How to Use an Instant Pot: Beginner’s Quick Start Guide

How to use an Instant Pot comes down to a few steps. Put the inner pot in the base, add at least 1 to 2 cups of thin liquid, close the lid and make sure the steam release is on Sealing. Press Pressure Cook (Manual on older models) and set the time. Your Instant Pot heats up, seals, counts down and beeps. Then you release the pressure and open the lid once the float valve drops. This beginner’s quick start guide walks you through each of those steps on any model, starting with a water test before your first real meal.

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ℹ️ Introduction

I wrote the first version of this guide in 2016, right after my first Instant Pot arrived. The booklet in the box left me guessing about the most basic things. Judging by the hundreds of comments since, I wasn’t the only one.

Since then I’ve owned a long list of Instant Pot models, and they don’t all work the same way. The biggest difference for a beginner is the lid, so that’s where I’ll start.

The rest is pretty similar between the different models. I will note anything that may be different with your model.

If you know your model and want its own walkthrough, jump to find your model’s manual.

🔎 Which Instant Pot Do You Have?

Look at the top of the lid. On most models, the part that lets steam out, the steam release, comes in one of three styles. A few newer models have none of them (see below). Once you know yours, the rest of this guide is easy to follow.

• Steam release handle: a removable knob you turn by hand between Sealing and Venting. You have to turn it to Sealing yourself every time. Older versions of the Duo, Duo Plus and Duo Gourmet have one, and so do the Duo Mini, Lux, Smart WiFi and Duo SV.
• Steam release button: a round button that can be pressed and turned.
• Steam release switch: a slider marked Seal and Vent.

Button and switch models seal on their own, which is handy. Just remember to set them back to venting for the programs that don’t use pressure (sealing vs venting).

⚡ Quick Start in 5 Steps

If your Instant Pot is still in the box, start here. Every step links to the details further down.

1. Unbox it and check the parts. Take everything out, including whatever is packed inside the inner pot, and check it against the parts list. Do it soon. If something is wrong, you want to find out while it’s under warranty.
2. Set it up. Put the inner pot in the base, slide on the condensation collector and plug it in (setting up).
3. Do the water test. It takes about 20 minutes and shows you how a pressure cycle looks and sounds (water test).
4. Learn two things: Sealing vs Venting, and natural vs quick release (sealing and venting, releasing pressure).
5. Cook something simple from a tested recipe (first recipes).

🔩 Instant Pot Parts

Your Instant Pot comes in three main pieces, plus a few extras. Here’s what’s in the box and what each part is called.

• Base (outer pot): the housing with the heating element, the control panel and the power cord. Never put food or water straight into it.
• Inner pot: the removable stainless steel pot you cook in. People also call it the liner or insert.
• Lid: the pressure cooking lid. It locks onto the base and seals.
• Condensation collector: the small plastic cup that slides onto the back of the base and catches drips.
• Power cord: detachable on some models, built in on others.
• Accessories: usually a trivet (steam rack), and on some models a rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring cup or a spare sealing ring. Some bases have a small notch under the handle to rest the spoon in.

Instant Pot Lid Parts Diagram

The outside of the lid (top view):

• Lid handle: what you hold to turn the lid on and off.
• Lid fins: slot into the handles on the base, so you can stand the lid upright instead of setting it on the counter. Some smaller models, like the Lux Mini, don’t have them.
• Steam release: the handle, button or switch from the section above. People also call it the pressure valve, steam valve or venting knob.
• Float valve: the small silver pin (some people call it the floating valve) that pops up when your Instant Pot is under pressure and drops when it isn’t.

The inside of the lid:

• Sealing ring: the silicone ring (gasket) that seals the lid. It has to sit snugly in its metal rack all the way around.
• Sealing ring rack: the metal rim that holds the sealing ring.
• Anti-block shield: the metal cover over the steam release pipe that keeps food out of it.
• Float valve cover: the small silicone cap on the bottom of the float valve. It’s tiny and easy to lose, and the float valve won’t seal without it.
• Lid locking pin: keeps the lid from opening while there’s pressure inside.

How to Take the Lid Apart and Put It Back Together

Every part on the lid comes off for cleaning. Take them off one at a time and put each one back before you move on, so nothing ends up in the wrong spot.

• Sealing ring: pull it out of its rack. To put it back, press it into the rack all the way around. Once it’s in, it should turn in the rack with a little effort but not fall out when you flip the lid.

• Steam release valve: pull the steam release valve straight up to take it off. Push it back onto the metal pipe to put it back on. On some switch models, remove the diffuser cover first and then remove the steam release valve.

