Yes. It’s possible.
To take a rock solid, frozen ball of delicious.
And be ladling it into serving bowls in 58 minutes. You’re going to need an Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. Times and notes below based on Instant Pot DUO, 6 qt.
Here’s how.
Step 1 – Fill freezer bag with ingredients using, using FreezEasy Bag Holders.
Step 2 – Seal bag and place into round bowl, that is smaller in diameter than your EPC insert.
Step 3 – Place bowl and meal into the freezer and let freeze overnight. Remove bowl once it’s the “frozen ball of delicious” is formed.
(Here is the frozen ball of delicious…in the freezer and ready for quick thawing.)
Step 4 – When you are ready to make the chili, place it in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes to “quick thaw.” This is just to loosen the frozen food from the baggie.
Step 5 – Pull the bag out of the bowl of warm water and open it up. Flip it upside down directly into the EPC insert. Add 1 to 2 cups of water or broth.
Step 5 – Put the lid on and set to Sealing. Push the Bean/Chili button. (Or Manual, High for 30 minutes.)
Step 6 – Wait 23 minutes for it to come to pressure, then wait 30 minutes to finish cooking.
(This is a longer than normal come to pressure time because the meal is frozen. It will be defrosting during the come to pressure phase.)
Step 7 – Quick Release & ladle into bowls and top with favorite toppings.
58 Minutes.
That’s it.
Start to finish. From frozen solid to ladling into bowls.
With about 3 minutes of “hands on time.” Most of the defrosting and reheating happens inside the EPC.
This is why the Instant Pot is getting the reputation of being ‘magical.’
What a gift….this is such a gift for the busy, stressed out home chef!
It really is magical!
Watch and Learn How to Make Freezer Meals in the Instant Pot
If you want to learn more about electric pressure cooking (EPCing), then please check out my new online class Electric Pressure Cooking 101 (EPC101). You get instant access to the entire class when you signup and you can go through the class online, at your own pace and convenience. Learn more at electricpressurecooking101.com!
Three Bean & Beef Chili
Yield – 4 servings
Preparation Time – 10 minutes from fresh, 23 minutes from frozen
Cooking Time – 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 Tbsp minced onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 2 cups beef broth
- 15 oz. can red kidney beans
- 15 oz. can black beans
- 15 oz. can pinto beans
- 15 oz. can diced tomatoes
- 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp chili powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Shredded cheddar cheese, as garnish
- Crackers or loaf bread, as side dish
Directions
- Pre-brown ground beef in skillet, or brown in the EPC insert using Saute feature.
- Add all other chili ingredients to EPC Insert of pressure cooker and close the lid.
- Set to Sealing.
- Press Beans/Chili. (Or Manual, High, Adjust to 30 minutes.)
- Release: Quick.
- Serve Three Bean & Beef Chili with shredded cheese garnish, and crackers or loaf bread.
Ashleigh says
Yay, Instant Pot recipes/meals! Please do more and also a search category on your website! Thanks so much!!!!!
Becky says
Just to clarify, since the recipe looks like you’re immediately cooking it, if you’re preparing this as a freezer meal, you still pre-brown the beef before freezing and then let the rest of the already frozen ingredients cook in the pot?
Amy says
I have this question too. I’m thinking that since we’d have to brown the beef before we tossed in the beans/tomato juice/etc (if we were prepping and cooking same day), then we’d brown the beef on prep day and freeze it with the rest of the ingredients.
Michelle says
I have a 6 qt instant pot also. Would I be able to fit double the recipe into it??
There are 7 in our family and I don’t know that one recipe would be enough
to feed us all.
Thanks!