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.
Hard Boiled (Steamed) Eggs are great!
I love 3″ eggs out of the InstanPot… perfect every time.
One pot meals are great in the Instant Pot
Sounds great! I know two people who have the IP and they are confused!!!
I don’t have one yet, but I’m so tempted to try it out!
Oops. Wrong email above 🙂
Not exactly yet – I do have a 4 qt electric pressure cooker that’s not IP brand and I do use that occasionally, but have my eye on getting the actual IP (just for ease of functions and I want the stainless steel interior). I love making bone-in chicken legs/thighs in my EPC in 12 minutes!
Minutes!
Yogurt, of course, But I love how beets are now an everyday vegetable, both warm and as a salad ingredient. And how easy ‘roasted’ garlic and marmalade have become.
Love your other books-cant wait to see what wonderful things you’re making in that ipot❣️
I’m in the market to replace my old rice cooker and was thinking about getting an instant pot. This might tip me in its favor.
Love it, and couldn’t live without it. I make bone broth for my veggie soup all the time!
….. I dont have an Instant pot ..(YET!) but the more I hear about it the more I would love one. Christmas is coming… and I do hope someone is listening!! I can’t wait to try it out.
Hoping to have an IP soon….!!!
My friend loves her Instant Pop. Uses it a few times a week at least.
I adore my Instant Pot. It’s my new favorite toy, I would love to learn more things to make in it.
My favorite is refried beans made in an hour from dried beans. It’s amazing on a quick Mexican dinner night.
I just bought one too! excited to see the recipe book!
I don’t have one but have heard so much positive comments that I now want one. Hope I win or maybe get one for Christmas.
I make vanilla in my instant pot.
haven’t got an instant pot YET want to see the recipes in this book
I was skeptical at first, but I took advantage of a great sale on Amazon, and am now a convert! I love my instant pot. Right now my favorite recipe is a simple pork roast/pulled pork that becomes tins of different meals for the week.
Steel cut oats are a dream!!
Will it Waffle was a great title. I made one thing, chicken stock. That has to be my favorite recipe.
I make whole milk yogurt in my Instant Pot every week!
SOUP
Chicken Stock, hard boiled eggs, and Nom Nom Paleo’s Mexican Beef are in my Instant Pot every week.
I love to make hard boiled eggs, bone broth, rice, and pot roast in my IP and I really love the sauté feature.
I love using my Instant Pot, and my family agrees that stews, beans, braised cuts of pork or beef, and hot multi grain oatmeal is no fuss and all yum!
That is so true! I have it and love it, but I could really use some help with it!
I have never used an instant pot before, it sounds amazing!
Ready to give up some precious kitchen storage space for this one!!!!
I need to get inspired to use my instant pot more. The podcast this week was great for getting me on my way, this book will help even more!
I love my instant pot. I used to use my slow cooker but now rarely use it.
Believe it or not, my daughter joined weight watchers online and they have instant pot recipes. This would probably be a great help for her and the rest of us.
I don’t have one but have considered getting one. They look amazing!
I have another brand of electric pressure cooker. I like it for a lot of dishes, but it makes risotto so easy!
I’ve been on the fence about getting an Instant Pot for a while. This book might just convince me!
I love making bone broth in my InstantPot! Yogurt is so easy, as well, and pot roasts turn out beautifully every time.
Winning will give me a good excuse to buy one!
I was given one as a gift and, to be honest, it’s still in the box. I use my crockpot and my rice cooker, but I just haven’t used the instant pot. I think I have gadget fatigue 😀
I LOVE my instant pot! It totally replaced my stovetop pressure cooker. I use it for all sorts of things, Skinnytaste has a lot of recipes for it. Last week I made Chicken Cacciatore in it!
Yes – I make chicken and rice a lot!
You have the best giveaways! Love mine for lots of thing especially yogurt!
I guess if I win the book I will definitely be asking for an Instant Pot for Christmas… I like the sound of all the things it can do!
Just bought my instant pot this week!
Have made a few things in mine, with great results so far. Excited to see some new recipes!
I’m considering an Instant Pot. We are replacing a lot of our kitchen due to a fire, (Not caused by my cooking!!) So I’m trying to take my time and get what really works for me. Thanks for this opportunity!
Need a pot, and the book! Braises…mmmm.
I love slow cooking and pressure cooking, would appreciate the book
The IP makes the best beef stew ever.
I am new to the instant pot. I like it but I need to learn to cook more things. My favorite thing to cook in it is ribs.
I love my IP! My most frequent use is enchiladas, but we’ve made all kinds of things!
Chicken soup! I love that I can add some veggies and a couple of frozen chicken thighs and have delicious soup in 30 minutes. My favourite combo is chicken, sweet potato and carrot with cumin and curry. I add some chopped kale at the end. Perfect!
Don’t have one, have not seen one, and have not used one, of course. Have only heard enough about them to be curious what I’m missing. Based upon this post, now I want one!! I do use the slow cookers (often several at a time) for mass cooking adventures and entertaining. This sounds like a good additional appliance, as would the book for the care and feeding of it.
I just bought my first instapot and I can’t wait to experiment with it!!
I love one pot meals. White chicken chili is a favorite. Mac and cheese is another favorite.
Risotto
I love my new Instant Pot; a gift from my kids. My favorite things so far: risotto and chicken spinach curry. Yum!
I don’t have one but I am interested! Anything to make cooking easier after work is a win! Hmmm, I think I’d try Mac n cheese first.
I’m thinking about buying one.
I haven’t tried an instant pot yet, but I would love to. I have read so many great reviews.
WHATS the difference between an instant pot and the pressure cooker on the stove? I’ve been wanting one of those!
Intrigued by the Instant pot
I mainly use my Instant Pot as a slow-cooker but am ready to try the other functions!
Would love this to gift – my job ends just after 1/1, so we’re having a lean holiday season.
I use my Instant pot all the time. Mostly chicken dishes but I would love to try to make yogurt.
I have one and I love it! I like to make beef stew in it!
An Instapot is on my Christmas list.
I have bought one but we are in the process of remodeling and moving to another house so I have not used it. I can not wait to get the electricity in the house so I can join the craze.
Looking forward to trying the Instapot.
Would love to try the IP! Looks like a great new kitchen timesaver…
I’ve loved my instant pot for almost two years, but would love a cookbook to go along with it.