Whether you’re brand new to the Instant Pot or have been using it for a while, you may have questions about how to use it. In this comprehensive Instant Pot FAQ guide, I’ll address the most common questions and concerns.
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➡ Are you getting an error code like C7 or PrSe? Head over to my post about Instant Pot error codes and how to solve them!
The Instant Pot is a programmable pressure cooker that allows you to cook foods faster than traditional cooking methods. In addition to pressure cooking, Instant Pots can be used for sautéing, slow cooking, steaming, and more.
The Instant Pot is truly a marvel with its versatile functionality. But this also makes it somewhat complex and confusing for new owners.
I’ve been using an Instant Pot for almost ten years, and I’ve encountered pretty much any problem you can think of!
That’s why so many Instant Pot owners turn to me for help. I hope this list of FAQs and tips will help you make the most of your new appliance.
1. My Instant Pot just says On. What is the meaning of On?
If your Instant Pot says On but no time is showing on the display, that’s normal.
Once you program the Instant Pot to begin pressure cooking, the display panel will say On. It will remain On until the Instant Pot is pressurized.
Once the float valve comes up, the Instant Pot display may take a few minutes to change from On to counting down the pressure cooking time.
For example, to pressure cook for 10 minutes, select Pressure Cook and set the pressure cooking time to 00:10 (Press Start on some models.) The Instant Pot will say On, and once the float valve comes up, it will eventually begin counting down from 00:10 to 00:00.
2. Why is my Instant Pot clicking?
The Instant Pot making a clicking noise is pretty normal.
- The clicking sounds can happen when the Instant Pot is internally regulating power through power switching. This is perfectly normal, and you don’t need to worry.
- The inner pot (liner) may be wet on the outside. This can cause the Instant Pot to make a popping sound. There isn’t anything to worry about. Avoid this issue by ensuring the Instant Pot liner is dry before putting it in the Instant Pot base unit.
- Expansion and contraction of the lid and the base unit can cause a popping noise.
Instant Pot Resources
- How to Use Pot in Pot Instant Pot Cooking Method
- Instant Pot Troubleshooting – Common Problems and How to Fix Them
- How To Natural Release Instant Pot vs Quick Release
- What is a Trivet for the Instant Pot?
- Instant Pot Symbols | Display Panel Icons
- Reasons For Your Instant Pot Not Sealing
- How to Use Instant Pot Delay Start
- Instant Pot Cooking Times – A Complete Guide
- How to Use the Instant Pot Sous Vide Smart Program
- What to do When the Instant Pot Says Burn
- How to Deglaze Your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker
- Instant Pot Directions
3. Why is my Instant Pot hissing? Is it normal for it to hiss?
It is pretty normal for the Instant Pot to make a hissing noise when coming to pressure. You may see some steam coming out of the steam release mechanism or the float valve in addition to the hissing sound.
This happens because the temperature is rising within the pot.
Once enough pressure has built up in the pot, the float valve will rise, and this hissing should stop. You might continue to see a few tiny wisps of steam escaping from the float valve.
The more liquid you have or the colder the ingredients in the Instant Pot (e.g. frozen meat), the longer it takes to come to pressure.
If you find steam leaking from the sides of the lid (where the sealing ring sits), the sealing ring has probably been installed incorrectly.
If the Instant Pot won’t stop hissing, you can troubleshoot the problem by reading the following posts:
– Instant Pot Not Sealing
– Instant Pot Burn Message
If you still can’t solve the problem, it’s possible you have a defective unit, and you might need to contact the Instant Pot company.
4. Is the Instant Pot timer minutes or hours?
The Instant Pot time display is hours and minutes (HH:MM). So if you see 05:00, that means it’s 5 hours, not 5 minutes.
5. How do I set the Instant Pot Timer?
The Instant Pot has three different timers:
Cooking Timer
- Counts down the pressure cooking time.
- After the Instant Pot has pressurized, the display goes from On to the programmed cook time (e.g. 10 minutes or 00:10).
- The timer then counts down from the programmed cook time (e.g. 00:10) to 00:00.
