If you’ve got a few great pressure cooker recipes like this Instant Pot Beef Stew or this fabulous Instant Pot cheesecake down cold, and the Instant Pot is now a heavy-use appliance in your home, you might be starting to think or wonder outside the box. What else can I do with this thing?
As it turns out, some really smart people have been coming up with all kinds of ways to use the Instant Pot to make fun and unusual things besides easy meals.
Ten Surprising Ways to Use Your Instant Pot
From cosmetics to shockingly good vanilla, the Instant Pot can infuse intense flavor and scent better than any other appliance.
Use Your Instant Pot to Make Homemade Vanilla Extract
Do you use vanilla extract in your cooking and baking? I go through quite a bit; someone is always baking in our household of eight. Good vanilla makes a huge difference in the taste of baked goods. In fact, in years past, my sister has brought back top notch vanilla from Haiti for each of us siblings. They grow the beans and use cheap alcohol, and it’s the best vanilla I’ve had the privilege of baking with.
If you can get vanilla beans, you can make your own homemade version of vanilla extract using real vanilla beans and vodka or other alcohol and your Instant Pot. Not only is it some of the best tasting extract you’ll ever use, it’s also a wonderful gift to give to loved ones. You can make multiple bottles of vanilla at a time using your Instant Pot.
Use Your Instant Pot as a Double Boiler for Melting Chocolate or Wax.
I have never wanted to spend the money on a double boiler for melting chocolate or wax, but I do occasionally need to do both of those things. It’s frustrating trying to kluge together two pots that fit, and using the microwave often results in burning. When I learned that the Instant Pot makes the perfect double boiler, it made perfect sense.
Using the sauté function, you can boil water. A standard metal mixing bowl fits perfectly on top and allows you to quickly and evenly melt chocolate or wax without burning. It’s pretty obvious how to use melted chocolate, but do you know what you might do with melted wax? Turns out it is great for finishing off pedicures and manicures. Also perfect for dipping leaves to use them as decoration in the fall.
Make Your Own Chapstick Using Your Instant Pot.
My boys have chapped lips constantly, from October or so throughout the winter. It doesn’t matter how many times I say, “Don’t lick your lips outside,” somebody always has chapped lips. Therefore, someone is always asking me for chapstick. That’s why, when I saw this Instant Pot recipe for making your own chapstick it was a game changer.
Fight Off Germs Using Your Instant Pot
I’ve been hearing about the benefits of taking Elderberry syrup during cold and flu season for years and now it is easier than ever to make your own Elderberry Syrup using your Instant Pot. It is equally easy and effective to use your Instant Pot for Making Bone Broth – which, by the way, is very high in nutrients and can help boost your immune system.
Use Your Instant Pot to Make Hard Lotions.
Most hard lotion recipes require you to use a double boiler setup, and while you can use the Instant Pot to do just that, you can also make your hard lotions directly in the Instant Pot, no double boiler required. Add essential oils to make useful hard lotions like bug repelling bars. The possibilities for this are endless, and hard lotion bars make *fabulous* gifts.
Make Healthy Dog Food Using Your Instant Pot
Okay, this is food. But – it’s dog food. Finding really good dog food, with high quality ingredients, no fillers, and appropriate nutrition is surprisingly difficult. Now you can control exactly what goes into your dog’s food and make your precious dog homemade Instant Pot Dog Food.
What are some surprising ways to use your Instant Pot that I’ve missed?
Fresh Start Giveaway for Homemakers!
The Domestically Challenged, Divinely Equipped Facebook group is pleased to bring you this fantastic giveaway for Christian homemakers! This is our grand finale for a month of prizes and encouragement, including one of our famous Facebook parties on February 5th at 5PM PST /8PM EST!
We invite you to join the fun and enter to win! Check out everything one blessed homemaker will win, brought to you by some of our group admins as well as wonderful sponsors.
The Simple Chore System for Busy Moms ($10 value) from Proverbial Homemaker – A video web course with printables to help you implement a simple chore system that works! Ditch the complex chore charts and try this system designed in real life by a busy mom of 6!
Discipline: The Glad Surrender ($14.99 value) by Elizabeth Elliot – Join the Domestically Challenged, Divinely Equipped as we go through this encouraging and convicting book together starting February 5th!
Ava Shield Essential Oil Infused Home Products Kit ($34.97 value) from Rocky Mountain Oils – Get toothpaste, surface cleaner, and hand soap from the new Ava Shield line from Rocky Mountain Oils!
Immune Strength ($26.50 value) from Rocky Mountain Oils – The blend that will convince you essential oils work! Perfect for keeping healthy all year round and building your immune system.
Aromatherapy Inhaler ($12.95 value) from Rocky Mountain Oils – Some oils aren’t safe to diffuse around young children, or aren’t ideal to have out when you’re in a smaller space, such as on a plane or in a car. Now you can use your oils anywhere with these pocket inhalers! Drop your oil on the wick and close to save for later use.
Immunity Kids’ Line Roller Bottle ($14.95 value) from Rocky Mountain Oils – This is the perfect pre-made roller bottle from the Rocky Mountain Oils Kids Line to help you keep your kiddos healthy during cold and flu season!
Hope Deck Scripture Cards and Wooden Stand ($23.00 value) – I love these beautiful, high-quality scripture cards! Place them on a stand and change out as desired, send as post cards, or encourage a friend!
InstantPot Duo 9-in-1 6 Quart ($129.95 value) sponsored by participating Domestically Challenged Divinely Equipped FB group admins – One of our favorite tools to talk about! 🙂 The Instant Pot saves time and effort. No more panic when you forget to thaw the meat for dinner! This appliance functions as a “pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, egg cooker, sauté, steamer, warmer, sterilizer and it makes cake too!”
Giveaway ends at 11:59PM EST February 20th. Winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to reply before a new winner is selected. Entering the giveaway subscribes you to Proverbial Homemaker via email if you are not already subscribed. Individual companies are solely responsible for delivery of prize items. Must be 18 or older to enter with shipping address within the U.S.
Wow, the big Instant Pot. I would so love to have that.
I had never thought to use it to make hand lotions.