Learn how to make the perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes every time! Silky, smooth and ready in a a fraction of the time to roast them. Quick and easy pressure cooker recipe. Use them as a perfect side or meal prep them for a casserole or mashed potatoes. You won't be disappointed at all.
Are Sweet Potatoes Healthy?
Ever since we moved to Germany, we have realized that our white potato consumption has increased. So my family has made a conscious decision of consuming more sweet potatoes than white potatoes simply because sweet potatoes are definitely healthier than potatoes.
Sweet Potatoes often get a bad reputation for being similar to white potatoes and it's sugar content. However sweet potatoes are a great source of fiber and powerful antioxidants like beta-carotene which is why the characteristic orange hue. They are also lower in glycemic index thus they are less likely to cause a blood sugar spike. They are also rich in minerals and vitamins thus should be a part of your balanced diet too.
Why you will love these Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
- so much easier and quicker than the traditional roasting
- consistent results every time
- yields the perfect texture, fully cooked and tender
- can be used as a side as is
- meal prep them for a casserole, mash, toast, hash or puree.
- ready in less than 30 minutes
- healthier than the white potatoes
- better than roasted or microwaved sweet potatoes
How to make sweet potatoes in Instant Pot?
This is by far one of the easiest Instant Pot recipes ever. Here is just a gist of the steps involved you can find the ingredients, measurements and settings in the recipe card below towards the end of the post.
Step 1 - You start picking small to medium sized sweet potatoes. Cleaning the Sweet Potato by scrubbing the skin of the sweet potato under running water with a clean brush to get rid of any dirt on it.
Step 2 - Pour water into the inner pot, place the steamer rack followed by arranging the sweet potatoes in a single layer. Close the lid and seal the vent.
Step 3 - Pressure cook them based on the width of the sweet potatoes followed by allowing the pressure to naturally release. This will yield you perfectly cook and tender texture.
- 2 inches or less in width - 18 minutes
- 2-3 inches in width - 25-30 minutes
- 3-4 inches in width - 60 minutes
Step 4 - Carefully open the lid and remove the steamer rack. Allow the sweet potato to cool for a 2-3 minutes and then take each sweet potato and slice it with a knife from one and to another.
Step 5 - Fluff with a fork and either garnish with butter and spices or meal prep for a casserole or mash.
Do I have to use a trivet or steamer rack?
Yes if you don't the sweet potatoes to become to mushy then it's a good idea to place them on a trivet so there is no contact of the water and sweet potatoes.
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes for Meal Prep
I often meal prep these sweet potatoes ahead of time because they definitely come whether you've planned a recipe or need to whip up something last minute. I can make an instant mash, or breakfast sweet potato nachos, puree them when I want or just simply use them in a casserole.
How do I store sweet potatoes in the refrigerator or freezer?
Once the sweet potatoes come to room temperature, you can store them either with or without the skin. Store them in an air tight container or freezer friendly zip lock bags. If you cut the whole sweet potatoes into chunks or mash it up completely to save some space. Of course there is no harm storing them as a whole except that they will consume a lot of space.
You can refrigerate then for upto 3-4 days or freeze them for upto six months.
Do I poke holes before cooking the sweet potatoes?
No you don't have to poke holes. Since you are pressure cooking and not roasting you can get away with poking the holes.
Can I make other potatoes this way?
Yes you can use any other variety of potatoes like gold, yellow, white, russet or even baby potatoes to pressure cook them. Check out our Roasted Potatoes recipe made in a similar way. However the cooking times might vary. Follow the cooking times listed in Step 3 of How to make Sweet Potatoes in Instant Pot above.
Can I combine a variety of potatoes in the same pot to cook together?
Yes you can. We do this often. Sometimes I prefer sweet potatoes while Dr.Mystery and Little A prefer golden potatoes.
Can I crisp the potato skins in the oven afterwards?
Honestly, I have never crisped sweet potatoes in the oven as I can barely wait to relish them once they are ready, but if you enjoy a crisped potato skin, of course you can absolutely crisp it.
Can I use the same method to make purees, mash, casseroles?
Yes you can. I use this method to make purees, mash, casserole and it always perfect.
In what other recipes can I use these sweet potatoes?
