Though Beehive Meals are primarily designed to be cooked within a slow cooker (Crockpot), many of our meals can be cooked in a Pressure Cooker (InstantPot).

The following has been created to help convert cooking our meals within a Pressure Cooker. As pressure cookers come in many brands, sizes, and include different features, please be aware that cooking times may vary from the recommendations below.

Please note before cooking:

• Beehive Meals are designed for a slow cooker. There are benefits of using a pressure cooker (primarily speed) but intended taste and quality may be different than expected.
• Avoid dairy meals. Most dairy products such as cheese, milk and sour cream will curdle in a pressure cooker. We do not recommend cooking meals containing dairy in a pressure cooker.
• Meat should shred easily. For most meals, the goal is for the meat to be tender enough to easily shred. Continue to cook if you feel that meat needs more time.
• Cooking from frozen. Additional time may need to be added from the suggestions below.
• Add less water. Many of our instructions have you add water to the crockpot. As the water will not evaporate under pressure, you may need to cut water by half for sauces.
• Add corn starch. If desired, you can add a corn starch slurry to thicken the sauce.
• Food safety. Always use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches a safe minimum temperature. Refer to the USDA’s Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart for more information.

Chicken 

Remove meal from plastic bag and place into your pressure cooker.

Cook the chicken on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes and natural release for 5 minutes.

• Seal the cooker and close the pressure valve.
• Set to HIGH pressure for 15 minutes.
• For thawed chicken, the cooker will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
• For frozen chicken, expect the cooker to take 12 to 15 minutes to come to pressure.
• When the 15-minute cook time is complete, naturally release the pressure for 5 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure. 

Shred chicken and re-mix into sauce or soup.

Food	Meal Size	Pressure Level	Cooking Time	Venting Method
Chicken, Breast	Smaller	High	12 minutes	Natural Release
Chicken, Breast	Regular	High	15 minutes	Natural Release
Chicken, Breast	Bigger	High	18 minutes	Natural Release

Pork

Remove meal from plastic bag and place into your pressure cooker.

Cook the pork on HIGH pressure for 45-60 minutes and natural release for 20 minutes.

• Seal the cooker and close the pressure valve.
• Set to HIGH pressure for 45-60 minutes.
• For thawed pork, the cooker will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
• For frozen pork, expect the cooker to take 12 to 15 minutes to come to pressure.
• When the 45 to 60-minute cook time is complete, naturally release the pressure for 20 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure.

Shred pork and re-mix into sauce or soup.

Food	Meal Size	Pressure Level	Cooking Time	Venting Method
Pork, Cushion	Smaller	High	45 minutes	Natural Release
Pork, Cushion	Regular	High	50 minutes	Natural Release
Pork, Cushion	Bigger	High	60 minutes	Natural Release
Pork, Loin Roast	Smaller	High	20 minutes	Natural Release
Pork, Loin Roast	Regular	High	25 minutes	Natural Release
Pork, Loin Roast	Bigger	High	30 minutes	Natural Releas

Beef 

Remove meal from plastic bag and place into your pressure cooker.

Cook the beef on HIGH pressure for 20-25 minutes and natural release for 5 minutes.

• Seal the cooker and close the pressure valve.
• Set to HIGH pressure for 20-25 minutes.
• For thawed beef, the cooker will take about 10 minutes to come to pressure.
• For frozen beef, expect the cooker to take 12 to 15 minutes to come to pressure.
• When the 20-25-minute cook time is complete, naturally release the pressure for 20 minutes before quick releasing any remaining pressure.

Shred beef and re-mix into sauce or soup. 

Food	Meal Size	Pressure Level	Cooking Time	Venting Method
Beef, Meatballs	Smaller	High	5 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Meatballs	Regular	High	8 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Meatballs	Bigger	High	10 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Pot Roast	Smaller	High	20 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Pot Roast	Regular	High	22 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Pot Roast	Bigger	High	25 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Stew Meat	Smaller	High	20 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Stew Meat	Regular	High	22 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Stew Meat	Bigger	High	25 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Flank Steak	Smaller	High	20 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Flank Steak	Regular	High	22 minutes	Natural Release
Beef, Flank Steak	Bigger	High	25 minutes	Natural Release