Instant Pot Mac and Cheese

[happypamama]

I’m bringing my 8 quart IP and stuff for Mac and Cheese to a potluck next week. I’ll have time to make it there, no problem.

 

My question is this: I usually use the Dad Cooks Dinner recipe, which calls for 1 pound of pasta and 4 cups of water. I’d like to make a double batch. Can I double the pasta and the water since it’s an 8 quart? Or do I need to do it in two sets, by cooking and removing the first pound of pasta, then cooking and removing the second pound of pasta, then adding the first pound back so I can add the milk and cheese?

[AFwife Claire]

I always double that recipe in my 8 quart, and I've had no problems at all.  I don't change the cooking time or anything.  My kids love that recipe!

 

*ETA*  Okay, now I am doubting myself, lol.  I actually "1 and a half" the recipe (so use one and a half boxes of pasta), but I think doubling it would fit.  

Edited December 9, 2017 by AFwife Claire

[happypamama]

Claire, thanks. I think a full double recipe will fit. Actually, maybe I’ll try it this week just to be sure. I’m pretty sure my kids won’t mind having “magic pot†(what we call our IP) Mac and cheese twice this week plus at the potluck. :)

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

I play pretty fast and loose with the limits on the IP. The only time I ever had a problem with a QR spitting and sputtering was when I made steel-cut oats and messed up the proportions. So the 8 qt IP is 32 cups, and the doubled recipe is 8 cups of water and, say, 8 cups of pasta. That's still only half full, right? I can't remember the recipe very clearly (but I love it!), but I don't think there's much more volume than that for pressure cooking. Half full seems like it would be fine, no? 

[happypamama]

I play pretty fast and loose with the limits on the IP. The only time I ever had a problem with a QR spitting and sputtering was when I made steel-cut oats and messed up the proportions. So the 8 qt IP is 32 cups, and the doubled recipe is 8 cups of water and, say, 8 cups of pasta. That's still only half full, right? I can't remember the recipe very clearly (but I love it!), but I don't think there's much more volume than that for pressure cooking. Half full seems like it would be fine, no?

I think it should be fine. I was just wondering if anyone had actually tried doubling the pasta and water and if it came out successfully. It doesn’t sound like there’s any reason for it not to come out successfully.

[SparklyUnicorn]

OK I now need to try this!

 

 

[cjzimmer1]

So I have to ask how this compares to the Blue Box stuff?  I would LOVE to be able to make homemade mac and cheese but the 2-3 times my kids have ever eaten a homemade variant they have all complained it is nasty.  The majority of my kids are not picky eaters so when they have universally rebelled, I'm hesitant to even try (I've never made it so what they have tried was made by others).  They all think the Blue Box (or in our case Annie's) is the measure to judge mac and cheese by.  Anything else is inferior in their minds.  Is there any hope that my kids would eat this or should I not even try?

[happypamama]

Well, I don’t know. My kids like the boxed stuff fine, but we always add extra shredded cheese to it anyway to make it even better. My kids do like my MIL’s homemade baked Mac and cheese, so when I got the magic pot and realized I could make something like MIL’s quickly, we tried it. They like it. But if your kids think all homemade Mac and cheese is icky, they might not care for it.

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

Well, I don’t know. My kids like the boxed stuff fine, but we always add extra shredded cheese to it anyway to make it even better. My kids do like my MIL’s homemade baked Mac and cheese, so when I got the magic pot and realized I could make something like MIL’s quickly, we tried it. They like it. But if your kids think all homemade Mac and cheese is icky, they might not care for it.

 

I agree, it's definitely nothing like the boxed stuff. It has a thick cheese sauce and there's no tart taste like in most box mixes--definitely more like the homemade baked mac and cheese type. You could always make a small half batch and see what happens? 

[ILiveInFlipFlops]

I think it should be fine. I was just wondering if anyone had actually tried doubling the pasta and water and if it came out successfully. It doesn’t sound like there’s any reason for it not to come out successfully.

 

Ah! Got it. Yeah, I bet it's fine. You could always add extra cheese if it's too wet :D

[happypamama]

Ah! Got it. Yeah, I bet it's fine. You could always add extra cheese if it's too wet :D

This is true. Or I can set it to sauté mode for a few minutes to boil off any extra water first.

 

I think this will be good for a potluck. I need to make sure there’s a substantial enough dish for my vegetarian child, so that’s why I figured Mac and cheese. And the IP means no reason for needing an oven.

[KungFuPanda]

So I have to ask how this compares to the Blue Box stuff? I would LOVE to be able to make homemade mac and cheese but the 2-3 times my kids have ever eaten a homemade variant they have all complained it is nasty. The majority of my kids are not picky eaters so when they have universally rebelled, I'm hesitant to even try (I've never made it so what they have tried was made by others). They all think the Blue Box (or in our case Annie's) is the measure to judge mac and cheese by. Anything else is inferior in their minds. Is there any hope that my kids would eat this or should I not even try?

I have that kid. I make amazing homemade mac n cheese. He thinks it’s aweful and velveeta is superior.