Now that you know the best instant pot trivets available, it is time for you to learn everything about choosing the most appropriate type and getting the best out of it.
What Are Instant Pot Trivets?
Instant Pot trivets are accessories that hold food items above the water in an instant pot. By keeping food items above water, you cook the food by steaming instead of boiling it.
By steaming, you can cook certain food types more effectively without worrying about them getting spoilt inside the pressure cooker. Instant pot trivets are mostly made of stainless steel, although you can also find models made of silicone. Some people also refer to them as steam racks because that is what they basically do.
What Are Instant Pot Trivets Used For?
You can use trivets for Instant Pots to make different delicacies. Some of these delicacies are explained below
Cooking meat
A trivet helps you cook meat in an Instant Pot without losing the flavor. The rationale behind cooking meat with trivet is that when you cook meat directly inside water, the meat’s flavor leeches into the water.
Except you’re consuming the water with the meat, the leeched flavor ends up wasted. A good thing about cooking meat with a trivet is that you can pour seasoned liquid or broth inside the Instant Pot for the meat to absorb the flavor while steaming.
Making cakes and cheesecakes
Surely nobody wants to eat a cheesecake with a soggy crust. Although the springform pan is the main accessory needed when using an instant pot to make a cake, you still need a trivet to lift it right above the water. You can follow this same method for making lasagna and casseroles by placing the casserole pan on the trivet.
Cooking eggs
Unless you want to end up with overcooked eggs with cracked shells, you shouldn’t boil your eggs inside an Instant Pot. Instead, place them on a trivet and let the steam handle the rest.
You won’t only end up with perfectly cooked eggs; the shells will also peel off easily. A common worry about boiling eggs with trivets is that they may fall off.
To ensure they don’t fall off, you may add some veggies to the mix or place them carefully. Alternatively, you can opt for an egg stack trivet. They work best for holding eggs in an Instant Pot.
Pot-in-pot cooking
Trivets are also used for the pot-in-pot cooking method. The pot-in-pot method involves placing an additional pot or container inside the pressure cooker.
After pouring one or two cups of water inside the instant pot, you place the trivet inside before finally placing the additional pot or container containing the item to be cooked.
Steaming veggies
If you’ve ever tried cooking veggies with an instant pot, then you already know that veggies like cauliflower and broccoli only take around a minute to make. Instead of directly cooking your veggies in the pot, you can place them on a trivet to steam. Steaming veggies gives them that crisp feel. Another reason to choose steaming over direct boiling is that steaming your veggies can help you preserve more nutrients.
Cooking two delicacies simultaneously
With an instant pot trivet, you can also prepare two dishes simultaneously. While most of the use cases above entail keeping the food away from the base of the pot, this method requires you to cook one part of the meal inside the pot while you put the other one on the rivet.
A good example is cooking sauce inside the pot while placing a bowl of rice and water over the top. Another way of cooking two foods simultaneously is by using two trivets and two containers. Pour two cups of water into the pot and place a trivet over the water.
Afterward, place the first container over the initial trivet and cover it with a second trivet. End the process by placing the second container on the second trivet.
What Are the Types of Trivets for Instant Pots?
While trivets for instant pots have the same basic design, there are subtle differences from brand to brand. This section explains the different types of trivets you’ll find around.
Metal trivets
These trivets are usually made of steel. They are the most common trivet type in the market. There are slight variations of the metal trivet. Some come with handles that make it easy to lift them out of the pot, while others don’t.
A point you want to note here is whether the handles are also made of steel or coated with heat-resistant material. For convenience, we recommend opting for a trivet with a heat-resistant handle.
Another variant of the metal trivet is tall trivets. These come without handles. They only have long legs that elevate the rack above the liquid inside the pot.
Silicone trivets
Silicone trivets are a breath of fresh air. They offer a viable alternative to metal trivets and are quite easy to use. You can also select between those that have handles and those that don’t.
Egg steamer trivet
Egg steamer trivets are the go-to trivet if you need a trivet for conveniently steaming eggs. They are not quite as popular as the regular ones because of their limited range of use.
An upside of egg steamer trivets is that they are usually stackable, meaning you can steam between 10 to 20 eggs at a time, depending on the trivet’s capacity.
How To Place a Trivet in an Instant Pot
Placing a trivet inside an instant pot is super easy. Follow these simple steps:
- Pour water inside your Instant Pot
- Place the trivet inside the pot with the legs touching the base of the pot
- Place your food, pan, or container on the standing trivet
- Once firmly placed, cover up the pot, ensuring that it is fully locked
