Instant Pot Perfect Steak

Unlock the secret to perfectly cooked, irresistibly juicy, and incredibly tender steak right in your own kitchen with the magic of your Instant Pot! This innovative pressure cooker method transforms a classic steak dinner into an effortlessly quick and straightforward meal, proving that gourmet results are achievable even on busy weeknights. Forget the grill or the oven; this pressure cooker steak recipe is designed to yield a consistently delicious, flavorful steak that will impress every time. Prepare to savor every bite of this sensational Instant Pot steak, a true game-changer for any steak lover.

Why This Instant Pot Steak Recipe Will Become Your Favorite

Effortless Weeknight Dinner: This Instant Pot steak recipe is incredibly easy to follow, making it a perfect solution for a quick and satisfying meal after a long day. It drastically cuts down cooking time compared to traditional methods.
No Grill or Oven Needed: Perfect for any season or kitchen setup, this method eliminates the need for an outdoor grill or heating up your entire kitchen with the oven. Enjoy perfectly cooked steak indoors, year-round.
Guaranteed Tenderness and Juiciness: The Instant Pot’s pressure cooking environment is a master at locking in moisture and tenderizing meat. Say goodbye to dry, tough steaks; this method ensures a mouthwatering, juicy result every time.
Packed with Flavor: Our carefully crafted seasoning blend infuses the steak with deep, savory notes, enhancing its natural beefy taste without overpowering it. Every bite is rich and satisfying.
Healthy and Dietary-Friendly: This recipe is naturally compliant with a variety of dietary needs, including Whole30, Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, Keto, sugar-free, and low-carb. It’s a wholesome choice for almost anyone.
Versatile and Customizable: While we recommend specific cuts, the Instant Pot is forgiving, allowing you to experiment with different types of steak and seasonings to suit your personal preferences. For more steak inspiration, check out our Top Sirloin Steak recipe or our Air Fryer Ribeye Steak.

Ingredients & Smart Substitutions for Your Perfect Instant Pot Steak

Crafting the perfect Instant Pot steak begins with selecting quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need and how you can customize it:

Choosing Your Steak: Cut and Thickness

The beauty of cooking steak in an Instant Pot lies in its ability to tenderize various cuts. While many cuts work well, we particularly recommend boneless ribeye or sirloin steaks. These cuts are already known for their tenderness and rich flavor, which only gets amplified under pressure. Aim for steaks that are approximately 1 to 1.5 inches thick for optimal cooking times and results. If you opt for bone-in steaks, remember that they will require a slightly longer pressure cooking time to reach your desired doneness, as the bone insulates the meat.

The Flavorful Steak Seasoning

Our homemade steak seasoning blend is designed to complement the rich beef flavor without overwhelming it. It’s a harmonious mix of spices that creates a delicious crust when seared. You have the freedom to adjust the quantities of each spice to match your taste preferences – add a little more garlic powder for a bolder flavor, or increase the paprika for a touch of smoky sweetness. For ultimate convenience, you can also substitute our blend with about 2 tablespoons of your favorite store-bought steak seasoning, such as Montreal steak seasoning. Ensure it’s a high-quality blend for the best results.

The Right Oil for a Perfect Sear

Olive oil is excellent for achieving a beautiful, golden-brown sear on your steaks before pressure cooking. Its medium smoke point and fruity notes add depth to the initial browning process. If olive oil isn’t on hand, or if you prefer an alternative, feel free to substitute with butter for a richer flavor, avocado oil for a higher smoke point, or a neutral vegetable oil. The key is to use an oil that can withstand the heat of the sauté function to develop that desirable crust.

Understanding Steak: Cuts for Optimal Instant Pot Cooking

Steak refers to a cut of meat, typically from cattle, sliced perpendicular to the muscle fibers. These cuts can be either boneless or bone-in and offer a wide range of textures and flavors. While beef is the most common source, steak can also come from bison, goat, turkey, or deer, each offering a unique culinary experience. Steaks are incredibly versatile and can be cooked using various methods, including grilling, broiling, pan-frying, air frying, and deep-frying. However, for the purpose of achieving exceptional tenderness and juiciness with minimal effort, the Instant Pot excels.

