I bought my Instant Pot in the summer of 2016 and it quickly became one of my favorite appliances. It had the power to turn out flawless batches of beans, braises, stocks, and batches of rice and didn’t need to be tended the way that a stove top pressure cooker did.
However, I often found myself wishing that the IP had come with a really great manual that would unlock more of its secrets. Sadly, as any IP user knows, its accompanying instruction booklet leaves a great deal to be desired.
Happily, Daniel Shumski, author of Will It Waffle and Will It Skillet, has leaped into the void that the IP manufacturers left and has written a book that I believe will become the defacto user’s guide to this valuable little appliance. It’s called How to Instant Pot and has already vastly expanded my Instant Pot horizons.
The book opens with a chapter designed to demystify the machine itself. You’ll discover what all the buttons do (I’ll confess that up until the moment I opened this book, I had only ever ventured to used the yogurt, manual, and cancel buttons), how to set it up, the best ways to clean the devise, and even how to convert your favorite recipes to use the IP.
From there, the book is broken down by device functions. Instant Pots are designed to pressure cook, slow cook, make rice, make yogurt, and steam. Dan addresses each one of those functions, teaches you how to use that setting, and then serves up a bevy of tasty recipes that utilize that IP feature. (He even makes blueberry jam in the IP, using the slow cook setting. I will definitely be trying that.)
From the Fragrant Lamb and Chickpea Stew (page 47) to the Parmesan Bread Pudding with Bacon and Broccoli (page 190), there is so much in this book that I want to try. It has opened up a world of IP possibilities and I can’t wait to dig in.
Thanks to Dan and Workman Publishing, I have a copy of this handy book to give away this week. Use the widget below to enter!
Disclosure: Workman Publishing provided the copy you see pictured here and the copy I’m giving away, both at no cost to me. No additional compensation was provided. All thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I got mine on a past Prime Day but sadly have not used it after the first flurry of excitement. Is love to win this book but will consider buying it if I dont!
I got on during the Black Friday sale last year. We use it a lot for cooking beans, stews, Chili’s, and braising meat.
I own TWO because I love being able to make hands-off perfect rice alongside my main meal!
The Instant Pot is my Black Friday Shopping Goal this year. 🙂
Instant Pots seem so amazing for quick weekday dinners. I need one!
My sister bought me one. I don’t use it as often as I should, but I do consistently take it along to my brother’s beach cabin. So nice to set and forget, then come back in from the cold with a warm meal waiting!
I am not an Instant Pot user yet but am interested in one.
This is awesome. I use my Instant Pot all the time and I feel like I’m only getting a fraction of its versatility.
I just bought one and would love to have a book to help learn about how to use it
I’ll use it for braises and rice. Have friends that have used it and they say it amazing. Good food in a short period of time is my kind of cooking. Thanks!
I love mine! So easy to make a big pot of beans in a fraction of the time.
I use the Instant Pot for quick chicken, pork, London Broil. Have used it with potatoes and veggies for soups, rice. Mostly trial and error with good results. I love it but would like to have a good cookbook to go with it. Thank you! J.
I love making the easy pork (or chicken) chile verde recipe from Serious Eats. Literally all you do is chop up peppers tomatillos and meat and then out comes a great stew.
I’ve not used one yet but have one in the box still :/ I may have to experiment a bit!
Just got my instantpot for my birthday and LOVE IT!!!
I’ve never used an instant pot but my husband is a pro at using a pressure cooker.
Before I got my Instant Pot, I made rice maybe once a month at the most. Twice, if I was making soup. I finally started making beans in my dutch oven over the last year, but only on weekend and only if I had enough time (making overnight beans resulted in them being too mushy for my tastes).
With the Instant Pot? I make beans and/or rice almost weekly. This past weekend, I made mjedra (lentils and rice) plus lentils with sausage and preserved mandarins for workweek lunches, canellini beans & ham soup, rice balls with spicy mayo and tuna inside, and fried rice with planned/leftover rice.
