If you are looking to boil potatoes in the Instant Pot, try this recipe for Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes - for perfect fork tender boiled potatoes - every single time.
If you have been following this blog, you know I love my Instant Pot. I use it for almost everything, where it makes sense of-course, in terms of time and effort.
Actually I rarely ever find the need to use my regular pressure cooker these days, as almost everything is simpler and easier with the Instant Pot.
Whether it's meal prep kind of things like boiling dal, potatoes, or eggs for the week, making ghee or bhuna masala, or even one pot dishes like palak paneer or my favorite chicken biryani.
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Why Use Instant Pot to Boil Potatoes
I know that most of us who have been cooking for a long time are used to just using the regular pressure cooker for boiling potatoes, which is fairly easy.
But with Instant Pot, it's even simpler and more fail proof. All you need to do is set it up, set the timer, and walk away.
No need to monitor the whistles, or remember to turn off after the whistles are done. You can simply let the pressure release naturally, and the potatoes are ready when you need them.
How To Cook Potatoes in Instant Pot
I use idaho potatoes, but you can use any variety you prefer. I personally prefer idaho potatoes for almost everything from making potato sabzis to vadas for vada pav, so that's my go-to.
And here I'm boiling 4 potatoes, a total of 1½ pounds (~680 grams).
Step by Step Instructions
- In the main steel insert of the Instant Pot, place a regular short trivet, and add 2 cups of water.
- A short trivet keeps the potatoes as close to the base as possible, without touching it, which is really helpful here.
- Place the potatoes on the trivet.
Now here I find it best to keep potatoes directly on the trivet. You can also keep them in a container on the trivet. Just ensure to not put any water inside the container. I usually do this for baby potatoes, as it's easier to handle them in a container. - Close the Instant Pot lid, ensuring to seal it.
- Pressure cook the potatoes for 14 minutes on high, and then let all the pressure release naturally from the pot.
Note - I prefer to use the regular pressure cook function to boil potatoes. But you can also use the steam function. I haven't found much difference either way.
- Fork tender boiled potatoes are ready!
Pro Tips
- Adjust pressure cook time by a few minutes up or down, based on if you want more well boiled or more firmer boiled potatoes, depending on what you will be using the boiled potatoes for.
- Also while it is ideal to get potatoes of approximately the same size to get an even boil, they usually come in all different shapes and sizes. And during such times, it's usually best to adjust pressure cook time by weight. For instance, like I mentioned in this recipe - it takes about 14 minutes to boil 1½ pounds of potatoes. 1 pound might take 10 minutes or so, and 2 pounds might take about 14-16 minutes.
- You can also adjust the pressure cook time by a minute or so, depending on the size of the potatoes. For the same weight, bigger size potatoes might take an additional minute, and smaller ones might take a little lesser.
- Some also poke holes in bigger potatoes using a fork, to get them to boil faster. I personally haven't found it to help a lot, especially when all the potatoes are about the same size, so I usually rely on adjusting the pressure cooking time. But if you are boiling a batch that contains big as well as small potatoes, then it helps to poke holes in the bigger ones, and leave the small ones as is, to get them to boil somewhat evenly.
Can you boil baby potatoes in the Instant Pot?
Yes, you can. And they turn out great. I usually put them in a steamer, placed on top of the trivet, as they are easier to handle that way, rather than balancing them on the trivet (which you can also do).
Check out the recipe for Instant Pot Baby Potatoes here.
Potato Recipes to Try Next
⭐️ Instant Pot Baby Potatoes
⭐️ Mumbai Street Style Vada Pav
⭐️ Quick & Easy Aloo Jeera Recipe
As always, I hope you found this recipe useful. If you did, please let me know your rating ⭐️ and feedback ? in the comments below, or simply rate the recipe right on the recipe card. I'd really appreciate it. ❤️
Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes (How to Boil Potatoes in Instant Pot)
Equipment
- Short Trivet
Ingredients
- 4 potatoes (weighing about 6 oz each, so a total of 24 oz / 1½ pounds)
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- In the main steel insert of the Instant Pot - add 2 cups of water, and place a regular short trivet in it.
- Place the potatoes on the trivet.
- Close the Instant Pot lid, ensuring to seal it.
- Pressure cook for 14 minutes on high, and then let all the pressure release naturally from the pot.
- Instant Pot boiled potatoes are ready!
Notes
- I prefer to use the regular pressure cook function to boil potatoes. But you can also use the steam function. I haven't found much difference either way.
- Also, I find it best to keep potatoes directly on the trivet. But you can also keep them in a container on the trivet. Just ensure to not put any water inside the container. I usually do this for baby potatoes, as it's easier to contain them in a container.
- Adjust pressure cook time by a few minutes up or down, based on if you want more well boiled or more firmer boiled potatoes, depending on what you will be using the boiled potatoes for.
- Also while it is ideal to get potatoes of approximately the same size to get an even boil, they usually come in all different shapes and sizes. And during such times, it's usually best to adjust pressure cook time by weight. For instance, like I mentioned in this recipe - it takes about 14 minutes to boil 1½ pounds of potatoes. 1 pound might take 10 minutes or so, and 2 pounds might take about 14-16 minutes.
- You can also adjust the pressure cook time by a minute or so, depending on the size of the potatoes. For the same weight, bigger size potatoes might take an additional minute, and smaller ones might take a little lesser.
- Some also poke holes in bigger potatoes using a fork, to get them to boil faster. I personally haven't found it to help a lot, especially when all the potatoes are about the same size, so I usually rely on adjusting the pressure cooking time. But if you are boiling a batch that contains big as well as small potatoes, then it helps to poke holes in the bigger ones, and leave the small ones as is, to get them to boil somewhat evenly.
Nutrition
Video Recipe
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Beth
Thank you! Would you say these times would be good for mashing the potatoes or to peel and cut for potato salad? If these times are more soft and I need for potato salad how many minutes less would you say I need to try?
Thank you for your rice and potato cooking tips.?
Beth
The Love of Spice
Hello Beth. The times would vary based on the type and size of potatoes. But this is a good baseline to start with for most kinds of potatoes. You can adjust a minute or 2 based on if you need more firmer or softer boiled potatoes.