Artichoke Cooking Time In The Instant Pot
This recipe is written for medium sized artichokes which take 20 minutes cooking time.
Time to come to pressure will be additional to this time.
Adjust the cooking time accordingly for artichoke size:
- Small artichokes will take approximately 10 minutes
- Larger artichokes will need to cook 30 minutes.
Food For Thought Are Artichokes Good For You
Honestly, the health benefits of artichokes are virtually endless! Im breaking them down for you here, but if youre interested in learning even more about this Mediterranean superfood, check out this article.
To start, artichokes are considered to be a prebiotic food with prebiotic fibers. This is good! Prebiotic fibers do not break down in the intestines but become a fuel for good bacteria in our gut known as probiotics. We need both prebiotics and probiotics to maintain healthy gut flora and regulate our digestive systems.
Artichokes also have high oxygen radical absorption capacity . This simply means they can help fight off oxidative stress in the body and reduce inflammation of all types.
In addition, artichokes are an especially great food to include in vegetarian diets as they are high in plant-based iron. This means they can aid in preventing anemia in all diets, not just plant-based.
Also, that Garlic Aioli? Its a superfood all on its own! Rich in vitamin E, choline, a compound called Allicin is known to have healing properties, and so much more, its so tasty youd never believe it can improve your health.
But For Any Of Those Cooking Methodsyou Have To Prep The Artichokesand Heres How To Do That:
- Using kitchen shears or a sharp paring knife, trim off the tough outer leaves at the bottom of the artichoke near the stem.
- Trim off the tops of the leaves to remove the sharp thorn using the shears.
- Grab a sharp knife and cut off about 1/2 inch of the top of the artichoke.
- Then, cut off the stem end of the artichoke so that the artichoke sits flat on a plate.
Its pretty easy to do and once you get the hang of it, the task will move rather quickly.
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How Long To Cook Artichokes
Since artichokes vary so much in size, theres no one-size-fits-all timer setting. Youll need to gauge your artichokes and base the time off their size and firmness.
Larger, tightly packed artichokes can take 25 minutes or more to cook in the Instant Pot, while small, less tightly packed artichokes take about 12 minutes to cook.
- Medium artichokes = 8 minutes
- Large artichokes = 25 minutes
How Long Do You Steam Artichokes In An Instant Pot
If you are wondering how long does it take to cook artichokes in a pressure cooker, the answer will depend on the size of each artichoke globe. A medium size artichoke usually cooks in about 18 to 20 minutes.
Harvesting time also has an effect on the overall texture of the artichoke. For example, artichokes harvested in early spring and summer take less time to cook than the ones harvested during late summer and fall. Please dont let this discourage you. Ive put together a cheat sheet to help you figure out how long to cook artichokes in a pressure cooker depending on when you buy them.
Artichokes Instant Pot Cooking Times
All pressure cooking times below are based on my testing. These times are to be used as a reference. I cannot test every artichoke from every part of the world so timing may vary slightly.
Artichokes Harvested During Early Spring And Early Summer:
- Small Artichokes: 10 to 12 minutes
- Medium Artichokes: 13-15 minutes
Artichokes Harvested During Late Summer And Early Fall:
- Small Artichokes: 16-18 minutes
- Large Artichokes: 22 minutes
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How To Serve Artichokes
Always serve artichokes with dipping sauce, of course ! But, how you present them really depends on you.
- whole – Serve artichokes whole and let your guets take it apart leaf by leaf.
- halved or quartered – Cut the artichokes down the center from top to stem . You can serve them open faced like I’ve done here, or remove the choke.
- loose leaves – Pull off most of the artichoke leaves and arrange on a serving platter with dipping sauce.
What On Earth Are Artichokes
In very unscientific terms, an artichoke is a big green bud. It actually turns into a really lovely purple flower if left unpicked! In my world, though, its a delicious appetizer. Steamed, each petal becomes soft and tender, and a perfect vehicle for extra flavors.
If you have never eaten an artichoke, fear not! They are soon to be a new dinnertime favorite. Cooked correctly, artichokes have a rich, subtle flavor and creamy texture. They pair wonderfully with all sorts of dipping sauces, though a touch of melted butter and some salt is classic .
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Why Do You Soak The Artichokes In Lemon Water
When the leaves are cut the flesh is exposed to oxygen, the natural enzymes in the vegetable create a browning reaction. To reduce this color change, combine water and lemon juice to create an acidulated bath for the artichokes. The acid-like environment halts the enzyme activity, leaving the leaves nice and green.
