How to Cook Instant Pot Oxtail

How to cook Instant Pot oxtail to tender is here. This is how to cook oxtails that are well seasoned for dinner or turn into a beef soup with vegetables when done.

Ninja Foodi Oxtail

I will say it over and over again, it doesn’t matter what brand of pressure cooker you have. As long as it is an electric version with the saute and high pressure this will work just great. I have them all, a Mealthy, Crockpot Express, IP and Ninja Foodi. Only plus to the last is you can crisp at the end.

You may have had these at a restaurant and thought they would be way to hard to make at home, not true. We started this journey with slow cooker oxtail and they were so great and versatile we just kept going from there.

Can you Put Oxtails in a Pressure Cooker

Yes, and it is probably the best (and fastest) way to cook them. You can cook oxtail on the stove which we have done before but you can’t just set it and forget it like this one. It does get quite tender that way but takes quite a bit of time. Oxtail in the oven takes a bit less attention using a Dutch oven.

No matter which method you decide to use you have to add herbs and seasonings to the outside, otherwise it is a strong beef flavor. Not that that is bad but typically you’re going to want to offset it with at least some salt and pepper.

• 4 – 6 oxtails frozen or defrosted, timing doesn’t really change
• Oxtail seasonings
• Salt and pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder and dried thyme
• 1/4 tsp dry sriracha optional, for heat
• Olive oil
• Beef broth

You could just use water for the liquid but like I said, the more flavor the better.

How Long Does it Take to Cook Oxtails in a Ninja Pressure Cooker

Doesn’t matter what brand you use to make this, the timing is the same when you use the high pressure function. 4-6 is typically all you’ll be able to fit in one single layer. If you overlap them I would say you’d want to increase that cook time. You want the meat to pull away from the bone so you can pull it off.

• You’ll start by mixing together your seasonings. Rub on to outside on all sides of your oxtails to season well.
  • Pour olive oil in Instant Pot and set to saute.
  • Place oxtail in instant pot and brown on all sides.
  • Cancel when done and scrape bottom to deglaze Instant Pot and get all those brown bits off. That way you can prevent burn notice from appearing.
• Remove pieces and place a metal trivet into the bottom of the pot. Place pcs. on top of that trivet. Pour broth or water into the bottom of pot so they can steam.
• Lock lid and steam valve, set to high pressure for 45 minutes. Do a quick release when done.
• Carefully remove the metal trivet and transfer cooked pieces to a plate to remove meat from bones, meat should fall off the bone or pull off very easily.
• If you want to make Instant Pot oxtail soup just remove the trivet, drain liquid, add ingredients for the rest of the dish and cook for a few more min.

If you wanted to use it in our Korean oxtail soup or an oxtail stew you could dunk the whole thing in when simmering, or just add the meat.

How to Cook Frozen Oxtails

Surprisingly there isn’t really any difference whether they are straight out of the freezer or fresh or defrosted. Same goes if you are slow cooking them or in your IP. Either oxtail recipe has enough time to steam that they will thaw quickly and then just begin to cook to tender.

No matter what you should try to get each piece to be of similar sizes. That way they will cook at the same rate and not have one undercooked while others are a bit over.

If this is your first time working with beef tails at all I would highly suggest you pressure cook them. They aren’t only great in a broth either when they’re done. You can put on a plate with a bit of soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. Serve with small forks (like with crab) so every bit and piece can be picked out.

Oxtail Pressure Cooker

The only method we haven’t tried is in our air fryer. That is because I don’t think it would be a good method for these since it needs a lot of very hot steam and moisture.

How do You Use Oxtail

If you were to serve these as is on a plate to enjoy the fork tender proteins inside I think a bed of Ninja Foodi rice is always a winner with everyone. Takes about 20 minutes so you can time it near the end if you have both machines to use.

• Added into some bone broth with vegetables and a bay leaves to simmer until radishes and green onions are tender is a light meal to try.
• Used inside a pressure cooker stew as the protein works great. You can add the whole thing after you follow these instructions or just the meat.

How Long do Cooked Oxtails Last in the Fridge

You can save what hasn’t been eaten and they reheat quite nicely. Make sure they cool to room temperature and then transfer into freezer bags or tightly wrapped in foil. Keep in fridge for up to 5 days, ideally you would heat within 48 hours of initially cooking them.

How do You Reheat Oxtails

You’ll want a bit of steam again ideally. You can use this same machine but keep the lid off. Just add some broth or water into the pot with the same trivet inside. Set on top and set pot to saute. Allow the hot steam to surround the pcs. and warm up to your liking. The meat will pull off easier this way.