Susan Smith - Mini Instant Pot Cookbook: Over 200 Proven, Delicious & Easy Recipes for Mini Instant Pot 3 Quart Models

In a world where most pressure cooker recipes are cooked for larger appliances, mostly 6-quarts, here are valuable tips on how you can use your 3-quart mini pot to its fullest potential in the kitchen.

It is not as easy as cutting down the ingredients for the recipe. There are various hidden modifications and variances can hugely affect how dishes are cooked for the mini models. These are the variables you need to keep in mind.

Use Less Cooking Liquid

While larger models require 1 1/2 cups liquid, cooking tests reveal that you can use as little as 1 1/4 cups for the mini. Take note that part of the cooking juices will come from the ingredients themselves so you can eventually use less than that and the pot can still achieve pressure, assuming that the ingredients will release more.

Use Less Ingredients

Always remember to keep in mind the maximum-fill guidelines. You should never fill it more than half with ingredients that create foam or expands, such as beans, grains, and rice. Likewise, never fill it 2/3-full for most foods.

In this note, for the mini, never fill the pot with more than 7 cups veggies & 1 cup liquid, 3 1/2 pound of meat & 1 cup liquid, 2 cups dry rice & 3 cups water, or 2 cups beans & 4 cups water. Take note, the cup I refer to here is 8-ounce or 250 ml U.S. measurement.

Cooking Time Remains the Same

You do not need to adjust the cooking time for most recipes since the duration is generally based on the density and size of the ingredients. No matter how much you are using, if density and size are the same, use the same cooking time.

However, if cooking very dense ingredients, you have to adjust cooking time to compensate for the lower pressure of the mini.

Split All of the Ingredients

Obviously, the smaller size means that it can contain a lesser amount of ingredients. Always check if they will not exceed the maximum limit. You may need to reduce the ingredients to half or to 1/3 their original amount.

Adjust the Cooking Liquid

Calculate if you need to alter the amount of cooking liquid as well. Use the right ratio needed for cooking grains and beans. If you reduced the solids by 1/2 or 1/3, you generally have to do the same for the liquid. However, do not go lower than the required amount to achieve pressure, which is 1 1/4 cups in minis.

Use the Maximum Liquid for Soups

If you are cooking dishes that are supposed to be liquidy or soups, you can add enough cooking liquid to almost cover the food, just do not exceed the 2/3 maximum limit.

Use the Minimum Liquid for Stews

If you are cooking dishes that are supposed to be braised or stews, then you can use the minimum cooking juices required since the ingredients will release moisture as well.

Use the Minimum Amount for Pot-in-Pot Cooking or Steamed Recipes

Cooking liquid for steamed dishes or PIP recipes will generally require only the minimum required to achieve proper pressure.

A Sling Foil is Handy for PIP Cooking

Pot-in-Pot cooking is a method where you place all the ingredients in a heatproof container that will fit your pot and place it on a trivet set in the IP with cooking liquid for pressure cooking.

Using a foil sling will allow you to lower the container and take it out safely. Just fold the sling unobtrusively in the pot.

Saut the Spices and Brown the Meat

Although doing these steps is optional and some recipes do not mention them, they will greatly enhance the flavor and texture of your recipes. So if you have time, do not just dump and cook the ingredients for your dishes.