Review: Instant Pot Duo60
Alex Galbinski reviews the kitchen must-have gadget, the Instant Pot Duo 60 5.7litre capacity
Alex Galbinski is a Jewish News journalist
I first used a pressure cooker to make chicken soup on a Jewish cookery course.
The teacher swore by it, as we could make a great soup in around two hours rather than the several needed over a hot stove – but it packed in as much, if not more, flavour.
Pressure cookers, which use a build-up of steam and pressure to cook food more quickly and economically, and lock in nutrients, are often considered a must-have item.
My fellow course attendee told me that in France, no self-respecting cook would be without one, so I couldn’t wait to test one out. I was sent the Instant Pot (IP) Duo 60 5.7litre capacity, which is perfect for a family of four.
A multi-functional electric pressure cooker, it also slow cooks and sautés/browns, steams, makes yoghurt and rice and keeps food warm.
It comes with a small recipe book, but there are many pressure cooker recipe books on the market, including company endorsed ones such as The Essential Vegan Instant Pot Cookbook by Coco Morante.
So far, I have made: Beef stew, Moroccan chickpea soup, risotto, one-minute quinoa, three-minute steel cut oats and different types of rice, all of which were fabulous and very quick, although the times on some of the recipes are somewhat misleading as they don’t include the time it takes for the pot to reach and release the pressure.
I also made chicken soup and, using the slow cooker function, beautifully-tender beef, as well as beef broth.
The IP instructions could be clearer – I’m confused by the natural and quick release and also got the burn error message a couple of times – but potheads (as they’re known) advocate persevering, and I’m using trial and error and recipes online to work it out.
For those with space for another appliance, I’d definitely recommend it, if only for reducing midweek meal cooking times.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to make some yoghurt…
- The Instant Pot Duo is available in different sizes from www.instantpot.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
