Instant Pot natural release or quick release? Which should you use? Once the Instant Pot has finished pressure cooking, there are multiple ways that you can release pressure. Find out what the different types of pressure releases are, how to quick release, how to do a natural release, and when you should use each method. [Video included]
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Pressure Cooking in the Instant Pot
Before you learn about how to release pressure on the Instant Pot, it’s good to get an overview of how the Instant Pot works.
The Instant Pot works by creating and trapping steam in a closed environment, which allows pressure to build inside the inner pot. * This rise in pressure increases the boiling point of water from 212°F to 253°F, which in turn speeds up the time it takes to cook food.
While the food is cooking, the Instant Pot’s built-in sensors monitor and automatically regulate the cooker’s pressure & temperature.
Once pressure cooking is complete, the contents of the Instant Pot continue to be under pressure and the food continues to cook inside the Instant Pot until the heat has decreased enough to allow the pressure to drop.
This is great if you’re cooking large cuts of meat or soups. But if you’re cooking fish, crisp-tender vegetables, or pasta, allowing the food to continue to cook can cause overcooking. And this is why you need to release pressure.
For best results, you need to use the correct method for releasing pressure. Most recipes you follow will specify how to release the pressure.
* When the Instant Pot has built pressure, it is also referred to as being sealed or pressurized.
[Learn more about how a pressure cooker works.]
If you’re new to the Instant Pot and aren’t familiar with how to use it, here are my guides on how to use some popular Instant Pot models:
Float Valve Positions
When the Instant Pot is under pressure, the float valve is in the Up position. Once pressure has been released, the float valve drops to the Down position. At that point, it’s safe to open the lid.
The Up and Down positions look different on various models of Instant Pot. On some models the float valve is level with the Instant Pot lid when in the Up position and on some models the float valve is higher than the lid level when in the Up position.
The DUO, LUX, DUO SV, NOVA PLUS, SMART WIFI and MAX models have float valves that are level with the lid when pressurized.
[Model-specific information can change since the Instant Pot company often redesigns models and introduces new models.]
The ULTRA, DUO NOVA, VIVA, DUO EVO PLUS, and DUO CRISP models have float valves that rise above the level of the lid when pressurized.
[Model-specific information can change since the Instant Pot company often redesigns models and introduces new models.]
Instant Pot Natural Release
What is Natural Release?
Natural Release (or Natural Pressure Release) is when you allow the Instant Pot pressure to go down on its own. As the temperature inside the Instant Pot decreases, the pressure slowly decreases.
When to use Natural Release/Natural Pressure Release
Use Instant Pot natural release for the following:
- Longer-cooking foods
- The food continues cooking even after pressure cooking is complete.
- The food continues cooking even after pressure cooking is complete.
- Keeping food intact
- The pressure releases gradually and there’s less movement in the Instant Pot.
- The pressure releases gradually and there’s less movement in the Instant Pot.
- Foods with a skin (e.g. potatoes, beans)
- The natural release method allows the skin to stay intact instead of bursting since the pressure and temperature go down gradually.
- The natural release method allows the skin to stay intact instead of bursting since the pressure and temperature go down gradually.
- Meats
- Natural release is the equivalent of allowing meats to rest after they have been grilled or roasted, which allows the juices to settle into the meat.
When you do an Instant Pot quick release, the pressure drops very rapidly. This causes the meat fibers to compress, squeezing out fats and juices, and that can leave the meat tough and dry.
Doing a natural release allows the juices to settle back into the meat which makes the meat tender and flavorful.
- Natural release is the equivalent of allowing meats to rest after they have been grilled or roasted, which allows the juices to settle into the meat.
- Foamy foods
- Doing an Instant Pot quick release when cooking foamy foods like grains or pasta can cause a big mess because the foam can spurt out of the steam release valve. Doing a natural release allows the pressure and temperature to fall gradually, which reduces the mess.
Natural release is the slowest pressure release method.
[Use for meats, soups, broths, beans, grains, foamy food, food with large liquid volume or high starch content]
How to do a Natural Release
- Once pressure cooking has completed, the Instant Pot will chime and will begin counting up the minutes (if in Keep Warm mode).
- Wait for the float valve to drop on its own.
- Press Cancel and open the lid by turning it counterclockwise. You’ll hear a chime.
What is the Instant Pot Natural Release Time?
Instant Pot natural release can take 10 to 40 minutes, depending on quantity, density and type of food.
The more the quantity of food, the longer it takes to do a natural release. The denser the food, the more time it takes to release pressure too.
Keep Warm can be on or off when doing natural release. To turn off Keep Warm mode, press Cancel.
Here are some recipes that use natural release:
– Healthy Instant Pot Butter Chicken with Cashew Butter
– Instant Pot Chicken Tinga
– Instant Pot Chili with Dry Beans
Instant Pot Quick Release
What is Quick Release?
Quick Release is when you manually release the pressure using the pressure release mechanism that your Instant Pot is equipped with by moving it from Seal to Vent. Different models have different ways of releasing pressure.
Types of Pressure Release Mechanisms in Different Models
- The DUO, LUX, DUO SV, NOVA PLUS, and SMART WIFI have a handle that is turned from Sealing to Venting.
- The ULTRA, DUO NOVA, VIVA, and DUO CRISP have a button that is pushed to Vent.
- The DUO EVO PLUS has a switch that is moved from Seal to Vent.
