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Milk Street Instant Pot: Bold, Fast, Fresh -- A Revolution of Flavor in an Instant
Cook it fast or cook it slow: 150 flexible, flavorful Instant Pot and multicooker recipes designed for your schedule, from the James Beard Award-winning team at Milk Street.
Instant Pots and other multicookers can transform your routine, turning day-long simmers and braises into quick dishes that are achievable even on a busy weeknight. But did you know that the same pot is also a top-notch slow cooker, delivering make-ahead flexibility?
Milk Street Fast and Slow shows you how to make the most of your multicooker's unique capabilities with a host of one-pot recipes that show how to prepare the same dish two ways. For the quickest meals, use the pressure cooker setting to cut down on cooking time. And if you prefer the flexibility of a slow cooker, you can start your cooking hours ahead.
Tantalize your taste buds and change the way you cook with this mouthwatering menu:
Vegetables shine on center stage in dozens of hearty vegetarian mains and sides like Potato and Green Pea Curry and Eggplant, Tomato, and Chickpea Tagine.
From Risotto with Sausage and Arugula to steel-cut oats and polenta, get slow-cooking grains on the table fast -- no standing and stirring required.
Beans cooked from scratch now join the weeknight lineup. Skip the overnight soak and load up on flavor in dishes like Black Beans with Bacon and Tequila.
One-pot pastas mean more flavor and less cleanup. Cook Lemony Orzo with Chicken and Arugula right in the sauce -- no boiling, no draining, no problem.
Cook chicken with a new world of flavor, from Chicken in Green Mole to Chicken Soup with Bok Choy and Ginger.
Transform tough cuts of pork into everyday ingredients -- from Filipino Pork Shoulder Adobo and Hoisin-Glazed Baby Back Ribs to Carnitas with Pickled Red Onions.
Make beef affordable by coaxing cheap (but flavorful) cuts to tenderness. Even all-day pot roasts and Short Rib Ragu become Tuesday night-friendly with little hands-on effort.
These dishes take advantage of the Milk Street approach to cooking: fresh flavor combinations and innovative techniques from around the world. In these pages, you'll find a compelling new approach to pressure cooking and slow cooking every day.
Praise for Christopher Kimball's Milk Street:
"Kimball is nothing if not an obsessive tester, so every recipe has an implicit guarantee . . . Scanning the streamlined but explicit instructions, you think: easy, quick, works, boom." -- The Atlantic
Instant Pots and other multicookers can transform your routine, turning day-long simmers and braises into quick dishes that are achievable even on a busy weeknight. But did you know that the same pot is also a top-notch slow cooker, delivering make-ahead flexibility?
Milk Street Fast and Slow shows you how to make the most of your multicooker's unique capabilities with a host of one-pot recipes that show how to prepare the same dish two ways. For the quickest meals, use the pressure cooker setting to cut down on cooking time. And if you prefer the flexibility of a slow cooker, you can start your cooking hours ahead.
Tantalize your taste buds and change the way you cook with this mouthwatering menu:
Vegetables shine on center stage in dozens of hearty vegetarian mains and sides like Potato and Green Pea Curry and Eggplant, Tomato, and Chickpea Tagine.
From Risotto with Sausage and Arugula to steel-cut oats and polenta, get slow-cooking grains on the table fast -- no standing and stirring required.
Beans cooked from scratch now join the weeknight lineup. Skip the overnight soak and load up on flavor in dishes like Black Beans with Bacon and Tequila.
One-pot pastas mean more flavor and less cleanup. Cook Lemony Orzo with Chicken and Arugula right in the sauce -- no boiling, no draining, no problem.
Cook chicken with a new world of flavor, from Chicken in Green Mole to Chicken Soup with Bok Choy and Ginger.
Transform tough cuts of pork into everyday ingredients -- from Filipino Pork Shoulder Adobo and Hoisin-Glazed Baby Back Ribs to Carnitas with Pickled Red Onions.
Make beef affordable by coaxing cheap (but flavorful) cuts to tenderness. Even all-day pot roasts and Short Rib Ragu become Tuesday night-friendly with little hands-on effort.
These dishes take advantage of the Milk Street approach to cooking: fresh flavor combinations and innovative techniques from around the world. In these pages, you'll find a compelling new approach to pressure cooking and slow cooking every day.
