Wondering how to adjust your Instant Pot recipes for high altitude? This printable conversion chart will help you adjust your recipes perfectly so that all your Instant Pot Recipe turn out perfectly!
Use this conversion chart to make any of these Instant Pot Recipes and learn basics of Instant Pot Cooking at Instant Pot 101.
Cooking at High Altitude
If you live 3,000 feet above sea level, most recipes will need adjusted to account for the altitude change.
At higher elevation, the air pressure is lower that causes several things to occur.
Effects of High Altitude
- The boiling point of water is lowered, meaning foods will be cooking at a lower temperature, which increases the cook time. The higher the elevation the lower the boiling point becomes, increasing the cook time for every thousand feet rise above sea level.
- Liquids evaporate faster, so amounts of flour and liquids may need to be changed in recipes.
- Gases expand more rapidly, so rise time on baked goods may need to be decreased, as well as leavening agents.
Using the Instant Pot at High Altitude
When using the Instant Pot at higher altitudes, you do not need to worry about accounting for liquid evaporating as the pressure cooker seals in all the moisture. However you do need to account for the lower boiling point.
The formula for success when using your electric pressure cooker, is to increase pressurized cook time by 5% for every 1000 feet above 2000 feet elevation.
Use this chart to help you convert your favorite recipes.
Important Tips for using Instant Pot at Higher Altitudes
- If making Instant Pot Yogurt, you do not need to make adjustments to the recipe.
- If you are sauteing or thickening a recipe AFTER pressure cook time has elapsed, like in Instant Pot Beef Stew, be sure to watch liquid level carefully, you may need to add in 1/4 to 1/2 cup more liquid, as it will take longer for your recipe to thicken at higher altitude.
- Fore more tips on cooking and baking at High Altitude, check out these great tips from Betty Crocker.
Thank you so much for this invaluable chart. For those who have never cooked/baked “at” altitude, as we say here in Denver, it can be a very trying and difficult experience. Downright maddening. You’ll have followed the ingredients to the letter and end up a far cry from what the recipe proffered. I have grown up here all my life but didn’t really “get” the concept of altitude baking until I was about 12 (a bit self taught) and spent a lot of time trying to figure out why everything was just mush. This is a clear and concise chart. I spent over 40 minutes trying to find a basic chart on the “interwebs” but of all the articles I viewed, yours was the ONLY ONE that actually addressed Altitude cooking. There was another article/blogger – a man whose article I was trying to find. But his offered a single recipe adjustment. This is more comprehensive…still, out of the thousands of recipes and articles 2 out of hundreds…I’ll stick to your articles any day!!! Thank you for blogging! Moms are busy!!
I am so glad you found this helpful! We have family in Denver and I understand the frustration for sure. I am so glad you you enjoy my tips and recipes–that means the world to me.