When selecting a steak for pressure cooking, understanding different cuts can significantly enhance your results. Here are some popular cuts and why they perform well in the Instant Pot:

Filet Mignon: Cut from the beef tenderloin, filet mignon is renowned for its buttery tenderness and delicate flavor. It’s a premium, more expensive cut due to its exquisite texture. When cooked in the Instant Pot, its natural tenderness is preserved, resulting in a luxurious and melt-in-your-mouth experience.
Ribeye Steak: Characterized by its generous marbling (intramuscular fat), the ribeye steak is incredibly juicy and flavorful. It originates from the rib section of the animal and can be purchased boneless or bone-in. The marbling melts during pressure cooking, basting the meat from within and contributing to an exceptionally succulent Instant Pot steak.
Strip Steak (New York Strip): This common cut, derived from the short loin, offers a good balance of tenderness and flavor with less marbling than a ribeye. It holds up well to pressure cooking, emerging tender and hearty.
Sirloin Steaks: Hailing from the sirloin primal cut near the animal’s back, sirloin steaks are typically boneless and more affordable than many other premium cuts. They are a fantastic option for the Instant Pot, as pressure cooking helps to break down their fibers, ensuring a tender and flavorful outcome without breaking the bank. Our recipe specifically highlights the success with sirloin.
Skirt Steak: Long, thin, and known for its robust beefy flavor, skirt steak comes from the diaphragm muscle of the cow. Despite its abundance of connective tissue, which can make it chewy if not cooked properly, the Instant Pot is excellent at tenderizing it, making it perfect for fajitas or stir-fries after cooking.
Flank Steak: Similar to skirt steak but slightly wider and thicker, flank steak is another lean cut from the abdominal muscles. Like skirt steak, it benefits greatly from the tenderizing power of pressure cooking, making it wonderfully pliable and flavorful for various dishes.

While other cuts certainly exist, ribeyes and sirloins are consistently excellent choices for pressure cooking, offering a reliable balance of tenderness, flavor, and ease of preparation in your Instant Pot.

Taste & Texture: What to Expect from Your Instant Pot Steak

Prepare your palate for a truly satisfying culinary experience. This Instant Pot steak delivers a profoundly robust beef flavor, reminiscent of a classic, perfectly cooked steakhouse-quality meal. The carefully balanced homemade seasoning blend enhances this natural richness, adding depth and complexity without ever overshadowing the star of the show: the succulent beef itself. You’ll find that the spices create an inviting aroma and a subtle, savory kick that truly makes the steak shine.

In terms of texture, this steak is a revelation. It emerges from the Instant Pot wonderfully thick, incredibly juicy, and remarkably tender. The high-pressure environment works wonders, breaking down tough fibers and ensuring every slice is easy to cut and a pleasure to chew. Forget dry, bland, or chewy steaks; this method guarantees a consistently moist and flavorful result that will have you coming back for more. The quick sear before pressure cooking also contributes to a delightful exterior texture, adding another layer to its appeal.

How to Make Your Instant Pot Steak: A Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Prepare Your Signature Seasoning Blend

Begin by combining all the dry seasoning ingredients in a small bowl. Whisk them together thoroughly to ensure an even distribution of flavors. This simple step creates the aromatic rub that will transform your steak.

Step 2: Season the Steaks to Perfection

First, it’s crucial to pat your steaks completely dry using paper towels. This step is vital for achieving a good sear, as excess moisture will steam rather than brown the meat. Once dry, generously rub your prepared seasoning blend all over both sides of each steak, pressing gently to ensure the spices adhere well. Don’t forget the edges!

Step 3: Preheat and Add Oil to Your Instant Pot

Press the “Sauté” button on your Instant Pot and set it to the “Normal” or “More” setting. Allow the pot to heat up for a few minutes until it reads “Hot” or the oil shimmers. Once heated, add the olive oil (or your chosen cooking oil) to the inner pot.

Step 4: Achieve a Beautiful Sear on Each Side

Once the oil is hot and shimmering, carefully place your seasoned steaks into the Instant Pot. Sear each side for 1 to 2 minutes. This crucial step develops a rich, flavorful crust and adds depth to the steak’s overall taste and texture. Work in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding the pot, ensuring a proper sear on all sides.

Step 5: Remove Steaks and Cancel Sauté Mode

After searing both sides, press the “Cancel” button on your Instant Pot to turn off the sauté function. Carefully remove the seared steaks from the inner pot using tongs and place them on a clean plate for a moment.

Step 6: Deglaze the Pot for Enhanced Flavor

Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot. Immediately use a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula to scrape up any browned bits stuck to the bottom of the pot. This process, known as deglazing, is essential for two reasons: it prevents a “burn” error during pressure cooking, and it incorporates all those delicious caramelized flavors back into the cooking liquid.

Step 7: Prepare for Pressure Cooking

Place a metal trivet (the steam rack that comes with your Instant Pot) into the inner pot. Carefully place the seared steaks on top of the trivet. This elevates the steaks above the liquid, ensuring they steam rather than boil, which helps maintain their texture and prevents them from drying out.

Step 8: Pressure Cook to Your Desired Doneness

Secure the lid on your Instant Pot, ensuring it’s properly sealed. Turn the steam release valve to the “Sealing” position. Select the “Manual” or “Pressure Cook” setting and set the cooking time on High Pressure. For medium-rare steak, pressure cook for 3 minutes. For medium, aim for 4-5 minutes. For medium-well, 6-7 minutes, and for well-done, 8-10 minutes. The Instant Pot will take some time to build pressure before the timer starts counting down (typically 5-10 minutes).

Step 9: Release Pressure and Rest Your Steak

Once the pressure cooking cycle is complete and the timer goes off, carefully move the steam release valve to the “Venting” position to perform a Quick Release (QR) of the pressure. Be cautious of the hot steam. Once all the pressure has been released and the float valve drops, open the lid. Immediately remove the steaks from the pot and place them on a cutting board. Allow the steaks to rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This resting period is crucial as it allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring a more tender and juicy steak.

Expert Tips & Tricks for Instant Pot Steak Success

Start with Quality Steak: The foundation of a great meal is great ingredients. For the best Instant Pot steak, always opt for fresh, high-quality cuts from a reputable butcher or grocery store. Superior meat yields superior flavor and texture.
Don’t Skip the Sear: Searing the steaks on both sides before pressure cooking is not just for aesthetics; it’s vital for flavor. This process creates a Maillard reaction, developing a rich, caramelized crust that adds tremendous depth and a heartier taste to your steak. Even though it’s quick, this step makes a significant difference.
Deglaze Thoroughly: After searing and before pressure cooking, always deglaze the pot by pouring in water or broth and scraping the bottom with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. This removes any stuck-on bits, preventing a “burn” notice and infusing your cooking liquid with extra flavor.
Safety First with Hot Components: The Instant Pot’s inner pot and steam release valve can become extremely hot during and after cooking. Always use oven mitts or tongs when handling these components to prevent burns.
Rest Your Steak: This is arguably one of the most critical steps for juicy steak. After pressure cooking, transfer the steaks to a cutting board and allow them to rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes before slicing. This allows the muscle fibers to relax and reabsorb the juices, ensuring a tender and moist steak throughout. Slicing too soon will cause the juices to run out, leaving you with a drier steak.
Adjust Pressure Cooking Time: The recommended pressure cooking times are guidelines. Thicker steaks or bone-in cuts will naturally require more time. Always refer to a meat thermometer for precise doneness.
Consider a Natural Release (NPR) for Thicker Cuts: While a Quick Release (QR) is typically used for steaks to prevent overcooking, if you have a very thick cut (2 inches or more) or prefer a slightly more done steak, a brief Natural Pressure Release (NPR) of 2-3 minutes before a QR can lead to even more tender results.

Temperature & Doneness of Your Instant Pot Steak

Achieving your preferred steak doneness is crucial for a truly enjoyable meal. The best way to ensure accuracy is by using a reliable meat thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the steak, avoiding any bones.

Rare Steak: For a steak that’s cool red in the center, aim for an internal temperature of 130 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit (54-57°C).
Medium-Rare Steak: This is often considered the ideal doneness by many steak enthusiasts, featuring a warm red center. Target an internal temperature of 135 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit (57-60°C).
Medium Steak: A medium steak will have a warm pink center. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 140 to 145 degrees Fahrenheit (60-63°C).
Medium-Well Steak: For a slightly pink center, aim for 145 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit (63-66°C).
Well-Done Steak: If you prefer your steak with no pink, cook until the internal temperature is 150 to 155 degrees Fahrenheit (66-68°C). While the Instant Pot is designed to maintain moisture, well-done steaks will naturally be less juicy than their rarer counterparts.

Remember that the steak’s temperature will rise by a few degrees even after it’s removed from the Instant Pot due to carryover cooking, especially during the resting period. Always pull your steak off the heat a few degrees below your target temperature.

How to Serve & Store Your Delicious Instant Pot Steak

Serving Suggestions

Once your Instant Pot steak has finished cooking and has had its essential resting time (at least 5-10 minutes to lock in those precious juices), it’s ready to be sliced and served. Slicing against the grain is recommended for maximum tenderness. This versatile steak pairs beautifully with an array of side dishes and sauces. The accompanying photos showcase it with our delightful Green Beans and Potatoes. Other fantastic options include crispy French Fries, nutrient-rich Roasted Cauliflower and Asparagus, or creamy Mashed Potatoes. Consider serving it with a dollop of compound butter, a drizzle of balsamic glaze, or a rich mushroom sauce to elevate the experience further. A fresh salad or some sautéed greens also make a wonderful accompaniment.

