Instant Pot Baked Apples Recipe - Pressure Cooker Baked Apples (2024)

FAQs

Why do my baked apples burst? ›

Choose the Right Apples

Some varieties turn to mush so fast they explode out of their skins, while some stay weirdly firm. Either way they're edible, but not ideal—a baked apple should stay intact but be soft enough to eat with a spoon.

A pressure cooker that is designed for even heat distribution, like Stahl Xpress Cooker is great for baking. Remember to remove the gasket and pressure regulator or whistle before you bake in a pressure cooker. The idea is not to build pressure in the cooker but to create an oven-like experience.

Pressure cooking can reduce heat-sensitive nutrients (e.g., vitamin C, folate) and bioactive phytonutrients, such as betacarotene, glucosinolates (helpful compounds found in cruciferous vegetables) and omega-3 fatty acids, that are beneficial for human health.

The more pressure, the bigger the explosion. And the more heat, the more pressure. Pressure cooker explosions can happen due to a variety of reasons, some of which include: Opening with pressure still built up inside: When cooking with a pressure cooker, it's important to release pressure before opening the lid.

I cover meat in my Instant Pot when making soup, stew, or stock. Otherwise I use a minimum amount of liquid, from 1 to 2 cups. A pressure cooker produces steam until a preset pressure is reached and then replaces heat lost from the pot, by boiling more water, producing more steam.

Obviously you don't want apples with an al dente bite, but did you know it's possible to overcook them? "Apples lose their flavor rapidly when cooked too long," says Martinez.

If the apples start to look discoloured- usually a dull brown or a darkening of the colour, sour smell, mould growth, or have a toughened texture, they're likely past their prime and should not be consumed. Always make sure to store your baked apples in the refrigerator in a covered container.

peel your apples. While the debate on whether or not to peel your apples seems never-ending, it really comes down to a matter of personal choice. Unpeeled apples will add a bit of color and texture to your pie, but they may prevent the apples from melding together when baked.

Pink Ladies and Granny Smiths are our go-to baking apples, but you can choose any kind you like as long as it has a firm texture and a good bit of acidity.

What is the difference between cooking apples and baking apples? ›

Some apples like Granny Smith are on the cusp of being one or the other (although I prefer mine cooked). Baking apples tend to be either very firm and not as sweet (like a Granny Smith)…or a bit mushy, or don't keep well. (Like a Macintosh.) Baking apples tend to be firmer and less sweet than eating apples.

Just about any ingredient that can be steamed, or is cooked with liquids, can be cooked in a pressure cooker.

Suitable heat-proof containers

As the name suggests, heat-proof containers should be heat or ovenproof- this includes high-temperature silicone, heat-proof glass (like pyrex), ceramic, stainless steel, aluminum and even copper! The forms should not be plastic or any glass that is not tempered.

The very best feature is the ability to brown aromatics or meat before cooking. This feature gives the Instant Pot a huge advantage over a crock pot in building flavorful dishes! But is it safe to use olive oil in the Instant Pot? The answer is yes!

Researchers found that sautéing spinach or amaranth leaves in a pan for 30 minutes destroyed about 95 percent of the vitamin C, whereas ten minutes in a pressure cooker wiped out only about 90 percent.