If you’ve ever wondered whether you can use an Instant Pot for making soup, the answer is a resounding yes — and with excellent results! The Instant Pot, a multi-functional electric pressure cooker, is not only ideal for quick meals but excels at preparing delicious, hearty soups in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits, techniques, and creative ideas for using an Instant Pot for soup, helping you elevate your soup game from ordinary to extraordinary.
Why the Instant Pot is Ideal for Soup Making
The Instant Pot has revolutionized how we cook by combining the power of pressure cooking, slow cooking, sautéing, and more in one compact appliance. When it comes to soup, these multiple functions are highly advantageous. Let’s break down why the Instant Pot is a perfect fit:
Time Efficiency Without Sacrificing Flavor
One of the biggest selling points of the Instant Pot is its ability to drastically reduce cooking times. While stovetop or slow-cooked soups can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours, Instant Pot soups can be ready in as little as 10–25 minutes under pressure. This makes it ideal for busy weeknights and impromptu gatherings.
Versatility in Soup Types
You can make nearly every type of soup in an Instant Pot:
- Broth-based soups (e.g., chicken noodle, tomato soup)
- Cream-based soups (e.g., creamy mushroom, corn chowder)
- Stew-like soups (e.g., minestrone, chili)
- Bean and lentil soups
Each soup type benefits from the pressure cooking function that helps infuse flavors quickly and efficiently.
One-Pot Convenience
The multi-functional design of the Instant Pot allows you to sauté vegetables, brown meats, deglaze, and then pressure cook — all in the same pot. Not only does this enhance flavor development but also minimizes cleanup, making it an efficient and practical option in any kitchen.
How to Make Soup in an Instant Pot
Making soup in an Instant Pot follows a simple and intuitive process. Here’s a general step-by-step guide:
Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients
Start by chopping vegetables, prepping broth, and preparing meats, beans, or grains. Have everything ready before you begin cooking, as pressure cooking progresses quickly once it starts. This helps maintain good flavor balance and prevents burning or undercooking.
Step 2: Use the Sauté Function
Before pressure cooking, most soup recipes start with sautéing onions, garlic, and other aromatics. The Instant Pot’s sauté feature allows you to do this on the same appliance.
Pro Tip: Use oil or butter for better flavor during sauté mode and be sure to deglaze the pot after this step to prevent scorching.
Step 3: Deglaze
After sautéing, add a small amount of liquid (water, broth, or wine) and stir to loosen any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. This step adds significant depth to the soup’s final flavor.
Step 4: Add Ingredients and Seal
Add the remaining ingredients and seal the lid. While there’s no strict order for adding ingredients, denser items like root vegetables, legumes, or tougher meats usually go in first. Liquids such as broth or coconut milk should fully submerge grains or beans to ensure even cooking.
Step 5: Pressure Cook
Choose the pressure cook setting and adjust time accordingly. Here are general guidelines:
| Soup Type | Pressure Cook Time (High Pressure) |
|---|---|
| Vegetable or broth-based | 5–10 minutes |
| Cream-based or pureed | 10–15 minutes |
| Bean or lentil | 20–25 minutes |
| Stew-like or grain-added | 15–20 minutes |
A natural release (NR) is ideal for more delicate or protein-rich soups, while a quick release (QR) works for vegetable soups to preserve texture.
Step 6: Add Final Touches
Once the soup is done cooking, you can stir in heavier creams, shredded cheeses, fresh herbs, or uncooked pasta or greens right after depressurizing. If you want a smoother soup, use a handheld blender or transfer to a traditional blender for pureeing.
Benefits of Using an Instant Pot for Soup
Beyond convenience and speed, using your Instant Pot for soup brings a host of benefits:
Enhanced Flavor Infusion
Despite its fast cooking, the pressure environment helps infuse flavors quicker than traditional simmering. The steam circulates and breaks down ingredients efficiently, intensifying herbal and spice notes in the broth.
