Is the 8-quart Instant Pot ever TOO BIG?
…asked Don S. after watching some of my past #AskWardee videos on the Instant Pot, where I share that my favorite size is the 8 quart.
Such a great question!
Here’s my answer, Don. 🙂
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The Question: Is The 8-Quart Instant Pot Ever Too Big?
Don S. asked:
Great info regarding Instant Pot. Thank you.
Was there ever a situation when you felt the 8qt Instant Pot was TOO large to produce the food quality you wanted, or it cooked inefficiently or improperly?
Example: when only making 4 quarts of yogurt, or when preparing a small quantity of food. Always nice to have the bigger capacity if needed (especially for canning), as long as it doesn’t negatively affect in other ways.
Agree with you about the Duo being an all-around suitable model. Thank you.
Great YT Channel!
Don
Don, such a great question! Thank you for asking it!
Is The 8-Quart Instant Pot Ever Too Big?
Honestly… no.
For awhile, I had a 6-quart Instant Pot along with our two 8-quart Instant Pots.
Then I gave the 6-quart to my daughter Haniya so she could have two Instant Pots in her house. (She previously had one 6-quart.)
Have I missed having the 6-quart Instant Pot since then? Not at all.
In fact, the only time I wanted it back was to record this episode of #AskWardee so I could show the two sizes side-by-side in an Instant Pot model comparison. 😉
The Specifics, Though?
You mentioned a specific example of doing a smaller quantity of yogurt, like 4 quarts. It is no trouble to do just a couple quarts of yogurt in a larger Instant Pot like the 8-quart DUO.
(By the way, for everyone else, the DUO is my favorite model and I shared why here.)
What about other foods?
Smaller quantities of foods in stackable pans, Pyrex bowls, or steamer baskets actually do better in the larger Instant Pot than the smaller. Everything fits better and comes out more easily, etc.
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When you’re sauteing or melting small quantities (like we do salves and such like this)…. it’s no difference using the 8-quart Instant Pot. It works just as well.
The size is just fine, and I’ve never felt it cooked inefficiently or improperly, even with small amounts of food, whether that’s rice, beans, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, or anything else.
The Bottom Line
As you know, when cooking under pressure, there is a minimum liquid requirement.
The Instant Pot DUO manual states: “Always add at least 18 fl oz / 500 mL of liquid for minimum liquid requirement.”
18 fluid ounces is about 2.25 cups.
So as long as you have that much liquid in there, you can safely pressure cook any amount of food, large or small.
If you’re not pressure cooking, you don’t have to follow the minimum liquid rule.
And please keep in mind that because of the extra space, it may take a little longer to pressurize. I have never found this extra time to be significant. And it’s the case whether or not you have large or small quantities of food inside.
What About Canning?
Don, you said: “Always nice to have the bigger capacity if needed (especially for canning)” and I want to be sure to clarify that we do NOT recommend the Instant Pot be used for canning.
You see, we err on the side of caution when it comes to pressure canning.
According to the National Center for Home Food Preservation, there is no ‘electric’ pressure cooker/canner that’s safe for home canning.
Additionally, because the pressure cooker is regulated by a pressure sensor instead of a thermometer, the actual temperature may change based on the elevation of your location. Therefore it may not achieve a high enough temperature to can food safely.
With both of these things in mind, we cannot and do NOT recommend anyone use the Instant Pot for home pressure canning.
What Is The Instant Pot?
In case you don’t know, the Instant Pot is an electric appliance that allows you to pressure cook, slow cook, saute, and much more! We love it!
More Instant Pot Info, Reviews, and Recipes…
Check out my previous #AskWardee: Which Instant Pot Should I Buy? Which Size And Model Is Best For My Family?
And if you haven’t already, download our FREE recipe: Instant Pot Sourdough Cornbread. It’s sooo yummy, healthy, and easy!
We also have extensive archives of Instant Pot recipes here!
Any Questions Or Comments?
If you have other questions or comments about your own experience with the 8-quart Instant Pot, be sure to leave them in the comments!
Helpful Links
- 8-quart Instant Pot (or 6-quart is here)
- FREE Download: Instant Pot Sourdough Cornbread Recipe
- #AskWardee 048: Which Instant Pot Should I Buy? Which Size And Model Is Best For My Family?
- 6 Lessons Learned From 2+ Years Of Pressure Cooking
- Divided steamer basket
- Stackable pans
More Helpful Instant Pot Articles
- How To Clean Your Instant Pot — Naturally & Easily! #AskWardee 087
- Which Instant Pot Should I Buy? Which Size And Model Is Best For My Family? #AskWardee 048
- How Do I Reheat Food In The Instant Pot? #AskWardee 047
- How To Reheat Frozen Food In The Instant Pot {Instant Pot Freezer Meals} #AskWardee 079
- 11 Surprising Things You Can Make In The Instant Pot
- How to Use Your Instant Pot (+ Easy Instant Pot Instructions)
- How To Convert Slow Cooker Recipes To Pressure Cooker
What Is The #AskWardee Show?
The #AskWardee Show is the live weekly show devoted to answering your niggling questions about Traditional Cooking: whether it’s your sourdough starter, your sauerkraut, preserving foods, broth, superfoods or anything else to do with Traditional Cooking or your GNOWFGLINS lifestyle.
I share tips and resources, plus answer your questions about Traditional Cooking!
The Details
When: Wednesdays at 10am Pacific / 1pm Eastern
Where: Traditional Cooking School on Facebook Live or @TradCookSchool on Instagram Live
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Do you have an 8-quart Instant Pot? Do you ever feel it’s too big?
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where do you get those inserts I am so new to this I can not cook so I am trying this thanks for your help Geno
Hi Geno,
You can find links to the Instant Pot accessories (stackable pans or divided steamer baskets) Wardee refers to in the Helpful Links section above.
~ Vicki, TCS Customer Success Team
Hello, I have had a 6 quart instant pot for two years and just got the 8 quart to replace it. I am wondering about the amount of liquid you need for 8 quart. Needing about 2 cups of liquid, does that mean you cannot make any recipe in the 8 quart that only calls for 1 cup of liquid? How do you make that work? Also, how can I keep making the recipes I made in my 6 quart, but increase the amount to feed more people as I have the 8 quart now. Is that possible? I realize I cannot just double the recipe as that would be too much! Thanks!
Hi, Kirsti.
You do not need to have exactly two cups of liquid. I spoke to two of our Customer Success Team members with 8-quart versions and they have used as little as one cup with no issue.
Regarding doubling, you need to go by the max fill line on the inner pot for your model. Also, keep in mind there is a max fill for pressure cooking and a max fill for other options (refer to your inner pot or manual for the specific amounts). Some recipes you may have to make 1 1/2 times instead of 2. Also, the liquid does not always need to be doubled depending on what you’re cooking. If I’m pressure cooking hamburger I use only one cup of water no matter if I’m doing two or three pounds because the burger will make its own juice.
~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team
I bought an 8 qt recently but noticed the store had 6 qt pots for sale in the display. I’m curious if the 6 qt pot can be used in the 8 qt appliance. Thanks- I’m looking forward to using my Instapot!
Hi, Sandra. We would not recommend using the 6 quart pot in the 8 quart Instant Pot. ~Danielle, TCS Customer Success Team
I am wondering why they don’t make a 10 quart or 12 quart instant pot. 8 isn’t that much bigger than 6. It seems like a no brainer to make a really big one, unless there are technical limitations.