Instant Pot Loaded Potato Soup (2024)

FAQs

Is Instant Pot soup high or low pressure? ›

The Soup setting on the Instant Pot operates by using high pressure to create a sealed cooking environment. It brings the contents of the pot to a boil, allowing flavors to infuse and ingredients to become tender.

Most creamy potato soup recipes call for a dairy product of some kind. If you plan to make a thicker version, try using thicker dairy from the outset. For example, if a recipe calls for whole milk, try adding heavy cream instead toward the end of the cooking process (set the burner no higher than medium heat).

Cornstarch is not the only thickening agent you can use. Other alternatives include flour, arrowroot powder, instant mashed potatoes, or even pureed vegetables like cauliflower or cooked oats. Each of these options will add thickness to your soup while imparting its own unique taste and texture.

If at any point the soup is too thick for you (especially when reheating it), add in some broth until your desired consistency is reached. I highly recommend reheating this soup on a low heat and stirring it often.

Vegetables, pasta, and beans can turn to mush if you cook them for too long- Because high-pressure cooking is such a fast process, it is essential to understand how it can overcook food. Vegetables, pasta, and canned beans can become overcooked quickly.

Press the Soup button. It will say Normal, 30 minutes at High Pressure. If you press the Soup button again, you can adjust the mode from Normal to Less or More (this simply changes the cooking time). Normal mode - 30 minutes at High pressure - recommended for soups with meat.

Not using quality stock or broth

You can always use water in your soup, but if you want it to have a full body and dimension, a good stock or broth can make all the difference. They have the ability to transform a bland soup into a flavorful meal, as well as adding extra nutritional value.

Cheese: I recommend a good sharp cheddar cheese here for maximum flavor. Greek yogurt or sour cream: To make the soup extra-creamy. Salt and pepper: Add in as much as you need at the end to season your soup well.

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

Another option for thickening soup is by using dairy like sour cream or yogurt. Start with a small dollop and stir before checking the consistency and adding more. We recommend using plain yogurt so you don't alter the taste of the soup. You can also use cream if you prefer.

Why is my potato soup gluey? ›

"Because you can taste the glue-iness in the texture. See how it's a little sticky and gooey on your tongue? That's because when you blend potatoes, it causes swollen starch granules to burst, which makes the whole thing sticky, like melted cheese or dough."

First, the starch in the potatoes will help thicken it. I also whisk together some flour and milk and add it to the soup to give it some body. There's heavy cream in it, too. Heavy cream is nice and thick on its own, but it gives the soup next-level thick, rich creaminess.

Sear or roast your potatoes to prevent gummy soup

While you can certainly make potato soup by just chucking potato chunks into a pot of boiling water and going from there, many recipes recommend that you cook your spuds beforehand to maximize your dish's flavor.

Add 4 cups stock, 1 to 2 cups softer vegetables or canned/frozen vegetables and spices. Cover and cook on high for 3 to 4 hours or low for 6 to 8 hours. If using cream or milk, be sure to cook soup on low for 6 to 8 hours.

For weighted gauge pressure canners at 0-1000 feet, process at 10 pounds pressure - 60 minutes for pints and 75 minutes for quarts. At higher altitudes, process at 15 pounds pressure. For dial gauge pressure canners at 0-2000 feet, process at 11 pounds pressure – process 60 minutes for pints and 75 minutes for quarts.

A slow cooker should be your go-to if you make a lot of soups or stews and want your meats fall-off-the-bone tender. Because they can be easily transported, they're also excellent to bring to potlucks.

At lower pressures, water boils at a lower temperature. That means something simmering away is cooking below 100°C (212°F) and will take longer to cook. At high altitudes, by raising the pressure and boiling point above what happens at sea level, a pressure cooker can really boost the reactions cooking your food.