summer

The Instant Pot Is the Best Sidekick Your Grill’s Ever Had

Meghan Splawn
Meghan Splawn
Meghan was the Food Editor for Kitchn's Skills content. She's a master of everyday baking, family cooking, and harnessing good light. Meghan approaches food with an eye towards budgeting — both time and money — and having fun. Meghan has a baking and pastry degree, and spent the…read more
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published Jul 5, 2018
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(Image credit: Ghazalle Badiozamani)

My summer goals include only heating up my tiny kitchen for s’mores bars, so I’m using the grill as often as possible to get dinner done during the week. The key to weeknight grilling is to prepare as much in advance as possible. That means making big batches of marinated meats during Sunday meal prep, but it also means busting out one of my favorite multi-tools for prepping everything from corn to potatoes before they get to the grill.

You’ve probably got this ultimate grilling side kick in your kitchen, so here’s how to use your Instant Pot as the best summer prep chef!

The Instant Pot Is Your Ultimate Summer Sidekick

Summer is a time when the Instant Pot can really do what it does best by boiling, steaming, or braising without heating up the kitchen, but if you think of an electric pressure cooker as your prep chef and the grill as a final destination for cooking, you’ll find a whole other world of Instant Pot possibilities. Here’s what I’m prepping for the grill with my Instant Pot.

(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

1. The easiest corn on the cob for a crowd

Corn on the cob is a prime example. Gone are the days of bringing a big pot of water to boil for tender corn. Just pop your cobs into the Instant Pot for 10 minutes and they are ready for burnishing on the grill.

Get started here: How To Make Buttery Corn on the Cob in the Instant Pot

(Image credit: Ghazalle Badiozamani)

2. Racks of tender, saucy ribs

Traditional ribs take hours on the smoker or in the oven, but Instant Pot Ribs take just 30 minutes. And you can cook batches back to back. For backyard cookouts, I prep a few batches in advance and then sauce and finish the ribs on the grill.

Start here: How To Make Ribs in the Instant Pot

(Image credit: Christine Han)

3. All the sides and more

I really love grilled potatoes, but usually they need to be par-cooked before grilling to ensure they are tender. I’ve been steaming whole baby potatoes in the Instant Pot (eight minutes high pressure, quick release) and then finishing them on the grill all summer. You can also pre-cook sausages in the Instant Pot or cook potatoes, lentils, or grains for summer salads without heating up the whole kitchen.

Read more: 10 Ways to Use Your Instant Pot This Summer

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