How to Boil or Steam Potatoes in the Instant Pot? This is part of the Instant Pot Cooking Basics series. Potatoes are perfect for steaming in a pressure cooker, and it takes less than 30 minutes to get perfectly cooked potatoes. I use boiled potatoes in many dishes, such as potato peas curry and spiced mashed potatoes.
I had always boiled potatoes in my stovetop pressure cooker. However, it did need some monitoring. With the instant pot, just set the time and do a natural pressure release, while I can do other chores.
Having pre-boiled potatoes at hand is great for meal planning. I can then use them as needed to make quick meals. Some interesting Indian dishes you can make with boiled potatoes:
- Mumbai Vada Pav, which is a popular Indian-style burger.
- Savory Potato Puffs – This is similar to the paneer puffs I have shared. Just use boiled potatoes in place of paneer.
Table of Contents
Watch How to Make Boil Potatoes in Instant Pot
How to Steam Potatoes in the Instant Pot?
It is as easy as it gets. Just place the potatoes on a trivet. Add some water to the pot. Hit the Steam button. Adjust the time based on the size of the potatoes. It usually takes between 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the potatoes. For potatoes about 7 oz in weight, I steamed for 10 minutes. If potatoes are about 9 oz, then steam for 12 minutes. You get the idea!
Can I steam potatoes without a trivet?
If you want to boil potatoes while cooking something else in the main pot, then I suggest to use the mode needed for what you are cooking in the main pot. The Steam function works best when food is being steamed on a trivet. It increases the temperature inside the pot very fast, as it does not expect to have any food directly in contact with the bottom of the pot.
How to steam small baby potatoes in the instant pot?
For baby potatoes, I prefer to use a steamer basket. Add water to the instant pot steel insert. Place the steamer basket with baby potatoes in the instant pot insert. Pressure cook at high pressure for 5 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally.
Check my detailed post about Steamed Baby Potatoes in the Instant Pot and if you want to directly make seasoned potatoes, check out these Spicy Bombay Potatoes..yum!
How to steam diced potatoes in the instant pot?
For diced russet potatoes about 1 inch in size, pressure cook for 3 minutes when using a steamer basket. If you are cooking them in the main pot, just 1 minute on pressure cook mode will be enough.
Try these easy steamed potatoes and don’t forget to share how you used them!
Check out other instant pot cooking basics:
How to Boil Potatoes in Instant Pot?
Video
Instructions
- Clean potatoes with water. Add 1 cup water in the instant pot steel insert. Place trivet and place potatoes on top of the trivet. Close lid with vent in sealing position.
- Pressure cook on Steam mode at high pressure for 10 mins. (see notes for cooking time variation)
- When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally. If in a hurry, you can release pressure 10 minutes after the beep.
- Remove the potatoes from the instant pot to stop additional cooking.
Notes
- Adjust time between 8-15 mins depending on size of potatoes. For example, if the potatoes are about 9 oz each, then steam for 12 mins.
- The cooking time remains the same even if you increase or decrease the quantity of potatoes, however the size of the potatoes affects the cooking time as mentioned in previous note.
Not sure if pressure cook on high or low for potato salad
Hi Danielle – Pressure cook on high for potatoes.
Making mashed potato recipe. want to get the potatoes ready without putting in pot and boiling. Do I leave the skins on potatoes or peel them first?
To make mashed potatoes, I would suggest to peel the potatoes and cut them into pieces and add to the pot. Add a cup of water and salt. Then pressure cook for 8 minutes.
Can you steam peeled potatoes?
Hi Clare – You can steam peeled potatoes. However I would only suggest to do that if you are making mashed potatoes or using in a soup/dip. Starchy potatoes (eg. russet) can get mushy when boiling, so for these it might be best to leave the skin on. Hope that helps!
Can you please potatoes from the pressure cooker to ice water to cool quickly
Hi Rita – Sure, do make sure they are cooked through by inserting a fork into the potato before you transfer to ice water.
This was very helpful. The potatoes turned out perfect and I didn’t have to watch the pot! Your website is my go-to place for instant pot tips.
Hi – So good to hear that. Thank you for sharing it 🙂
What if one is 14 ounces and the other is 10 ounces?
Hi Jill – You can also cut the potatoes in half if they are too large to get almost equal sizes.
Do you have an android app as well? Thanks for the recipe.
Hi Sha – I don’t have an app. But you can search all the recipes on the website!
How do I find the app on Samsung?
Amazing timing. Turned out perfect. Thank you!
Hi Mehreen – So glad to hear that. Thank you for sharing it 🙂
This is brilliant! They were perfect consistency to mash or use in potato salad! Didn’t heat up yhe kitchen like a boiling pot does either… WIN WIN
Hi Beryl – So glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
Thank you much for this great set of instructions. I did make it perfectly! Keep sharing it!
Hi Jimmy – So good to hear that. Thank you! 🙂