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    Home » Recipe Index » Vegetables » Instant Pot "Boiled" Potatoes

    Instant Pot "Boiled" Potatoes

    June 24, 2020 Updated December 2, 2021 By Rebecca Instant Pot Recipes, Vegetables

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    two potatoes on a teal plate with towel next to it
    one cut russet potato with a whole one on a plate
    two russet potatoes on a teal plate with text overlay

    Forget boiling your potatoes on the stove, steam them in your instant pot to make the easiest potatoes that are ready to be broiled, mashed, or sauteed. Not only are these Instant Pot "boiled" potatoes easy and hands off, but they maintain more of their potato flavor by being steamed instead of boiled.

    Mash these 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.

    two potatoes on a teal plate with towel next to it

    How will these potatoes make your life easier?

    I just steamed 2 potatoes and then refrigerated them. I made baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, and found a couple parts that weren't as soft and sauteed them to have pan fried potatoes. It's a great basic to batch cook and use in a few recipes through the week. You can also add a bit to a creamy soup to make it extra creamy! Do the same with sweet potatoes and winter squashes. They're easy to steam in the Instant Pot and are really versatile.

    Serve baked potatoes with this Grilled Lamb Steak or mashed potatoes with Pulled Pork. They're easy and versatile.

    What makes them so good?

    • Water
    • Russet potatoes

    How do I make them?

    piercing a potato with a fork

    Wash and scrub potatoes thoroughly. Pierce potatoes at least 7 times with fork-all over potato.

    Expert Tip: Piercing the potatoes allows them to release steam, they'll maintain their shape better by piercing them.

    two russet potatoes in an instant pot bowl

    Pour 1 cup of water into bowl inside Instant Pot. Place trivet in bowl, and place the 2 potatoes in it.

    Expert Tip: You can cube the potatoes to cook them faster. Steam them for 5-7 minutes.

    setting an instant pot to 18 minutes

    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.

    Checking doneness of a potato with a fork

    Test doneness by piercing potato with a fork. If the fork goes in and out easily, potatoes are done.

    Eat as 'baked' potatoes, transfer back to bowl to mash, or save for another potato recipe.

    Expert Tips

    • 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.

    FAQ

    How long do you steam potatoes in the Instant Pot?

    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. Plus an Instant Pot gets up to pressure more quickly after it's been used.

    Is it better to boil or steam potatoes?

    Steaming is the way. Your potatoes will taste more potatoey, they'll be cleaner (ie: no water boiling over, making a huge mess)

    Why do my potatoes fall apart when boiled?

    They're overcooked, cook them less next time. Start by taking 10 minutes off the cooking time, and watch them after that.

    one cut russet potato with a whole one on a plate

    How can I eat these steamed potatoes?

    • Garlic mashed potatoes
    • Easy no-mayo potato salad
    • Undercook them 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.

    Did you make these Instant Pot "boiled" potatoes? Leave me a comment & rating to share how they turned out!

    two potatoes on a blue plate
    Print Pin
    5 from 5 votes

    Instant Pot "boiled" potatoes

    Forget boiling your potatoes on the stove, steam them in your instant pot to make the easiest potatoes that are ready to be broiled, mashed, or sauteed. Not only are these Instant Pot "boiled" potatoes easy and hands off, but they maintain more of their potato flavor by being steamed instead of boiled.
    Course Appetizer, dinner, Lunch, main, Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 2 minutes
    Cook Time 17 minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes
    Servings 2 potatoes
    Author Rebecca

    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

    Instant Pot Steamed Potatoes

    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.

    Want to get more single serving recipes delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

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    About Rebecca

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda Wren-Grimwood says

      June 25, 2020 at 8:19 am

      5 stars
      I am really new to the Instant Pot so this is a great step by step recipe for me - thanks!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        June 29, 2020 at 9:54 am

        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!

        Reply
    2. Luci says

      June 25, 2020 at 8:37 am

      5 stars
      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!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        June 29, 2020 at 9:53 am

        oh perfect way to prep potatoes for soup! yum

        Reply
    3. Donny says

      June 25, 2020 at 8:47 am

      5 stars
      Always looking for new IP recipes and this is perfect. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        June 29, 2020 at 9:53 am

        right?! I love my IP for cooking the basics

        Reply
    4. Linda says

      June 25, 2020 at 9:16 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        June 29, 2020 at 9:53 am

        great timing! love when that happens!

        Reply
    5. Laura Tobin says

      June 25, 2020 at 9:33 am

      5 stars
      I cannot believe I never did it before. This trick will make my life so much easier. Thank you

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        June 29, 2020 at 9:52 am

        right?! it's a game changer for sure

        Reply

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    Rebecca, MS, RDN
    of Nourish Nutrition

    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

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