What are the fundamental distinctions between the 'pressure cook' and 'meat/stew' settings on an Instant Pot? (2024)

The fundamental distinctions between the 'pressure cook' and 'meat/stew' settings on an Instant Pot are as follows:

Pressure Cook Setting:

• The Pressure Cook setting is one of the most commonly used settings on an Instant Pot [2].
• It allows you to cook a wide variety of dishes under high pressure, which helps to tenderize tough cuts of meat and cook food quickly [2].
• The default setting for Pressure Cook is usually set to Normal mode, with a cooking time of 35 minutes at high pressure [2].
• You can adjust the cooking time by using the +/- buttons on the control panel [2].
• The Pressure Level button allows you to toggle between high and low pressure, with high pressure being the default for most recipes [2].
• The Pressure Cook setting is versatile and can be used for a wide range of recipes that require pressure cooking [2].

Meat/Stew Setting:

• The Meat/Stew setting is specifically designed for cooking large or tough cuts of meat and stews [2].
• It is ideal for dishes that require longer cooking times to achieve tender and flavorful results [2].
• The default setting for Meat/Stew is usually set to Normal mode, with a cooking time of 35 minutes at high pressure [2].
• You can adjust the cooking time by using the +/- buttons on the control panel [2].
• The Meat/Stew setting offers different modes such as Less, Normal, and More, which allow you to customize the cooking time based on the desired texture of the meat [2].
• The Less mode is suitable for softer texture meat, while the Normal mode is for very tender meat, and the More mode is for fall-off-the-bone texture [2].
• The Meat/Stew setting is specifically tailored to achieve optimal results when cooking meat and stews [2].

Learn more:

1. On an Instant Pot, what are the basic differences ... - Quora
2. Instant Pot Settings & Buttons Explained (Not Just For Beginners!)
3. Here's What Those Buttons on Your Instant Pot Actually Mean