I love my pressure cooker and microwaves are handy. I bought a slow cooker and need to use it more. I don’t think I’d buy an IP. However, my son who is living in a basement apartment without a real kitchen would find an IP handy. It also would be helpful for college students without a kitchen.
I don’t have an instant pot, but I’ve been thinking about getting one for a while now.
Had this item on my list to check out for about a year. I am fascinated by the claims of all it is suppose to do!
I’m surprised by how much I like this appliance.
I have heard so much about the IP and all the things you can do quickly. I am gone most of the day so even a slow cooker is not useful except on weekends. I think an IP would be useful – and I’m very intrigued about the yogurt! Thank you for the opportunity!
I am not an IP user… yet. It seems to replace many appliances we currently use, & seems like a good way to consolidate our kitchen clutter into one unit. Plus everyone seems so pleased with it. Thanks for the giveaway!
A few people I know have Instant Pots, but all I hear about is the yogurt making function. I would like a newer version of a slow cooker, so maybe this will fit into our household in the future.
Everyone I know who has an Instapot loves it. I’d like to try using one!
I like making yogurt.
To win the cookbook would be one more reason to get an Instapot.
I use it to make some great vegetarian chili.
Sorry, but I don’t own an Instant Pot but it is on my Christmas wish list.
Looks like a Wonderful book and sure would be handy to have if and when I get my IP
Thank you for this wonderful giveaway opportunity
Yes, I love to make soups and roasts.
I have one and make chicken and pork chops in mine would love other recipes
I have had one for a couple months, but have not used it as much as I would like. Have used it for dinners and to cook collards and other greens
Want to try rice and yogurt next!
Your giveaways are too much work. Who can remember all those passwords? Keep the book.
I have one, but haven’t tried it yet. I’m just not sure on how to use it and all. This book would probably help alot. My brother does chicken wings in his. It would be fun to try.
I’m still figuring out how to cook lamb but the best thing I’ve made in the Instant Pot was actually a lamb and corn stew. So great to get the meat really tender that quickly!
A cookbook that definitely fulfills a need!
We have an Instapot! I love to make Nom Nom Paleo’s Mexican Beef. It’s quick and easy. Oh, and hard boiled eggs are a snap!
What do I make in my Instant Pot? Bne Broth, yogurt and chili are my top 3 .
Maybe its time for me to expand my horizons.
I use my IP almost every day, love the pressure cooker for fast and tender meat, easy homemade yogurt, bone broth….
I’m intrigued by the Instapot! I don’t have one yet, but am trying to figure out if its a good fit for me!
I am just now starting to use a pressure cooker and I’m struggling a bit – there is a learning curve, isn’t there? So I’m looking for a good cookbook to help with that. Thanks for the review – it was quite helpful.
Planning on getting an Instant Pot with the black friday sales, so this would be perfect.
I make beans/rice a lot. I heartily regret not getting the model that does yogurt…
I am not one but would like to try it! Thanks.
We have an instant pot but I struggle with recipes. This would be a great addition to our cookbooks so thast we get more use out of the instant pot
I’ve been wanting one, keep hearing about them, and right now feel like the girl who didn’t get picked for the dodgeball team because I don’t have one! This book will inspire me, and just in time to receive an instapot for Christmas!
I don’t have an IP and honestly I’m on the fence about it. I love my vintage enameled pots, cast iron Dutch ovens and my Japanese clay pot rice cooker but not so sold on an electric machine. I need to see and hear more about it.
Santa shared that I’ll be getting one as an early Christmas gift. Santa likely has it, and can’t keep a secret long enough to surprise me. Looking for recipes, hoping to make soups and curries, yogurt as well.
I need this book in my life! That, or it would make a great gift for my MIL…
Sorry to say I don’t have an IP. Maybe looking through this cook book will inspire me to make room for one more.