What the Instant Pot Sauté Function Does
The Instant Pot sauté function turns the inner pot into a stovetop-style cooking surface, letting you brown meat, soften aromatics, reduce sauces, and build flavor before pressure cooking.
Understanding how to use Instant Pot sauté function settings correctly can improve texture, deepen taste, and reduce the need for extra pans.
Unlike pressure cooking, sautéing happens with the lid off and the pot heated directly from below.
That makes it useful for everything from searing chicken thighs to simmering chili and thickening sauces after cooking.
Why the Sauté Function Matters
The sauté setting is one of the most useful Instant Pot features because it helps you develop layered flavor in a single vessel.
Many recipes rely on it to create fond, the browned bits that form on the bottom of the pot and add richness when deglazed.
- Better flavor: Browning proteins and caramelizing onions adds depth.
- Fewer dishes: You can cook, deglaze, and simmer in the same pot.
- Faster meal prep: Skip a separate skillet for many recipes.
- More control: Adjust heat to gently simmer or actively brown ingredients.
How to Use Instant Pot Sauté Function Step by Step
1. Select the Sauté setting
Press the Sauté button on your Instant Pot.
Most models let you cycle through heat levels such as Less, Normal, and More.
The exact labels vary by model, but the idea is the same: low for gentle cooking, medium for standard sautéing, and high for stronger browning.
2. Let the pot preheat
Wait until the display indicates the pot is hot.
On many models, the screen may say Hot.
This step matters because food is more likely to brown properly once the surface temperature rises.
Adding oil too early can make the heating process less consistent.
3. Add oil or fat
Once preheated, add a small amount of oil, butter, ghee, or another cooking fat.
Swirl to coat the bottom of the pot.
Use enough fat to support browning, but not so much that the food fries unless that is your goal.
4. Add ingredients in batches
Place food in the pot in a single layer when possible.
Crowding reduces browning and can cause ingredients to steam instead.
For meat, work in batches if needed.
For vegetables, add sturdier ingredients first, then softer ingredients later.
5. Stir and monitor closely
Sautéing in an Instant Pot requires attention.
Stir onions, garlic, spices, or vegetables regularly so they do not scorch.
If the pot seems too hot, move to a lower sauté level or temporarily cancel the function and restart after a short cooling period.
6. Deglaze before pressure cooking
After browning, add broth, water, wine, or another liquid and scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon or spatula.
This removes stuck-on bits and helps prevent a Burn warning during pressure cooking.
Deglazing is one of the most important parts of learning how to use Instant Pot sauté function effectively.
Understanding the Heat Levels
Most Instant Pot models offer more than one sauté temperature.
These settings help you match the heat to the task.
- Less: Best for gentle simmering, softening onions, or reducing sauce without aggressive bubbling.
- Normal: Good for standard sautéing, aromatic cooking, and light browning.
- More: Best for searing, heavier browning, and faster reduction.
If your model has only one sauté level, use the same principles by controlling time, stirring frequency, and ingredient batch size.
Best Foods to Cook with Sauté
The sauté function works especially well for ingredients that benefit from surface browning or gradual softening.
Proteins
- Chicken thighs and breasts
- Ground beef, turkey, or pork
- Sausage
- Short ribs and stew meat
Vegetables and aromatics
- Onions
- Garlic
- Celery
- Carrots
- Bell peppers
- Mushrooms
Flavor bases and finishing steps
- Tomato paste
- Spices and curry paste
- Soups and stews
- Sauces and gravies
- Risotto-style dishes
Tomato paste is especially effective when sautéed briefly because the heat deepens its flavor and removes raw acidity.
Spices also bloom in oil, which can make dishes taste more aromatic and complex.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even though the sauté feature is simple, a few mistakes can affect results.
- Skipping preheat: Food is less likely to brown if the pot is not hot first.
- Using too much food at once: Crowding traps moisture and prevents searing.
- Not deglazing: Stuck bits can trigger a Burn notice during pressure cooking.
- Using very high heat for delicate foods: Garlic and herbs can scorch quickly.
- Leaving food unattended: Instant Pot sauté can go from browned to burnt fast.
If ingredients begin sticking, add a small splash of liquid and stir.
A little moisture can help lift fond without ruining the dish.
How to Adjust Sauté for Different Recipes
The best way to use the sauté function depends on the recipe you are making.
For chili, you may brown ground meat and soften onions first, then use sauté again at the end to thicken the sauce.
For soup, you might briefly cook aromatics and spices before adding broth and pressure cooking.
In recipes like curry, sautéing onions, garlic, ginger, and spices in oil creates a stronger base than adding everything at once.
In pasta sauces, you can use sauté to reduce tomatoes and concentrate flavor after pressure cooking or slow simmering.
When to use low heat
Choose lower sauté heat for butter-based dishes, delicate aromatics, or sauces that need gentle simmering.
This is useful when you want control more than browning.
When to use high heat
Use higher heat for searing meat, reducing liquid quickly, or working with ingredients that need stronger browning.
Watch carefully, since the pot can move from hot to scorched in a short time.
Safety and Maintenance Tips
The Instant Pot sauté function is safe when used properly, but the pot gets very hot.
Use silicone, wooden, or heat-safe utensils to avoid damaging the inner pot coating, especially if you have a nonstick insert.
- Keep the lid off unless a recipe specifically says otherwise.
- Use oven mitts if the insert becomes difficult to handle.
- Never add cold liquid to a very hot dry pot without expecting strong steam.
- Cancel sauté if the pot becomes too hot and restart when needed.
After cooking, let the pot cool before washing.
If browned bits remain stuck, soak the insert with warm water to make cleanup easier.
How to Get Better Results Every Time
If you want more consistent results, focus on a few practical habits: preheat thoroughly, avoid crowding, use the right heat level, and deglaze well.
These simple steps make the sauté function work more like a reliable stovetop and less like a guessing game.
Once you understand how to use Instant Pot sauté function settings for browning, simmering, and deglazing, the appliance becomes much more versatile.
It is not just a pressure cooker; it is also a fast flavor-building tool that can improve the texture and taste of everyday meals.