If you are new to pressure cooking, you may be wondering what the instant pot keep warm temperature is. In this post, you will learn all about this key function and how to use it.
![Instant pot on kitchen table.](https://i0.wp.com/pocketsizedkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Instant-pot-keep-warm-temperature.jpg?resize=2134%2C1200&ssl=1)
If you just got an instant pot, you may be overwhelmed. So many buttons and functions- what exactly do they all mean?
One of the best settings the instant pot has to offer is the keep warm setting. Once the electric pressure cooker is done, it automatically turns on this heating element. This is a super helpful tool to keep dinner warm or for serving and parties!
In this article, you will learn all about the instant pot keep warm temperature, instant pot keep warm time limit, the difference between instant pot vs slow cook, how to use the instant pot keep warm to reheat food, and more about the instant pot keep warm mode!
This post is about the instant pot keep warm temperature and how and when you should use this function!
WHAT IS THE KEEP WARM MODE?
If you’re new to pressure cooking, you may have never heard of the keep warm button before. So what exactly is it?
The keep-warm setting keeps your food warm once you have finished cooking. It will automatically come on once you have finished pressure cooking, similar to a standby mode.
This function is a great way to keep foods warm for an extended time. Perhaps you are hosting a party or family dinner and need to keep the food warm for a long amount of time.
It is also very helpful if you have a family member that couldn’t make it for lunch or dinner. The food will stay delicious and warm until they get home and can enjoy the freshly cooked meal!
New instant pot models have separate KEEP WARM and CANCEL buttons. On older models, these two operating functions are combined into one button.
![instant pot keep warm mode.](https://i0.wp.com/pocketsizedkitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/instant-pot-keep-warm-mode.jpg?resize=561%2C673&ssl=1)
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS SETTING
The instant pot is a multi-purpose kitchen appliance- one of my favorite things! I was really excited to have one kitchen appliance that did the job of over 4 different appliances.
I was surprised to learn after using the pressure cooker a few times that this was my favorite setting! Here are a few reasons why you’ll love this function as much as me!
- Makes hosting parties easy by keeping your food warm at a safe temperature.
- Allows you to cook food in advance (think Thanksgiving dinner- how great is it to cook mashed potatoes in the morning and not have to reheat them later?!).
- Easily adjust the time you want to keep the food warm. You can set it for 99 hours (though this isn’t recommended)!
TIPS & TRICKS
- Stir your food every 30 minutes. This will help make sure the food stays moist and does not dry out in areas.
- Create a steam bath. If you have foods that dry easily, such as pasta or rice, place them in a separate bowl inside the instant pot. Adding water will create a steam bath, helping the food stay moist.
- Adjust the heat settings. You can adjust to low, normal, or more (the high setting) depending on what meal you’ve cooked.
HOW DO I TURN ON THE KEEP WARM SETTING?
If your instant pot does not turn this function on after cooking, it is super simple to find and use!
First thing first- press the KEEP WARM button! You can adjust the temperature level if needed (more on that in a second). The instant pot will automatically turn on the normal setting, but you can turn it to the low or more setting.
Once you hit the manual button, you can use the adjust button ( – / +) to set the time you want to keep the food warm. Using the timer button, you can
When the time has run out, the instant pot will turn off. If you want to keep the food warmer for longer, simply reset the KEEP WARM timer.
If you want to turn off the keep warm function, hit the CANCEL button.
WHAT IS THE TEMPERATURE OF THE KEEP WARM SETTING?
Did you know that there are different temperature settings of the Keep Warm setting? This comes in handy so you can adjust the level to the type of food you cooked.
NORMAL: 145 Fahrenheit/ 63 Celsius
LESS: 135 Fahrenheit/ 56 Celsius
MORE: 172 Fahrenheit/ 75 Celsius
The NORMAL MODE is the automatic keep-warm function. This setting is good for all types of food, such as soups or stews.
The LESS MODE is also good for types all of food. It’s a good idea to use low heat on delicate foods such as pasta, rice, or oatmeal that could become mushy or dry.
The MORE MODE is good for heavier foods, such as casseroles, stews, or meat-based dishes. The high temperature helps heat denser foods evenly.
One of my favorite features about the keep warm setting is that it keeps the food at a safe temperature. Food should be kept at least 140 degrees Fahrenheit to avoid bacteria growth and contamination. Using this setting helps me stay worry free that my food will go bad when serving a large crowd.
