Instant Pot Whole Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potato is a common root vegetable. It is nutritious and packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber. For more details on health benefits of sweet potatoes, you can read this post on healthline.com.

It might seem that it takes too long to cook the sweet potatoes, especially in the oven. But thanks to the instant pot, cooking sweet potatoes for your favorite dish is a breeze.

Creamy and fluffy sweet potatoes are cooked effortlessly in the instant pot. It is a true dump-and-go process where you can walk away and not worry about monitoring them at all.

Jump to:

• How do you scrub a sweet potato?
• How to steam whole sweet potatoes?
• How long do you steam sweet potatoes in an instant pot?
• Can you eat sweet potato skin?
• What to do with steamed sweet potatoes?
• Can I prepare sweet potatoes ahead of time?
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How do you scrub a sweet potato?

As sweet potatoes grow below the soil, it is best to rinse and clean them thoroughly before cooking. To clean the sweet potatoes rinse them with water and gently scrub with a vegetable brush to ensure all the dirt is removed thoroughly.

How to steam whole sweet potatoes?

Whole sweet potatoes can be steamed in the instant pot. Pour a cup of water in the instant pot liner. I have used a 6 qt. instant pot for this recipe.

Place a trivet in the instant pot liner and then put the sweet potatoes on the trivet. You want to ensure that the trivet and the sweet potatoes are above the water level else the sweet potatoes can end up being mushy if they immerse in water.

Pressure cook the sweet potatoes in the instant pot on high-pressure mode and then, allow the pressure to release naturally until the silver pin drops. It may also be okay to release the pressure manually after letting 10 minutes of natural pressure release.

How long do you steam sweet potatoes in an instant pot?

How long to steam the sweet potatoes in the instant pot depends on the size of the sweet potatoes. I have tried cooking sweet potatoes of different sizes and the time varies based on its thickness (diameter).

• For small size (upto 2 inches) - 18 minutes, 10 minutes NPR
• For medium size (2-3 inches) - 30 minutes, 10 minutes NPR
• For large size (3-4 inches ) - 50 minutes, 10 minutes NPR

The overall time will be a little longer as the instant pot will take some time to come to pressure and then pressure cook for the set amount of time.

Once the sweet potatoes have been steamed, you can check by inserting a fork. In case they feel hard, you can cook them for additional few minutes.

Can you eat sweet potato skin?

Yes, you can eat the sweet potato skin too! Just like the inside of the sweet potato, the skin is also loaded with nutrients. However, it would be prudent only if the skin has been cleaned thoroughly before cooking and also grown organically to avoid any pesticides.

What to do with steamed sweet potatoes?

Steamed sweet potatoes are used for making many dishes like hummus, mashed sweet potatoes, Indian sweet potato patties, bread, muffins, casserole, or just as a side by applying some butter, salt, and pepper. Yum!

Can I prepare sweet potatoes ahead of time?

Yes, sweet potatoes can be steamed and prepared ahead of time. You can refrigerate them for 3-4 days.

You can also mash and freeze the cooked sweet potatoes in portions in freezer-safe containers. When you are ready to eat, simply thaw them in the microwave and enjoy them with your favorite meal!

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