Praise for Christopher Kimball's Milk Street:
"Kimball is nothing if not an obsessive tester, so every recipe has an implicit guarantee . . . Scanning the streamlined but explicit instructions, you think: easy, quick, works, boom." -- The Atlantic
304 pages, Paperback
First published April 7, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
April 27, 2020
I've been blogging about the recipes I've been making from this cook book, so I figure it's time to review the actual cook book. No, I'm not getting paid to write this review. No, I'm not being compensated. No, I didn't get a free copy of the book. I saw it, I bought it, now I'm talking (gushing) about it.
This past year I fell down the rabbit hole known as Milk Street. I saw a couple episodes of Season 1 when it came out, but...didn't grab me. I wasn't engaged by Mr. Kimball going to some exotic location and being filmed while watching someone else cook. Season 2 they changed the format a bit and less obvious travel and more in kitchen discussion about what Milk Street found and brought back. Now that, interested me - show me how I can make Levantine rice and lentils with fried onions, with ingredients I can find in the middle of the States. Season 3, I was hooked - completely. As in binge watching Milk Street marathons on PBS. Even when Mr. Kimball was off in that exotic location again I was hooked. I'm not sure what changed.
A year or so ago I obtained an Instant Pot and I was using it for a handful of things but acknowledge that it was an under-utilized kitchen item. The recipes I was finding on-line were hit or miss and left me with more questions than not.
Until this cook book. I LOVE this cook book.
>>Recipes are clearly written using ingredients I can mostly find (still struggling to find goguchang)
>>Each recipe comes with a full page photo
>>Each recipe comes with a description of the dish and tips
>>Each recipe comes with explicit directions on timing and "how to" (ie, using a towel for steaming rice)
>>Each recipe offers a fast version using the pressure cook feature, or a slow version with the slow cooker. So far I've only cooked with the fast version.
>>And I know all of these recipes were thoroughly tested and it shows in the results *I* get.
My only small complaint is - I would like to have had a chapter on just *basics*. Basic preparation for long grain white rice, short grain white rice, brown rice, wild rice (Calif and Minn); basic preparation for navy, pinto, garbanzo, black, kidney, canellinni beans, etc; basic preparation for all sorts of grains such as steel cut, farro, bulger, wheat berries and more. And tips on what not to do...
While the recipes I've tried so far - and I think I'm up to five or six in the last two weeks - have all worked spot on with terrific results, I'm still looking for a solid, tested, basic IP cook book.
While I wait for such a product, I will probably try and cook everything from the Milk Street Fast and Slow cook book. Because the recipes are That. Good. And they work. And I have lots of delicious leftovers.
Recommended if you have an Instant Pot and like to explore world cuisine.
This past year I fell down the rabbit hole known as Milk Street. I saw a couple episodes of Season 1 when it came out, but...didn't grab me. I wasn't engaged by Mr. Kimball going to some exotic location and being filmed while watching someone else cook. Season 2 they changed the format a bit and less obvious travel and more in kitchen discussion about what Milk Street found and brought back. Now that, interested me - show me how I can make Levantine rice and lentils with fried onions, with ingredients I can find in the middle of the States. Season 3, I was hooked - completely. As in binge watching Milk Street marathons on PBS. Even when Mr. Kimball was off in that exotic location again I was hooked. I'm not sure what changed.
A year or so ago I obtained an Instant Pot and I was using it for a handful of things but acknowledge that it was an under-utilized kitchen item. The recipes I was finding on-line were hit or miss and left me with more questions than not.
Until this cook book. I LOVE this cook book.
>>Recipes are clearly written using ingredients I can mostly find (still struggling to find goguchang)
>>Each recipe comes with a full page photo
>>Each recipe comes with a description of the dish and tips
>>Each recipe comes with explicit directions on timing and "how to" (ie, using a towel for steaming rice)
>>Each recipe offers a fast version using the pressure cook feature, or a slow version with the slow cooker. So far I've only cooked with the fast version.
>>And I know all of these recipes were thoroughly tested and it shows in the results *I* get.
My only small complaint is - I would like to have had a chapter on just *basics*. Basic preparation for long grain white rice, short grain white rice, brown rice, wild rice (Calif and Minn); basic preparation for navy, pinto, garbanzo, black, kidney, canellinni beans, etc; basic preparation for all sorts of grains such as steel cut, farro, bulger, wheat berries and more. And tips on what not to do...
While the recipes I've tried so far - and I think I'm up to five or six in the last two weeks - have all worked spot on with terrific results, I'm still looking for a solid, tested, basic IP cook book.
While I wait for such a product, I will probably try and cook everything from the Milk Street Fast and Slow cook book. Because the recipes are That. Good. And they work. And I have lots of delicious leftovers.
Recommended if you have an Instant Pot and like to explore world cuisine.
January 31, 2022
4.5 ☆
Milk Street Fast and Slow: Instant Pot Cooking at the Speed You Need is an official cookbook for Instant Pot. All the recipes have been configured for the 6 quart model with instructions for both the pressure cook and the slow cook function, whichever the cook prefers. But be very familiar with the model that you own before blindly following all of the steps in this book, as this book isn't for newbies.
This is my second cookbook from Christopher Kimball's Milk Street. As such, there is a wonderful emphasis on bolder, international flavors from many points in the globe. (The list of ingredients tends to be longer than in Milk Street: Cookish: Throw It Together). While not explicitly targeting vegetarians, at least 30 percent of the recipes would be relevant or easily converted. Cooks will probably still want to adjust the amount of meat in the recipe to suit their household's tastes.
With the number of recipes included within parentheses, the major chapters are as follows:
~ vegetables (18)
~ grains (16)
~ beans (26)
~ one-pot pastas (14)
~ chicken (23)
~ pork (13)
~ beef (26)
As my GR friends know, I had acquired an Instant Pot (Duo Gourmet model) but was then made wary by the tremendous variation in cooking times. Take split pea soup, for instance, which was my inaugural dish (and not a recipe from this book). I found three recipes which each had different pressure cooking times ranging from 5 to 10 to 15 minutes. A lot of food destruction could occur with overly long cooking times. I'm of a methodical mindset (since ATK is my go-to culinary reference); and this much variation makes me pretty dubious about which cookbook to trust. I don't care to throw food away after a failed experiment.
Given Kimball's history with ATK, I'm willing take inspiration from his book. I've tried the Chili Con Carne recipe with beef chuck. Since chili can be a highly contested dish, I will say that this entree was tasty but I prefer one of my earlier chili recipes. I was more pleased with the Argentinian pork stew with squash. There are plenty of other tempting dishes to try such as "Toasted Pearl Couscous with Chicken and Chickpeas" or "Chicken Rogan Josh."
Milk Street Fast and Slow: Instant Pot Cooking at the Speed You Need is an official cookbook for Instant Pot. All the recipes have been configured for the 6 quart model with instructions for both the pressure cook and the slow cook function, whichever the cook prefers. But be very familiar with the model that you own before blindly following all of the steps in this book, as this book isn't for newbies.
This is my second cookbook from Christopher Kimball's Milk Street. As such, there is a wonderful emphasis on bolder, international flavors from many points in the globe. (The list of ingredients tends to be longer than in Milk Street: Cookish: Throw It Together). While not explicitly targeting vegetarians, at least 30 percent of the recipes would be relevant or easily converted. Cooks will probably still want to adjust the amount of meat in the recipe to suit their household's tastes.
With the number of recipes included within parentheses, the major chapters are as follows:
~ vegetables (18)
~ grains (16)
~ beans (26)
~ one-pot pastas (14)
~ chicken (23)
~ pork (13)
~ beef (26)
As my GR friends know, I had acquired an Instant Pot (Duo Gourmet model) but was then made wary by the tremendous variation in cooking times. Take split pea soup, for instance, which was my inaugural dish (and not a recipe from this book). I found three recipes which each had different pressure cooking times ranging from 5 to 10 to 15 minutes. A lot of food destruction could occur with overly long cooking times. I'm of a methodical mindset (since ATK is my go-to culinary reference); and this much variation makes me pretty dubious about which cookbook to trust. I don't care to throw food away after a failed experiment.
Given Kimball's history with ATK, I'm willing take inspiration from his book. I've tried the Chili Con Carne recipe with beef chuck. Since chili can be a highly contested dish, I will say that this entree was tasty but I prefer one of my earlier chili recipes. I was more pleased with the Argentinian pork stew with squash. There are plenty of other tempting dishes to try such as "Toasted Pearl Couscous with Chicken and Chickpeas" or "Chicken Rogan Josh."
March 18, 2022
Everything I want in a cookbook: Giant, pretty photos on every other page and easy to follow recipes. Additionally, the recipes hail from different cultures and they helpfully include both a descriptive name and the title it has in the home country. I appreciated that. Also, the recipes I've tried so far came out well. I particularly like the vegetable ones.
