Boil or cook potatoes in Instant Pot is very quick and easy method.
Potato is the most versatile vegetable that can be paired with any other veggies. It is staple food in Indian kitchen at least in my kitchen. I make many sabzi, curry, tikki using potato. And of course many non-Indians also use potatoes in like potato salad, mashed potatoes, baked potatoes etc.
I used to boil the potato in my traditional pressure cooker where I have keep track of number of whistles and need to stay there to turn off the stove once ready. But when we cook potatoes in Instant pot, we don’t have to worry about counting whistles. In short, you don’t need to be present there while it is cooking.
Actually most of the times, I use delay start to cook potatoes in Instant pot. For example, I need boiled potatoes in the morning to make sabzi for lunch-box or to make aloo paratha for breakfast. So the night before, I adjust the delay start (of about 6-7 hours) and the hot, boiled potatoes are ready when I get into the kitchen next morning. This is such a time-saver. Owning an Instant pot is such a blessing!!!
How to cook potatoes in instant pot?
Start by adding 2 cups of water in the inner pot. Then place the trivet that came with IP. And arrange potatoes on top of the trivet. Then cook on manual mode (high pressure).
Let the pressure release naturally. Check the doneness of by inserting a knife or fork in the center.
Cooking time guide:
- For the medium sized potatoes (shown in the picture) will take around 8 minutes.
- If you have small sized potatoes then reduce the cooking time - 6 minutes.
- If you have larger sized potatoes then increase the cooking time - 9,10 minutes.
Also, boiling potatoes at the mentioned cooking time results into the tender, soft yet firm texture boiled potatoes. This texture is perfect for sabzi, curry, salad or bombay sandwiches where we are chopping or slicing them.
Increase the cooking time by 2 to 3 minutes to get very soft and almost mushy texture. This is perfect when we are mashing the potatoes like aloo paratha, batata vada, mashed potatoes.
What type of potatoes to use?
- Russet or Idaho potatoes have more starch in them. So these are good for frying or baking. Do not use this type for boiling in IP.
- I prefer to use red potatoes or golden potatoes. Perfect for Indian cooking.
Check out - Instant pot chickpeas
How to Cook Potatoes in Instant Pot (Boil Potatoes in IP)
Ingredients
- 4 Potatoes (Yukon gold potato or Red potatoes)
- 2 cups Water
Instructions
How to boil potatoes in Instant pot?
- Scrub and wash the potatoes well and remove all the dirt.
- Add around 2 cups of water in the inner pot of instant pot.
- Put the trivet or steamer basket in the pot and place potatoes on trivet.
- Close the IP with lid, keep the valve to sealing position and cook on Manual (High) for 6-8-10 minutes for small-medium-large potatoes.
- Let it NPR (natural pressure release). Once pin drops, open the lid.
- Check by inserting a knife or fork in the center, it should go in easily without any efforts.
- Remove the cooked potatoes from IP using tongs.
- If using right away then peel the skin by hand, it will come off right away.
- Or store without peeling in the refrigerator for later use.
I agree with you
Hi-- I went back to the recipe which I previously accessed by googling cooking medium potatoes in the IP but now I see that you don't say what size the potatoes in your image are. Do you consider them to be medium size?
Toby
Already replied to your prev comment
Thank you for this great set of instructions. The image of the potatoes to show size is the best help! 'medium' is a subjective term. All the extra details you give are very interesting as I cook a lot of Indian food. I found your site by chance looking for times for steaming medium potatoes -- what a bonus to find it's centred on Indian cooking! Toby [Salt spring island, BC Canada]
Medium size meaning around 2.5-3 inches in diameter.
Hope that you find other Indian recipes helpful and delicious.
Happy cooking!!
i just sent my husband to the store for potatoes, he brought home russet potatoes. are you sure i can't use these
It depends.
Do you want the texture like baked potatoes then you can use.
If making mashed potatoes, yes you can use.
But for indian cooking, no I would not recommend.