Instant Pot Limoncello (regular recipe and video too)

Instant Pot Limoncello ~ if you love lemons you probably also love this gorgeous Italian lemon liqueur.  It traditionally takes weeks to infuse the lemon peels into vodka ~ but the amazing Instant Pot does it in 30 minutes.  So basically, how can you not make this?

Updated on 10/05/18: Although I have had no trouble making limoncello in my Instant Pot, it has come to my attention that cooking high-proof alcohol in an Instant Pot is not safe because the alcoholic vapor it generates can possibly be ignited by a spark either in the machine itself or in the vicinity.  I’m continuing to research the issue but to be absolutely safe I recommend you make your limoncello with the regular method, not in the Instant Pot.  

Infused liquer is a blast to make at home, especially when you’re using the freshest seasonal fruit.

I’ve wanted to make homemade limoncello for years, but the big production and having to wait forever to taste the stuff put me off for so long.  Getting an Instant Pot finally pushed me over the edge.  The high heat and high pressure inside the machine extracts the flavor from the lemons in a fraction of the time.

This is my favorite kind of kitchen project, the kind you can decide to do when you have a random spare hour, and in this case, a few lemons and a bottle of vodka handy.  Imagine ~ you can get the idea in the afternoon and have your homemade limoncello ready for entertaining that night.  Now that’s a great recipe!

So here’s the deal ~ you need to remove the peel from 4 lemons.  I used Meyer lemons, but regular lemons will do just fine.  I recommend using organic lemons because the color and flavor will be extracted from those peels, and you don’t want random chemicals in your liqueur.  Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peel in strips.  Make sure to get only the yellow part, the white part is bitter.  If your peels have some white stuff stuck to them, you can just scrape it off with a small knife.

Put the peels in a mason jar, and fill up with vodka.  Some folks say to use a super high proof alcohol product like Everclear, (150 or 190 proof alcohol) which is better at sucking all the flavor out of the lemon peels, but I prefer to use Vodka.  Everclear is too much like rubbing alcohol for me.  I used regular 80 proof vodka and was happy with the results.

Once you’ve filled your jar or jars, and screwed on the caps, they’re ready for the Instant Pot.  Set them on the metal rack in the pot, and cook for 30 minutes.  The jars will be bubbling like crazy when you take them out.  Let them cool all the way down before you attempt to open them.

To make your limoncello with the regular method, you will set your jars in a dark cool place, such as a kitchen cabinet, for 3 weeks to a month to allow the lemon flavor to infuse into the vodka naturally.

The last step in making Instant Pot Limoncello is adding a simple sugar syrup which sweetens and brings out the lemon flavor.  You can adjust the amount of syrup for a stronger or more mellow result.

Limoncello is best chilled, whether straight up in a pretty little vintage glass, or on the rocks, and it’s great mixed in cocktails.  Spike your lemonade or iced tea with it, or even cook with it ~ I’ve used it in the sauce for MEYER LEMON ROAST CHICKEN.

TIPS:

• I bottled my limoncello in a recycled vinegar bottle.  Remove the labels, wash, and save your prettiest bottles ~ you never know when you might be able to use them!
• Store your limoncello in the freezer if you like it super frosty.
  

Safety Notes:

This recipe is formulated for the Instant Pot only.  Please don’t try this with any other type of pressure cookers as I haven’t tested it on other models.  Follow all safety instructions in your manual, and follow the recipe instructions carefully.

There is no definitive answer that I have been able to find about whether cooking alcohol under pressure in the Instant Pot is safe. I recommend you do your own research and decide what is best for you. I found the information in this post from Tidbits, and this post from The Kitchn about making vanilla extract in the Instant Pot helpful.

• Always make sure there are no open flames or sources of heat near your Instant Pot as there may be a small amount of alcohol vapor that escapes as it is cooking.
• Make sure to use good quality canning jars that are safe to use in the Instant Pot (like Ball or Kerr) to avoid breakage, and be very careful when you do take them out of the Instant Pot as they will remain very hot for a while.
• If you’re not comfortable cooking with alcohol in the Instant Pot, you can always make limoncello the old fashioned way! It just takes a little longer. See the recipe instructions below for the method.

*recipe adapted from the Instant Pot Community and Prairie Californian

Don’t forget to pin this epic Homemade Instant Pot Limoncello!