Easy Electric Pressure Cooker Kraft Mac and Cheese
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Instant Pot Easy Mac is EVEN easier thanks to the Instant Pot. That's right. That blue box is going to change lunch time with this no drain, super easy mac and cheese that tastes similar Kraft Piece of cake Mac.
"Normal" Mac and Cheese
At present, I honey homemade mac and cheese with no less than four-5 quality cheeses and a fun, artisan noodle shape to swallow. I top mine with extra sharp cheddar cheese and butter tossed panko breadcrumbs. YUM. Yeah, I like gourmet mac and cheese and I will not lie.
If I made that for my family, Brett and the kids would non eat it. When nosotros leave and guild mac and cheese, my son literally e'er asks for "normal mac and cheese" if it'due south not Kraft. How did we become here, son?!
My favorite box mac and cheese is the Annie'southward White Shells, but no one here will eat those either. So I've just grown accustomed to throwing that Costco-sized box of Kraft in my cart every other month with no shame. It took awhile for me to get over it, but I #pickmybattles and I don't recall it tastes bad either.
Now, I make it in the Instant Pot! Read on to learn about the saga that is noodles in the IP. I'g curious to know what team you're on, and so be certain to annotate your thoughts at the end!
Controversial Instant Pot Foods
Soooo… PASTA. It's on the short list of highly divisive foods in Instant Pot nation. On the list are Pasta, Pot Roast, Spaghetti… Okay I feel like that's really information technology and two of those are basically cousins. People either LOVE it or HATE it and I become lots of passionate comments both means.
I am on team OG, as in I call up they are better off cooked the traditional method and not in the Instant Pot. Personally, I believe bulkier pasta noodles handle pressure cooking improve than spaghetti noodles, so information technology's the more preferable.
The Instant Pot is a Shortcut
I sound like a broken record when I say this, but the Instant Pot it a SHORTCUT. Merely like the microwave, it cooks things in a fraction of the fourth dimension a traditional method would accept, simply some things may turn out slightly different.
Take you ever made a "baked irish potato" in the microwave or Instant Pot? Sure, it gets cooked and it gets the job done. BUT it's Non going to be 100% the aforementioned as slathering it in olive oil with a nice coating of coarse salt and baking for an hour to get squeamish and fluffy within while information technology gets crispy and flaky on the outside. It's just non!
You can brand my Instant Pot Common salt Potatoes and so air fry them for a pretty dang good like dish though! 😉
Instant Pot Pasta
The same concept applies with spaghetti or pasta. The cooking chemistry is completely unlike for boiling a pot of noodles and pressure cooking a pot of noodles.
Therefore, the taste and texture IS GOING TO BE DIFFERENT. If yous meet someone that tells you it's the exact same… well, I don't concur.
Scientifically, chemically, it cannot be the exact same. I find pressure level cooked noodles to accept a very slight, odd texture. The texture is a fleck denser, and It's simply not my cup of tea. Just allow me tell you why information technology's not going to be the same as boiled noodles.
Why boiled and pressure cooked pasta taste different
When noodles are boiled in a large pot of salted water, they are living the practiced life. They are cush! They are at a spa, releasing their "toxins" (aka starch) and swimming around freely for about 11 minutes while they plump upward and get perfectly al dente.
When noodles are pressure cooked, they are covered in BARELY enough h2o to breathe cover, then brought to a boil in minutes.
It'south similar they are in a rocket ship being pummeled into space, strapped in super tight and having water and pressure SQUEEEEEZED into their little noodle astronaut bodies.
Information technology'due south kind of a lot of stress, and definitely not the happy go lucky swimming detoxifying life their cousins on the stove take.
Noodles boiled in water are releasing starch while absorbing liquid over fourth dimension. Pressure cooked noodles don't have time to release starch and instead get water injected into their pores.
Then of course they are going to be slightly unlike! They have another gigantic ingredient in there! STARCH!
A little starch is ok. In fact, when I brand my pasta sauces, I relieve a little of the starchy pasta water to add to the sauce. It's a fob chefs use to to thicken their sauces.
