One really fantastic tool to have in the kitchen is the instant pot. This is due to how useful it is in cooking up recipes that would normally take a long time to prepare. For recipes like a delicate pork roast, the pressure cooker can substantially reduce the cooking time and still yield delicious results.
Cooking a pork roast in the instant pot is quick and easy, and we’re here to show you all you need to do it right. Also, make sure to pay attention to the recommendations and tips we’ve outlined so that you get the best results.
Pork Nutrition Facts
Tips for Cooking Pork Roast in Instant Pot
When making an instant pot pork roast, there are some really helpful tips that you should be aware of as they’ll guarantee that you get the best results:
Why use an instant pot? – Instant Pots are essentially a cheat machine for the home cook, and it basically uses the power of pressured cooking to quickly transform extended cooking hours into delectable meals.
The most difficult aspect of any pork shoulder meal is getting enough heat into the collagen in the tough meat to become tasty rather than hard and chewy. Cooking pork shoulders is a breeze because of the high pressure created by Instant Pots, which reduces a really long cooking period to only 60 minutes.
Ideal timing and temperature – Cooking your pork roast for 15 minutes per pound will yield a soft, juicy roast with a faint pink center and a temperature of 145°F or slightly higher, which is the optimal temperature for pork.
If you don’t want any pink color in your pork roast, you could increase the duration of cooking to 25 minutes per pound, which will raise the temperature of the roast to roughly 160°F.
Sear the pork roast – While it is not required for cooking, we strongly advise that you sear your pork roast first. Searing the outside of the pork adds a lot of flavors, and it will also enhance the flavor of the broth you use to deglaze the pot and cook with.
How to get a crisp exterior on your pork roast – One disadvantage of using the Instant Pot for pork roast recipes is that it uses a wet cooking method, which means that even if you sear your roast first, you won’t achieve a crisp crust on the outside. Because of the steam in the pressure cooker, the pork roast won’t get crusty.
However, if you seared the meat thoroughly at the start, the black, caramelized crust will remain on any part of the roast that is not in contact with liquid.
If you want a crisp crust on your roast, you’ll have to cook it in the oven once the Instant Pot has finished. In a nutshell, you let the pork sit for a while. Afterward, bake it for only 10 minutes at a very high temperature, and the crust will firm up as a result of this.
If you’re going to shred the pork (like in pulled pork recipes), there’s no need to crisp it up first in the oven.
Ideal timing for sliced vs. shredded pork roast – Cook the roast for no more than 45 minutes if you wish to slice it, else it will get dry. You’ll need to cook the roast for much longer, like 60 to 70 minutes, if you want it to be fork soft and fall apart like shredded pork. If you want shredded pork, we recommend putting the roast straight into the pot rather than on top of the trivet.
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Cooking Time for Pork Roast in Instant Pot
Follow these timing guidelines when cooking a pork roast in an instant pot:
| Cooking procedure | Cooking time |
| Cooking a pork roast in the instant pot | 40 minutes |
| Crisping up the pork roast in the oven | 10 minutes |
Instant Pot Roast Pork (4 to 6 Servings)
Ingredients
- 1 ½ teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of pepper
- 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil, divided
- One 2-pound boneless pork shoulder (also referred to as a pork butt)
- 1 cup of water or chicken broth, unsalted
- 1 onion, quartered
Instructions
- Blend the salt and pepper in a small bowl and mix to combine.
- Rub the salt mixture all over the surfaces of the pork roast.
- To heat the Instant Pot, use the Sauté button. When the word “Hot” appears, add the olive oil.
- Sear the seasoned pork roast on all sides for about 4 minutes per side.
- Press Cancel and remove the roast from the Instant Pot once it has been seared on all sides. Place the chicken on a platter and set it aside.
- Scrape any bits from the bottom of the Instant Pot with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula before adding the broth or water and garlic powder.
- At the bottom of the Instant Pot, place the trivet. Arrange the onions around the roast on top of the trivet.
- Set the steam release valve to Sealing, cover the pot, and lock the lid of the instant pot.
- Set the cooking time to 30 minutes using the Meat/Stew or Pressure Cook option.
- Allow 10 minutes for the cooking cycle to complete before performing a rapid release by switching the valve to Venting.
- This step is optional but important. Preheat the oven to 425°F while the roast is resting to crisp the crust.
- If using the crisping method, transfer the pork to a sheet pan or roasting pan. Cook for ten minutes in a preheated oven.
- Remove the pork to a chopping board if you aren’t using the crisping process.
- Using a knife, carve the roast into ½ inch pieces, then serve as you please.
This recipe for instant pot pork roast yields an absolutely delicious pork roast and can be made within a total of 60 minutes, including a prep time of 20 minutes and a cook time of 40 minutes. If you’d be interested in more ideas on how to cook a pork roast in an instant pot, then you’ll like this video recipe.