- Once the countdown is complete, the Instant Pot goes into Keep Warm mode if the Keep Warm function is on.
Keep Warm Timer
- Shows the amount of time the contents of the Instant Pot are being kept warm.
- The keep warm timer only comes on if the Keep Warm function has been turned on.
- After the cooking timer reaches 00:00, the keep warm timer counts up from 00:00 until you press Cancel.
- Keep Warm function can be used to keep food warm even if you’re not pressure cooking.
Delay start timer
- Allows cooking to begin at a future time. Shows the number of hours and minutes until cooking begins.
- Begins counting down once the delay start functionality has been enabled.
- Enabling Delay Start function is different for each model. For most models, you select the cooking program, time and pressure level and then select Delay Start and enter the amount of time you want to delay the start of cooking. Finally, you press Start.
- Note: some older models have a Timer button which is the same as Delay Start.
[Read more: How to use the Instant Pot Delay Start]
6. Why is the Instant Pot Counting Up?
If your Instant Pot is counting up, it’s because pressure cooking is complete and you have turned on Keep Warm mode. The time shown on the display is how long it’s been since cooking was completed.
So how do you steam in an Instant Pot without the Steam button? If you don’t have a Steam button, you can follow the above instructions but use the Pressure Cook button instead. It might take a tiny bit longer to heat up, but it will work the same way.
7. Can I adjust Instant Pot timer while cooking?
If you’ve programmed the Instant Pot and cooking has begun, you can adjust the cooking time by pressing the function and navigating to the cooking time. Press Start after you’ve changed the time.
8. Why is my Instant Pot counting up?
The Instant Pot counts up once pressure cooking is complete, and it’s in Keep Warm mode.
9. How long does it take Instant Pot to pressurize?
The quantity and temperature of the food and liquid will determine how long the Instant Pot takes to preheat. This can be anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.
If you’re cooking soup and have added cold water to the Instant Pot, or if you’re using frozen meat or vegetables, it can take 20 to 30 minutes for the liquid to heat up.
You can reduce the time it takes for the Instant Pot to pressurize by adding warm liquid and thawed ingredients.
After pressure cooking is complete, if the recipe calls for natural pressure release (NPR), that can also take from 5 to 30 minutes, depending on the quantity of liquid in the Instant Pot.
10. If I want to double a recipe, do I need to double the pressure cooking time?
Doubling a recipe doesn’t require changing the cooking time. Cooking times are more dependent on the density and thickness of the ingredients rather than the weight.
So, if you’re cooking 8 chicken thighs instead of the 4 thighs that a recipe calls for, you won’t need to change the cooking time in the recipe (so long as you’re not overcrowding the pot and the liquid has room to circulate).
Keep in mind that even though you are not increasing the cooking time, the Instant Pot will take longer to build pressure due to the increased quantity of ingredients.
On the other hand, if the recipe calls for 2-inch thick pieces of meat and you’re cooking 3-inch thick pieces, or if you’ve cut the vegetables into larger pieces than a recipe recommends, you might have to increase the cooking time.
11. Can I use the Instant Pot as slow cooker?
If you’re using the Slow Cooker setting, be aware that Less (or Low on some models) setting is too low to slow cook anything; it’s more like the Warm setting on a slow cooker.
| Slow Cooker/Crock Pot | Instant Pot |
|---|---|
| Warm | Less (or Low on some models) |
| Low | Normal (or Medium) |
| High | More (or High) |
12. Will my Instant Pot automatically turn off?
If the Keep Warm function is off, the Instant Pot will turn off automatically after the pressure cooking timer has counted down. If the Keep Warm is on, it will turn off once the Keep Warm timer has finished.
13. How can I switch between High and Low pressure?
Not all Instant Pots have the Low setting. The Instant Pot Lux model only has a High-pressure setting. For most other models, use either the Pressure or Pressure Level button to switch between Low and High pressure.
For the Instant Pot Ultra model or the Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus, you’ll use the knob to change the Pressure setting.
