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If you order a steak at a high-end restaurant, it was most likely cooked using sous vide cooking. The term, “sous vide” is French and literally means “under vacuum.”
It allows for cooking meats and foods to the desired doneness without over or under-cooking. Learn here how to cook sous vide in instant pot ultra.
An instant pot is a pressure cooker that cooks foods much faster than other methods. There are many things that can be prepared using pressure cooking, it’s becoming a very popular kitchen appliance.
Fortunately, it can also be used for sous vide cooking.
The process involves putting raw foods into a sealed plastic bag. The bag is placed in a water bath where the water’s temperature is carefully controlled.
Instant pot sous vide is using the same sous vide cooking technique, but just doing it in the instant pot ultra.
What do you need to start sous vide cooking in an instant pot ultra?
Traditionally, sous vide cooking involves using an immersion circulator. This is a device that is placed in the water bath. It heats the water and moves it around to make sure the food is cooked evenly on all sides, inside and out.
Your instant pot ultra has a sous vide function. It’s important to note that the water will not move around in the instant pot, and the heating element is on the bottom of the pot.
Sometimes, the temperature needs adjusting. After you’ve used the IP Ultra a couple of times for cooking sous vide, you’ll know what types of temperature adjustments are needed to ensure even cooking.
Other Items You May Need:
Food-safe baggies. You can use freezer strength bags or special bags that are vacuum-sealed using a vacuum sealer.
Digital thermometer. You’ll want to verify the water temperature.
Tongs: This help safely place the bag into the water or remove it.
Pan for browning. You’ll want to sear your steak or other meat after you’ve cooked it in the instant pot. You can use a heavy-duty skillet, a sear burner, or a cast iron pan.
How to Make Sous Vide
Select a Meat
You can use almost any kind of meat you like it just needs to be at least an inch thick. Any of the basic steaks work well including a ribeye, T-bone, tenderloin, or New York Strip.
Select Your Favorite Seasonings
You can use a pre-made seasoning mix to season your meats. Or you can use your individual favorites like salt, pepper, garlic, thyme, and rosemary.
Season Your Foods and Bag It
Season your food thoroughly and seal it in a bag. A vacuum sealer works well, but you can also use a zipper freezer bag. You can double bag your food if you’d like just for extra security. A vacuum-sealed bag will not have any air in it.
However, if you use a zipper freezer bag, you’ll need to remove all the air. Place the filled bag in a container of water so that the water pushes the air out. Close the top except for a small section on one side and force the air out.
Heat the Water in the Instant Pot
Fill your instant pot ultra with water and set the desired temperature. Monitor the water temperature with a digital thermometer so it can be adjusted if needed.
Most sous vide recipes will indicate the temperature and time needed to cook your meats to your desired doneness. Whether you like your meat rare, medium, or well done will determine how long to keep the bagged food in the water bath.
Select the Time
The time needed for cooking sous vide may vary based on your meat’s thickness. Note that it will take longer if you cook meat from a frozen state.
The time will be shorter if it is cooked starting at room temperature. Thicker cuts will take longer too. Once the desired temperature is achieved, put the sealed bag in the water. Cook for the indicated time.
Sear Using High Heat
Once your meat has reached the desired doneness, remove the bag from the instant pot. Then, remove the food from the bag and pat it dry using paper towels.
That keeps your meat from splattering when you brown it. Use a cast iron skillet or pan or another pan to sear the meat. Get the pot hot and add your choice of oil or butter to the pan.
Gently place the meat on the hot pan and let it cook for 30 to 60 seconds on either side. Remove from the heat and enjoy!
How long should I sous vide meat in the instant pot?
Here are some general guidelines and approximate cook times for most steak cuts:
Very rare to rare: 120 to 128 degrees for 1 to 2.5 hours
Medium-rare: 129 to 134 degrees for 1 to 2.5 hours
Medium: 135 to 144 degrees for 1 to 4 hours
Medium-well: 145 to 155 degrees for 1 to 3.5 hours
Well-done: 156 and up for 1 to 3 hours
How to Use the Instant Pot Ultra
Sous vide cooking is super easy in the instant pot ultra. The various instant pot models may vary slightly, but most will be similar to this process:
Press the sous vide button.
Turn the knob to the specific sous vide program and press the knob to confirm.
Turn the knob to select the temperature. Press the knob to confirm.
Turn the knob to adjust the temperature and press the knob to confirm.
Press start.
Final Thoughts About Instant Pot Sous Vide Cooking
Prep time may sound a little complicated, but it will only take you about five minutes to prepare the bagged food for its water bath.
Programming the IP viva or ultra will only take a few minutes and maybe a time or two to get used to how the sous vide functionality works.
Then you can make mouth-watering foods that are cooked perfectly for your taste and preferences.
