Effortless Instant Pot Beets: Your Guide to Perfectly Cooked Beetroot

Discover the simplest way to enjoy fork-tender, vibrant beets without the fuss! Using your Instant Pot, you can transform these earthy root vegetables into a delicious and healthy addition to any meal in just about 30 minutes, from start to finish. Say goodbye to lengthy oven roasting and hello to quick, perfectly steamed beetroot that’s ready for salads, sides, or a healthy snack.

Have you ever bought beautiful fresh beets with the best intentions, only to find them languishing in your crisper drawer days later? Roasting beets in the oven can feel like a time commitment many busy home cooks just don’t have. But what if there was a quicker, more efficient method that guaranteed perfectly cooked results every time? If you own an Instant Pot or any other pressure cooker, you’ve found your solution. Pressure-steaming is the secret to unlocking the sweet, tender goodness of these magenta beauties with minimal effort.

Why Cook Beets in Your Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot makes preparing beets incredibly simple and fast. Forget boiling water or heating up your kitchen for extended periods. With a pressure cooker, you can achieve uniformly cooked, tender beets in a fraction of the time compared to traditional methods. While oven roasting might take up to 90 minutes, your Instant Pot delivers perfectly cooked beets in as little as 30 minutes total time, including prep and pressure release.

The Instant Pot Advantage

The magic of pressure cooking lies in its ability to cook food much faster by raising the boiling point of water. This creates intense steam inside the pot, which tenderizes vegetables quickly and efficiently. For beets, this means a consistent texture throughout, from the center to the edges. No more hard spots or overcooked exteriors! Even larger, softball-sized beets can be cooked to perfection under high pressure in just 30 minutes.

Nutritional Powerhouse: The Benefits of Beets

Beyond their vibrant color and sweet, earthy flavor, beets are packed with essential nutrients. They are an excellent source of fiber, folate (vitamin B9), manganese, potassium, iron, and vitamin C. Beets are also rich in betalains, pigments that have powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Including beets in your diet can support heart health, boost athletic performance, and aid in detoxification. Making them easy to prepare means you’re more likely to incorporate these healthful vegetables into your weekly meals.

Selecting and Preparing Your Beets

Choosing the right beets is the first step to a delicious dish. Look for firm, smooth beets with vibrant, deep colors. Avoid any with soft spots, wrinkles, or blemishes. If the greens are still attached, they should be fresh and crisp, not wilted. Remember, you can often cook the beet greens separately for a tasty stir-fry, so don’t discard them!

Before cooking, a little preparation goes a long way. Start by washing your beets thoroughly under cold running water to remove any dirt. Then, trim the stems, leaving about a ½-inch length, and trim the roots to no more than about 2 inches. This helps to prevent the color from bleeding too much during cooking and makes peeling easier later.

Instant Pot Beets Recipe: Quick & Easy Steamed Beetroot

Recipe Overview

• Servings: 4
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 15-30 minutes (depending on beet size)
• Total Time: Approximately 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 6 medium beets (about 2 inches in diameter)
• 1 cup water
• Kosher salt (optional, for serving)
• Freshly ground black pepper (optional, for serving)
• Balsamic vinegar (optional, for serving)
• Extra virgin olive oil (optional, for serving)

Equipment:

• Chef’s knife
• Cutting board
• Instant Pot (or other pressure cooker; a popular model is the IP-DUO Plus60 9-in-1 cooker)
• Steamer insert (or trivet)
• Measuring cup
• Heat-resistant glove (helpful for handling hot beets)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Instant Pot Beets:

1. Prepare the Beets: Wash and trim your beets as described above. Ensure the stems are about ½-inch long and roots are no more than 2 inches.
2. Set up the Instant Pot: Pour 1 cup of water into the inner pot of your Instant Pot.

3. 

   Place a steamer insert or trivet inside the pot, above the water.

   

4. Arrange the Beets: Carefully arrange the trimmed beets in a single layer on top of the steamer insert. Try not to overcrowd the pot.

5. 

   Pressure Cook: Secure the lid on your Instant Pot and ensure the sealing valve is set to the “Sealing” position. Press the “Manual” button (or “Pressure Cook” on newer models like the IP-DUO Plus60) and set the cooking time to 15 minutes on high pressure for medium-sized beets (about 2 inches in diameter). Refer to our cooking time chart below for different sizes.