14. The sealing ring always smells like whatever I cooked last. How do I remove the smell from the sealing ring?
The sealing ring is made of silicone. Silicone retains odors, and these odors are hard to remove. I solve this problem by having two sealing rings: one for savory dishes and one for mild dishes and desserts.
I also store my lid upside down on the Instant Pot which allows the sealing ring to air out. That being said, I rarely find that the lingering odors in the sealing ring transfer to what I’m cooking.
Some people have different colored sealing rings so they can keep them straight.
Here are some ways to reduce odors in the sealing ring:
- Wash the lid and sealing ring in the top rack of the dishwasher.
- Put the sealing ring out in full sun for a few hours.
- Pressure cook water and lemon juice or vinegar for a few minutes and let the pressure release naturally.
- Soak the sealing ring in hot water dissolved with a denture cleaner tablet.
15. Instant Pot Steam function
Some Instant Pots have a Steam smart program/function or button. The Steam function is very similar to the Pressure Cook function, except that it heats up the liquid at full force and therefore it’s faster. The assumption is that you would be using the Steam function with water, and therefore there’s no chance of burning anything. To use the Steam function:
- Add about 2 to 3 cups of water to the inner pot.
- Place a trivet or steam rack in the water. The trivet should sit above the water level.
- Place the food to be steamed directly on the rack or in an oven-safe dish that can be placed on the rack without it touching the sides of the inner pot. The dish should also be short enough that the Instant Pot lid can be put on such that the dish and food don’t touch the lid.
- Select Steam and program for the appropriate number of minutes. Quick-cooking vegetables take 0 to 1 minute, whole potatoes can take 10 to 20 minutes depending on their size.
The above directions are for pressure-steaming. The Instant Pot comes to pressure and steams the food very quickly. To steam in the traditional way, put the steam release handle/valve in the Venting position. I use this method to steam idlis (South Indian rice cakes).
So how do you steam in an Instant Pot without the Steam button? If you don’t have a Steam button, you can follow the above instrutions but use the Pressure Cook button instead. It might take a tiny bit longer to heat up but it will work the same way.
16. How to Turn on Instant Pot?
There are two ways to turn on the Instant Pot, depending on the model:
- If your Instant Pot has a Start button, program the Instant Pot by setting the pressure cooking time and pressure level and press Start. The display panel will change to On, and that means the Instant Pot has started the cooking process.
- If your Instant Pot does not have a Start button, program the Instant Pot and just wait about 5 seconds. The display panel will change to On, and that means the Instant Pot has started the cooking process.
I hope these Instant Pot tips and FAQs have answered some of the questions you may have about the Instant Pot and made you feel more comfortable with it. If you have further questions, feel free to comment below, or contact me through my Contact Page, or through social media.
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Tracey says
First time instapot owner here. I’m trying to make a recipe that calls for pushing the soup button, but my instant pot doesn’t have a soup button. Is there still a way to make this recipe or am I just SOL?
Thank you!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Hi Tracey, the Soup button defaults to 30 minutes, so you can use the pressure cook button and program it for 30 minutes and get the same results.
S. Tano says
I just purchased an 8 qt IP and I love it. My question is can I use a smaller liner in it from my 4 qt pressure cooker or even a new IP replacement pot. There are many times 8 qts is much too big for what I’m making. Other times I’d like to switch out a smaller pot to make the vegetables when the roast has finished.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thanks for your question – you can use a smaller pot as long as you’re doing the Pot in Pot cooking method, where you put a container in the inner pot that comes with your IP. See my post on Pot in Pot cooking to find out more.
Amy says
Hi,
Thanks for the great tips!
I noticed that if I have just cooked something in the instant pot, and while it is still warm I put something else in to cook, the pot comes up to pressure much more quickly. If I use the usual cooking time, the food cooked in the “preheated” IP comes out undercooked. My guess is that cooking actually begins while the pot is coming up to steam, and since the pot takes far less time to come to steam when it is already warm, the food will not cook as much as it would in a cold pot. Do you have any suggestions for how much to increase the cooking time so that the food is cooked properly? Many thanks!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Amy, I frequently cook foods back to back and haven’t really encountered this problem. Is it an issue with only some foods, maybe? If you find this to be a consistent problem, I would add a couple of minutes to the cook time and see if that works.
