How To Cook Brats In An Instant Pot: Instructions & Tips
An instant pot is a great appliance to have in the kitchen… it’s a slow cooker, pressure cooker and rice cooker all in one!
However, did you know that it’s also great for cooking delicious juicy brats too? Here is our guide to cooking brats in the instant pot, including how to make beer brats and sauerkraut.
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How To Cook Brats In The Instant Pot
The great thing about cooking brats in the instant pot is that you can sauté them to get that crispy brown skin and then steam them to make them tender and succulent.
Here’s how you do it.
- Turn your instant pot to sauté mode. Wait until the instant pot says it is hot.
- Add your cooking oil and brats. When the skins turn brown turn them over and cook the other sides. You don’t want to cook your brats all the way through at this stage; you just want to get a little bit of color on them.
- Take your brats out of the instant pot and add your cooking liquid (more about this later). Use a spatula to remove any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. This will stop the bits from burning and impairing the taste of your brats.
- Put your trivet in the instant pot and add your brats in a single layer
- Close and seal the instant pot and cook your brats for seven minutes
- When cooked, let the pot release the pressure and your brats will be ready to eat!
How To Make Instant Pot Brats And Sauerkraut
Sauerkraut is a fermented cabbage dish from Germany. It’s tangy, sour and the perfect complement to bratwurst!
You can cook brats and sauerkraut in your instant pot at the same time. Not only is it a quick and tasty meal, but everything cooks at the same time, and you save on the washing up.
The process is the same as above, but when you add your brats, put a layer of sauerkraut on the trivet first. Cook for 15 minutes, so the brats and sauerkraut are browned and warmed through.
Serve with crispy bread, potatoes and a side of mustard for a filling meal.
How Long Does It Take To Make Brats In An Instant Pot?
The whole process should only take you ten minutes.
Three minutes to brown your brats and seven minutes to cook them. The final time though will depend on the size of your brats and the brand of instant pot you have.
You can’t see your brats as they cook so the first time you cook, there may be a little bit of guesswork involved.
Can You Cook Instant Pot Brats From Frozen?
Yes you can! You will have to switch the recipe around a little as you can’t sauté the frozen brats first.
Steam the frozen brats for 13 minutes (so five minutes more than the original recipe). You can then serve the brats as is or grill them for a few minutes, so they get crispy brown skins.
How To Make Beer Brats In An Instant Pot
With your instant pot, you use liquid to steam your brats to make them juicy. Rather than use plain water, why not use beer instead? Beer will give your brats a malty smoky taste that will leave you wanting more.
You can use your favorite beer or lager to steam your brats. If you want to add some extra richness and creaminess, you can add a tablespoon of butter to the mix too.
If you are cooking brats for little ones or don’t want to use beer, replace the beer with chicken or beef broth instead to add flavor.
Our Top Tips For Cooking Brats In The Instant Pot
- Don’t prick your brats before you cook them; this will cause them to lose some of their delicious juices and dry out.
- The internal temperature of a thoroughly cooked brat should be 160°F (70°C). Use a meat thermometer to check the center of one of your brats before you serve.
- Other great sides for your instant pot brats include mac and cheese, potato salad and potato pancakes (check out more here).
Have you have tried instant pot brats?
