The Instant Pot is a popular electric pressure cooker that can be used to cook a variety of dishes quickly and conveniently. One of the preset cooking functions on the Instant Pot is the “Poultry” setting, which is specifically designed for cooking chicken, turkey, and other types of poultry.
When using the Poultry setting, the Instant Pot will automatically adjust the time and temperature to ensure the poultry cooks thoroughly and comes out moist and tender. However, if you don’t have an Instant Pot, you may be wondering what is the equivalent poultry setting on other types of pressure cookers or when cooking poultry using traditional oven roasting methods.
In this article, we will provide a detailed overview of what the Instant Pot’s Poultry setting does, recommended cook times and temperatures when using this setting, and how to achieve similar results when cooking poultry in a stovetop pressure cooker, slow cooker, or oven.
What Does the Instant Pot’s Poultry Setting Do?
The Poultry setting on the Instant Pot is designed to:
– Bring the pot up to high pressure (around 10-11 psi).
– Maintain a cooking temperature between 245°F and 250°F once pressurized.
– Adjust cooking time automatically based on the amount and type of poultry added.
For example, if you are cooking a whole chicken weighing 4-5 lbs, the Poultry setting will default to a cook time of around 20-25 minutes under high pressure. The exact time may vary slightly depending on the specific model of Instant Pot.
The combination of high pressure and steam allows the poultry to cook quickly while retaining moisture and tenderness. The natural juices and collagen within poultry ingredients also helps create a flavorful cooking liquid.
Benefits of the Poultry Setting
Some benefits of using the Poultry setting on the Instant Pot include:
– Ensures poultry cooks through evenly and thoroughly.
– Skin and outer portions don’t overcook or dry out.
– Meat near the bones cooks faster than meat on the outer portions.
-maintains juiciness and tenderness.
– Convenient “set it and forget it” hands-off cooking.
– Cooks poultry significantly faster than oven roasting.
Recommended Instant Pot Poultry Cooking Times
Here are some general guidelines for cook times when using the Poultry setting on an Instant Pot:
| Poultry Item | Cook Time (Minutes) |
|---|---|
| Whole chicken (3-4 lbs) | 22-25 |
| Whole chicken (4-5 lbs) | 25-30 |
| Chicken breasts (boneless) | 8-10 |
| Chicken thighs (bone-in) | 15-18 |
| Chicken wings | 10 |
| Chicken drumsticks | 12-15 |
| Turkey breast (boneless) | 40-50 |
| Whole turkey (10-12 lbs) | 50-60 |
| Cornish hens | 18-22 |
Cook times may need to be adjusted slightly depending on the actual size and shape of the poultry pieces, as well as your own taste preferences. Chicken breasts and boneless turkey breasts, for example, may cook faster than the times shown above.
For best results, add at least 1 cup of liquid to the Instant Pot when cooking poultry. This aids in pressure building and keeps the meat moist. Water, broth or sauce can be used.
Achieving Similar Results with Other Appliances
You don’t need an Instant Pot to achieve juicy, tender cooked poultry with crispy skin! Here are some tips for replicating the results of the Instant Pot poultry setting with other appliances:
Stovetop Pressure Cooker
Follow the same cook times provided above for an electric pressure cooker. The cooking liquid will help create steam and pressure.
– For a whole chicken, add 1 cup liquid to the pot along with aromatics like onions, garlic, ginger, etc.
– Use high pressure according to your stove top pressure cooker’s specifications.
– Allow pressure to release naturally for best results.
Slow Cooker
Because slow cookers work at lower temperatures, poultry requires longer cook times to become tender:
– For bone-in chicken pieces, cook on LOW for 4-6 hours.
– For whole chicken, cook 6-8 hours on LOW.
– For boneless breasts and turkey breast, cook 3-4 hours on LOW.
– Use a cooking liquid like broth and seasonings.
Oven Roasting
Roasting chicken in the oven will take close to an hour but yields delicious crispy skin:
– Preheat oven to 375°F.
– Truss chicken and rub skin with oil or butter. Season well.
