Can You Freeze Artichokes
Artichokes can be frozen after cooking. Raw artichokes do not freeze well. Uncooked, artichokes will turn brown and mushy when thawed out. The cold temperature not only changes their color and texture but also their flavor .
Freeze cooked artichokes in an airtight container or wrap them in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer safe resealable bag. Cooked whole artichokes will last for 1 to 2 months while cooked artichoke hearts can be frozen for several months.
How To Pressure Cook Artichokes
This method will work with as few or as many artichokes as you like .
Wine Pairings For Artichokes:
- Artichokes can be notoriously difficult to pair with wine. The pairings that Ive found work best are Sauvignon Blanc, Rosé, or a light, fruity red wine, such as a Beaujolais.
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How To Choose The Best Artichokes
Its really important to choose the right artichoke before making this recipe because the wrong ones will impact the flavor and texture of the dish. Follow these tips to choose the best artichoke at the grocery store or farmers market:
- Look for ones that have tightly packed leaves. Even though the leaves on the outside can be rough, a tightly packed artichoke will better protect the meaty insides. This also means the cooked artichoke will turn out softer and take little time to cook.
- Choose one that feels firm and heavy for its size. This is similar to choosing a citrus fruit. The heavier it is, the more water, fiber, and nutrients it will retain.
- The best artichokes will have green leaves with some purple. Avoid artichokes that have browning leaves.
- Gently squeeze the artichoke to see if it squeaks slightly. This is the sign of a healthy ripe artichoke that is ready for pressure cooking.
How Does The Size Of The Artichoke Impact Cook Time
Yes, artichoke can measure in size from as small as 2 inches to 4 inches or larger around, not counting the length of the stem. The weight can also be as small as 8 ounces to 1 pound in weight. The Instant Pot is very effective at cooking food once the steam is built up, therefore reduce the time by a few minutes for smaller globes.
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Prep Instant Pot Artichokes
Before you do anything else, add a cup of water into your Instant Pot. Then, add the trivet or a steamer basket. I like to use my 6 quart instant pot just because theyre so big.
Next, weigh your artichokes so that youll know how long to cook them later on. Try to buy artichokes that are all the same size!
If youre using a 3 quart Instant Pot to make your artichokes, youll be able to fit 1-2 artichokes. Wash your artichokes carefully under cool running water. Then, trim off the pointy barbs on the leavesthey can really hurt!
With a sharp knife, cut the top 1/4-1/3 off the top, as well as the bottom 1/2 inch of the stem.
Trimming is not completely necessary, but the leaves can be quite sharp and swear-word inducing if youre not prepared for its poke.
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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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How To Prep An Artichoke For Steaming
If youve never prepped an artichoke it can feel intimidating. This is quite a strange vegetable. The good news is that, once youve done it, it will never feel intimidating again.
First, rinse the artichoke well, letting water run between the leaves.
Next, place it on a cutting board and slice off the stem. Youll want to slice off enough of the stem that it can sit upright.
Then slice off the top of the artichoke to expose the layers of color on the inside of the vegetable. This will remove any spikes on the top of the leaves and will make the leaves easier to peel off later when you serve it.
Remove any remaining small, tough leaves on the outside of the artichoke. If any of the remaining leaves have thorns at the end, use kitchen shears to slice off the thorns.
Thats it these artichokes are ready to be steamed!
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.
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How To Store Artichokes
Its not fun when you open your fridge, excited to try a recipe to find your ingredients gone bad
Here are 3 tips for storing fresh uncooked Artichokes:
- Slice off a bit of the artichoke stem, then sprinkle it with a little water, and place it in the fridge in an airtight plastic bag
- Do not wash before storing
- Best to cook within 5 7 days of purchase
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.
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Why Make Artichokes In Instant Pot
Even if youve never made or eaten an artichoke before, or youre strictly familiar with the canned chokes, you can make this Instant Pot recipe tonight, if you want to. You cant go wrong with this method which is both simple and effective. The stovetop method takes nearly 40 minutes of tending to the veggie and waiting for this flowering bud to turn into something edible. Imagine biting into the raw artichoke! Anything but perfectly cooked simply wont do.
How To Choose An Artichoke
The tighter the petals are packed on the artichoke, the fresher they are. However, I have had loosely packed artichokes that tasted just fine.
When you choose an artichoke, you will see that there are both loosely and more tightly packed petals.
There are also various sizes. It makes a difference in cook time, so try getting consistent size, and density of leaves when you are choosing your artichokes.
Larger and more tightly packed artichokes can take up to 25 minutes or more to cook in the Instant Pot. The small, less tightly packed artichokes take about 10 minutes to cook.
