Recipe This | Instant Pot Caramel From Condensed Milk (2024)

Instant Pot Caramel. Whether you call it instant pot caramel, instant pot caramel from condensed milk or dulce de leche, it is a wonderful quick one ingredient pantry instant pot pressure cooker recipe that reminds you why owning an instant pot makes your life in the kitchen so much easier and cheaper.

Instant Pot Caramel

This easy instant pot caramel recipe is an update from a 2017 recipe. One of our favourite instant pot pantry recipes and perfect for a quick batch of caramel for a recipe.

Welcome to how to makeInstant Pot Caramelfrom condensed milk. If there is justONEInstant Pot recipe that youMUSTmake as a beginner to the instant pot it has to be Instant Pot Caramel.

I often get emails from either potential (or brand new) Instant Pot users.

They are all fascinated by the electric pressure cooker trend and want to know (considering they can cook good) what is the point in them owning theInstant Pot Pressure Cooker?

Well you can see it from their point of view, can’t you?

• They like cooking
• They hate the idea of batch cooking
• They are not in a huge rush so a 40-minute chicken doesn’t appeal to them
• They are good at peeling their boiled eggs
• They like the smell of a warm stew in the oven

Though, I think I just described me and the hubby!!!

Instant Pot cooking is very much about being able to cook an 8 hourpulled porkin less than an hour, being easy for people that are terrible at cooking and a fantastic option for if you hate peeling eggs.

But if none of that bothers you then why get an Instant Pot?

Well for me it comes down to one thing and one thing only. You can turncondensed milkinto caramel in just 40 minutes instead of 4 hours on the stove. I mean that is truly an amazing time saver.

This has nothing to do with whether you are an excellent cook or not, but about an act of magic.

Dominic (my husband of over 17 years) was a chef when we met. He is excellent in the kitchen and has a natural ability when it comes to cooking.

When I said that I was getting an electric pressure cooker he was far from pleased, as we like to cook so much.

But when he realised, he could make his favourite caramel so fast I had him. He was hooked.

You might be the only one in your family with an instant pot and trying to get the rest of the family on board and this instant pot caramel will do that.

Or you are new to the instant pot and want easy steps. If that is you straight after doing your instant pot water test, do instant pot caramel.

Cooking Condensed Milk To Make Caramel

To me cooking condensed milk to make caramel is old school classic cooking.

My grandmas would always have cans of condensed milk sat in their pantry and they would be perfect for a range of desserts.

It was back then, and it is right now, much cheaper to buy a can of sweetened condensed milk and turn it into caramel yourself rather than having it done for you.

Making caramel from condensed milk would involve submerging a sweetened can of condensed milk in a pan on the stovetop and then it would boil away and eventually turn into caramel.

It was a slow process though and it would take on average between 3 to 4 hours.

How to make caramel from condensed milk quickly? Like I mentioned above this is when the instant pot comes into play.

Instead of taking several hours you are reducing the time significantly.

Another interesting point is that when you cook condensed milk on the stovetop you are boiling, while the instant pot is retaining the flavour by pressure cooking.

Instant Pot Caramel (dulce de leche)

If it is just instant pot caramel, then why do most people call it instant pot dulce de leche?

Dulce de leche is a Mediterranean phrase that describes caramel made from sweetened canned milk.

It is how many desserts are described throughout Spain, Portugal and other neighbouring European countries.

Here in Portugal we have dulce de leche ice cream, which is vanilla ice cream that has been sweetened with condensed caramel.

Cooking Condensed Milk In Instant Pot

Cooking condensed milk in the instant pot to make caramel is so ridiculously easy you will want to do this all the time. Just maybe take up running if it becomes a daily occurrence!

1. The wrapping is removed from the can of condensed milk.
2. It is submerged in the instant pot so that water just covers it.
3. It pressure cooks.
4. You cool it down.
5. You eat it.

Just think that is how you use the instant pot to turn condensed milk into caramel. Have I got you hooked on this easy kitchen gadget now?

Instant Pot Caramel Sauce

If you want to transform your instant pot caramel into instant pot caramel sauce, then I suggest that you add some milk and a little water to your instant pot caramel until it reaches the right thickness.

I have found that skimmed milk is best because it is fat free and therefore thin and easy for making something super thick, all skinny.

How Long To Cook Condensed Milk To Make Caramel?

If using the instant pot, it takes JUST 40 minutes to cook condensed milk to make caramel.

But there is also the time to get your instant pot to pressure and the time for your caramel to cool down enough for you to touch it.

My best tips for decreasing the time is to use warm water when you fill your instant pot. Because there is a lot of water to go to pressure.

My other best tip is Dominic’s and he pours cold water over the condensed milk can once done, so that it can cool down quicker.

Listen To How To Make Caramel

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Desserts With Caramel Condensed Milk

With my love for caramel made with condensed milk, I am sure you will appreciate that we use caramel condensed milk a LOT in our desserts.

Here are a few of our favourite desserts with caramel condensed milk:

• Dulce De Leche Ice Cream
• Instant Pot Banoffee Pie
• Instant Pot Caramel Rice Pudding
• Instant Pot Caramel Popcorn
• Air Fryer Caramel Cheesecake

Can’t make it now? Then pin it for later!

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