Author: Lisa Childs
Comments: 4
Category: Healthy Instant Pot Recipes
Published Date: February 16, 2020
Updated Date: January 12, 2023
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Instant Pot Baked Potatoes will change the way you prepare dinner! Fluffy, easy, and perfectly cooked “baked” potatoes are done in less time than it takes to preheat the oven.
baked potatoes in instant pot
Making “baked” potatoes in the Instant Pot isn’t exactly “BAKING,” ya know? Because baking is a completely different cooking method (dry heat) vs. the Instant Pot or pressure cooker (steam).
Texture of Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
You won’t get crispy skins, but if you usually wrap your potatoes in foil, you’ll get similar results in the Instant Pot! The texture of an Instant Pot baked potato is soft, fluffy, smooth, and taste great!
If you prefer to have your baked potatoes crispier on the outside, you can take the potatoes out of the Instant Pot, rub them in olive oil or butter and salt/pepper, then broil for 3-5 minutes until crispy.
You could also throw them in the air fryer for a couple minutes on the highest setting and get the skins crispy.
Microwave Baked Potatoes
I prefer the texture of Instant Pot baked potatoes vs. microwave baked potatoes. The potatoes cook more evenly, and the texture is fluffier.
I find microwave potatoes to sometimes have a little bit of a gluey texture.
how to make baked potatoes in the instant pot
- Pick potatoes that are as uniform in shape and size as possible.
- Scrub as much dirt as possible off the potatoes.
- Place the trivet in the Instant Pot, along with one cup of water.
- Place the potatoes on the trivet, no need to prick with a fork.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the knob to SEALING.
- Press the MANUAL or PRESSURE COOK button and set the time to:
- 12-14 minutes for small potatoes
- 15-18 minutes for medium potatoes
- 20-25 minutes for large potatoes
- You can do a quick release after the timer is up. You can also leave them to naturally release the pressure, just keep in mind they keep cooking during that time.
- Remove the potatoes and serve with your desired toppings!
Is it safe to put aluminum foil in a pressure cooker?
It is completely unnecessary to wrap your Instant Pot baked potatoes in foil, unless you want to keep them warmer after they’ve cooked.
It is completely safe to wrap things or use aluminum foil in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot.
Undercooked Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
Cooking times for potatoes vary quite a bit because potatoes come in so many densities and sizes. If the times in this recipe result in undercooked potatoes, we can just cook them a little longer.
If you don’t want to risk it, when in doubt, add a couple extra minutes to the cook time.
After pressure cooking the potatoes, open the lid and check the baked potatoes with a fork or knife. If the knife easily go through the potato, it is done.
If the potatoes still have some resistance, you’ll have to keep cooking the potatoes. Make sure there is still about one cup of water in the Instant Pot, then replace the lid.
Cook for an additional 2-5 minutes and do a quick release.
If your potatoes have just a little resistance and you have some extra time before serving, add a little extra water to the Instant Pot and replace the lid.
Keep the Instant Pot on KEEP WARM, and let them sit for about 20-30 minutes. The residual heat will help cook them through.
Instant Pot Baked Potato Tips
- You can do a quick release after the timer is up. You can also leave them to naturally release the pressure, just keep in mind they keep cooking during that time.
- Drain the water out of the Instant Pot after pressure cooking your potatoes. The water gives your potatoes a bit of a facial, so a lot of extra dirt and junk comes off the potatoes and falls into the water.
- Serve your baked potatoes as a main meal in a baked potato bar! Some topping ideas are butter, sour cream, chives, cheddar cheese, crispy onions, tomatoes, steamed broccoli, soup, and cheese sauce. If you’d like a bit more of a substantial meal, add any kind of cut up protein.
- Baked potatoes are also a great side dish to add to Instant Pot Ribs, Instant Pot Chili, Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks, or Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken legs.
- Use a steamer basket (paid link) to quickly wash and cook baked potatoes in your Instant Pot. The times stay the same.
- You can get crispy baked potatoes by broiling or air frying the potatoes after pressure cooking.
- Cut the potatoes in half, scoop out the insides, and make twice baked potatoes!
- Cut the potatoes in half, scoop out the insides, and bake with cheese for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is melty to make potato skins!
Baked Potato Bar Topping Ideas
- Shredded Cheese
- Sour Cream
- Green Onions
- Chives
- Crispy Fried Onions (like what you put on green bean casserole)
- Butter
- Tomatoes
- Steamed Broccoli
- Soup or Chili
- Nacho Cheese Sauce
- Diced Chicken/Steak/Pork/Leftovers
- Salsa
- Black Beans
- Bacon
Leftover Baked Potatoes
Here’s a couple ideas on how to use your leftover Instant Pot baked potatoes:
- Cut them up and skip a step in my Instant Pot Loaded Baked Potato Soup recipe
- Cut or shred the leftover baked potatoes up, season with seasoned salt, and fry them up in butter for hash browns.
- Chop up the potatoes into large chunks, and pan fry them in butter until crispy as a yummy side dish.
- Mash them up with lots of butter, half and half, and sour cream into mashed potatoes!
- Make a twice baked potato casserole. Mash up the leftover baked potatoes with cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter, milk, bacon bits, and chives until creamy. Then spread into a greased casserole dish, cover with more cheese and bacon, and bake at 350º for 30-45 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Top with extra chives or green onions.
Instant Pot Baked Potatoes
INGREDIENTS
- 8 medium Russet potatoes (or however many you need)
- 1 cup water
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pick potatoes that are as uniform in shape and size as possible.
- Scrub as much dirt as possible off the potatoes.
- Place the trivet in the Instant Pot, along with one cup of water.
- Place the potatoes on the trivet or in a steamer basket, no need to prick with a fork.
- Put the lid on the Instant Pot and turn the knob to Sealing.
- Press the Manual or Pressure Cook button and set the time to: 12-14 minutes for small potatoes, 15-18 minutes for medium potatoes, 20-25 minutes for large potatoes.
- You can do a quick release after the timer is up. You can also leave them to naturally release the pressure, just keep in mind they keep cooking during that time.
- Remove the potatoes and serve with your desired toppings!
PRODUCTS WE LOVE
NOTES
- You can do a quick release after the timer is up. You can also leave them to naturally release the pressure, just keep in mind they keep cooking during that time.
- Drain the water out of the Instant Pot after pressure cooking your potatoes. The water gives your potatoes a bit of a facial, so a lot of extra dirt and junk comes off the potatoes and falls into the water.
- Serve your baked potatoes as a main meal in a baked potato bar! Some topping ideas are butter, sour cream, chives, cheddar cheese, crispy onions, tomatoes, steamed broccoli, soup, and cheese sauce. If you’d like a bit more of a substantial meal, add any kind of cut up protein.
- Baked potatoes are also a great side dish to add to Instant Pot Ribs, Instant Pot Chili, Instant Pot Chicken Drumsticks, or Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken legs.
- Use a steamer basket (paid link) to quickly wash and cook baked potatoes in your Instant Pot. The times stay the same.
- You can get crispy baked potatoes by broiling or air frying the potatoes after pressure cooking.
Thanks for the excellent tutorial on potatoes in the IP. The hubby wants them every night now.. lol
Currently working on your Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash. You guessed it. Hubby requested that as well. 🙂 Keep up the great work.
Kim
Author
Thanks so much, Kim!!
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Just my luck… I’ve been looking at your chili recipe for the past month and I finally gathered all the ingredients… And now the recipe is gone. Lol but I do love making baked potatoes this way. So easy!