13 Things You Didn't Know You Could Make in Your Instant Pot

This is for all you Instant Pot obsessed people out there.

Check out these 13 things you probably didn’t know your Instant Pot could make:

 

1. Natural cough syrup

Put water, thyme and chopped ginger into your Instant Pot on the saute function. Simmer until the water is reduced by half.

Strain the mixture, then return the liquid to the pot. Whisk in honey, lemon juice and cayenne pepper.

Store it in a jar in your refrigerator, and take it by the tablespoon to soothe a sore throat or cough.

Find the full recipe here.

 

2. Potpourri

You can add whatever you like to your Instant Pot for potpourri.

Some basics you might already have in your pantry include: coffee, tea, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, vanilla extract, sage, rosemary, peppermint extract or even pine cones from your yard.

Include fruits like limes, lemons, apples, oranges and cranberries as well as any essential oils of your choice.

 

3. Strawberry jam

You’ll need fresh strawberries, the juice of one orange and sugar. Wash the strawberries and slice them in half. Put the berries in the Instant Pot, then pour in the sugar and juice.

Cook on “Manual” for 4 minutes. When your Instant Pot beeps, turn it off and use the natural pressure release.

From there, pour the mixture into a blender then fill up your jam jars.

Find the full recipe here.

 

4. Vanilla extract

You’ll need vanilla beans, vodka, water, glass jars with lids, and tongs.

Split the vanilla beans with a knife, then divide them to jars evenly — adding 2 cups of vodka in each jar. Seal the jars and set them in the Instant Pot. Add water to the pot and cook on “High” pressure or “Manual” for an hour. Let the Instant Pot natural release (this should take about an hour).

Remove the jars from the Instant Pot and cool completely. Afterward, you can use the extract immediately.

Find the recipe here.

 

 

5. Greek Yogurt

You need two ingredients plus a digital thermometer, a strainer, a whisk and a lot of patience to make homemade yogurt. The prep time takes only 30 minutes but the full cook time takes between 5-10 hours. Combine with honey or jam to add flavor, or just keep it plain!

Find the full recipe here.

 

6. Hard lotion bars

Grab cacao butter, beeswax, extra virgin olive oil, vitamin E oil and essential oil. Grate the cacao butter and the beeswax. Then use the “Keep Warm” feature on the Instant Pot before adding the cacao butter, beeswax and olive oil to the pot.

Once the mixture has melted, move the mixture to a glass cup and whisk in the vitamin E oil and essential oil. Pour it into a mold or muffin tin and let harden.

Find the recipe here.

 

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7. Hard-boiled eggs

Is it just me or is it really hard to perfect the hard-boiled egg? Luckily, I’ve found the easiest way to make them using your Instant Pot.

Grab as many eggs as you want to make and one cup of water. Pour the water into your Instant Pot, place the eggs in a steamer basket (or use the rack), close the lid, and set for five minutes on “High.”

It’ll take about 15 minutes total to cook the eggs — about five minutes to build pressure, five minutes to cook and another five minutes to release pressure. As soon as you take the eggs out, place them in cool water.

 

8. Popcorn

Press the “Saute” button on your Instant Pot and adjust to the “More” setting. Once the Instant Pot says “Hot,” add oil and wait until it’s sizzling. Add popcorn kernels and cover with a lid.

Let the kernels pop about two thirds of the way and turn off the Instant Pot so the remaining kernels may pop but not burn.

 

9. Creme brulée

This recipe is not for the faint of heart. If you’re willing to make creme brulee in your Instant Pot, you can find the full recipe here.

 

 

10. Dog food

There are so many delicious-looking recipes for making dog food in your Instant Pot. Most recipes include chicken, sweet potato and other veggies.

Find five dog food recipes from Rover here.

 

11. Limoncello

Grab canning jars, lemon peels, vodka, water and sugar. Put the lemon peels into each canning jar before filling them with vodka. Put the lids on, and set each jar in your Instant Pot. Add a cup of water to the pot.

Set to “Manual” for 30 minutes and then do a “Natural Release.” Take the jars out and cool overnight.

On day two, make simple syrup by boiling sugar and water in a saucepan. Once that’s cooled, strain the lemon peels out of the vodka and mix with the simple syrup.

Find the recipe here.

 

12. Crayons

To make your own crayons, you’ll need small plastic cups, old broken crayons, a silicone mold, parchment paper, popsicle sticks and an Instant Pot (of course).

First, separate the colors or shades of colors into separate cups and take off all the wrappers. Then place a cup of water in the Instant Pot and set the cups in a steam basket.

Push the “Steam” button for 2 minutes and release the pressure naturally. Remove the lid and use the “Keep Warm” function until you’ve poured all the colors into molds.

Let harden and use!

Find the recipe here.

 

13. Corn on the cob

Put two cups of water in your Instant Pot and add a steamer basket with the corn inside. Select “High” pressure and set for 2-3 minutes cook time (depending on how you like your corn cooked).

When the 2-3 minutes is up, turn off the Instant Pot and use the “Quick Release” function.

 

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