How to Boil Potatoes in Instant Pot
Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to boil potatoes in an Instant Pot pressure cooker. This easy method results in fork-tender potatoes that can be served in a variety of ways. Use Russet potatoes, red potatoes, gold potatoes, baby potatoes, or white potatoes.
If you’ve always boiled your potatoes on the stovetop, then you’ll be thrilled to know you can transfer that task to the pressure cooker. No more standing over a hot stove!
The Instant Pot does an excellent job of steaming the potatoes which gives you the exact same result as boiling the potatoes on the stovetop.
Benefits of Using Pressure Cooker to Boil Potatoes
- Boiling potatoes in the Instant Pot is one of the easiest ways to cook potatoes. You can serve the potatoes right out the pot, or you can transfer them to a serving bowl to make mashed potatoes or potato salad.
- This comprehensive guide includes instructions for cooking almost any type or size of potato. From Yukon gold potatoes to Idaho potatoes, I’ve got you covered.
- For most people, potatoes are considered to be a healthy food. Boiled potatoes are rich in nutrients and are a great source of carbohydrates. Potatoes are also budget-friendly and easy to find throughout the year. See all of my tips for eating clean on a budget.
Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes – Key Ingredients
You only need potatoes and water to make boiled potatoes in the Instant Pot. You can use any size of Instant Pot.
You’ll also need a trivet, steamer basket, or a few balls of bunched up aluminum foil to keep the potatoes out of the water.
Please see the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact ingredients and measurements.
Potatoes in Instant Pot – Recipe Steps
Let me show you how easy it is to make Instant Pot potatoes of any type. Serve them as an easy side dish or make Instant Pot Potato Salad!
Step One
Scrub your potatoes and rinse them under cold water from the faucet.
Use a sponge to break off any sprouts that may have formed on the outside of your potatoes.
Step Two
Place the trivet and a cup of water inside the base of your Instant Pot.
Then, place your uncooked whole potatoes on top of the trivet to keep them out of the water in the bottom of the pot.
See the recipe card at the end of this post for the exact measurements.
Step Three
Lock on the lid and set the time to 10 minutes at high pressure (the cook time will vary depending on the size of the potatoes).
Be sure to set the sealing position to “sealed.”
| Size of Potato | Cook time at High Pressure in Instant Pot |
|---|---|
| Baby | 6 minutes |
| Small | 6 minutes |
| Medium | 10 minutes |
| Large | 20 minutes |
Step Four
When the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes.
Then, use the quick release to get rid of any remaining pressure after using the natural pressure release.
Step Five
Remove the lid and use tongs to transfer the boiled potatoes to a serving dish.
Serve your cooked potatoes with your choice of salt and pepper, chopped chives, butter or ghee, sour cream, or any other topping you like.
I hope you agree that this is the easiest way to make perfect potatoes. This easy recipe makes a perfect side dish or cooked potatoes for creamy potato salad in a fraction of the time.
Boiling Different Types of Potatoes
- You can use any type of potato you like. The cook time will vary depending on the size of the potato.
- SMALL POTATOES (1-inch long): use a cook time of 6 minutes and a 10 minutes natural pressure release (NPR). Also, use a steamer basket instead of the trivet for very small potatoes that would otherwise fall through the spaces of the trivet. You might also want to check out my recipe for Instant Pot Baby Potatoes.
- MEDIUM POTATOES (2 inches long): use a cook time of 10 minutes and a 10 minutes NPR. Add an extra 2 minutes to the cook time if want to mash your boiled potatoes.
- LARGE POTATOES (3-4 inches long): use a cook time of 20 minutes and a 10 minutes NPR. Add an extra 5 minutes to the cook time if want to mash your boiled potatoes.
- You can cook up to about 5 pounds of potatoes at one time in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Just remember never to fill the pot past the max line.
Boiled Potatoes Storage
- Cool Them Properly Before Storing: Before storing boiled potatoes, ensure they are cooled down to room temperature. Placing hot potatoes in a cold environment too quickly can cause them to become soggy due to condensation. Spread them out on a baking sheet or plate to cool evenly.
- Use Airtight Containers: Once the potatoes are cooled, transfer them to airtight containers. These containers help in preventing moisture and other contaminants from getting in.
- Refrigerate: Store the airtight containers with boiled potatoes in the refrigerator. When stored properly, boiled potatoes can last in the refrigerator for about 3-5 days.
