finish much faster in an Instant Pot while delivering tender results. Soups and stews are also ideal for pressure cooking: they develop deep flavor in a fraction of the time and leave ingredients perfectly tender.
And Don’t Forget Desserts
The Instant Pot is great for desserts too. Cheesecakes are commonly made in the Instant Pot, but you can also prepare traditional cakes, brownies, rice pudding, and more. One popular sweet treat is caramel sauce made by pressure-cooking a can of sweetened condensed milk—creamy, rich, and perfect for ice cream or pies.
That simple can of sweetened condensed milk opens up a surprising range of dessert possibilities when pressure cooked.
Looking for a Specific Instant Pot Recipe?
If there’s an Instant Pot recipe you’d like to see, tell us in the comments and we’ll consider it for our editorial calendar.
Instant Pot Cook Times Chart
Download a free printable of the Instant Pot Cook Times chart in PDF format for easy reference.
If you use an air fryer, there’s also a printable Air Fryer Time and Temp chart available.
Handpicked Recipe Favorites
Try these popular Instant Pot recipes from the collection:
Instant Pot Baked Potato
Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Instant Pot Black-eyed Peas