Speed up your meal prep by cooking beets in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. It’s a great way to prepare beets. It is also a faster way that is also away from baking them in the oven for an hour.
[This beets in a pressure cooker recipe was originally posted in April 2019. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
Cooking beets in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot is great because all you need is the IP bowl, bowl and water. When roasting them you need a baking tray, foil, you need to peel and cut all the beets and check them often so they don’t burn.
Plus they take about ½ time and you can’t control them so you can literally set them and forget them.
If you are interested in buying a pressure cooker, I highly recommend getting an Instant Pot. It’s such a great kitchen tool and so great for cooking for someone on a budget.
If you don’t already have a pressure cooker, stick to the Instant Pot, it’s more user-friendly and safer as it controls the heat on its own. I like to cook rice, beans and other staples in mine. It is one of my favorite tools in the kitchen.
Components
Scroll down the recipe card to make beets in a pressure cooker for the amounts of each ingredient, but here’s a quick visual + description of what’s in this recipe.
- Beetroot: Grab what you want to cook. Make one for dinner or a few for leftovers. Or make some for a meal to share with others.
- Water: steam these beets in your Instant Pot. This recipe is so easy.
Instructions
Scroll down to the recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here’s a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
Prepare beets: The first step to making beets in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot is to cut off both ends. Peel the medium beetroot after trimming the ends and cut into 4 pieces, if desired.
Prepare your Kitchen: fill the bowl with 1 fl water, then place a rack or steam rack inside. You will place your beets on top of the steamer so they don’t sit in the water and get soggy. Close the lid and adjust the knob to seal.
Instant Pot Settings: Set to manual and cook for 15 minutes. This works for 1-3 beets. Allow the steam to release naturally for about 10 more minutes.
If you are cooking beets in a pressure cooker, heat the pressure cooker on high until it comes under pressure, then adjust the heat to keep the pressure cooker high. Cook for 15 minutes and let the steam release naturally for about 10 minutes.
Recipes with beets
The Beet and Arugula Salad recipe is a great use for these beets, but you can also add them to the recipes listed below. While they don’t specifically call for beets, these pressure cooker beets would be great in these additional recipes.
Substitutions/Tips
- You cook your beets the same way in a pressure cooker or pot, you just have to control the heat yourself if you are cooking beets in a pressure cooker.
- You can cook extra beets and refrigerate/freeze them for later, but if you’re cooking more than 3, you’ll need to cook another 10 minutes or so. Test with a fork to check for doneness.
- Pierce a beetroot with a fork. If it’s soft and the fork goes in and out easily, they’re done. Pull out the steamer basket or grater and slice the beets to store for later or use right away.
- If your beets in a pressure cooker or pot are not soft, start the process again and cook another 5-10 minutes, or as needed.
- Other add-ons: Add some salt and garlic to the water if you like.
FAQ
Steaming beets in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot is easier than baking them. But how do they compare to roasted beets? They are not as sweet and the texture is different, but you can add sweetness by adding other sweet foods.
Beets that are really thinly sliced are fine raw, but they’re too hard to eat if they’re more than a few inches thick. It’s usually best to steam or roast beets in a pressure cooker or pot for easy eating.
Foods that go well with beets
Beets + goat cheese is my absolute favorite pairing. Creamy spicy goat cheese is delicious with earthy beets. Try it in this easy beet and arugula salad.
Epicurean he says citrus fruits, fennel, dijon mustard, nuts and apples go well with beets. So try these too!
What to do with leftover beets?
When you cook for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of any ingredients, etc. Here are some ideas on how to use leftover materials. It will help you save money by wasting less ingredients.
Did you make these beets in a pressure cooker? Leave me a comment and rating to share how your beets turned out!
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Beets in a pressure cooker (Make as many as you want!)
Speed up your meal prep by cooking beets in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot. It’s a great way to prepare beets. It is also a faster way that is also away from baking them in the oven for an hour.
Instructions
Prepare your beets: Cut your beets in half, down the center, then cut off both ends. Peel the beets after slicing them.
- Prepare your Instant Pot: fill the bowl with 1 cup of water, then place the steam rack inside. You will place your beets on top of the steaming grill so they don’t get soggy when they are sitting in the water. Close the lid and adjust the knob to seal.If you are using an electric pressure cooker: follow the same instructions as above, just heat the cooker on high and adjust after pressure cooker to maintain a high temperature.
Cook the beets on the MANUAL setting for 15 minutes. Once you’re done cooking (remember it will take about 25-30 minutes to cook), let the pressure release naturally for an additional 10-15 minutes before turning the knob on the vent to release the steam. This will ensure your beets are cooked and soft.
Open the lid and pierce the largest beetroot with a fork. If the beets are soft, they are done. The fork will go in and out of the beets easily if done. If not, repeat the process. Just set the timer for 5-10 minutes instead of 15.
Notes
- You can dispose of your peels in a table top compost bin.
- If you already have one, use your steamer basket, it’s easier to get the beets out. Plus, they’re less likely to get soggy because they won’t be sitting in water as they cook.
- If you want to cook them for longer, repeat the process. Just set the timer for 5-10 minutes instead of 15.
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