These Instant Pot Green Beans take just 2 ingredients and 0 minutes cook time in the Instant Pot to be perfectly tender and ready to serve with your main dish.
» You might also like these Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
Cooking green beans in an Instant Pot is an excellent way to preserve their nutrients while enhancing their flavor. As with most vegetables, it just takes the pressurizing time to cook green beans, so it’s really fast and simple.
The only tip I have is to stand near the Instant Pot so you can release the pressure as soon as the time is up, because even a minute of natural release can overcook the green beans.
Choosing the Right Green Beans
Fresh vs. Frozen
Both fresh and frozen green beans can be used for these recipes, and each has its advantages. Both take the same amount of time in the Instant Pot.
Fresh Green Beans:
- Provide enhanced flavor
- Offer better texture
When choosing fresh green beans, look for ones that are firm, bright green color, and have an unblemished surface. To store fresh green beans, place them in a plastic bag and refrigerate. Use within one week for optimal freshness.
Frozen Green Beans:
- Are convenient
- Have a longer shelf-life
Preparing the Green Beans
Washing and Trimming
Washing green beans is essential to remove any dirt or debris. Trim the ends of the green beans by cutting or snapping off the tips. You don’t need to take a lot off the end, just get the tops and the scraggly ends.
Cutting Green Beans
When it comes to cutting green beans, there are a few ways you can go. If you don’t mind picking up a long bean to eat, you can leave them whole. Otherwise, choose one of these cuts.
- Diagonal cut for an elegant presentation
- Bite-sized pieces for easy consumption
- French-cut for a thinner, more delicate texture
Ingredients You Need
- Fresh or frozen green beans – It doesn’t matter if you use fresh or frozen, but don’t use canned green beans, as they are already cooked and will become very soggy.
- Water – Use cold or room temperature water, not hot. This will give enough time for the beans to cook as the pressure builds.
- Salt or other seasonings – Green beans are great with just salt, but you can also use other seasonings to give them more flavor, like Cajun seasoning or basic seasoned salt.
How to Make Instant Pot Green Beans
Pour the water into the inner pot. Set the steamer basket inside. Place the beans in the steamer basket. Close and lock the lid. Turn the vent to sealing, if that’s necessary for your model.
Pressure cook on LOW pressure for 0 minutes. Yes, that’s right! This might be one of the only times you will cook on low pressure. There is a button to push to turn it to low. Then set the cook time to zero. All it takes is the time it needs to come up to pressure.
If you like green beans that are more well done, with no crunch left, set it to cook for one minute instead.
When it’s done, do a quick release of the pressure. You want to be on hand so you can release it right away, because any amount of natural release will overcook the beans.
Season the green beans with salt and any other desired seasoning. You can use them in a stir fry or serve them on the side of any main dish you like.
Additional Flavor Enhancements
To add variety and depth to your Instant Pot green beans, consider using herbs, spices, and other ingredients:
- Dill: Sprinkle chopped fresh dill on cooked green beans for a fresh, aromatic flavor.
- Parsley: Garnish with chopped fresh parsley for a bright, herbaceous note.
- Red pepper flakes: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the Instant Pot for a subtle heat.
- Parmesan cheese: Grate fresh Parmesan cheese over the cooked green beans for a savory, umami touch.
- Garlic butter: toss the beans in a mixture of melted butter and garlic.
- Almondine: toss the beans in butter and add some slivered almonds and a squeeze of lemon.
Expert Tips for Perfect Instant Pot Green Beans
To achieve the desired texture for your green beans, here are some cooking times to consider:
- Crisp-tender: zero minutes of low-pressure cooking
- Soft and fully cooked: 1-2 minutes of low-pressure cooking
- Quick release: Always do a quick release of the pressure. A natural release is not recommended for green beans, as it may result in overcooked and mushy beans.
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Instant Pot Green Beans
Note: Made in a 6-qt Instant Pot
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound green beans washed and trimmed
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Pour the water into the inner pot. Set the steamer basket inside. Place the beans in the steamer basket.
- Close and lock the lid.
- Pressure cook on LOW pressure for 0 minutes. When done, do a quick release of the pressure.
- Season the green beans with salt and any other desired seasoning.
Notes
- It will take about 5 minutes to come up to pressure.
- Be sure you’re nearby so you can release the pressure when it’s done.
- You can use the beans in a stir fry or serve as a side dish.
Nutrition
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Laura is a passionate home cook and the owner of A Pressure Cooker Kitchen. She is dedicated to helping people create delicious Instant Pot meals with ease. Laura is an expert at developing recipes that can be prepared quickly and easily using a pressure cooker.