The Instant Pot is the hottest cooking innovation to come along in a while. In this post, we’ll take a look at each of the Instant Pot buttons and note what they do.
There are actually several versions of the Instant Pot. There are Ultra and Duo, Lux and Max and Mini. At last count, I believe there are 8 different types of Instant Pots.
Each has different benefits and as such, some have different buttons and can do different things.
Must Read: 15 Instant Pot Tips for New Users (and a FREE printable).
Instant Pot Buttons
Delay Start
Set the cooking function you are going to use and set the delayed start time of your choosing.
Keep Warm/Cancel
When the cooking time has ended, the Instant Pot will switch to Keep Warm. It will be kept at 145–172°F for up to 10 hours.
You’ll also push this button when you are ready to turn off the Instant Pot or when you need to cancel something.
Pressure
Switch between high and low pressure.
Adjust
Adjust cooking times to LESS and MORE. This is also the button that allows you to change the temperature for Slow Cook or Saute.
Manual/Pressure Cook
Press this button, then use the [+] and [-] buttons to change the cook time. You’ll hear a beep when it’s starting the pressure cooking.
Slow Cook
This button turns your Instant Pot into a slow cooker.
Saute
You can brown meats and saute vegetables using this setting. The really cool thing is that if you’re using the Slow Cooker setting, you can also use Saute to prep the meat and onions, for example.
Wait until it displays HOT before you start.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a little trickier than some of the other things you can make in your Instant Pot. It involves boiling the milk in the pot and incubating the yogurt. More on that soon!
Soup/Broth
Cooks at high pressure for 30 minutes. Try: Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Meat/Stew
Cooks at high pressure for 35 minutes. Try: Instant Pot Beef Stew
Bean/Chili
Cooks at high pressure for 30 minutes.
Poultry
Cooks at high pressure for 15 minutes.
Rice
Automatically adjusts cooking time based upon the weight of the rice.
Multigrain
For rice and grains that take longer to cook. It cooks at high pressure for 40 minutes.
Steam
High pressure for 10 minutes.
Cake
Cooks at high pressure for 30 minutes to make soft and moist cakes.
Egg
Cooks at high pressure for 10 minutes.
Less – Normal – More
Press the same cooking button repeatedly until you get to the setting you need.
[-] and [+] Buttons
Adjust the cooking times up or down.
Which Instant Pot Buttons Do You Use Most?
What version of the IP do you have? Are you glad you bought it, or are there things you wish you’d known beforehand?
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124 comments on “Instant Pot Buttons for Beginners”
I got one for Christmas the directions for using it are very vague felt I had to guess at everything to use it for the first time cooking as far as settings and explanations of the buttons and what is the best choice for cooking . Some beginner recipes would be a bonus.
I agree! Directions are not very helpful for first-time users. So it makes it too intimidating to try.
Why do I have a clear seal AND a red seal. The instruction book doesn’t say anything about this
Ones for sweet ones for savory. It’s just an extraÂ
I don’t understand the “natural release”. How long after cooking can you open the lid? How long does the natural release take?
I am so afraid to use it, I do cook rice in it but I’m intimidated by it had to go buy a crock pot because I’m afraid of the IP. Is there a IP cooking for dummy’s out there.
I still do not pill how to use all of the buttons but everything we have ever made in it, turned out amazing! I love that I can get off of work at 5 and come home and make a meal I’m really takes half a day in an hour or so.
That only takes half a day not I’m really takes LOL
Thanks this helped me alot just wish I had it so I could go back & refresh my memory every now &then. Love My Ipot
I have the old old one. It has teflon pot. I hate it. I scorced the pot. I want the stainless steel pot. I dont want to buy a whole new machine.
Do you know where I can buy the newer pots?
I even called Customer Service. The person who answered was no help.
You can get a stainless pot and more!! Try amazon for instant pot accessories!
Amazon sells stainless steel insert. Â Â
I bought the mini and love it so much I wished I had a bigger one.Â
I have an IP Lux model 6 quart. I was intimidated by it at first, it sat in the box for 2 months. Then one day I started reading the instructions and decided to go for it. I haven’t looked back since, I’ve cooked roast, ribs, made split pea soup a d chicken noodle soup. It’s my go to pot.
Debbie, May I have your pea soup recipe? I’d love to make it in the IP and am new to this type of cooking.Â
Yogurt…a gallon of 1% milk, 1/2 to 3/4cup nonfat instant milk powder in inner pan. Push yogurt button to boil. When it says yogurt, take out inner pan to cool. Usually to just about 100 degrees. Add 3 or 4 Tablespoons plain yogurt
. Mix well (be sure to skim boiled milk, first). Replace inner pan. You can remove rubber ring on lid if it has strong garlic, onion, etc., smell. Put lid on, no pressure. Push yogurt button till it reads 15, it will roll back to zero. When it says 7:30 up to 8 hours, remove and cool. Can strain for Greek Yogurt, add sweetener, fruit, etc. Leave plain and use as sour cream.
I make yogurt once a week in  my Instant Pot.  8 cups of 2% milk.  Heat and then cool – following directions.  Add yogurt starter (plain yogurt from grocery store  [just make sure it has active cultures] or 3 TBSP from your previously made batch).  I do let mine stay in Instant Pot anywhere from 8 – 12 hours.  I strain through a coffee filter  – saving the whey that drains off to use in our daily smoothies.  You now have Greek yogurt.  Great on cereal with fruit and in smoothies.  IP is a delightful addition to my kitchen appliances.