Instant Pot in RV — Why We Use Ours Every Single Week
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An Instant Pot in an RV? A big Y-E-S.
We love to cook, and we have enjoyed many years of tinkering with an Instant Pot. When we are not out boondocking in our RV, we love to indulge in the modern conveniences of invention too. Cooking outdoors is great, but it is not always convenient. People assume we cook outside every day. Sometimes we do, sometimes it does not make sense for us.
The convenience of the Instant Pot in an RV may seem odd at first glance. Hopefully, after this article, you will see how useful of a tool it really is.
What’s in This Guide
- Why the Instant Pot Works in an RV
- Beginner Tips — Do NOT Do These Things
- Perfect Eggs — The 4-3-2-1 Method
- Cooking Dried Beans in the Instant Pot
- Instant Pot Perfect Rice
- How Many Amps Does an Instant Pot Use?
- RV-Specific Cooking Tips
- Instant Pot in RV FAQ
Why the Instant Pot Works in an RV
Living in a tiny space with a tiny kitchen means the kitchen gets messy really easily. The space gets used up quickly when chopping and preparing for any meal. Thankfully, it cleans up quickly too, but we have to be mindful of how we are using the space. If not, you wind up balancing your plate of delicious eggs and broccoli on the edge of the counter and next thing you know it has crashed to the floor. Whoops — that happened.
The Instant Pot is many appliances in one. There are several series including the NOVA Series, and it can work as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker, steamer, saute pan, food warmer, and yogurt maker. That is seven appliances in one small footprint — which is everything in an RV kitchen.
Instant Pot — Our Go-To RV Kitchen Appliance
Pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker, steamer, saute pan, food warmer, and yogurt maker — all in one. We use ours every week in the fifth wheel and it has earned every inch of counter space it takes up.
Eating healthy and delicious meals is important to us, and doing it quickly is essential sometimes. If you have never used an Instant Pot at home or in your RV, it is helpful to know the basics. We were definitely a little intimidated when we first opened this she-beast device that does everything. Yes, she is a “her.” She is the ultimate multi-tasker. If you are completely new, check out the official Instant Pot Website.
Beginner Tips — Do NOT Do These Things
Before you start cooking, here are the mistakes we see people make (and a few we have made ourselves).
Do Not place your body parts over the hot steam. The steam releases quickly when you flip the toggle over. Never ever ever get your fingers in the way. Do not put your face over it either. It is not a facial. It will burn you.
Do Not place the top of your Instant Pot on the hot stove. We have caught ourselves almost doing this many times. Be sure you place it somewhere it will not be damaged. Also, remember that it will have water dripping from it when you take it off. This water is also very hot. We always open it and hold it at an angle, allowing the water to drip into the pot. Then, turn it upside down and set it on the counter.
Do Not place the pot liner back into the device if it has any moisture or water on it. Be sure to completely dry it before putting it back. Avoiding this mistake will save your Instant Pot from frying out.
Do Not pull your hair out when the top will not go on correctly. Most times you will find that the rubber liner is out of place. Turn the lid over and look at it, then push it back into place. Be sure that it is lined up and then close. With some practice, you will have it down in no time.
Perfect Eggs — The 4-3-2-1 Method
We love to use the Instant Pot for boiling eggs. It does a fantastic job every single time. Even with farm fresh eggs — if you have ever tried to boil farm fresh eggs, you know those shells do not come off. There is something magical that the steam does that makes the shells come off so easily.
We came up with this method because it is easy to remember and it works every time. It is the 4, 3, 2, 1 method.
When you have fresh eggs, they can be hard to peel after boiling. We are sure you have had the experience of peeling an egg one tiny jagged piece at a time. Never again. Thanks to the Instant Pot, it makes perfect eggs every time.
Now, we will say, it is not a set it and forget it method. It may not even be the most popular way to accomplish boiling an egg. This “recipe” is thoroughly tested and it works, every time.
You Will Need
Ice, a large heat/cold resistant bowl, eggs, your Instant Pot, water, tongs or a large slotted spoon.
Instructions
Fill a large bowl about halfway with ice cubes. Set your tongs and bowl next to your Instant Pot.
Add eggs to the pot. Sometimes they will crack, especially if you are doing a large batch of 6 or more.
Always designate a spot to put your lid after removing it — it will be dripping with water. When cooking inside the RV, we have found it is best to turn it upside down and set it on the counter. It is not flat so it will roll if you do not prepare for it. Another method is to set it in a sink or on a towel.
Add water — about 1/2 cup.
4 — Manually set cook time to 4 minutes.
3 — When the 4-minute cook time is done, the Instant Pot switches to Low Mode (L). Let it stay at Low for 3 minutes. It will say L3.
Safely release the steam manually as soon as it gets to L3.
Remove the eggs immediately using a utensil. Place them into their ice bath.
2 — Pause and let your eggs cool.
1 — Eat one. Enjoy now, or put away for later.
