Instant Pot Beets

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Instant Pot beets, or pressure cooker beets, are the easiest, hands-free way to cook whole beets perfectly tender in under 30 minutes.

Perfect beets in the Instant pot

Pressure cooker beets are game changer for beet lovers! This easy, hands-free recipe steams the beets perfectly tender, with almost no effort, in about 30 minutes. The only prep required to cook beets in the Instant Pot is to scrub to remove dirt and, if preferred, remove the stems. That's it!

These delicious beets are cooked perfectly for refrigerator pickled beets. We also use them for snacking, salad toppings, or a healthy side for entrees like broiled salmon, baked chicken thighs, air fryer chicken breast, and skillet pork chops.

Why we love pressure cooker beets

• easy and quick - Cooking beets in the Instant Pot is so easy, you literally set whole beets in the pot and add water. Poof! Even large beets are perfectly tender in about 30 minutes!
• cook as many beets as you can fit into the pressure cooker – or cook as few as you like.
• no babysitting - This Instant Pot recipe doesn't require your attention, so you can do other things while your beets get perfectly cooked.
• the kitchen stays cool - No more heating up the whole kitchen to boil beets.
• less mess - Pressure cooking whole beets in the Instant Pot means there's no prep required. No peeling or chopping, so everything stays clean. I even included my pro tip on how I peel pressure cooked beets without staining my hands.
• diet-friendly - This Instant Pot beet recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and approved for whole30 and paleo diets.

Only 2 ingredients needed

The ingredient amounts are listed in the recipe card below.

• fresh whole beets - Use red or yellow beets of any size. This recipe includes a guide for how to pressure cook them perfectly tender.
• water - The Instant Pot needs water to come to pressure, which is what will steam these beets perfectly.

How to cook beets in the Instant Pot

Scrub beets to remove any surface dirt. If they have tops and stems, you can cut them off, but it's not necessary because they'll fall right off once the beets are pressure cooked.

Stack beets using a trivet or inside a silicone steamer basket. Or simply stack beets inside the cooker without either. Add water, secure lid, and pressure cook beets (using the guide in the recipe card below) and allow a natural steam release.

Test for doneness by inserting a knife into the center. If there's no resistance, they're done. To peel the beets, allow beets to cool down enough for safe handling. Then, rinse beets under cool water, and rub the skins until they fall off. This prevents your hands from getting stained.

Cooking guide for different sized beets

Firm beets with some crunch

• small beets - 1 to 2-inch diameter = pressure cook beets 10 minutes
• medium beets - 2 to 3-inch diameter = pressure cook beets 15 minutes
• large beets - 3-inch diameter - pressure cook beets 20 minutes

Soft beets with no crunch

• small beets - 1 to 2-inch diameter = pressure cook beets 15 minutes
• medium beets - 2 to 3-inch diameter = pressure cook beets 25 minutes
• large beets - 3-inch diameter = pressure cook beets 30 minutes

Always allow a 10 minute NPR = natural pressure release. This is a slow release of steam from the pressure cooker so there's no need to touch the pot right after it cooks.

Recipe tips

Use storebought beets or seasonal beets acquired from farmers market or your own garden.

Use any size cooker - I cook beets in my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo, but any size will work as long as you keep the beets below the 'max fill' line.

The colander isn't required, but it makes it easier to lower and lift beets in and out of the cooker.

Don't bother peeling or chopping before pressure cooking beets. In fact, once they're cooked, the skins fall right off and they're much easier to cut.

Test beets for doneness - Pressure cooker times can vary, so always test cooked beets by inserting a sharp knife into the beet center. Soft-cooked beets will not require any force, so if more time is needed, repeat pressure cook process in two-minute intervals until the texture is to your liking.

How to prevent staining your hands - When peeling cooked beets, hold them under running water to wash away beet juice as you peel.

How to use cooked beets

• Italian Vegan Pasta Salad
• As a nutritious ingredient for Buddha Bowls
• Veggie Sandwich
• Apple Ginger Beet Smoothie

📖 Recipe