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Old 11-16-2021, 12:11 PM   #1
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Request Advice on Instapot

We have a small TT with precious little storage. We’re leaving on a 2 month trip in February, and considering buying an Instapot. Easy call if you’re full-timing I think, but we’re interested in hearing from boondocking part-timers on whether it’s worth the cost, storage space, and power consumption. We mostly boondock when we can, and we consume about 60 amphrs per day total because of our 12v compressor fridge which uses 30-50 amphrs/day. We can replace some of the power with our solar setup. And I’ve offloaded cpap use onto a small power station. Don’t want to run our generator.

So, using an inverter, how much does it real-life cost in amphrs to prepare a meal, like say, chicken and rice, or chili. Has it been worth it to you? Take it with you, or leave it behind?
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Old 11-16-2021, 01:14 PM   #2
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I love our instant pot, but in your case, a tiny RV with precious little storage, and boondocking to boot….I would think you would do better with a small propane grill like the Weber Q100
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Old 11-16-2021, 01:22 PM   #3
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We have been full time for 8.5 years now no InstaPot. We bought one because my sister-in-law has one and loves it. We got the thing home and my wife decided for it use and the size she was not finding a home for it. Took it back and have not missed it one bit.

The food processor is missed more than anything.

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Old 11-16-2021, 11:01 PM   #4
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We found we had no use for the Instapot we bought at home or anywhere. Anything it does we can do as well with the old pots and pans. On the other hand my daughter has been using hers to cook all sorts of things for a over a year now and still likes it. Even tried to convince me some stuff that came out of it once was "barbecue" chicken. OK for them I guess but wasn't having it. Just a matter if the equipment suits the types of meals you will be preparing. Even with our class A galley surprising number of our dinners are made on a small outdoor propane grill. Sometimes in foil "packets" instead of pans. If we were full time or even long term no doubt our meals would be a bit more like what is cooked at home.
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Old 11-17-2021, 01:22 AM   #5
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Never saw a need for anything other than the oven, stove, and pots and pans, and a Weber Q1000. We do like the microwave when we're hooked up to shore power. Last month I did break down and bought an oil fryer. Yeah, we know but the French fries and tater tots taste so much better. I use it outside to keep the fumes outside. It lives in the basement next to the grill.
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Old 11-17-2021, 05:39 PM   #6
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The greatest advantage to an instant-pot is time. I can pull things from the freezer (like raw bone-in chicken thighs) and they're ready to eat in under an hour.

Personally, I wouldn't use one in the OP's position. Agree with a gas option that uses less space.
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Old 11-17-2021, 05:57 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Marine359 View Post
We have a small TT with precious little storage. We’re leaving on a 2 month trip in February, and considering buying an Instapot. Easy call if you’re full-timing I think, but we’re interested in hearing from boondocking part-timers on whether it’s worth the cost, storage space, and power consumption. We mostly boondock when we can, and we consume about 60 amphrs per day total because of our 12v compressor fridge which uses 30-50 amphrs/day. We can replace some of the power with our solar setup. And I’ve offloaded cpap use onto a small power station. Don’t want to run our generator.

So, using an inverter, how much does it real-life cost in amphrs to prepare a meal, like say, chicken and rice, or chili. Has it been worth it to you? Take it with you, or leave it behind?
Leave it behind unless you’re already accustomed to using it. Food is not the same IMHO.
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Old 11-17-2021, 06:36 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by propchef View Post
The greatest advantage to an instant-pot is time. I can pull things from the freezer (like raw bone-in chicken thighs) and they're ready to eat in under an hour.

Personally, I wouldn't use one in the OP's position. Agree with a gas option that uses less space.
We cook them in less with the gas and stop top or grill or convection/microwave oven.

Ken
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Old 11-28-2021, 08:04 AM   #9
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Leave it behind unless you’re already accustomed to using it. Food is not the same IMHO.
Well after years of crock pot meals in our S&B, I can truly say we love our InstaPot. We have the smaller 3qt in the RV. My DW is a fantastic cook. But more importantly she can make a meal out of almost anything, which served us very well in the early lean years. When you find really good slow cooked meal recipes, you won't live without it. But if you just remembered that you forgot to lay something out for dinner. Well the pressure cooker function will have you ready from frozen to finished in under an hour, and it's tender. That said, it is rated at 700 watts. So you'll need to figure out how your using it (long and slow or super fast) and how many amp/hours you can spare when boondocking. And like others have said, we also use our Q often as well.
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Old 11-28-2021, 09:15 PM   #10
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Your question made me curious, so I poked around and found this web page which had the following battery usages for the smallest 3Qt Instant Pot:
"Test Results:

    1. 5-minute steamer cycle used 9.59 amp hours
    2. 30-minute pressure cooking cycle used 16.9 amp hours
    3. A 4-hour slow cooker cycle used 24.5 amp hours"
We have an Instant Pot because my wife wanted one for Christmas a few years ago. She cooked with it 2-3 times, and left it sitting. We didn't care for the taste of the roast she made in it, because it didn't brown like we're accustomed to. Now I have used it a handful of times in the past year or so to make bean soup, chili, and yogurt, but I don't cook often (she won't eat anything I make, LOL).
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Old 11-28-2021, 11:03 PM   #11
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We have both an instant pot and an air fryer and take the air fryer with us much more often. (To do hotwings usually) I don’t think either would be suitable for boondocking. And both take up a lot of space. We have a propane weber Q grill and a charbroil griddle that we won’t leave home without.
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Old 11-28-2021, 11:14 PM   #12
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Consider a pressure cooker (which the Instant Pot is essentially an electrical self-heating version of). Not as well insulated as an IP but great for cooking/steaming using less gas.
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Old 11-29-2021, 07:02 AM   #13
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Consider a pressure cooker (which the Instant Pot is essentially an electrical self-heating version of). Not as well insulated as an IP but great for cooking/steaming using less gas.
The only thing we use our Instant Pot for is hard boiled eggs. You can do many of them fast and they are easy peel.
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Old 11-30-2021, 07:24 PM   #14
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Never understood the instant pot craze.
To me it looks like a fast slow cooker.
I never use a slow cooker at home or RV.
I have a stovetop pressure cooker and never use that.
I can cook anything an instant port can with regular pots and pans it just takes a little longer.
Pressure cooking does not fit my style of cooking.
We mostly dry camp so would need to run the generator to use an instant pot.
I notice one thing watching cooking shows, vary rarely do I see a pressure cooker used.
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