4, 3, 2, 1. That is it.
Cooking Dried Beans in the Instant Pot
We love to use dried beans. They are versatile, inexpensive, easy to find, and delicious. Boiling beans on the stove for hours is not a convenient option in an RV. The whole RV heats up really easily. That may be nice if the weather is cold, but not so nice when it is hot outside.
Also, when you have something that needs to boil for a long time, that means it is taking up your burner for a long time. When you are cooking a meal and using multiple burners on a three-burner stove, it does not work well.
So enter the magical Instant Pot in the RV again. The perfect tool for cooking beans. It can cook the beans from dry in a quarter of the time. It takes a little tinkering to get the timing right. We find most small beans will be done in about 20 minutes and larger beans take about 35-40. Here is the chart we commonly use:
Instant Pot Perfect Rice
We also make a lot of rice and find it easy to make room on the stove for other things when we use our Instant Pot in the RV.
We love to make a double batch. We eat one for dinner and save the other. Most times we will have a bit with our eggs for breakfast the next day. Also, since it is best to use cold rice for fried rice, we plan our fried rice day soon after. Yummy veggies and eggs, and sometimes even shrimp — divine.
Making rice in an Instant Pot is so simple. You literally put the rice and water inside, stir, put the lid on, and then the big step… press Rice. Done. Yum.
You can even bake in it. We have not played much with baking in it — if you have, share your stories with us.
How Many Amps Does an Instant Pot Use?
This is one of the most common questions we get about using an Instant Pot in an RV, especially from boondockers who need to watch their power budget.
Instant Pots have different wattage values depending on the model:
The 5-quart Duo has 900 watts. The 6-quart has 1,000 watts. The 8-quart has 1,100 watts.
Here is the conversion: wattage ÷ 100 × 0.83333 = amps used.
For example: 900 watts ÷ 100 = 9 × 0.83333 = 7.5 amps. At 1,000 watts that is 8.4 amps. At 1,100 watts that is 9.2 amps. At 1,200 watts that is 10 amps.
The good news is the Instant Pot only draws full power during the heating and pressurizing stages. Once it reaches pressure, it cycles on and off and uses very little energy. For most meals, you are looking at 15-30 minutes of real power draw. That makes it surprisingly doable on a decent battery and inverter setup, even when boondocking. For more on power options off-grid, check out our guide to boondocking electricity options.
RV-Specific Cooking Tips
Using an Instant Pot inside an RV is a little different than using one in a house. Here are the things we have learned:
Steam management is critical. The steam release can be intense in an RV. If possible, use your Instant Pot outside. If using it inside, remember to direct the steam away from wood cabinets. There are accessories that help divert steam where you want it — we recommend grabbing one.
Counter space is your biggest challenge. The Instant Pot itself takes up a chunk of your counter. Plan your prep work before you pull it out. We chop everything first, store it in bowls, then set up the Instant Pot when we are ready to cook. If you need help organizing a tiny RV kitchen, check out our essential RV kitchen accessories guide.
Ventilation matters. Open a window or turn on your vent fan when pressure cooking inside the RV. The moisture from the steam can build up quickly in a small space, and nobody wants condensation dripping off the ceiling onto their dinner.
Secure it while driving. The Instant Pot should be stored securely during travel. We keep ours in a lower cabinet wedged between other items so it does not slide around on bumpy roads.
Instant Pot in RV FAQ
Is the Instant Pot worth the space in an RV?
Absolutely. It replaces seven appliances in one footprint. We use ours every week for eggs, rice, beans, soups, and full meals. It has earned every inch of counter space it takes up.
Can I use an Instant Pot while boondocking?
Yes, but you need a decent inverter and battery setup. A 3-quart model at 700 watts is the most boondocking-friendly option. The Instant Pot only draws full power during heating — once at pressure, it cycles and uses very little energy. Most meals use 15-30 minutes of real power draw.
What size Instant Pot is best for an RV?
For a couple, the 3-quart is perfect — it is smaller, lighter, and uses less power (700 watts vs 1,000+ watts for larger models). For families, the 6-quart is the sweet spot between capacity and size.
Will the steam damage my RV cabinets?
It can if you are not careful. Always direct the steam vent away from wood cabinets. Use a steam diverter and open a window or vent fan when cooking inside.
More RV Kitchen Guides
If you are setting up or upgrading your RV kitchen, check out these other guides we have put together:
- Essential RV Kitchen Accessories — 14 Products We Actually Use
- RV Camping Checklist — Bare Essentials That Do Not Come with Your RV
- Boondocking Electricity Options
The Instant Pot in an RV does not seem to make sense at first, but we hope you see now how convenient it is. It is our go-to, number one friend in the kitchen. She is well worth the space she takes up. So saute, steam, boil, pressure cook, and slow cook away.
Thanks for reading. Happy cooking, happy camping.
Tony & Gina
RV Boondocker
