Coarsely chop the onion(s). If you are using fresh jalapeno peppers, chopped them now as well. In the image here, you will see that I'm using some peppers that I have roasted on the grill. Note that the Instant Pot will soften the spiciness. So although the number of peppers might seem like a lot, the end result is not as spicy as you might think. If you are worried about it, decrease the number of peppers. The heat level is also dependent upon how spicy your peppers are.
Spread the pinto beans out on a paper towel and pick out any stones that you might find. Add the beans to a colander and set aside.
Select your Instant Pot's Saute feature. Add the butter and olive oil (I don't really measure this, so the amounts are approximate). Add the chopped onion(s) and fresh peppers if using.Saute until the onions and peppers are just starting to become translucent. Since my peppers were already cooked, I added them with the garlic and spices.If your Instant Pot has a "hot" and "low" setting, use the "low" setting. We want to sauté the onions, not brown them. While the onions are sauteing, chop the garlic.
Add to the onions, the chopped garlic, salt, 7-10 grinds of the pepper, chile pepper flakes, and cumin.
Cook the mixture for a few minutes until the garlic is fragrant and the spices have melded with the remaining ingredients.
Measure 4+ cups of cold water into a large measuring cup (if you have one). Add a bit of the water to the onion mixture, and using a wooden spoon, scrape up anything that has stuck to the bottom of the Instant Pot. Add the remaining 4 cups of water to the beans and stir. Add 2 more cups of water and stir. Rinse the beans, add to the pot, and stir. You will be adding a total of 6 cups of cold water plus the bit of extra for scraping the Instant Pot bottom.
Cancel the Saute function of the Instant Pot. Place the lid of the Instant Pot on the pot (as per your pot's instructions), making sure the seal is set correctly. Select the Pressure function and set the time to 1 hour 30 minutes.
When the cooking time as elapsed, let the Instant Pot Naturally Release. This will take a little more than 25 minutes. Let the beans continue to release for a total of 45 minutes.
Once the Natural Release process is completed, select the Cancel button and remove the lid. The beans will be VERY hot. Taste the beans and if they are not done to your liking (or the dried beans were old), you can put the lid back on the Instant Pot and cook for another 10 minutes.
To thicken the beans, using a wooden spoon, vigorously (but carefully) stir the beans while they are hot. This process breaks down some of the starches. The beans will thicken more as they cool.