Nutrient Retention
Because pressure cooking reduces cooking time and uses less water, more vitamins and minerals are preserved in your vegetables and proteins compared to boiling or simmering.
Energy Efficiency
An Instant Pot uses less energy than running a stove or oven for extended periods, making it both eco-friendly and cost-efficient for soup preparation.
Batch Cooking and Freezing
Thanks to its large capacity (6–8 quarts in standard models), you can make larger batches ideal for weekly meal prep or freezing. This makes it a great tool for stockpiling homemade soups for cold months ahead.
Best Practices for Perfect Instant Pot Soups
To ensure optimal results, consider the following best practices when crafting soups in your Instant Pot:
Use the Right Amount of Liquid
Always add at least 1–1½ cups of liquid (water, broth, etc.) to ensure the pot builds pressure correctly and prevents burning. Avoid overfilling the inner pot beyond the ⅔ mark, especially with beans or pasta which expand during cooking.
Balance Ingredients Strategically
Add high-starch ingredients (like potatoes, root vegetables, and squash) later in the cooking process to avoid over-mashing or thickening the soup too much. Similarly, delicate ingredients like leafy greens, pasta, or quick-cooking seafood should be added after pressure cooking.
Utilize the Layering Technique
For multi-textured soups, consider positioning denser ingredients at the bottom and more tender ones toward the top. This helps control texture while ensuring everything cooks just right.
Customize and Repurpose Flavors
Because the Instant Pot is so versatile, you can play with bold flavors, like curry in lentil soup or turmeric in a vegetable broth. You can also repurpose cooked ingredients from other meals — think leftover roasted chicken turned into chicken noodle or shredded beef used in vegetable beef soup.
Season Thoughtfully
While you can’t adjust flavor as you would in a simmering pot, you can layer flavors throughout the cooking process — during sautéing, pressure cooking, and when adding finishing touches. Always taste and adjust seasonings post-cooking for the best results.
Creative Soup Ideas You Can Try in Your Instant Pot
Now that we’ve laid the foundation let’s get into some exciting and mouthwatering Instant Pot soup recipes you can try at home.
Creamy Tomato Soup
This indulgent soup is rich, smooth, and perfect with a dollop of sour cream. You’ll need:
- Onions, garlic, and olive oil for sautéing
- Fresh or canned tomatoes
- Veggie or chicken broth
- Heavy cream and herbs (like basil and thyme)
After pressure cooking and blending, stir in the cream and freshly chopped basil for a comforting classic.
Split Pea or Lentil Soup
This high-protein, low-fat option is perfect for chilly nights:
Ingredients:
- Split peas or lentils
- Carrots, celery, onion, garlic
- Stock, bay leaf, thyme, and pepper
Pressure cook for around 20–25 minutes and puree for a smooth texture or leave slightly chunky for more texture.
Cajun Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
Use the sauté function to create a quick roux — blend with chicken, andouille sausage, celery, onions, and tomatoes — and pressure cook until everything melds beautifully. Add okra separately if using and top with green onions.
Asian-Inspired Chicken Noodle Soup
Start with a miso or chicken broth base, add ginger, garlic, and soy sauce during deglazing. Pressure cook chicken breasts, shred them, and add ramen noodles or rice late in the cooking process. Garnish with lime, chili oil, and scallions.
Coconut Chickpea Curry Soup
A vegan delight that’s full of flavor! Begin with a base of onions, garlic, and curry paste, add chickpeas and coconut milk, and pressure cook until tender. Finish with spinach and lime for brightness.
How to Troubleshoot Instant Pot Soup Mistakes
Even experienced cooks can run into hiccups when working with pressure cooking. Here’s how to deal with common issues:
Soup Is Too Thin or Watery
This usually happens when you’ve added too much liquid. Use the sauté function after cooking to simmer and reduce the broth to your desired consistency.
Soup Is Too Thick
If the soup is overly dense or has turned starchy, simply stir in more broth or water and blend if needed.
