Is dulce de leche caramel?

No. Even though they have a similar color and flavor, they are two different things. Dulce de leche is made from sweetened condensed milk. Caramel is made with water and sugar that has cream or butter added to it at the end. Caramel is a lot thinner in consistency too.

Use a whisk to work out any lumps and make it a smooth consistency. A hand mixer will work great for this too.

It's totally normal for there to be lumps in the dulce de leche. As long as you didn't overcook it, you can get rid of the lumps by whisking or mixing with a mixer to get a smooth texture.

Can I cook the dulce de leche right in the store bought cans without transferring it to a glass jar?

Yes. That is how we have done it in my family for many years and my Mom still does it this way today. Remove the paper label from the cans, then place them into the Instant Pot on top of the metal rack. Completely submerge the cans in water and continue with the rest of the steps. However, there is a risk that the cans can explode because the pressure that builds up inside the cans is very high. (This has never happened in our family, but I know other families where it did happen and was an awful mess.) The sticky residue from the cans can also come off during the cooking process and coat the Instant Pot or any pot that you use. It's really annoying to wash off and that's the reason I prefer to just pour it into the mason jars.

How to store the dulce de leche:

Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If you cooked the dulce de leche in the jars, store at room temperature, unopened for 2-3 months.

Instant Pot Dulce de Leche

Name: Instant Pot Dulce de Leche
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Instant Pot Dulce de Leche

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This is the easiest and fastest way to make dulce de leche - in the Instant Pot. Smooth and caramely, you'll love this simple way to make it.

Author: Olga's Flavor Factory
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Yield: 1 can 1x

Ingredients

Scale

14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

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Instructions

Pour 1 can of sweetened condensed milk into a pint sized mason jar and close with a lid.
Place the jars of the sweetened condensed milk into the Instant Pot on top of a metal rack. Fill with enough water to cover the jars to the top, but under the lid. (The water level should not exceed the maximum capacity line on the Instant Pot.)
Close the Instant Pot lid, making sure the sealing ring is inside the lid.
Cook it on High Pressure for 35 minutes. Let stand for 5 minutes, then carefully release the pressure manually. Remove the jars from the hot water using a canning jar tongs. Cool completely before opening.
Store in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks.

Find it online: https://www.olgasflavorfactory.com/recipes/instant-pot-dulce-de-leche/