The Instant Pot Made Me a Person Who Meal Preps, and I Resent It for Being Right

Submitted by: Lisa K., Minneapolis, MN

Meta Description: I made fun of Instant Pot people for two years, bought one after a dinner party gone wrong, and am now exactly the person I mocked. The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 review I owe the internet.

TL;DR: I spent two years mocking Instant Pot culture. I bought one after a dinner party where a friend made pot roast in 45 minutes using what looked like magic. It is magic. I meal prep on Sundays now. I have become the enemy. The food is incredible.

My History of Mocking Instant Pot People

For approximately two years, I was insufferable about the Instant Pot. “It’s just a slow cooker with a clock,” I would say. “You can do everything an Instant Pot does with existing appliances.” I said this to multiple people. With confidence.

Then I went to my friend Kate’s dinner party. She made pot roast. In 45 minutes. From raw ingredients. It was tender, it was rich, it was the best pot roast I had ever eaten.

“How long did that take to prep?” I asked.

“Fifteen minutes,” she said. “Then the Instant Pot handled it.”

I looked at the Instant Pot on her counter. It looked back at me. I had been wrong for two years and we both knew it.

I bought one at midnight that night, two glasses of wine into my shame spiral. I have used it every week since.

What Is the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1?

The Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 is a multi-cooker that replaces seven appliances: pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer, and yogurt maker. The pressure cooker function is the star — it dramatically reduces cooking time for dishes that normally take hours.

Pot roast that takes 4 hours in the oven: 45 minutes in the Instant Pot. Dried beans that take overnight: 30 minutes. Frozen chicken breasts: 15 minutes straight from frozen.

Why the Pressure Cooker Function Changes Everything

• 10x speed vs conventional cooking — connective tissue breaks down quickly under pressure; tough cuts become tender fast
• Sealed environment — nothing escapes, so flavors concentrate and deepen
• Hands-off cooking — set it, press a button, walk away. The Instant Pot manages everything.
• One pot cleanup — the whole meal cooks in the liner; one pot to wash
• From frozen — works with frozen chicken, pork, and beef. No thawing required.

My Conversion: Documented Evidence

Week 1: Made Kate’s pot roast. Used her recipe exactly. Results were identical to what I’d eaten at her house. I ate pot roast twice in three days because I had made too much.

Week 2: Made a whole chicken in 25 minutes. Whole. Chicken. Twenty-five minutes. I then ate chicken for four days and wasn’t sad about it once.

Week 3: I started meal prepping. I, Lisa K., who had openly mocked meal preppers, was standing in my kitchen on a Sunday afternoon batch-cooking grains and proteins. I felt many things.

Month 2: My grocery bill went down. I’m eating better food. My weeknight cooking time is 15 minutes because everything important is done on Sunday.

I owe Kate an apology. I owe the Instant Pot community an apology.

Recipes to Start With

1. Pot roast — 3-4lb chuck roast, 45 minutes on high pressure, 15 minute natural release. Life-changing.
2. Pulled chicken — frozen breasts directly in, 25 minutes, shred. Use on everything.
3. Rice — 1:1 ratio rice to water, 3 minutes on high, 10 minute rest. Perfect every time.
4. Hard boiled eggs — 5 minutes, cold water immediately. Easiest peel of your life.

FAQ: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1

Q: Is it really faster than the oven? A: For braised and stewed dishes, significantly yes. A pot roast that takes 4 hours in the oven takes 45-60 minutes in the Instant Pot.

Q: Is the pressure cooker scary? A: Modern Instant Pot safety features make it extremely safe. The lid locks under pressure and won’t open until depressurized. Follow the instructions and it’s straightforward.

Q: Does it replace my slow cooker? A: It has a slow cooker function. For dishes you specifically want to slow cook all day, a dedicated slow cooker may perform slightly better. For everything else, the Instant Pot is more versatile.

Q: What size should I buy? A: 6-quart is the most popular for 1-4 people. 8-quart if you batch cook for larger quantities.

Bought after being proven wrong at a dinner party. Now I meal prep on Sundays. I am who I feared I’d become. The food is worth it. See the Instant Pot →