How Long Do I Cook Baked Potatoes In The Instant Pot
I tested this recipe starting at 12 minutes. The potatoes were cooked but too firm for my liking. When cooked for 14 minutes, they were soft and fluffy inside. I used medium size potatoes. If using small ones, 12 minutes should be enough. If using large potatoes, add 2 more minutes of cooking time.
My Instant Pot took about 8 minutes to come to pressure.
To learn how to cook sweet potatoes, check out my Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes recipe with a bonus shortcut!
Cooking Tips For Instant Pot Potatoes
- Dont forget to prick your potatoes a few times with a fork before cooking them. This allows steam and pressure to escape from the potatoes as they cook.
- Be sure to cook your baked potatoes on the metal trivet to keep them out of the water in the bottom of the Instant Pot.
- The cooking time for baked potatoes depends on their size. Cook the standard large size Russet potatoes that you find at the grocery store for 20 minutes at high pressure plus 10 minutes natural pressure release.
- If you want potatoes with more flavorful, crispy skins you can place them in your oven and broil for a few minutes after they have cooked in the Instant Pot. Rubbing the skins with olive oil and sprinkling them with salt and pepper helps them to crisp and adds flavor.
More Easy Instant Pot Recipes
How Do You Cook Perfect Potatoes In The Instant Pot Find Out How To Make A Big Batch And Use Them All Week Long For Potato Salad Breakfast Skillets And Roasted Potatoes For Dinner
I dont always prep or cook in advance, but boy am I glad when I do. Its so nice to go into the fridge and find things that are easy assemble into a quick meal.
Like potatoes! A pressure cooker makes fast work of steaming a bunch of cubed potatoes, and I use them for all sorts of things all week long.
You might be thinking that its overkill to bring out the pressure cooker for a simple kitchen task like steaming vegetables, but it’s the way that works for me.
I like being able to load up the cooker, press a button, and walk away, rather than waiting around tending a pot on the stove. My Instant Pot also beeps ten times in a row when its done, and I can hear it from just about anywhere in my little apartment so I know when my food is ready.
Using the pressure cooker doesn’t always save you time with these types of kitchen prep tasks, but I think it does make them more convenient. I actually keep my Instant Pot on the counter at all times because I use it nearly every day!
Don’t Miss: Instapot C7
What Is The Best Way To Bake A Potato
Answer: the pressure cooker.
Why? Well, you’re not actually baking the potato. You’re steaming it.
If you don’t have an electric pressure cooker, or an Instant Pot as your friends probably all have, then you need to get one. Every time I use mine I love it more and more. I have made tons of Instant Pot recipes. To name just a few: Pressure Cooker Potato Leek Soup, Pressure Cooker Whole Chicken, and Pressure Cooker Shoyu Chicken. This appliance quickly replaced my crockpot which I only now use to keep ciders and side dishes warm before serving.
Not only will making potatoes like this in the pressure cooker save you time , but steaming them under pressure makes the inside of the potato completely moist, smooth, and creamy. In fact, this is how I make my mashed potatoes now. The only difference when making mashed potatoes is that I’ll cut them in half, or quarter them if they are large, before cooking. Then, once done, I just peel off the skin when they’re cool enough to handle and mash them up with all sorts of butter, buttermilk, roasted garlic, etc.
Can You Put Aluminum Foil In An Instant Pot
The short answer is yes, you can put aluminum foil in an instant pot.
So if youre wondering if you can wrap your potatoes in foil for the Instant Pot like you would if you were to put them into the oven, you can do that. However, I do not do that because it actually adds time to the cooking process when you do that. Its just a little bit harder for the moisture to reach the potatoes. Since the whole point of my cooking potatoes in the Instant Pot was to make them go faster, I like to shave off as much time as I can.
You really dont need the foil either, unless you just like how it looks or you plan to serve them in foil.
Recommended Reading: Why Does Instant Pot Say Food Burn
What Others Are Saying
Donna Cerny says:
These were perfect! Perfectly cooked on the inside and I did the oven crisping technique for the skin as well.
Antonia George says:
I had smaller potatoes and cooked them for 10 minutes and they came out perfect. I don’t eat the skin so I skipped throwing them in the oven, but my husband made his that way. So much easier than baking in the oven the entire duration.
Nathalie D says:
I love crispy skin so I really appreciate the tip about adding the potatoes to the oven at the end. This method is much quicker and easier than baking in the oven. All four potatoes were cooked perfectly on the inside. Nothing worse than an undercooked potato! Glad I found something that works.
