Instant Pot Beets

Learn how to Cook Beets in the Instant Pot. Quick and easy, these perfectly tender Instant Pot beets can be enjoyed in salads, smoothies, or soups—like this Ukrainian Borscht Soup Recipe.

Do you love beets? Check out my other post on cooking beets, How to Cook Beets (boiling, steaming, and roasting).

Beets do a really good job of making you not want to cook them. I mean, it took me years before I finally committed to cooking this strange-looking, dirt-covered vegetable. To my complete surprise, they were one of the easiest things I had ever cooked. So easy that I was a little disappointed. Where was the mystery? The challenge? Of course, it’s better this way. Now, we can make delicious, sweet, tender beets whenever we want.

Why Cook Beets in the Instant Pot?

There are several advantages to cooking beets in the Instant Pot versus boiling or roasting.

1. Retains nutrients: Steaming beets in the Instant Pot will help retain more nutrients compared to boiling, where vitamins and minerals are lost to the cooking water as they cook.
2. Preserve flavor and color: Cooking beets in the Instant Pot helps maintain their vibrant color and sweetness. Boiling may compromise both color and flavor.
3. Consistent results: The Instant Pot cooks beets evenly and thoroughly, ensuring a uniform texture every time. There is no need to worry about uneven cooking, which I’ve found can happen with roasting.
4. Time-saving: Cooking beets in the Instant Pot will definitely save you some time compared to roasting them in the oven. Compared to boiling, however, I’ve found the time difference to be a minimal difference of 5 minutes or so.

How to Select Fresh Beets

Here are a few of my top tips for picking out the best beets:

• If you can, buy beets with the greens still attached. The greens should look fresh, vibrant, and green without wilting or yellowing. Fresh greens indicate recently harvested beets.
• Smaller to medium-sized beets (2-2 1/2″ diameter) are usually more tender and taste sweeter. It may be tempting to buy the biggest beet in the bin, but larger beets tend to be woody and tough, especially toward the center, and take significantly longer to cook.
• The skin should be smooth and unblemished. Avoid soft or shriveled beets with any cuts, cracks, or bruises.

How Long Does It Take To Cook Beets In The Instant Pot?

The following cooking times result in beets that are soft and easily pierced with a fork. For more tender-crisp beets, reduce the cooking time by 3-5 minutes. Cook the beets on high pressure.

• Small beets (2″ diameter) – 20 minutes
• Medium to Medium-Large beets (2 1/4″-2 1/2″ diameter) – 25-30 minutes
• Large beets (2 3/4″ diameter) – 35 minutes
• XL beets (3″ diameter) – 40 minutes

Do You Peel Beets Before Cooking?

Choosing to peel beets before or after cooking is a matter of personal preference. If you choose to leave the skin on, the skin will soften during cooking (whether boiled, roasted, or pressure-cooked) and then easily rub off using your hands or a paper towel.

How to Cook Instant Pot Beets

1. Prepare the beets: Wash the beets thoroughly and peel them if desired. If you are not peeling the beets before cooking, trim off any long stems or roots and remove the greens.

2. Add water and arrange the beets: Pour 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot and insert a trivet or steamer basket. Place the beets on the trivet or in the basket.

3. Cook: Place the lid on top, lock it in place, and close the venting valve. Set the instant pot to manual, high-pressure, and cook according to the times listed:

• For small to medium beets (2 to 2 1/2 inches in diameter), cook on High Pressure for 20-30 minutes.
• For large beets (2.5 to 3 inches in diameter), cook on High Pressure for 30-40 minutes.

4. Quick release: Once the cooking time is complete, carefully switch the release valve to the open position.

5. Peel and serve: If the skin still remains on the beets, carefully rub the skin off using your fingers or paper towels. It’s best to do this while the beets are still warm.

How to Store Cooked Beets

Peel and cool your cooked beets before transferring them to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Cooked beets can be frozen for long-term storage. Peel and slice the beets into slices or cubes. Spread them over a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and freeze for 1-2 hours. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer-safe ziptop bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

More Beet Recipes

• Quinoa Beet Salad
• Beet Burgers
• Beet Hummus Avocado Toast
• Beet Smoothie
• Roasted Beet Salad Recipe with Miso Dressing