Instant Pot. Multi-function cooker (Part 1)

[Anna N]

why foil wrap the carrots ?  generally that's to preserve moisture in a conventional cooking environment  : a grill or a non-steam oven.

 

there has to be some steam in the packet  but id either  not use the foil, or loosely cover them as they are not going to dry out much in superheated steam

 

I guess the proper way to understand this is an experiment :

 

over water, put an identically cut carrot-set wrapped in foil, and a similar carrot-set next to it w/o foil.

 

cook.   see if they cook in a similar fashion.  if either is not done to your satisfaction, cook-time needs an adjustment.

 

if there are noticeable  differences between the packet and non-packet  thats information worth knowing about. right there !

Why foil wrapped? To exploit the technique of tiered cooking in an IP. Your proposed experiment might work with something solid like carrots but not something less dense like broccoli. The foil wrapping keeps two or more foods separate (especially important if you're a picky toddler!) but also important for plating and presentation.

Theoretically, according to what I understand, I could cook a stew, topped by a bowl of rice topped by a packet of mixed vegetables. It's a concept that amuses me and for a solo might be useful. Of course everything requires a similar cooking time and that is why my previous experiment should have worked. I am still suspicious of those carrots and might try the experiment using the more familiar carrots I get from my grocery store.

[rotuts]

excellent points

[Anna N]

excellent points

I notice on another topic you are salivating over tamales. I have never had a tamale but I did come across this little nugget of information which you might find useful. Tamales can be re-heated from frozen on a rack in the IP with a cup of water cooked on high pressure for 4 to 6 minutes with quick release of steam.

[palo]

Density and convection

 

A thick mixture will take longer to heat evenly than a thinner mixture.

 

A bare carrot will be more evenly exposed to the effect of heat than one in foil which is somewhat insulated. Convection.

 

p

[rotuts]

nice.   Ive made them only once.

 

its an art. the fine line between fluffy and gummy is mighty thin.

 

TJ's has had frozen for a while, and if that's what ive got, that's what ive got.

 

now they stock refrigerated ones that are 10 times better, year round.

 

I think you have to be an Abuela who has done these for a zillion years.

 

or someone from eG.

[Anna N]

Density and convection

 

A thick mixture will take longer to heat evenly than a thinner mixture.

 

A bare carrot will be more evenly exposed to the effect of heat than one in foil which is somewhat insulated. Convection.

 

p

Sure. Both your statements are true but they really don't address the question of the quantity or quality of the steam created by the two different liquids. And the bare carrot versus foil-wrapped carrot is elementary. There is something else going on here which I am trying to get to the bottom of.

[Anna N]

So as I have noted, before once in a while one must stop playing and eat the toads that are waiting for one. So down to the basement I went to meet up with my current toads and look what I found!

These were all charity store finds and fit perfectly in the IP. The little stainless steel unit top left is a very fine mesh sieve.

[Smithy]

How fortuitous, Anna. The pots remind me of a tiffin box.

[Anna N]

How fortuitous, Anna. The pots remind me of a tiffin box.

I suspect they originate with Koreans from the characters on the lids so I admit to not being a linguist!

[rotuts]

Ive decided to try some BabyBackRibs.  Ive taken AnnaN as an initial guide and used this Rx as a starting point :

 

http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/06/28/417461343/do-try-this-at-home-hacking-ribs-in-the-pressure-cooker

 

I also thought I might borrow a page from AnnaN and start at the end :

 

 

I also didn't really want to do 'BBQ' w sauce.  I have a large poster of Saint Franklin in my kitchen and didn't want to go to the trouble

 

of turning it Over so he could not see My Work  ( w sauce ).

 

Ive also admired 

 

mgaretz's

 

char-shui for some time.  i get it in Chinatown BOS when I can and save it under vac.

 

I had these  :

 

 

Id make 1/2 and 1/2.

 

the duck mix has dried orange in it and the 5 spice is later in the ingredient list.  CharSui mix has the 5 spice earlier in the list, and no orange.

