Well, this is something new! We were intrigued when we got this note from Donna Sprankle in Ballston Spa, New York:
Just wanted to send a thank you. Made my 1 st batch of mozzarella (using my instant pot pressure cooker) and it came out great! Hard to believe that the curds turn into mozzarella! Thanks for making the ingredients available.
A quick look at YouTube videos revealed that people have been making our 30 Minute Mozzarella in their Instant Pots with great success for a year now.
What is an Instant Pot?
According to Wikipedia: The Instant Pot is a brand of electronically controlled, combined pressure cooker and slow cooker. It is marketed as a 7-in-1 kitchen appliance designed to consolidate the cooking and preparing of food to one device.
We’ll be posting an article soon about this new kind of pressure cooker, because folks are making all kinds of cheese with it. We asked Donna how she became a cheese maker with her pot:
I wanted to get healthier and eat more “real food.” Less processed. I bought the instant pot pressure cooker after realizing I was eating out way too much or eating quick processed foods because of time. While looking up recipes for the instant pot, I stumbled upon making Greek yogurt and also mozzarella cheese! I had NO CLUE what was even in cheese except milk or what the process was at all and honestly I never thought about it. I am a novice, but can see myself getting addicted to making my own cheese.
Donna lives near Sarasota Springs, NY, so she told us on weekends you can find her at the farmers market, the racetrack or listening to local musicians. During the week, she works at home as an office manager for her husband’s lawn care business. They have 3 grown kids- 2 sons, one daughter. 28,24, 23 respectively.
Donna considers herself a foodie. She loves bbq and appetizer type food and dessert. When traveling, she likes to try the regional specialties.
She has been cooking since she was a kid – mainly deserts like cheesecakes and candy making. As an adult, she started making beef jerky and now she is learning to make cheese.
Her interest in cooking peaked when she got her Instant Pot. She looked up things she could make in it and came across mozzarella cheese and yogurt. Now, she makes pizza dough with Greek yogurt and flour, then tops the pizza with her homemade mozzarella.
Donna used this recipe – https://tidbits-marci.com/instant-pot-homemade-mozzarella/ and she recommended this Youtube video which is one of many about using the Instant Pot:
Joanne Bartlett says
I also made queso fresco in my Instant Pot and it was easy and came out well.
Amy says
I have been making my yogurt in an instant pot for over a year. I always use your cultures for my starter with perfect results. I’m anxious to try mozzarella now after seeing this. It looks wonderful and an easy intro into making my own cheese.
Donna says
You will be addicted :). Have fun .
Awesome recipe, love the video. The way you have presented the info has made the recipe look so simple that anyone can make it. Great job and thanks for sharing it.
Just to clarify, I wish that was my video but credit goes to Tidbits. Follow her on youtube!
Okay, is there directions for people without a microwave? Iknow its shocking, but we all dont have one.
They have the directions here : http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/pg/123-Mozzarella-in-30-Minutes-with-NO-Microwave.html
I did try but couldn’t “coordinate” it. I am a pretty messy cook 🙂
I love the video you pointed to. Until today, I’ve not heard of the Insta pot. I’ll have to look into it. Off hand, it looks like a great way to heat the milk/cheese in the various temperatures for the different stages. What other cheeses do you make with it?
I am very new to both the instant pot and cheese making but have ordered the supplies to make creme fraiche , feta and Ricotta. Starting off slowly :). I will post comment after I try. I got the Ultra instant pot 10-1 so I can sous vide meat also . 🙂
Hi, Bob! I enjoy your posts on cheese making and other foodie thoughts. Thanks for your input. I purchased an Insta Pot last summer, and within weeks, gave away my three month old Yogotherm. I use the Insta Pot for yogurt, cottage cheese, and boiling down whey for mysost and gjetost in the cheese category. A lack of temperature control will probably keep me from using the unit for much other cheese making, but I’m open to suggestions. It’s good for lots of other cooking chores, too.
I bought the new ultra instant pot and you can customize the temperature from 104- 208 degrees ( sous vide!). I am not sure what temps you need for cheese.