Instant Pot Beets

This simple method of cooking Instant Pot Beets makes the perfect buttery texture with the signature sweet taste of this unique vegetable.

We never really had beets while I was growing up. The occasional pickled beet would show up on a salad bar. It wasn’t until I was an adult that I gave them a try.

Why You’ll Love It

• Making beets can be a bit of a hassle, boiling them is somewhat of a long process. Now you can make them in the Instant Pot faster and with less work.
• Beets are such a versatile vegetable, and it’s a shame so many people miss out on them. They come out perfectly cooked, buttery, and ready to eat every time using the Instant Pot.
• You can add beets to so many things. Enjoy them raw, atop salads, or enhance the richness of soups and stews by including these versatile root vegetables.

Mrs. Tom Roberts says: This Instant Pot beet recipe is a must-try. So easy!

» Like beets? You will want to try this Easy Instant Pot Borscht Recipe.

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Beets – You will need 1-2 pounds of beets. You can use any type of beets that you want. If you’re not up for staining your hands red, you can use yellow or golden beets instead of red. Or you could use a mixture of both if you want some pretty colors in whatever you’re using the beets for.
• Water

Expert Tips to Follow

• You can use a vegetable peeler to remove the beets’ skin before putting them into the Instant Pot. But akin to carrots, you actually don’t have to peel beets at all. They’re perfectly safe to eat without peeling, and taking the skin off is a matter of personal preference and/or what you’re using the beets for.
• Beet juice will stain anything that it touches. While the yellow beets don’t stain as badly as the red it is good to know going in. If you don’t want red or yellow hands for a day or two try using food grade kitchen gloves while peeling.
• While you can use either golden or red beets, it’s important to choose the right one for your tastes and the recipe you’re making with them. Golden beets aren’t as sweet as red beets, and are overall more earthy and mellow. If you like beets for their distinct sweetness, stick with the red beets.
• Scrub the beets well to remove dirt before cooking.
• If your beets range in size they will not cook evenly.

How to Make Pressure Cooker Beets

The process for making this simple instant pot beet recipe is super easy.

Step 1: Prep the Beets

Scrub your beets well and cut or twist off the tops. You can use the beet leaves and stems in another recipe to cut down on food waste. Try this recipe for sautéed beet greens.

Step 2: Pressure Cook the Beets

Set up your Instant Pot pressure cooker by placing your trivet in the bottom, then adding the water. Put your beets onto the trivet before locking the lid of your pot.

Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes, then allow a natural pressure release for ten more minutes. Once that’s over, you can manually release the rest of the pressure from the Instant Pot.

We are cooking medium sized beets. Larger beets cook longer because of their density while smaller will take less time. You will need to adjust your cooking time up or down accordingly.

Step 3: Remove the Skin and Enjoy

Carefully remove the beets from the Instant Pot. I say carefully because they are going to be extremely hot! Place them into a bowl to cool, usually thirty minutes to an hour will do the trick.

You want them to be nearly all cooled because once they are, gently rub the outside of the beet to peel the skin off. When the skin is off, you’re done and your beets are ready to eat.

Try cooked beets in this beet salad with toasted spice vinaigrette.

How to Choose Beets

We have established that beetroot come in different colors with different flavors. Try them all and choose the ones that you like the best.

After that choose beets that still have their stems attached and that they are still green and fresh. This way you know they are fresh and haven’t been sitting in storage. The root or taproot should be thin and pointy and still attached.

Choose a beet with no blemishes or cuts. Smaller beets are going to be sweeter. Avoid beets with small hair like roots. That is an indication that the beet is old.

Instant Pot Beets Cooking Time Chart

Beets can vary widely in size and that affects the cooking time. The best way to judge the right cooking time for pressure cooker beets is to measure the beet. This is just a guide. You may find that you like the texture more crisp or soft and will have to adjust the cooking time.

5-6 inch – 15-17 minutes

7-8 inch – 25-27 minutes

9 inches – 35 minutes

How Long Do Beets Last?

A raw or uncooked beet will last for a month or more in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Twist off the stems and store, checking them periodically for freshness.

Cooked beets will last 3-5 days in the an air tight container in the refrigerator. Though they never last that long at my house.

More Beet Recipes to Try

There are so many things you can do with cooked beets, but you can also eat them raw. Try a few more recipes using this versatile root vegetable.

• Easy Instant Pot Borscht Recipe
• Golden Beet & Blue Cheese Salad
• Homemade Beet Gnocchi
• Easy Air Fryer Beets

Questions About the Recipe

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