 

here is my Slab :

 

 

its Vintage.  '06 if you can read the label.  '2 for 1"  but its been kept carefully in the SV freezer, until now.

 

Im not a big fan of BBR as i think they are over priced.  When I see " baby " on a label, I just try to move along.

 

here it is with the inner membrane removed :

 

 

the membrane is the glob below the ribs.  an important step, not to be forgotten.

 

here are the 4 sections rub'd :

 

 

I thought Id add some star anise to the water. and I thought Id put a handful in, and simmer for a minute to hydrate the SA

 

and thus add more volatiles to the steam.  as usual, I over thought this.  in my defense, I wanted to taste SA alone as i

 

don't care for Anise  i.e. licorice flavor in any way.  Im sure Ive had SA in many chinese dishes, but have not used it myself.

 

this is much sweeter and a much better taste than Anise.  You don't really need to rehydrate as you get enough volatile in the 30 minute 

 

cook IP I think. In the pot they went.  a splash of L.Smoke.

 

 

30 min HP, quick release.  the result :

 

 

and

 

 

this pic looks a lot better than they did in real life. they were Big Yuk at this point.  I guess there is a reason after all Polite

 

Company does not ever discuss UltraSteamed Meats.

 

I used this for the glaze.  TJ's I had it and had to look for the honey

 

 

I did the BVXL glaze , flip , glaze   450.  At first i was a bit disappointed as the syrup didn't really say in place.

 

no worries :

 

 

a couple of things I learned at this step.  start convex down, as some of the glaze will collect there and give you maybe more 

 

'glaze'  but it really probably does not matter as you want to flip them a couple of times.

 

after they were done and cooling  I tried to spoon some of the glaze left on the pan over the Presentation Suface

 

this was a nice idea but please avoid the black bits.  they look good but are just hot burnt sugar.  Im no Hot Sugar expert

 

I do understand how hot sugar syrup is and the damage it can do. If you have not visited your Dentist recently 

 

schedule a visit.  those burnt bits will pull a filling for sure, if not burn you.

 

its tough to wait for these to cool.

 

a Personal Beverage is very helpful at this step.

 

when i saw the 4 pieces of Flab , to be kind to them , just out of the Pot I thought, well  .....  

 

when done, they were outstanding/

 

the char-sui version was what you might expect, delicious !  and the Duck version did have a nice taste of orange.

 

Fantastic you say.

 

" Lunch is never Free "

 

this was a nice portion for One.  maybe with some jasmine rice and peas, a Starter, fine for two.

 

for a family of four, you would have a riot on your hands if each member got only one piece.

 

these bring out Your True Soul

 

Id simply suggest this:

 

next time the Family wants you to go to the Maul with them for a few hours, beg off.

 

make these.  devoir them . clean up.  open the windows   ( the aroma is very nice )

 

make sure you hide the bones.  Don't let Fido get near them.

 

Delicous they were.   Ill try these w Country SpareRibs soon.

 

Potato Salad these are not

 

of course that would make a nice first course for two

 

nothing would abate 4.

Edited September 7, 2015 by rotuts (log)

[rotuts]

 

outstanding.

 

i might have to take my IP pot around with me looking for items like thie

 

congratulations.

[Anna N]

At long last, rotuts, and well worth waiting for. Nothing in my house is going to taste good for dinner now. I enjoy ribs with nothing but a dry rub but they're not pretty that way so I glaze of some sort if only to feed the eyes seems necessary. Really, really must pull up the recipe I usually use because I'm pretty sure it had a dry rub that really floated my boat.

[rotuts]

I thing a clear glaze is nice   honey , what i used, maple syrup.  

 

you really are after the colour.

 

if you are not after sweet, maybe add some vinegar to the syrup.

Edited September 7, 2015 by rotuts (log)

[Smithy]

If anything's going to tip me over the edge, it will be those ribs. Were they any more tender, rotuts, than if they'd been slow-cooked? Or was speed the principle advantage?

[rotuts]

Id like to hear about your Rub.