Storing Leftovers

Should you have any delectable leftovers, store them properly to maintain freshness. Allow the cooked steak to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It can then be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For best results when reheating, gently warm the steak in a pan over low heat or in the oven at a low temperature (around 250°F / 120°C) until just warmed through, to prevent it from drying out. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can make the steak tough.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Steak

Does pressure cooking steak make it tender?

Absolutely! Pressure cooking is an excellent method for tenderizing meat. The high-pressure environment rapidly breaks down tough connective tissues, resulting in a remarkably tender and juicy steak that often feels like it’s been slow-cooked for hours, but in a fraction of the time.

Can you put raw steak in the Instant Pot?

Yes, you can certainly place raw steak directly into the Instant Pot to cook. However, for enhanced flavor and texture, we highly recommend searing both sides of the steak first using the Instant Pot’s sauté function. This quick sear creates a beautiful brown crust and locks in richer flavors before the pressure cooking process begins.

Can I use frozen beef for this recipe?

Yes, the Instant Pot is remarkably adept at cooking frozen meats, including steak. While it will take longer to come to pressure and the cooking time will need to be adjusted (typically adding an extra 5-10 minutes to the pressure cook time, depending on thickness), it’s a convenient option. Just be aware that achieving a good sear on frozen steak is difficult, so the final texture might be slightly different. Ensure separation of steaks if cooking multiple frozen pieces.

How do I prevent a “burn” error when cooking steak in the Instant Pot?

The most common reason for a “burn” error when cooking steak is not properly deglazing the pot after searing. Make sure to pour in your liquid (water or broth) and thoroughly scrape the bottom of the inner pot with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula to loosen any browned bits. This ensures nothing is stuck to the bottom that could scorch during pressure cooking.

Can I add vegetables to cook with the steak in the Instant Pot?

While it’s possible, for best results with steak, we usually recommend cooking vegetables separately. Steaks have a relatively short pressure cooking time, and many vegetables would become mushy if cooked for the same duration. However, hardier vegetables like potatoes or carrots could be added to the bottom of the pot with the liquid, below the trivet, but their texture might be very soft. For perfectly cooked veggies, it’s often better to prepare them using another method.

Instant Pot Steak

This Instant Pot Steak is tender, juicy, and so flavorful! This pressure cooker steak is easy to make and yields the most delicious steak. This Instant Pot sirloin steak is so hearty and savory.

Ingredients

Servings: 2

2 steaks
½ tsp ground pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp paprika
¼ tsp sea salt
¼ tsp onion powder
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup water

Instructions

First, combine all seasonings in a small bowl.
Pat steaks dry with paper towels. Rub seasonings all over both sides of steaks.
Press “Sauté” on Instant Pot. Add olive oil to pot.
Once oil is hot, place steaks in pot. Sear for 1 to 2 minutes on each side.
Press “Cancel”. Use tongs to remove steak from pot onto a plate.
Pour 1 cup water into pot and scrape bottom of pot with a wooden spoon to deglaze it.
Place trivet inside pot. Place steaks on top of trivet.
Secure lid and turn vent to sealing. Pressure cook on high for 3 minutes for medium-rare, up to 12 minutes for well-done.
When timer goes off, carefully turn valve to venting and manually release pressure.
Finally, carefully remove steaks from pot. Allow steaks to rest for 5 minutes before slicing to lock in those juices.

Notes

Any cut of meat will work, but we have had consistent success with both ribeyes and sirloins for Instant Pot cooking.
Feel free to replace the specified seasonings with Montreal seasoning or your favorite steak seasoning mix for a quick alternative.
After searing the steak, it’s crucial to add water and thoroughly scrape the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon to deglaze. This prevents any “burn” notices and incorporates rich flavors.
Adjust pressure cooking times based on your preferred doneness: 3 minutes for medium-rare, increasing up to 12 minutes for well-done. Always use a meat thermometer for accuracy.
Allow steak to rest for a minimum of 5 minutes after cooking. This crucial step ensures the juices redistribute throughout the meat, resulting in a more succulent and tender steak.
Store any leftover steak in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
My Instant Pot typically took about 5 minutes to come to pressure before the cooking timer began.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 599kcal, Carbohydrates: 1g, Protein: 46g, Fat: 46g, Saturated Fat: 16g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 26g, Cholesterol: 138mg, Sodium: 415mg, Potassium: 627mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 75IU, Vitamin C: 2mg, Calcium: 24mg, Iron: 4mg

Author:: Addison LaBonte
Course:: Main Course
Cuisine:: American

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