Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes

Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes cook in just 6-20 minutes (depending on size) and can be used in whatever way you like, as a side dish, as mashed potatoes, or to make potato salad. Limitless options!

» If you love these potatoes you will love these Instant Pot Steamed Broccoli and Instant Pot Artichokes.

The Instant Pot is your secret weapon when it comes to potatoes. No longer do you have to boil them on the stove top and end up with a soggy mess, or roast them in the oven and wait for hours for them to be done.

In the Instant Pot, potatoes can be cooked quickly and with very little fuss. All you have to do is pour in the water, add the amount of potatoes you want, and press go. You can cook any size of potatoes, any amount of potatoes – it’s up to you. Just don’t exceed the max fill line.

I like to pressure cook potatoes because they turn out perfectly tender and creamy on the inside. Usually I just cut them into fourths and serve them as a side dish with some butter and chives. Very easy. You can also use them for mashed potatoes or potato salad.

Ingredients You Need

• Potatoes: You can use any type of potato you want here. I’ve used Yukon gold, reds, yellow potatoes, fingerlings, and russets. They can be any size, but the time they need to cook properly will vary so be sure to read the chart below.
• Water: The pot requires 1 cup of water in the bottom to provide steam.
• Seasonings: Seasoning isn’t necessary, but a plain potato is pretty bland and boring. I’d recommend salt and pepper at the very least.

Why Use An Instant Pot?

The Instant Pot is one of the most useful kitchen appliances you can buy, because it drastically cuts down on the cooking time for developing flavors in soups and stews, getting tough cuts of meat tender, and even baking a cheesecake. If you don’t have one, check out our guide on which one to buy. Also see our guide to How to Use an Instant Pot and the many accessories you can buy for it.

Type of Potato to Use

There are many types of potatoes that can be cooked in an Instant Pot, but some of the best varieties include:

1. Red potatoes – These are a waxy potato that holds its shape well when cooked, making them great for potato salads, roasted potatoes, and boiled potatoes.
2. Russet potatoes – These are the classic baking potatoes that are great for making mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, and potato salads.
3. Yukon Gold potatoes – These are a bit creamier and sweeter than Russet potatoes and are perfect for making mashed potatoes, roasted potatoes, and potato salads.
4. Fingerling potatoes – These are small, thin potatoes with a firm texture and a nutty flavor. They are great for roasting and can be used in salads as well.

Ultimately, the best type of potato to use in an Instant Pot will depend on the recipe and personal preference.

How Long Does It Take To Boil Potatoes in an Instant Pot

The size of your potatoes will dictate how long they require to cook. Here’s a list of the recommended cook times for potatoes in the Instant Pot based on their size:

1. Small potatoes (1 inch long): Small potatoes include baby potatoes, small fingerlings, small round red, purple or yellow potatoes. 6 minutes cook time, 10 minutes natural pressure release (NPR). Use a steamer basket instead of the trivet for very small potatoes that would otherwise fall through the spaces of the trivet.
2. Medium potatoes (2 inches long): Medium potatoes include Yukon gold, medium red potatoes, medium fingerlings, medium russets, and 10 minutes cook time, 10 minutes NPR. Add an extra 2 minutes to the cook time if you want to mash your boiled potatoes.
3. Large potatoes (3-4 inches long): Large potatoes are large-sized russets and baking potatoes. 20 minutes cook time, 10 minutes NPR. Add an extra 5 minutes to the cook time if you want to mash your boiled potatoes.

Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and the actual cook time may vary depending on the type and age of the potatoes, as well as the desired level of doneness. Always refer to a trusted recipe for specific instructions.

How to Make Instant Pot Boiled Potatoes

Start out by cleaning the potatoes well, to remove any dirt.

Set the trivet into the pot. If your potatoes are very small, you might need a steamer basket, if they’re falling through the trivet. There are some recipes that say to put the potatoes directly into the water, but I find that leads to a soggy potato. I prefer to use the trivet/basket.

Set the potatoes on the trivet / in the basket. Lock the lid and set the vent to sealing.

Press the Pressure Cook button and set the time to 6 minutes for small, 10 minutes for medium, or 20 minutes for large potatoes (on high pressure). I have made these many times and 10 minutes turns out pretty perfect for medium potatoes.

Do note that if you cook the potatoes directly in the water, not in the basket, they will cook faster, so maybe go 2 minutes less, depending on the size of your potatoes.

When done, allow the pin to fall. That will take about 5-10 minutes. Open the lid and remove the potatoes. Cube them and serve them hot with salt and any other seasoning or toppings you desire.

If you want to crisp the potatoes slightly, pour out the water and dry the inner pot. Return it to the machine. Turn on saute mode.

When hot, add the butter and once melted, add the potatoes. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring the pot once or twice. In the last 30 seconds, add the seasoning and toss to coat the potatoes.

Additional Seasonings

We’ve kept the seasoning in this recipe very simple, with just butter, salt, pepper, and garlic salt. Don’t let that stop you from experimenting with other flavors.

Some other options are:

• Cajun seasoning
• Dry Ranch dressing mix
• Parmesan and oregano

Tips For Perfect Cooking

• It’s always best to cook these potatoes for the least amount of time when you make them the first time. This is so you can get an idea of how you like them cooked.
• I find that 10 minutes is perfect for a middle of the road softness of medium potatoes. You might like your potatoes more crisp or even softer.
• If you cook them for 10 minutes and find they are not yet as soft as you like, put the lid back on and cook for another 3 minutes.

What to Serve With Boiled Potatoes

There are so many great main dishes that go with boiled potatoes. While you’re cooking chicken or pork chops on the stovetop you can be making these potatoes in the Instant Pot.

Or you can use the Instant Pot to cook both parts of your meal together, using the Pot-in-Pot cooking method. I often use this method to reheat a bowl of leftovers on top of the steamer basket, as I cook the potatoes.

As a main dish with your potatoes, try these:

• Instant Pot Pork Adobo
• Instant Pot Chicken Leg Quarters
• Instant Pot Pork Roast
• Instant Pot Brisket Recipe
• Instant Pot Mini Meatloaves

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