Burn Notice Appears During Cooking
A “burn” error typically occurs when solids stick to the pot bottom. To avoid this:
- Ensure you deglaze thoroughly after sautéing.
- Layer ingredients correctly — always add liquids before dense solids.
- Use the “add water” trick if needed: just add a splash of liquid before sealing.
Loss of Freshness or Delicate Ingredients
Because high-pressure cooking can degrade fresh herbs or pasta, add these after the soup’s main cooking phase has completed and the pot has naturally or manually released pressure.
Too Much Pressure from Beans
Some beans, like kidney or navy beans, produce foam while cooking, which can block the steam valve. Use the cold water soak method beforehand, or add a teaspoon of oil to help reduce foam.
Final Tips and Considerations
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned soup chef, here are our top final considerations when choosing to use an Instant Pot for soup:
- Choose the right model: If you’re often cooking dinners for large families or batch meals, opt for a 6 or 8-quart Instant Pot.
- Label and freeze leftovers: Make your life easier by pre-portioning soups for quick freezing and reheating on hectic days.
- Experiment with global flavors: Instant Pot soup opens a world of global recipes — explore Mexican, Mediterranean, Asian, and Indian cuisines easily.
- Invest in a silicone lid and sealing ring: For households making multiple soups a week, an extra sealing ring helps avoid flavor transfer between different soup varieties like tomato and broth-based soups.
With these final touches and your creative insights, the Instant Pot can transform your cooking routine — especially when it comes to crafting perfect soups with minimal effort.
Conclusion
So, can you use an Instant Pot for soup? Absolutely — and it might even become your go-to method. The benefits of fast cooking, rich flavor development, and convenience are unparalleled. From healthy lentil soups to decadent creamed soups, this versatile appliance can tackle it all. And with the right techniques and a few simple adjustments, you’ll not only make satisfying meals — you’ll elevate your soup-making skills.
Happy cooking — and remember, your Instant Pot isn’t just another kitchen gadget; it’s a time-saving, soup-creating powerhouse just waiting to be unlocked.
Can you use an Instant Pot for making soup?
Yes, you can absolutely use an Instant Pot to make soup, and it’s one of the most convenient and efficient methods for preparing homemade soup. The Instant Pot combines multiple functions such as sautéing, pressure cooking, and slow cooking, all of which are valuable when making soup. Whether you’re creating a hearty vegetable soup, a creamy bisque, or a comforting chicken noodle soup, the Instant Pot streamlines the cooking process while preserving the flavor and texture of your ingredients.
The pressure cooking function significantly reduces cook time compared to traditional methods, often turning hours-long recipes into meals ready in under 30 minutes. Additionally, the sauté function allows you to brown meats or cook aromatics like onions and garlic directly in the pot before pressure cooking, which enhances the flavor base of your soup. It’s an all-in-one appliance that’s ideal for busy cooks who still want the satisfaction of homemade soup without the lengthy preparation.
What types of soup work best in an Instant Pot?
Most types of soup work exceptionally well in an Instant Pot, especially those that require simmering or slow cooking. Hearty soups like chili, lentil soup, chicken noodle, minestrone, and beef stew all benefit from the pressure cooking feature, which helps infuse flavors quickly. Soups that traditionally take hours to develop rich flavors can be made in a fraction of the time while still yielding delicious results.
Cream-based soups, such as butternut squash or potato leek, are also ideal for the Instant Pot because the high-pressure steam softens vegetables quickly and evenly. For brothy soups, it’s important to balance the liquid content and avoid overfilling the pot beyond the max fill line. Additionally, soups with delicate ingredients like fresh herbs or cream can have these added after pressure cooking to preserve their freshness and texture, making the Instant Pot a versatile tool for nearly any soup recipe.
How do you layer ingredients when making soup in an Instant Pot?
