I'm getting an Instapot for Christmas - Its here!

I bought one off amazon based on all the recommendations here - and I used it twice & don't think I'm going to be a fan

I bought one for my SIL last year based on Pea reviews. I think she thought it was "nice." Now she LOVES it and uses it multiple times per week.

I use it for so many things I can hardly keep track anymore - soups, chili, sloppy joes, spaghetti sauce, hard cooked eggs, steamed vegetables, corn on the cob, cheesecake, roasts, rice, mac & cheese, etc.

When I first got mine I said I'd make a point to use it once a week. I use it multiple times a week.

Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Steel cut oats
Soups

I got one for my parents last Christmas. My mom was thrilled to try it, my step dad, not so much. He texts me at least once a week to tell what he just made the best of, in his IP, every time he tries a new recipe. My mom gets to make potato salad now; that's about it. I just ordered him a vinyl decal for it that says Back off Papa's pot.

I cook dinner 6 days a week, and I use it for all, or at least part of the meal probably 4 days a week.

Well hopefully you'll learn to love it. The first time or two is a little scary because of the steam but once you learn how to release it (it's not hard at all), it's great. I have a 6 qt and I use it all the time. I haven't touched my crockpot once since I got it. I would like to get the small 3 qt just because I am making smaller meals, but also because - quite honestly - I find it a really easy way to rewarm stuff. For soup, etc. it may take a little longer than on the stove, but I don't have to babysit it. I put it in, turn it on, and come back when I'm ready. I don't have to monitor the heat, turn it town, clean up an overflow (because heaven help me I can't even boil water without it bubbling over), or clean up a scorched pan. It's no harder to clean the liner of the Insta Pot than it is to wash a pan but it just makes things easier for me.

There's a learning curve, but honestly the food is so much better than in a crockpot - and I'm a pretty big fan of crockpots.

I probably said this before on other insta pot threads hit here it goes. I was one of those who didn’t want another “big ass thing” in the kitchen. But bought an 8 qt. Week or two later, I bought extra insert. Four weeks later, I bought the 3 qt.

Last week, I made dinner at home 4 nights in a row and in Friday night, I made three dishes. And I didn’t turn my stove on once entire week for making that said dinner. So, go figure .

Few things I made/make.

Made 40 hard boiled eggs in one shot with so little water and in 6 minutes for a party
I make “warm” salads with cauliflower, asparagus, mushrooms. I saute the veggies in instabpot for a minute with some spices. Break an egg ir two on top. Steam for 2 mins. My lunch/dinner is ready.

Pastas, ramen noodles, soups, curries, red rice (a.k.a beetroot pulao), egg biriyani, chicken biriyani - the list of things I have been making is getting longer. I am planning to make mashed potatoes, gravy and cranberry sauce in the IP for thanksgiving

I also keep a notebook in my kitchen so as to write how and what I did in the insta pot because most of the time I don’t follow a recipe I see online to the T (bad, I know).

I also avoided the FB instapot community at the beginning as it was overwhelming. I follow this old gal’s recipes.

Yesterday we steamed a whole pumpkin to make pie. So easy, cooked, then removed seeds and puréed the flesh, and cleaned up in less than 30min.
Then made cream of asparagus soup for lunch. Again, from start to finish was less than 30min.
For soups, stews etc it is ideal. Can cook very health conscious meals in it.
Biggest things to realize is that it isn’t “instant”. When working out timing you need to include time to come to pressure before cook, and time to release pressure after.

It's funny, I gave away my first one because I just wasn't a fan, it was quite a large gadget for my small kitchen and I didn't use it. Then another friend gave me hers and I've used it for a lot of things.

Chicken thighs + taco seasoning + salsa
Spareribs
Korean flavor beef
Tiny potatoes with bacon and green beans
Chile garlic chicken
Butternut squash soup
Breakfast egg bites like the ones from Starbucks

Can we just use Hire-a-Pea to come show us newbs how to use our pots? <--- that sounds weird

I’m going to be 50 next month. Honest to goodness, it’s the peeling the shells. I always make a mess of it. Not with IP!

I'm getting one too, from DH, and I'm really excited about it!

They peel like a dream. Every time. 

DH hates the crock pot and has never used either of the one's we own and complains the food made in it is mushy and bland. He's in love with the InstantPot he bought me for my birthday though... so he's been making dinner more often

Most of the recipes I've found online and made in it do not have enough seasoning... other than that they've mostly all been hits. I haven't tried yogurt, eggs or anything like that yet.