Robert Acosta, President
Helping Hands for the Blind
(818) 998-0044
www.helpinghands4theblind.org
From: dan Thompson [mailto:dthompson5@xxxxxxxxx] ;
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2016 6:57 AM
To: dan Thompson
Subject: Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional Pressure Cooker, Dan's tip for
August 15 2016
Pondering thought:
If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?
Fact for today:
Mr Potato Head was the first toy to be advertised on TV.
Home Appliance Access
The Accessible Kitchen: Using the Instant Pot Smart
Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional Pressure Cooker
Bill Holton
If I say the words "pressure cooker" to you, your immediate response might
very well be, "No way. I don't want any explosions in my kitchen." Likely as
not this is because when you were growing up, you heard tales of a pressure
cooker screeching out of control, then popping its lid like a champagne cork
and splattering food all over the kitchen ceiling.
This scenario was especially common in the 50s and 60s, when the cookers'
gaskets frequently failed under a bit of extra pressure. Also in these
earlier decades, bits of food could clog the pressure valve, making
excessive pressure buildup that much more likely. Today's models use
stronger materials and often incorporate emergency pressure release valves,
making them much safer than those older models.
Still, as a blind cook, you wouldn't catch me dead trying to use a stovetop
pressure cooker. Even the newer, electric pressure cookers with their
inaccessible controls were beyond my abilities. Recently, however, I came
across the <https://instantpot.com/store/product.php?productid=23> Instant
Pot Smart Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional programmable pressure cooker.
<https://instantpot.com/store/product.php?productid=23>
https://instantpot.com/store/product.php?productid=23
This is a combination pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, porridge
maker, sauté/browning pan, steamer, yogurt maker, and stockpot warmer. This
high-tech countertop appliance offers a complete set of touch panel
controls
but it also includes Bluetooth connectivity, and your choice of
either the
<https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/instant-pot-smart-cooker-recipes/id92202497
0?mt=8> iOS or
<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.instantpot.smartcooker>
Android Smart Cooker app. I have been using the Smart Pot for several months
now with delicious success. Primarily I have used the iOS app installed on
my iPhone to control the appliance. The app is quite accessible with
VoiceOver. I also spent a little time using the Android app with TalkBack.
There are several unlabeled buttons on this version, but on the whole it
also seems quite accessible using TalkBack.
The Instant Pot: What's Included in the Box
Along with the Instant Pot itself, the box includes a six-quart stainless
steel cook pot, metal food rack for meat, rice paddle, soup spoon, measuring
cup, a silicon steamer for vegetables, and two silicon finger grips to lift
out whichever of the racks you have used. I found the vegetable rack a bit
unwieldy: it doesn't have sides, so lifting cooked vegetables out of the pot
can be a bit difficult; instead, I substituted a different silicon steamer
that had sides.
I also found the hand protectors less than adequate for the job for the
sight-impaired. It's too easy to brush the hot sides of the pot. I prefer a
pair of wrist-length silicon heat gloves.
Specifications, user guides, recipes, and a cooking times chart can be found
on the
<http://instantpot.com/benefits/specifications-and-manuals/instant-pot-smart
-series-specifications/> company's website in accessible PDFs.
<http://instantpot.com/benefits/specifications-and-manuals/instant-pot-smart
-series-specifications/>
http://instantpot.com/benefits/specifications-and-manuals/instant-pot-smart-
series-specifications/
The Instant Pot: Description
The Instant Pot itself is well designed. The lid did take some practice
fitting into place. You will know if you've done it correctly however, as
when the pot is plugged in, a musical trill sounds whenever the lid is
opened or closed. The lid's sturdy handle has a fairly high arch. The pot
can easily be opened without risking a steam bath for your hands, though the
pressure valve is nearer the left end of the handle so you will want to do
this with your right hand.
Some pressure cooker recipes instruct you to let the cooker sit so the
internal pressure lessens gradually. Others call for an immediate release of
the pressure. The Instant Pot's pressure release valve is located just
behind the left edge of the handle. Push it away to close the valve, toward
you to open it. It's easy enough to locate and release with a finger; more
cautious users may wish to use a pair of tongs or other utensil.
Accessible Use
The approximately 6-inch by 4-inch digital touchpad could be marked with
raised dots, or a Braille overlay could have been created, but why bother
when there is an accessible app for that?
