How to Cook Frozen Meat in the Instant Pot

Jump to:

• The Best Frozen Meat to Cook in Your Instant Pot
• How to Cook Frozen Meat in the Instant Pot
• Cooking Times
• Use a Meat Thermometer
• Tips for Cooking Frozen Meat in the Instant Pot

Is It Safe to Cook Frozen Meat in the Instant Pot?

There really is no long answer to this question. The short answer to this question is YES! As long as you cook your meat for the right amount of time, your meat will come out done, safe and ready to eat. 

Because the pot cannot come to pressure until everything in the pot is at boiling temperature, it will take a little longer to cook frozen meat. Therefore, it will need to be cooked for 50% to 100% longer than it would from frozen before it is safe to eat. 

Cooking frozen meat in an oven, stovetop, or slow cooker puts it in a temperature danger zone or between 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, wherein bacteria proliferate. An instant pot is safe for pressure cooking, quickly transferring heat.

But where can you buy the freshest meat? Visit a trusted supermarket near you that sells fresh or frozen meat. When you buy fresh meat, wrap it to prevent air exposure. You can use a vacuum-sealer or double-wrap meat cuts with plastic wrap, aluminum foil, freezer paper, or airtight zip-loc bags. 

You can also have fresh frozen meat delivered straight to your home. Order online and set the frequency of meat delivery. Find a meat delivery service with a good reputation for providing fresh frozen meat, following industry standards of food safety.

Meat delivery companies work with passionate farmers and master butchers, handpicking the best in-season cuts, such as minced chicken, beef brisket, diced lamb, and pork sausage. Their master butchers cut everything to ensure you’ll get the freshest meat you can cook in your instant pot.

The Best Frozen Meat to Cook in Your Instant Pot

When it comes to cooking frozen meat in your Instant Pot, it is best to do so with smaller cuts of meat. Meat such as beef chunks, chicken breasts, chicken wings, and ground beef can all be cooked easily from frozen. Here are the best cuts of meat to cook from frozen in your Instant Pot:

• Chicken pieces or chicken breasts
• Frozen ground beef
• Meatballs that are frozen
• Frozen Salmon

It is not advised to cook meats such as beef roast from frozen in your Instant Pot. This is because it takes double the time to cook and pot roast already takes quite a while in the Instant Pot. 

How to Cook Frozen Meat in the Instant Pot

If you are like most of us, we just want a quick Instant Pot cheat sheet that gives us the times we need to cook our meat. Below, I have given you just that for how to cook frozen meat in the Instant Pot. 

Keep in mind, the time to come to pressure as well as the time you cook will differ from fresh meat!

Frozen Ground Beef

Place your frozen ground beef on top of the trivet. Add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the inner pot. Cook your ground beef on a manual (pressure cook) for 25 minutes. Natural release 5-10 minutes. 

Frozen Chicken Breasts

Place your frozen chicken breasts in the inner pot. Add 1 cup of water or broth. Cook on manual (pressure cook) for 15 minutes. Natural release 5-10 minutes.

Frozen Chicken Wings

Put your chicken wings on the trivet. Add one cup of water or broth. Cook at the manual (pressure cook) for 15 minutes. If you want to crisp them up, season and place in your broiler. 

Frozen Pork Chops

Put your pork chops in the inner pot. Add 1 cup of water or broth. Cook your frozen pork chops on a manual (pressure cook) for 15 minutes. Season them and sear them in a pan if you like. 

Frozen Salmon

Pull those frozen salmon fillets out of the freezer. Place them on the trivet. Add one cup of water to the bottom of the inner pot. Set your manual (pressure cook) setting to low pressure for 1 to 3 minutes. Crisp on the stove-top.

It is not advisable to try and cook frozen beef roast or larger cuts of meat from frozen. However, if you do, you will need to double your regular time. 

Cooking Times

The cook time for frozen meat in the Instant Pot will vary depending on what type of meat you are cooking. However, most meats will take around half an hour to cook. Make sure to check the recipe or package directions for specific cook times. Remember, frozen food will require extra cooking time.

Cooking frozen pork, beef, or other meat products in an instant pot is longer than thawed meat using high pressure. For instance, a thawed roast takes 15 to 20 minutes per pound to cook in an instant pot, while a frozen roast takes 22 to 30 minutes.

Use a Meat Thermometer

For the best results, we recommend using a meat thermometer. This will help you to ensure that your meat is cooked all the way through. It’s also a good idea to check the internal temperature of your meat before serving it.

Tips for Cooking Frozen Meat in the Instant Pot

Here are a few tips for cooking frozen meat in the Instant Pot:

• Always check the recipe or package directions for specific cook times. Not all meats cook at the same rate, so it’s important to be aware of the cook time for your specific meat.
• Don’t forget to add some liquid to the pot! You’ll need at least one cup of liquid in order to create pressure and cook your frozen meat. This could be water, broth, or juice.
• If you’re cooking a large piece of meat, it’s a good idea to cut it into smaller pieces before cooking. This will help ensure that the meat cooks evenly.
• Make sure the sealing ring is in place and locked before you start cooking. If the sealing ring isn’t in place, your Instant Pot won’t be able to create pressure and your meat will not cook properly.
• Don’t overcook your meat! Overcooked meat can be dry and tough. Follow the recipe or package directions for the recommended cook time, and then use the Quick Release method to release pressure when the timer goes off. This will help ensure that your meat is cooked perfectly every time.

Now that you know how to cook frozen meat in the slow cooker, you can get started cooking all of your favorite meats today! These tips will help ensure that your meat comes out perfectly cooked every time. So, what are you waiting for? Get cooking!

Did this help you with your Instant Pot? Share your questions in the comments below! Don’t forget to pin this post for others!