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    Home » Recipe Index » Vegetables

    Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes

    June 24, 2020 Updated September 30, 2022 By Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD 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

    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.

    two potatoes on a teal plate with towel next to it

    [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?
    • What makes pressure cooker potatoes so good?
    • How to cook potatoes in Instant Pot?
    • How can I eat these steamed potatoes?
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ

    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?

    piercing a potato with a fork

    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.

    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 potatoes in it.

    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 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

    How long to boil potato in an 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.

    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). Even though this recipe says they're Instant Pot boiled potatoes, they're really steamed.

    Why do my potatoes fall apart when boiled?

    Your potatoes are 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

    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 minutes
    Cook Time 17 minutes minutes
    Total Time 40 minutes minutes
    Servings 2 potatoes
    Author Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN

    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 and others like this instant pot boiled potatoes delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

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    About Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD

    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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    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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