Instant Pot Beets

Name: Instant Pot Beets
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 38 min
Ingredients: 3 Medium Beets; 2 cups water

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Cooking your beets in the Instant Pot is a quick, hands-off way to prepare your favorite root vegetable quickly! Follow the instructions below for best results.

I have always loved beets! And while I’ve had a few recipes on my website showing creative ways to use them (including this Borscht soup recipe), I’ve never had a recipe that just shows you how to cook beets themselves.

Until now!

It’s also no secret that I love my Instant Pot. I mean seriously… check out all of my Instant Pot Recipes! So, naturally, I’ve grown to love cooking my fresh beets in the Instant Pot. I’m here to show you how to do it today. And I know you’re going to love it!

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Why Make this Recipe

Easy Clean Up: Beets can be a messy food to cook, especially because the red beet juice can get everywhere! Cooking your beets in the Instant Pot means that you won’t have a huge mess to clean up.
Quick: Pressure cooking beets is so simple, especially when making them in the Instant Pot! On average this will take about 30 minutes, a contrast to the hour-long process of roasting them.
1 ingredient: You only need one ingredient to cook beets in the Instant Pot… Beets! (Okay… 2, if you count water).

What Do I Need to Make this Recipe

Here is a visual overview of the ingredients in the recipe. Scroll down to the recipe at the bottom for quantities.

Beets: You can get fresh beets in a bunch from your produce department.
Water: Warm or cold water.

How to Make this Recipe

Step 1: Clean the Beets

Cut the stems and roots off of the ends of the beets. Do not remove the skin from the beets yet.

Step 2: Cook

Put the steamer basket/trivet in the pot and fill with 2 cups of water.

Add the beets onto the trivet and set the timer for 25 minutes. Once the timer is up, perform a quick release.

Step 3: Finishing Steps

Allow the beets to cool completely. Then use your fingers to remove the skin. It should slide off very easily! Enjoy!

How Long to Cook Instant Pot Beets

How long you cook your beets will depend on how large the beets are.

Very Small Beets: 15 minutes
Medium Beets: 25 minutes
Medium-Large: 30 minutes
Large: 35-40 minutes

If you choose any of the above times and your beets aren’t cooked enough for your liking, simply put the lid back on the Instant Pot and cook them for another 5 minutes or so.

Expert Tips

You can tell the texture of your beets by poking them with a fork. If the fork goes into the beet easily, your beets are done. If there is resistance, cook the beets for a few minutes longer.
I recommend wearing gloves and an apron when taking the skin off of your beets so that you don’t get bright red beet dye on any of your clothes.
If you don’t want to wait for the beets to cool down naturally, you can run them under cold water until they are cool enough to touch!

Recipe FAQs

Can I Double the Recipe?

Yes! If you want to double the recipe, you most certainly can. Add as many beets as you’d like/can fit into the pot, and cook them for the prescribed time.

You can keep the same cook time no matter how many beets you add.

How to Store Cooked Beets

Once your beets are cooked, they will stay good in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just make sure to store them in an airtight container!

What to Make with Cooked Beets

Beets are enjoyable in so many different ways! I personally love to eat them plain, with just a little salt. I think they’re delicious all on their own!

If you want more creative recipes, check out my Beet and Potato Salad recipe. I also recently used cooked beets in an arugula, pear, and walnut salad topped with gorgonzola, olive oil, and vinegar…. Delicious!

Did you like this recipe for Instant Pot Beets? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you: