Instructions for sous viding a steak in the Instant Pot. Find out how a steak made using the sous vide function of certain Instant Pot models (such as the Duo Plus) turns out.
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One of the first things I wanted to do when I got an sous vide machine was to try out a steak in it.
Since then I have never cooked a steak another way.
That is until now. Well sort of. I am not using sous vide machine to sous vide a steak, I am using my Instant Pot to sous vide a steak.
I have been testing out sous vide recipes with my Instant Pot Duo Plus to see how it matches up. Steak is the perfect test. Can it cook just right?
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⚙️ Does It Work?
Good news, the Instant Pot Sous Vide function does work to cook a steak. Does it work as good as a standard sous vide machine/circulator. No. It takes longer for the water to get up to temperature (34 minutes last time!). And I don't think the steak was cooked as perfectly - which means pink side from edge to edge. Pretty darn close as you can see in the picture below.
It was still cooked very well. The perfectionist in me can even admit that. It's better than just grilling or searing it. Well worth trying out, especially if you only own the Instant Pot.
🌡️ Temperature
My preference for cooking steaks is to cook them to 138 degrees, which is the medium rare to medium range.
Here is the breakdown. You can choose what temperature you like.
| Rare | 120 degrees |
| Medium Rare | 130 degrees |
| Medium | 140 degrees |
| Medium Well | 150 degrees |
⏲️ How Long
My standard sous vide cook time for steaks is 1 hour. It seems to always be the perfect amount of time. Certain cuts that are tougher will benefit from a longer cook time though.
🧊 Got a frozen steak? Don't worry about defrosting it, just put it right in frozen. I would add an additional 30 minutes of cook time just to make sure it's cooked through. If it's a thinner steak you might be able to get away without any additional cooking time.
🥩 What Steaks?
Steaks that would also work well with the 1 hour cook time
In our instructions below we will show you how we did it with a NY Strip steak. You can substitute any of the steaks above.
📋 Instructions
Most of the time I like to keep seasoning my steaks simple, just kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Then vacuum seal the steak.
Don't have a vacuum sealer? You can place the steak into a gallon sized plastic bag. Lower it half way into the water. Then press out as much air as you can before sealing the bag and submerging it.
Another option is using some reusable bags. Try either of these
Remove the inner pot of the Instant Pot and add the steak in. Cover with enough water to cover the steak with some extra. You want to use the least amount of water you can because it will heat up faster.
Remove the steak for now as your Instant Pot heats up. Put the inner pot back in with the water. Hit the sous vide button. Then set the temperature to your desired doneness and the timer for 1 hour. Then hit start.
The Instant Pot will read pre-heating. Last time for me this took 34 minutes, so it's not instant at all! I put the lid while it's pre-heating.
When it reaches the right temperature it will beep and the countdown will start. Add in your steak. If it floats, then add something heavy on top to keep it submerged. A small heavy duty pot will do the trick nicely.
If I use a pot I just keep the lid off. You could use some foil to keep the heat in better and prevent evaporating water from the pot. Although at that temperature and for that time, you really don't lose that much water.
When the time is up, it will beep and then turn off. It doesn't go to the keep warm setting. Remove the steak with a pair of tongs.
You could eat it now but you would miss out if you didn't give it a quick sear. Place a pan over high heat. Cast iron would be best. Add 2 tablespoons of your favorite cooking oil. Once the pan is hot, add the steak. Sear for 1 minute max per side just to brown it.
Even if it's not perfectly brown I don't go over a minute. I don't want to ruin that nicely cooked interior.
Rest the steak for a couple minutes before eating.
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🥕 More Sous Vide Recipes
Want to try some other recipes with your Instant Pot sous vide function. Give these a try. I have tested them all.
Instant Pot Sous Vide Strip Steak
Ingredients
- 6-8 oz New York Strip steak
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp cooking oil for searing the steak at the end
Instructions
- Liberally season both sides of your steak with salt and pepper.
- Seal your steak in a bag.
- Remove the inner pot from the Instant Pot.
- Place the steak into the bottom of the pot. Add enough water to the pot to bring it above the steak. Find something heavy to place on the steak to keep it submerged if it floats.
- Remove the steak and your heavy item (if used). Place the inner pot back into the Instant Pot.
- Hit the sous vide button. Set the timer to 1 hour and the temperature to your desire doneness - I like 138 degrees.
- Place the lid on and hit the start button.
- When the Instant Pot comes to temperature it will beep and the countdown will begin. Remove the lid. Add in your steak, making sure it stays submerged in the water. Put the lid back on if you can.
- When the timer goes off, remove the steak with a pair of tongs.
- Remove the steak from it's bag.
- To finish/brown the steak, place a pan over high heat. Cast iron if you have it. Add 2 tablespoons of oil. When the pan is hot, place the steak in for 1 mintue max, then flip and cook for another mintue.
- Let rest for a couple mintues, then enjoy.
Notes
- Rare - 120 degrees
- Medium Rare - 130 degrees
- Medium - 140 degrees
- Medium Well - 150 degrees
- Top Sirloin
- New York Strip
- Ribeye
- Tenderloin
- T-Bone
- Porterhouse
- Flat Iron
- Sierra
- Sirloin Filet
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