How do you manually release the Instant Pot Max?

The Instant Pot Max is one of the most popular electric pressure cookers on the market. It has several useful features, including the ability to manually release pressure after cooking. Learning how to properly manually release pressure on the Instant Pot Max ensures your recipes turn out perfectly and safely.

Table of Contents

What is the Instant Pot Max?

The Instant Pot Max is a 6 quart, 1000-watt electric pressure cooker created by Instant Pot. It has 15 preset cooking programs, including soup, meat/stew, bean/chili, poultry, rice, multigrain, porridge, steam, slow cook, sauté, yogurt, manual pressure cooking, and sterilize. The Max can cook foods up to 70% faster than traditional methods thanks to its pressurized environment.

Some key features of the Instant Pot Max include:

15 built-in smart programs
Altitude adjustment

Large touchscreen control panel
Steam release switch for quick or natural release
Safety features like overheat protection and safe-locking lid

Dishwasher safe stainless steel inner pot

How Pressure Cooking Works

Pressure cookers like the Instant Pot Max work by trapping steam inside a sealed pot, allowing the temperature inside to rise above the normal boiling point. This high-pressure environment allows food to cook faster.

Here are the basic steps for how pressure cooking works:

Food and liquid are added to the inner pot.
The lid is locked into place, sealing the inner pot.
The Instant Pot heats up and builds pressure internally, indicated by the float valve popping up.

Pressure and heat cook food rapidly inside the sealed pot.
When cooking is complete, pressure is released manually or naturally.
The lid can then be safely removed once pressure is fully released.

Natural vs Quick Pressure Release

There are two main methods for releasing pressure from the Instant Pot Max after cooking is finished – natural release and quick release.

Natural Pressure Release: With this method, you don’t touch any buttons after the cook time is done. The Instant Pot is left alone until the float valve drops on its own, which can take 10-15 minutes or longer depending on the recipe. Natural release results in more tender meats and maintains pockets of steam.

Quick Pressure Release: For quick release, you manually switch the steam release handle to the venting position after cooking is complete. Steam is released through the valve in a forceful, rushing way until the float valve drops. Quick release stops the cooking process immediately so no residual heating occurs. It’s best for foods like vegetables that you don’t want to overcook.

How to Manually Release the Instant Pot Max

Here are step-by-step instructions for how to manually quick release pressure on the Instant Pot Max after cooking:

Make sure the Instant Pot has finished the cook time and switched to the “Keep Warm” mode.
Put on an oven mitt or use a towel to protect your hand.

Turn the steam release handle on the lid from the Sealing position to the Venting position.
Steam will immediately start rushing out of the valve in a forceful manner. Keep your hands and face away from the stream.
Let steam release continuously until the float valve drops down into the lid.

Turn the steam release handle back to the Sealing position once float valve drops to avoid any further steam from escaping.
Unlatch and remove the lid, tilting it away from you to avoid residual steam.
Check that the inner pot is safe to handle before removing food.

Some key things to keep in mind when quick releasing the Instant Pot Max:

Only manually release pressure after the cooking program fully completes.
Don’t put your hands directly over the valve when venting as the steam is very hot.

If steam isn’t releasing properly, double check the sealing ring is installed correctly.
Not all recipes should be quick released – use natural release for large cuts of meat.
Quick release can cause a messy cleanup with liquids splattering out the valve.

When to Avoid Quick Release

While quick releasing pressure gets dinner on the table faster, it’s not appropriate for all recipes. Here are some cases when you should avoid quick release and use natural pressure release instead:

Recipes with larger cuts of meat like roasts, whole chickens, meatloaf, brisket. Natural release allows meat to continue cooking gently.
Stews, chili, bone broths, and curries. Natural release thickens up liquids better.

Rice and grains like risotto, barley, and oatmeal. Natural release ensures tender grains.
Foods that expand like beans and grains. Quick release can cause spattering.
Custards and cheesecakes. Quick release causes cracks and dips in texture.

Tips for Successful Manual Release

Follow these tips for safely and effectively releasing pressure manually on your Instant Pot Max:

Wait until the Instant Pot finishes cooking and switches to Keep Warm mode before releasing.
Position the steam release handle away from you to avoid steam burns.

Release in short bursts if steam escapes too violently.
Let pressure release fully until the float valve drops before removing the lid.
Reset the release handle to Sealing position after releasing pressure.

Tilt the lid away from you when opening to avoid lingering steam.
Use natural release for large cuts of meat and delicate recipes.
Get familiar with your model’s manual if unsure when to quick release.

Troubleshooting Problems

If you experience any issues manually releasing pressure on your Instant Pot Max, here are some troubleshooting tips:

Problem	Possible Solution
Steam won’t release at all	Make sure steam release handle is in Venting position. Check that float valve is popped up. Ensure sealing ring is clean and properly installed.
Steam releases unevenly	Release in short bursts. Ensure sealing ring is seated evenly.
Float valve stays up	Pressure may still remain. Try releasing more steam until float valve drops.
Food undercooked	Make sure pressure was fully released before opening lid. Increase cook time if needed.
Food overcooked	Use natural release method instead. Adjust cooking time as needed.

If issues continue, get in touch with the Instant Pot customer care team for troubleshooting advice.

Safety First

While very convenient, keep these safety tips in mind when manually releasing pressure:

Always release pressure away from your hands, face, and body.
Use caution when opening lid as steam and contents may still be hot.
Don’t force the lid open if still pressurized.

Ensure float valve has dropped completely before removing lid.
Tilt lid away and open slowly to avoid burns.
Take care handling hot inner pot and contents after cooking.

Conclusion

Learning how to properly manually quick release the Instant Pot Max ensures you get tasty results every time. While quick releasing isn’t ideal for all recipes, when done safely it can significantly speed up cooking times over natural release.

Follow the step-by-step instructions for switching the steam release handle to the venting position. Release pressure fully until the float valve drops before attempting to open the lid. Use natural release for larger cuts of meat and delicate dishes.

With some practice quick releasing, you’ll become a pro at safely releasing pressure on your Instant Pot Max so you can enjoy delicious meals in no time!