Can You Cook Chicken In An Instant Pot?

Instant Pots have become incredibly popular over the last few years and can be used for many dishes. The question to answer here is, can you cook a chicken in an instant pot? You may love cooking on an open fire but perhaps this time you are bringing more equipment and with access to electricity, an Instant Pot can help cook for a larger group.

How does an Instant Pot perform when cooking frozen chicken?

Cooking frozen chicken in an instant pot makes a quick, simple and delicious meal with little effort and next to no waste. Everyone loves campfire food and you can cook some great chicken dishes outdoors but the Instant Pot can speed up the process when you have hungry mouths to feed.

Simply add the frozen chicken breast and cook for 20 minutes at high pressure, or until the chicken is cooked. How long you need to cook your chicken breasts in the pressure cooker will depend on how large they are. Because the cooker uses steam to cook the chicken will come out juicy and tender.

Preparing the chicken and the cooker

Just make sure the chicken breasts are evenly arranged on the bottom of the Instant Pot so they cook evenly. It shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes to cook chicken in an Instant Pot, but if you plan to cook a whole chicken under high pressure, you may need a longer cooking time to ensure all the chicken is cooked through. You can cook the chicken straight from the freezer. No need to wait until it is defrosted. Instead, it just takes a little longer until the breast is cooked through.

Using other pressure cookers instead of an Instant Pot

If you have a brand other than the Instant Pot and are wondering how long you can cook chicken in a pressure cooker, the times listed above should be similar but you will need to read the handbook from your particular cooker.

When you cook chicken in a pressure cooker it takes some time before the pressure builds and the cooking actually begins.

Is defrosted chicken better?

It is best to defrost the chicken beforehand, but if this is not an option, you can cook it longer without overcooking it, especially when it comes to boneless, skinless chicken breasts. The convenience of an Instant Pot is that it cooks with high pressure so it can cook much faster than you would with an oven. Frozen chicken is no problem but some people prefer to use defrosted meat. If you were cooking outdoors then the Instant Pot is great for camping trips as long as you have access to electricity.

Why are Instant Pots good for cooking meat?

The Instant Pot is the best way to cook chicken frozen and still get a juicy, moist result. Because the cooking process uses moisture and not hot air it stays juicy and doesn’t dry out. If you have a small instant pot, you can cook the chicken in pieces. Larger pots can handle a whole chicken.

What about crispy skin?

One negative of using an Instant Pot is that it doesn’t really dry. No oil is used and with the steam inside the cooker, it can leave skin soft and pale. Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with this it may not be the desired look and texture. To get around this use a broiler to finish the skin. When you have finished cooking the chicken, place it on a frying pan and place it under the broiler for a few minutes to obtain the desired color and crispness.

What other ways can you cook chicken in an Instant Pot?

There are many more recipes and ways to cook chicken than just baking it. You can use the pot to make sauces and stews. Chicken soup is an easy dish to use the cooker for.

The instant pot will work just as well with a frozen turkey and frozen beef. Make chicken stock in the cooker or cook a whole chicken with broth, olive oil, pepper, garlic, and salt to taste. Ideally, Instant Pots don’t use oil but occasionally a recipe calls for a small amount to be added. The pot has a saute mode built into it too for when you want to fry the meat a little.

How to select an instant pot

Safety

What do you know about pressure cookers? They were mostly associated with a rattling sound and explosions in the past. However, the newer models such as instant pots have changed the narrative as they are quiet and safe. Check on the reviews from past customers and experts in this field before you buy that instant pot.

The features

There are different types of instant pots in the market today. These models come with different features to suit different needs. You must thus determine what you want to achieve from the instant point to avoid confusion when you get into the market. Some of the features that you can get in a typical instant pot include; steaming, cake making, Sauté/sear feature, yogurt making, steaming, slow cooking, rice cooking, high and low pressure, to mention just a few.

Understand the limitations

Getting the right tool will not make you a celebrated cook overnight. You must also take your part in food preparation if you want your cooked chicken to turn out well. It is good to note that you are not likely to get crispy food when you use an instant pot.

In conclusion

The Instant Pot can cook chicken without any problems. It can cook boneless, skinless breasts, thighs with bone and skin on, or even a whole chicken. Used in combination with a broiler or grill the chicken can come out quickly, moist, succulent, and with golden crispy skin. With an Instant Pot the breasts will not dry out unlike roasting in an oven may lead to. Chicken is ideal meat for many recipes and with the pot, it is easy to make curries, noodle soups, broths, stock, and stews. For dessert, you can even make brownies, other sweet treats, and cakes in the pot.