Instant Pot Natural Release Vs. Quick Release - Amy + Jacky

Maybe your like

ReadingInstant Pot Natural Release vs. Quick ReleaseShareTweet Instant Pot Natural Release vs. Quick ReleaseBy Amy + Jacky·October 1, 2016 Instant Pot Release Method

Please share & enjoy our recipe

6.4Kshares
Share
Sub
Pin
Email

What are Instant Pot Natural Release and Instant Pot Quick Release? So you just bought a new Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot. Reading all these Instant Pot Recipes, you are now confused.

No one told us a Quick Release looks like a steam volcano!? What is a 12-minute Natural Release? Why not 11 minutes? What does it all mean?!If you want to:

Prime Day Sale is Live! Also, Check out Our Handpicked Instant Pot Accessories

Avoid making a big mess in your kitchen…
Cook your meal to perfection…
Know when and how to pressure release: Quick Release or Natural Release?
Persuade your dear wife or husband to buy another Instant Pot…

then read on 🙂

Here’s the Deal:Quick Pressure Release (QPR or QR) & Natural Pressure Release (NPR or NR) are 2 methods to release the pressure of your Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot.

It is super easy to master these 2 pressure release methods.

First, let’s learn a few basics of your pressure cooker’s lid:

Look closely at your Instant Pot Pressure Cooker’s lid. There’s a Floating Valve (metal pin) and a Venting Knob.

Noticed the Sealing Position and Venting Position on the lid?

How to do a Pressure Cooker Quick Release?

After the cooking cycle finished, carefully move the venting knob from Sealing Position to Venting Position to quickly release the pressure inside the pressure cooker.

Usually it takes a few minutes to release all the pressure. Wait until the Floating Valve (metal pin) completely drops before opening the lid.

The steam shooting out maybe intimidating at first. Using a wooden spoon or wear oven mitt/silicone glove to move the Venting Knob may help. You will get used to it 🙂

What’s the advantage?Quick Pressure Release is great for quickly stopping the cooking process to prevent overcooking. It’s ideal for food such as quick-cooking vegetables (e.g broccoli, bok choy, corn, etc.) and delicate seafood (e.g salmon, crab, lobster, etc.)

What’s the catch?

Not suitable for food with large liquid volume or high starch content (e.g. porridge, congee, soup, etc.). Food content may splatter out from the Pressure Release Valve.
Foamy food may clog the Pressure Release Valve.
Food, especially beans may break apart due to the sudden change in pressure/temperature.
If the recipe is designed for Natural Pressure Release, the food may come out undercooked.

How to do a Pressure Cooker Natural Release?

After the cooking cycle finished, wait until the Floating Valve (metal pin) completely drops before opening the lid.

Always turn the Venting Knob from Sealing Position to Venting Position to ensure all the pressure is released before opening the lid.

This pressure release method usually takes 10 – 25 minutes (depending on the amount of food in the pressure cooker).

What’s the advantage?If you are cooking foamy food, food with large liquid volume or high starch content (e.g porridge, congee, soup, etc.), Natural Pressure Release is great for keeping your kitchen nice and clean.

Why?

Since the pressure is released gradually, there is less movement in the pressure cooker. Your stock and soup come out cleaner and food are more likely to stay intact.

What’s the catch?

A pot full of stock or soup takes very long to release pressure naturally.
If the recipe is designed for Quick Pressure Release, the food may overcook, as the cooking process continues during the natural release process.

– The Hybrid of Quick Release and Natural Release –

GET FREE RECIPES & TIPS

100% Free! Tested recipes to your inbox weekly.

Please Confirm Your Email

Please check your inbox (sometimes Junk Box) and confirm your subscription! Then, add our email address to your contact list to ensure you will receive our recipes, tips, and giveaways!

How to do a 10 – 15 Minutes Natural Pressure Release?

After the cooking cycle finished, wait 10 – 15 minutes before moving the Venting Knob from Sealing Position to Venting Position to release the remaining pressure.

Always make sure the Floating Valve (metal pin) completely drops before opening the lid.

What’s the advantage?

Compare to Quick Release: Significantly reduces the chance of food splattering out from the Pressure Release Valve.
Compare to Natural Release: Faster release method when the pressure cooker is full of food with high liquid volume.

Watch: Instant Pot Natural Release vs. Quick Release Videos

Can’t see the video? Watch it here.

See more:

Instant Pot Frequently Asked Questions
Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Safety 101

Looking for Easy Starter Recipes?

Check out these Easy Instant Pot Recipes to get you started.

Pressure Release Methods: Learn how to do a Pressure Cooker Natural Release & Quick Release.

Some Useful Tips & Resources

50+ Instant Pot Recipes

All Our Pressure Cooker Recipes

*Disclosure: We are an Amazon Influencer/Amazon Associate. This means that if you decide to purchase items or services on Amazon through our links on Pressure Cook Recipes to Amazon, Amazon will send a small commission to us at no additional costs to you. Thank you!

Hello, We are Amy + Jacky!

Amy + Jacky is a husband and wife team who worked directly with Instant Pot company, pressure cooker manufacturers, and 35+ restaurants. Our goal is to give you the confidence and knowledge to cook with an Instant Pot or pressure cooker through our well tested recipes.