Michael Tiller says:
Stephanie Brown says:
Instant Pot Chicken Thighs
These Instant Pot Chicken Thighs are so easy to make and budget friendly. You can use the thighs as a main dish or remove the meat off the bones and use in other recipes, as it is very flavorful because its the dark meat. Save the liquid from cooking for soups or make a gravy to serve over the chicken. Gravy is always a good idea, just like in my Instant Pot Turkey Breast recipe!
You May Like: What To Do If Your Instant Pot Says Burn
How To Serve Baked Potatoes
Baked Potatoes are delicious with butter, salt and pepper, chives, sour cream, and shredded cheese. Crumbled bacon also makes a delicious topping!
But, we also love to make a baked potato bar, which features the potato as part of the main dish.
These Turkey Taco Potato Boats are exactly what they sound like, potatoes topped with all the taco fixings!
Buffalo Chicken is also delicious on top of a baked potato!
Top your potato with steamed broccoli and queso! So good and easy too.
Why Use The Instant Pot
Baked Potatoes are probably one of the worlds best side dishes. And maybe even the most popular.
Potatoes are pretty affordable, and quite filling. You can customize them in so many ways with various toppings. Or make au gratin potatoes!
However, you first have to start with the perfect baked potato.
For years Ive been baking my potatoes in the oven, just like my mom taught me, and her mom taught her. But are they really the easiest side dish when often times they take LONGER than the main dish?
I mean, sure they are EASY, but they can be time consuming.
Until now. Ive recently discovered my love of making potatoes in the Instant Pot.
Not only do they come out creamy and perfect on the inside, but they are done in far less time than it takes in the oven!
Don’t Miss: Pre Cooked Ribs In Oven
More Instant Pot Potato Recipes
My family cant get enough of these creamy, crispy, and savory potato side dish recipes. Bonus: theyre all made in an Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker:
- Pressure Cooker Savory Mashed Sweet Potatoes because sweet potatoes are potatoes too! These are creamy, decadent, and perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
- Quick Potato Salad. Light, summery, and refreshing with hard-boiled eggs that cook at the same time as the potatoes in the Instant Pot.
- Garlic Roasted Red Potatoes are for the crisp potato lovers out there!
- Cheesy Hashbrown Casserole are cheesy comfort food with crispy breadcrumbs and potato chips.
- Chunky Potato Cheese Soup is a surprisingly filling soup loaded with chunky potatoes, bacon, corn, and two kinds of cheese.
- Loaded Potato Casserole from the Feathered Nester features a generous amount of bacon, butter, and cheese in an easy-to-make, flavorful side dish.
- Cheesy Potatoes and Sausage from 365 Days of Slow & Pressure Cooking features smoked sausage, corn, and tender potatoes in a cheddar cheese sauce.
Do you LOVE this recipe? Leave us a review below to tell us why!
Additional TimeTotal Time
Crisp on the outside and creamy and fluffy on the inside, Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker Baked Potatoes are one of the best side dish recipes.
How Long Do You Cook Baked Potatoes In An Instant Pot
The pressure cooking time depends on the size of your potatoes. I have tested out lots of different potatoes of varying sizes to determine these cook times. It is important to cook potatoes that are roughly the same size so that they will cook in the same amount of time.
Small Potatoes : 12 minutes at high pressure plus 10 minutes natural pressure release
Medium Potatoes : 16 minutes at high pressure plus 10 minutes natural pressure release
Large Potatoes : 20 minutes at high pressure plus 10 minutes natural pressure release
When Im not sure about the cook time for my exact size of potatoes, I always err on the side of adding an extra minute or two to the cook time. Id rather end up with softer potatoes than under-cooked potatoes and have to do a second pressure cooking cycle.
Also Check: Frozen Tamales In Crock Pot
How Many Potatoes Can You Put In An Instant Pot
How many will your Instant Pot fit? How big is your Instant Pot? Mine will hold 4-6 but some are smaller and some were bigger. My advice is to only fit in as many as can fit while still having a little gap between the potatoes. Its okay if they touch but you dont want them to be smooshed in there really tight.
It also depends on how big your potatoes are more will fit if they are smaller, less if they are bigger. How to Build a Baked Potato Bar
So one of my most favorite things to do with baked potatoes is to make a baked potato bar. It doesnt have to be super fancy, and can be as simple as putting all of your favorite toppings out in a bowl to share. Or sometimes I like to use a partitioned veggie tray to put in all the bar ingredients into one single, convenient dish.
Here are some of my favorite items to put on a baked potato bar, in no particular order, just some ideas to get you thinking.