Proper layering of ingredients is key to successful soup-making in an Instant Pot. Start by using the sauté function to cook aromatics like onions, garlic, and celery, which form the flavor base. After building your base, add harder vegetables like carrots and potatoes, followed by proteins such as chicken, beans, or beef. Liquids like broth or water should be added next to ensure proper cooking and pressure build-up.
Softer ingredients such as greens, pasta, or rice should go in last or be added after pressure cooking to avoid overcooking or turning mushy. Using the trivet or a steaming basket can help elevate certain ingredients above the liquid, allowing for controlled steaming rather than boiling. Understanding the order and timing of ingredient placement will not only enhance the flavors but also maintain the integrity and texture of each component in your soup.
Can you make creamy soups without a blender in an Instant Pot?
While many creamy soups are traditionally made using a blender or immersion blender, you can achieve a creamy texture in an Instant Pot even without one. Some recipes rely on naturally creamy ingredients like potatoes, cauliflower, or white beans, which soften and break down during pressure cooking, creating a thick and velvety texture when mashed manually or left to simmer.
If your soup lacks natural creaminess, you can use Instant Pot-compatible thickening methods such as adding a small amount of cornstarch or flour before cooking, or finishing the soup with cream, coconut milk, or butter after cooking. Another option is to cook a few extra potatoes or lentils along with the soup, which can be mashed into the broth to thicken it naturally. These techniques help you produce creamy soups without needing additional kitchen tools.
What are the best settings to use for soup on an Instant Pot?
The best settings for making soup in an Instant Pot depend on the type of soup you’re preparing. The pressure cook setting is most commonly used for most soups that require a quick cook time, typically anywhere from 10 to 25 minutes, depending on the ingredients. The sauté setting is perfect for browning meat or building a flavor base with aromatics before pressure cooking, while the slow cook setting works well for soups that benefit from longer, gentler cooking, such as tomato-based soups or broths.
Some Instant Pot models come with a Soup/Broth setting, which is specifically designed to simmer soups and broths for extended periods at high pressure. This setting is ideal for making homemade stock or bone broth. Additionally, the keep-warm function is handy for maintaining soup temperature after cooking if you’re not serving immediately. Understanding and utilizing these settings appropriately ensures optimal results for every kind of soup you prepare.
How do you prevent soup from foaming or scorching in an Instant Pot?
Preventing foaming and scorching is crucial when making soup in an Instant Pot, especially when using ingredients like beans, rice, or thick purees. To minimize foaming, avoid filling the pot beyond two-thirds capacity and use a small amount of oil or butter when sautéing to reduce bubbling. Thickeners like flour or cornstarch should be mixed with a cold liquid before adding them to the pot to prevent clumping and uneven cooking.
Scorching often occurs when ingredients stick to the bottom of the pot and burn. To prevent this, layer liquids appropriately, make sure there is enough broth or water to allow the pot to reach pressure, and stir well after adding ingredients. Cooking on the correct pressure setting and allowing the pressure to release naturally helps distribute heat more evenly. If your Instant Pot has a “Burn Notice” feature, it will alert you early, allowing you to adjust and stir to prevent damage to your soup.
Can you cook frozen ingredients directly in the Instant Pot for soup?
Yes, you can cook frozen ingredients directly in the Instant Pot when making soup, which can be a great time-saver. Frozen vegetables, chicken, or even meat can go straight into the pot without thawing first. However, keep in mind that adding frozen items will increase the time it takes for the pot to come up to pressure, which can affect the overall cooking timeline. Make sure there’s enough liquid in the pot to facilitate steam production and even cooking.
For best results, you may need to adjust the cooking time by a few minutes to account for the extra cold mass in the pot. You should also ensure meats are fully submerged in liquid for even cooking. It’s generally safe and effective to use frozen ingredients in soup recipes, but monitor the texture of delicate vegetables to prevent overcooking. The Instant Pot’s versatility makes it a practical option for using frozen ingredients while still achieving a flavorful, well-balanced soup.