If you're looking to introduce healthy eating habits into your life this year, sweet potatoes are your friend. These starchy root vegetables are so nutrient-packed — it's no wonder they've become staples in popular diets like Whole30 and Paleo. But there's just one problem. Cooking them in the oven is time-consuming. That's where the Instant Pot comes into play. This innovative kitchen gadget allows you to cook moist and fluffy sweet potatoes in less time than traditional methods. Read on for a step-by-step guide on how to cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot.
Why Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot?
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If you're skeptical of kitchen trends or gadgets, the thought of swapping your baked sweet potatoes for ones prepared in the Instant Pot can be daunting. But I'm here to tell you that once you make Instant Pot sweet potatoes, you'll never make them any other way. Here are a few reasons to make the switch:
- You'll save time without sacrificing quality. To achieve the desired result, sweet potatoes need to bake in the oven for up to an hour. Of course, you can always nuke them when you're in a pinch, but you're going to end up with dried out sweet potatoes. The Instant Pot offers the best of both worlds. In about 35 minutes, the Instant Pot turns raw sweet potatoes into a moist and fluffy side dish.
- It's less work. Don't worry about rubbing the potatoes with oil or checking them for doneness. The beauty of the Instant Pot is it's completely hands off.
- The result is perfection. With this method, you end up with velvety smooth sweet potatoes every time. The Instant Pot won't dry them out like more traditional methods.
How to Cook Sweet Potatoes in the Instant Pot
Read on to learn how to cook sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot. Once your sweet potatoes are ready, enjoy them however you'd like: mashed, in a salad, in sweet potato casserole, or simply with a little butter and brown sugar.
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Try this recipe: Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
Here's What You'll Need:
- 4 medium sweet potatoes
- Scrub brush
- Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker
- Stainless steel trivet
- 1 cup water
- Tongs
Instructions:
- Scrub the sweet potatoes.
- Place the stainless steel trivet inside the Instant Pot. Add 1 cup of water. Place the sweet potatoes on top of the trivet.
- Lock the lid and turn the pressure release vent to the "sealing" position.
- Cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Note that it will take about 10 minutes for the pressure to build.
- Allow the pressure to release naturally for 10 minutes. Once the 10 minutes are up, release the rest of the pressure on quick release.
- Open the lid and remove sweet potatoes using tongs. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Related:
- How to Make Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes
- Browse our entire collection of Sweet Potato Recipes.
- Browse our entire collection of Instant Pot Recipes.
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