Instant Pot Altitude Adjustment
If you’re like most people reading this, you probably think that an Instant Pot altitude adjustment is more of a feet height thing or maybe a temperature change. But, no. In this case, you’re going to be learning all about an Instant Pot and the actual altitude itself. As in, cooking on a mountain with your favorite accessory vs. cooking in a valley home! To get the recipes right, your altitude is definitely something to factor in.
It’s all about the functions of the Instant Pot
As you most likely already know, the Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker. Its job is to hold your food at a certain high temperature that is consistent and accurate to the recipe instructions to cook the food thoroughly. Because it is meant to be all things to all people, the Instant Pot has to make assumptions on basic known things. For instance, your altitude. This is the level at which your kitchen is located concerning ground or sea level. It assumes that you are under the 2,000-foot mark when it comes to making the best cooking procedure recommendations. But…what if you’re not?
Instant Pot altitude adjustments to be aware of
Did you know that temperature and cooking requirements change the higher up your altitude is? For instance, you know that water boils at 212 degrees, right? Well, if you are at 7,500 ft above sea level, the temperature required to boil water is only 198 degrees! It’s pretty neat to see that kind of change, and it isn’t often one that most people will plan for. But, it’s something to think about. And it isn’t as foreign as you might think. For instance, someone who is cooking something in a lower elevation will need a higher temperature and less time than someone who lives at a higher elevation. That’s why the instructions always say that the cooking guidelines are only recommendations. As far as your Instant Pot and its rule of thumb, here are some things to think about.
- Adjust the temperature down: The temperature should be decreased down a degree for every 500 ft of elevation you are at, above 2,000 ft. This will make sure that your pot holds the right temperature according to your elevation and gives you the right results.
- Increase the cooking time: Another option to consider or use is to increase the cooking time itself. If you are at a higher elevation, you’ll want to add time to your cooking, as it is technically at a lower temperature than it reads. Generally, add 5% cooking time for every 1,000 ft that you are at above 2,000 ft. You can find your city’s elevation information online, and don’t worry about being precise right down to the last foot.
Instant Pot altitude adjustment can be intimidating but, as with all things relating to cooking, particularly something as specific as pressure cooking, really get into the idea of experimenting and trying different temperatures as well as elevations. While intimidating at first glance, you’ll get there, and the journey will be tasty!
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