SO MANY BUTTONS! How to use Insta Pot is a top Google search. If you own an Instant Pot electric pressure cooker and want to know what each button does and when to use it, my complete guide will tell you everything you need to know about using the Instant Pot buttons for every model and version!
If you’re just getting started with your Instant Pot, your first question might be “How do I know which Instant Pot buttons to use?” Here’s a detailed explanation that will help.
The most important thing to know is the buttons are just preset, suggested cook times for specific items. If you use the Poultry button, your Instant Pot will not know how much meat is in the pot or whether it’s frozen or fresh. Your Instant Pot CANNOT sense what you are actually cooking and CANNOT tell you when the food in your pot is cooked through.
So when you’re cooking chicken soup, you can use the Soup button, the Poultry button, the Meat button, or the Manual button (Pressure Cook on some models.) It really doesn’t matter which button you use, just choose the button with the closest cook time to the time in the recipe you’re using (more on that below).
Saute Setting The sauté function works like a burner on your stove, heating the inner pot from the bottom up, and allowing you to brown meats and vegetables, and to simmer sauces to reduce them. The sauté function on most cookers has several levels, from low to high, allowing you to adjust the heat.
THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT INSTANT POT BUTTONS
There are really only three buttons you need to know when you are just starting out with pressure cooking:
Manual/Pressure Cook. This button is where the magic happens—if a recipe says to cook at High Pressure, this is the button you need. Just press it, then use the [+] and [-] buttons to change the cook time. After a brief pause, the Instant Pot will beep to tell you it’s beginning the pressure cooking process. (The exact name of this button depends on your model of Instant Pot.) Some Instant Pots, such a the Duo Evo Plus have a start button that you’ll need to press to start the cooking process.
Sauté. Press the Sauté button to brown meats, sauté vegetables, and simmer ingredients in the pressure cooking pot. Adjust Sauté to less for simmer, normal to sauté and more for browning.
Keep Warm/Cancel. Use this button to cancel a function or to turn off your Instant Pot.
Honestly, that’s it! I recommend beginning with some easy, tried-and-true recipes before branching out into converting your old favorites. Since I write my recipes so they can be made in any electric pressure cooker, I rarely use the preset Instant Pot buttons.
FUNCTIONS OF EACH OF THE INSTANT POT BUTTONS
Still, there may be times you prefer to use the preset options or you might just be curious to know how they work. There is a bit of variety among each of the different models (and even between the different versions of popular models); however, all of the Instant Pot buttons cook the same.
For your convenience, I’ve created a printable Button Summary Sheet with detailed explanations of the different settings for each of the major Instant Pot models—just click the link on your model below:
Instant Pot Duo (version 3)Buttons Summary. User manual.
Instant Pot MiniButtons Summary. User manual.
Instant Pot Duo PlusButtons Summary. User manual.
Instant Pot UltraButtons Summary. User manual.
Instant Pot SmartButtons Summary. User manual.
(You can find your model on the control panel next to the Instant Pot logo in small print. For the Duo, if you’re unsure which model you have, the label on the back of the Instant Pot will tell you: Duo Version 3 will read V3 or IP-DUO60. Duo Version 2 will read V2 or IP-DUO60-ENW. Or you can always match your buttons to the pictures throughout the post, if you’re not sure!)
How to Use Your Instant Pot | A First Timer’s Guide | Well Done
FAQ
How long to simmer soup in Instant Pot?
How do you set a pot to simmer?
How do I set my Instant Pot to medium heat?
Is slow cooking the same as simmering?
How do you cook in an Instant Pot?
The instant pot generally has a lot of functions, but the one employed when starting a simmer is the saute function. The process is designed to reduce pressure build-up within the pot, making it perfect for simmering. Simply press the sauté button and adjust the temperature to low when you want to simmer.
What temperature do you simmer food in an Instant Pot?
The correct temperature range for simmering food in an Instant Pot is around 180 to 205 degrees Fahrenheit (85 to 96 degrees Celsius). We simmer foods to tenderize them and to prevent delicate foods from being damaged and broken up. Can I simmer food in an Instant Pot?
What is simmering in Instant Pot?
Simmering is where food is cooked gently until it becomes tender. It a perfect cooking technique for infusing spices and herbs into the food. Simmering is attained when the instant pot is subjected to medium-low heat. This can only be done by pressing a temperature button on the pot.
How do you spot a simmering liquid in an Instant Pot?
It is quite easy to spot simmering liquid in the pot. Here the bubbles start to form and rise to the surface of the pot. Simmering is where food is cooked gently until it becomes tender. It a perfect cooking technique for infusing spices and herbs into the food. Simmering is attained when the instant pot is subjected to medium-low heat.