How To Convert Slow Cooker Freezer Meals To The Instant Pot

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The Ultimate Guide To converting your favourite slow cooker freezer meals to the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker.

How To Convert Slow Cooker Freezer Meals To The Instant Pot
How To Convert Slow Cooker Freezer Meals To The Instant Pot

When I first started freezer meals it was in the slow cooker. I had made a big batch of my favourite Slimming World Chicken Tikka Masala.

It was delicious, but it felt like I was in the kitchen all day making freezer meals but let’s face it the slow cooker is SLOW.

I had been busy with both my slow cookers on and I was cooking from morning until early evening and it was tiring.

It was nothing like the slow cooker freezer meals that everyone was raving about.

The next day I made the same slow cooker freezer meals in the Instant Pot Pressure cooker and I was done in an hour.

One hour to 52 Instant Pot Curry Freezer Meals. It was heaven and made me realise we all need to be converting our favourite slow cooker freezer meals to the Instant Pot.

The Slow Cooker has been around for years and the slow cooker freezer meals trend has been going on a long time, compared to the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker that has only been in fashion for the last 3 years.

Because of this there is an endless supply of Slow Cooker Freezer Meals but not as many for the Instant Pot.

I have decided today, to bring them together and show you just HOW EASY it is to convert your favourite slow cooker freezer meals to the Instant Pot.

Why Convert Slow Cooker Freezer Meals To The Instant Pot?

We all want dinner on in a rush. The slow cooker freezer meals were always a success because you could put the food on in the morning before work and come home to a quality cooked meal in the evening.

But with the Instant Pot you can put your freezer meal on when you walk through the door and then eat it 20 minutes later, of course this depends on the freezer meal you are cooking.

How To Convert Slow Cooker Freezer Meals To The Instant Pot

Here are a few tips to get you started with converting your favourite slow cooker freezer meal cooked in the Instant Pot Pressure Cooker:

Add More Water

Many slow cooker recipes require absolutely no water. In fact, I always find it weird when a slow cooker recipe asks for water as it is unusual.

You can cook roast beef in the slow cooker without any but transfer it to the Instant Pot and you will need water.

To get a pressure cooker to pressure you need 1 cup or 250ml of water. Or for making stews in the Instant Pot you can expect to need to add a litre of stock.

Time To Get To Pressure

Even though an Instant Pot Freezer Meal might say that it only takes 20 minutes on manual, it is not taking into account how long it takes to go to pressure.

Some of my Instant Pot recipes, because the Instant Pot is so full, end up taking 12 minutes to get to pressure. Do factor this into your cooking time.

Add More Seasoning

The Instant Pot because of the pressure, strips a lot of seasoning from a dish. I tend to adapt a slow cooker recipe, by doubling the seasoning. Add 1 lot at the beginning and the same lot again at the end of the cooking time.

Liquids To Avoid

I have found that there are several no-go liquids that when taken under pressure can either burn or explode. If a recipe calls for any of these foods, it is best to add it after cooking.

These include:

  • Alcohol
  • Milk
  • Butter
  • Cream
  • Soft Cheese
  • Yoghurt

Recipes High In Stock

Instant Pot recipes that you’re making that have a lot of stock i.e. a beef stew, chicken casserole, hunters’ chicken etc.

Will take much longer to go to pressure. Factor this in to your meal prep so that you’re not starving and waiting for your Instant Pot.

Slow Cooker Vs Instant Pot Cooking Times

Once you have considered the main conversions in taking a slow cooker recipe to the Instant Pot its time to look at the cooking times. After all, you don’t want to burn your Instant Pot Freezer Meal!

  • Beef Stew in the slow cooker takes 6 hours on high, but in the Instant Pot it is just 60 minutes.
  • Classic Chicken Curry in the slow cooker takes 4 hours on high, compared to just 10 minutes in the Instant Pot.
  • Mexican Carnitas takes 45 minutes in the Instant Pot compared to a slow 6 hours on low in the slow cooker.
  • Succulent Pulled Pork takes 4 hours on high in the slow cooker, compared to 50 minutes in the Instant Pot.
  • Beef Ragu takes 100 minutes in the Instant Pot, compared to 6 hours on high in the slow cooker.
  • Beef Stroganoff takes 8 hours on low in the slow cooker, compared to 25 minutes in the Instant Pot.
  • Grandma’s Beef Pot Roast takes 8 hours on low in the slow cooker, compared to one hour in the Instant Pot.
  • Pork Chops take 4 hours on low in the slow cooker, compared to a quick 4 minutes from frozen in the Instant Pot.
  • Ham or Gammon takes just 1 hour to cook in the Instant Pot, compared to 6 hours on low in the slow cooker.
  • Instant Pot Pork Roast takes just 50 minutes compared to a much longer 4 hours on high in the slow cooker.
  • Instant Pot Baked Ziti takes just 12 minutes, compared to 3 hours on high in the slow cooker.
  • Instant Pot Vegetable Soup takes just 4 minutes, compared to an average of 4 hours on low in the slow cooker.
  • Instant Pot Pulled lamb is done in an hour, compared to 5 hours on high in the slow cooker.
  • Instant Pot Sausage Casserole takes just 6 minutes and can be cooked from frozen, whilst thawed in the slow cooker, the cook time is 6 hours on low.
  • You can cook a pasta bake in 6 minutes in the instant pot, compared to a slow cook of 6 hours.

Instant Pot Cheap Freezer Meals

Instant Pot Cheap Family Freezer Meals Buy It Now

We also made a delicious Instant Pot Cheap Freezer Meals Cookbook. Made of recipes that almost all healthy and loaded with vegetables. They are made with loads of pantry leftovers and some clearance meat.

You can read all about instant pot cheap freezer meals here.

Pin it for later!

how to cook freezer meals in the instant pot

Those above are 15 delicious examples of how to convert your freezer meals from the Slow Cooker to the Instant Pot and are a quick reference for when you are trying to work out your cooking times.

I have also created a quick printable graphic for you below.

If you click here you can download the PDF version. Then print it off at home and load it onto your fridge for quick reference while cooking.

how to cook slow cooker freezer meals in the instant pot

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Hi! I am Sam and along with my chef hubby Dom we love sharing with you easy everyday recipes using kitchen gadgets. We are also the authors of The Complete Air Fryer Cookbook, an amazing air fryer cookbook filled with 140+ everyday air fryer recipes. Beyond the air fryer we also love the instant pot, slow cooker, soup maker, ninja foodi, pie marker and several other kitchen gadgets. CLICKING HERE →

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