Whisper Quiet lids: some newer models have a Whisper Quiet lid. From the top, you only see the steam release switch. The steam release valve and the float valve sit under a cover, and the float valve has a small silicone cap on top.

Open the cover to take them out. On the Duo Plus with Whisper Quiet, there’s an orange pull tab under the cover that has to come out before you cook, or it won’t seal (more on the orange tab).

• Anti-block shield: push it sideways toward the edge of the lid and lift. A flexible silicone trivet or a towel gives you a better grip.

• Float valve: pull the float valve cover off the bottom of the float valve, and the float valve drops out the top. To put it back, drop the float valve in from the top, then push the cover back on from underneath.

🔌 Setting Up Your Instant Pot

Set the base on a flat, stable counter, away from the stove, with room above it. The steam can damage cabinets, so don’t park it under one.

Put the Inner Pot in the Base

Make sure the base is empty and clean, then set the inner pot inside. I leave the trivet in the base whenever the inner pot is in the sink, so nobody in my house pours water straight into it.

Attach the Condensation Collector

Line the collector up with the notches on the back of the base and slide it in until it stops. It catches the water that drips off the lid rim when you open it. This is the part I couldn’t figure out at first. I kept trying to fit it inside.

Plug It In

If the cord is detachable, push it firmly into the base, then plug it into the wall. The display shows OFF, which means it’s on standby and ready. Some newer models show Ready instead.

🧪 Instant Pot Water Test

The water test is a short pressure cycle with plain water. It checks that your Instant Pot seals and builds pressure, and it lets you see and hear a full cycle before there’s dinner at stake. Do it before your first recipe, and again any time your Instant Pot won’t seal.

1. Pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of a 3-quart, 1½ cups into a 6-quart or 2 cups into an 8-quart. Instant’s own instructions use 3 cups. That works too, it just takes longer to come to pressure.
2. Close the lid. On a handle model, turn the handle to Sealing. On a button or switch model, check that it’s on Sealing or Seal.
3. Press Pressure Cook (Manual on older models). On models with a dial, turn it to Pressure Cook and press it.
4. Set the time to 5 minutes with the + and – buttons or the dial. The display shows 5 or 00:05, depending on the model.
5. On models with a Start button, press it. Others start on their own after about 10 seconds.
6. The display shows On while it heats up. On some newer models, the display show the word Preheating on the display while others have a Pre-heating progress bar on the bottom of the display. Some steam and hissing from the lid is normal at this stage, and you might notice a plastic smell the first time. Keep your hands and face away from the steam.
7. When the float valve pops up, your Instant Pot is sealed. A few minutes later the display switches from On or Preheating to the countdown.
8. It beeps when it’s done. If Keep Warm is on, the display shows L0:00 (it can look like L000) and counts up the time since cooking ended.
9. Press Cancel, then release the pressure. Turn the handle to Venting, press the button down or slide the switch to Vent. Keep your hand off to the side, not over the top.
10. When the float valve drops, open the lid, pour out the water and dry the inner pot. You’re ready to cook.

If it never seals, or it hasn’t counted down after 30 minutes, check why your Instant Pot isn’t sealing. If a message or code shows up, see the burn message or Instant Pot error codes.

🔒 How to Open and Close the Lid

Close the Lid

1. Set the lid on the base with the arrow on the lid lined up with the open lock symbol on the base.
2. Turn it clockwise until it stops. Most models chime when it locks, if the sound is on.
3. The arrow now lines up with the closed lock symbol.

If the lid won’t turn, check that the sealing ring is pushed into its rack all the way around. On a handle model with hot food inside, set the handle to Venting first, close the lid, then turn it back to Sealing.

Open the Lid

1. Make sure the float valve is down.
2. Turn the lid counterclockwise until the arrow lines up with the open lock symbol, then lift it off.
3. Tilt it away from you as you lift, so the steam goes the other way.

If it feels stuck right after cooking, wiggle it gently. That’s suction, not pressure. Never force it while the float valve is up.

💨 Sealing vs Venting and the Float Valve

These two positions are what readers get mixed up about most.

Sealing (Seal) keeps the steam in, so your Instant Pot can build pressure. Use it for every pressure cooking program. How it works depends on your lid type.

• Handle style: turn the handle clockwise to seal.
• Button style: it auto-seals when you close the lid. If you need to move it from Vent to Seal, flick the button counterclockwise.
• Switch style: on most models the switch seals itself when you close the lid. If you need to move it from Vent to Seal, slide the switch to the Seal position.

