Instant Pot sweet potatoes are creamy, fluffy, and simple to prepare. Pressure-cooked sweet potatoes make an excellent side dish or a satisfying main when topped with butter, maple syrup, nuts, or your favorite seasonings. Whether you call them sweet potatoes or yams, cooking them in an Instant Pot delivers consistently tender results with minimal effort.
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Cooking sweet potatoes in the Instant Pot transformed the texture for me. Compared to baking or microwaving, pressure cooking yields a creamier interior and skins that peel away easily. The ends stay moist rather than shriveling, producing a consistent, delicious result every time.
What’s the difference between sweet potatoes and yams?
Sweet potatoes and true yams are different plants and have distinct textures and flavors. Different varieties of sweet potatoes also vary in color and size, which affects cooking time.
These are all sweet potatoes; varieties can look different and range widely in size.
Pressure-cooking time depends mainly on the thickness and density of the potato. I recommend measuring the circumference at the widest part to determine cook time more accurately. Thicker potatoes require longer pressure cook times, and factors like altitude and differences between pressure cookers may also affect results.
Measuring circumference helps you choose the right cook time. If you plan to cook multiple potatoes, try to pick similar sizes so they finish together.
For reference, an 8.5″ sweet potato cooked for 25 minutes on high pressure with a 10-minute natural release turned out soft and creamy. A 9.5″ potato cooked 30 minutes with a 10-minute natural release also gave perfect results.
Choose a size that fits your needs; if you’re cooking just one potato, pick the size you want, and if you’re cooking several, match sizes for even doneness.
With a little practice you’ll learn cook times for your own Instant Pot and preferred potato sizes, but this guide will help you get consistent results the first few times.
You Might Also Like
Instant Pot Broccoli
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Water (for the pressure cooker)
- 1-6 Sweet Potatoes (however many you want to cook)
Instructions
-
Pour 1 ½ cups of water into the Instant Pot inner liner.
-
Place the trivet, rack, or steamer basket inside the pot.
-
Scrub the sweet potatoes with a vegetable brush and dry them.
-
Measure the circumference at the widest part of each potato. If cooking several, add their circumferences and divide by the number of potatoes to get an average. Using similarly sized potatoes helps ensure even cooking.
-
Arrange the sweet potatoes on the rack, close the lid, and set the steam release to Sealing.
-
Select Pressure Cook (or Manual) and set the cook time according to the size of the potatoes (see cook time chart below).
-
Sweet potato cook times (based on circumference)
If a sweet potato is larger than 11″, consider cutting it in half lengthwise and using the circumference of the halves to determine cook time.
6 inches – 15 minutes
8 inches – 25 minutes
10 inches – 45 minutes
11 inches – 55 minutes
These times were tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot Duo and worked well; results may vary with different models or altitudes. If a potato is still too firm, return it to the pot for a few more minutes.
-
After the cook time ends, let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes (do not touch the vent). Then carefully move the steam release to Venting to release any remaining pressure.
-
When the float valve drops, open the lid. Pierce the widest part with a small knife—if it slides in easily, the potato is done. If not, close the lid and cook a few more minutes.
-
Use tongs to remove the potatoes. Slice open and add butter, a pinch of salt, a drizzle of maple syrup, chopped pecans, or any toppings you enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Resources to make Instant Pot sweet potatoes
Choose sweet potatoes that are similar in size when cooking more than one to ensure even results. If a potato is very large, consider halving it lengthwise so it cooks more quickly and evenly.