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    Home » Instant Pot 101

    Easy Peasy Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree

    August 24, 2022 . By Meeta Arora . 10 Comments | This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe
    Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree
    Instant Pot pumpkin Puree

    Making fresh homemade pumpkin puree is now so easy in the Instant Pot. NO peeling or cutting of pumpkin ahead of time. Use it in your favorite recipes - pie, cake & more.

    Pumpkin Puree Instant Pot Pressure Cooker 1

    Do you still have some pumpkin's sitting around?  This used to be my story every year. But now I have the magical Instant Pot, so not anymore. Making fresh pumpkin puree is now so easy, that I don't have to think twice. And the best part, NO peeling or cutting ahead of time.

    I am not much into buying canned food, and like to make things from fresh. So this is my new adventure with the instant pot to make pumpkin puree, and I plan to freeze it and use it for the next 6 months. I have used this pumpkin puree to make my Healthy Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins.

    Jump to:
    • Which pumpkin to use?
    • How to cook a whole pumpkin in the Pressure Cooker?  
    • Let's make the puree
    • How to use?
    • How to store?
    • Pumpkin Puree - Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker

    Which pumpkin to use?

    I used pie pumpkins (also called sugar pumpkins). These pumpkins are less watery and more flavorful. But the same process works for butternut squash as well. Buy pumpkin's that would fit in the instant pot you have. I have the 6qt and it worked pretty good for a decent sized pumpkin.

    If you are looking to cook veggies in the instant pot, check out this detailed guide about how to steam vegetables.

    How to cook a whole pumpkin in the Pressure Cooker?  

    Get your instant pot ready with a cup of water in it. We are going to steam the whole pumpkin in the instant pot.

    You can place the pumpkin on the trivet or directly in the pot. The pumpkin I had did not fit in with the trivet, so I tried without the trivet and it worked perfectly. Well, the pumpkin fit, but the stem did not and it was too hard to cut the stem off, so I let it be :-).  The advantage of using a trivet (with handles) is that you can easily pick the cooked pumpkin out using the handles.

    Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree - Pumpkin in the pot

    Isn't it great?  Just keep the whole pumpkin in, NO prep at all. I even removed the seeds after cooking the pumpkin. Save the seeds and roast them...yum!

    Cooked whole pumpkin in the instant pot

    Here is my Air Fryer Roasted Pumpkin Seeds recipe.

    Let's make the puree

    After cooking, you can check with a fork if it is done. Be careful while taking the pumpkin out of the pot. I drained all the water and let it cool a bit before taking it out. Then cut it into two, and remove the seeds. Then scoop the flesh out of the skin, it should come off very easily. You could also turn the pumpkin and first remove the skin using your fingers or a fork.

    scraping out puree from a cooked whole pumpkin

    Put the flesh in a blender or food processor. I used the Vitamix. I had to add about a cup of water to get a smooth texture. Add a little at a time, so you still have thick puree.

    blend pumpkin puree in a Vitamix

    It is important to note that, as we are pressure cooking the pumpkin along with water in the pot, the puree will have more moisture than the oven roasting method.

    Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree

    How to use?

    This puree is perfect to use in a number of ways - pie (of course), muffins, bread, oatmeal, soups, cheesecake.....the options are endless!  For an Indian twist, I added the puree to dough for making parathas (flatbread). That way I can add more veggies to my daughter's meals.

    How to store?

    As you can imagine, one large pumpkin makes a lot of puree and there is no way you can use it all up soon enough. So I stored the puree in small containers in the freezer. It can be used for the next 6 months!

    Download vegetable cooking time chart for instant pot

    Check out other Instant Pot basics recipes - Applesauce, How to cook chickpeas?, No-boil Yogurt and Cooking Beets in the Instant Pot.

