How to Use an Instant Pot
Updated Dec 23, 2025
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Feeling overwhelmed by your new Instant Pot? This beginner's guide will simplify the essentials so you feel confident and ready to cook delicious recipes using your Instant Pot.
Instant Pot 101
If you have recently been gifted an Instant Pot or purchased one yourself, you may be feeling excited. Or maybe you are overwhelmed. Maybe you read the instruction manual that came with the instant pot and are feeling even more confused. It is really lacking in information!
Through the years, I have helped millions of people learn how to use the Instant Pot, and I want to help you too!
In this guide, I'll cover:
- Instant Pot parts and functions
- A step-by-step water test (your first run!)
- Natural pressure release vs. quick release
- Safety tips and keys to success
- Troubleshooting common issues
- My favorite accessories
Stick with me, you are well on your way to mastering Instant Pot Cooking.
Happy Instant Pot Cooking! xo Kristen
Instant Pot Parts (and How to Clean Them)
Before we talk about how the Instant Pot works, let's break down the standard pieces and parts of the Instant Pot so you know which piece is which and how to clean each part.
The Buttons (or Functions)
Spoiler alert: The majority of the buttons on the Instant Pot are useless and should not be used. (more on that in my Instant Pot Settings Guide). The following settings are your go-tos and likely the only buttons you will ever push on an Instant Pot.
- Pressure Cook/Manual: Your go-to button for controlling cook time.
- Sauté: Brown or simmer food directly in the inner pot.
- Keep Warm: Automatically turns on after pressure cooking.
- Slow Cook: Works, but times/temps aren't always accurate. See my guide on using your Instant Pot as a slow cooker.
- Yogurt: Used to make and incubate Instant Pot yogurt.
- Adjust/Temp-Pressure: Switch between high/low pressure or adjust temps for sauté/slow cook/yogurt.
Step-By-Step Instructions for Instant Pot Cooking
To get started, it is best to cook water in the Instant Pot before trying actual food. This is called a water test and will help you get familiar with your Instant Pot before you waste any ACTUAL food.
- Set up. Insert inner pot into the base of the Instant Pot and plug in the unit.
- Add water. Pour 3 cups of water into the inner pot.
- Secure lid. Secure inner ring tightly on lid, place lid on Instant Pot, and ensure the vent knob/steam release button is in the sealed position.
- Set Cooking Time. To set the cooking time, hit the manual or pressure cook button. Ensure HIGH pressure is indicated on the screen (this is the default). If not, hit the pressure button until HIGH is lit up. Then use the plus or minus until the screen reads "3." If your screen flashes the time, you need to press start. For most models, the Instant Pot will beep and turn itself on.
- What to Expect. The Instant Pot screen will read On until pressure is reached. Once pressure is reached, the float valve will float up, the lid will lock, and the pressure cooking has begun. The timer will begin counting down and once the cooking time has elapsed, the Instant Pot switches to Keep Warm and begin counting up.
Note from Kristen
It is normal to hear a small amount of hissing while the Instant Pot works to come to pressure. It will stop once the lid has locked. If not, check to ensure your vent knob is in the sealed position.
- Release pressure. Based on the recipe's instructions, allow the pressure to release naturally or do a quick release of pressure (more on that below) and then remove the lid.
- Turn off the Instant Pot. Hit the cancel button to turn off the Instant Pot. Clean the, let dry and reassemble.
Safety Tips to Remember
Thanks to many built-in safety features, an Instant Pot is much safer to use than a stove-top pressure cooker. That said there are two very important things to remember.
- Never put your face near the steam release.
- Never force the lid open! Wait for the float valve to drop (it can take a minute or two even when doing a quick release of pressure).
Natural Pressure Release vs Quick Release
When it comes to releasing pressure you need to know if you should do a natural pressure release or a quick release of pressure--and how to do each.
- Natural Release (NPR): This means to leave the Instant Pot alone and let the pressure drop on its own. Once the pressure drops, the float valve will float down and the lid will unlock. Best for meat, grains, or high volumes of liquid.
- Quick Release (QR): Use a spoon handle to carefully move the valve to the venting position. Be sure to stand back and keep your hands away from the valve to prevent being burned by the steam. Best for delicate items like seafood or vegetables.
Key to Instant Pot Success
Once you know HOW to use an Instant Pot, remember the following tips, so you can have success time and time again!
- Liquid is essential. Always use thin liquid (water, broth, beer, juice, etc.) to achieve and maintain pressure. Based on the size of your Instant Pot use at least
- ½ cup for 3 quart
- 1 cup for 6 quart
- 1½ cups for 8 quart
- 2 cups for 10 quart
- Use cold or room temperature liquid. Don't be tempted to heat your thin liquid to try to get the Instant Pot to reach pressure faster. This will result in undercooked or unevenly cooked items.
- Don't overfill. Keep the inner pot below ⅔ full (using the max fill line) or ½ full for starchy foods, like rice or pasta.
- Cooking time does not equal total time. You need to factor in the time it takes to come to pressure and release pressure. This can vary from 15-60+ minutes. I include the total time needed in all of my Instant Pot recipes.
- Always deglaze inner pot after sautéing. This just means to add a bit of liquid and scrape up any browned bits off bottom of inner pot. This prevents a burn notice.
- Layer Smart. It is best to add tomato-based products (like spaghetti sauce or salsa) last and avoid stirring into the other ingredients to avoid burn warnings.
- Altitude matters. Use my guide for Instant Pot High Altitude Cooking to help make the appropriate conversions.
