You don’t have to be a Southerner to know how to make the perfect batch of iced tea. (It doesn’t hurt, though!) In fact, anyone can make perfect iced tea—with the right method. I have found that making Instant Pot iced tea with baking soda is the way to go! The reason I prefer to use the Instant Pot method is because you can make a large batch that is strong, but not too bitter. You also have the bonus of being able to make a large batch within minutes.
When making Instant Pot iced tea, I like to add a dash of baking soda to the pot. Don’t worry—this won’t ruin the taste. It will ensure that the tea is not too cloudy and round out the sweetness.
The Best Tea Bags for Iced Tea
The best tea for iced tea, in my opinion, is Lipton Iced Tea. I love to use their large family size tea bags, but you can definitely use their regular size bags as well. See what other iced tea bags Taste of Home editors recommend.
How to Make Instant Pot Iced Tea
Ingredients
- 8 regular size tea bags or 4 large family size tea bags
- 8 cups room temperature water
- 1-½ cups of granulated sugar
- 4 cups cold water
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Lemon wedges, for garnish
Tools You’ll Need
- No surprise, the Instant Pot is our Test Kitchen’s recommended pressure cooker.
- This gorgeous 12″ wooden spoon is handmade by a woodworker in Florida.
- To serve iced tea, I use a something similar to this Mikasa Napoli pitcher.
Instructions
Step 1: Add tea bags to the Instant Pot
To start, add the tea bags, room temperature water and baking soda to the Instant Pot.
Step 2: Steep your tea
Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to “Sealing.”
Steep your tea by using the Pressure Cooker function. Set the time to four minutes on High.
Step 3: Release the pressure
When the timer goes off, use the end of a long spoon to carefully release the pressure using the quick release method.
Remove the lid and lift out the tea bags.
Step 4: Add sugar
Immediately stir the sugar into the hot tea until it has dissolved completely. Stir in cold water. To chill, transfer this tea to a pitcher and put it in the refrigerator.
How to Serve Instant Pot Iced Tea
I love to serve my iced tea with a lemon wedge over ice. You can also serve it with a mint leaf or fresh berries. If you would like to make an Arnold Palmer, simply mix equal parts iced tea and lemonade. Be sure to have extra sugar or simple syrup nearby, just in case your guests prefer their tea to be sweeter!
Pineapple Iced Tea
We have a large family, so we go through beverages quickly at our house. This thirst-quenching tea is simple to mix together and has a sparkling citrus flavor we all enjoy. —K. Kitell, Lenexa, Kansas
Bella Basil Raspberry Tea
Beautiful basil and fresh raspberries lend bright color and refreshing flavor to this grown-up iced tea. You’ll love the fun fizz and make-ahead convenience for parties. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington
Cherry Limeade Sweet Tea
Sweet tea and cherry limeade are two of my favorite summer libations. What could be better than combining them? —Renee Page, Rochelle, Illinois
Hibiscus Iced Tea
This calorie and caffeine-free tea has a delightful rosy color.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
Sweet Tea Boysenberry Shandy
I love an ice-cold beer on a hot summer day. I also love sweet tea, so one day I got the great idea to mix the two. Wow! It was absolutely delish. I experimented with different flavorings, and this combination was my favorite. —Kelly Williams, Forked River, New Jersey
Smooth Sweet Tea
A pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it's not overly sweet. —kelseylouise, Taste of Home Community Member
Honey-Citrus Iced Tea
A frozen orange or lemon slice in the glass looks pretty and helps keep this refreshing punch nice and cold. Using honey instead of sugar adds a sweet touch. —Sheila Bradshaw, Columbus, Ohio
Iced Honeydew Mint Tea
I grow mint in the garden on my balcony. For this tea, I blend two of my favorite beverages—Moroccan mint tea and honeydew agua fresca. —Sarah Batt Throne, El Cerrito, California
Lemony Pineapple Iced Tea
I like to garnish this iced tea with some of our sweet Hawaiian pineapple. —Beverly Toomey, Honolulu, Hawaii
Refreshing Raspberry Iced Tea
This recipe makes a gallon, so it's a great choice for a springtime party when you have a medium-size crowd. It freezes well, so feel free to make it ahead of time. —Arlana Hendricks, Manchester, Tennessee
Sweet Tea Concentrate
Sweet iced tea is a southern classic and this is a fabulous recipe for those tea lovers or for a party. The concentrate will make 20 servings. —Natalie Bremson, Plantation, Florida
Lemonade Iced Tea
I have always loved iced tea with lemon, and this irresistible thirst-quencher takes it one step further. The lemonade gives this refreshing drink a nice color, too. —Gail Buss, New Bern, North Carolina
Agua de Jamaica
This agua de jamaica recipe features an iced tea made from hibiscus—tart and deep red like cranberry juice. Add rum if you like. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Raspberry Iced Tea
One sip and you'll likely agree this is the best flavored tea you've ever tasted.—Christine Wilson, Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Rhubarb Mint Tea
A bumper crop of rhubarb and mint from my garden inspired me to create this thirst-quenching pick-me-up. Raspberries deepen the tea's vibrant red color, making the drinks a pretty addition to your table. —Laurie Bock, Lynden, Washington
Iced Raspberry Tea
Frozen raspberries lend fruity flavor and lovely color to this pretty iced tea that's good year-round. The recipe calls for just a few common ingredients and offers make-ahead convenience. —Lois McGrady, Hillsville, Virginia
Summertime Tea
You can’t have a summer gathering around here without this sweet tea to cool you down. It’s wonderful for sipping while basking by the pool. —Angela Lively, Baxter, Tennessee
Apricot Lemonade Iced Tea
Every special occasion deserves a refreshing beverage (and a lovely punch bowl). Our tea has a tangy flavor from lemonade, apricot nectar and mint. —Kay Chon, Sherwood, Arkansas
Sweet Raspberry Tea
You only need a handful of ingredients to stir together this refreshing spring sipper. Its brilliant color and smile-fetching flavor will make a popular thirst quencher as the weather turns warm. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Minty Tea Punch
Forget sugary (and boring) sodas for your next potluck and treat your family and friends to a refreshing homemade punch. —Crystal Bruns, Iliff, Colorado
Iced Melon Moroccan Mint Tea
I grow mint on my balcony, and this refreshing beverage is a wonderful way to use it. It combines two of my favorite drinks—Moroccan Mint Tea and Honeydew Agua Fresca. For extra flair, add some ginger ale. —Sarah Batt Throne, El Cerrito, California
Orange Blossom Mint Refresher
I came up with this recipe because I'm not a fan of regular iced tea. This tea has the perfect combination of freshness and sweetness; the orange blossom water gives it a distinctive flavor. People always request the recipe. —Juliana Gauss, Centennial, Colorado
Lemon Lime Almond Tea
I got this delicious tea recipe from a friend and make it about twice a week. It's such a refreshing drink. —Tammy Griffin, Frankston, Texas
Sweet Citrus Iced Tea
My family has been making iced tea this way ever since I was a child. When I recently prepared it for a church function, everyone liked it so much that they asked for the recipe. — Diane C Kirkpatrick, Terre Hill, Pennsylvania
Cranberry Tea
This colorful tea with its sweet spicy flavor is a great winter warmer-upper. The aroma is sure to bring guests to the table! —Kathy Traetow, Waverly, IowaThe post How to Make Easy Instant Pot Iced Tea appeared first on Taste of Home.
Rosalynn Daniels