Mini Mania: Shrink Pressure Cooker Recipes for the Instant Pot MINI (2024)

This nearly pocket-sized 3-quart cooker is small and cute but cooking in a world of recipes written for larger pressure cookers is definitelya challenge! Here’s how to adjust larger recipes, and get the best results from your Instant Pot MINI – or any 3-quart pressure cooker.

While the most obvious adaptation is to shrink down the quantity of a recipe – and we’ll get to that in a moment- there are a couple of hidden differences that can have huge impacts on recipes cooked in the MINI.

Mini Mania: Shrink Pressure Cooker Recipes for the Instant Pot MINI (1)

Lower Pressure and Less Time To Reach it

The Instant Pot MINI has a working pressure of 10.1psi (70kPa) compare to all the other models and sizes of Instant Pot that operate at 11.6psi (80kPa). The pressure difference is not a game-changer for most recipes, but when you combine it with the shorter time to pressure – the difference is evident in tougher longer-cooking foods such as whole grains, dense veggies, or the toughest meat.

The cooker being smaller and cooking at lower pressure means that it will actually take less time for it to gain and loose pressure, too. My tests revealed that the Instant Pot MINI takes an average of 9 minutes to build pressure compared to the 13 minutes of larger-sized cookers.This difference is significant because, remember, the food inside is cooking while the Instant Pot is both gaining and losing pressure, too! So, that 4-minute time-to-pressure difference is the equivalent of shaving 2 minutes off the food’s “pressure cooking time”. Combine that difference with the lower pressure (cooking temperature) and you might need to add anywhere from 2 to 15 minutes to the pressure cooking time for specific recipes.

Mini Mania: Shrink Pressure Cooker Recipes for the Instant Pot MINI (2)

Don’t worry, no need to “guess” how to adjust the cooking times for foods cooked in the Instant Pot MINI- I’ve just added a column to the pressure cooking time chart specifically for the Mini (and the growing number of lower-pressure electric cookers which are increasingly available).

See Also: Hip Pressure Cooking Time Chart

Less Liquid Required

I sent several queries to Instant Pot to find out if the minimum liquid requirement was reduced – and every one of them was answered with, “No, it’s the same as the 6 and 8 quarts” – which I worked out to be 1 1/2 cups (12oz/375ml).

Through testing, and my experience with other pressure cooker manufactures requiring less liquid for their smaller models (i.e. Fissler, WMF), I was able to get consistent results with less liquid.

Though this is not officially sanctioned by Instant Pot, you can use as little as 1 1/4 cups (10oz/315ml)of liquid in mini.

As always, a portion of this liquid can come from the ingredients themselvesthis MINI Butter Chicken recipe uses just one cup of liquid assuming the other ingredients will release more.

While we’re at it, be wary of no-liquid-added pressure cooker recipes. The no-liquid-added recipes making the rounds bet that the cooker won’t overheat before the food releases enough liquid to build pressure. This technique does not work reliably enough for me to recommend because, beyond frequently resulting in partially burned yet under-cooked dinner, it creates additional wear and tear to the gaskets, seals, and electronics that are not designed to withstand the “dry sauteeing” of food with a closed pressure lid.

See Also: Measuring Veggies as Cooking Liquid

Less food (obviously ; )

The maximum-fill rules for the MINI are exactly the same as for any other pressure cooker size: No more than half-full for foods that expand or generate foam (rice, grains or beans) and no more than two-thirds-full for everything else. Thankfully, all of the MINI inner-pots have these fill lines clearly marked, so let me share some stats about your 3-quart that will come in handy when you’re evaluating whether a potential recipe will fit whole, halved or not at all. BTW, when I say “cups” I mean U.S. 8 oz measuring cups (about 250ml).

  • 1/2 full is equivalent to six cups (1.5L)
  • 2/3 full is equivalentto eight cups (2L)
  • Food-wise, this means
    • max 2 cups of beans (that’s about a pound ) with 4 cups (1L) of liquid
    • max 2 cups of dry rice with 3 cups (750ml) of liquid
    • max 3 1/2 pounds of meat with 1 cup (250ml) of liquid
    • max 7 cups of veggies with 1 cup (250ml) of liquid

See Also: Pressure Cooker FAQ: Filling The Pressure Cooker

Adjusting Recipes to the 3 qt.

