Instant Pot Beets are sweet and earthy. Only a few minutes in the pressure cooker; it’s never been easier to steam whole beets!
Instant Pot Fresh Whole Beets
The color! How beautiful is that color?
Making Instant Pot Beets in your Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker has never been easier.
In just a few minutes, you will have fork tender, beautiful Deep Red Beets. These Red Beets are the kind that are used in Borscht. They are sweet and earthy.
Look for my Borscht recipe in my new This Old Gal Cookbook, coming out in the Spring of next year.
Cast of Ingredients for Instant Pot Fresh Whole Beets
Sometimes at Farmer’s Markets, people ask to have the Leafy Greens removed and just take home the Beetroots, so if you can snag some Greens, do it!
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Ingredients for Instant Pot Beets
- Fresh Whole Beets
- Water for Steaming
This recipe is perfect to cook in the Instant Pot Mini!!
Pro Tip: Choose Beets with the Fresh Leafy Greens still attached.
Remove Stems, Wash and Scrub Beets
The Leafy Greens are delicious Sautéed with some oil, onions and garlic.
Prepare Beets for Steaming
- Wash and scrub the Beetroots.
- Remove the Leafy Greens and stems from the Beetroot by cutting off 1/2 inch from the Beetroot, making sure not to puncture the Beetroot. Don’t peel the Beets!
- I recommend this Salbree Steamer/Strainer Basket for using inside the Instant Pot.
Pro Tip: Add the leafy greens to recipes like my Instant Pot Zuppa Toscana Italian Soup and my Instant Pot Butternut Squash Pasta. They add great flavor.
Add Water and the Beets to Pressure Cooker
Making Sweeter Beets
- Swap the water in the pot for Orange Juice for a sweeter flavor.
- Pineapple Juice adds a delicious sweet flavor.
Beets can be purchased in various sizes.
How Long to Cook Beets in Instant Pot
- For Medium Beets, 7 minutes is perfect.
- If they are larger, add 2 minutes.
- If they are smaller, subtract 2 minutes.
I like my beets to be barely fork tender, as I like a little firmness, so adjust the timing to your preference.
Rub Skin off Beets under Cool Water
How long does it take to Steam Beets on Stovetop?
- On the stove, it would take about 12 minutes, after the water boils.
- Timing is similar in the Instant Pot, but it is all hands off and no watching the stove.
Pro Tip: Wait 10 minutes until peeling the beets. They are super duper hot and hard to hold on to.
How to Peel Beets
- Cool down the Instant Pot Fresh Whole Beets using cool running water and place them into a Mixing Bowl.
- Use your fingers to rub off the skin. The Beetroot skin will come off very easily. The stumps at both ends will also rub right off.
Pro Tip: If you don’t want red fingers, try using some Food Handling Gloves. Please note that I am against disposables, but wanted to offer an option for those queasy about handling food and/or manicured fingernails.
Try adding a little sliced beets to my Instant Pot Deviled Egg Salad Rolls [Low Carb]. Not only does it add nice color, but it adds so much flavor!
Cover Beets with Water to Store
How To Store Beets
- Beets can be kept whole or cut.
- Make sure to cover them with water.
Pro Tip: Beets will stain many containers, so make sure your containers are stain proof.
I use either my Extreme Freeze Reditainers or Lock N Lock, as they are both BPA free and won’t stain.
Pressure Cooker Instant Pot Fresh Whole Beets
Freshly Steamed Beets are gorgeous!!!!
This is a super simple recipe and will taste a whole lot better than what comes out of the cans.
The Instant Pot Fresh Whole Beets will keep nicely in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Roasted Beets are delicious too and if you would like to roast them in the Air Fryer, just pop them in for a bit after you have steamed them in the Pressure Cooker.
Or, you can peel raw Beets and roast.
More Instant Pot Vegetable Recipes to Make:
- Instant Pot Fresh Tomato Salad + Video
- Pressure Cooker Cuban Black Beans {Frijoles Negros}
- Pressure Cooker Southern Style Green Beans
- Instant Pot Low Carb Cauliflower Potato Salad [+Video]
Kitchen Equipment and Essentials
- Instant Pot Electric Pressure Cooker, Ninja Foodi or Pressure Cooker
- J.A. Henckels Classic 8 inch Chef’s Knife
- My FANTASTIC Teak Cutting & Charcuterie Board
- Salbree Steamer Basket
- Small 1.5 Quart “Pot in Pot” Mixing Bowl
- Lock N Lock Storage Container
- Reditainer Extreme Freezer Containers
- Freezer Labels
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Here is the handy printable recipe:
Ingredients
- 4 pounds Whole Beets
- 1.5 cups Water
Recommended Products
Instructions
- Remove Stem with Leaves at about 1/4 inch from base of Beet. Wash and Scrub Beets. Do not peel.
- Place Beets into Steamer Basket
- Add Water to Instant Pot cooking pot and place Basket into cooking pot.
- Lock on Lid and close Pressure Valve. Cook at High Pressure for 7 minutes. When Beep sounds, wait 10 minutes and then release pressure.
- Remove Basket from Pressure Cooker and run under cool water.
- Using your fingers, rub the skin off the Beets.
- Cut into quarters and store Beets in an air tight container, covered with Fresh Water.
Notes
Cook Time for Beets
- Small Beets - 5 minutes
- Medium Beets (as pictured) - 7 minutes
- Large Beets - 10 minutes
Flavor and Sweeten Beets
- Swap the water in the pot for Orange Juice for a sweeter flavor.
- Pineapple Juice adds a delicious sweet flavor.
Storing Beets
- Beets can be kept whole or cut.
- Make sure to cover them with water.
Nutrition
PIN this Instant Pot Fresh Whole Beets!
I love pickled beets, and cooking them in an Instant Pot is a game-changer. Once they are done cooking and I’ve peeled off the skin, I cut them into large chunks and put them on the stove with a small amount of water, the leftover beet juice in the Instant Pot, some pickling spice, some Apple Cider Vinegar and some Trivia (Stevia: use sugar if you like). I just put it on a low simmer for about 15-20 minutes, let it cool, then they are ready to go. Just terrific, and I’ve found pickled this way they can last in the fridge for several weeks.
Instead pot beet are my favourite they are sweet yum.
Just the best! I think I am pretty much addicted to red beets now thanks to this great recipe!
Thanks, Candy. Jill
This method of cooking the beets is A-mazing!! I’ve alwsys loved beets, but never will I eat a “canned” beet again! Thank you Jill for this recipe and the many others that you share.
Thanks, Brenda. You are so sweet. Thank YOU for your support. Jill
What if you don’t have a steamer basket por the Instapot?
Can you use the trivet that comes with the IP if you don’t have a steamer basket?
I have found that using orange juice instead of water, gives makes my beets sweeter, and more flavorful.
Can I cook these then can in a water
bath?
That’s my plan! Steam them, then, pickle them in a water bath canner. I usually cook them overnight in a slow cooker, but, my feet are to the fire to get a 4×8′ raised bed of beets pickled and canned.
Do they need to go in a steamer basket or is the rack that comes with the Instant Pot ok to use?
Thanks
Is there a way to make pickled beets? I won’t eat regular beets, but love the pickled.
I peeled the beets. What is going to happen?
Did you remove the handles from the strainer in order to fit it in the pressure cooker? I bought this and it doesn’t fit.
Hi Desiree. Yes, the handles were removed. Just wiggle them off with a pliers. Jill
Wondering why you need to put them in water to keep in fridge. I have kept ones cooked in the slow cooker just in a plastic container or bag with no problem