PS. If you like me go looking for other books by them, don't be fooled by Milk Street Instant Pot: Bold, Fast, Fresh -- A Revolution of Flavor in an Instant. It's a different edition of this book. There are no new recipes.
PS. If you like me go looking for other books by them, don't be fooled by Milk Street Instant Pot: Bold, Fast, Fresh -- A Revolution of Flavor in an Instant. It's a different edition of this book. There are no new recipes.
January 1, 2021
When I read a cookbook, I will frequently dog-ear the pages of recipes I want to try. That habit caused troubles with this book, because, truly, probably a third of the pages are so marked. Because this book was written by Christopher Kimball, I know the recipes have been tested and refined to perfection. (There are lots of internet sources of Instant Pot recipes, but they are posted by people who may or may not know what they are doing.)
I love using my Instant Pot - but I tend to get stuck on a couple recipes. General Tso's Chicken and the New Yorker's version of Butter Chicken are my "go-to" recipes. This book will broaden my horizons, with a wide array of international recipes, including Cuban, Brazilian, Vietnamese, and other cuisines show up on the pages. Despite the breadth of cuisines, the book does a good job of simplifying the recipes for our pantries. I would completely understand if someone wanted to claim that this book presents dumbed-down, inauthentic versions of its recipes, but, to me, it offers an opportunity to try a version of the recipe, and see if it is in my wheelhouse. If I like it, trust me that I will visit an import market to find the jar of some spice I wouldn't have ever encountered otherwise.
If you got an instant pot this holiday season, I would highly recommend picking up a copy
I love using my Instant Pot - but I tend to get stuck on a couple recipes. General Tso's Chicken and the New Yorker's version of Butter Chicken are my "go-to" recipes. This book will broaden my horizons, with a wide array of international recipes, including Cuban, Brazilian, Vietnamese, and other cuisines show up on the pages. Despite the breadth of cuisines, the book does a good job of simplifying the recipes for our pantries. I would completely understand if someone wanted to claim that this book presents dumbed-down, inauthentic versions of its recipes, but, to me, it offers an opportunity to try a version of the recipe, and see if it is in my wheelhouse. If I like it, trust me that I will visit an import market to find the jar of some spice I wouldn't have ever encountered otherwise.
If you got an instant pot this holiday season, I would highly recommend picking up a copy
Read
May 2, 2022Cookbook
Awesome
Lots of great ideas.
I love my insta pot and I'm looking forward to using it more with my new work schedule. It can't do everything, but I hope I try even half of the recipes I marked.
Some I liked: Spanish beef red pepper paprika steak, meatballs in spicy tomato basil sauce, various beans, and chicken biryani.
I'm really hoping to find some recipes that work out to add dry pasta/ beans/ rice with the other meal ingredients and cook all at once.
Awesome
Lots of great ideas.
I love my insta pot and I'm looking forward to using it more with my new work schedule. It can't do everything, but I hope I try even half of the recipes I marked.
Some I liked: Spanish beef red pepper paprika steak, meatballs in spicy tomato basil sauce, various beans, and chicken biryani.
I'm really hoping to find some recipes that work out to add dry pasta/ beans/ rice with the other meal ingredients and cook all at once.
April 11, 2022
CookBook Review
Book: Milk Street Instant Pot by Christopher Kimball
This book is a definite 💋
I bought this book recently because I have not been happy with the recipes I have done in the Instant Pot. This has led be to not being inspired to bring that InstaPot upstairs and experiment with it.
Being a Christopher Kimball fan, I became intrigued when I saw this book. I thought if anyone can nail this, it will be him.
I instantly liked the feel of the book, it is the perfect size and this hardcover book stays open on the counter (a pet peeve of mine).
It has 7 chapters: Vegetables,Grains,Beans,One Pot Pastas, Chicken, Pork and Beef. He had me at One Pot Pasta.😉
Each chapter has a recipe list at the beginning, I love this feature. I mark my books up big time when I get them with stickies, highlighters, notes etc. this feature is a huge timesaver for me. There is an introduction paragraph for every recipe and it is full of tips and menus suggestions, another feature that I love. Even though I am a very experienced home cook I do love food pairing suggestions from the author. There is a photo for every recipe which I appreciate.
