Most people buy an Instant Pot to cook rice, soups, and quick dinners — then stop there.
But here’s the truth: electric pressure cookers are one of the most underused appliances in modern kitchens.
Your Instant Pot can replace multiple appliances, save hours every week, cut food costs, and simplify meal prep — if you know how to use it fully.
This guide reveals 10 unexpected Instant Pot hacks that turn it into a baking tool, sterilizer, yogurt maker, meal-prep machine, and more.
Why Instant Pot Hacks Are Trending Right Now
Searches for Instant Pot hacks, pressure cooker tricks, and multi-cooker recipes have surged because people want:
- Faster cooking
- Lower electricity bills
- Fewer kitchen gadgets
- More homemade food
- Easier meal prep
Modern electric pressure cookers combine 7+ appliances in one, making them one of the most versatile tools in any kitchen.
Instant Pot Safety Basics (Read Before Trying Any Hack)
To use these hacks safely, follow these essential rules:
Always:
- Check sealing ring placement
- Use at least 1 cup of liquid
- Fill only ⅔ full (½ for beans/grains)
- Keep the steam valve clean
- Never force the lid open
Altitude tip: Add 5–15% extra cook time above 900m elevation.
Now that you understand how to use your Instant Pot safely, let’s explore the fun part — the surprising ways this appliance can replace several tools in your kitchen. We’ll start with one of the most unexpected uses: baking.
Hack #1 — Bake Cakes & Cheesecake Without an Oven
Yes — your Instant Pot can act like a mini steam oven.
The moist heat prevents cracking and drying, making it perfect for:
- Cheesecake
- Brownies
- Lava cake
- Banana bread
- Bread pudding
Basic method
- Add 1 cup of water
- Place trivet
- Put dessert in a 6–7-inch pan
- Cover with foil
- Cook 20–35 minutes + natural release
Why it works: Steam transfers heat more efficiently than dry oven air.
Hack #2 — Homemade Yogurt in 8 Hours
The Instant Pot’s yogurt mode automatically maintains the perfect probiotic temperature.
Benefits of homemade yogurt
- No preservatives or stabilizers
- 50–70% cheaper
- Adjustable thickness & tang
- Higher probiotic content
- Less plastic waste
Simple yogurt method
- Heat milk to 180°F / 82°C
- Cool to 110°F / 43°C
- Add starter yogurt
- Incubate 8–10 hours
- Chill 4 hours
Strain to make Greek yogurt.
Once you realize your Instant Pot can function as a controlled incubator, you begin to see its broader potential beyond cooking. That same high-temperature steam environment also makes it incredibly useful for sterilization.
Hack #3 — Sterilize Baby Bottles & Kitchen Tools
Instant Pots reach 240–250°F, the same range as steam sterilizers.
You can sterilize:
- Baby bottles & pacifiers
- Canning jars
- Utensils
- Makeup brushes
- Cloth masks
How to sterilize
- 1 cup water
- Items on the rack
- High pressure for 3 minutes
- Natural release
This saves counter space and electricity.
From sterilizing to fermenting, the Instant Pot excels at temperature control. That precision also makes it perfect for one of the trickiest steps in baking: proofing bread dough.
Hack #4 — Perfect Bread Dough Proofing
Cold kitchens ruin bread rises.
Your Instant Pot creates a draft-free proofing chamber.
Steps
- Dough in an oiled bowl
- Place on a trivet
- Yogurt (Low) mode
- Lid closed but NOT sealed
- Proof 30–60 minutes
Perfect for winter baking.
With breakfast and baking covered, let’s move into one of the most viral Instant Pot tricks that has converted millions of users: perfect hard-boiled eggs.
Hack #5 — Foolproof Hard-Boiled Eggs (5-5-5 Method)
This viral Instant Pot trick makes eggs peel perfectly every time.
The 5-5-5 method
- 5 min pressure cook
- 5 min natural release
- 5 min ice bath
No green yolks. No stuck shells.