Venting (Vent) lets steam out. Use it to release pressure, and for programs that don’t use pressure: Slow Cook, Yogurt and Sous Vide.

• Handle style: turn the handle counterclockwise to the Venting position.
• Button style: press the button down until it clicks into place.
• Switch style: slide the switch to the Vent position.

Float Valve Up or Down

Up means there’s pressure inside and the lid is locked. Down means there’s no pressure and it’s safe to open. Depending on the model, the float valve sits above the lid or level with it when it’s up, and level with the lid or just below it when it’s down. The two photos show both kinds.

Don’t push the float valve down to hurry it along. It drops on its own when the pressure is gone.

What’s Normal

• Steam and hissing while it heats up, before the float valve pops up.
• A wobbly steam release handle. It’s built that way. If you pull it up, it spins all the way around, but pushed down it only turns between Sealing and Venting.
• Clicking sounds while it heats, and a quiet countdown once it’s sealed.
• A wisp of steam now and then once it’s sealed, especially with soups.

Steam that keeps pouring out once it’s sealed isn’t normal. My Instant Pot troubleshooting guide covers that and about 50 other problems.

⏱️ Natural Release vs Quick Release

When the countdown ends, there’s still pressure inside, and you release it one of two ways. Follow whatever your recipe says.

• Natural release: leave it alone. The pressure drops on its own as it cools, in 10 to 45 minutes depending on how full it is. I use it for meat, beans and anything starchy or foamy.
• Quick release: move the steam release to Venting right away. Steam shoots out for a minute or two. I use it for vegetables, seafood and anything that overcooks easily.
• 10-minute natural release: let it sit 10 minutes, then quick release the rest. Lots of recipes use this one.

If foam or liquid sprays out during a quick release, set it back to Sealing, wait a few minutes and try again. More on picking one: natural release or quick release.

🔘 The Buttons You Actually Need

There are a lot of buttons, and you can skip most of them. These five are the ones I use almost every time. The numbers match the photo above.

1. Pressure Cook: called Manual on older models. Same thing. You set the time and it pressure cooks on High.
2. Sauté: browns and simmers with the lid off. Press it again (or Adjust on older models) to switch between Less, Normal and More heat.
3. Cancel: stops whatever it’s doing and goes back to OFF.
4. Start: only on some models. The rest start on their own about 10 seconds after you set the time.
5. + and –: change the cooking time. On models with a dial, like the Pro and Duo Evo Plus, you turn the dial instead.

Setting the Time

Most displays read hours and minutes. 00:06 is 6 minutes, and 06:00 is 6 hours. Readers have turned spaghetti to mush this way, so check it before you walk away.

The time in a recipe is the pressure cooking time only. Your Instant Pot also needs time to come to pressure first and to release it after. A recipe with 15 minutes on High takes 40 to 55 minutes from start to finish with a natural release.

On older Duos, the Timer button is actually a delay start, which is why it moves in big jumps. To set a cook time, press Manual or Pressure Cook first. On newer models it’s called Delay Start. Here’s how to use Delay Start.

High and Low Pressure

Most recipes use High, which is the default. Low is for some rice recipes, quick-cooking vegetables and fish. Depending on the model, you switch with the Pressure Level button, the Adjust button or on the display.

Programs and Default Times

Buttons like Soup/Broth, Meat/Stew and Bean/Chili are presets. They pressure cook for a set time, a lot like the popcorn button on a microwave. Pressing the button again switches between Less, Normal and More. These are the defaults on the Duo. Other models are close, but not identical.

Button	Less	Normal	More
Bean/Chili	25 minutes	30 minutes	40 minutes
Cake	25 minutes	40 minutes	50 minutes
Egg	3 minutes	4 minutes	5 minutes
Meat/Stew	20 minutes	35 minutes	45 minutes
Multigrain (Soaks for 45 minutes first)	20 minutes	40 minutes	60 minutes
Poultry	5 minutes	15 minutes	30 minutes
Porridge/Oatmeal	15 minutes	20 minutes	30 minutes
Pressure Cook	20 minutes	35 minutes	45 minutes
Rice	–	12 minutes (Low Pressure)	–
Soup/Broth	20 minutes	30 minutes	40 minutes
Steam	3 minutes	10 minutes	15 minutes
Slow Cook	180–190°F (similar to keep warm on slow cooker)	190–200°F (similar to low on slow cooker)	200–210°F (similar to high on slow cooker)
Yogurt	106°F to 113°F (for Chinese fermented rice)	110°F to 115°F (for incubating yogurt)	160°F to 180°F (for boiling milk before incubating)

If you’d rather not guess, use Pressure Cook and the time in your recipe. That’s what I do.

