Whole30 and the Instant Pot

We can’t help but think the Instant Pot was created just for the Whole30, and we’re willing to bet that once you use it, it’ll change your life, too. The Instant Pot is perfect for Whole30 meals that are rich in flavor, tender, and cook fast. From hearty stews and juicy roasts to quickly steamed veggies, hard boiled eggs, and bone broth, you will love preparing delicious Whole30 meals in your Instant Pot, even if you aren’t short on time!

Instant Pot Tips

• The Instant Pot is safe to use for home cooks at all levels of experience; simply follow the recipe and wait to open the lid until the recipe suggests.
• Check your recipe to determine whether you set the venting knob to sealed or not.
• The cook time to which you set your Instant Pot is not the actual time it will take to cook. Your Instant Pot will need 10 to 15 minutes to heat up and build pressure. Once your timer reaches “0,” recipes requiring steam to release naturally will need another 15 to 30 minutes to finish cooking.
• Always have at least ½ cup of liquid in the insert at all times, but do not fill with ingredients and liquid more than two-thirds full.
• Use cooking liquids such as bone broth, stocks, and coconut milk.
• Smaller cuts of meat will cook faster than larger cuts and whole roasts. If you are short on time, cube your meat in bite-size pieces to speed up cooking time!
• A splash of fresh citrus juice or apple cider vinegar will go a long way to tenderize your meats even more.
• When using quick release, allow 1 to 2 minutes for all of the steam to vent.
• You can easily steam veggies in your Instant Pot. Simply refer to the timing chart in your Instant Pot manual.
• You can also sauté foods in your Instant Pot. This is perfect for browning a cut of meat before setting it to pressure cook, as it will save an extra pan when it comes time to clean up.
• You can create delicious sauces with the liquid leftover in your insert after cooking by removing all the cooked pieces of food, transferring the liquid to a saucepan, and simmering over medium heat for about 10 minutes.
• As with slow cooking, salt your dishes to taste after they are finished cooking.
• Your Instant Pot will keep foods warm (and safe to eat) for 10 hours.
• You can remove the plastic sealer on your Instant Pot lid to clean it. A crumpled piece of aluminum foil can be used to clean the insert.