The photography is just the way I like it , simple, clean and crisp. Not to fussy with styling just a beautiful food picture the helps me know how it should look and how I may want to plate it myself.
This book will inspire the home cook at every level, the instructions are clear and easy to follow. The ingredients are for the most part easy to find and he has thrown in some ingredient pairings that I would never have thought of. This is what I want at this point of my cooking journey, I want to say “I never would have thought of adding that”
I have some recipes that I will share with you, and I have quite a few more that I want to try
If you have an Insta Pot on your shelf that is not getting used I strongly suggest you buy this book, you will be so glad you did.
Jay Is In The Kitchen
Book: Milk Street Instant Pot by Christopher Kimball
This book is a definite 💋
I bought this book recently because I have not been happy with the recipes I have done in the Instant Pot. This has led be to not being inspired to bring that InstaPot upstairs and experiment with it.
Being a Christopher Kimball fan, I became intrigued when I saw this book. I thought if anyone can nail this, it will be him.
I instantly liked the feel of the book, it is the perfect size and this hardcover book stays open on the counter (a pet peeve of mine).
It has 7 chapters: Vegetables,Grains,Beans,One Pot Pastas, Chicken, Pork and Beef. He had me at One Pot Pasta.😉
Each chapter has a recipe list at the beginning, I love this feature. I mark my books up big time when I get them with stickies, highlighters, notes etc. this feature is a huge timesaver for me. There is an introduction paragraph for every recipe and it is full of tips and menus suggestions, another feature that I love. Even though I am a very experienced home cook I do love food pairing suggestions from the author. There is a photo for every recipe which I appreciate.
The photography is just the way I like it , simple, clean and crisp. Not to fussy with styling just a beautiful food picture the helps me know how it should look and how I may want to plate it myself.
This book will inspire the home cook at every level, the instructions are clear and easy to follow. The ingredients are for the most part easy to find and he has thrown in some ingredient pairings that I would never have thought of. This is what I want at this point of my cooking journey, I want to say “I never would have thought of adding that”
I have some recipes that I will share with you, and I have quite a few more that I want to try
If you have an Insta Pot on your shelf that is not getting used I strongly suggest you buy this book, you will be so glad you did.
Jay Is In The Kitchen
October 25, 2020
I like that it provides a slow cook and InstantPot version for many recipes. And love the cultural diversity of selections.
October 27, 2020
Beautifully put together book; lots of pictures of the foods. That being said for one person to make
and eat I'm not interested.
and eat I'm not interested.
August 23, 2020
Still pretending that I’m going to use my Instant Pot one of these days! 😹 No, seriously, these recipes were great to dream about making!
June 19, 2024
When I first picked up "Milk Street Instant Pot: Bold, Fast, Fresh" by Christopher Kimball, I was immediately struck by its inviting layout and stunning food photography. Each recipe is paired with a full-page photo, which not only makes the book visually appealing but also helps in setting realistic expectations for your culinary creations.
What I love most about this cookbook is its accessibility. The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, perfect for busy weeknights or when you're feeling adventurous but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen. The book provides both pressure cooker and slow cooker versions for many dishes, giving you flexibility depending on your schedule. This dual approach is particularly handy, making the most of the Instant Pot's capabilities.
One of the standout features of this book is its global range of recipes. From Cuban and Brazilian to Vietnamese cuisines, the variety made it difficult to decide on which dishes I wanted to try most. I did notice that some recipes might seem simplified compared to traditional versions, but this makes them more approachable for home cooks who might not have access to every exotic ingredient. I also appreciated how the recipes often come with insightful tips and tricks, like skipping the browning step for beef, which saves time without sacrificing flavor.
In the end though this book has reinvigorated my Instant Pot cooking, which I havent really pulled out lately except to make overnight soups here and there. It's a great collection of well-organized, reliable and exciting recipes. I checked it out from the library and liked it so much that I bought one for my kitchen library shelf :)
What I love most about this cookbook is its accessibility. The recipes are straightforward and easy to follow, perfect for busy weeknights or when you're feeling adventurous but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen. The book provides both pressure cooker and slow cooker versions for many dishes, giving you flexibility depending on your schedule. This dual approach is particularly handy, making the most of the Instant Pot's capabilities.
