Instant Pot Beets

Cooking beets is quick and easy in a pressure cooker! Here’s how to make Instant Pot beets that roast for half the time they take in the oven.

We have a confession: Alex and I rarely cooked beets. Not because we don’t like them. Because they love to cook! Roasting beets in the oven takes about 1 hour. We’ll admit it: it seems like a major hurdle most of the time. (Even though we make projects that take hours, like sourdough bread. Go figure!) But now we’ve found a way to cut the time in half! Enter: the Instant Pot. Instant Pot beets need approx. 30 minutes total. And they come out tender and juicy every time! It’s so quick and easy we can’t stop making beetroot recipes. Big win here. Here’s exactly how to make Instant Pot beets and a few ways to eat them!

How to make Instant Pot Beets

Here’s our method for making beets in an Instant Pot. As you will see, there is some variation depending on the size of the beets. You have to estimate the timing and then adjust as needed. It yields tender, perfectly cooked beets in just minutes 30 minutes. While the Instant Pot doesn’t always cook faster, in this case the pressure cooker beets take half the time to roast in the oven.

Step 1: Clean the beets.

Wash the beets well under cold running water.

Step 2: Cut off the root and stem.

Cut off the stalk and root of each beet. (You can save beet greens: Here’s the best beet greens recipe! And here’s how to save beets for later.)

Step 3: Pressure cook on high for 12-20 minutes.

Since beets vary in size, the timing will vary depending on the size of the beets. You need to estimate the timing based on the size of the beets. Rapid cook on high for 12 minutes for very small beets and around 18 minutes for very large beets.

Keep in mind that it will take about 5 minutes for the Instant Pot to “preheat” and build pressure before cooking begins.

Step 4: Test for doneness.

Because the method is variable, you need to test to see if the beets are tender. Use a clean knife and stick it in a turnip. When the beetroot is very tender and the knife glides smoothly, the beetroot is done. If the knife has some resistance, pressure cook again for 1-2 minutes and test again.

Step 5: Rinse and peel.

When the beets are cooked, rinse them and remove the skin with your fingers: they will come off immediately! And you’re done: perfect Instant Pot beets in half the baking time!

What Kind of Instant Pot Should I Use?

Pressure cooker brands can vary, so keep that in mind when making this recipe! Alex and I use the Instant Pot brand (Instant Pot is the brand name; Instapot is a variant of the slang). We use the Instant Pot 6 Qt programmable pressure cooker.

This recipe is adapted for a 6 liter pressure cooker. We also can’t talk about other brands and types of pressure cookers. For example, Instant Pot Mini works differently, so use it at your own risk!

Beet Recipes

Now that you’ve cooked beets, there are so many ways to eat them! Here are some beetroot recipes:

This recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based and dairy-free.

Looking for Instant Pot Recipes?

Aside from this Instant Pot Beetroot recipe, here are other pressure cooker recipes: