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 make Instant Pot Caramel from condensed milk. If there is just ONE Instant Pot recipe that you MUST make 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 the Instant 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 hour pulled pork in 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 turn condensed milk into 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!
- The wrapping is removed from the can of condensed milk.
- It is submerged in the instant pot so that water just covers it.
- It pressure cooks.
- You cool it down.
- 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.
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
- Ben & Jerry’s Caramel Chew Chew Ice Cream
- Instant Pot Banoffee Pie
- Instant Pot Caramel Rice Pudding
- Instant Pot Caramel Popcorn
- Air Fryer Caramel Cheesecake
Instant Pot Caramel From Condensed Milk
Instructions
- Remove the packaging from a can of condensed milk and place into the instant pot inner pot.
- Pour warm water over the can of caramel until it is submerged.
- Place the lid on the instant pot, set the valve to sealing and cook for 40 minutes on manual pressure cook.
- Use quick pressure release and pour cold water over the can to cool it down quicker.
- Once the can of condensed milk is cool enough to handle remove the lid, stir and eat.
Notes
Nutrition
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You state on your recipe condensed milk, but on the site you show the brand you us, its sweetened condensed milk. Which do you us?
Hi Vicky,
Sorry for the confusion, yes we used sweetened condensed milk, it has to be sweetened.
Kind Regards
Sam
Have you tried doing 2 or 3 cans at once?
Hi Vickie,
Here is the reply i gave to Kate above:
I do not see why not. It is just like with eggs one egg takes 3 minutes to cook in a pan of boiling water but if you add more eggs it will still only take 3 minutes to cook.
We have not tried to do more than one can because we got more than enough caramel out of just the one can.
Many Thanks.
Sam
P:S Let us know if you give it a try and if it works.
Can you cook multiple cans at once?
Hi Kate
I do not see why not. It is just like with eggs one egg takes 3 minutes to cook in a pan of boiling water but if you add more eggs it will still only take 3 minutes to cook.
We have not tried to do more than one can because we got more than enough caramel out of just the one can.
Many Thanks.
Sam
P:S Let us know if you give it a try and if it works.
I’m living in Costa Rica. Most milk of the ultra high temperature variety and is sold in paper cartons. Is the can necessary? Would you be able to suggest a work-around? Thank you!
Hi Wendy
Here in Portugal most milk is sold in cartons but we do have sweetened condensed milk which is always sold in cans. So unless it is available in a can i cannot see how you will be able to cook the milk to change it into caramel.
These are the types of milk you can use: https://www.amazon.com/Carnation-Sweetened-Condensed-Milk-Ounce/dp/B01M3W1JL9/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1508332906&sr=1-4&keywords=condensed+milk
It is not an affiliate link just a link to the product that we are talking about. Hope it helps.
Sorry.
Kind Regards
Sam
I tried this with 2 cans and they both came out with a nice caramel color but the taste is not really a whole lot like real caramel. Does this caramel taste different than if you made it the traditional way on the stove top. Also mine was very congealed consistency…..not smooth and creamy. I tried taking it out and blending it well but it was still lumpy.
Hi Jill
They do not taste exactly like a real caramel made on the stove but it is quite close to it we found. The consistency is alot thicker than traditional caramel because we use this kind of caramel for banoffee pies where you mix it with bananas on a pastry crust and cream so we find it is useful when making pies and sponges because it stays nice and thick.
The consistency can differ we found from can to can but i do not know why. One can came out lovely and smooth but when we did another one it came out all lumpy no matter what we did with it this is why we tend to mix it with different kinds of food.
Thanks for your comment.
Kind Regards
Sam
I found of you use a cold can it for some reason makes a smoother Carmel than room temperature can did . Try for yourself , don’t take just my word , it may have been the brand I used . (Nestle Carnation)
Hi Karin,
We will try it and see if it turns out any different.
Thanks for the tip.
You can do more than 1 can. I did 3 all came out perfect. 40mins
Do you set the can directly on the bottom of the inner pot or do you set it on the trivet…..or does it matter?
Thanks!
Hi Tammy,
We just stand it up right and make sure it is covered with the water, no we don’t use the trivet ?
Thanks
Dom
I just finished and it is very liquid even after let it cool and very light in color. Tastes like sweetened condensed milk. What could have happened.
Hi Monique,
A possibility could be that it was not cooked for long enough or the instant pot did not go to pressure properly because that is how it turns out when it is not cooked 🙂
Thanks.
Thank you for saying it’s Sweetened Condensed milk.
I tried it before with just Condensed milk, and had to throw away. It was terrible.
So thank you. I will try this one of the Sweeten Condensed milk.
Hi kathy
Yes it has to be sweetened condensed milk as the sugar content makes it turn to caramel 🙂
Do you leave the van sealed or open it a little?
Hi Theresa,
We left the can closed as it is covered in water but if you are worried about it opening take the lid of and put tin foil around it 🙂
Like!! I can’t believe how quick it was and how creamy the caramel was.
Hello. Would Carnation caramel condensed milk work and, if so, would that also need steaming?
Thank you
Hi Madeleine,
Yes it would if you have bought the milk already caramelized you do not need to steam it 🙂
Thanks so much for introducing me to this recipe. Worth getting an instant pot just for this!
thank you
Curious— how did you store it – in refrigerator? Thanks so much!
Hi Shelly,
Yes the fridge is fine for storing it.
Will it harden like candy or does it stay creamy?
Hi Pam
In our experience, which is quite extensive when it comes to this caramel/dolce du leche it stays creamy, but it never lasts more than a few hours in our house but even when it has got cold it has never got hard like candy 🙂
Just getting ready to fix a caramel pie and boil the cans my usual way. I came across this and didn’t realize I could do the same with my instant pot! So excited to try this an save the time!! Thank you.
Yes this is exactly why we did it, to save people time, hope you have a great holiday Maebeth 🙂