- Have 2 sealing rings (or more). Keep separate rings for savory and sweet dishes so your yogurt doesn't taste like last night's chili!
Troubleshooting Common Issues
I have a very detailed instructions for how to troubleshoot common Instant Pot issues, but I wanted to highlight a two of the most common issues people have.
- Not coming to pressure? Check tha steam release valve is in the sealed position. If so, ensure the sealing ring on the bottom of the lid is intact and replace if torn or stretched out.
- Burn/OVRHT message? Usually caused by not using enough thin liquid, using dairy, or thick sauces. Hit cancel, let pressure release, clean the inner pot and start again.
Instant Pot 101 Video
If you learn better through video, be sure to catch me teaching you how to use your Instant Pot in the video below.
Time to Start Pressure Cooking
Now you are ready to start using your Instant Pot! Whether you want to try out one of my tried-and-true Instant Pot Recipes or convert your favorite recipes into Instant Pot recipes, you can do this! Try out one of my most popular recipes to get started.
Which Instant Pot is Best?
If you have yet to choose an Instant Pot, I am happy to help you decide. Most recipes are developed for 6-quart models but if you have a larger family you may opt for an 8-quart model. Single households may prefer a 3-quart model.
As for the type of model, simple is best in my opinion. I have tested a lot of models and find that the Instant Pot 7-in1 Duo does everything I need and the least finicky model and usually one of the least expensive models to boot!
Must-Have Instant Pot Accessories
I am often asked what are my favorite Instant Pot Accessories, I try to keep things super simple, but these are my favorite accessories and why you may need them.
- 7 inch springform pan: Great for Instant Pot Cheesecake, but if you aren't making cheesecake
- Clear Lid: Typically used for making yogurt or using the Instant Pot as a slow cooker. It really is NOT needed.
- Cake Pan: Works for cooking pot-in-pot (think Instant Pot Oatmeal), and for recipes like Instant Pot Frittata and Instant Pot Lasagna.
- Heat Safe Bowl: Frankly, you can use a deep cake pan in place of a heat-safe bowl. They are easier to find and cuts down on the number of accessories.
- Egg Bite Mold: For egg bites. If not planning to make egg bites, skip this accessory.
- Steamer Basket: Makes Instant Pot Chicken Stock so easy but it is really not needed.
I really, truly hope you LOVE your Instant Pot! But if you have any questions along the way, I am always happy to help! Drop a comment below. xo, Kristen
Thank you for posting to help calm my overwhelmed self ! I just purchased a 6 qt Instant Pot. Not sure if I needed this size for myself, but look forward to cooking healthier. Trying to see the clear lid you suggest, it brings to same link as the cake pan. Look forward to learning !
Hi Sandy! I am so happy to help! And I think you will be happy with the 6 quart--great way to make leftovers and freezer for busy nights. I will update the link now, but here is the clear lid I was talking about: https://amzn.to/2NblhX9
I was gifted an Instant Pot Duo Mini, which holds 3 quarts. There is no adjust button, so it was frustrating at first to follow the yogurt recipes that said push the "adjust" button. On the mini, you hold the yogurt button a few nanoseconds to change the modes to boil, etc. I stumbled upon the method.
Thank you for sharing how to adjust on the Duo Mini. I had to remove the chart because it is not my property to share 🙂
We received a duo for Christmas and having lots of trouble. Even in sealed position steam (heavy steam) is released after a few minutes. The deal seems ok. What are we doing wrong?
Hi Delores! It is normal for heavy steam to spout out in small bursts as your Instant Pot is coming to pressure with some models. Does it stop after a few short bursts and then seal and cook properly? Happy to help you troubleshoot.
Thank you for your email, you help me emencly. I revived the pot as a gift, and all I have been is frustrated...I will study your information and hopefully can get rid of the urge to toss the whole lot out LOL. Thank you again and Happy New Year. Nancy
Oh it makes me SO happy to help Nancy! Please reach out with questions--I want you to LOVE your Instant Pot.
Hello! I just received my first instant pot for Christmas from my in-laws. I am excited about it and glad they got us a big one for our big family but I have no idea how to convert all these 6 quart recipes to 10 quart (the one I have). I haven't found any useful info anywhere on the internet for converting recipes and minimum liquid needs for the 10 quart. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
Lacie
Hi Lacie! For the 10 quart I have found 2 cups of thin liquid in recipes/sauces is key, but when cooking something on a trivet--like baked potatoes, 2.5 cups works better. Hope that helps.
I just received my instant pot for Christmas and I did the water test. I also did fresh carrots that turned out great. But I did a roast with carrots tonight. I followed a recipe and had plenty of liquid. I was told to leave the vent open but got a message that my food was burned, I cancelled it and it was not completely burned it was edible. But was wondering how to correct that? Should I have closed the vent? The meat wasn't completely tough either. Sit was counting down after the burn food came on the screen does that mean it just got up to pressure? Thank you
Hi Becky! What a night mare and waste of food! You should never leave the vent knob open when cooking under pressure--so the recipe you followed misled you. The liquid would evaporate and a burn notice would occur. And it is not possible for it to come to pressure with the vent knob open--it probably began counting down because so much time had past. Here is my recipe for Pot Roast for you to reference in the future and here is my video about what to do if you get a burn notice. I hope that helps Becky!
When do you not use the steam position?
Hi Florence. You should only use the venting position (I assume this is what you mean when you are talking about steam position) to release pressure. You need to always use the sealed posisiton to seal in pressure for pressure cooking, unless you are using the yogurt or slow cooker function--then the valve can be pointed either way because no pressure is reached.