Kraft Mac and Cheese = Instant Pot Easy Mac
That existence said, my kids don't care if their noodles are pond or squeezing. They just want to Swallow. And I've discovered that making Kraft Mac and Cheese in the Instant Pot is super piece of cake and convenient.
The only difference? It tastes like EASY MAC, non stovetop. That's because Piece of cake Mac is made with the same concept of pressure cooking. The noodles and h2o start together common cold, and go microwaved until the noodles but absorb the h2o.
No straining or humid on the stove. That'south why I'm titling this recipe Instant Pot EASY MAC, since that's what it tastes similar.
NO Bleed INSTANT POT PASTA RECIPE
I tested information technology so many means to ensure this was a NO Bleed recipe. There are plenty of recipes out there that you have to bleed the water later pressure cooking, simply that really didn't appeal to me at all since there had to be another advantage to making information technology this way to make it worth it. It does make it slightly less starchy, but like I said, I wanted to make sure it had an advantage.
I recollect this is a skilful method for anyone using their Instant Pot in close quarters or outdoors similar camping ground. Anyone who might be weak or elderly that can't lift a pot of boiling water to drain in a colander would love this arroyo.
How to make Instant Pot Easy Mac
Merely combine the water and noodles directly into the Instant Pot. Cook on manual loftier force per unit area for 3 minutes with a 3-four minute natural pressure release.
Open up the lid, and requite it a stir. You'll demand to interruption upward the noodles a tad and allow them absorb the remaining water for a minute or two.
Add the called for amounts of milk and butter, and you're washed! Super Easy MAC, am I right??
Doubling Instant Pot Easy Mac
If you choose to double this recipe, multiple all ingredients, merely keep the cook time the same!
I have had good results doing this, but some readers have reported some issues. I suggest adding the noodles, stirring them and then they don't dodder, and cook them right away. Another way to avoid issues is by preheating your Instant Pot and then it'due south warm before yous start adding water.
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About Lisa
Well-nigh Lisa
Lisa Childs is the food blogger behindTried, Tested, and Truthful. Bring together the hundreds of thousands of people each month that larn from Lisa-
Subscribe to her website, follow her on Instagram at@tried_tested_true, follow her onPinterest, and notice her on Youtube atTried Tested and Truthful. She is passionate nearly giving home cooks confidence using their Instant Pots. Make sure to sign up for our email newsletter to hear from personally from her weekly! Learn more about Lisa.
Read my recommendation on the best Instant Pot to buy and which Instant Pot accessories to buy (and avoid!). This is the Instant Pot I have 4 of, and love! Also, don't forget that I'one thousand on Youtube where I teach Instant Pot Inspiration and Confidence!
Ingredients
- 1.5 Cups Water
- one Box Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (1 cup of noodles)
- 4 Tablespoons Butter
- one/4 Cup Milk
Instructions
- In the Instant Pot, combine the noodles with the water. Lock the hat, lock the lid to sealing, and cook on manual high pressure for three minutes. Permit a 3-4 infinitesimal Natural Force per unit area Release (3 minutes for more bite, 4 for softer noodles).
- Release the rest of the pressure, and so open the lid. Stir the noodles and suspension them upwards to absorb any boosted h2o. Proceed stirring for a minute or two until all the noodles are broken up and the noodles are cooked to your liking.
- You should not have to drain whatever additional liquid. If you do run into more liquid, it should be very petty. Set the Instant Pot on low saute and let the water evaporate out if needed.
- Add the cheese sauce packet, butter, and milk. Stir, and serve!
Notes
- Due to inconsistent results, I exercise not recommend tripling this recipe. I have doubled this recipe with good results, but some readers have had trouble getting consequent results so please use your all-time judgement. I recommend doing two batches instead of doubling the recipe if you are worried almost this.
- Attempt calculation a splash of heavy cream or replace all the milk with one-half and half for a SUPER CREAMY version!
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Instant Pot Duo half-dozen Quart
Diet Information:
Yield: 2 Serving Size: ane grams
Amount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fatty: 0g
Source: https://triedtestedandtrue.com/instant-pot-easy-mac-kraft-macaroni-and-cheese-dinner/
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