You can use these potatoes to make
- Sweet Potato Mash
- Puree
- Breakfast Nachos
- Sweet potato Skins
- Hash
- Burger Patties
WHEN YOU TRY THESE INSTANT POT SWEET POTATOES RECIPE
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More Potato Recipes
How to make perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes everytime
Learn how to make the perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes everytime! Silky, smooth and ready in a a fraction of the time to roast them. Quick and easy pressure cooker recipe. Use them as a perfect side or meal prep them for a casserole or mashed potatoes. You won't be disappointed at all.
Ingredients
- 1 cup water
- 3 small to medium sweet potatoes
- 3 teaspoon butter (optional)
Instructions
Step 1 - You start picking small to medium sized sweet potatoes. Clean the Sweet Potatoes by scrubbing the skin of the sweet potato under running water with a clean brush to get rid of any dirt on it.
Step 2 - Pour water into the inner pot, place the steamer rack followed by arranging the sweet potatoes in a single layer. Close the lid and seal the vent.
Step 3 - Pressure cook them based on the width of the sweet potatoes followed by allowing the pressure to naturally release (NPR). This will yield you perfectly cook and tender texture.
2 inches or less in width - 18 minutes. NPR
2-3 inches in width - 25-30 minutes. NPR
3-4 inches in width - 60 minutes.NPR
Step 4 - Carefully open the lid and remove the steamer rack. Allow the sweet potato to cool for a 2-3 minutes and then take each sweet potato and slice it with a knife from one and to another.
Step 5 - Fluff with a fork and either garnish with butter and spices or meal prep for a casserole or mash.
Notes
Learn how to make the perfect Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes everytime! Silky, smooth and ready in a a fraction of the time to roast them. Quick and easy pressure cooker recipe. Use them as a perfect side or meal prep them for a casserole or mashed potatoes. You won't be disappointed at all.
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Lindas says
There are so many advertisements and pop=ups on this recipe, it is impossible to read. Sorry.
Ginny says
Why do they need to be in a single layer if they’re cooking with pressure? I’d like to cook more than three.
Jasmine Thorson says
I’m shocked with the times on these. No matter what size sweet potatoes I have, I totally fill the instant pot with whole sweet potatoes, on the steamer rack with about 12 ounces of water. I set it for Ultra (high) and 9 minutes. It’s perfect every time.The initial instructions I read said to do all that bit for 22 minutes. When I did that, I had to spoon them out, they were such mush. I don’t get it.
Johna Wrzosek says
when measuring the sweet potatoes, do you measure the circumference or just how wide they are.
Anvita says
Yes try to pick similar circumference ones when buying them. I have shared the different cooking times for different sizes
J says
Can I stack them?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi J, yes you can stack them. Make sure they are on a trivet.
Sandy Stephens says
I have been doing sweet potatoes like this ever since I got my Instant Pots!! That is the ONLY way to get Fluffy potatoes sweet or white!!
Soniya Saluja says
We are on the same page as you
Kathy says
What settings do you use for sweet potatoes
Anvita says
Hi Kathy, we use pressure cook
Mary theresa Boudreau says
what size instant pot is used for this quantity of water? I have an 8 qt and sometimes it needs more water than the 6 qt.
Angela says
Do I measured the width or the circumference?
Kerrie says
Would;d the time change for one sweet potato?
Anvita says
No...the time remains the same.the IP will come to pressure quickly :)
Mary Coffman says
I think your information is inaccurate as far as being ready in less than 30 minutes. Even with the smallest you have prep time, bringing up the pressure and NPR. That MIGHT be 30 minutes but I doubt it.
Tracy says
Sorry to be dense - but do you mean the width of the potatoes in the pot? (In your photo, from left to right?)
Or is width, in your photo, from top to bottom?
Thanks! Looking forward to trying this.
TheBellyRulesTheMind says
Tracy it's the thickness of the sweet potato. the thicker the potato the longer it takes. Hope this helps.
Donna Summers says
Wondered if you could do mashed cauliflower this way?
Soniya Saluja says
Hi Donne, here you go perfect cauliflower rice https://thebellyrulesthemind.net/instant-pot-mexican-cauliflower-rice-bowl/