Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
When you cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot, they become irresistibly tender in about half as much time as baking them in the oven.
Makes4 sweet potatoes
Prep7 minutes to 10 minutes
Cook10 minutes to 20 minutes
Of all the things I make in my Instant Pot, there’s nothing more convenient (or versatile!) than a batch of sweet potatoes. Topped with a pat of butter and flaky salt, Instant Pot sweet potatoes are a quick side dish to partner with whatever I’m cooking.
They’re also incredibly versatile. Loaded with beans and greens, they make a wholesome vegetarian dinner. Filled with Greek yogurt or nut butter, and fruit, I have a nutritious breakfast.
Here’s everything you need to know about making sweet potatoes in an Instant Pot.
3 Tips for Making the Best Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Start with similarly-sized potatoes. To guarantee that the potatoes are all evenly cooked, it’s essential to start with sweet potatoes that are all about the same size.
- Add a trivet and water to the Instant Pot. You’ll start by adding one cup of water to the bottom of the Instant Pot, which is what creates the steam (and therefore the pressure) that cooks the potatoes. Just as important is a trivet or steamer basket, which keeps the potatoes elevated above the water.
- Use potato size to determine cook time. You can cook any and all sizes of sweet potatoes in your Instant Pot. To get the tender, creamy potatoes you crave, plan on a shorter cook time for small spuds and a longer one for the larger ones (more on this below!).
Why You’ll Love It
- It’s the quickest method. Pressure cooking sweet potatoes takes half as much time as baking them in the oven.
- They’re perfectly cooked. Instant Pot sweet potatoes cook up with irresistibly tender, creamy centers.
How Long to Cook Sweet Potatoes in an Instant Pot
The size of your potatoes is your guide for how long they should cook in the Instant Pot. Regardless of potato size, when the cook time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Small sweet potatoes (6 to 8 ounces): 12 minutes under high pressure
- Medium sweet potatoes (8 to 12 ounces): 18 minutes under high pressure
- Large sweet potatoes (12 to 16 ounces): 25 minutes under high pressure
How to Make Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- Pierce the potatoes with a fork. Wash and scrub 4 similar-sized sweet potatoes, then pierce each one all over with a fork.
- Prepare the steamer insert and add water. Set a heatproof trivet or steamer basket in an 6-quart Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. Add 1 cup water and place the sweet potatoes on the trivet.
- Cook under high pressure. Lock the lid on and check that the valve is set to seal. Set to cook for 12 minutes under HIGH pressure for small potatoes (6 to 8 ounces each), 18 minutes under HIGH pressure for medium potatoes (8 to 12 ounces each), and 25 minutes under HIGH pressure for large potatoes (12 to 16 ounces each). It will take 7 to 10 minutes to come up to pressure.
- Naturally release the pressure. When the cook time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure. Open the pressure cooker and remove the sweet potatoes.
Storage Tips
Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
What to Serve with Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes Recipe
When you cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot, they become irresistibly tender in about half as much time as baking them in the oven.
Prep time 7 minutes to 10 minutes
Cook time 10 minutes to 20 minutes
Makes 4 sweet potatoes
Nutritional Info
Ingredients
- 4
sweet potatoes
- 1 cup
water
Equipment
Fork
Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker
Steamer basket or heatproof trivet
Measuring cup
Instructions
Wash and scrub 4 similar-sized sweet potatoes, then pierce each one all over with a fork.
Set a heatproof trivet or steamer basket in an 6-quart Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker. Add 1 cup water and place the sweet potatoes on the trivet.
Lock the lid on and check that the valve is set to seal. Set to cook for 12 minutes under HIGH pressure for small potatoes (6 to 8 ounces each), 18 minutes under HIGH pressure for medium potatoes (8 to 12 ounces each), and 25 minutes under HIGH pressure for large potatoes (12 to 16 ounces each). It will take 7 to 10 minutes to come up to pressure.
When the cook time is up, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes. Quick release any remaining pressure. Open the pressure cooker and remove the sweet potatoes.
Recipe Notes
Storage: Leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
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