Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (2024)

written by Ashley Fehr

4.73 from 11 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Servings 8 servings

Jump to Recipe

Last updated on November 30, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our disclosure policy.

These Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are so easy, you’ll never go back to the oven! Use russet or red potatoes – includes cook times for various sizes!

No Instant Pot? Check out my oven Baked Potato Recipe or my Air Fryer Baked Potato!

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (2)

Table of Contents

  • How to make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes:
  • Cook times for Instant Pot potatoes:
  • Three Ways to Make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes:
  • Want more Instant Pot potatoes?
  • Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe Recipe

PIN THIS RECIPE FOR LATER

So here we are — right smack in the middle of an Instant Pot craze. I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t always been on board with the thing, but I’ve given it a good shot and there are some things that I definitely love to cook in there.

These Instant Pot Baked Potatoes were one of my very first experiments in my pressure cooker, and one of the things that made me fall in love with it!

(Next was this Creamy Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup,this tutorial onHow to Cook Frozen Chicken Breasts in the Instant Pot, and this recipe for Instant Pot Taco Meat from Frozen Ground Beef!)

I’ve used my Instant Pot 4 times in the last 3 days, and although there will be more Instant Pot recipes coming your way, I want them to be perfect before they show up here.

Pressure cooking has been a huge learning curve for me, as I’m sure it is for most people.

Thankfully, with electric pressure cookers it can be pretty easy, provided you have clear directions to follow — and follow them! (<– this one is difficult for me!)

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (3)

With a skillet or the slow cooker, it’s pretty easy to just throw in random ingredients and see how it goes, and you can adjust things as you go.

With the Instant Pot, it’s not quite so easy, because it takes so long to build pressure and release pressure before and after cooking time, you really want to make sure you get it right the first time (or plan ahead and give yourself an extra 30-45 minutes before you need to eat, just in case!).

I’ve had my share of dinnertime disasters that end up only being cooked an hour or two after supper is finished! We’re going to try to avoid that here 🙂

I’ve made my share of things that are not that great. Instant Pot Baked Potatoes? Not the one I expected to win me over.

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (4)

But they’re amazing.

Baked potatoes can take forever in the oven, we all know. But in the pressure cooker? Minutes!

How to make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes:

  • Know your potatoes. To make good pressure cooker baked potatoes without having to put the lid back on to continue pressure cooking, you will need to figure out the cook time needed depending on the type and size of potato you have. See more details below about cook times.
  • Wrap them in foil or just throw them right in the pot — I know a lot of people don’t like cooking in foil and that is fine! I do foil sometimes when feeding a crowd because it makes it easy for everyone to grab one and go, but this is not necessary if it’s something you don’t like to do. Foil keeps the seasoning, heat and moisture in after cooking, but you may need to add a few minutes to the cook time if you choose to wrap them.
  • Season before, or season after. You can slice the potatoes in half before wrapping and season with salt, pepper and other herbs and spices.
  • Make a little, or make a lot! Stacking the potatoes won’t add any time to the cooking process.
  • Use red or russet potatoes. I just love red potatoes, for pretty much everything, but I know traditionally russet potatoes are preferred for baked potatoes. Since these potatoes won’t get a crispy skin (thanks to all that steam), I prefer to use red potatoes because they have a smooth skin and creamy texture.

These potatoes turn out so creamy and fluffy thanks to the steam in the pressure cooker, I think they are 10 times better than any oven baked potatoes! If you try them, I’d love to hear how you like them or what your favorite Instant Pot recipes are!

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (5)

Cook times for Instant Pot potatoes:

Since this recipe was originally posted, I wanted to clear up some confusion regarding cook times and types of potatoes.

Originally, I wrapped my baked potatoes in foil to cook, and I still do sometimes, especially when I want to add butter, seasonings or onion slices right to the packet (great for camping!), but they can take a few minutes longer to cook that way.