Michelle says
I just got an instant pot for Christmas and have to admit just doing the initial water cook had me scared! But then I found your blog and love it. It’s so helpful! Thanks for the great tips and delicious-sounding recipes.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you, Michelle! I’m so glad you found me too <3
Elizabeth says
I really hope you see this, but I just got my IP and did the water test about 10 minutes ago…it says to let it release steam the regular way and then do a quick release, I did that, now my question is, after that steam is released, whether it was the natural or quick way, is the food done? I had the keep warm button on so it never said END or anything it just did the count-up letting me know how long it was on Keep Warm. I hope that isn’t confusing…I am just wondering after doing a quick release, is the food done? Thank you for your help!
Suzanne says
Question: How long do I need to wait between each usage? For example I just cooked whole potatoes. After NPR, when can I begin a new round of cooking in the pot? I have a new 6qt. Duo Evo Plus.
Thank you for wonderful clear tips and links!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Suzanne, you normally don’t need to wait between uses. There are times when I open the Instant Pot and I need to close it back up to cook some more, and I can do it right away.
Linda Eddy says
I am cooking beans in my insta pot today and
C 7 showed up in the time window.
What does that mean?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Linda, please read my post on Instant Pot common problems. Item #8 lists the error codes. Also do a water test to make sure that it’s not a problem with the Instant Pot’s inner workings.
Gaby says
Hello! I always only set the valve to the venting position because I’m afraid my end result will be too watery?? I mostly use it for meats and I like my heavy on the thicker side. I know it takes a few extra minutes for the pressure to build but I love the end result. If I seal and then vent, would the end result be the same? I have the IP-DUO .
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Gaby, by setting the steam release to ‘venting’ you’re using your Instant Pot as a steamer and not a pressure cooker. I’m not sure how you’re getting pressure to build with it in ‘venting’ position? I would definitely try using the pressure cooking feature. But make sure you use a recipe written for the Instant Pot. Let me know how it goes 🙂
Rosemary says
My 6qt instant pot does not have venting and sealing words on the top.
I can’t get my new instant pot to seal. I keep getting food burn prompts. I’ve read all the info on this subject
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Rosemary, I would need to know what model of Instant Pot you have in order to help you out.
Andrea says
Help! My first few times using my IP Duo 6qt weny well. I made a roast, a whole chicken and meat loaf. They all turned out great. But now nothing will cook all the way through. Last night I had a 6.5lb whole. Chicken, I seared on the stove, added 1 1/2 cups of water with chicken bouillon. I set my IP for 35 minutes on high pressure. It pressured up, started to count down and then I did natural release for 10 minutes. When I went to manual release there was so pressure left. I opened it and at the thickest parts it was only 150ish and still running red juicy near joints.
I had a similar problem with meatloaf I used 1cup of water, set for 25minutes on high pressure… It ran. I opted for manual release. After the cooking process was done and it started the keep warm and natural release I moved the steave valve to release the steam and there was almost nothing. It took less than 10 seconds to be done (the first time it was a minute or more of high pressure steam, when cooking a meatloaf) when I opened the lid the meatloaf was only half cooked, completely raw groundbeef just below the surface. What did I do?? How do I fix this? I have taken off the sealing ring, washed it let it dry and carefully replaced it. I have washed the float valve.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Andrea, I’m assuming your float valve is up? Sorry, but I had to ask. From what you’re describing it appears your Instant Pot isn’t maintaining pressure. And the only reason for that would be it’s leaking steam, maybe? Do you hear a hissing, or see steam coming out of any of the valves, or sides? I’m sorry you’re having trouble – it must be so frustrating. Do you know anyone with the same model? You can try and borrow their lid and see if you still have the issue.
