Make these Instant Pot boiled potatoes, well they're really steamed, but they maintain more flavor than boiled, so they're even better. Easily prepare these potatoes to use in lots of other recipes.

[This recipe was originally posted in June 2020. It has been updated with new cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Table of contents
How will these Instant Pot potatoes make your life easier?
Mash these instant pot boiled potatoes to make garlic mashed potatoes, this easy no-mayo potato salad, or undercook them and sautee them quickly with pork in this one pan pork chop recipe.
Potatoes are a great basic to batch cook and use in a few recipes in the week. You can also add a bit to a creamy soup to make it extra creamy! Do the same with sweet potatoes & winter squashes. They're versatile and easy to steam in the Instant Pot.
Serve baked potatoes with this Grilled Lamb Steak or as mashed potatoes with Pulled Pork. They're easy and versatile.
What makes pressure cooker potatoes so good?
- Water
- Russet potatoes
How to cook potatoes in Instant Pot?

To start making your instant pot boiled potatoes, wash and scrub potatoes thoroughly. Pierce potatoes at least 7 times with fork-all over potato to release steam during cooking.

Pour 1 cup of water into bowl inside Instant Pot. Place trivet in bowl, and place the potatoes in it.

Place lid on top, twist to seal. Set vent to sealing. Set to MANUAL and cook for 17 minutes (for 2 ~12 oz potatoes). Potatoes will take about 35-40 minutes from start to finish.
Once timer goes off, quick release the pressure by setting vent to venting. Let steam release. Once done, twist lid to open.

Test doneness by piercing potato with a fork. If the fork goes in and out easily, potatoes are done.
Eat your Instant Pot boiled potatoes as 'baked' potatoes, transfer back to bowl to mash, or save for another potato recipe.
How can I eat these steamed potatoes?
- Garlic mashed potatoes
- Easy no-mayo potato salad
- Undercook your Instant Pot boiled potatoes and sautee them quickly with pork in this one pan pork chop recipe
- Slice down the center and eat as 'baked' potatoes. You can also broil them for a few minutes to get the skin crispy.
Substitutions/Tips
- Choose similarly sized potatoes to make your Instant Pot boiled potatoes
- Piercing the potatoes allows them to release steam, they'll maintain their shape better by piercing them.
- You can cube the potatoes to cook them faster. Steam them for 5-7 minutes.
FAQ
It depends on how big your potatoes are. Most russet potatoes that I've seen are about 10-12 oz, and those should be cooked for ~17 minutes. Err on the side of undercooked, you can always cook them for a few more minutes.
Steaming is the way. Your potatoes will taste more potatoey, they'll be cleaner (ie: no water boiling over, making a huge mess). Even though this recipe says they're Instant Pot boiled potatoes, they're really steamed.
Your potatoes are overcooked, cook them less next time. Start by taking 10 minutes off the cooking time, and watch them after that.

Did you make these Instant Pot boiled potatoes? Leave me a comment & rating to share how they turned out!
Instant Pot "boiled" potatoes
Equipment
- Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker
- Trivet
- fork
- Large serving spoon
- knife
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 2 large russet potatoes (mine were ~12 oz each)
Instructions
- Wash and scrub potatoes thoroughly. Pierce potatoes at least 7 times with fork-all over potato.
- Pour 1 cup of water into bowl inside Instant Pot. Place trivet in bowl, and place the 2 potatoes in it.
- Place lid on top, twist to seal. Set vent to sealing. Set to MANUAL and cook for 17 minutes (for 2 ~12 oz potatoes). Potatoes will take about 35-40 minutes from start to finish.
- Once timer goes off, quick release the pressure by setting vent to venting. Let steam release. Once done, twist lid to open.
- Test doneness by piercing potato with a fork. If the fork goes in and out easily, potatoes are done.
- Transfer back to bowl to mash or save for another potato recipe.
Video
Notes
- Choose similarly sized potatoes
- Piercing the potatoes allows them to release steam, they'll maintain their shape better by piercing them.
- You can cube the potatoes to cook them faster. Steam them for 5-7 minutes.
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Amanda Wren-Grimwood says
I am really new to the Instant Pot so this is a great step by step recipe for me - thanks!
Rebecca says
great to hear! I was super intimidated by it at first, but it really is easy, you just have to get used to it and add enough water!
Luci says
Love how easy these instant pot potatoes are! I added mine in a soup and it was so tasty! And the garlic mashed potatoes you mentioned sound delicious, I'll have to save those for another day!
Rebecca says
oh perfect way to prep potatoes for soup! yum
Donny says
Always looking for new IP recipes and this is perfect. Thanks!
Rebecca says
right?! I love my IP for cooking the basics
Linda says
Loved potatoes done this way! It left me my oven for cooking the meal and out came my potatoes at the same time nice and hot. I'll have to give those yummy sounding garlic mashed potatoes a try next time.
Rebecca says
great timing! love when that happens!
Laura Tobin says
I cannot believe I never did it before. This trick will make my life so much easier. Thank you
Rebecca says
right?! it's a game changer for sure