Here are the steps to make Instant Pot Whole Steamed Artichokes:
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Why We Love To Cook Artichokes In The Instant Pot
- Steamed artichokes require minimal prep.
- Takes less time than steaming on the stove.
- Pressure cooked Instant Pot artichokes are hands-free!
- They’re elegant to serve, yet so easy to make.
- Can be made ahead and enjoyed up to 3 days.
- As a snack or meal component, artichokes contain very little fat, if any, and are loaded with nutrients.
If you need more artichoke recipes, check out these popular appetizers using canned artichokes, including Instant Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip, Artichoke White Bean Dip, and Baked Spinach Artichoke Dip.
How To Make Instant Pot Artichokes Step
STEP 1: Trim artichokes .
STEP 2: Place the trivet into the Instant Pot insert. Pour in the amount of water called for based on your Instant Pot size. Add lemon pieces to the water .
STEP 3: Place artichokes on the trivet, stem side down . Seal the lid. Cook on Manual HIGH PRESSURE for 20 minutes.
STEP 4: After cooking completes do a Quick Release. Serve artichokes immediately .
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What Do You Serve With Instant Pot Artichokes
My favorite way of enjoying pressure cooker artichokes is to simply top them with a little butter, salt, and lemon juice. They make a great side to accompany your favorite mains. You can also serve them as an appetizer with a dip, my favorite dips are:
- Melted Herb Butter ½ cup melted salted butter with ¼ teaspoon dried parsley
- Balsamic Mayo Dip ¼ cup real mayonnaise with ¼-½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- Melted Lemon Garlic Butter ½ cup melted butter, 1 teaspoon lemon, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
Common Questions About Cooking Artichokes
Can I use water instead of broth to cook steamed artichokes? Yes, if youre pressure cooking artichokes, you can use water in place of broth. However, the broth adds incredible flavor to the vegetable! Can I freeze Instant Pot steamed artichokes?Yes, cooked artichokes can be kept in the freezer anywhere between 10-12 months! Just be sure to keep them completely covered in airtight containers or freezer bags. Take a look at this article to learn even more about how to store, thaw, and reheat cooked artichokes.
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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 To Choose Fresh Artichokes For Steaming
When buying artichokes, look for a globe shape with tightly packed leaves. A couple of brown spots are fine as long as they aren’t soggy.
The artichoke should feel firm and heavy for it’s size.
Do the squeak test: Hold the artichoke close to your ear and gently squeeze it with your hands. If you hear it slightly squeak, you’ve picked a good one!
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More Great Vegetable Sides
- How to Steam a Whole Head of Cauliflower in the Instant Pot A whole head of steamed cauliflower is great for slicing into cauliflower steaks, chopping into florets, or drizzling with sauce for a beautiful vegetarian dish.
- Spicy Szechuan Green Beans Spicy Szechuan Green Beans are inspired by many plates of a similar dish I had in China. These spicy, sweet, crunchy green beans hardly resemble any other green beans Ive tried.
- Honey-Roasted Carrots with Poppy Seeds The crunch of poppy seeds over caramelized carrots is an indescribably great combination.
- Sauteed Cabbage with Bacon This cabbage, cooked until tender but still crisp, becomes silky and just a bit sweet. And with the crunch of crumbled baconamazing.
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.
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How To Prepare The Artichokes:
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
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Easy Instant Pot Artichokes Recipe
Steamed and baked artichokes are quite popular , but did you know the fastest way to make them is in the Instant Pot?
Not only is it a quick and easy way, but Instant Pot Artichokes literally melt in your mouth! And the flavor and texture is really amazing too.
All you need are a few simple ingredients artichokes, water, and olive oil spray to make this easy side dish recipe.
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Dress It Up: Dips & Sauces For Artichokes
Artichokes are lovely on their own, but they truly need something rich to soak up for that truly magic appetiser dish or snack. You can pull apart the veggie when it comes out and sprinkle with some of your favourite cheese, or simply pour a bit of olive oil and salt on top. You could simply melt a few pats of butter if you want to keep it simple, but here are some inventive ideas some of which you can make in the Instant Pot!
Let us know if youve made artichokes in the Instant Pot! It beats the stove-top any day. Share this with your friends who need some summertime recipe inspiration.
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How Long To Pressure Cook Artichokes
I found that medium sized artichokes turn out great when pressure cooked for 15 minutes. Smaller globes only take 10-12 minutes, but super-large ones take somewhere between 18 and 20 minutes.
You know an artichoke is done when it can be easily pierced with a knife, and the petals/leaves can be easily removed.