One of the standout features of this book is its global range of recipes. From Cuban and Brazilian to Vietnamese cuisines, the variety made it difficult to decide on which dishes I wanted to try most. I did notice that some recipes might seem simplified compared to traditional versions, but this makes them more approachable for home cooks who might not have access to every exotic ingredient. I also appreciated how the recipes often come with insightful tips and tricks, like skipping the browning step for beef, which saves time without sacrificing flavor.
In the end though this book has reinvigorated my Instant Pot cooking, which I havent really pulled out lately except to make overnight soups here and there. It's a great collection of well-organized, reliable and exciting recipes. I checked it out from the library and liked it so much that I bought one for my kitchen library shelf :)
September 25, 2026
Milk Street Fast and Slow is an excellent cookbook for anyone who wants to get more versatility out of an Instant Pot while still enjoying flavorful, thoughtfully prepared meals. I really appreciated the variety of recipes and the way the book approaches both quick cooking and slower, more relaxed preparation.
What stood out to me most is how much inspiration is packed into the collection. The recipes go well beyond basic pressure-cooker staples, offering creative ideas that make everyday meals feel more interesting. There is a great range of flavors and dishes, making it easy to find something appealing whether you are cooking for a busy weeknight or planning a more substantial meal.
I also enjoyed the practical organization. Having recipes designed around different amounts of available time is genuinely useful. Some days call for speed and convenience, while others allow more time in the kitchen, and this cookbook recognizes that reality without sacrificing variety.
The instructions feel approachable, making the recipes suitable for home cooks who want to experiment with their Instant Pot without feeling overwhelmed. I especially liked how the book encourages readers to explore different ingredients and cooking techniques rather than relying on the same familiar dishes.
Overall, Milk Street Fast and Slow is a versatile and inspiring addition to an Instant Pot cookbook collection. It combines convenience with creative cooking and offers plenty of recipes to revisit. For anyone looking to expand their pressure-cooking repertoire while making delicious meals at different speeds, this is a fantastic five-star cookbook.
What stood out to me most is how much inspiration is packed into the collection. The recipes go well beyond basic pressure-cooker staples, offering creative ideas that make everyday meals feel more interesting. There is a great range of flavors and dishes, making it easy to find something appealing whether you are cooking for a busy weeknight or planning a more substantial meal.
I also enjoyed the practical organization. Having recipes designed around different amounts of available time is genuinely useful. Some days call for speed and convenience, while others allow more time in the kitchen, and this cookbook recognizes that reality without sacrificing variety.
The instructions feel approachable, making the recipes suitable for home cooks who want to experiment with their Instant Pot without feeling overwhelmed. I especially liked how the book encourages readers to explore different ingredients and cooking techniques rather than relying on the same familiar dishes.
Overall, Milk Street Fast and Slow is a versatile and inspiring addition to an Instant Pot cookbook collection. It combines convenience with creative cooking and offers plenty of recipes to revisit. For anyone looking to expand their pressure-cooking repertoire while making delicious meals at different speeds, this is a fantastic five-star cookbook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2022
Everyone knows Christopher Kimball as an inventive cook and thorough recipe writer, and he is that. But maybe even more important to me -- he respects your time.
When I first got my Instant Pot, I was dismayed by the elaborate, time-consuming recipes that my usual trusted sources offered, even those billed as "weeknight" meals. The appliance started to seem like a white elephant, a solution in search of a problem, until I found this book. Take browning beef. This fussy step, considered an absolute must by many competing food writers, adds at least 10 minutes of active cooking time. These recipes mostly just leave out the browning, and they are still absolutely delicious. Add beef, distribute in an even layer, set on high pressure -- if that's good enough for Kimball, it's good enough for me. When a recipe does include a finishing step, you can trust that it really will boost the flavor of the dish.
Recipes that you can trust to be adequately tested are hard enough to find; recipes that are tested AND respectful of the home cook's time are a true rarity.
(Also, make sure you look at the "grains" chapter, which I had thought was just side dishes but actually has lots of great mains like arroz con pollo!)
When I first got my Instant Pot, I was dismayed by the elaborate, time-consuming recipes that my usual trusted sources offered, even those billed as "weeknight" meals. The appliance started to seem like a white elephant, a solution in search of a problem, until I found this book. Take browning beef. This fussy step, considered an absolute must by many competing food writers, adds at least 10 minutes of active cooking time. These recipes mostly just leave out the browning, and they are still absolutely delicious. Add beef, distribute in an even layer, set on high pressure -- if that's good enough for Kimball, it's good enough for me. When a recipe does include a finishing step, you can trust that it really will boost the flavor of the dish.