- Sour cream
- Chili
- Barbecue sauce
I hope you love these Instant Pot Baked Potatoes as much as me and my family do!
Pressure Cooker Baked Potatoes
Baked potatoes are inexpensive, delicious, and easy to make. Unfortunately they can take up to 90 minutes to cook in a conventional oven. Enter the pressure cooker: tender, fluffy potatoes are done in under an hour! Baked potatoes with plenty of toppings can be a fantastic and filling meal, or a side dish. Top these with whatever you like and enjoy.
Also Check: How To Reheat Soup In Instant Pot
How To Make Baked Potatoes In An Instant Pot
The only equipment you’ll need when making baked potatoes in your electric pressure cooker is the trivet that comes with the Instant Pot. Alternatively, you can use your own metal steamer basket.
How Do You Cook Them In The Oven
If you dont have an Instant Pot, you can make baked potatoes in the oven, it will just take a little while longer. Preheat the oven to 400F, rub a little oil over the potatoes and then place on a baking sheet. Depending on the size of your potatoes, it will take around one hour for them to fully cook through.
You May Like: What Does It Mean When My Instant Pot Says Burn
How To Make Potatoes In The Instant Pot
Step 1: The first thing you need to do is prepare your Instant Pot by pouring water into the inner pot and then placing a metal trivet or rack in the inner pot. This will keep the potatoes from being submerged in the water as they cook.
- Use 1 cup of cold water for a 6-quart model
- Use 1.5 cups of cold water for an 8-quart model
Be sure to use COLD water, as using warm water will change the time it takes the Instant Pot takes to get to pressure, which will change the actual cook times and your results.
Step Two: Scrub the potatoes well and prick the potatoes several times with a fork or knife to allow steam and pressure to escape the potatoes as they cook. Place the prepared potatoes onto the rack inside the inner pot.
Step Three: Place the lid on the inner pot and be sure the vent knob is sealed. Set the cooking time to HIGH pressure and adjust the time according to the size of your potatoes.
- 10 minutes for small potatoes
- 12 minutes for medium potatoes
- 16 minutes for large potatoes
- 20 minutes for extra-large potatoes
Step Four: Once the cooking time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for 8-10 minutes. This just means to DO NOTHING and leave your instant pot alone. It is important to allow the pressure to release naturally to keep the potatoes intact and finish cooking. If after 10 minutes the pressure has not released fully, you can turn the valve to the venting position to release any remaining pressure.
What Are Instant Pot Potatoes
This method transforms starchy Russet potatoes into classic, creamy baked potatoes, begging to be split open and served with your favorite toppings.
With their tender, fluffy centers, Instant Pot potatoes are very similar to baked potatoes, but there are two key differences that set them apart: cook time and the outer skin. Since the Instant Pot cooks the potatoes in a closed vessel with steam pressure, cooking happens in a fraction of the time youd need in the oven. This also means, however, that the skin is soft rather than crisp. Trust me the trade-off is well worth it.
You May Like: How To Cook Frozen Tamales In Instant Pot
Why Use The Instant Pot For Baked Potatoes
My only issue with making loaded baked potatoes is that, well, its not fast. Potatoes can take more than an hour to get nice and fork-tender in the oven. Thats okay, but if its a busy night and Im just getting home around 5:30-ish, its hard to get dinner on the table by 6, you know what I mean?
Enter the Instant Pot! Pressure cooking the potatoes is so darn easy, you might never go back! Just load them up , press the button, and let your Instant Pot do the rest. Now this easy and fun dish is on the menu anytime!
Recipe Notes And Tips
- You must use the trivet in your Instant Pot. Dont put the potatoes straight in.
- Prick your potatoes a few times with a fork before cooking them. This allows steam to escape from the potatoes as they cook so they dont burst.
- Allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure for 10 minutes, this will ensure the middles are cooked through.
- The potatoes will be very hot, so use tongs to lift them out of the pressure cooker once they are cooked.
Don’t Miss: How To Cook Frozen Tamales In Instant Pot
More Tips For Baked Potatoes
- Cold water: Make sure to use cold water as it prevents potatoes from overcooking.
- Prick potatoes: It helps steam to escape and prevents potatoes from exploding.
- Stacking: It is OK to pile up potatoes on top of each other.
- Jumbo potatoes: Lets say from Costco, I would cook them for 23 minutes. Just in case.:) I would not recommend cooking more than 8 large potatoes at once.
- Crispy skin: Brush cooked potatoes with oil and sprinkle with salt. Then bake on baking sheet for 10 minutes in preheated 400 degrees F oven.