 

one of the most interesting BBQ books I own is this one :

 

Jeanne Voltz  " BBQ Ribs and other Great Feeds "

 

its out of print and sadly JV has passed on.  look for it in used bookstores.  lots of Florida type RX's

 

lots of citrus.

 

think  : a little tart marmalade for the glaze ?

 

tart lime marmalade w a drop or two of chili oil for a bit of heat.

 

heaven itself.

Edited September 7, 2015 by rotuts (log)

[rotuts]

as you can see in the Out of Pot pic the meat has pulled off the ribs,

 

these were moist , very tender , and not dry in any way. 

 

id not say over cooked, just very tender.  I was surprised they were so moist.  the meat did not contract in ways

 

SV has lead me to believe at these  temps , meaning squeezing out the Jus.  again this is cut thats a bit fatty.

 

not as fatty as lower down spare ribs.

 

Ill give them also a trial, along with 'country style'

 

this is barely enough for 2, w a nice starter and a complementary side.

 

just enough for one, w a healthy dose of Potato Salad.

 

I was surprised.

[rotuts]

as a last thought for tonight :

 

its worth making these ribs as mentioned, then , if you didn't want a glaze, try placing them under the broiler 'as is' out of the IP.

 

and flipping them so each side gets color.

 

those dark bits you see on the ones I did are not 'burnt-end-ish' bits

 

they are caramelized if not burnt sugar.

 

still very tasty.

[Anna N]

I am not fond of macaroni and cheese and would certainly not normally make it for myself. But I was intrigued by the idea and I know there are lots of fans of macaroni and cheese. Unfortunately because I don't eat it I don't know whether this was a good or bad example of the species. I ate the small bowl you see and called it dinner but had no wish to rush out and refill my bowl.

[patrickamory]

Anna I feel pretty certain that is superlative mac'n'cheese from that photo.

[palo]

Sure. Both your statements are true but they really don't address the question of the quantity or quality of the steam created by the two different liquids. And the bare carrot versus foil-wrapped carrot is elementary. There is something else going on here which I am trying to get to the bottom of.

I'm going out on a limb here but again I come back to density, a thinner mixture (just plain water) will create more steam, quicker than a thicker mixture. When a substance changes from a liquid to a gas heat is given off and the heat comes from the liquid. It takes longer for a thicker liquid to recover that heat and continue to convert itself to vapor.

 

Perhaps someone with more than High School science could jump in with a more expert opinion.

 

p

[Anna N]

Anna I feel pretty certain that is superlative mac'n'cheese from that photo.

I thank you for your kindness. I shall try to move it along today to a house where it might be more appreciated and see if I get any feedback.

[palo]

Quick question on your Mac & Cheese recipe:

 

Is your "T" abbreviation teaspoon or Tablespoon?

 

I wonder if you could you use whole milk instead of evaporated?

 

Parmesan is the expensive one for sure.

 

p

[Anna N]

Quick question on your Mac & Cheese recipe:

 

Is your "T" abbreviation teaspoon or Tablespoon?

 

I wonder if you could you use whole milk instead of evaporated?

 

Parmesan is the expensive one for sure.

 

p

Yep. Standard recipe abbreviation. T = tablespoon; t = teaspoon. I am sure you could use whole milk but the point of the evaporated milk I believe is the creaminess it provides without making a true bechamel.

[blue_dolphin]

I don't drink milk either and find evaporated milk a useful pantry staple to keep on hand.  Many brands of evaporated milk in the US also contain a bit of carrageenan that adds useful thickening properties in a dish like this.   

[Anna N]

I don't know if anyone is old enough to have experienced it but there was a tradition in certain countries in certain villages of a communal oven. I know you are all aware of this. But who ever heard of a communal Instant Pot? Well I may have the first. In the next day or so I will be making yogurt for myself and pork belly and beets (not together!) for someone else.

First batch of beets cooking now. If energy levels allow, yogurt will be made overnight and tomorrow I will tackle the pork belly in the style of Momofuku.

Stay tuned or even better document your own experiences with this appliance!