Other Buttons

Button	What it does
Start	Starts the program (some models only)
Cancel	Stops the current program and goes back to standby
Delay Start (Timer on older models)	Starts cooking later
Keep Warm	Keeps food warm after cooking and counts the time since it finished
Pressure Cook (Manual on older models)	Pressure cooks for the time you set
Pressure Level	Switches between High and Low pressure
Sauté	Browns and simmers with the lid off
Sous Vide	Holds water at a set temperature for sous vide (some models)
Fav	Saves your own settings (some models)
Temp and Time	Change the temperature or time with + and – (some models)
Ultra	Custom pressure, temperature and time (Ultra only)

Models with an air fryer lid also have Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Dehydrate and on some, Proof. If you’re not sure what an icon on your display means, here’s my guide to Instant Pot symbols and icons.

📏 Liquid, Fill Lines and Timing

• Use enough thin liquid. Your Instant Pot needs steam to build pressure. That means at least 1 cup in a 3-quart, 1½ cups in a 6-quart and 2 cups in an 8-quart. Water and broth count. Thick sauces don’t.
• Don’t overfill. Stay under the ⅔ line, or the ½ line for food that foams or swells, like rice, beans and pasta.
• Deglaze after Sauté. Pour in a little liquid and scrape the bottom so nothing stays stuck. Stuck bits are the most common cause of the burn message. Here’s how to deglaze.
• Layer thick ingredients on top. Put thin liquid on the bottom and tomato sauce, pasta or rice on top, without stirring.
• Halving a recipe: keep the cook time the same and don’t go below the minimum liquid. Smaller amounts come to pressure faster, but they don’t cook faster once they’re there.

How long it takes to come to pressure is in the FAQs. For pressure cooking times by ingredient, see my Instant Pot cooking times chart.

🍽️ Trivet, Pot-in-Pot and Accessories

The trivet that comes with most models lifts food out of the water when you steam eggs or vegetables, with Steam or Pressure Cook. It’s also how you cook pot-in-pot. Water goes in the inner pot, the trivet sits on top, and a smaller oven-safe dish goes on the trivet. Rice and cheesecake are classic pot-in-pot recipes.

These are the extras I’d actually buy:

• A trivet with handles, if yours didn’t come with one.
• A small dish for pot-in-pot. Any oven-safe glass, ceramic or stainless steel dish works.
• An extra sealing ring, so desserts don’t pick up curry smells. If your Instant Pot came with two rings, use one at a time.
• A tempered glass lid for Sauté, Slow Cook and Yogurt.

⚠️ Safety Basics

Your Instant Pot has a lot of safety features built in, like the lid lock and the pressure sensors. Your part is short:

• Always have the inner pot in the base before you add anything. If water gets into the base, unplug it and let it dry out completely before you use it again.
• Keep your hands and face away from the steam release when steam is coming out.
• Don’t cover the steam release, and don’t move your Instant Pot while it’s under pressure.
• Don’t open the lid until the float valve is down.
• Use oven mitts on the inner pot and the metal parts of the lid. They get hot.

📘 Find Your Model’s Manual (PDF)

Instant posts the official owner’s manual for every model, as a PDF, on its manuals and resources page. Find your model’s name on the front of the base or on the label underneath.

If you’d like a walkthrough with photos, I’ve written beginner guides for these models:

• Instant Pot Ultra
• Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus
• Instant Pot Duo Nova
• Instant Pot Duo Gourmet
• Instant Pot Duo Crisp
• Instant Pot Pro
• Instant Pot Pro Crisp

This guide covers the Duo and other handle models, so there’s no separate Duo guide.

Also check out all my Youtube videos for the above models.

🥘 Your First Instant Pot Recipes

Don’t improvise your first few meals. Pick a tested Instant Pot recipe and follow it as written, liquid and all. Once you know how your Instant Pot behaves, you can start adapting your own.

Rice was the first thing I made, and I still recommend it. Jasmine rice and hard boiled eggs are hard to get wrong. After that, try Instant Pot Chicken Stew, Instant Pot Chicken Curry Soup, Instant Pot Thai Red Curry, Instant Pot Pork Carnitas, Instant Pot Mac and Cheese or Instant Pot Chana Masala.

🛠️ If Something Goes Wrong

• Instant Pot troubleshooting, with about 50 common problems in one place
• Not sealing or pressurizing
• Burn or Food Burn message
• Error codes like PrSE, NoPr and C7
• More Instant Pot tips and FAQs

❓ FAQs

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