You’re thinking beets would be perfect on your menu but you don’t want to dial up the oven or watch a pot on the stove for an hour? The solution? Bring out the pressure cooker. This post explains how to cook beets in 20 minutes-in an Instant Pot or stovetop pressure cooker!
Pressure cookers are the pots that spare the cook. Not only do they conserve time and energy by requiring minimal liquid, pressure-cooked ingredients retain more nutrients and the flavor is more concentrated.
Click here to PIN How to Cook Beets in a Pressure Cooker.
How to cook beets in a pressure cooker-straightforward directions :
- Choose 3 or 4 medium to large beets. (5 to 8 ounces each) ** The larger the beets, the more cooking time.
- Scrub the beets well but do not peel. Trim off any root “hair”. Once your beets are cooked and cool enough to handle, you’ll need just your fingers to easily slip off the skins.
- Place a steamer basket in the pressure cooker and add water, a little more than a cup. Arrange the beets on the rack. Lock the lid in place.
Instant Pot and stovetop pressure cooker times:
*** Your cooked beets should be tender all the way through. Check by piercing with a knife. When the beets are cool enough to handle, slip off the skins with your fingers, then slice and dice as you wish.
- In the Instant Pot, press Manual and adjust the timer for 15 minutes.
- In a stovetop pressure cooker, bring to pressure over high heat. When the pressure guage starts to hiss or zizzle, lower the heat just enough to maintain high pressure. Cook the beets 12 to 15 minutes.
- If you have a few extra minutes, allow the pressure to come down naturally. The Instant Pot will shut off at the designated time and the pressure will come down naturally if you don’t do anything.
- To quick release the Instant Pot, turn the tab to Vent and let the steam escape.
- To quick release stovetop pressure cookers, remove from the heat and place the pressure cooker in the sink, letting cold water run over the edge. (Check your owner’s manual for more precise directions—various models operate differently.)
Just so you know, these pressure cooker and Instant Pot links are affiliates. When you purchase products via my links, it doesn’t cost you anything and I earn a tiny commission, which helps me continue to provide free content here on Letty’s Kitchen. Thank you!!
OK. I own 3 pressure cookers-my newest is an Instant Pot. (affiliate link.) I can’t find a reason to part with my treasured stovetop pressure cookers though.
A Kuhn-Rikon 7 quart pressure cooker (affiliate link) is still my serious kitchen workhorse. And what if I want to pressure cook a 2nd something while the Instant Pot is in action? Like artichokes for appetizers and kale risotto for the main course. At the same time as you’re pressure cooking garbanzo beans, beets can be cooking away in your other pressure cooker. Time management, you know.
Barbara at Pressure Cooking Today convinced me that I needed the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker. Good advice. Still, I’m not giving up my other pressure cookers, because they’re both high quality Italian- and Swiss-made stainless steel pressure cookers. I’ve owned the Italian one since I was about 10 years old so it’s a sentimental thing. Bottom line-a pressure cooker is a quick and easy way to cook beets!
My second favorite thing to cook in a pressure cooker is beans.
- How to cook garbanzo beans in the pressure cooker.
- How to cook black beans in the pressure cooker.
- How to cook pinto beans in the pressure cooker.
You will love how quick and easy it is to cook risotto in a pressure cooker.
- Spicy Chard and Pinto Bean Risotto in the Instant Pot? Yeeessss!
- Bok choy risotto. Stir in the greens just before serving.
- Instant Pot Pressure Cooker Kale Risotto.
- Seasoned with Indian spices, this Saffron Risotto with Almonds is to die for!
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These pressure cooker links are Amazon affiliate links. When you purchase products via my links, it doesn’t cost you anything and I earn a tiny commission, which helps defray the costs of Letty’s Kitchen blog. Thank you for supporting Letty’s Kitchen.