Recipes that you can trust to be adequately tested are hard enough to find; recipes that are tested AND respectful of the home cook's time are a true rarity.
(Also, make sure you look at the "grains" chapter, which I had thought was just side dishes but actually has lots of great mains like arroz con pollo!)
September 19, 2026
Milk Street Fast and Slow is an excellent cookbook for Instant Pot users who want flavorful meals without spending hours in the kitchen. I really enjoyed the variety of recipes and the way the book makes good use of both quick and slower cooking methods. The recipes feel practical for everyday cooking while still bringing interesting flavors and techniques to the table. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, making it approachable even when trying a recipe for the first time. I also appreciate how the book encourages using the Instant Pot in different ways rather than relying on the same few familiar dishes. There is a great balance of comfort food, creative ideas, and efficient meals for busy schedules. Overall, this is a thoughtful and inspiring cookbook that makes pressure cooking feel more versatile and enjoyable. Five stars for its useful approach, variety, and delicious inspiration.
September 17, 2026
Milk Street Fast and Slow is a fantastic cookbook for anyone who wants to get more from their Instant Pot. I love the way it brings together recipes suited to both busy days and slower cooking, giving home cooks flexibility depending on how much time they have. The dishes sound flavorful and satisfying, while the practical approach makes Instant Pot cooking feel approachable rather than complicated. There is plenty of variety for soups, stews, main courses, vegetables, grains, and other comforting meals, so the recipes can easily become part of a regular dinner routine. I especially appreciate the focus on smart techniques and making the most of a single appliance. This cookbook is an excellent resource for beginners and experienced Instant Pot users alike. A useful, inspiring addition to any kitchen.
September 18, 2026
Milk Street Fast and Slow is an excellent cookbook for anyone who wants flavorful, satisfying meals without spending hours in the kitchen. I love the variety of recipes and the clever approach to Instant Pot cooking, especially the balance between quick weeknight options and slower, more hands-off dishes. The instructions are clear and practical, making the recipes approachable even when the ingredients or techniques feel a little different from everyday cooking. The flavors are interesting without being overly complicated, and there are plenty of ideas for keeping meals exciting. This is a cookbook I can see myself returning to regularly because it makes convenient cooking feel creative rather than repetitive. A fantastic resource for Instant Pot owners and busy home cooks alike. Five stars!
Read
August 27, 2020Disclaimer: I have not yet made any of these recipes yet. But! I ended up buying this cookbook, something I never do, because I thought there were so many good ones that I might like to try, especially when it gets colder. I thought I was done with Instant Pot books, but this one has some interesting innovations--lots of surprising flavor combinations and riffs on recipes from unfamiliar-to-me sources (Portugal, Pakistan, Philippines, for example). There's also a section on cooking whole chickens that I definitely want to try. It's nicely designed and I do like Christopher Kimball's writing. So, this seems like a really good book and hopefully I'll update this review when I actually cook something from it.
September 18, 2026
Milk Street Fast and Slow is an inspiring cookbook for anyone who enjoys the convenience of Instant Pot cooking without wanting to sacrifice flavor or variety. I loved the thoughtful selection of recipes and the way the book shows how flexible this appliance can be, whether you need a quick meal or have time for a slower approach. The recipes feel creative yet practical, with combinations that make everyday cooking more interesting. The clear presentation also makes it easy to browse, choose a dish, and get started. This is the kind of cookbook that encourages you to use your Instant Pot more often and experiment with new flavors. A useful, inviting, and thoroughly enjoyable addition to any kitchen collection. Five stars!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2026
★★★★★
**A fantastic Instant Pot cookbook!**
*Milk Street Fast and Slow* is exactly the kind of cookbook I love—practical, approachable, and packed with recipes that make home cooking feel much easier. The Instant Pot recipes are thoughtfully designed, with plenty of variety and clear guidance, whether you want a quick weeknight meal or something that benefits from a slower cooking approach.
What I especially appreciate is that the recipes feel like real food rather than just “pressure cooker shortcuts.” The flavors are interesting, the techniques are useful, and the book encourages you to get more out of the Instant Pot.
