Quick, Easy Meals in the Instant Pot

What are the advantages of cooking meals in an Instant Pot?

For many of us, once you try cooking your Mitchell’s mixes in the Instant Pot you never look back! There are tons of reasons we love it and this one is a biggie ... one-pot meals mean no more of that dreaded mound of dirty pots, pans and dishes in the sink! 

Cooking in the IP offers even more benefits: 

• Healthier, Tastier Meals. Foods cooked in an Instant Pot will retain more of their minerals and nutrients so they are more flavourful AND healthier. No more boiling or steaming away all that great taste! And did we mention, meats come out nice and tender!

• Super Convenient. The IP is automatic. No need to watch timers, continuously stir a pot or remove food at just the right time to prevent over or under-cooking. Set it and forget it! This gives you back some valuable time to do other things.

• Energy Saving. You are saving energy when you cook in an Instant Pot vs having multiple burners on your stove running. We love the idea of saving on the electricity bill!

• Keeps Things Cool. The kitchen stays cooler! In the middle of summer there is no way we want to fire up anything that will add more heat to our space so having the IP as an option allowing you to have a hearty hot meal without sweating like crazy to make it happen is something we can really get behind.

• Speedy Cook Times. It’s quick taking sometimes up to 70% less cooking time. All those hungry bellies are going to be pretty happy about that!

• Versatile & Affordable. Some Instant Pots do much more than pressure cook. Many give you the option to slow cook, sauté, steam or warm foods. These appliances come in a variety of sizes and at very reasonable prices (watch for sales to get an even better deal!). 

Just a few simple steps and dinner is ready to be served! 

Does the thought of cooking meals in a pressure cooker make you a little nervous?

Pressure cookers can be intimidating to some, but familiarizing yourself with the safety features of any appliance you may be considering purchasing can help to put your mind at ease. Many manufacturers offer online manuals and resources to assist you in conducting research prior to making a decision. Instant Pot offers a comprehensive range of resources, including a section that provides a detailed explanation of their Safety Mechanisms. You can find these resources HERE. 

Where would you find Instant Pot recipes for Mitchell’s mixes?

If you’ve tried our mixes before you know there is not a spot of room left on our product labels so while you find the stovetop instructions on that back label, you would find our Instant Pot recipes on our website. 

Just choose the product you are wanting to make, locate the drop-down menu for “Instant Pot Cooking” and away you go! 

PRO TIP: Do you prefer softer beans? Allow your Instant Pot to "Natural Release" rather than doing a "Quick Release".

(The natural release function refers to the process of allowing the pressure inside a pot to decrease gradually on its own. On the other hand, quick release is the opposite of natural release and involves opening the steam release valve to depressurize the pot more quickly.)

Order Old Fashioned Beef Barley Soup here. 

Bundle Up & Save

If you want to stock up on a few mixes so they are handy the next time you need a quick, easy meal idea for the family, we have a couple of Bundles filled with a few of our faves! Buying a Bundle means you’ll save some bucks PLUS shipping is FREE. Yay! 

Explore Bundles HERE. 

We’ve also created an Instant Pot Collection with the full range of mixes that we’ve converted into an IP recipe. You can find that right HERE. 

Troubleshooting Tip: That Dreaded Burn Notice 

The occurrence of a burn notice can be inconvenient and slightly unsettling when it first happens!

What is the burn notice? 

Thanks to some excellent safety features, this notice occurs when the IP detects that the inner pot has gotten too hot. It will automatically stop the cooking process to prevent your food from overcooking. Usually, this happens when something has started to burn on the bottom of the pot. 

What to do if this happens?

1. Don’t be alarmed. Press Cancel to turn the pot off.
2. Quick release the steam and pressure from the pot by carefully turning the steam valve to the venting position. (Did you have the valve set to the sealing position? If not, too much liquid may have evaporated, preventing the pot from reaching pressure.)
3. Check that the sealing ring is clean, fitted in place properly, and not damaged. Check that the float valve is clean.
4. Stir to check if there is food stuck to the bottom of the inner pot. Scrape up and remove any burnt food from the pot. If a large area of the pot has burnt food, transfer the food that is not burnt to another container, clean the inner pot, and return the food to the pot. Add more liquid as needed, to make sure you have at least one cup of liquid in the pot.
5. Check that the heating element in the cooker base is clean as well as the underside of the inner pot.
6. Return the inner pot to the Instant Pot base, close the lid, and turn the steam release valve to the sealing position. Restart the pressure cooking cycle. You should be good to go! 

PRO TIP: Purchase an extra inner pot so you have a clean pot handy to switch out plus you can store one meal in the pot while you make another meal in your 2nd pot! You can even buy lids that fit the top :)

How to prevent the burn notice in the future. 

Check the sealing ring and venting position
If your sealing ring isn’t installed properly or you are venting steam, the liquid in the pot will evaporate too quickly, and you may end up seeing a burn notice.

Ensure there is enough liquid
Pressure cookers build pressure from steam inside the pot, so if there isn’t enough liquid, there won’t be enough steam. A good rule of thumb is that you should have at least 1 cup of liquid in the pot to reach pressure (potentially more for larger pots).

De-glaze the pot
When you are finished browning meats or sauteeing veggies at the beginning of the recipe, add a small amount of water or stock and scrape the bottom to loosen the food particles attached to the bottom of the pot. This will prevent them from scorching once the pot heats up during the cooking cycle.

Add the right ingredients at the right time
Typically, IP recipes will give instructions on what to add and when (and unless it calls for you to stir, you shouldn’t). Liquids and the least starchy or dense ingredients are added first. Also, note that dairy and cornstarch will thicken your food, so they are best added after the meal has cooked.

Inspect your Instant Pot
Some of the most common reasons for Instant Pot failures include using a damaged or dirty sealing ring, not closing the lid completely, and a dirty Instant Pot. If there is food debris present in the Instant Pot, it can block a part, such as the float valve, and compromise the pressure. Additionally, the debris may burn up along the inner pot's underside.

We've got lots of meal options your family will love! 

There’s a wide variety of over 15 flavors to choose from, ensuring that everyone will find something to their liking. From soups and chowders, to chili and stew, you’ll relish the taste and generous portion sizes (8-10 servings) that each Mitchell’s mixes provides. Savor homemade, wholesome meals that are a healthy option that won’t take up too much of your time to create. 

We hope you will try Instant Pot cooking if you haven't already. Please accept this limited offer to get 10% off your next online order! Enjoy! 

• Discounts not applicable on Bundles, Trios or on any product that is already discounted. While supplies last.
• Please note that discounts/offers are for a limited time and may be discontinued at any time.
• One-time use only, please.