Easy to follow step-by-step instructions and video for how to complete an Instant Pot Water Test and why it is necessary to do so BEFORE cooking with your Instant Pot!
When my Instant Pot first came in the mail, I have to say I was extremely anxious to get using it and while I had heard about the initial water test, I wasn't quite sure that as an experienced cook I needed to do any "testing" before cooking.
Well, guess what? I was wrong.
The first time I used my Instant Pot was to make rice and I about flipped out when I heard all the hissing coming from it. I turned it off and thought to myself that I must have gotten a dud.
Nope. I just didn't understand how electric pressure cooking worked. But after I followed the manual's instructions and completed the water test, I felt SO much more confident in using the machine.
Instant Pot Water Test
A water test for your pressure cooker is important for 2 reasons:
- helps you get comfortable with your pressure cooker
- ensures your instant pot is working correctly
How To Do an Initial Water Test for Pressure Cookers
- Pour 3 cups of water into the inner pot of your instant pot.
- Put the lid on your instant pot and turn your valve to sealed.
- Set to high pressure for 3 minutes. You do this by hitting cook time or manual button and then plus or minus until the screens reads "3."
- Once pressure is reached, the instant pot will begin to count down from 3 minutes to 0.
- Once the time is done, the Instant Pot will beep and will turn to the "keep warm" function.
- To turn your instant pot off, hit the off button and your pot will read "off."
- Let the pressure release and then remove the lid and dump out the water.
- Start cooking one of my Instant Pot recipes.
Click on Picture to DOWNLOAD printable directions for Instant Pot water Test.
Things to Take Note of During Water Test
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- Your pressure cooker will begin to hiss as the water begins to come to pressure and boil.
- After a short amount of time of hissing, the float valve will float up pressure will be reached.
- At this time your instant pot is sealed and the time will begin to count backward.
- Once the cook time has elapsed, your Instant Pot will beep and default to a keep-warm function (your panel will read L 0:00 and count up as time passes.
- You have the choice to allow pressure to release naturally OR you can do a quick release of pressure. For more on the difference between natural pressure and quick release check out my Instant Pot 101 tips.
Is it necessary to complete an Instant Pot Water Test?
This "test" is just designed to help get you comfortable with the pressure cooker, it does not make your instant pot function better. It also will ensure your pressure cooker is working properly.
What if Test Fails?
Before you assume your pressure cooker is broken if the water test does not go as planned, it may be an issue you can resolve yourself.
- Make sure inner seal is on correctly on the lid of the instant pot.
- Make sure you the steam release valve is set pointed to the seal symbol.
If those were not your issues, contact Instant Pot Customer service who will be able to direct you accordingly.
Milton
I tried making yogurt in my instant pot duo. I poured two quarts of water in the stainless steel container and turned the unit to yogurt on boil. Once the temperature was 105 I turned the unit off. I came back in 10 minutes and turned on the yogurt feature. I have two thermometers. After an hour the temperature was 121 and 125 without the top on secure and the valve open. I can't make yogurt at this temperature. Is there a way to adjust the yogurt temperature setting? Is this a defective unit? Don't get me wrong. I love my instant pot but I was hoping to make yogurt.
thanks
Milton
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Milton! I love, love how scientific you were with your experiment. And I am completely perplexed at how the temperature was not held closer to 115 degrees. You should always incubate yogurt on normal level, not low, I have 3 IP models and now I will be testing myself--stay tuned.
Emma
How long does it take for the count-down timer to start? If I know how long I need to wait, I get a better idea as whether my instant pot has a problem or not.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Emma! The time it takes for your instant pot to come to pressure will depend on the amount of liquid and contents in your instant pot. 1 cup of water or liquid should take no more than 10 minutes to come to pressure. A soup with 8 cups may take up to 20 minutes.
Molly
So I keep seeing the general range of 5-20 minutes for coming to pressure, but my recipes consistently take over 20 minutes, and 30 for soup. The seal and everything seem to be fine. Is there anything else I might be missing??
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Molly! Some models take a bit longer to come to pressure and soups can take notorious longer. If you are filling your inner pot more than halfway full, plan on 20+ minutes. If less than halfway, it should not take longer than 20 minutes.
David Teruya
New user starting the pressure cooking adventure
Kristen Chidsey
Welcome to the world of Instant Pot cooking David. Please reach out with any questions.
Rita
Thank you so much for taking the time to post a video on the water test! It was so helpful and nicely explained. I'm brand new to Instant Pot ... just opened the box today. You explained it better than the manual!
Kristen Chidsey
Ia so glad your found this helpful 😍
Laurie Crowl
Looking for wheat, dairy, and egg free recipes.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Laurie! I understand the need for wheat, egg, and dairy free recipes--we lived that way for 4 years when my son was intolerant to all 3.
Here are all my Instant Pot Recipes and more than half of the recipes fit your needs: https://amindfullmom.com/easy-healthy-instant-pot-recipes/