    Tried this recipe?Give a rating by clicking the ★ below
    Cooked whole pumpkin for puree in the instant pot

    Pumpkin Puree - Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker

    Meeta Arora
    Making fresh pumpkin puree is now so easy in the Instant Pot.  NO peeling or cutting of the pumpkin ahead of time.
    4.72 from 7 votes
    Print Save Saved! Pin
    Servings: 2 cups
    Calories: 177
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
    Method: Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
    Prep Time: 5 mins
    Cook Time: 25 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins

    Equipment

    • Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 Pie Pumpkin or Sugar Pumpkin
    • ½-1 cup Water for puree
    • 1 cup Water for cooking
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • If using, place trivet in the Instant Pot insert and add water to it. Place the pumpkin on the trivet (or directly in the insert). Close the instant pot with vent in sealing position.  
      Instant Pot Pumpkin Puree - Pumpkin in the pot
    • Set on MANUAL or pressure cook mode for 12 minutes. When the instant pot beeps, let the pressure release naturally.
      Cooked whole pumpkin in the instant pot
    • Let the pumpkin cool a bit, then remove it carefully in a large plate or tray. Slice it in half. Using a spoon, remove the seeds. 
      scraping out puree from a cooked whole pumpkin
    • Scoop the cooked pumpkin out from the skin. Add it to the food processor or blender. I had to add water to get a smooth texture. Adjust amount of water added to your preference. 
      blend pumpkin puree in a Vitamix
    • Pumpkin Puree is ready. Use it or store in refrigerator or freezer. 
      Pumpkin Puree Instant Pot Pressure Cooker 1

    Notes

    Size: Based on different pumpkin sizes, the cooking time may vary.  My pumpkin completely filled the 6qt instant pot, and there was no space for the trivet too.
    Not cooked: Some pumpkins can also be hardier, and may need extra cooking time. After releasing the pressure, check using a fork if the flesh is the under. If not, cook for an additional five minutes.
    Large Pumpkin: You can cut it into large pieces and place it in the pot. You can remove the seeds before cooking the pumpkin. Cook for just about 10 minutes at high pressure, depending on the size of the pieces.
    Got Butternut Squash: The same method works. Acorn Squash can be cooked the same way too. 

    Note: Nutrition values are my best estimates. If you rely on them for your diet, use your preferred nutrition calculator.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 177kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 7gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 16mgPotassium: 2312mgFiber: 3gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 57888IUVitamin C: 61mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword fall recipes, instant pot pumpkin puree, pressure cooker pumpkin
    Tried this recipe?Share your photo and tag @PipingPotCurry or #pipingpotcurry

    More Instant Pot Basics Recipes & Tips

    • 3 Ingredient Instant Pot Applesauce
    • Instant Pot Cookbooks
    • The Ultimate Guide to Pot-In-Pot Cooking with Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot Wild Rice Blend
    1.6K shares

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Barb says

      October 11, 2019 at 9:41 am

      I hit the stem of the pumpkin on the corner of my kitchen counter. It falls off and I don’t have to put the pumpkin in the bottom of the pot but put it on the trivet.

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        October 11, 2019 at 7:08 pm

        Great idea Barb. Thank you for sharing back the trick and the review!

        Reply
    2. Janet says

      November 15, 2018 at 7:39 am

      This worked great! I used a butternut squash. When I pureed it, I used the liquid leftover in the instant pot. Didn't need much.

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        November 15, 2018 at 2:18 pm

        Hey Janet - Glad the pumpkin puree recipe worked great with butternut squash too. Thank you for sharing back your review!

        Reply
    3. Laurie says

      October 16, 2018 at 9:22 am

      Thanks. My husband gave me a Instant pot for my bday I have used it twice. Trying this method with a speghetti squash but also excited to try the pumpkin.
      Thanks for the recipe :))

      Reply
      • Meeta Arora says

        October 17, 2018 at 6:10 am

        Hello Laurie - Congratulations on the new instant pot! I hope the spaghetti squash worked well.

        Reply
    4. Khushboo says

      November 22, 2017 at 10:05 pm

      Meeta,
      This came at a perfect time for me.. I did this and have stored the puree for my 5 mo. Thankyou so much! ????????

      Reply
      • Piping Pot Curry says

        November 23, 2017 at 4:23 am

        That’s great, Khushboo!

        Reply
        • Paulette Kirk says

          October 31, 2020 at 10:33 am

          I am going to can my pumpkin. How many pints does 1 pumpkin make?

        • Meeta Arora says

          November 10, 2020 at 12:02 pm

          Hi Paulette - That is hard to say as the size of the pumpkins vary so much. Hope you enjoy the pumpkin puree.

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