Despite having been around for many generations, the multi cooker seems to be having somewhat of a revival of late. US consumers have spent more than $700 million on multicookers in the past few years, solidifying their place as one of America’s best-loved kitchen gadgets. But how can you get the most from your multicooker?
Don’t Overfill
One of the most common mistakes people make when using a multi cooker is overfilling. This can lead to your food cooking unevenly, or worse yet, it could be challenging to clean.
The best way to avoid this problem is by filling an appropriate amount for the size and power of your cooker. For example, if you have a small 3-quart pot with 700 watts, you should only fill it about halfway full. If you are using a large 6-quart pot with 1500 watts, you must fill it about 2/3rds full. Always pay attention to the max fill line on your cooker and recipe requirements.
Brown Your Meat First
If you are going to be using your multicooker for a dish that requires browning the meat first, then this is something you should do before starting the recipe. It can be a little tricky to brown meat in the multi cooker because it doesn’t have that same kind of surface area as an oven, so you’ll want to make sure it is spread out as thin as possible.
Clean The Lid
Most people don’t realize this, but your multicooker’s lid can be the dirtiest part of your kitchen. Depending on what you cook in it, it can be a breeding ground for all sorts of bacteria. So one way to get the most out of your multi cooker is to make sure you clean the lid after every use. Pop the lid in the dishwasher to remove lingering stains, burnt-on food, and odors.
Avoid Dairy
Be careful when adding dairy to your cooker. A cheese sauce can sputter and leak out of the vent if you try to pressure cook it. That’s because milk can scald quickly, and cheese can become watery or even thicken if it’s left out in the open. If you’re making a creamy or cheesy dish with dairy, wait until the pressure cooking is finished before adding the dairy ingredients. Instead of a watery, curdled mess, you’ll get a more decadent, creamier dish this way. In addition, if the cheese sauce leaks out of the sealing valve, you won’t have a massive mess on your hands.
Try New Recipes
Don’t be afraid to try new recipes with your multicooker. The following are some of the most popular dishes that can be prepared in a multicooker and are popular on Pinterest:
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast
- Chicken Vindaloo
- Beef Stew
- Crockpot French Dip Sandwiches
- Bolognese Sauce
- Jambalaya
- Pork Carnitas Tacos
The best way to get the most out of your multicooker is to try new recipes. Remember, a multicooker isn’t just for main meals; you can make sauces, desserts, or even vanilla extract in instant pot. Get creative and look for new and different foods to make with your gadget to help you thoroughly explore everything it is capable of.