There are all sorts of recipes out there. Some include weird ingredients or even ingredients that we don’t even think about, like orange soda or beer. An Instant Pot cooks dishes on high heat and pressure. So, there must be some dishes that we shouldn’t make in this cool gadget. Can you put carbonated drinks in an Instant Pot?
You can put carbonated drinks in an Instant Pot. The Instant Pot was designed with a safety valve, making it safe to use carbonated drinks. There are, however, some other things you shouldn’t add to an Instant Pot.
Since there are a few different types of carbonated drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, used in recipes, we will look at how each works in the Instant Pot.
Why is it okay to put Carbonated Drinks in an Instant Pot?
There is a lot of science behind why it is okay to place carbonated drinks in an Instant Pot.
The Instant Pot was designed with a safety valve. This means that if your valve is in good working condition, your valve will stop your pressure cooker if something happens. When the bubbles in your drink pop, they create carbonation, which can create steam.
No matter what liquid you add, they will create some sort of steam. Continue reading to learn about the different carbonated drinks you can safely put in an Instant Pot.
Cooking with Beer
It is perfectly safe to add beer or any alcohol to your pressure cooker recipes. The carbonation helps to soften your meat and other dishes. People often question whether the alcohol burns off in the Instant Pot.
Depending on the temperature, amount, and time, you might encounter the issue that not all the alcohol has burned off. All alcohol must cook at boiling point for a certain amount of time to be burned off correctly. If you use the slow cooker function, it is even less likely it will all burn off.
Fun fact, because of the pressure in your Instant Pot, you can brew beer in your pressure cooker!
Cooking with Soda
As for cooking with soda, there is less carbonation and pressure present in the can or bottle of the soda than in the Instant Pot. The carbonated liquids can help break down and tenderize foods.
Now, while it is safe to use, especially since the pressure level is less, and the Instant Pot has a safety feature, you still want to be careful about how much carbonated liquid you use. Make sure that the foaming has gone down before putting the lid on.
You can make an excellent batch of pulled pork with a can of Coke! Since soda is also okay, you can also use seltzer or mineral water if your recipe calls for it.
What is the Safety Valve?
The Instant Pot has three safety valves: the lid, the handle, and the base. The one on the lid helps to let off excess steam. You also have an anti-blockage vent allowing steam to escape, not food.
If you think there might be too much steam, you can also release it from the valve at the top. This is the one you release before it unlocks the handle safety valve.
What Shouldn’t you Cook in an Instant Pot?
While carbonated drinks should be okay to make in a pressure cooker, like an Instant Pot, there are some recipes that you should absolutely not make.
Steak or Burgers
Using a pressure cooker may actually take more time. Plus, you wouldn’t get the sear on your meat, nor will you get that smokey flavor you can get from the grill.
If you are cooking meat in an Instant Pot, there are some things you can do to prevent it from getting tough.
Cream Sauces
Cream sauces use the very picky ingredient of dairy. Because of this, the high heat and pressure can make the dairy product curdle and cause lumps. If you are going to make any sort of cream, try adding the dairy at the end.
Fried Chicken
Any fried foods shouldn’t be done in a pressure cooker. This is because of the very nature of the pressure cooker; you have a lot of steam. Steam will, obviously, make your fried food soggy and won’t give it that crispy edge you are looking for.
Baked Goods That Require Dry Heat
Finally, with baked goods that need to be cooked in dry heat, like an oven, you don’t want to use the pressure cooker. This is because you will develop a soggy mess without the oven’s dry heat.
You can cook a cake in an Instant Pot, but save the cookies and pies for an air fryer or the oven.
Pressure Cooking with a Carbonated Drink
As long as your safety valve is working, like it should be, working with a carbonated drink, like beer or soda, shouldn’t be an issue. In fact, working with carbonated drinks in an Instant Pot or any pressure cooker could turn out to make your food tender and juicy.
Just make sure you watch out when pressure cooking your alcoholic beverages, like beer, since your alcohol has to boil for a specific amount of time to cook off. So, go and make good food!
