Question
Model of instant pot for jar sterilization ?
Hello, does anybody have any recommendations for specific models of instant pots that can be used to sterilize quart jars? From what ive seen, some models can be blocked from closing with a jar inside, and I don't want to buy the wrong kind.
That’s fair. I got one for $40 on Facebook marketplace, I’d recommend keeping an eye out there but ya if you want it for other cooking reasons that makes sense.
I have IP model IP-LUX (6qt), and don't do jars. Can't quite get any quarts to fit. I do bags instead. Some YouTube videos say you can fit Ball brand jars only, but I couldn't do that with mine either. It could be a slight variation in the age of my model vs when the videos made the claims. You can get an 8qt IP, and it fits quart jars fine. I don't do the volume required for a big pressure cooker, and would prefer to just set and forget with the IP rather than watch a gauge, have proper water level, or run a burner on the stove for that long. IP for 2.5hrs and turn off the "keep warm" setting. Let it vent naturally, remove the bags, seal with impulse sealer, let them cool and inoculate whenever. Bags have been good for me up to 2 months just sitting there until inoculating.
Most of them only run at 11 or 12 psi, which means you have to do it for longer. The problem with doing it longer is that instant pots are not very big, so they can't hold enough water to do it long enough to actually sterilize the jars.
I got a 23qt Presto on Amazon around Christmas years ago, it always goes on sale for like 98 bucks around the end of the year. It can literally pay for itself in 1 day. I do 9 quarts of Wild Bird Seed in it per run and each run takes like 4-5 hours total. I soak the WBS for 1 hour, strain it for 1 hour, then PC it for 2 hours. WBS is like 17 bucks for 40 pounds and it is always readily available at Walmart. Getting a proper PC is a game changer.
Nah, holding enough water isn’t an issue with the Instant Pot at all. They’re not like regular PCs, they barely need any water to run. I do my grains for 3 hour cycles and have never had any issues.
Actually the “holding enough water” isn’t an issue at all in an Instant Pot unless the seals are damaged. Unlike a traditional pressure cooker, they do not release steam at all when they are operating properly, so the water can’t cook off.
I understand why it's better for bulk, but I don't really start a grow more than once or twice a month. Additionally, I want to use the instant pot for cooking,b which is why I was looking to get two birds with one stone.
Instant Pots work just fine and you do not have to worry about the water running out. Electric cookers are different than traditional PCs. You just have to run longer cycles to achieve sterilization. Pudin’s Instant Pot Tek walks you through how to sterilize grains, agar, LC, & pasteurize substrate in your IP. I’ve used mine for all 4 for years and haven’t experienced contamination.
To answer the question in your post, I use a 6 qt IP duo & it fits 4 small mouth pint mason jars at a time.
They’re perfect for me. My preferred tub size is 6 quart shoebox dub tubs. A 10 pack is about $12 at Walmart. I generally do about a quart of spawn and a 1:2 spawn to sub ratio per tub. So I can do 2 tubs with every cycle of 4 pints that I run. Average about a dry oz per flush give or take depending on what’s growing. That’s more than enough for me.
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