So I wanted to get back to the basics and get a little more specific with cook times for pressure cooked baked potatoes so that you can be successful the first time!

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes: Russet Potatoes

Russet potatoes are longer and thinner than red potatoes, so they cook more quickly.

  • Small (approx. 150g): 16 minutes + natural pressure release of 10-12 minutes
  • Medium (approx 200g): 20 minutes + natural pressure release of 10-12 minutes
  • Large (approx 300-350g): 25 minutes + natural pressure release of 10-12 minutes

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes: Red Potatoes

Red potatoes tend to be rounder which makes them wider in the middle and they take a little longer to cook.

  • Small (130-135g): 18 minutes + NPR 10-12 minutes
  • Medium (240-250g): 23 minutes + NPR 10-12 minutes
  • Large (365g): 28 minutes + NPR 10-12 minutes

Three Ways to Make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes:

You sure love your Instant Pot potatoes! I wanted to throw out three different ways to do them up, but I’d love to hear what you pile on yours!

  1. Classic Loaded Baked Potato: with sour cream, bacon, cheddar cheese and green onions.
  2. Mexican: with taco ground beef, cheddar cheese, and tomato salsa (throw some sour cream on this one, too, if you like!)
  3. Broccoli Alfredo: with Alfredo sauce, steamed broccoli, and Parmesan cheese!

Want more Instant Pot potatoes?

  • Easy Instant Pot Potato Salad
  • Garlic Herb Instant Pot Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Potato Soup Recipe
  • Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes Recipe

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (6)

Pin this recipe to save for later

Pin this recipe to your favorite board

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe

written by Ashley Fehr

4.73 from 11 votes

These Instant Pot Baked Potatoes are so easy, you’ll never go back to the oven! Use russet or red potatoes – includes cook times for various sizes!

Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (8)

Save

Review

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Servings 8 servings

Calories 149cal

Ingredients

  • 8 medium red or russet potatoes
  • 1 cup water or chicken broth

Instructions

  • Place the rack in the bottom of the Instant Pot and pour 1 cup of water in the bottom.

  • Optional: Wrap each potato in a small piece of foil and place on top of rack (stacking them is fine — I get about 7 flat on the rack), or skip the foil and just place them on the rack.

  • Place the lid on the Instant Pot and switch the valve to sealing.

  • Press Manual or Pressure Cook, leave the Instant Pot at high pressure (the default), and set the time at 20-23 minutes for medium potatoes (see post above for additional cook times). The Instant Pot will begin heating and building pressure, and this will take about 10 minutes. It will then begin counting down.

  • When the timer beeps, press Cancel and either allow the Instant Pot 10 minutes to naturally release pressure before opening the valve to venting and removing the lid. Be careful because the potatoes are very hot!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 149cal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 4g | Sodium: 40mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 3g

Want to save this recipe?

Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again.

Register Now

Tried this recipe?

Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel —
I love to see what you’re making!

Tag @thereciperebel
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes Recipe + VIDEO - 3 Ways (pressure cooker) (2024)

FAQs

Can you overcook potatoes in the Instant Pot? ›

The Best Kind of Potatoes for Pressure Cooking

Cut them into 1 1/2-inch chunks, and they're ready in under 15 minutes (about ten minutes for the pot to come up to pressure, then three minutes for the potatoes to steam.) Take 'em out right when the timer goes off so they don't overcook, then use them however you like!

How to boil potatoes in Tefal pressure cooker? ›

Add water to your pressure cooker and insert the steaming rack. Place the potatoes inside the steaming rack and lock the lid. Cook on high for 15 min. Use the natural release for 10 min and then quick release the pressure.

How many minutes do I pressure can potatoes? ›

Process the Potatoes

The potatoes need to be processed in a weighted pressure canner at 10 pounds pressure for 35 minutes for pint jars and 40 minutes of quart jars if you live at an altitude of 1,000 feet above sea level or less (Image 3).

