What Veggies Are Best To Steam
Basically, any that will hold its shape and remain sturdy when steaming. Asparagus, zucchini, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and green beans are all great choices.
Dark leafy greens are also great for steaming, but as we know they dont take much time at all, and can usually wilt in the residual heat. Check out my grilled lettuce recipe, you will be blown away!
How To Steam Broccoli & Other Vegetables Using Your Instant Pot
You dont need to be intimidated by your instant pot. Follow these simple instructions for cooking vegetables under high pressure and youll find out how easy it really is to use! You can use fresh vegetables or frozen vegetables.
How To Prep Different Types Of Vegetables For Steaming:
- Asparagus: Cut off the tough white ends and cut into smaller pieces if desired.
- Bell peppers: Remove the stem and seeds and into roughly 1- inch chunks.
- Brussel sprouts: Trim the ends and remove any dry or browning outer leaves from each Brussels sprout. Slice the sprouts in half lengthwise.
- Broccoli: Cut the broccoli into small florets.
- Carrots: Peel and cut each carrot in 1/2 inch rounds.
- Cauliflower: Cut the cauliflower into bite size florets.
- Fresh corn on the cob: Slice the cob into 4 large chunks.
- Green beans: Trim the ends of the green beans and break in half if desired.
- Potatoes: Peel and dice into 1-inch pieces.
- Sweet potatoes: Peel and slice into 1/2-inch cubes.
- Zucchini: Slice in half lengthwise and cut into large 1-2 inch chunks.
Recommended Reading: How To Cook Ground Beef In Instant Pot
Pro Tips To Get Perfectly Cooked Cauliflower
I have heard lots of comments that vegetables can get mushed in the instant pot. So here are some tips to get perfectly cooked cauliflower:
Cut the cauliflower florets in almost equal size so they all cook consistently.
Pressure cook for zero minutes at high pressure. For an even crunchier cauliflower, try zero minutes at low pressure.
Dont forget to quick release, else the cauliflower will get overcooked.
Place the steamer basket with the cooked cauliflower under cold water or in an ice bath to stop additional cooking.
Season well, and Enjoy!
I would love to hear how you like this steamed cauliflower. And if you love vegetables, dont forget to check out my Instant Pot Basics Series for Steamed Carrots, Baby Potatoes, Pumpkin Puree and more!
Pressure Cook In A Steamer Basket
Add a cup of water to the instant pot insert. This is required to steam any vegetables in the instant pot, and helps the instant pot to come to pressure.
The best way to steam broccoli in the Pressure Cooker is by using a Steamer Basket. The advantage of using a steamer basket is that the broccoli does not immerse in water, and cooks evenly.
Place the steamer basket in the instant pot steel insert.
Transfer the broccoli florets to the basket.
Pressure cook for 0 minutes. Yes, 0 minutes is a thing with the instant pot The broccoli is cooking in the time the pressure cooker takes to come to pressure and then we will release the pressure manually , so it does not get overcooked.
Basically the time to cook broccoli is the time it takes to come to pressure, which is less than 10 minutes.
Read Also: How To Hard Boil Eggs Instant Pot
Here Is How To Cook Cauliflower In The Instant Pot
- Chop cauliflower head into florets.
- Place a steamer basket or trivet into the pot along with one cup of water.
- Place the cauliflower into the basket . Here, you can add any spices, oil/butter, etc. Close the lid.
- From fresh: Cook on HIGH pressure for 0 minutes. It will cook as the pot comes to pressure.
- From frozen: Cook on HIGH pressure for 2-3 minutes.
- Finish cauliflower with a quick pressure release. Season now if youd like or add additional seasonings if youve already done so.
Other Ways To Cook Steamed Broccoli
While making instant pot steamed broccoli is my preferred way, there are other methods you can use to make steamed broccoli.
- Microwave Before buying an Instant Pot, I always steamed broccoli in the microwave.
- Cut the broccoli florets in smaller pieces and put into a microwave-safe bowl with a small amount of water in the bottom of the bowl.
- Place a microwave-safe lid or plate upside down on top of the bowl.
- Be sure the steam can vent through a small hole or crack into the microwave.
- Cook for about 2 minutes and check. Microwaves vary on cooking times.
You May Like: Instant Pot 6qt Vortex Air Fryer
Health Benefits Of Broccoli
Broccoli is packed with vitamins and other nutrients. Here are just a few of the many health benefits associated with eating broccoli:
- Lowers cholesterol: Broccoli has been shown to help lower bad cholesterol, thus reducing risk of heart disease and cancer.
- Good for eye health: Beta carotene in broccoli can boost eyesight, especially in people with low vitamin A intake. It also contains other nutrients that can help reduce the risk of age-related eye problems.
- Good source of fiber: One cup of broccoli contains about 10% of the daily value of fiber, which is great for gut health and can help with weight loss.
What Can I Steam In My Instant Pot
If youre like me, you love your Instant Pot. Its a quick and easy way to cook dinner with very little effort. But what can you steam in your Instant Pot?
Well, just about anything that can be steamed or boiled on the stovetop can be steamed in your instant pot. Here are some ideas:
- Vegetables: Whether you are cooking fresh or frozen vegetables, steaming is the best way to cook them. This method retains the flavor and the nutrients much better than if you boil them in water.
- Chicken: Steaming chicken breast in the Instant Pot is quick and convenient. Perfect for making shredded chicken for sandwiches or recipes that require pre-cooked chicken.
- Fish: Fish can be tricky to cook in an instant pot. If cooking it in water, it is easy to overcook, and so gently steaming it is a better approach.
- Potatoes: Potatoes can be hard to cook in the instant pot because they tend to fall apart if overcooked. Steaming is the best approach to cooking them in the Instant Pot as it is a more gentle cooking method. For more details check out my recipe: Instant Pot Steamed Potatoes
- Eggs: Steaming eggs in the Instant Pot is my new favorite way to cook them. Hard-boiled eggs take just 5 minutes.
- Fruit: You can steam whole fruit like pears and apples directly on the trivet, or chopped fruit in a heatproof bowl on the trivet or in a steamer basket.
You May Like: Instant Pot Meal Kits
Choosing And Preparing Your Recipe
Now that you know how to cook your food in the instant pot, its time to choose what to cook! This is a very important step. You want your food to taste great, but you also want to choose the right ingredients for the recipe you want to make. This will keep your food from tasting like instant pot. But first, you need to select a recipe! You have to choose which recipe you want to make in your instant pot. Each type of recipe has a different set of ingredients. But not all ingredients are created equal! Some are more important than others. You should choose your recipe based on what you have and want to eat. So if you are making a meal for a family, you may want to use a lot of ingredients that take a long time to cook. But if you are making the meal for yourself, you may want to choose a recipe that uses a lot of ingredients that take a short amount of time to cook. Your recipe also needs to be healthy! You dont want to eat a lot of processed foods that you cant pronounce. So you need to make sure you choose a recipe that uses fresh ingredients, and that you dont have to cook. Its also good to know that instant pots can cook a wide variety of foods. So not only will you have variety with your meal, you can even switch it up a bit and change up your meals.
Faqs Of Quickly Instant Pot Vegetables:
There is no definitive answer to this question, as different vegetables may cook better using different cooking methods. Generally speaking, pressure cooking is a great option for tender and delicate veggies like green beans or thin asparagus spears, while steaming tends to be the preferred method for firmer or heartier vegetables like broccoli or cauliflower.
There are several key factors to keep in mind when cooking vegetables in your Instant pot, including how tender you like your veggies, how much liquid is required for steaming or pressure cooking, and how much time you have available for cooking. Experiment with different timing and cooking methods to find the perfect combination that works for your favorite vegetables.
It is possible for some vegetables like zucchini or tomatoes to get mushy when cooked in the Instant Pot, especially if overcooked or undercooked. To help prevent this, be sure to choose your cooking time carefully and check on your veggies regularly to avoid accidental over- or undercooking.
You can also try adding a little bit of acid to your cooking liquid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, which can help prevent vegetables from getting mushy during the cooking process.
Read Also: What Can I Do With My Instant Pot
For Whole Butternut Squash:
- Peel the butternut squash if desired. Slice the butternut squash in half or quarters either way horizontally or vertically and remove the seeds.
- OR leave the butternut squash whole. You can skip the first step and make it seriously easy if you can fit the entire squash in the pot. It will be more difficult to scoop out the seeds cleanly, and this is not my preferred method personally.
- Place the halves into the trivet or directly into the put with one cup of water.
- Cook on high pressure for around 12 minutes and follow up with a natural pressure release for 5 minutes before performing a quick release.
Best Instant Pot Potatoes & Carrots
This simple side dish is the perfect way to enjoy tender, flavorful potatoes and carrots in minutes, with:
- 2 lbs Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 cups water or vegetable broth
Directions:
Add the potatoes and carrots to a steaming rack or basket in your Instant Pot and pour in the water or broth. Season with salt, if desired.
Close the lid of your Instant Pot and set it to pressure cook mode. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender and easily pierced with a fork.
Serve the hot potatoes and carrots immediately, topped with fresh herbs or a drizzle of olive oil if desired.
Don’t Miss: How Long To Cook Pork Loin In Instant Pot
Why Cook Vegetables In The Instant Pot
- Quick: Many recipes will take you less than 10-15 minutes.
- Retain Nutrients: Boiling veggies like broccoli and cauliflower will result in water-soluble vitamins leaking out, which often doesn’t happen through steaming.
- Healthy side dish: Steamed veggies are mostly without any oil or fat, making them lower in calories, fat, or carbs.