You can also try and open a support ticket: https://www.InstantPot.com/support/ Email: [email protected] Call: 1.800.828.7280 x2
Lara Harris says
I have a Duo Plus 6. The Pressure Level settings are “High & Low”. The Pressure Cook settings are ‘Less, Normal, More’. Most recipes I’ve come across say to use “High” Pressure. When I press Pressure Cook it seems to default to High/Normal so I just leave it (?); however, I’m curious (confused mostly) as to what is the purpose of the Pressure Cook settings (Less, Normal, More). When would I want to use any one of the various setting combinations; for example: High Pressure Level with Less Pressure Cook; or Low Pressure Level with More Pressure Cook?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Lara, you’re not alone – it IS confusing. The pressure levels are, as you said, high or low. The ‘Less normal more’ setting (let’s abbreviate to LNM) has nothing to do with pressure level. It is used differently for each function (meat, soup, egg, etc). For most functions, when you toggle through LNM by pressing the function button repeatedly, you toggle through preset pressure cooking times e.g. less may be 10 minutes, normal 20 minutes and so on. For multigrain, the “More” setting does a pre-soak (I believe for 60 minutes) before pressure cooking as usual. I find it’s easier to + or – to adjust the cooking time than to use the presets. I hope that’s clear 🙂
Kelly says
Hello! Thank you for helping me at least feel more informed lol. Would you happen to know if I can use my instant pot back to back for meal prep or large batches? Or perhaps it needs to cool in between? I haven’t tried but I can’t seem to find an answer through google. Thanks in advance!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Kelly, yes you can. Some people have had issues with the ‘burn’ message but it’s not that common and could have been with some units that ran hotter than others. If you want to, you can also stick the sealing ring in the freezer for a minute or two and in case it’s stretched out. But I would try it normally. You should be fine.
Anni says
I’m new to instapotting and still quite apprehensive. I really appreciate reading all the questions and your very helpful replies.
Am right now 20 min into a deliciously smelling Chuck Pot Roast. I think I got it 🤗.
😋
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Congratulations! Hope there are many more recipes to come 🙂
Matt says
Our Instant Pot timer works backwards. It displays how much time it has cooked, not how much time it has left. Can this be changed?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Matt, I’ve never heard of that happening. So you’re saying that if you set it to pressure cook for 10 minutes it goes from 00:00 to 00:10? Is it sealed properly? Are you doing a delay start? I would say contact the IP company or return it – very strange! Good luck.
Sherry Robertson says
I have cooked three things and none have been cooked. Eggs, potato, sweet potato, what am I doing wrong? Used suggested times.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
What model and size of Instant Pot are you using and what timings did you use for e.g. eggs? How undercooked were the foods. It’s kind of hard to diagnose without more details. Is the Instant Pot sealed i.e the float valve is up?
Carolyn says
I have cooked I pressure cookers for years. Never once had an accident. This Instapot is more intimidating than my trusty pressure cooker. I think it’s great for those who are just starting out but I will stick with my tried and true!
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Carolyn, you should give it a try. I was like you, with extensive stovetop pressure cooking experience. I LOVE the ability to leave it to pressure cook and do other stuff, including leaving the house!
Robert Graham says
I have pressure cooked a meal and removed the lid. My problem is that now I want to put the lid back on and It will not go back on. How do I get it to go back on??
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Robert, you’ll need to move the steam release to ‘Vent’ and close the lid. Then move it to ‘Seal’.
Patti says
When you NPR, do you cancel the pressure cooking or leave it on?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Patti, I usually leave it on if I want the dish to stay warm, but you can cancel too. Works both ways.
Nancy says
I want to make an flourless chocolate cake in the instant pot. The recipe is for the oven. How do I convert the time cooked and the temperature?
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Nancy, cakes are very tricky to adapt. Boxed cake mixes do okay but regular cakes come out much denser. I’ve been on a quest to find a cake that works well in the Instant Pot, but have come up short 🙂 I’ve tried an almond flour cake and it was too dense. So long answer short is that it’s trial and error, no formula. Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Lee says
I can’t get the lid off! My iPod has cooled down for an hour, but can’t get lid off
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Lee, is the float valve still up? Try gently pushing down on it with a chopstick. If it’s still not opening, check to see if the pin on the side of the lid is sticking out, and gently try to push it in. Hope that helps.