how long to cook gizzards in instant pot

Daniel Parker

3 min read

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24-01-2025

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Gizzards, those often-overlooked chicken innards, offer a surprisingly delicious and budget-friendly addition to your meals. But getting them perfectly tender can be tricky. This guide will walk you through how to cook gizzards to succulent perfection in your Instant Pot, ensuring juicy, flavorful results every time.

Preparing Your Gizzards for Instant Pot Cooking

Before diving into the Instant Pot, proper preparation is key to tender gizzards.

1. Cleaning and Trimming:

• Rinse thoroughly: Begin by rinsing the gizzards under cold running water to remove any lingering debris.
• Trim excess fat and membrane: Carefully trim away any excess fat or tough membrane. This will prevent the gizzards from becoming overly chewy.

2. Removing the Grit:

Gizzards often contain grit. Soaking them helps remove this.

• Soak in cold water: Soak the cleaned gizzards in a bowl of cold water for at least 30 minutes, or even up to a few hours. This helps soften them and removes any remaining grit. Change the water a couple of times during the soaking period.

Instant Pot Gizzard Cooking Methods: Two Delicious Approaches

There are two primary methods for cooking gizzards in an Instant Pot, each resulting in slightly different textures.

Method 1: Pressure Cooking for Ultimate Tenderness

This method yields incredibly tender gizzards, perfect for those who prefer a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken gizzards, cleaned and trimmed
• 1 cup chicken broth or water
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
• 1/2 tsp onion powder (optional)

Instructions:

1. Sauté (optional): Set your Instant Pot to the "Sauté" function. Add olive oil and brown the gizzards for a few minutes on each side. This step adds a deeper flavor but isn't strictly necessary.
2. Add liquids and seasonings: Add chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder (if using) to the pot. Stir to combine.
3. Pressure Cook: Secure the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to "Sealing." Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
4. Natural Pressure Release: Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes, then carefully quick-release any remaining pressure.
5. Check for tenderness: Gently pierce a gizzard with a fork. If it's easily pierced, they're done. If not, you can pressure cook for a few more minutes.

Method 2: Pressure Cooking with a Quick Release for a Chewier Texture

If you prefer a slightly chewier texture, this method is for you.

Ingredients: (Same as Method 1)

Instructions:

1. Follow steps 1-3 from Method 1.
2. Pressure Cook: Cook on high pressure for 12 minutes.
3. Quick Release: Once the cooking time is complete, carefully quick-release the pressure.
4. Check for tenderness: As in Method 1, gently pierce a gizzard with a fork. Adjust cooking time as needed.

Serving Suggestions for Your Delicious Instant Pot Gizzards

Once cooked, your gizzards are ready to be enjoyed in various ways:

• As a standalone dish: Serve them as a simple, flavorful side dish.
• In salads: Add them to your favorite chicken salad or other salads for a boost of protein and texture.
• In stews and soups: Gizzards add a rich depth of flavor to hearty stews and soups.
• In stir-fries: Incorporate them into your favorite stir-fry recipes.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Gizzards too tough: If your gizzards are still tough after pressure cooking, you may need to increase the cooking time or try a longer natural pressure release.
• Gizzards too soft: If your gizzards are overly soft, try reducing the cooking time or using the quick release method.

With these tips and techniques, you'll be able to master the art of cooking delicious, perfectly tender gizzards in your Instant Pot. Enjoy!