Cooking with an Instant Pot offgrid

Instant Pots are becoming increasingly common as some vandweller power systems become beefier. While convenient, they are effectively electric pressure cookers + crockpots, both of which are much less demanding of power.¹⁾

Note: instant pots typically require more power than most vehicle-dwellers have on tap, but it can be done if one understands the issues.

The Instant Pot Duo mini 3qt appears to hold greatest market share among the small “pots”. It pulls 700w while actively heating.²⁾ It is reported to run correctly off both 1000w inverters, both MSW and PSW.³⁾

The HIGH pressure mode is 10.1psi, a little lower than the bigger models. The LOW pressure mode appears to be 5.8psi.⁴⁾ [better source needed] This may require adjustment of cooking time.

The included 3qt cooking pot is⁵⁾

• 7.8 x 5 (outer, ie what cooking implements can fit inside the IP
• 7 x 4.75 (inner, what can fit inside the IP's internal cooking pot)

• Cosari makes a 2qt pressure cooker that consumes 720w.
• Proctor-Silex makes a Simplicity 3qt that consumes 700w.

Instant Pots are becoming increasingly common as some vandweller power systems become beefier. While convenient, they are effectively electric pressure cookers + crockpots, both of which are much less demanding of power.⁶⁾

The IP will require:

• sufficiently-large inverter, probably ≥1000w for the 700w mini. Pure Sine Wave preffered to protect the electronics, but it appears to run ok off MSW. Solar generators with capacities ≥1000Wh typically have internal PSW inverters capable of running 1000w but do check the specs.
• sufficient wiring between inverter and bank
• sufficient power available from battery bank and/or solar array (or other source)

The 3qt model (mini)… draws less wattage at 700W versus 1,000W for the 6qt and 1,200W for the 8qt. – loveyourrv⁷⁾ {the 10qt is 1,440w – secessus}