PRO TIP: It may be tricky to find the different levels of the KEEP WARM setting on some models. Unlike other preset buttons where the different settings are visible, you need to hit the KEEP WARM button to change the level.
WHAT IS THE INSTANT POT KEEP WARM TIME LIMIT?
Just as you can set the cooking time, you can also set the keep warm time limit!
The keep-warm mode is automatically set to 10 hours. However, it can go all the way up to 99 hours and 50 minutes!
While it’s great to have a flexible range of time, I would not recommend leaving the instant pot on for 99 hours.
That’s 4 days’ time…no food will taste good after being warm that long!
CAN I LEAVE MY INSTANT POT ON KEEP WARM?
Though the instant pot keep warm feature will last for literal days, it is not recommended. I do not use this setting for longer than 5 hours. The texture, flavor, and appearance of the food will change if you keep the food warmer for longer.
Additionally, certain foods will keep better for longer than other types of food. Such as sauces, soups, stews, and other liquid-based foods.
Foods that dry out quickly, such as brown rice, meat, and pasta will become hard and dry out. Similarly, vegetables will go mushy and lose their shape and texture.
If you are serving grains or foods that easily dry out, place them in a separate dish. Place the dish on a trivet and then add water to the inner pot. This will help create steam and keep the food moist longer. You can also keep the lid on, which will help the food from drying out.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INSTANT POT KEEP WARM AND SLOW COOKING?
If you are a fan of slow cooking, you may be wondering if the keep warm function can do the same job. While similar to a traditional slow cooker, using the keep warm function is not recommended to use on slow cooker recipes.
The keep warm setting is only used to warm and maintain heat. If you use the keep warm setting, it will not cook the food thoroughly even if you leave it for a long time.
The slow cooker button is used to cook food. All instant pots have a separate SLOW COOK function, so you don’t have to worry about using a separate kitchen appliance (thank you instant pot!).
Like other settings, the slow cook option also can be adjusted to different heat levels: less, normal, and more.
- LESS: 170 degrees F
- NORMAL: 200 degrees F
- MORE: 210 degrees F
It is recommended to use the normal or more settings when cooking a slow cooker recipe. The low setting is closer to the warm setting on a traditional slow cooker appliance.
Similarly, the normal setting is closest to the low setting on a traditional slow cooker.
Additionally, when using the more setting, add an extra 15 minutes for every hour the recipe calls for. For example, if your recipe says to cook for 1 hour in a slow cooker, it should be 1 hour 15 minutes when using the instant pot.
HOW TO REHEAT FOOD
If you want to reheat food in the instant pot, using the keep warm mode could take a while. For best results, you want to pressure cook the food first. Follow these easy steps to reheat your food.
- Add food to the stainless steel inner cooking pot. Close the lid and set the cooking time (see notes below).
- The cook time will depend on what you’re reheating.
- Be sure the lid is set to SEALING. Once the pot is done cooking, use the quick-release mode.
- Turn on the keep warm function and voila! You’re ready to go!
When reheating food in the instant pot, there are a few tips and tricks to ensure the best results.
- Adjust the cooking time. For soft foods, like wild rice or vegetables, set to 0-2 minutes. For something thick, like stew or a casserole, set the time for 5 minutes.
- Adjust the pressure level. Not all foods will need high pressure when reheating. Change to the low setting if your food risks becoming sad and mushy.
- Do not use the natural release mode to reheat food. This may overcook your food so it is dry and tough.
SUGGESTED POSTS
FAQ
No, it will not vent on keep warm. This is because this setting does not build or use any pressure. It simply keeps the food warm for an extended time.
I most often use this function with the lid off. It keeps the food nice and moist. If you are worried about food drying out, you can leave the lid on.
If you are hosting a party, it would be good to use the tempered glass lid so it is easy for guests to see what is inside the pot.
While you can use this setting overnight, just because you can doesn’t mean you should! Food will lose its texture and become dry or mushy. The only time it is recommended to use the instant pot overnight is when slow cooking or using the yogurt maker function.
Yes, once you have finished cooking, this setting is automatically turned on. It will keep your food warm for 10 hours unless you change the time setting. If you do not want this to be on, hit the CANCEL button.