Got beets, but aren’t sure how to get them cooked?
The Instant Pot is the easiest way to cook whole beets without any fuss or mess.
This easy method works for red beets, golden beets, chioggia beets, or any combination.
The only trick to the Instant Pot method is to calculate how long you need to cook the beets based on their size.
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Beet Instant Pot cooking times
- Small (1 ½ inches diameter) – 15 minutes
- Medium (2 inches diameter) – 20 minutes
- Medium-large (2 ½ inches diameter) – 30 minutes
- Large (3 inches diameter) – 35 minutes
Steps to cook whole beets using Instant Pot
- Use the pressure cook function on high pressure, and the natural release method for the steam. This way you don’t have to fuss with a steam bath. The natural release method is going to add 10-15 minutes to the cooking time, which works great because beets are really hard, and they do take a long time to fully cook.
- Pour 2 cups water into the inner pot, and insert a steamer basket or trivet.
- Place whole beets into the steamer.
- Cover the Instant Pot with the lid.
- Select PRESSURE COOK on High, and adjust the timer for the number of minutes based on the diameter of your beets.
- After the steam is released, open the lid and move on to the next step.
How to test if the beets are cooked
After opening the lid, use a sharp knife to test if the beets are fully cooked. If the knife inserts easily, and the beet falls off when you lift it with the knife, that means it’s perfect.
If the beets are not cooked enough, replace the lid and cook for a few more minutes under pressure.
Rinse the cooked beets under cold water to cool them off quickly so that you can touch them.
Fully cooked beets can be easily peeled with your fingers, but use a knife to slice off the root and stem ends.
Quick beet side dish
To make a quick vegetable side dish with your fully cooked beets, chop peeled beets into bite-sized cubes.
Place pieces in a bowl and add butter or olive oil, salt, black pepper, and lemon or lime juice to taste.
Enjoy as a tasty side dish with your meal.
Storage tips
If you are not eating all the cooked whole beets immediately, store whole beets in the fridge with the peel.
This will preserve it’s freshness and vitality for longer.
Use cooked beets within 3-5 days.
Recommended recipes
Recipe for Easy Instant Pot Whole Beets
Helpful Kitchen Tools:
Ingredients
- beets, any type and size
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Consult the cooking times in the recipe notes to determine how long to cook your beets based on the size of your beets.
- Pour 2 cups water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot, and insert a steamer basket or trivet.
- Place whole beets into the steamer.
- Cover the Instant Pot with the lid.
- Select PRESSURE COOK on High, and adjust the timer for the number of minutes based on the diameter of your beets.
- After the steam is released, open the lid and use a sharp knife to test if the beets are fully cooked. If the knife inserts easily, and the beet falls off when you lift it with the knife, that means it’s perfect.
- If the beets are not cooked enough, replace the lid and cook for a few more minutes under pressure.
- Rinse the cooked beets under cold water to cool them off quickly so that you can touch them.
- Fully cooked beets can be easily peeled with your fingers, but use a knife to slice off the root and stem ends.
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