If you have a kitchen and the internet, you must have heard about the Instant Pot. It is known as the multi-cooker because it can be transformed into a slow cooker and a pressure cooker.
It wouldn’t be wrong to say that, after the toaster, the Instant Pot has become the kitchen staple.
Setting the Instant Pot to Get Good Results
If you check the settings on your Instant Pot, you’ll notice three methods: Low, Average, and High.
When you would like the best outcome, you probably set the instant pot slow cooker to the “Low” option, which you think is comparable to the “Low” in your old slow cooker, correct?
Incorrect! Despite the time period, the “Low” option only generates heat to 190 degrees Fahrenheit, which is insufficient for cooking.
But when you cook at an “Average” temperature, it will produce about 195-205 degrees Fahrenheit, which is equivalent to “Low” on slow cookers.
Instant Pots help prep meals and jazz up leftover food. These are ideal for gradually preparing meals at the optimal temperature, neither too hot nor too cold.
Too high, and the heat will scorch away the vitamins that the meal typically maintains; too cold, and the meal will require more time to prepare.
Yet, if the Instant Pot slow cooker is not hot enough, the food won’t be prepared well and will become chewy. So, always try to maintain enough heat!
Instant Pot Slow Cooker Is Not Hot Enough
The Reason for Insufficient Heating
Usually, the Instant Pot fails to heat up because the solder connection on the bottom side fails. The failed bond happens at the output terminal of the main relay (you may call it the switch).
This switch sends the electric signals to the heating element. So, if the heating element doesn’t receive electric signals, there will be no heating.
Fix The Issue
To fix this issue, Flip over the Instant Pot and take off the plastic cover. If there is no power connection, look for the neutral wall plug and the red wire on the board.
You will come across the white-covered thermal cutoff at the bottom left, which needs to be replaced.
Now, disconnect all the wires and connections by pulling the plastic tabs (but you don’t need to disconnect the red and blue connections, but if you want, unscrew them from the heating element).
There is a cracked solder junction there, and that is where you’ll need to fill it with new solder. The Instant Pot will probably start heating up again.
Fix Electrical Components
In addition to such considerations, there are the essential electrical components required for achieving the optimal temperature within an Instant Pot slow cooker.
If the water level or even other modest factors aren’t to blame, the problem is most certainly with an electronic component that is broken or not performing correctly. There are some of the most important electrical parts of an Instant Pot slow cooker:
1. Fuse
A high-temperature spark plug, also known as a fuse, is in charge of preventing your slow cooker from getting too hot and burning up.
When your cooker attains a certain maximum temperature, the fuse shuts off the temperature as a precautionary measure to avoid a burn from opening.
If the fuse is faulty or has burnt out, which is relatively frequent, the slow cooker may switch off the fire well before it hits the required temperature.
2. Switch
A slow cooker’s processing time and temperature are controlled by a control switch. If the temperature control is damaged, you will not be able to switch to the setting.
The button may not function if the control board is damaged; but, if the control board is operating, the switch will only need to be changed.
3. An Electric Circuit Board
The circuit board serves as the central point for all of the electronic parts that are also responsible for the slow cooker’s efficiency.
Many electrical devices feature a circuit board, which is often a little greenish cube with several wire routes on it. If this is burnt out, no matter how hard you push the switch, the Instant Pot slow cooker will not get hot sufficiently.
4. Heating Component
The heater is in charge of warming your meal. It is necessary to keep your slow cooker warm because it is the real source and generator of heat for your instant Pot slow cooker.
If this is damaged, your slow cooker will not be able to generate any heat.
5. Probe
A probe is similar to a sensor, and it senses the heat of the instant pot slow cooker as well as the foodstuffs within it. If the probe gets torn down, it will be unable to monitor the temperature of the mixture and will cause the instant pot slow cooker to take longer than needed.
The Instant Pot is indeed a wonderful slow cooker, but you should implement the Instant Pot slow cooker guidelines to achieve the best results.
The slow cooker’s low settings aren’t equal to the low setting on the Instant Pot. That’s because, with the Instant Pot, the maximum temperature is 180-degrees to 190-degrees Fahrenheit. This is not enough heat to prepare your meal.
Also, the Instant Pot creates pressure and steam to cook food, but the slow cookers start heating from the bottom.
With this being said, it’s pretty clear that the Instant Pot’s slow cooking isn’t suitable for cooking meals. However, you can use the high temperatures to cook different dishes and cuisines with the Instant Pot.
Slow cooking is usually essential for making thick gravies, but the Instant Pot won’t work there. That’s to say because you need to add water to the Instant Pot to ensure proper food heating and cooking.
The bottom line is that the Instant Pot is an impeccable pressure cooker, but it’s not suitable for slow cooking. If you are inclined to slow cooking, the Crock-Pot is the right choice. Well, using the Instant Pot for slow cooking is like drinking soup with a fork!