– Roast a 3-4 lb chicken for 50-70 minutes until golden brown and 165°F internal temperature.
– Let rest 10 minutes before carving.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Here are some additional tips for cooking moist, flavorful poultry using any cooking method:
– Brine chicken and turkey in saltwater before cooking for added moisture and flavor.
– Avoid overcrowding the pressure cooker or slow cooker to allow steam circulation.
– Use a meat thermometer to check doneness, especially for large cuts like a whole turkey or chicken.
– Let poultry rest for 10 minutes before slicing for juicier meat.
– Save the cooking juices from pressure or slow cooking to make gravy.
– Rub butter or oil on the skin before oven roasting for perfectly crispy skin.
What About Ground Poultry?
Ground poultry like chicken or turkey breast has a different texture and cook time compared to whole cuts.
In the Instant Pot, ground chicken or turkey can be cooked in just a few minutes on high pressure:
– Add 1 lb ground chicken or turkey to the pot with 1/2 cup broth or water.
– Pressure cook for just 4-6 minutes, followed by quick release.
– Break up the cooked ground meat with a spoon or spatula until evenly shredded.
For stove top pressure cookers, the cook time will be the same. In the slow cooker or simmering on the stovetop, ground poultry will be fully cooked through after 10-15 minutes.
Always make sure ground poultry reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to verify doneness.
Delicious Poultry Recipes for Your Instant Pot or Pressure Cooker
Here are some mouthwatering poultry recipes that are perfect for making in your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker using the Poultry setting or equivalent times:
Whole Chicken
– Instant Pot Whole Chicken – Tender, fall-off-the-bone meat flavored with garlic, rosemary, and lemon.
– Instant Pot Greek Chicken – Chicken seasoned with lemony oregano dressing and cooked with potatoes.
– Instant Pot Whole Chicken and Vegetables – Includes carrots, onion, and celery for a homestyle one-pot meal.
Chicken Breasts
– Instant Pot Balsamic Chicken Breasts – Juicy chicken breasts with mushrooms and balsamic vinaigrette.
– Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken – Shredded chicken coated in a spicy buffalo style sauce.
– Instant Pot Lemon-Garlic Chicken Breasts – Chicken with lemon, garlic, and white wine makes a fast and tasty dinner.
Chicken Soup
– Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup – Classic comfort food ready in just 30 minutes.
– Instant Pot Chicken and Dumplings – Satisfying chicken soup with fluffy homemade dumplings.
Turkey
– Instant Pot Turkey Breast – Juicy tender turkey cooks quickly in the pressure cooker.
– Instant Pot Turkey Chili – Spicy chili with ground turkey, beans, corn, and tons of flavor.
Other Poultry
– Instant Pot Cornish Game Hens – Tender game hens with lemon and garlic.
– Instant Pot Chicken Tikka Masala – Chicken in an incredible Indian creamy tomato sauce.
Tips When Switching From an Instant Pot to Other Appliances
If you are used to using the Instant Pot’s Poultry setting, keep these tips in mind when switching to other appliances:
– Allow for longer cook times when oven roasting or slow cooking poultry. Check internal temperature and adjust time as needed.
– The thick metal pot of electric pressure cookers gets hotter than some stove top pressure cookers, so you may need to slightly increase cook times.
– Use cooking liquid and keep an eye on moisture levels when oven roasting or slow cooking. Add broth or water if needed.
– Pre-heat the oven fully before roasting and use a meat thermometer for best results.
– Let pressure release naturally rather than quick-release for maximum moisture retention.
– Adjust seasoning and liquid when adapting recipes from one appliance to another.
Conclusion
The Poultry setting on the Instant Pot provides a foolproof way to cook chicken, turkey, and other birds to juicy, tender perfection. While an Instant Pot offers convenience, you can still achieve delicious results when cooking poultry in a pressure cooker, slow cooker, or oven by following recipe cook times and some helpful tips.
The keys are using cooking liquid, maintaining moisture, allowing proper cook times, and verifying doneness with a thermometer. With the right techniques and recipes, you can enjoy flavorful poultry dishes using the appliance you have on hand.