Why do potatoes cook more quickly in a pressure cooker? ›

In a pressure cooker, the pressure inside increases and hence the boiling point of water decreases thereby food cooks faster.

Do potatoes need to be submerged in pressure cooker? ›

The potatoes could sit on the bottom in the small amount of water needed (wrapped or not). Or you could elevate them over the water on some kind of riser and use the “pot-in-pot” method (wrapped or not, or maybe put in an open container perhaps lightly covered).

Is it healthy to cook potatoes in a pressure cooker? ›

Mostly we boil potatoes in a pressure cooker, but like rice, potatoes also contain a lot of starch. This is the reason why boiling or cooking in this pressure cooker is not considered good for health. If you still plan to use cooker for the same, add a lot of water and wash them thoroughly post cooking.

How much time does pressure cooking reduce? ›

Pressure cookers prepare food up to 70 percent faster than the oven or stovetop. Because of the high heat and short cooking time, pressure-cooked food retains more vitamins and nutrients compared to other cooking methods.

Can you pressure potatoes? ›

Pour water into the bottom of a pressure cooker (such as Presto). Place a trivet into the pressure cooker and turn the heat on high. Place potatoes in a single layer in the pressure cooker and lock the lid. Cook over high heat until the pressure regulator reaches 15 psi, 5 to 10 minutes.

How much time does it take to boil potatoes in pressure cooker? ›

Generally potatoes that are small in size or cut into pieces take about 10-15 minutes to boil in a pressure cooker, when we allow it to boil with 2 whistles. However, if the size of the potatoes is too large it may even take about 20-25 minutes for them to boil and cool down.

How do you make instant potatoes taste better? ›

Those same add-ins—chopped fresh herbs like chives or parsley, chopped cooked bacon, crumbled blue cheese, roasted garlic cloves and so on—will enhance the instant variety as well. Butter (not margarine) is a must, as is sour cream. Instant potatoes offer a couple of additional variables for you to play with.

How much water to put when boiling potatoes in pressure cooker? ›

Try to get evenly sized potatoes to ensure they are all evenly cooked in the Instant Pot. Water — Use enough to cover all your potatoes but also make sure you use enough to get the Instant Pot to pressure. You only need 1 cup of water for the 3-quart and 6-quart to get to pressure and 2 cups for the 8-quart.

How do you soften potatoes in a pressure cooker? ›

Add water to the instant pot steel insert. Place the steamer basket with baby potatoes in the instant pot insert. Pressure cook at high pressure for 5 minutes, then let the pressure release naturally.

Does foil speed up baked potatoes? ›

Wrapping potatoes in foil does not hasten baking. On the contrary, since the foil itself has to be heated before the potato begins to bake, cooking times increase slightly. Not only do you get better baked potatoes when you bake them unwrapped, you also save money.

What are the directions for instant potatoes? ›

Bring water, salt, and butter to a boil on the stove top, then remove the pot from the heat and stir in the instant mashed potato mix. Heat water, milk, salt, and butter in the microwave for 3 minutes, then stir in the instant mashed potato mix. Substitute the water with chicken or vegetable stock for a richer flavor.

Can you add milk instead of water to instant potatoes? ›

Most instant potato varieties call for you to combine the potatoes with water, but if you want your potatoes to taste a bit more indulgent, use milk instead. Whole milk will yield delightfully rich potatoes, but 2 percent milk works well too.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Van Hayes

Last Updated:

Views: 5954

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (66 voted)

Reviews: 81% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Van Hayes

Birthday: 1994-06-07

Address: 2004 Kling Rapid, New Destiny, MT 64658-2367

Phone: +512425013758

Job: National Farming Director

Hobby: Reading, Polo, Genealogy, amateur radio, Scouting, Stand-up comedy, Cryptography

Introduction: My name is Van Hayes, I am a thankful, friendly, smiling, calm, powerful, fine, enthusiastic person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.