I did need sighted help to pair the Instant Pot with my iPhone for the first
time, but I only needed to do this once. The pairing button is near the
bottom right of the touchpad; the extreme bottom right button is "Keep
Warm/Cancel;" the Bluetooth pairing control is directly above it, and there
are palpable indentations on the touchpad surface.
Press and hold the pairing button for a few seconds and the Instant Pot will
show up in the available devices list on your iOS device. The iOS Dashboard
tab alerts you to the Instant Pot's status, connected or not. If it is
connected, it displays the work mode, including pressure level, temperature,
time remaining, and heating level as a percentage of the cooker's capacity.
For example, the Instant Pot might be cooking along at 200 degrees, but the
elements are currently only working at 65% of capacity.
Also on the Dashboard tab you will find a number of presets that you can use
and modify. The "poultry" listing, for example, sets the cooker to run at
high pressure for 15 minutes. You can change either of these, or you can
accept the defaults and press either Start or Delayed Start. Note: I would
not choose Delayed Start for poultry for safety issues.
My first try at using the Instant Pot's pressure cooking settings was with a
corned beef. I chose the Meat/Stew preset, but the duration was set at 35
minutes, and the recipe file suggested 45 minutes for corned beef. I pressed
the "More" button twice to increase the time by 10 minutes. I also could
have double tapped the 35-minute icon and used the picker items to set it
more exactly. I had already placed the corned beef into the inner pot, added
a few cups of water and closed the lid, making sure the tones sounded and
the pressure valve was in the closed position. Had I missed this last step,
I would have known soon enough as the pot would have begun emitting an
audible hiss as steam emerged.
I next pressed the "Start" button, and after 45 minutes I allowed the
pressure to subside naturally, as a sudden release of pressure can cause the
meat to toughen. When the app showed no pressure I removed the corned beef
and replaced it with cabbage, which I cooked using the Steam setting. The
results were delicious; I repeated the meal for St. Patrick's Day.
Scripting a Recipe
The Smart Cooker app includes a few recipes, some of which use multiple
steps, such as the Coconut Fish Curry, which uses the pot to sauté, then
pressure cook. You can also create your own multi-step recipes with the
app's scripting abilities. I created a simple recipe for short ribs with
three ingredients:
* 1 lb. short ribs
* 1 can Coca-Cola
* A pinch of Cajun spice mix
I could also create a shopping list for the ingredients, along with a recipe
description, cooking techniques list, prep time, and cooking instructions
(in this case, basically, combine in pot.) I then created a recipe script
with the following commands, each of which is annotated on the app with an
explanatory Help button:
* Heat to pressure: High
* Hold the pressure High five minutes
* Pause with sound until temperature to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (during
this step I opened the pressure release valve.)
* Hold the temperature 158 degrees Fahrenheit 2 hours
I was able to save this recipe so I can run it quickly the next time I cook
short ribs. I could also change the recipe by accessibly adding, deleting,
and rearranging cooking steps.
Final Thoughts
I, like most readers, am heartened by the growing availability of
app-controllable household devices and kitchen appliances. True, I am not
quite ready for a refrigerator that auto-detects if I am nearly out of milk,
but I look forward to controlling my next oven, microwave, dishwasher, and
clothes washer and dryer via a mobile app. Touch controls are here to stay.
Currently I cannot use three of my wife's four slow cookers, her rice
cooker, or the countertop rotisserie. The Instant Pot will not rotisserie,
but I can now use all the other cooking methods. I am also quite enjoying
using the Instant Pot as a pressure cooker. It's fast, an energy miser, and
since you cook with a lot less liquid than you would on the stovetop, that
much less nutrition gets cooked out of the food. Best of all, if you are
still a bit skittish about possible pressure cooker explosions you can
control the Instant Pot from start to finish from as far away as your
Bluetooth signal will travel.
And if anyone knows of an app-controllable rotisserie, please let me know.
Product Information
Product: Instant Pot Smart Bluetooth-Enabled Multifunctional Pressure Cooker
Available from: <https://instantpot.com/store/product.php?productid=23>
Instant Pot; 800-828-7280
http://instantpot.com/benefits/specifications-and-manuals/instant-pot-smart-
series-specifications/
Price: $420 (regularly discounted to $235.95; it's also available from
<http://amazon.com/> Amazon.com for $179.95, and I have seen flash sales at
Amazon for nearly $50 less)
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of it's own."
Matthew 6:34(NIV)
Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have forgotten how
to fly
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