Guide
Instant Pot Cooking Times
Pressure cooking times for every ingredient
The Instant Pot changed weeknight cooking — dried beans in 30 minutes, fall-apart chicken in 20, rice in 3. But pressure cooking times are counterintuitive — the pot takes 10–15 minutes to come to pressure before the timer even starts, and some foods need natural release after. This guide covers every Instant Pot-friendly ingredient with exact times.
Instant Pot Tips
- Always add at least 1 cup of liquid for the pot to pressurize.
- Factor in 10–15 minutes for the pot to reach pressure before the cook time starts.
- Natural release (NR): let pressure drop on its own. Best for meats and grains.
- Quick release (QR): flip the valve immediately. Best for vegetables to prevent overcooking.
- Don't fill past the 2/3 line (1/2 for foods that expand, like beans and grains).
- Frozen proteins add 5–10 minutes to cook time — no need to thaw first.