THIS is the #1 Way to Avoid Bland Instant Pot Food

Today our culinary staff takes on a common Instant Pot question:

Q. Everything I make in the Instant Pot is bland. I use the same amount of herbs/spices as I normally use in recipes, but when cooked in the IP they taste really flat. Hubby agrees. Anyone else experiencing this?

A. This is a really common question, and you’re not alone! You absolutely need more spices and flavoring when pressure cooking. First, you’re cooking in liquid, which means flavorings can be literally washed away.

Second, you’re generally cooking faster, so there’s not as much time for flavors to absorb into what you’re cooking.

Learn the Instant Pot and how to cook our favorite recipes in the new Instant Pot Master Class. [Learn More]

Third, while conventional cooking forms intensify flavors by boiling off water, the pressure cooker keeps moisture in, which means your flavors can get diluted. 

This is why many recipes call for cooking in broth instead of water and why heavy rubs and spice mixtures are common in many Instant Pot recipes. 

Mitigate this issue by making sure you have plenty of seasoning and by making sure any spices and dried herbs you are cooking with aren’t old or out of date. Spices and dried herbs should be stored in a cool area away from direct sunlight.

Learn the Instant Pot and how to cook our favorite recipes in the new Instant Pot Master Class. [Learn More]

Last but not least, always “season to taste” before serving. A professional chef will never serve food without tasting it first, and frequently that’s their opportunity to add more flavor, especially salt and pepper.

Make your meals restaurant-quality by following the same practice. Enjoy!