Okay, so the other day I was craving some tri-tip, but I didn’t want to fire up the grill. I decided to try cooking it in my Instant Pot, which I’ve been using more often lately. It’s seriously a lifesaver when you want a quick and easy meal. I wasn’t sure exactly how long to cook it, so I did a little digging on my phone.
First, I grabbed my tri-tip from the fridge. I had seasoned it the night before with some salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. I figured that letting it sit overnight would help the flavors really sink in. Then I poured about a cup of beef broth into my Instant Pot, I like to use broth instead of water for extra flavor. I placed the trivet that came with the pot inside. You know, that little metal rack thingy?
Next, I put my seasoned tri-tip on the trivet. I made sure it wasn’t sitting directly in the broth. I wanted it to steam rather than boil, if that makes sense. I closed the lid, made sure the valve was set to “sealing,” and set the Instant Pot to high pressure.
Now, here’s where I had to make a decision about timing. Based on what I found, it seemed like 20-25 minutes per pound was a good range. My tri-tip was around 2.5 pounds, so I decided to go with 50 minutes. I figured I could always cook it a little longer if needed. You know that we should make sure that the tri-tip we cooked must be safe and able to eat, so that we will check it and cook it again if needed.
After the 50 minutes were up, I let the pressure naturally release for about 15 minutes. It’s important to let it sit, because if you do a quick release, all those delicious juices will escape. After the natural release, I carefully did a quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure.
Finally, I opened the Instant Pot. The tri-tip looked amazing! I used a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. We need to check it to make sure it’s safe for us to eat. It should read at least 135°F for medium-rare. Mine was right around 140°F, which was perfect.
I took the tri-tip out of the Instant Pot and let it rest for about 10 minutes before slicing. This helps to keep it juicy. It is important to do that step! When I sliced into it, it was so tender and flavorful! The Instant Pot really did a great job. It’s a super easy way to cook tri-tip, especially if you don’t have a lot of time.
- Season the tri-tip and let it sit overnight (optional but recommended).
- Pour broth into the Instant Pot and place the trivet inside.
- Place the tri-tip on the trivet.
- Close the lid, set the valve to “sealing,” and cook on high pressure for 20-25 minutes per pound.
- Allow the pressure to naturally release for 15 minutes, then do a quick release.
- Check the internal temperature (at least 135°F for medium-rare).
- Rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Here’s a quick recap of the process:
I hope this helps you to make your own tri-tip in your own kitchen. Enjoy your meal!