Now that we’ve covered small everyday tasks, it’s time to explore how the Instant Pot saves serious time when cooking pantry staples.
Hack #6 — Cook Dry Beans Without Soaking
Skip the overnight soak.
| Bean | Cook Time |
|---|---|
| Black beans | 25–30 min |
| Chickpeas | 35–40 min |
| Kidney beans | 30–35 min |
Use 3 cups of water per 1 cup of beans.
This saves hours and tastes better than canned beans.
Cooking dry beans quickly opens the door to healthier and cheaper home cooking. The same pressure cooking power also transforms one of the longest cooking processes in the kitchen: bone broth.
Hack #7 — Bone Broth in 2–3 Hours Instead of 24
Pressure cooking extracts collagen faster than simmering.
Cook times
- Chicken bones: 120 minutes
- Beef bones: 180 minutes
Result: Rich, gelatinous, nutrient-dense broth.
At this point, you can see how much time a pressure cooker saves. So let’s take it a step further and use it to simplify weekly meal prep.
Hack #8 — Weekly Meal Prep in One Pot
Use pot-in-pot cooking to prepare multiple foods at once.
Cook together:
- Rice or quinoa
- Shredded chicken
- Beans
- Eggs
- Oats
This cuts meal prep time from 3 hours to under 1 hour.
Beyond cooking, your Instant Pot can even help maintain itself — another reason it replaces multiple kitchen tools.
Hack #9 — Deep Clean Your Instant Pot Naturally
Remove odors and residue without chemicals.
Cleaning cycle
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 cup water
- Lemon peel
- Pressure cook 2 minutes
Keep separate sealing rings for sweet and savory foods.
Finally, let’s finish with a creative use that many people never discover: making infused oils and extracts.
Hack #10 — Make Infused Oils & Extracts Fast
Traditional infusion takes weeks.
Pressure cooking takes 30–60 minutes.
Make:
- Garlic oil
- Chili oil
- Herb oils
- Vanilla extract
Safety: Always keep jar lids loose.
Common Instant Pot Mistakes to Avoid
Safety mistakes
- Overfilling
- Blocking vents
- Quick-releasing foamy foods
- Using damaged seals
Performance mistakes
- Too little liquid
- Wrong accessories
- Skipping natural release
10 Instant Pot Hacks: FAQs
What can you do with an Instant Pot besides cooking dinner?
An Instant Pot can bake desserts, make yogurt, sterilize baby bottles, proof bread dough, cook beans without soaking, make bone broth, meal prep multiple foods, clean itself, and create infused oils
Are Instant Pot hacks safe?
Yes. Instant Pot hacks are safe when you follow pressure cooker safety rules like using enough liquid, avoiding overfilling, and allowing pressure to release naturally
Can you bake in an Instant Pot?
Yes. Instant Pots act like steam ovens, making them perfect for cheesecakes, brownies, bread pudding, and dense cakes.
Can you sterilize baby bottles in an Instant Pot?
Yes. Instant Pots reach sterilization temperatures of 240–250°F, making them suitable for sterilizing baby bottles, jars, and utensils.
Can you cook dry beans in an Instant Pot without soaking?
Yes. Most dry beans cook in 25–40 minutes in an Instant Pot without soaking, saving hours of preparation time.
Accessories That Unlock More Instant Pot Uses
Must-have tools:
Baking
- 7-inch springform pan
- Silicone molds
Cooking
- Steamer basket
- Stackable pans
- Egg rack
Convenience
- Glass lid
- Spare sealing rings
By now, you’ve seen how one appliance can replace multiple tools, cut cooking time dramatically, and simplify everyday kitchen tasks.
Final Thoughts
Your Instant Pot is far more than just a fast-dinner appliance.
With these hacks, it becomes:
- A mini oven
- Yogurt maker
- Sterilizer
- Meal prep tool
- Cleaning helper
Start using just two or three of these hacks, and you’ll quickly understand why Instant Pots have become one of the most loved kitchen appliances worldwide.