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
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Do you still have some pumpkins 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 is NO peeling or cutting ahead of time.

I am not much into buying canned food and like to make things 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 six months. I have used this pumpkin puree to make my Healthy Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins.

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 pumpkins that would fit in the instant pot you have. I have the 6qt, and it worked pretty well 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 it?

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 puree to the 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!

Free Vegetable Cooking Time Chart

Check out other Instant Pot basics recipes –

4.82 from 11 votes

Pumpkin Puree – Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker

Making fresh pumpkin puree is now so easy in the Instant Pot.  NO peeling or cutting of the pumpkin ahead of time.
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 2 cups

Ingredients 

  • 1 Pie Pumpkin, or Sugar Pumpkin
  • 1/2-1 cup Water, for puree
  • 1 cup Water , for cooking

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. 

Nutrition

Calories: 177kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 7gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 16mgPotassium: 2312mgFiber: 3gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 57888IUVitamin C: 61mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 5mg

Additional Info

Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten-free, Vegan
Tried this recipe?Mention @pipingpotcurry or tag #pipingpotcurry!

About Meeta

I strongly believe that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need to explore the ingredients and create great food. My passion is to share easy, healthy, and wholesome recipes made using Instant Pot & Air Fryer, that are well tested, so you can cook with confidence.

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11 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

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

  3. 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 :))

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

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