Wondering if you can reheat soup in the instant pot? Great news- you can! Using the instant pot is an easy way to reheat leftovers or frozen soup so they’re piping hot and delicious.
I recently started to use my instant pot to reheat foods and let me tell you, it is a game changer!
Fast and easy, using the pressure cooker can warm up individual servings of soup for lunch or a whole pot for dinner! No more slaving over the stove or microwaving in stages (we all have bowls that heat up before our food does!!).
In this post, we will cover reheating soup in the instant pot, the different settings to use, reheating frozen soup, which dishes to use, and more!
This post is about how to reheat soup in instant pot.
WHY USE THE INSTANT POT?
You may be wondering, why should you use a pressure cooker to reheat food? Here are a few reasons why I love to use this appliance!
- It is an easy alternative to the stove or microwave.
- You can reheat any amount of soup you want (small or large portions).
- Only takes a short amount of time to reheat large servings. Reduced cooking time = more time to do other things!
- Great for serving leftover foods. Using the KEEP WARM function will keep leftovers warm for hours.
WHAT DISHES TO USE
If you are reheating anything besides a whole pot of soup, you will need to put it in a separate dish. This is referred to as pot-in-a-pot cooking.
When you are reheating in a smaller container always use a trivet to prop the dishes up. This will help you be able to easily remove the inner dish. If you don’t have a trivet, you can create a makeshift one out of aluminum foil.
You must also add 1-2 cups of water to the bottom to help create steam. This will also allow the pressure cooker to build pressure.
When using this method, some popular materials you can use are stainless steel, glass, and ceramic. Always check that the glass and ceramic are ovenproof. Otherwise, they might not withstand the pressure. You can buy instant pot brand accessories directly from the retailer. Any well-made piece of cookware should also suffice.
Do NOT use any of the following materials when reheating in the instant pot.
- Plastic
- Chipped glass or ceramic (this can cause it to break or shatter under pressure)
- Glass or ceramic that is not oven safe.
- Sealed containers. Using a sealed container will build additional pressure that will have no way to release. This can be very dangerous. Do not use any lids besides the instant pot lid.
USING DIFFERENT INSTANT POT FUNCTIONS
The best thing about using an electric pressure cooker is its versatility! You can rapidly reheat food with high pressure, or go low and slow (this is the best option if you plan on serving reheated soup).
This versatile kitchen appliance has different settings. Some are better for different types of soups. Here is a quick guide to the different settings.
PRESSURE COOK
Using the PRESSURE COOK function may be the quickest & easiest setting. This will warm up the whole pot of soup in a few minutes so it is piping hot! It also works great for individual, single servings.
If you have stored leftover soup in the metal pot, then you just need to place it back into the instant pot. Set to PRESSURE COOK and use high pressure. Set the timer for 5-7 minutes first.
Once the food is cooked, use a quick release to not overcook the soup. If the soup is not hot, pressure cook it again for 1-2 minutes.
If reheating a single serving, you will need to use the pot-in-a-pot method. Cook for 1-2 minutes (it will take about 7-10 minutes to build pressure).
SAUTE
Use the sauté button for quick & easy reheating. Make sure to keep an eye on the soup and stir frequently. If possible, set it to the low setting, which will help prevent burning.
Using the sauté function works best with small to medium amounts of leftovers. It will rapidly warm the food and may dry out the soup if the portion is too big.
This function is not ideal for cream soup, as it may burn. If you do want to use this method, be sure to add extra liquid and watch it closely, stirring often.
STEAM
This steam function is a great microwave alternative! This will gently reheat food while maintaining moisture.
To use this setting, use the pot-in-a-pot cooking method. You will need at least 1 cup of water added to the bottom of the pot to create enough steam. You can use cold water, but warm water may help it come to pressure quicker.
If you have a thicker soup, such as clam chowder, this may not be the best method. While it will gently reheat the soup, steam will cause quite a bit of excess moisture. Lots of water can drop into the pot when removing the lid. This may cause your thick & creamy soup to become thin and watery. Just something to consider when using this instant pot method!
SLOW COOK & KEEP WARM
These settings are ideal if you are not in a rush. These settings essentially function as a slow cooker. It will slowly bring your soup up to temperature without overheating and overcooking the soup. These methods are also great if you plan on serving reheated soup, as the food will stay warm for hours.
Depending on the serving size, it can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 2 hours to reheat the soup. Cover with a glass lid and give it a good stir every 20 minutes or so.
REHEATING DIFFERENT TYPES OF SOUP
The best method to reheat soup will depend on the type of soup you have. If it is full of starches, pressure cooking it may break them down and cause them to become mushy. Alternatively, a cream-based soup may burn or separate if reheated too quickly.
REHEATING STARCHES
If your soup has a lot of starches, such as potatoes, pasta, or rice, do not overcook. If you cook it for too long, the starch will become soft and mushy.
You can really use any of the above methods to reheat. They all work great & should not cause anything to become overly mushy if warmed correctly.
To quickly reheat, use the SAUTÉ FUNCTION or PRESSURE COOK for 0 minutes with quick release (yes, 0 is an actual time on the instant pot!). This will rapidly heat the soup without it overcooking.
REHEATING CREAMY SOUP
Creamy soups, such as ones with lots of dairy products, should be reheated slowly and gently. This will allow the milk fats to not scorch and separate.
This type of soup will often need a small amount of extra liquid to help thin out and warm up. Instead of adding water, try adding a splash of milk or cream. This will help it stay moist and creamy without thinning too much.
I suggest using the PRESSURE COOK, SLOW COOK, and KEEP WARM functions. Using steam may add too much water to the soup, causing the soup’s texture to change and become runny. All of the different methods will result in excess water gathering on the lid, which can easily drop into the soup (be careful when removing the lid!). However, I found that the steam function has a bit more than other methods.
REHEATING FROZEN SOUP
Frozen soup is a great option for a quick and easy dinner. Freezing leftover soup is also a fantastic way to eliminate food waste.
You can reheat frozen soup directly from the freezer, or thaw it first. However, you should keep in mind the container you’re using.
If your soup is individually portioned, then it can go straight into the instant pot. No thawing necessary! My favorite way to freeze soup is to use silicone containers. This allows me to save individual portions and easily remove what I need.
If your frozen soup is in a glass container, you will need to wait until it has thawed and can be removed. If you want to keep it in the glass container, wait until the soup has mostly thawed and is at room temperature. Pressure-cooking frozen glass may cause it to shatter do thermal shock.
When reheating soup that is frozen solid, it is best to use the PRESSURE COOK setting. Remember to add a small amount of extra liquid. Start by pressure cooking on high for 2-3 minutes. If it is still not thoroughly heated through, pressure cook for an additional 0-1 minutes.
TIPS ON REHEATING
While the reheating process is straightforward, there are a few tips & tricks to follow to get the best results.
- Time will vary depending on the method and portion size.
- Always use the quick release to stop soup from overcooking.
- Make sure the cookware is at room temperature. This will prevent the glass, ceramic or stainless steel from thermal shock, which can cause the cookware to break or warp.
- Add a few extra tablespoons of broth or water to keep the soup moist & from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
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FAQ
The time will depend on the size and method. If you are reheating a single serving (roughly 2 cups) of soup it will take between 10-15 minutes (including building pressure).
Yes! You can use any method you prefer. Be sure to add extra liquid to the stew, as this will help thin it down a tiny bit and not let it dry out.
Similar to stew, you can also reheat chili in an instant pot. Follow the directions for any of the methods.
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