I've use an instapot, I run it twice as long as the recommended times for regular pressure cookers because the pressure doesn't get as high. I've had zero issues with contamination yet.
Sorry for the late response, you can sterilize substrate with an instant pot just fine. The problem is that an instant pot can’t reach as high of an internal pressure as a pressure cooker, so instead of 20 minutes with jars in a pressure cooker it would take three hours in an instant pot. If you already have the instant pot then by all means, but it may pose as a bottleneck if you plan on scaling up at all. If you’re just starting out though, it can definitely work just fine.
as someone who is deeply interested in this could an instapot be used as the pressure cooker or do you need a legit canning one?
I've use an instapot, I run it twice as long as the recommended times for regular pressure cookers because the pressure doesn't get as high. I've had zero issues with contamination yet.
Sorry for the late response, you can sterilize substrate with an instant pot just fine. The problem is that an instant pot can’t reach as high of an internal pressure as a pressure cooker, so instead of 20 minutes with jars in a pressure cooker it would take three hours in an instant pot. If you already have the instant pot then by all means, but it may pose as a bottleneck if you plan on scaling up at all. If you’re just starting out though, it can definitely work just fine.
thank you! seems to be the consensus. my parents are giving me their year old one soon so that's good to know