- Avoid Freezing Boiled Potatoes: While you can freeze raw potatoes (with some preparation), boiled potatoes don’t freeze as well.
Instant Pot & Recipe FAQs
No, you do not need to poke holes in the potatoes.
Use a cook time of 6 minutes and a 10 minutes natural pressure release. Also, use a steamer basket instead of the trivet for very small potatoes that would otherwise fall through the spaces of the trivet.
The steam function on the Instant Pot is essentially the same as cooking at high pressure. If you use the steam function, use the up or down arrow to adjust the time to the correct number of minutes based on the size of your potatoes.
Yes, you can peel your potatoes before boiling them in the Instant Pot. The cook time remains the same.
It depends on the size of the potatoes. For small or baby potatoes, you’ll need to cook them at high pressure for 6 minutes. For large potatoes, they may require a cook time of up to 20 minutes.
Most pressure cookers require at least one cup of water to allow the pot to come up to pressure to boil potatoes.
More Easy Instant Pot Potato Recipes You May Like
- Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
- Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Whole Sweet Potatoes
- Instant Pot Sweet Potato Mash
- Instant Pot Whole Red Potatoes
- Instant Pot Potatoes and Carrots
Don’t Miss These Instant Pot Resources!
Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes
Here’s a step-by-step guide for how to boil potatoes in an Instant Pot pressure cooker. This easy method results in fork-tender potatoes that can be served in a variety of ways. Use Russet potatoes, red potatoes, gold potatoes, baby potatoes, or white potatoes.
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium potatoes, scrubbed and rinsed
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Scrub your potatoes and rinse them under cool running water.
- Place the trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot. You can use any size of Instant Pot, but just don’t fill the pot past the “max” line.
- Add a cup of water.
- Then, place your potatoes on top of the trivet.
- Lock on the lid and set the time to 10 minutes at high pressure. See the notes section below for suggested cook times for other sizes of potatoes.
- When the cooking time is up, let the pressure come down naturally for about 10 minutes.
- Then, use the quick-release to get rid of any remaining pressure.
- Remove the lid and use tongs to transfer the boiled potatoes to a serving dish.
- Serve warm.
- Refrigerate any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Equipment
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Notes
- You can use any type of potato you like. The cook time will vary depending on the size of the potato.
- You can cook up to about 5 pounds of potatoes at one time in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Just remember never to fill the pot past the max line.
- SMALL POTATOES (1-inch long): use a cook time of 6 minutes and a 10 minutes NPR . Also, use a steamer basket instead of the trivet for very small potatoes that would otherwise fall through the spaces of the trivet
- MEDIUM POTATOES (2 inches long): use a cook time of 10 minutes and a 10 minutes NPR. Add an extra 2 minutes to the cook time if want to mash your boiled potatoes
- LARGE POTATOES (3-4 inches long): use a cook time of 20 minutes and a 10 minutes NPR. Add an extra 5 minutes to the cook time if want to mash your boiled potatoes
- You can peel your potatoes before boiling them in the Instant Pot. The cook time remains the same.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Side dish
- Method: Instant Pot pressure cooker
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 79
- Sugar: 1.5 g
- Sodium: 20.4 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1.9 g
- Protein: 2.1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Keywords: instant pot boiled potatoes, instant pot steamed potatoes
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About the Author: Carrie Forrest is the author of the best-selling Instant Pot-authorized cookbook, The Healthy Meal Prep Instant Pot Cookbook. She has a master’s degree in public health with a specialty in nutrition and receives over 10 million annual visitors to her site. Send Carrie a message through her contact form.
Turned out perfect.
★★★★★
These IP potatoes were perfect. My family loves potatoes and to have them cooked in under 35 minutes is a life saver.
★★★★★
This was such a hit! Thank you for listing all the ingredients.
★★★★★
This was such a helpful guide to making potatoes in the instant pot! Mine turned out perfectly!
★★★★★
This makes cooking potatoes in a hurry so much less stressful! Thank you for the great, detailed directions.
★★★★★
Have a big crowd coming for a cookout and needed to make potato salad. As I didn’t get the potatoes cooked earlier, I hunted and found these directions for cooking them in the IP. Thank you! They came out perfectly and saved a lot of time. I am new to the instant pot, so am thankful for good information sites such as this one.
★★★★★
Woo hoo, so glad you found my recipe Sandra! Enjoy your cookout!
This is my favorite way to cook potatoes now!
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