Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Water Test

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Water Test is an important first step when you first get your Electric Pressure Cooker. It is good to do a Water Test to make sure it is working correctly, and to get a feel for how the pot works.

Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Water Test

Pressure cookers, electric or stove top, use water (or thin liquid) that heats up and creates steam. That steam builds up in the pot and creates the pressure needed to cook the food. Make sure your Electric Pressure Cooker (EPC) is working properly by doing an easy water test.

1. Wash the inner pot and lid of your EPC and dry them. Check that the lid has the silicone sealing ring in place. Read the manual for your model of EPC to learn how to install the sealing ring.

2. Plug in your EPC. If it has a detachable cord in the back of the pot, make sure it is also plugged in.

3. Put the inner liner into the main EPC housing.

4. Pour 1 cup of water into the inner liner (2 cups in 8 qt pot).

5. Place the lid on the pot and turn the steam release knob (the wobbly loose knob) to the Sealing position (some EPCs like the Instant Pot® Ultra automatically seal when you close the lid).

6. Press the Pressure Cook button (some EPCs have a Manual button, or a dial that you turn to the Pressure Cook setting).

7. Press the + or - button within 10 seconds (or use dial if you have one) to select the time in minutes. For this test we will choose 2 minutes. On some models you may need to choose a preset setting with a short cook time, such as eggs or fish, if that’s what your model has.

8. Then let the pot do its thing. It will take a few minutes. First it will start heating the water. Then the hot water will create steam. The steam builds up in the pot and that is what creates the pressure.

There will be some hissing and steam coming out of the knob as it is building pressure. This is normal.

The lid will have a pin, or valve that pops up when the pot reaches pressure. Once the EPC is at full pressure, the cook time will start. The counter will begin to count down from the time you set (in our case 2 minutes) to zero.

Never disturb a pressure cooker that is pressurized. Don’t move it or allow children to play around it.

9. When the cook time is finished, most EPCs will beep several times to let you know it is done.

10. You will need to release all of that built up pressure/steam before you can safely open the lid. Never try to open the lid before all of the pressure is released, and the pin in the lid has dropped back down.

Turn off the machine (usually by pressing Cancel). Turn the steam release knob to the Venting position. I like to use a long wooden spoon handle so my hands are out of the path of the hot steam (some EPCs like the Instant Pot® Ultra have a button on the lid that you push down to open the vent and release the steam).

You may get startled when you first turn the knob, as steam immediately and forcefully bursts out of the vent and is loud! Pets often get startled, too, if they are in the vicinity!

11. Once the pressure/steam is all released, and the pin in the lid has dropped back down, you can open the lid. Do so carefully, and face it away from your face.

Watch for hot water dripping from the lid so you don’t get burned. Notice the handy lid holder! Not all models have this. I'm using an Instant Pot® DUO.

12. That's it! You have successfully completed the Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker Water Test!

IF YOUR POT DOESN’T COME TO PRESSURE:

• Is your EPC plugged in at the wall, and at the back of the pot (for models with a detachable cord)?
• Is the silicone sealing ring inserted in to the lid properly, and all the way?
• Did you press Start on models with that option.
• Is water in the inner liner of the pot?

Now that you have completed the Electric Pressure Cooker Water Test, you will want some easy recipes to start with. See my post that contains The First 10 Recipes to make in your Instant Pot that are perfect for beginners.

Watch the Instant Pot Water Test Video

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