   

6. Release Pressure: Once the cooking cycle is complete, turn off the Instant Pot. Carefully perform a manual (quick) pressure release by turning the valve on the lid towards “Venting.” Be cautious of the hot steam escaping.

   

7. Check for Doneness: Once the pressure has fully released and the float valve has dropped, unlock and carefully open the lid. Use a sharp knife or fork to poke one of the beets. If the knife slides through with minimal resistance, they are perfectly cooked. If they still feel a bit firm, close the lid and cook under high pressure for another 2 to 5 minutes.

   

Post-Cooking & Peeling Tips

Allow the beets to cool slightly so they are easier to handle. Once cool enough, slice off the remaining stem and root ends. The skins should then slip off effortlessly under cool running water or with gentle rubbing. Wearing kitchen gloves can prevent your hands from getting stained by the vibrant beet juice. If you do get stains, a quick scrub with baking soda can help!

Creative Ways to Enjoy Your Cooked Instant Pot Beets

Once your beets are cooked and peeled, a world of culinary possibilities opens up! Their natural sweetness and tender texture make them incredibly versatile. You can simply slice them and add them to salads, or enjoy them as a standalone healthy snack. But why stop there? Here are a few favorite ways to use your freshly cooked Instant Pot beets:

Quick Pickled Beets

Transform your steamed beets into tangy, quick pickles. Simply slice the cooled beets into uniform pieces—rounds, wedges, or cubes work well. Season them to taste with a pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, then add a liberal splash of balsamic vinegar. Allow the beets to marinate for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, before drizzling with a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil just before serving. These quick pickled beets are fantastic in salads, as a side dish, or as a vibrant garnish.

Beet Hummus & Other Ideas

For a unique twist, try making Beet Hummus! The vibrant color and subtle sweetness of beets elevate traditional hummus to a new level. Cooked beets can also be pureed into soups, blended into smoothies for a nutritional boost, or roasted again with herbs for deeper flavor. Don’t forget their greens! If you kept the beet greens, they make a fantastic, nutrient-rich side dish when sautéed with garlic and a touch of lemon juice. Find a recipe for stir-frying beet greens here.

Storage Tips

Cooked Instant Pot beets can be stored in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to one week, making them perfect for meal prepping. You can enjoy them cold in salads or quickly reheat them for a warm side dish.

Cooking Time Chart for Different Beet Sizes

The cooking time for beets in an Instant Pot largely depends on their size. Here’s a helpful guideline to ensure your beets are tender but not mushy:

• Small beets (<2-inch diameter): 10 minutes under high pressure
• Medium beets (2-inch diameter): 15 minutes under high pressure
• Large beets (2 to 3-inch diameter): 20 minutes under high pressure
• Extra-large beets (>3-inch diameter): 25-30 minutes under high pressure

Always remember to account for pressure build-up and release time, which will add approximately 10-15 minutes to the total process.

Frequently Asked Questions About Instant Pot Beets

Can I cook beets of different sizes together?

It’s best to cook beets of similar sizes together to ensure even cooking. If you have a mix, you can cut larger beets into halves or quarters to match the size of smaller ones, or simply choose the cooking time for the largest beet and accept that smaller ones might be slightly softer.

Do I need to peel beets before cooking in the Instant Pot?

No, it’s easier to peel beets after they’ve been cooked and cooled. The skins will practically slide right off with minimal effort.

What if my beets are still hard after the recommended cooking time?

If your beets are still too firm after the initial cooking and pressure release, simply reseal the Instant Pot and cook them for an additional 2-5 minutes under high pressure. This can happen with particularly dense or very fresh beets.

Can I add seasoning to the Instant Pot water?

While you can add aromatics like a bay leaf or a garlic clove to the water for subtle flavor, it’s generally best to season the beets after cooking. This allows you to control the flavor more precisely and adapt them to various serving styles.

Ready for More Delicious Recipes?

If you loved this quick and easy Instant Pot beet recipe, you’ll find plenty more inspiration on my Recipe Index. Explore a world of flavorful and healthy dishes designed to simplify your cooking. You can also discover exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, including Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans, Ready or Not!, and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go!. Happy cooking!

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