Why Use An Instant Pot
The Instant Pot drastically cuts down the cooking time for cuts of meat that usually have to cook slowly for a long time in order to become tender. And there are many accessories you can use with it to cook in lots of different styles. Its one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy.
The Instant Pot is an incredible tool in the kitchen for making dishes that usually take a long time. If you dont have one yet, check out our guide on which one to buy. You can also read up on how to use it, in case youre not sure if its for you.
- Dont Have an Instant Pot Yet?This guide can help you choose the right one.
- find more recipes to make in your Instant Pot.
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How To Pressure Cook Artichokes
This method will work with as few or as many artichokes as you like .
How To Steam Artichokes In The Instant Pot
Lets talk ingredients first. One of the best things about artichokes is that they have such great flavor, you dont need a lot of other ingredients to make them delicious. A little garlic, some lemon, and a butter-dipping sauce are really all you need.
Produce Mom Tip: Select artichokes that have tightly packed, dense petals.
The first step to cooking artichokes in the Instant Pot is to trim off most of the stems and remove about 1 inch off the tops. Rub each artichoke completely with one of the lemon wedges to prevent browning. Go ahead and trim and peel a few cloves of garlic.
Now that everything is prepped, its time to get cooking!
Add 1 cup of water to your Instant Pot and place your steamer basket or trivet inside. Arrange 3 artichokes stem-side-up inside the Instant Pot along with 2 lemon wedges and 2 whole garlic cloves.
Place the lid on the Instant Pot and set it to Manual with the timer set to 10-15 minutes depending on the size of your artichokes .
After the timer goes off, release the pressure and then remove the lid. Youll know they are fully cooked with the stem can easily be pierced with a fork.
Let the artichokes cool for a few minutes and then gently remove them with tongs. Plate them alongside your garlic dipping butter and enjoy!
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What To Serve With Your Cooked Artichokes
Nothing says brunch like a beautiful charcuterie board, but have you ever considered adding steamed artichokes to the snack board? Talk about next level! Pressure cooking artichokes ahead of time and serving for brunch or an afternoon snack with your favorite vegetable dip saves time as well as provides a nutritional boost when you need one.
How To Saut Artichoke Hearts In The Instant Pot
Sautéd artichoke hearts are a delicacy, whether they come from a jar or from a fresh choke. In our instance, we already had several hearts steamed and ready, so well be using fresh ones. Well be using the Instant Pot to sauté but you could use a regular skillet or sauté pan on the stove.
Youll first need to remove all the petals and remove the choke from the center. The easiest way to do this is to slice the artichokes lengthwise and carve out the choke with a butter knife or spoon.
Add 1 tablespoon of butter or olive oil to the Instant Pot and set it to Sauté. Add chopped garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly.
The garlic will infuse the butter with rich garlic flavor. When the minute is up, add the artichoke hearts and cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. The hearts should brown slightly around the edges.
Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and serve these artichoke hearts as a side dish. They offer a mild, nutty flavor akin to broccoli or asparagus. A delicacy like this fits right in on special occasions, like Easter dinner.
Whats your preferred method for cooking artichokes? Try cooking them in an Instant Pot and see what you think.
We hope you love this quick and easy method as much as we do. If you love tender, tasty artichokes then we know you will!
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Beautifully Cooked Artichokes In Under 30 Minutes
Spring brings new bounty in the produce department, including the arrival of fresh artichokes. March through May marks peak artichoke season and we are even more excited this year.
After some trial and error, we have found the easiest, fastest way to prepare artichokes. So bring on the chokes were ready for a spring feast!
Many people avoid fresh artichokes because they find them intimidating. But its really not hard to prepare them once you know what to do. With the assistance of an Instant Pot, you can have perfectly cooked artichokes in under 30 minutes.
Here are some quick tips for selecting your artichokes as well as a few other recipes you might enjoy. Check out this article to learn everything there is to know about selecting, storing, washing, and prepping artichokes courtesy of Ocean Mist Farms Production Manager Chris Drew. Read on to learn how to steam artichokes and sauté the hearts using just your Instant Pot.
In the past, the slow cooker was our most recommended way to prepare artichokes. This is still a great option if you want to set it and forget it.
But sometimes its difficult to remember to plan ahead. And other times you dont want to wait 4 hours when youre craving artichokes right now! The Instant Pot allows you to prepare artichokes on a whim, whenever the craving hits.
How Do You Know If An Artichoke Is Ready
You can see when the artichoke is being cooked by quickly pulling out a leaf. If it falls easily, its probably cooked. But definitely cool it down and take a piece of the underside of the leaf, which means the part that is closest to the intestines of the artichoke. It is a small portion, but this is the only edible part of the leaf.
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How Long To Cook Artichokes In The Instant Pot:
- Small Artichokes 5 Minutes
- Medium Artichokes 10 Minutes
- Large Artichokes 15 Minutes
TIP: Sometimes I will make a big batch of these in the Instant Pot As many as will fit a single layer and then Ill reheat them on a hot grill. Just cut them in half and let them get a bit charred on a hot grill . They take on a bit of a smoky flavor and reheat perfectly this way!
So, are you guys with me? Are you in for more Instant Pot recipes? Id love to hear in the comments below.
NOTE: The artichokes were flipped over at the end for photography purposes. This may be a bit misleading. They were in fact cooked stem side up in the Instant Pot.
How To Make Instant Pot Artichokes
Place the trivet or a steamer basket in the Instant Pot inner pot.
Pour in a cup of cold water.
Place the artichoke halves on the trivet, face down. You can stack them on top of each other, if there are too many for one layer.
Lock the lid and set the vent to sealing. Press the pressure cook button and set the timer to 8 minutes. When the time is up, allow a natural pressure release for 5 minutes, then release the remaining pressure.
The artichokes should be perfectly tender and ready to eat. If they arent as soft as you would like, put the lid back on immediately and set the time for another 2 minutes.
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How To Select An Artichoke
- Buy artichokes with closed petals. This is a sign that they are fresher and will be much more tender to eat!
- Opt for artichokes that feel a bit heavy. You can do this by holding different artichokes in each hand and comparing their weight. The lighter artichokes are more likely to be drier and produce less meat after cooking in your Instant Pot.
- The greener the better. This is a sign that they are nice and fresh. Wilted and dry artichokes will taste blah.
Prepare The Instant Pot
- Put the metal trivet in the bottom of the Instant Pot. The artichokes will sit on the trivet as they cook.
- Add 1 cup of water to a 6 quart Instant Pot. Use 1 1/2 cups of water in an 8 quart Instant Pot.
- Adding a few lemon slices to the water can help to flavor the artichokes as they cook. I also like to squeeze some lemon juice over the artichokes in the pot, right before cooking. Both of these steps are optional.
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Dipping Sauces For Steamed Artichokes
Garlic aioli – In a mixing bowl, combine 1/3 cup mayonnaise, 1/2 Lemon , 2 garlic cloves . Add salt and pepper to taste, cover, and refrigerate. Serve next to steamed artichokes as a dipping sauce.
Garlic butter – combine 1/4 cup butter and 1 chopped garlic clove in a small pot. Heat over medium until melted and fragrant.
Herbed yogurt sauce – In a mixing bowl, combine 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 Tbsp Olive Oil, and 2 Tbsp any combination of chopped fresh herbs . Add salt and pepper to taste.
How Long Does An Artichoke Last
Raw Artichokes: Uncooked artichokes usually last 1 to 2 days on the counter and 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator. Keep the artichokes in a bag in the fridge to prevent them from drying out. As with any fresh vegetable, its best to eat them as close to the purchasing date as possible.
Trimmed: Trimmed artichokes should be kept in a solution of water and an acid . The solution should have about 1 teaspoon of juice or vinegar per quart of water. Once in the solution, the artichokes wont keep for more than a few hours.
Cooked: Steamed, boiled and pressure cooked artichokes can be kept in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days properly stored in an airtight container.
Canned or Marinated: These artichokes usually last up to 1 year. Always check the expiration date printed on store bought canned or jarred artichokes.
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Artichokes In Instant Pot
Artichokes are incredibly flavorful and loaded with nutrients. If you have never had artichokes before, you are in for a treat. This unusual looking vegetable is actually the immature flower bud of an edible thistle. Although delicious in flavor, one can get intimidated by its looks.
Preparing artichokes is a very simple task and cooking them is super easy. There are many ways to cook artichokes to tender perfection and pressure cooking has become one of my favorites. Cooking artichokes in the Instant Pot locks in the freshness and flavor of the artichoke while also tenderizing them. This foolproof method doesnt require a lot of time or effort.
