Pot-In-Pot Instant Pot Cooking

This post is all about “pot-in-pot Instant Pot cooking,” a useful technique that allows you to cook more than one kind of food in your Instant Pot at the same time. And if you’ve ever wondered “can you put foil in an Instant Pot?”, you’ll be pleased to know that foil is commonly used for pot-in-pot cooking.

The concepts in this post should be easy to grasp for those familiar with Instant Pot cooking, but if you could use a refresher, feel free to take a moment to brush up on everything you need to know about the Instant Pot before proceeding.

For even more useful Instant Pot info, check out my e-book Everything Instant Pot! It’s a great resource for both beginners and experienced users alike! You can find it in my shop (or get it for free, if you’re an OGT Plus member!)

Jillee’s Take:

While I love all 3 of my Instant Pots, there can be a bit of a learning curve for new users. But experience is a great teacher, and the more you use your Instant Pot, the more comfortable and confident you’ll become. I wouldn’t call the pot-in-pot method “advanced,” per se, but you may find it less intimidating once you’ve mastered the basics!

What Is Pot In Pot Cooking?

Pot-in-pot cooking is a method of cooking a dish or container of food inside your Instant Pot, usually with the aid of a trivet or steamer rack. Examples of pot-in-pot cooking include making individual servings of Instant Pot Creme Brûlée and whole cheesecakes.

One advantage of pot-in-pot cooking is that it cooks foods more slowly, gently, and evenly than traditional pressure cooking. You can also use this method to cook two things at once in your Instant Pot. For example, you could cook a chicken dish directly in the inner pot and a container of rice elevated on a rack.

How To Do Pot-In-Pot Cooking In An Instant Pot

Here’s how to cook a single dish using the pot-in-pot method:

Step 1 – Place a metal trivet or rack in the bottom of the pot and add at least 1 cup of water (or another liquid).

Step 3 – Place the food you want to cook in a small, oven-safe dish, and cover the dish with aluminum foil.

Step 4 – Place the foil-wrapped dish on the rack and seal the lid of your Instant Pot.

Step 5 – Use the cooking time and pressure release method recommended by the recipe.

3 Bonus Tips For Pot-In-Pot Cooking Success

1. Use a taller rack. The trivet that came with your Instant Pot isn’t ideal for the pot-in-pot method. Give yourself more room to work with by investing in an Instant Pot rack with longer legs. (I use a metal egg steamer rack with about 2 inches of clearance.)
2. Use oven-safe dishes. For pot-in-pot cooking, use only dishes that are heat- or oven-safe. Stainless steel, oven-safe glass, silicone, and ceramic are all good options. Dishes should also be small enough that they won’t touch the sides of the pot.
3. Cover your dish in tin foil. Condensation collects on the inside of the Instant Pot lid during cooking. To protect your food and prevent it from getting soggy, wrap open dishes with foil.

Now that you know what pot-in-pot cooking is and how it works, let’s talk about when you should use it! I also included a few pot-in-pot recipe ideas you can try to “get your feet wet,” so to speak!

6 Scenarios That Are Perfect For Pot-In-Pot Cooking

1. You’re Making Something You Would Bake In An Oven

High-pressure cookers like the Instant Pot require a certain amount of liquid to function properly, so they’re perfect for cooking soups and other wet foods. But with pot-in-pot cooking, you can also use it to make foods that don’t require as much moisture, like the ones you might bake in your oven.

With pot-in-pot cooking, you can make casseroles, lasagna, meatloaf, cornbread, cakes, and more right in your Instant Pot!

2. You’re Worried About Burning Or Scorching

Certain foods like gravy, rice, and oatmeal are easy to scorch or burn when cooked directly in your Instant Pot. But if you cook them using the pot-in-pot method, the indirect heat makes it nearly impossible to burn them!

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3. You’re Making Something Moist

Some of the best desserts are traditionally cooked in a water bath in the oven, including creme brûlée, cheesecake, custard, and lava cake. These types of desserts are ideal for pot-in-pot cooking because the steamy pot acts just like a water bath!

4. You’re Reheating Leftovers

Store leftovers in small, oven-safe containers, then use the pot-in-pot method to reheat them. Pressure cook your leftovers on High for 3-6 minutes, depending on the density of the food.

(Important Note: When using glass containers, let them come to room temperature before putting them in your Instant Pot! Rapidly heating a cold glass container can cause it to shatter.)

5. You Want To Steam Veggies Or Seafood

If you’re struggling to achieve perfectly steamed vegetables or seafood, try using the pot-in-pot method! It’s much gentler and makes overcooking less likely.

Place the food in a heat-safe bowl wrapped with two layers of tin foil, then place the bowl on a metal rack in your Instant Pot. Add a cup of water to the bottom of the pot and pressure cook on High for 0 minutes — just enough to pressurize the pot — then open the steam valve immediately.

6. You Want To Cook Multiple Foods At Once

You can cook two foods with roughly similar cooking times in the Instant Pot at once using the pot-in-pot method. Here are some tips that can help you get the hang of it:

• If one food has a longer cooking time, cook it by itself for a few minutes, then Quick Release the pressure, add the second food, and cook again until both items are finished.
• If one food will cook faster than the other, cover it with a double layer of tin foil to slow down the cooking process.
• Cut large pieces of meat into smaller pieces to speed up cooking times.
• Slow the cooking of quick-cooking foods by placing them in glass, ceramic, or silicone containers, rather than stainless steel.
• Cook slow-cooking foods at the bottom of the inner pot to speed them up.

3 Pot-In-Pot Meals To Try

1. Chili And Cornbread

Put chili into the bottom of your Instant Pot and set a metal rack in it. Pour cornbread batter into a small bread tin and set it on the rack. Pressure cook them together for 30 minutes, then allow 10 minutes of Natural Release.

2. Roast And Potatoes

Brown a small roast in your Instant Pot using the Sauté setting, then pour in 1 cup of broth and place a rack over it. Place potatoes on the rack and pressure cook for 35 minutes, followed by 10 minutes of Natural Release.

3. Curry And Rice

Cook your favorite curry in the bottom of the inner pot with a dish of rice raised above it on a metal steam rack. Pressure cook for 10 minutes, followed by 5 minutes of Natural Release.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Pot-in-Pot Cooking Method?

The pot-in-pot method is a cooking technique that involves cooking food in one or more smaller pans or containers inside your Instant Pot. You can use it to gently cook delicate dishes or cook multiple dishes at once.

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How Do I Cook Rice Using The Pot-in-Pot Method?

To cook rice using the pot-in-pot method, add the water and rice to an Instant Pot-friendly bowl or pan and cover the top with aluminum foil. Place the foil-wrapped pan on a trivet and cook on high pressure.

Can I Use Stainless Steel Pans For Pot-in-Pot Cooking?

Yes, stainless steel is great for pot-in-pot cooking in your pressure cooker. Make sure the pan or container is suitable for pressure cooking and isn’t too big.

What Pressure Release Method Do I Use For Pot-in-Pot Cooking?

Follow the pressure release instructions in the recipe once your food is done cooking.

Do I Need To Use The Pot-in-Pot Method With Every Instant Pot Recipe?

No, you don’t need to use the pot-in-pot method every time you cook something in your Instant Pot. It’s a useful option when cooking dishes that benefit from indirect heat or when you want to cook two things at the same time.

Conclusion

The pot-in-pot method makes your Instant Pot even more versatile by allowing you to cook a variety of dishes, or even more than one dish at a time. Elevating certain foods off the bottom of the cooker is an easy way to prevent them from getting scorched or burned!

Have you experimented with pot-in-pot cooking in your Instant Pot?