Some people love their Instant Pots. If that’s you, you’re probably always looking for more ways to make use of yours. As a bird watcher, you may be thinking of ways to marry the two, so what about hummingbird food?
Key Takeaways
- Simple recipe for hummingbird nectar: The recipe for hummingbird nectar is straightforward and consists of four parts water to one part white sugar. No other types of sugar or sweeteners should be used.
- Optional boiling step: While not necessary, some people boil the water before mixing in the sugar to possibly keep the nectar fresher and help the sugar dissolve better.
- Using an Instant Pot: An Instant Pot can be used to boil water via the sauté function, an alternative method for those who prefer to boil the water for their hummingbird nectar.
Make Hummingbird Food in the Instant Pot
Homemade hummingbird food is very simple to make. It’s just four parts water to one part regular white sugar, with no variation and no additional ingredients: no brown sugar, honey, powdered sugar, artificial sweeteners, or anything else.
You just have to make sure it’s properly mixed, but after that, there’s not really anything else that needs to be done, but some people do add one more step.
Some people boil the water before mixing in the sugar, so that’s where you could use your Instant Pot.
Instant Pots aren’t typically used to just boil water, but there’s no reason one couldn’t be. Here’s a guide on how to use your sauté function to boil water:
Some believe that boiling the water keeps it a little bit fresher for a little bit longer and allows the sugar water to dissolve better.
It’s not a necessary step, but if it’s what you prefer, it’s an option. Just make sure to let the nectar cool before putting it out for the hummingbirds.
Additional Tips and Warnings
- No food coloring: There’s no need to add red dye or food coloring to homemade nectar. Most hummingbird feeders are designed to be attractive to birds without the need for artificial colors.
- Clean bird feeders regularly: It’s essential to keep your feeder clean, ideally washing it every few days, to prevent mold and bacteria from forming.
In Conclusion
While it’s probably not necessary, you can certainly use an Instant Pot for the optional boiling water step of making hummingbird food.
As long as you’re providing your backyard hummers with cold, fresh food, they’ll surely thank you for it.
Happy birding!