9 Foods You Should Never Cook In an Instant Pot

By Jaclyn Anglis Updated: September 6, 2019

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cooking,
food

You’ve probably heard that you can cook just about anything in an Instant Pot. While that might technically be true, just because you can prepare a certain meal in this appliance doesn’t always mean that you should. From recipes that turn into a soggy mess to foods that can actually put your health at risk when cooked in an Instant Pot, it’s good to learn which dishes are best prepared with other methods. Trust us: You’ll be glad you did!

Scroll down to see some of the foods you should never cook in an Instant Pot and why. The reasons might surprise you!

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Fried Food

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Fried Food

The moist, enclosed cooking environment of an Instant Pot often leads to soggier versions of your favorite fried foods, according to Food Network Canada. Let's face it: If your fried chicken isn't crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, what's the point?
Bread

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Bread

If you're hoping to replicate crispy, oven-baked bread in your Instant Pot, think again. According to Taste of Home, the appliance will render your "bread" totally crustless due to the way it cooks. Think more steamed instead of truly baked — just not the same.
Pies

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Pies

Unless you like your pies wet and spongey, don't bother making them in your Instant Pot. According to Huffington Post, trying to cook this delicate pastry dish in the pressure cooker often leads to soggy, messy results.
Milk Based Sauces

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Milk-Based Sauces

According to Food Network Canada, the high-heat function of the Instant Pot can lead to some nasty curdling and separation of a creamy sauce. Yuck — no one wants that on their pasta!
Jellies Jams

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Jellies or Jams

Since canning is often done in a pressure cooker, you might be tempted to whip up your own jar of jam or jelly. Here's why you shouldn't: You can't monitor the temperature of what you're canning in an Instant Pot like you would in a pressure cooker traditionally used for canning, according to CNET. And if you end up cooking or sealing any canned food improperly, you can put yourself at risk of food poisoning. Not worth it!
Stir Fries

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Stir-Fries

You might think that the high heat of an Instant Pot would work magic on a stir-fry dish. But according to Taste of Home, the Instant Pot's surface area isn't large enough to get the signature sear that makes this style of cooking oh-so-tasty. And let's face it, when we eat a stir-fry — like this ginger-sesame beef dish — we want to enjoy it as much as we can.
Rare Steak

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Rare or Medium-Rare Steak

While an Instant Pot does a great job cooking tough cuts of meat like brisket, it's not a great option for meat best-eaten rare or medium-rare, such as steak. According to CNET, it's simply no match for a grill in this case — especially since you can't even see your steak cooking in an Instant Pot.
Cookies

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Cookies

Because of the moisture and pressure building inside the Instant Pot, you're just not going to get the same chewiness or soft middle of a cookie that you'd get from an oven, according to Huffington Post. Plus, cookies don't take all that long to bake, so it's not like you'd be saving much time by skipping the oven.
Quick Cooking

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Quick-Cooking Foods

Don't even think about putting quick-cooking oatmeal or fast rice into your Instant Pot. According to AOL, the Instant Pot's natural release can take 10 to 15 minutes to fully finish the cooking job, which is way, way longer than most quick-cooking foods call for. Play it safe by sticking with the instructions on the label — you'll save yourself time and an icky, gummy mess. Talk about a win-win!