- The MAX display panel allows you to program what pressure release to use.
[The model-specific information can change since the Instant Pot company often redesigns models and introduces new models.]
When to use Quick Release
Quick Release (QR) immediately stops the cooking process for fast-cooking foods.
Instant Pot quick release is also useful when you need to add ingredients to the inner pot partway through cooking. In this case you would do a quick release, open the lid and add the additional ingredients, close the lid and program the Instant Pot to continue pressure cooking.
This is the quickest pressure release method.
[Use for vegetables, fish, delicate or quick-cooking foods. Can also be used for meats that are completely submerged in liquid.]
How to Quick Release on the Instant Pot
- Once pressure cooking has completed, the Instant Pot will chime and will begin counting up the minutes (if in Keep Warm mode).
- Move the steam release mechanism from Seal to Vent position. Steam will begin coming out from the steam release assembly.
- Once all the steam is released, the float valve will drop down.
- Press Cancel and open the lid by turning it counterclockwise. You’ll hear a chime.
Quick release can take 2 to 5 minutes. Keep Warm can be on or off when doing quick release. To turn off Keep Warm mode, press Cancel.
Here are some recipes that use quick release:
– Healthy Instant Pot Vegetarian Moroccan Stew
– Instant Pot Jambalaya
– Instant Pot Thai Red Curry
Timed Natural Release (e.g. 10 or 15-Minute Natural Release)
What is a Timed Natural Release?
A Timed Natural Release is also referred to as 10-minute Natural Pressure Release or 15-minute Natural Pressure Release (NPR10 or NPR15). It is a hybrid between natural release and quick release.
When to use a Timed Natural Release
A timed release is useful when a recipe calls for natural pressure release, but you don’t have the time to wait. It has most of the benefits of doing a full natural release with the advantage of being quicker.
Food continues to cook during the waiting period.
[Use when natural release is called for, but time is short. Can also be used for rice, or meats that are completely submerged in liquid. ]
How to Do a Timed Natural Release
- Once pressure cooking has completed, the Instant Pot will chime and will begin counting up the minutes (if in Keep Warm mode).
- Allow 10 or 15 minutes (however much time you can afford) to pass.
- Release pressure as detailed in the quick release section.
This process can take a minute or two more than the 10 or 15 minutes. Keep Warm can be on or off when doing a timed natural release. To turn off Keep Warm mode, press Cancel.
Here are some recipes that use a timed natural release:
– Instant Pot Chinese Fried Rice
– Instant Pot Thai Peanut Noodles
– Instant Pot Cream of Chicken Soup
Quick Release in Bursts
What is Quick Release in Bursts
Quick Release in Short Bursts is a slower version of quick release.
When to do Quick Release in Bursts
Quick Release in Bursts stops the cooking process immediately. By releasing the steam in small bursts, you avoid messy froth and food from coming out of the steam release mechanism.
This method is slower than quick release but faster than a timed natural release.
[Use to quick release pasta, oatmeal and frothy or messy foods if the recipe calls for quick release]
How to Do a Quick Release in Bursts
- Once pressure cooking has completed, the Instant Pot will chime and will begin counting up the minutes (if in Keep Warm mode).
- Move the steam release mechanism to Vent for a second and move it back to Seal. Wait a couple of seconds.
- Repeat this process until the steam coming out is less forceful, at which point you can do a regular quick release and let the remaining steam come out.
- The float valve will fall into the down position.
- Press Cancel and open the lid by turning it counterclockwise. You’ll hear a chime.
Quick release in bursts can take about 5 minutes. Keep Warm can be on or off when doing quick release in bursts. To turn off Keep Warm mode, press Cancel.
Here are some recipes that use quick release in bursts:
– Instant Pot Garlic Shrimp Pasta
– Instant Pot Khow Suey Burmese Noodles
– Instant Pot Lo Mein
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Phillip
I have a niva instant pot 9 in 1 I’m doing a 1 lb flank steak the recipe calls for 50 minutes and 30 minute natural release does that mean when I start the cooking process I need to push my button down and then do a natural release at the end of cooking thanks for any help Philip
Paint the Kitchen Red
Hi Phillip, you’ll program the Pressure Cook function for 50 minutes and make sure the steam release button is UP (sealing). The float valve will go up eventually and soon after, the ON will become 00:50. When the timer counts down to 00:00, it will then count UP from 00:00 (if you have Keep Warm mode on). When the timer counts up to 00:30, push the steam release button down to release any remaining pressure. Hope that helps.
Ellie
I’ve made a pasta recipe and did a quick release and ended up with tomato everywhere and messy lid to clean
Should I have waited for longer to release the pressure to prevent this ?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Ellie, the problem with pasta is it can become overcooked and mushy if you let it cook for too long. You have a couple of options: cook for a couple minutes less and increase the steam release time by that much AND do a intermittent pressure release (release, stop, release, stop…)
Sandra
I have 2 chicken breast seasoned with sage and onion salt, celery salt, 4 peeled potatoes and 4 (cut in large chunks). 2 cups of water.
Question is, do I use pressure value up or down? Im confused as to when I should leave value up or down? Am I correct to say I need the leave the pressure valve up to cook the meat thoroughly?
?
Paint the Kitchen Red
Sandra, if you’re referring to the steam release button being up or down, it needs to be up i.e. in sealing position.