A great choice for both Instant Pot beginners and experienced cooks looking for fresh ideas. **5 stars!**
**A fantastic Instant Pot cookbook!**
*Milk Street Fast and Slow* is exactly the kind of cookbook I love—practical, approachable, and packed with recipes that make home cooking feel much easier. The Instant Pot recipes are thoughtfully designed, with plenty of variety and clear guidance, whether you want a quick weeknight meal or something that benefits from a slower cooking approach.
What I especially appreciate is that the recipes feel like real food rather than just “pressure cooker shortcuts.” The flavors are interesting, the techniques are useful, and the book encourages you to get more out of the Instant Pot.
A great choice for both Instant Pot beginners and experienced cooks looking for fresh ideas. **5 stars!**
July 25, 2020
I received this book as a Goodreads Giveaway. I was a lucky one to win this book. It contains recipes from around the world. I have made 2 chicken and two beef stews thus far and they were very flavorful. All recipes have directions for using a slow cooker along with an instapot/Pressure cooker. Many recipes can easily be adapted to Paleo or Keto diets. It also includes a chapter on grains and also vegetables. You won’t go wrong by adding this cookbook to your collection.
November 20, 2020
Fantastic! Full page photograph for EVERY recipe! This is a must in a cookbook nowadays. Recipes from across the globe for your Instant Pot with slow & fast instructions. Caution: You will need to expand your spice cabinet if you want to try many of the recipes. Which is not a bad thing! New tastes, travel the world in your own kitchen!
November 23, 2020
I only have a very basic three-quart IP and I haven't actually tried to halve the recipes yet but I plan to. Also, I haven't found any way of controlling the temperature when using the sauté function so there are some where I'll do that part of the recipe stove-top and then transfer to the pot. Seems well worth it!
January 16, 2021
I am a huge fan of Chris kimball and America’s Test Kitchen / Cook’s Illustrated. What I loved about this book is the recipes are not basic but the book is written simply and organized. I do not use the One Pot my one pot is a Zavor and it is easy to figure out the intent of the directions. (I.e. browning versus sauté)
May 3, 2021
I have made many of the recipes from this book and highly recommend it. The proportions and timings are top-notch, and things come out tasting great. There are slightly more unusual dishes in this, things you wouldn't ordinarily search for and find, as I've done with many Instant Pot recipes. Also, I'm not a crazy-experienced cook and I found these recipes easy enough to do and enjoy.
September 16, 2021
I’ve earmarked over 30 recipes to try so that’s a good sign 😅. I did not think I’d have that many that I wanted to cook when I initially picked it up at the library. I’ll update this review when I try some, but I’m pleasantly surprised by the sophistication of some of these dishes. I like that there are meals from all different regions, I’m excited to try some fresh flavors and change things up.
August 2, 2024
Christopher Kimball has created the Instant Pot/slow cooker bible with Milk Street Fast and Slow. Every single recipe contains directions for the electric pressure cooker and the slow cooker. With recipes from all around the world and with such a variety of ingredients, cooks will turn to this cookbook again and again. Highly recommended.
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December 11, 2025Few recipes are truly fast, especially the ones containing meat. Typical is 1 hour +.
Most of the recipes feature seasoning/garnishes like chilies, dill, fennel seed and then cilantro, lime juice, mint etc. Not a few recipes have "spicy" in the title. If you're into those flavors, then there is a lot to like, if not, then there is less to choose from.
Most of the recipes feature seasoning/garnishes like chilies, dill, fennel seed and then cilantro, lime juice, mint etc. Not a few recipes have "spicy" in the title. If you're into those flavors, then there is a lot to like, if not, then there is less to choose from.
May 5, 2020
Really loving this book and the recipes on it. Not so confident with winging recipes in my instant pot. Everything we have made is easy and delicious.
Worth the purchase — I’ve upped my kitchen game!
Worth the purchase — I’ve upped my kitchen game!
October 27, 2020
easy to read cookbook with both directions to make a recipe in an instant pot quickly or by a slow cooker method. like the layout of the recipes. ingredients easy to obtain. only wish there might have been more dessert options.
November 13, 2020
Was on quite a waiting list to get this new Milk Street cookbook from the library. Several recipes look good...Cannellini Beans with Tomatoes, Basil and Parmesan; Chicken Tagine with Butternut Squash and Spinach plus learned a few tips about using my Instant Pot.
January 22, 2021
Globally-inspired, ambitious flavor profiles adapted for the Instant Pot. These are meals I would eat in a restaurant but would not normally have time to attempt at home. I look forward to trying some of these.
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