- Versatile: steamed veggies go as a side dish with mains and proteins!
Instant Pot Broccoli Without Steamer Basket
I recommend a silicon steamer basket to make Instant Pot broccoli in this post, but are you wondering Can I make Instant Pot broccoli without a steamer basket? Yes, you can!
While a steamer basket seems to work the best for me, catching any small pieces of broccoli that might fall away from the larger pieces, its possible to use the tray that came with your Instant Pot. If youve lost yours, you can buy a replacement .
This stainless steel tray works the same way as the steamer baskets the important use of it is to simply keep your broccoli out of the water, which makes the broccoli more tender and less boiled-tasting.
Don’t Miss: Is An Instant Pot An Air Fryer
How To Steam Instant Pot Vegetables
We used a metal steam basket but you can also use an ovenproof dish that fits inside the Instant Pot. Separating the vegetables from the water prevents the nutrients from escaping into the liquid. This is not a problem if youre making soups or braising vegetables, because you end up consuming the liquid. But when you boil vegetables, you discard the cooking liquid.
The main rule for steaming any kind of vegetable is TO NOT OVERCOOK it. Soggy, over-soft Brussels sprouts and mashy carrots are not how nature intended these vegetables to be eaten. Cooking them just enough will retain some crunch for texture and their vibrant colour.
When pressure cooking, you have to experiment with the timings for how long you need for different vegetables and quantities. Using the STEAM button will set your Instant Pot to 10 minutes at HIGH Pressure, which is WAY too long for steaming say Brussel sprouts or carrots.
There is a handy chart for cooking vegetables on the official Instant Pot website, but we think some of those times could be even lower. The point is, you have to experiment with the times to see what readiness works for you. We prefer veggies on the crunchier side, and thats how you would have them served to you in a good restaurant.
Seasoning For Steamed Vegetables
Some popular flavor combinations include a drizzle of olive oil, lemon juice, and freshly chopped herbs such as parsley, cilantro, or dill.
You can also add some grated cheese or a sprinkling of toasted nuts for extra texture and richness. No matter how you season your vegetables, the key is to let their natural flavors shine through.
Don’t Miss: Vortex Air Fryer Instant Pot
Instant Pot Perfectly Steamed Vegetables Recipe
I have to admit, veggies are not always my favorite thing to grab and eat out of the fridge. But, if you steam and season them properly, thats a different story!
This recipe makes it so simple to just cut up the veggies and let the Instant Pot do its thing! This Instant Pot recipe is also perfect for beginners or the perfect addition to any family dinner recipe.
Its also very healthy for those looking to keep on track! All fresh veggies and some seasoning and you have a tasty side dish ready in minutes.
Since this is a side dish, let me suggest a few recipes that it would go great with! You will definitely need to check out our fall of the bone BBQ ribs recipe, or our cheddar baked chicken, and for sure our crispy honey mustard chicken since you can even dip the veggies in the honey mustard!
Instant Pot Vegetables : How To Cook Guide
From starchy veggies to leavy green to the fungus among us, learn how to perfectly cook nutritious and delicious Instant Pot vegetables with our comprehensive pressure cooker 101 guides.
If youve cooked enough vegetables in your Instant Pot, you know that it can be a very delicate balance! Im sure I dont speak for just myself when I say a single minute or two mistakes can turn a decent veggie dish into unpalatable mush.
Most often, its due to a combination of things, trying to cook vegetables in the Instant Pot at the same time as something else that simply doesnt work with it, or forgetting to perform a quick release at the end to stop the cooking.
Fear not even if youve had your fair share of cooking disasters with veggies and the Instant Pot, thats no reason to stop trying. After all, we need our five servings a day! Today, I want to provide a thorough and easy-to-use guide to cooking every veggie you can imagine. Ill include cooking times, any special considerations, and any warnings that you should be aware of. Youll have every dish mastered in no time.
You May Like: Recipe For Pot Roast In The Instant Pot
How To Steam Broccoli In An Instant Pot
1. Prepare the broccoli. Rinse the broccoli, and cut it onto florets.
2. Place the broccoli florets into the Instant Pot inner pot in a steamer basket. The broccoli needs to be elevated out of the water so that it cooks in the steam rather than by boiling in the water. Set the pressure valve to the sealing position.
3. Manual pressure cook broccoli on HIGH for 0 minutes. Yes, thats right, zero minutes. The pressure cooker will heat up and create steam as it comes to pressure, and the broccoli will cook while that is happening.
Because it is a tender vegetable it doesnt take long to cook, and so will be perfectly steamed by the time the Instant Pot gets to full pressure. I do love a zero-cook time recipe!
4. Use Quick Release to open the Instant Pot when the pressure cooking cycle finishes. The broccoli should be a bright green color and the perfect texture, tender but not soft.
If the broccoli florets remain in the Instant Pot for longer they will end up overcooked, so dont use natural pressure release.