OK, now that you’ve gotten more details about the differences and how much will actually fit in the cooker, here’s how to shrink down a recipe – or even evaluate if it is possible.

  1. Pressure Cooking Time Doesn’t Change – except when it does.
    In most cases, you would not need to alter the recommended pressure cooking time. The pressure cooking time is decided for most foods based on the size and density of the food. If the food is the same size and density the pressure cooking time remains the same no matter how many of that food is pressure cooked (explanation here).However, if the food is quite dense (such as a bean, seed, grain with an outer coating, a large piece of meat) then the cooking time will need to be increased to compensate for the 3qt’s lower cooking pressure – just look-up the main ingredient in the hip cooking time chart to be sure.
  2. Check, or split all of the ingredients – except for the cooking liquid, maybe.
    • The recipe just might fit “as is” so check the suggested quantities of veggies (calculate approximately 2 cups per pound), beans, grains and liquid, will they still fit below the 2/3 or 1/2 max?
    • If a whole recipe won’t fit, slicing it in half might work? If not, would it make sense to cut the recipe down further? To cut a recipe down to 1/3 use a calculator and multiply all of the ingredients by 0.3
  3. Scale down or adjust the liquid, if needed.
    • If the recipe contains rice or grains – the liquid ratio needs to remain the same. What that means is if you halve a recipe, you should halve the liquid. If you only use a third of a recipe you should use a third of the liquid. However, keep in mind that the liquid cannot go below the minimum required for the cooker to reach pressure (1 1/4 cups) or the cooker won’t reach pressure!
    • If the recipe is primarily vegetables or meat…
      • Is it supposed to be a soup or very liquidy? Then only use enough liquid to almost cover the ingredients (without going over the 2/3 max)
      • Is the recipe meant to be a braise or a stew? Then only add the cookers minimum liquid requirement (1 1/4 cups) as the food will contribute the rest.
    • If the recipe is meant to be steamed with a steamer basket – just use the minimum liquid requirement under the steamer basket for the cooker to build pressure.
  4. When in doubt, ask…
    If you have any qualms about adjusting a recipe for a 3qt cooker,just leave a comment below the Hip recipe you want to shrink. If the recipe comes from elsewhere online, ask the recipe author directly for guidance. I will help as I can in the comments, below, but please understand that I cannot really know what calculations another recipe author made, what the intended results should be like, or even guarantee good results from a recipe I did not write or test myself.

But… should a 3qt be your first multicooker?

Well, if you already have one and it’s your first cooker, this advice is going to come a little late. My pressure cooker purchasing recommendation has always been to start with a 6qt – as that is the most flexible size in terms of doing more sophisticated cooking methods such as pan-in-pot or stacking things vertically to cook more than one dish at once. The 6qt size has nearlythe same minimum liquid requirement as the 3qt – this means that a 6qt can make meals for anywhere from 1 to 6 people. Plus, there’s a whole body of recipes written for this size pressure cooker which don’t require any adjustments while you’re learning to pressure cook!

See Also: 5 Electric Pressure Cooker Buying Tips + 3 Recommendations

As you eventually move most of your cooking to pressure, you’ll find that just one cooker is just not enough – my recommendation is to then consider adding a smaller accessory cooker is going to be a great helper for making a side dish, steamed veggies or a single bowl of oatmeal (all things that the 6qt can do, too ; ).

See Also: Does Pressure Cooker Size Matter? Of course!

How have you adapted?

Have a “mini”? Please share your tips for shrinking recipes with our readers by leaving a comment, below!

Mini Mania: Shrink Pressure Cooker Recipes for the Instant Pot MINI (4)

Mini Mania: Shrink Pressure Cooker Recipes for the Instant Pot MINI (2024)

FAQs

What is the Instant Pot mini good for? ›

Product details. The Instant Pot Duo is the one that started it all. It's easy to use, easy to clean, fast, versatile, and convenient. More than a pressure cooker, it's a slow cooker, steamer, yogurt maker, sauté pan, rice cooker and food warmer.

What foods should not be cooked in an Instant Pot? ›

Among them are dairy and fried foods, as well as burgers and steaks. These foods are not Instant-Pot-friendly for a multitude of reasons. And while Instant Pots are a useful tool when baking cheesecake, custard, or mousse, it's definitely not the best method for other types of desserts.

How many cups of liquid for Instant Pot Mini? ›

Though this is not officially sanctioned by Instant Pot, you can use as little as 1 1/4 cups (10oz/315ml)of liquid in mini. As always, a portion of this liquid can come from the ingredients themselves – this MINI Butter Chicken recipe uses just one cup of liquid assuming the other ingredients will release more.

What is the smallest Instant Pot they make? ›

Instant Pot® Duo™ Mini 3-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5.

What is the use of mini pot? ›

7 Ways to Use Our Minis
  • 1 Pot Pies. ...
  • 2 Toasting Nuts and Spices. ...
  • 3 Butter, Brandy and Basting. ...
  • 4 Serving Dips and Sauces. ...
  • 5 Frying an Egg. ...
  • 6 Cooking for Kids. ...
  • 7 Serving Veg.

What is the disadvantage of Instant Pot? ›

Con– The Instant Pot uses steam under pressure to cook food and not everything is meant to be cooked in the Instant Pot. I attempted a crustless quiche which turned out well but it was too wet and moist to my liking and I prefer to cook it in the oven with dry heat.

What should never go in a pressure cooker? ›

Foods containing dairy, like milk, cream, or yogurt, should not be pressure-cooked. The high heat and pressure can cause dairy products to curdle or separate, ruining the texture, taste and flavour of the dish. Cooking fried foods is a strict no no, when it comes to pressure cookers.

What is the best meat to cook in a pressure cooker? ›

You can still pressure cook leaner pieces – like eye of round and top sirloin – but these work best if they've been stuffed, shredded or rolled (with other ingredients). Best cuts of beef to use: Chuck steak, Round Roast, Shoulder, Pot roast, Ribs, Brisket, Oxtail.

Why shouldn't potatoes be cooked in a pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

Is the Instant Pot being discontinued? ›

Instant Brands, the company that makes the Instant Pot (as well as Pyrex, Corelle, and a few other product lines), announced that it was filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2023. But that doesn't mean the company is going under, and for now it hasn't affected the availability of the Instant Pot.

What happens if I put too much liquid in my Instant Pot? ›

Mistake #3: Overfilling Your Instant Pot

Overfilling your Instant Pot can affect the pressure that builds up inside, so you might end up with a mushy meal, or one that doesn't cook properly.

Do you have to put water in a pressure cooker when cooking meat? ›

Pressure cookers cook with steam. No liquid = no steam. You can't and shouldn't use your pressure cooker unless you've added sufficient liquid. Instructions will let you know the minimum amount and some even tell you how much to use for different items.

What is the best Instant Pot mini? ›

The Instant Pot Duo Mini 3-Quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker, V5 maintains all of the multipurpose features of larger Instant Pot models in a smaller package. The twist-lock lid and lid handle design were possibly more functional than some of the newer, larger models.

Is Instapot going out of business? ›

In a move capitalizing on its signature product, Instant Pot Brands, as the business will now be known, has emerged from bankruptcy as a stand-alone company, under new ownership and with a new capital structure, according to a press release Monday.

What is the easiest Instant Pot to use? ›

Beginner-Friendly: Instant Pot Duo Nova 7-in-1. Fingerprint-Resistant: Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1. Quietest: Instant Pot Duo Plus with Whisper-Quiet Steam Release. Does It All: Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer 11-in-1.

What is an Instant Pot useful for? ›

The Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker but also a slow cooker, yogurt maker, rice cooker, big sauté pot, steamer, and more. We have the 6-Quart Instant Pot Duo which is what we use for all our Instant Pot recipes. They also make a 3-Quart Instant Pot Mini and a hefty 8-quart Instant Pot.

What is the 3-quart Instant Pot good for? ›

The 3 Qt Mini Instant Pot is a smaller version of the popular Instant Pot. It's designed for smaller households or for those who don't have a lot of kitchen space. Despite its size, it packs a punch with seven cooking functions: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté, yogurt maker, and warmer.

What are the 7 functions of Instant Pot? ›

Product Details
  • Slim base and modern design with the same cooking capacity: an upgraded version of the best-selling Instant Pot® Duo® 6-quart.
  • 7-in-1 functions: pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice, yogurt, steam, sauté and keep warm.

Why Instant Pot is worth it? ›

The most useful function of an Instant Pot is its ability to pressure cook, so you want to get a model that quickly comes to pressure. Since many pressure cooker recipes start with a searing or sautéing step, it can help to have an Instant Pot with inner pot stability, so the pot doesn't spin while you're cooking.

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