Instant pots are so effective at boiling water that they take half the time a regular kettle would. To boil water, fill the instant pot, close the lid and valve, and set the timer and temperature. Leave the instant pot to release internal pressure after it has finished boiling.
Many experienced chefs agree that learning how to boil water right is the first step in knowing how to cook. I agree with them since it is often the first step in making many meals. I also boil water to test out any new cooking appliance.
You may be surprised to know that instant pots can perform basic tasks like boiling water. But sometimes, it’s the mundane things that show you if an appliance is of high quality or not.
After years of using these appliances, what happens when your kettles and pots are in use, but you need to boil water? Can you rely on your instant pot, or are they too advanced to boil water correctly?
How long would boiling water take in instant pots? What are the options to choose from when using instant pots to boil water? Does it matter if the lid is open or not? These are some of the issues to be discussed in this article.
Can You Boil Water In Instant Pot?
Yes, instant pots are effective in boiling water. Brand new instant pots come with many features that may be intimidating or even confusing. The best way to test it out is not to fill it up with pasta or beans. Simply boiling water may be the best way to go.
Instant pots have an effective insulation system that makes them more energy-efficient than regular kettles. They are so good at boiling water that you can use them to replace kettles altogether.
If you want to know how effective your appliance is, you can boil water and see how it responds. This would give you an understanding of whether the appliance is working properly.
How To Boil Water In An Instant Pot
Instant pots usually need sufficient water to do any cooking. Thus, you need at least one cup of water in the instant pot before you can boil safely. It is advisable to put in more cups of water than you need, but never more than two-thirds of its maximum capacity.
Here are the steps to boil water using an instant pot:
- Fill up the inner cup with the volume of water you need
- Close the lid of the instant pot and lock the valve
- Manually set the timer to 5 minutes.
- Set it to high if your instant pot allows for low or high pressure.
- Leave the instant pot to run for the time limit.
- You should hear a beeping sound when it is done.
- Hit the off button and allow the pot to release the pressure.
- Remove the lid when you are ready to use the hot water.
- If you are not ready to use the water, you can use the Keep Warm function. This would maintain the temperature till you are ready.
- Pour out the boiled water with caution.
How Boil Water In Instant Pot Using Sauté Function
You can also boil water using your instant pot’s ‘sauté’ function. It may seem complicated, but it really isn’t. Here is how to boil water in your instant pot using the sauté button.
- Go to the control panel and press the ‘sauté’ button.
- Select the required temperature you prefer
- Leave the instant pot to rise to the required temperature.
- Once it hits this temperature, the screen would indicate hot, and the process begins.
- Fill the pot with the amount of water you want to boil.
- Leave the instant pot to complete a sauté cycle of about 30 minutes.
- You can stop this cycle at any time by pressing the ‘cancel’ or ‘keep warm’ button.
Different Kinds Of Instant Pot Boil Function
Instant pots have different boiling options; you can use the full boil or slow boil. When you boil water normally in an instant pot, it would most likely use the full boil. However, if you use the sauté function, the water will slowly boil.
When water full boils, it gets to the actual boiling point, which is 212 degrees Fahrenheit. At this temperature, the water boils more violently with fast-moving bubbles.
The water boils at about 205 degrees Fahrenheit with a slow boil, which is a less violent and intense temperature. Naturally, a slow boil would take longer than a full boil, so the sauté process takes about 30 minutes.
How Safe Is It To Boil Water In An Instant Pot?
Safety is an important factor to consider when using instant pots. The two major safety issues in boiling water in kettles are that they tend to burn or splatter when boiling.
The body of a regular kettle is not sufficiently insulated and would get hot to the touch when they begin to boil. This can cause painful burns if you accidentally touch the kettle’s body. That is not an issue with instant pots.
They have a robust insulating system that shields the hot interior from the outer surface walls. You would not get burnt if you touched the instant pot while boiling water.
When water is full boiled, they tend to be very violent. This causes water splatter and steam splatter in regular kettles, both hazardous. If you accidentally position yourself in the path of escaping steam, you could get burned. Steam burns are more painful than hot water burns, but you don’t want either of them.
Instant pots protect from burns and all forms of splatter. You don’t have to worry about this because you are protected by a safety lid that serves as a shield. This makes instant pots infinitely safer than regular kettles.
How Long Does It Take To Boil Water In An Instant Pot?
Boiling water with an instant pot will take time, depending on different factors. The volume of the water and the level of heat are two of the major factors.
Averagely, boiling water in an instant pot should only take about 4 to 8 minutes. When set to a high temperature, the same volume of water can take about 6 minutes to boil.
Can You Boil Water With The Instant Pot Lid Open?
Yes, boiling water with the instant pot lid open is possible. However, instant pot manufacturers always recommend that instant pots be tightly closed when it is functioning, regardless of what you’re cooking.
However, you can circumvent this, especially if you boil water using the sauté option. It would be best if you did not make this a practice when using instant pots for any other thing.
Are Regular Kettles Better Than Instant Pots?
When comparing electric kettles to the instant pot for boiling water, one way to assess this is through speed. We have established that instant pots are faster than regular electric kettles.
They boil water in less than half the time it would take regular kettles, thereby saving you energy in the long run. However, the best way to measure which is better is through efficiency.
Power efficiency is a more precise criterion that deals with how much energy is lost during the boiling process.
The truth is that there is no 100% efficient machine, but electric kettles are generally known to be about 80% efficient. On the other hand, Instant pots are thought to be more efficient than kettles for many reasons.
Instant pots have double-insulation, which keeps all the energy within. They also don’t have a blowhole where pressure and hot air can escape.
FAQs On how to boil water in instant pot
Can I Make Instant Pots My Default Kettle?
Yes, you can. However, there is a major cost difference between instant pots and regular kettles that you need to consider. Instant pots can cost up to about 100 dollars, while regular electric kettles are just about 20 dollars.
What Other Functions Can An Instant Pot Do, Apart From Cooking?
Instant Pots work for various cooking processes, including sterilizing pacifiers, sippy cups, and other baby utensils. You can also make boiled or scrambled eggs, custards, puddings, etc.
